CME Joint Sponsorship Requires Significant Cooperation

As continuing medical education (CME) stakeholders began addressing concerns from commercial supporters about reporting requirements under the Physician Payments Sunshine Act, one area may need particular attention: joint sponsorship. We previously noted that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized in a Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) that the list of five (5) accrediting bodies is exhaustive. Thus, payments to speakers at CME events that are not run by CME providers accredited or certified by one of these entities are reportable payments or other transfers of value for Open Payments. Consequently, several CME stakeholders have expressed concern about this limitation. Others have suggested that entities not recognized by one of these five bodies jointly sponsor CME programs. Interestingly, a recent article from Medical Meetings reminds stakeholders considering joint sponsorship to be cautious, even though such collaborations can be productive and help CME providers avoid the burdens of the Sunshine Act. Specifically, the authors noted that CME providers need to ensure that "joint sponsors—and others who can control or influence content—are not commercial interests (CI)." The ACCME does not prescribe how to determine eligibility for joint sponsorship; providers have to select and implement their eligibility-determination method based on their risk tolerance, and knowledge of and comfort level with potential partners, along with oth...
Source: Policy and Medicine - Category: Health Medicine and Bioethics Commentators Authors: Source Type: blogs