There were new Commercial Support Changes approved in September 2004.  They are causing quite a raucous throughout the CME world.  The new requirement to not only identify but "resolve" conflicts of interest cause everyone to change the way they choose speakers.  Also, regarding  Commercial Support, Dr. Havens has said at an IMQ Conference, there will no longer be a partial compliance category.  We will either be in compliance 100% or in the non-compliance category.  Non-compliance will mean an automatic drop from 4 to 2 years.

All Category 1 credit must be evidence based and proven by the literature.  If any doubt,
the one requesting the lecture/credit, should submit literature to prove it.  Coordinator does not have to verify the literature

Conferences – We need to record the number of hours physicians stay.  Their certificates or logged hours need to comply with the number of hours they actually stayed at the meeting.  It is no longer okay to just say “may report up to ____ hours”.   We should give them each a piece of paper they sign with the # of hours they stayed.  It should be handed in when they leave and then their certificate is completed.

On November 28, 2001, the Department of Health Services adopted regulations prescribing the continuing education credits (CECs) required for renewing permits and certificates in radiologic technology.  This means that physicians who have fluoroscopy licenses are required to earn 10 approved CECs to renew a certificate or permit.

Please note that subjects related to the application of x-ray to the human body may include X-ray administration, X-ray management, X-ray pathology, X-ray diagnosis, and X-ray quality control.  However, subjects in MRI and Ultra Sound are not related to the application of x-ray to the human body.

There is an ongoing requirement, that all general medicine and family practice physicians who treat 25% or more geriatric patients in their practice, have to get 20% of their CME in geriatric medicine.  Since you need 25 hours of CME per year that means you should collect at least 5 hours per year on topics relating mostly to geriatrics.

All physicians, with the exception of Pathologists and Radiologists, have to collect 12 hours of CME on the topics of “Pain Management” and the “Treatment of Terminally Ill & Dying Patients”.  You can get 4 hrs. on pain and 8 on terminally ill, or 11 on pain and 1 on terminally ill, or any other way you put it together.  You have been given a generous amount of time to complete this one-time requirement.  The deadline is 12/31/06.

As of July 1, 2006 all CME activities related to patient care have to have a cultural diversity/linguistics component in it.  At its May 2006 Provider Conference, IMQ outlined its definition of compliance.  You may refer to scmec.org Best Practices page for a sample policy and form.

Don't forget - you get all this plus more when you attend "Nuts and Bolts of a CME Program".  Sign up for the next conference.  You won't be disappointed.