The California Medical Association (CMA) has stepped into a closely watched legal battle, filing an amicus brief to protect one of California’s most important safeguards for physician autonomy: the state’s ban on the corporate practice of medicine.

The case, Eli Lilly & Company v. Mochi Health Corp., et al. (Case No. 3:25-cv-03534-JSC), centers on allegations of unlawful compounding and distribution of prescription medications. CMA seeks to ensure that the corporate bar—California’s long-standing prohibition on non-medical entities exerting control over physicians—remains strong and is not weakened through procedural rulings, even though it is not a party to the lawsuit.

The law embodies the corporate bar, a bedrock legal doctrine that shields medical decision-making from corporate influence and ensures trained physicians—not commercial priorities—guide patient care. In court filings, the defendants contend that only the Medical Board of California has the authority to enforce it.

CMA’s brief pushes back, noting that California courts have long allowed private enforcement under the state’s Unfair Competition Law when unlawful business practices—such as corporate interference in medicine—are alleged. The association also cited statements from the Medical Board itself affirming the vital role of private parties in protecting the physician-patient relationship.

By weighing in as amicus curiae, CMA urges the court to allow the case to proceed so the court can judge the allegations on their merits. The move underscores CMA’s long-standing commitment to defending the independence of California physicians and preserving the integrity of medical decision-making for the benefit of patients statewide.