It is the policy of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics to plan and implement all of its educational activities in accordance with the ACCME® Policies to ensure balance, independence, objectivity and scientific rigor. In accordance with the ACCME® Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education, everyone (speakers, moderators, platform presenters, presenting authors, committee members, and staff) who is in a position to control the content of an educational activity certified for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ is required to disclose all financial relationships with any commercial interests (see definition below) within the past 24 months that creates a real or apparent conflict of interest.
Individuals with potential for influence or control of CME content include:
- planners, planning committee members, staff
- submitters and first authors
- presenters, teachers
- educational activity directors
- educational partners
- others who participate, e.g., facilitators and moderators
This disclosure pertains to relationships with ACCME-defined Ineligible companies. (Definition of ineligible company: Those whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, reselling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients.) Financial relationships are relevant if the following three conditions are met for the individual who will control content of the education:
- Financial relationship, in any amount, exists between the person in control of content and an ineligible company.
- The financial relationship existed during the past 24 months.
- The content of the education is related to the products of an ineligible company with whom the person has a financial relationship.
ACMG’s POLICY AND PROCEDURE FOR IDENTIFYING AND RESOLVING CONFLICTS OF INTEREST FOR CME EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES
The ACCME® Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education describe five standards: (1) Ensure Content is Valid, (2) Prevent Commercial Bias and Marketing in Accredited Continuing Education, (3) Identify, Mitigate, and Disclose Relevant Financial Relationships, (4) Manage Commercial Support Appropriately, (5) Manage Ancillary Activities Offered in Conjunction with Accredited Continuing Education.
The Standards are designed to:
- Ensure that accredited continuing education serves the needs of patients and the public.
- Present learners with only accurate, balanced, scientifically justified recommendations.
- Assure healthcare professionals and teams that they can trust accredited continuing education to help them deliver safe, effective, cost-effective, compassionate care that is based on best practice and evidence.
- Create a clear, unbridgeable separation between accredited continuing education and marketing and sales.
The purpose of this policy is twofold: [1] Prevent Commercial Bias and Marketing in Accredited Continuing Education as required in Standard 2, and [2] Identify, Mitigate, and Disclose Relevant Financial Relationships required in Standard 3.
Regardless of role, disclosure forms for speakers, moderators, all presenting authors, program committee and staff participating in a CME activity will be collected and reviewed.