The ACCME Standards of Integrity and Independence for Accredited Education require that the Activity Director and Planning Committee disclose all financial relationships with ineligible companies in the past 24 months before CME approval. There is no minimum financial threshold, so all financial relationships must be disclosed, regardless of the amount or potential relevance to the educational content.
The Standards also require that all speakers, authors (i.e., posters, abstracts) and everyone in a position to influence the content of the activity declare ANY financial relationships with ineligible companies in the past 24 months PRIOR to confirmation of the final program.
Owners or employees of ineligible companies must be excluded from controlling content. Includes exceptions to this exclusion. See Standard 3.
The following guidelines have been established to ensure compliance with these national standards.
- All Activity Directors and Planning Committee members must complete the Planner / Speaker Declaration Form and submit this form with the original application for CME credit. This form must be completed for each person who is in a position to influence the content of the activity Application.
- Any disclosure of financial relationships must be reviewed and resolved using the "Mitigation of Relevent Financial Relationships" form. This form must be completed for every individual that discloses any financial relationship(s) on the Planner/Speaker Declaration form.
- Declarations from all Activity Directors, Planning Committee Members, Speakers, Authors, and any other persons in a position to influence the content of the activity and mitigation MUST be disclosed to the learners PRIOR to the start of the activity. Disclosure information must be included in printed materials distributed at the CME activity. Samples are available for appropriate wording.
- In very limited circumstances, verbal disclosure may be made through a moderator during the activity (e.g., a speaker substitution on the day of activity). Verbal disclosure must be documented and signed by the Activity Director. This documentation must be provided to the CME Office.
- Copies of all Planner / Speaker Declaration Forms must be provided to the CME Office no later than four weeks prior to the activity date.