A prescription-monitoring rule can sound like a treatment change when it is not. California’s December 2025 CURES bulletin set a clear January 1 date for testosterone reporting, but patients still need to separate a database rule from the prescription they actually use.
Quick Answer
Beginning January 1, 2026, California law says dispensing of testosterone will no longer be reported to the California Department of Justice, CURES, or its contracted prescription-data vendor. The change affects the state reporting database. It does not automatically cancel a valid prescription, change the prescribed strength or directions, remove the need for normal pharmacy records, or tell a patient to stop treatment. California DOJ was also required to remove testosterone records that were already in CURES before January 1, 2026 on or before January 1, 2027. Patients should keep their medication list, prescriber information, pharmacy information, and refill timing current.
What Changes With CURES on January 1, 2026
CURES—the Controlled Substance Utilization Review and Evaluation System—is California’s prescription drug monitoring database for specified controlled-substance dispensing information.
Assembly Bill 82 was signed into law on October 13, 2025. The California Department of Justice followed with a December 3 bulletin instructing CURES data submitters that testosterone dispensing must no longer be reported beginning January 1, 2026.
- October 13, 2025
- AB 82 was signed into California law.
- December 3, 2025
- California DOJ issued its CURES reporting bulletin.
- January 1, 2026
- New testosterone dispensing is no longer reported to CURES.
- By January 1, 2027
- DOJ was required to remove pre-2026 testosterone records from CURES.
What changes vs. what stays the same
CURES reporting
The prescription
Refills
Treatment decisions
Ask for a Date, Not Just “We Ordered It”
What Stays the Same for Patients
The reporting change does not replace the prescription itself. The prescriber still writes the prescription, the pharmacy still dispenses it under the requirements that apply, and the pharmacy label still provides the patient-specific directions for use.
- Prescription directions
- The reporting rule does not automatically change the strength, dosage form, route, or directions.
- Refill requirements
- A prescription still needs to be valid and refillable under the rules that apply to it.
- Pharmacy records
- The dispensing pharmacy continues to maintain prescription and dispensing records.
- Prescriber follow-up
- Monitoring, appointments and treatment decisions remain part of the clinical care plan.
Database Change, Not a Dose Change
What Happens to Testosterone Records Already in CURES?
The December 3 DOJ bulletin did not say that all older testosterone records would disappear on January 1, 2026. Instead, AB 82 required DOJ to remove existing testosterone records that were in CURES before January 1, 2026 on or before January 1, 2027.
Once historical testosterone records are removed, CURES will no longer provide that same prescription-history view for testosterone. That makes an accurate medication list, current pharmacy records, and direct communication between patients and their care teams more useful.
Keep Your Own Medication Record Current
Six Questions Patients Can Ask Before January 1
01. Does the CURES reporting change affect how my current prescription will be filled?
02. How early should I request my next refill?
03. Does my prescriber need to send anything new for the next fill?
04. Is my medication list accurate and current?
05. Which pharmacy is currently managing the prescription?
06. Who should I contact if my question is about treatment rather than refill processing?
Review the Refill Plan, Not Just the Reporting Rule
Fireside Pharmacy can help with prescription status, refill timing, transfer, pickup, delivery, and pharmacy-record questions.
What to Check Before Your Next Testosterone Refill
You do not need a special “CURES transition refill.” A short year-end prescription review is enough to identify most practical issues before January.
01. Check how much medication remains and note the next refill date.
02. Confirm whether refills remain on the prescription.
03. Make sure your prescriber contact information is current.
04. Keep the dispensing pharmacy’s contact information with your medication list.
05. Update the medication name, strength, dosage form, and directions on your personal medication record.
06. Contact the prescriber for dose, monitoring, or treatment questions rather than treating the reporting change as clinical guidance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does testosterone stop being reported to CURES on January 1, 2026?
Yes. California DOJ’s December 2025 bulletin states that testosterone dispensing must not be reported to DOJ, CURES, or its contracted prescription-data vendor beginning January 1, 2026.
Does the new law cancel existing testosterone prescriptions?
No. The CURES reporting change does not automatically cancel a valid prescription or rewrite the prescription directions.
Does testosterone stop being a controlled substance because CURES reporting changes?
No. California DOJ specifically addresses the situation in which testosterone remains a federal controlled substance even though it is no longer reported to CURES. Reporting and controlled-substance status are separate issues.
What happens to testosterone records already in CURES?
AB 82 required California DOJ to remove testosterone records that were already in CURES before January 1, 2026 on or before January 1, 2027.
Should I use my medication differently because of the reporting change?
No. Continue following your prescription and prescriber’s instructions. Contact the pharmacy for dispensing questions and the prescriber for treatment decisions.
Have a January Testosterone Prescription Question?
Use the form above to request a call about refill timing, prescription status, transfer, pickup, delivery, or another pharmacy-processing question.
