The ACCME defines a commercial interest as “any entity producing, marketing, re-selling, or distributing health care goods or services consumed by, or used on, patients. The ACCME does not consider providers of clinical service directly to patients to be commercial interests.” See ACCME’s Definition of Commercial Interest for more information.
In August of 2009, the ACCME issued a ‘Letter to providers regarding restructuring for new commercial interest definition’ which includes six questions that have been developed by the ACCME in order to determine whether or not an organization falls under the definition of an ACCME-defined commercial interest. Those six questions are listed below:
Structured Self-Assessment Related to ACCME’s Definition of a Commercial Interest
1. Does your organization, or a part of your organization, produce, market, re-sell, or distribute health care goods or services consumed by or used on patients?
2. Does your organization have a parent company1 that produces, markets, re-sells, or distributes health care goods or services consumed by, or used on, patients?
3. Does your organization have a sister company2 that produces, markets, re-sells, or distributes health care goods or services consumed by, or used on, patients?
4. Does your organization advocate for an ACCME-defined commercial interest?
5. Does your organization have a parent company that advocates for an ACCME-defined commercial interest?
6. Does your organization have a sister company that advocates for an ACCME-defined commercial interest?
To review the original letter please click here.
Definition of Commercial Interest
Original letter
ACCME's Corporate Structure Review Process
