The provider must make all decisions regarding the disposition and disbursement of commercial support.
Standard 3: Appropriate Use of Commercial Support
Standard 3.1
Standard 3.2
A provider cannot be required by a commercial interest to accept advice or services concerning teachers, authors, or participants or other education matters, including content, from a commercial interest as conditions of contributing funds or services.
Standard 3.3
All commercial support associated with a CME activity must be given with the full knowledge and approval of the provider.
Standard 3.4
The terms, conditions, and purposes of the commercial support must be documented in a written agreement between the commercial supporter that includes the provider and its educational partner(s). The agreement must include the provider, even if the support is given directly to the provider's educational partner or a joint provider.
Standard 3.5
The written agreement must specify the commercial interest that is the source of commercial support.
Standard 3.6
Both the commercial supporter and the provider must sign the written agreement between the commercial supporter and the provider.
Standard 3.7
The provider must have written policies and procedures governing honoraria and reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses for planners, teachers and authors.
Standard 3.8
The provider, the joint provider, or designated educational partner must pay directly any teacher or author honoraria or reimbursement of out-of–pocket expenses in compliance with the provider's written policies and procedures.
Standard 3.9
No other payment shall be given to the director of the activity, planning committee members, teachers or authors, joint provider, or any others involved with the supported activity.
Standard 3.10
If teachers or authors are listed on the agenda as facilitating or conducting a presentation or session, but participate in the remainder of an educational event as a learner, their expenses can be reimbursed and honoraria can be paid for their teacher or author role only.
Standard 3.11
Social events or meals at CME activities cannot compete with or take precedence over the educational events.
Standard 3.12
The provider may not use commercial support to pay for travel, lodging, honoraria, or personal expenses for non-teacher or non-author participants of a CME activity. The provider may use commercial support to pay for travel, lodging, honoraria, or personal expenses for bona fide employees and volunteers of the provider, joint provider or educational partner.
Standard 3.13
The provider must be able to produce accurate documentation detailing the receipt and expenditure of the commercial support.