The CME Coalition has submitted comments to Reps. Diana DeGette (D-CO) and Fred Upton (R-MI) in response to their solicitation for comments on ‘Cures 2.0’ — an important next step in their efforts to advance medical research and foster innovation. As the letter points out, policymakers have increasingly recognized that there is an important role for enhanced provider education to address discrete policy challenges.
Key examples of this cited in the letter include the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) policy to incentivize medical education for providers by recognizing Quality Improvement CME (QI-CME) as an 'Improvement Activity' under the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS). Additionally, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has acknowledged the role of CME in combating opioid misuse by leveraging continuing education on safe prescribing and safe use practices in their Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) for opioids. And most recently, the House Energy & Commerce and Senate HELP committees included a provision in their bipartisan surprise billing and drug pricing legislation that would direct the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to improve continuing education for health care providers regarding lower cost biosimilar products.
Looking forward, as lawmakers consider policies to support access to new medications, we encourage them to keep in mind the essential role in educating America’s health care professionals to adopt and administer these groundbreaking treatments. The CME Coalition offers significant expertise in this area — representing over 40 leading CME providers and supporters who facilitate programs that impact more than 2,000,000 physicians, nurses, and pharmacists annually — and we look forward to being a part of this dialogue in the months ahead.
Key examples of this cited in the letter include the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) policy to incentivize medical education for providers by recognizing Quality Improvement CME (QI-CME) as an 'Improvement Activity' under the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS). Additionally, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has acknowledged the role of CME in combating opioid misuse by leveraging continuing education on safe prescribing and safe use practices in their Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) for opioids. And most recently, the House Energy & Commerce and Senate HELP committees included a provision in their bipartisan surprise billing and drug pricing legislation that would direct the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to improve continuing education for health care providers regarding lower cost biosimilar products.
Looking forward, as lawmakers consider policies to support access to new medications, we encourage them to keep in mind the essential role in educating America’s health care professionals to adopt and administer these groundbreaking treatments. The CME Coalition offers significant expertise in this area — representing over 40 leading CME providers and supporters who facilitate programs that impact more than 2,000,000 physicians, nurses, and pharmacists annually — and we look forward to being a part of this dialogue in the months ahead.
| CME Coalition Comments on Cures 2.0.pdf |
