Mission

As you may be aware, Rite Aid filed for bankruptcy in October 2023, resulting in the closure of several locations nationwide. On May 5, 2025, Rite Aid filed for bankruptcy again and is in the process of selling assets, including prescriptions, to other pharmacies.

In light of the ongoing Rite Aid bankruptcy proceedings and the resulting closures of numerous pharmacy locations across California, the Department of Consumer Affairs, the California State Board of Pharmacy, the Medical Board of California, and the Osteopathic Medical Board of California urge all healthcare prescribers to work collaboratively with pharmacists to ensure uninterrupted access to necessary medications for patients.

These closures have the potential to significantly affect timely access to prescriptions in many communities, increasing the need for clear, timely, and cooperative communication between prescribers and pharmacists. We encourage prescribers to be responsive to pharmacists’ outreach when validating or authorizing prescription refills. This cooperation is critical to facilitating safe transfers and the timely dispensing of medications for patients who may be transitioning to new pharmacy providers.

Pharmacists are working diligently to minimize the impact of these disruptions and ensure patient care is not compromised. Your support, through prompt confirmation of prescription details and professional collaboration, is essential in maintaining continuity of care for Californians affected by these closures. Such confirmation can be provided by sending a new electronic prescription to a new pharmacy of the patient’s choice if the prescriber or authorized agent is unavailable to speak directly with a pharmacist.

Further, it is strongly recommended that prescribers work with their patients to identify a new pharmacy where electronic medical records indicate that a Rite Aid pharmacy is the current pharmacy on record.

We thank you for your patience during this transition period and note that the California State Board of Pharmacy is seeking changes in Pharmacy Law to remove prescriptive requirements that will mitigate future impacts on patients and prescribers alike.

We remain committed to California patients and thank you for your assistance with helping patients navigate this transition in pharmacy services.

The Controlled Substance Utilization Review and Evaluation System (CURES) fee will increase from $9 to $15 annually for licenses expiring on and after July 1, 2025. The fee is assessed at the time of license renewal on licensees that are authorized to prescribe, order, administer, or furnish Schedule II, Schedule III, Schedule IV, or Schedule V controlled substances.

Most licensees will see a $30 CURES fee due to the biennial renewal cycle. The fee covers the reasonable regulatory costs of the Department of Justice for operating and maintaining CURES, a critical element in the state’s continued effort to address the danger of opioid addiction stemming from prescription drug abuse.

For more information about CURES, visit: https://oag.ca.gov/cures.

Effective January 1, 2025, the Medical Board of California will transfer the Research Psychoanalyst Program to the Board of Psychology (BOP) under Senate Bill 815, which became law in 2023. At that time, BOP will assume all regulatory responsibility for the program.

This change will not immediately impact your existing registration or practice authority. BOP is considering specific law changes that may interest you. These proposals were discussed at a public meeting on September 20, 2024. To review them, visit www.psychology.ca.gov, select the "Board Meetings" link under "Quick Hits," and scroll down to the Research Psychoanalyst Ad hoc Committee section.

Starting January 1, 2025, please direct all inquiries relating to the Research Psychoanalyst Program to BOP at 916-574-7720, toll-free at 866-503-3221, or Contact BOP via our contact form.