Controlled substances: CURES database.

Existing law classifies certain controlled substances into designated schedules. Existing law requires the Department of Justice to maintain the Controlled Substance Utilization Review and Evaluation System (CURES) for the electronic monitoring of the prescribing and dispensing of Schedule II, Schedule III, and Schedule IV controlled substances by a health care practitioner authorized to prescribe, order, administer, furnish, or dispense a Schedule II, Schedule III, or Schedule IV controlled substance. Existing law requires prescription forms for controlled substance prescriptions to be obtained from security printers approved by the department, as specified. Existing law requires a dispensing pharmacy, clinic, or other dispenser to report specified information to the department. This bill would authorize the department to reduce or limit the number of approved printers to 3, as specified. The bill would require prescription forms for controlled substance prescriptions to have a uniquely serialized number, in a manner prescribed by the department, and would require a printer to submit specified information to the department for all prescription forms delivered. The bill would require the information submitted by a dispensing pharmacy, clinic, or other dispenser to the department to include the serial number for the corresponding prescription form, if applicable. This bill would incorporate additional changes to Section 11165 of the Health and Safety Code proposed by AB 1751 to be operative only if this bill and AB 1751 are enacted and this bill is enacted last.