Is my organization eligible for joint providership?

A commercial interest is not eligible for joint providership.  The ACCME states: “Companies that are ineligible to be accredited in the ACCME System (ineligible companies) are those whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients.” Examples of such organizations include:

• Advertising, marketing, or communication firms whose clients are ineligible companies
• Bio-medical startups that have begun a governmental regulatory approval process
• Compounding pharmacies that manufacture proprietary compounds
• Device manufacturers or distributors
• Diagnostic labs that sell proprietary products
• Growers, distributors, manufacturers or sellers of medical foods and dietary supplements
• Manufacturers of health-related wearable products
• Pharmaceutical companies or distributors
• Pharmacy benefit managers
• Reagent manufacturers or sellers
  
  

Organizations eligible to be accredited in the ACCME System (eligible organizations) are those whose mission and function are: (1) providing clinical services directly to patients; or (2) the education of healthcare professionals; or (3) serving as fiduciary to patients, the public, or population health; and other organizations that are not otherwise ineligible. Examples of such organizations include:

• Ambulatory procedure centers
• Blood banks
• Diagnostic labs that do not sell proprietary products
• Electronic health records companies
• Government or military agencies
• Group medical practices
• Health law firms
• Health profession membership organizations
• Hospitals or healthcare delivery systems
• Infusion centers
• Insurance or managed care companies
• Nursing homes
• Pharmacies that do not manufacture proprietary compounds
• Publishing or education companies
• Rehabilitation centers
• Schools of medicine or health science universities
• Software or game developers

If you are still unsure if your organization is eligible, please see the ACCME’s website for clarification and how to determine if your organization is an ineligible company.

We have an educational activity that trains clinicians how to use a device/product. Can we offer CME credit?

Accredited CME can never be used as a marketing tool to sell a product/device/service.

If your organization is an ACCME defined ineligible company, and you produce educational training on your product, it is not eligible for accredited CME.

If your organization is an ACCME defined eligible organization, and you have already purchased the product for your clinicians to use, then, yes, the education is accreditable. Please keep in mind that an employee of an ACCME defined ineligible company cannot control content as a planner or as faculty but is allowed to demonstrate how to use the equipment.

What is the definition of a planner/reviewer?

Any person in a position to control content planning or reviewing of accredited CME is considered a planner. Controlling content includes the selection of educational methods, learning formats, speakers, and topics, as well as being involved in the review or approval of the activity for accreditation.  Administrators who help with confirming venues, ordering food, soliciting exhibitors, printing documents, and/or managing registration, are not considered planners, as long as they have not controlled the content of the educational activity.

How do we determine who is eligible to be a planner of our educational activity?

In order to ensure the planning of an educational activity is free from commercial influence, every person in a position to control content must disclose all their financial relationships with ineligible companies within the prior 24 months. This disclosure information helps to determine if there are any conflicts of interest that may prevent someone from controlling accredited CME. This step is important to do prior to planning an activity because if someone has an unresolvable conflict of interest (COI), that activity would be ineligible for credit.

What is commercial support?

The ACCME defines commercial support as “financial or in-kind support from an ACCME-defined ineligible company that is used to pay all or part of the costs of a CME activity.” Financial contributions typically come in the form of an educational grant. In-kind (non-monetary) commercial support may come in the form of:

• Durable equipment
• Facilities/Space
• Disposable supplies (Non-biological)
• Animal parts or tissue
• Human parts of tissue

When can or should we seek commercial support?

Educational grants are given to accredited CME, therefore you should not apply for an educational grant before your activity has been approved for CME credit by your joint provider. When an activity receives commercial support, the accredited provider (CME Consultants), the non-accredited joint provider (your organization), and the commercial company must sign a Letter of Agreement (LOA) outlining the terms and conditions of the support.

It is imperative that CME Consultants be involved in all aspects of your fundraising efforts, as the responsibility for compliance is ours as the accredited provider.  CME Consultants must be notified prior to seeking commercial support and/or in-kind support, as well as the solicitation of exhibitors.  Your CME credit approval may be revoked if we are not notified. We will not joint-provide any activity that has already received commercial support prior to our involvement.

What is the difference between exhibit revenue and commercial support?

Exhibit revenue is not considered commercial support. This is because the exhibitor is receiving an advertising or marketing opportunity in exchange for its financial contribution. Commercial support is a financial contribution given by an ineligible company where it does not receive anything in return, except its name on publicity. Please see Standard 4: Manage Commercial Support Appropriately and Standard 5: Manage Ancillary Activities Offered in Conjunction with Accredited Continuing Education for further clarification.

Exhibits can never be a condition for the receipt of commercial support. A separate agreement and financial arrangement must be entered into if a commercial interest that has provided commercial support wants an exhibit opportunity or any other marketing arrangement.

How are hours of credit calculated?

60 minutes equal one (1) AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™; credit is designated in 15 minute or 0.25 credit increments and rounded to the nearest quarter hour.

Can non-physicians use AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ for re-licensure purposes?

Yes, there are other disciplines that accept AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ as equivalent CE or CEU for re-licensure or recertification, including, but not limited to, Nurses, Nurse Practitioners, Physician Assistants, Pharm.D’s, and Psychologists. It is advisable for you to contact the specific governing body, as state boards vary in their requirements.