At the Alliance for Continuing Education in the Health Professions 2019 Annual Conference, CME Coalition's Andy Rosenberg and Tom Sullivan provided an update on the major legislative and regulatory issues that the Coalition has been engaged in throughout this year. A slide deck for the presentation can be accessed here. 

The CME Coalition submitted comments this week to Maine’s Board of Pharmacy, calling on it to revisit its proposed rule to limit honoraria for physicians participating in CME activities to $250 per calendar year. The Board’s proposal implements a state law that prohibits industry gifts to physicians and establishes certain exemptions, such as the $250 exemption for payments for physicians sharing medical knowledge with their peers. That exemption does not allow for physicians to be adequately compensated for their time and expertise, which would lead to fewer knowledgeable doctors being willing to speak at CME programs. 

The CME Coalition recently submitted the attached comments on the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education's (ACCME) Standards for Commercial Support (SCS) process. The Standards for Commercial Support are designed to ensure that CME activities are independent and free of commercial bias. All accredited CME providers in the ACCME System are responsible for complying with the Standards for Commercial Support and the policies that supplement the Standards.

​​The CME Coalition applauds U.S. Representatives Phil Roe (R-TN), Raul Ruiz (D-CA), Andy Harris (R-MD), and Ami Bera (D-CA) for their introduction of a congressional resolution expressing support for the need to expand training for physicians on opioid prescribing. These four key Members of Congress — all physicians in their own right — have recognized the role of CME in the professional development of America’s physician workforce. 

​Last week, a report was released by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) that includes two recommendations directly impacting CME activities. While we are still analyzing its recommendations, we wish to draw your attention to pages 18 & 19, which, among other things, call for greater coordination with CME providers to develop clinical activities to improve skills and complete board certification.