Today, the CME Coalition submitted comments to the Senate HELP Committee regarding their new legislative initiative to prioritize drug and device discovery and development. The Senate endeavor is analogous to the ‘21st Century Cures’ initiative being pursued by the House Energy and Commerce Committee, although the Senate has yet to release a legislative discussion draft presenting specific policies for consideration.
As you may recall, the ‘21st Century Cures’ discussion draft released earlier this month included the bill introduced by Reps. Michael Burgess (R-TX) and Peter DeFazio (D-OR) to exempt CME and educational texts from the reporting requirements of the Sunshine Act. In the Coalition's comments to the Senate, we encourage them to take a similar approach, highlighting the role of CME in educating physicians on the latest innovations in medicine.
As you may recall, the ‘21st Century Cures’ discussion draft released earlier this month included the bill introduced by Reps. Michael Burgess (R-TX) and Peter DeFazio (D-OR) to exempt CME and educational texts from the reporting requirements of the Sunshine Act. In the Coalition's comments to the Senate, we encourage them to take a similar approach, highlighting the role of CME in educating physicians on the latest innovations in medicine.
“The future of medical innovation in this country is bright, and the Committee’s commitment to this cause will ensure that America continues to lead the way in discovering the latest breakthroughs in medical technology. But on behalf of the CME Coalition, we wish to emphasize that unless doctors are given the tools and education they need to implement the newest innovations in medicine, the promise of such innovation won’t make it to the bedside. Accordingly, we are writing to encourage the Committee to ensure that physician access to continuing medical education (CME) remain a high public policy priority….
“As physician access to CME is undermined by an uncertain regulatory atmosphere, we urge the Committee to take action as part of its commitment to delivering the latest treatments to patients. Indeed, the Committee should work to develop policies that will encourage—rather than obstruct—the professional development of our nation’s physicians and healthcare workers. To that end, we encourage the Committee to consider legislation that would clarify the original intent of Congress to exempt CME from the Sunshine Act’s reporting requirements, and we would welcome the opportunity to provide input on developing such a solution.
| CME Coalition Comments on Senate HELP Initiative |
