Welcome to the AOE Compliance Connection, AOE Consulting’s monthly newsletter. This resource offers accreditation board bulletins for ACCME, ACPE, and ANCC, along with regulatory updates, highlights of AOE’s services, and information on upcoming activities and educational opportunities.
Navigating Education Excellence is our work. Our combined experience has improved effectiveness and success for more than 50 education providers, pharmaceutical CME/IME teams, hospitals, academic centers, and associations. Aristotle said, “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act, but a habit.” At AOE, excellence is more than a habit—it’s our business.
Enjoy this month’s edition of AOE Compliance Connection! We encourage you to visit www.aoeconsulting.com for more information, including weekly compliance tips and bi-monthly video blogs!
Accreditation Board Bulletin
ACCME: Each year, all ACCME-accredited providers are required to fulfill year-end reporting requirements in order to maintain their accreditation status. To meet these requirements, accredited providers must do two things: (1) Confirm or update your contact information and (2) Complete entry of your activity and program summary data for the year. This data is submitted through the PARS system. The year-end reporting deadline of March 31, 2015 is fast approaching. Providers who do not submit their annual reporting data by this deadline are subject to a change in their accreditation status to Probation.
The PARS system is now open for data entry for the 2015 reporting year, as well. As the ACCME previously announced, there are changes to PARS for the 2015 reporting year. The deadline for completing entry for the 2015 reporting year is not until March 31, 2016; however, it is important to take note of the changes now in order to implement any future changes in your data collection processes. Additional information may be found by visiting http://www.accme.org/education-and-support/video/tutorials/fulfilling-2015-year-end-reporting-requirements-using-pars
ANCC: Similar to ACCME, all ANCC accredited organizations are required to complete an annual report to ANCC each calendar year, excluding organizations going through re-accreditation in the same year. Accredited organizations may choose to submit their annual report based on a calendar year or fiscal year, but must be consistent in that timing for each year they submit. Forms must be downloaded, completed, and submitted to accreditation@ana.org no later than April 1, annually. Approval and Provider annual report forms can be located here: http://www.nursecredentialing.org/Accreditation/Primary/Maintain-Accreditation
Organizations that fail to submit the annual report by April 1 will be sent one reminder with an expected due date of May 1. If the forms are not submitted by May 1, the organization will not be considered to be an organization in good standing, and after 90 days, their accreditation status will be suspended.
ACPE: CPE Monitor replaced ACPE’s annual report. CPE Monitor is a national, collaborative effort by ACPE and NABP to provide an electronic system for pharmacists and pharmacy techs to track their completed CPE credits. CPE Monitor is required by all ACPE-accredited providers. Providers are required to submit activity and participant information online via CPE Monitor. Providers have a maximum of 60 days post the CPE activity participation date to upload the participant credit into CPE Monitor.
Sunshine Act (PPSA) Pulse
There have been no official updates from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid since the October 2014 announcement, which redefined most CME payments as outside of the Physician Payment Sunshine Act reporting rule. A December 2014 FAQ document that was released by CMS caused much confusion for those of us in the CME space, and was contradictory to the changes announced in October.
As the FAQ document does not provide clarification, questions continue to be asked regarding what is and what is not reportable as it relates to CME and where to find guidance, thus causing further perplexity. AOE continues to place emphasis on compliance with the final CME rule, over the inconsistent updates that have circulated, as the CME final rule language was signed into the law.
AOE Service in the Spotlight
AOE’s outsourced CME Coordination services emerged out of recurring requests to help accredited organizations with limited resources. Effectively, AOE’s team works with accredited organizations as an extension of their staff (i.e. as a remote employee) to manage day-to-day implementation of compliance across CME activities. AOE reduces resource costs and time associated with implementing a best-in-class accredited CME/CE program, because our expertise is CME/CE compliance.
As an outsourced CME Coordinator, AOE steers towards success by providing thorough analysis and support. We deliver the project management, clinical, and biostatistical resources necessary to manage an accredited CME/CE activity from start-to-finish, including:
- Documentation of all Planning Steps, Including Gap Analysis and Needs Assessment
- Planner/Faculty Management, Including Identification and Resolution of COI
- Review of Promotional and Program Materials Developed by Your Organization
- Clinical Content Review (i.e. Independent Peer Review)
- On-site Activity Audits
- Evaluation Tabulation
- Issuance of Certificates
- Outcomes Analysis and Reporting
- Activity File Close-Out
Additionally, we customize our approach to each unique client, while upholding accreditation standards. We understand the variance in challenges that our stakeholders face, which is why our CME/CE consulting services and audits have improved efficiency with Six Sigma business case results and our Self-Study reports have resulted in Accreditation with Commendation from CME/CE accreditation boards. Amid the waves of accreditation change, let AOE help guide your organization’s CME/CE journey.
Upcoming Activities/Education Opportunities
- ANCC Pathway to Excellence Conference® 2015
May 14-15, 2015, Louisville, KY
http://www.nursecredentialing.org/PathwayConference - Self-Study for ACCME Accreditation Session
April 22, 2015, Chicago, IL
http://www.accme.org/events/self-study-accme-accreditation-session-1 - Newcomers’ Introduction to Accredited CME
April 22, 2015, Chicago, IL
http://www.accme.org/events/newcomers-introduction-accredited-cme-5 - CME as a Bridge to Quality Accreditation Workshop
April 23-24, 2015, Chicago, IL
http://www.accme.org/events/cme-bridge-quality-accreditation-workshop-5 - ACPE Administrator Workshop 2015
April 27-28, 2015, Chicago, IL
https://adobeformscentral.com/?f=TReOZ3TKTQCcQXzCCKP5Yg - CME Palooza
April 8, 2015
http://cmepalooza.com/spring/
