CME/CE Library

In response to the COVID-19 crisis, the ACCME has created this COVID-19 Educator Resource page for CME/CE stakeholders responding to the coronavirus public health emergency. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, the CME/CE community is evolving and adapting. This webpage continues to be updated with useful resources, archived webinars and links.

Over the past several years, the ACCME has established an increasing number of formal collaborations with American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) member boards to simplify and align their respective Maintenance of Certification (MOC) processes in the areas where accredited CME ‘plugs in.’ The aim of these collaborations is to streamline requirements for both CME providers and board-certified, physician learners.

View the complete list of current collaborations, as well as PARS reporting requirements: CME in Support of MOC

Accredited CME activities can be designed to align with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS), and the ACCME has made resources available to accredited CME providers, who would like to design CME activities to meet MIPS requirements. As well, the ACCME’s PARS database has been updated and allows for accredited CME providers to indicate that a CME activity meets the requirements of a MIPS Improvement Activity.

View the complete list of requirements, FAQs and additional resources: CME in Support of MIPS

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) implemented its Quality Payment Program (QPP) as part of its Medicare reimbursement reform on January 1, 2017. This program outlines new expectations for reimbursement, and aims to reduce administrative burdens for clinicians and improve upon health outcomes for Medicare patients. The Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS), is one QPP track available for clinicians who treat Medicare patients, and a track that can align with certain accredited CME improvement activities.

Read more about this CMS program: Quality Payment Program Overview

The ACCME and the AMA announced adoption of a proposed collaboration to simplify and align expectations for CME activities that are certified for AMA Category 1 Credit™. This simplification went in effect Friday, September 29, 2017. In conjunction with this simplification, the AMA released an updated booklet, with revised “Requirements for Educational Activities Eligible for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™” section. This updated section includes information about AMA core requirements, format-specific requirements and requirements for designating and awarding credit.

View the new resource: The AMA Physician’s Recognition Award and credit system

The ACCME’s New Menu of Commendation Criteria, was adopted to offer increased flexibility and a multi-faceted approach for CME provider types to achieve Accreditation with Commendation, given the diversity of providers within the CME enterprise. The ACCME provides multiple resources, including transition plans and dates for providers in various cohorts.

Read the full article: Menu of New Criteria for Accreditation with Commendation

“Advancing Continuing Medical Education”, an article by ACCME CEO Graham McMahon, appeared in The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). Dr. McMahon summarizes the changes in the field over the past 15 years, with an emphasis on the increasing value of quality, flexible CME that is designed to address both practice-based needs and public health issues. Article written by new ACCME Exec Director Graham McMahon.

Read the full article: Advancing Continuing Medical Education

Updates implemented by the ACCME as part of their Simplification and Evolution process involved streamlining, and in in some cases, eliminating accreditation criteria and policies. A summary of key changes is as follows:

• Simplification and removal of some criteria and policy requirements
• Verbiage changes from “joint sponsorship” to “joint providership”
• The introduction of abstracts as approved methods of verifying performance-in-practice
• Simplification of initial accreditation

Read the full set of accreditation rules: Simplification and Evolution

The “Transparency Reports and Reporting of Physician Ownership or Investment Interests,” or Physician Payment Sunshine Act (PPSA), is the rule implemented by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) that requires manufacturers of drugs, medical devices and biologicals to report certain payments and items of value given to physicians and teaching hospitals.

Read the full article: Affordable Care Act Section 6002 Final Rule

In its 2009 report on Conflict of Interest in Medical Research, Education, and Practice, the IOM released a report calling for an end to educational grants from pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers. Most important, the report generally confuses Certified CME/CE with other forms of “education”, inappropriately blending Certified CME/CE with non-CME/CE interactions.

Read the full article: Conflict of Interest in Medical Research, Education, and Practice

A voluntary code of ethics developed by the Advanced Medical Technology Association (AdvaMed) to guide ethical interactions between medical device companies and healthcare professionals.  The code was first developed in 2004 and updated in 2009.

Read the full article: Code Of Ethics On Interactions With Health Care Professionals

The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers Association (PhRMA) developed a voluntary code of ethics in 2002 and updated the code in 2009 providing pharmaceutical and biotech employees with guidelines for appropriate interaction when meeting with healthcare professionals.

Read the full article: Code on Interactions with Healthcare Professionals

The American Medical Association’s Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs (CEJA) put forth a report recommending elimination of commercial support of CME/CE activities. The report was referred for additional study based on concerns regarding clarity and accuracy. Multiple organizations responded to the report, including the North American Association for Medical Education and Communication Companies (NAAMECC), the Council for Medical Specialty Societies (CMSS) and the American Association of Medical Society Executives (AAMSE). The responses can be read in via the link below.

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The U.S. Senate Finance Committee released a report focused on mechanisms, including the ACCME, to address possible pharmaceutical industry influence with respect to certified, CME activities. The report commends pharmaceutical companies for working to separate education from promotion at the same time it censures the ACCME for not working quickly enough to address bad actors in the CME/CE Enterprise.

Updates to established guidelines set for by the ACCME. One significant change implemented was the revised definition of a Commercial Interest.

View the updated ACCME policies here: ACCME Policies

Standards set forth by the ACCME to ensure that CME developed with financial grant support from “commercial interests” is certified and delivered without bias. Accredited providers must evaluate certified CME activities against the guidelines set forth by these Standards and ensure compliance.

View the ACCME Standards for Commercial Support: Standards for Commercial Support: Standards to Ensure Independence in CME Activities

A document issued by the federal Office of Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services requiring pharmaceutical organizations to fully separate their sales and promotional activities from their education activities. “Educational activities” includes certified CME/CE, and the OIG clearly states these activities should be “independent from promotional influence.”

Read the full article: Compliance Program Guidance for Pharmaceutical Manufacturers

A guidance document distinguishing those activities managed by, or on behalf of, pharmaceutical and biotech companies, and CME/CE and other “activities, supported by companies, that are otherwise independent from the promotional influence of the supporting company.”

Read the full article: Industry-Supported Scientific and Educational Activities