Is record keeping required when it comes to commercial support?
According to Standard 4, yes. Accredited providers are required to keep a detailed record of the amount/kind of commercial support and how it was used. They also must have those records available to show to the accrediting body or the ineligible company at any time.
(Standard 4: Manage Commercial Support Appropriately)
Can we use commercial support to pay expenses for a handful of individual learners to defray the costs of attending our activity?
Standard 4 is dedicated to the appropriate management of commercial support. It clarifies that the provider must not use commercial support to pay for expenses for individual learners or groups of learners in accredited CE (including travel, lodging, honoraria, or personal expenses). They can, however, use commercial support to offset or eliminate the cost of the activity/education for all learners. (Standard 4: Manage Commercial Support Appropriately)
