What is Joint Sponsorship?

Joint Sponsorship is the process by which two organizations, one an accredited continuing medical education (CME) provider and one not, form a partnership to plan, implement and evaluate an activity approved for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. The Minnesota Medical Association (MMA) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) and is responsible for ensuring compliance with all ACCME Standards for Commercial Support and Updated Decision-Making Criteria.

The American Medical Association (AMA) and other member organizations have entrusted the ACCME with maintaining the quality of CME in the United States. The MMA must document involvement in each activity that we jointly sponsor.

What is AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™?

Continuing medical education refers to the life-long body of education that a physician completes outside of medical school and residency. AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ is the type of credit that can be applied toward the AMA Physician’s Recognition Award (PRA) and the type of credit that physicians licensed in Minnesota must complete to receive or renew their medical license. “CME consists of educational activities that serve to maintain, develop, or increase the knowledge, skills and professional performance and relationships a physician uses to provide services to patients, the public or the profession.” (AMA 2006 Revision) Topics that do not fit within this definition such as marketing, asset management, increasing reimbursements, or art appreciation are not appropriate for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™.

What are the eligibility criteria to be considered for joint sponsorship with the Minnesota Medical Association?

1. Corresponds to the MMA CME Mission Statement.
2. Offers a program of continuing medical education primarily targeted to physicians licensed and practicing in the State of Minnesota.
3. Event is located in the state of Minnesota and/or surrounding region.
4. Formal planning committee with physicians based in Minnesota.
5. Course Director is actively involved in the planning and entire application process.
6. Demonstrate an overall organizational commitment to the continuing medical education program, including staffing resources.
7. Demonstrate the capacity to substantially comply with the MMA/ACCME Essential Area Elements and Criteria.
    

What are the steps toward receiving CME credit?

1. Invite or involve the MMA in a planning meeting.
2. Submit the Notice of Intent and other required documents.
   a. Disclosure form
   b. Course Director form
3. MMA staff reviews the materials and requests revisions as needed.
4. Once the Notice of Intent is accepted, a complete application and documents to be submitted for approval.
5. MMA CME Committee members evaluates the materials.
6. Telephone conference involving the MMA CME Staff or Reviewer and Course Director to discuss any changes, updates, request for additional information.
7. The Reviewer recommends: 1) approval, 2) approval pending specific changes, or 3) denial of CME credit.
8. Reviewer or MMA staff can request speaker’s presentations for review prior to the program. If the speaker is unable to produce, credit may not be provided for that session.
9. MMA staff advises the applicant of the decision; further action is taken as necessary.
10. 30 days after the event is done a Summary Report is due.
     

How do I advertise my activity?

The MMA Education Department must review and approve all promotional materials prior to distribution.

1. Promotional items must include: 
   • Identification of the MMA as the provider of CME credit including the MMA logo
   • Target audience
   • Educational objectives, statement of gap or educational opportunity
   • Accreditation and Designation Statement.
2. Activities may not be advertised as approved for CME credit until approval is received from the MMA Education Department.

Phrases like “CME credit pending” or “credit applied for” may not be used. For annual meetings or other special circumstances, advertisement may be sent before receiving CME approval with certain restrictions:

• Save-the-Date flyers may include: date, place, contact person, hotel info, etc.
• Save-the-Date flyers may not include: the number of CME credits or accreditation statement.

Contact Jocelyn Cox (jcox@mnmed.org) at (612) 623-2880 if you are interested in advertising on our website or in Minnesota Medicine magazine.

How much does Joint Sponsorship cost?

For information regarding fees, please contact the MMA.

What’s a typical timeline?

Application and supporting documents received in a timely fashion. Applications received late may not allow enough time for review, resolution of conflicts of interest, or needed revisions. We will do our best to expedite all applications while remaining within the parameters of the ACCME Updated Decision-Making Criteria and the Standards for Commercial Support to ensure independence in CME. If the process cannot be completed in time you will be notified.

How can we get credit for serial conferences held weekly or monthly?

Serial conferences may be combined on quarterly or annual applications if they are planned by and presented to the provider’s professional staff, and have a singular focus. Providers must have a system in place to monitor session-level compliance with the ACCME Standards for Commercial Support and MMA Policies and Procedures. All meeting dates and a sample agenda are required with the Application. New applications are required each quarter/year, even if the components stay the same.

Can we apply for credit after the meeting?

The AMA and the MMA Committee on CME does not allow activities to be approved for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ retroactively. There can be no exceptions.

ACCME Standards for Commercial Support-Standards to Ensure Independence of CME Activities

The MMA strictly conforms to the ACCME Standards for Commercial Support-Standards to Ensure Independence of CME Activities (Standards). The goal is to eliminate commercial bias from CME activities. A complete copy of the Standards is posted on the MMA Web site. The ACCME requires all accredited providers to obtain written agreements when educational grants are used to fund CME activities and to maintain scrupulous documentation concerning the receipt and disbursement of funds. Grantors may not pay speakers or meeting expenses directly. Educational grant funds must be made payable to the host organization; the host organization is responsible for all disbursements. An accounting of funds received and disbursed is required 45 days after the activity.

Disclosure Form

An integral facet of compliance with the Standards is disclosure. All planners (anyone in a position to control content) and faculty (speakers, presenters, authors, co-authors, and moderators) are expected to disclose any financial relationships with commercial interests (entities who produce, market, re-sell, or distribute health care goods or services, consumed by or used on, patients) related to the content of the educational presentation in which they are involved. Disclosure of relevant financial relationships enables the applicant and the MMA to resolve any potential conflicts of interest. The speaker’s and planner’s relationship(s) or absence of such relationships must be communicated to the audience prior to the activity, on the promotional piece and meeting agenda/program.

What is expected of a joint sponsor?

1. Identifies professional practice gap based on internal or external data sources
2. Analyzes practice gap and determines desired result of educational intervention (to change knowledge, performance, patient outcomes)
3. Identify target audience
4. Determine learners needs
5. Develop educational objectives
6. Develop educational content and format considering scope of practice, physician attributes and adult learning principles
7. Determine if there are any barriers for learners to accept and integrate the educational concepts which can be addressed in the educational intervention
8. Select expert faculty
9. Determine funding – review standards for commercial support, conflict of interest and relevant financial relationships.
10. Develop activity agenda.
11. Secure funding and create preliminary budget.
12. Request Faculty/Planner Relevant Financial Disclosure forms.
13. Determine if non-educational strategies can be used to reinforce the educational objectives post-activity
14. Submit application and required documentation.
15. Have flyer/brochure approved for printing.
16. Prior to the activity, make all disclosures to learners (relevant financial relationships, faculty relationships with Commercial Supporter and with products or services being discussed, etc).
17. Hold Education Activity.
18. Evaluate the activity.
19. Hand out certificates.
20. Complete and submit Summary Report, evaluation summary, sign in sheets and any other information that will complete the activity file to the MMA.

Questions?

Contact the CME department or 612-362-3744.