Profession
AMA seeks to simplify CME logistics
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted July 5, 2004
Pulling together a continuing medical education course is becoming increasingly complicated for medical societies and other providers, something the AMA is seeking to resolve. At its Annual Meeting in Chicago in June, the AMA agreed to open a discussion with the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to create a standardized letter of agreement for CME providers seeking commercial support.
The ACCME updated its standards for commercial support in recent months, and CME providers are now facing an unexpected amount of red tape. Pharmaceutical companies have started creating their own letters of agreement when asked to help fund a CME activity, and CME providers now must consult with legal counsel on each individual letter to ensure it conforms with ACCME standards for commercial support. These individual letters have replaced an older standard letter developed by the ACCME.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2004/07/05/prbf0705.htm.