From Bamboo Health:
Beginning August 1, 2024, dispensers will be required to report dispensations to the Controlled Substance Utilization Review and Evaluation System (CURES) using version 4.2B of the American Society for Automation in Pharmacy (ASAP) format. Presently, California dispensation data is reported using the ASAP version 4.1 format. This format change will improve data quality by offering more data fields and clarifying certain other data fields.
California law requires the reporting of certain dispensations to the California Department of Justice (DOJ). Specifically, Health & Safety Code section 11165(d) requires dispensing pharmacies, clinics, or other dispensers to report prescription dispensation data to the DOJ. Furthermore, Health & Safety Code section 11190(c) requires each prescriber that dispenses controlled substances to report prescription dispensation data to DOJ. Dispensers submit this data electronically to the DOJ’s CURES via the data collection vendor, Bamboo Health. Starting on August 1, 2024, submissions that do not conform to the requirements of the ASAP version 4.2B format will be rejected by Bamboo Health.
How It Affects CURES Data Submitters
Data Submitters that use Reporting Software or Software Vendor for ASAP files
Beginning on August 1, 2024, your reporting software must use the ASAP version 4.2B format when submitting data to CURES. After this date, Bamboo Health will not accept data submitted in the ASAP version 4.1 format. While changes to your reporting software do not need to be implemented until next year, you could anticipate that it may take your software vendor approximately 12 months to make the necessary software changes. You will need to ensure your software vendor is aware of this upcoming change so they have sufficient time to prepare for the cutover to utilizing the ASAP version 4.2B format. In the coming months, you can expect to receive reminders and further information about the change to the ASAP version 4.2B format.
Data Submitters that use the Bamboo PMP Clearinghouse’s Universal Claim Form (UCF)
Beginning on August 1, 2024, the UCF will reflect changes consistent with the new requirements of the ASAP version 4.2B format. Data submitters should be prepared to report all of the required data.
Action Steps for Data Submitters
- If reporting data via an ASAP file:
- Notify your reporting software vendor that Bamboo Health will: (1) only accept data in the ASAP version 4.1 format through July 31, 2024; (2) no longer accept data in the ASAP version 4.1 format beginning on August 1, 2024; and (3) only accept data in the ASAP version 4.2B format beginning on August 1, 2024.
- Be sure to share informational updates provided by the CURES Program with your software vendor in a timely manner.
- All data submitters: Watch for future CURES updates with more detailed information about changes related to the ASAP version 4.2B format. The next informational update is expected during Summer 2023.
Additional Resources
For general information on the current data reporting process, visit the CURES public website at https://oag.ca.gov/cures. See the section titled “Controlled Substance Data Reporting.”
For more information on the current ASAP version 4.1 format and the process for submitting data to Bamboo Health, please contact Bamboo Health at (855)-502-0999 or submit a ticket at https://pmpclearinghouse.zendesk.com/hc/en-us.
For questions regarding this bulletin, please contact the CURES Program at cures@doj.ca.gov or (916) 210-3187.