On November 1, 2024, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the final rule for the 2025 calendar year (CY), which includes significant updates to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) and the Quality Payment Program (QPP). 

The new payment rates and telehealth guidelines took effect on January 1, 2025. The projected 2.83% reduction in payment rates is expected to have a financial impact on physician practices, particularly as operational costs continue to rise. 

On October 6, 2023, the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) announced that the telehealth flexibility waiver, which allows healthcare providers to prescribe controlled substances via telemedicine without an in-person patient visit, would be extended through December 31, 2024.

In early 2023, the Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development Committee and the Assembly Committee on Business and Professions began their extensive sunset review oversight of eight regulatory entities, among them the Medical Board of California (MBC).

Effective June 27, 2023, any DEA-registered practitioner must complete eight (8) hours of training on the treatment and management of patients with opioid or other substance use disorders.