Welcome to AOE’s October 2023 edition of AOE Compliance Connection, our monthly newsletter. In this edition, we feature two updates from the ACCME, including information about 2024 accreditation fees and a recap video from Learn to Thrive 2023. We also feature 7 highlights from AOE’s survey of ACCME accredited providers and include a quick look at Standard 4 of the Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education. If you don’t already, take a minute to follow us on social media (Twitter and Facebook) for helpful weekly compliance tips and updates. Don’t hesitate to reach out with questions or CE compliance inquiries of any type: inquire@aoeconsulting.com. We are here to help!
ACCME: Two Updates
Annual Fee Update
Earlier this month, the ACCME released information about 2024-2025 Annual Fees for accredited providers. While there will be no increase in the annual fees for each tier in 2024, there are anticipated increases for 2025, and that information has been published to allow providers time to budget and plan accordingly.
In general, the annual accreditation fees are based on a tiered fee structure (tier 1 for the smallest programs, tier 4 for the largest) that aims to distribute the financial responsibility fairly among various sized programs. Beginning in 2024, the ACCME is adding a fifth tier that will represent the top 1% of the CE programs (in terms of size). The changes only apply to annual accreditation fees; other service fees will continue as flat fees.
Read more about the fee changes (and see the full fee schedule) here. Providers can expect an invoice in early October for their 2024 fee, due on January 31, 2024.
Learn to Thrive Recap Video
More than 600 participants gathered in Chicago in May for Learn to Thrive 2023, the annual meeting of the ACCME. As a thank you to participants, faculty and staff, and volunteers, the ACCME released a short (under 2 minute) video recap of the event.
You can view the video here (and can mark May 14-16, 2024, on your calendars for next year’s gathering).
7 Highlights from AOE’s Survey of ACCME Accredited Providers
AOE recently released results from our recent survey of ACCME Accredited Providers. The aggregated results and “Top 7” Highlights are now available for download, review and feedback.
In her message to participating accredited providers, AOE Managing Director, Annika Borvansky, MA, CHCP, expressed her appreciation for all providers who responded. She emphasized the survey’s importance: “This important feedback allowed our team to identify multiple research takeaways for further growth and success.”
Let’s Review: A Survey of the Standards (part 4)
The Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education were released in December 2020 with required implementation by January 1, 2022, officially replacing the established Standards for Commercial Support. As all providers are required to demonstrate ongoing compliance with the Standards, it is a good practice for CE teams to review and refresh on the content and requirements of each Standard.
Over these fall months, AOE is featuring one Standard per newsletter (we already featured Standard 1, Standard 2, and Standard 3) to ultimately offer readers insight and tools beyond a surface level. Let’s continue this month with Standard 4.
Standard 4
Standard 4 clarifies the appropriate management of commercial support. This standard only applies to accredited CE that receives financial (or in-kind) support from ineligible companies.
Any accredited provider that does choose to solicit and accept commercial support is responsible for “ensuring that the education remains independent of the ineligible company and that the support does not result in commercial bias or commercial influence in the education.” As a reminder, the ACCME defines commercial support as financial or in-kind support from ineligible companies. Standard 4 confirms that the support provided should not establish a financial relationship between the ineligible company and anyone in control of content of the education.
Standard 4 contains four subsections, as summarized below:
- Decision-making and disbursement: All decisions regarding the receipt and disbursement of the commercial support must be made by the provider only. This section details what the providers are (and are not) allowed to cover with commercial support funds; for example, commercial support may be used to fund honoraria and travel expenses for planners and faculty members, but not for any individual learners in the education. Further, the accredited provider may use commercial support to defray or eliminate the cost of the education for all learners.
- Agreement: A documented agreement between the ineligible company and the accredited provider must contain the terms, conditions, and purposes of the commercial support, prior to the start of the education itself. An accredited provider can sign onto an existing agreement between an accredited provider and a commercial supporter by indicating its acceptance of the terms, conditions, and amount of commercial support it will receive.
- Accountability: A record must be kept by the provider detailing the amounts of support received and how it was used. This record (i.e., expense/income record) must be made available, upon request.
- Disclosure to learners: Prior to the education, accredited providers have to disclosure to learners the 1) names of ineligible companies, and 2) nature of support (without including the corporate logos or trade names).
The ACCME clarifies a few different points about Standard 4, including the option to provide scholarships to residents and fellows. While not directly addressed in the standards (4.1c), commercial support funds to support scholarships for residents and fellows is permitted. Additionally, ineligible companies can require (via the written agreement required in 4.2) that any unspent commercial support funds be returned by the accredited provider to the ineligible company.
More information about all five of the Standards can be found here.
Upcoming Events
- Learn to Thrive PLUS
October 24, 2023, Virtual, 10am-3:45pm
Read More >> - Learn to Thrive 2024 – Call for Proposals
October 30, 2023, Virtual
Read More >> - Alliance 2024 Annual Conference
February 5-8, 2024, New Orleans, LA
Read More >>
