CMS has proposed eliminating the continuing medical education exclusion under the Sunshine Act, which would require pharmaceutical and medical device companies to report payments to physicians for CME.
Under the CME exclusion of the Sunshine Act, as long as companies do not directly pay physicians or select them as speakers they are not required to report payments to physician-speakers at accredited CME events.
In the proposed Physician Fee Schedule for 2015, CMS has recommended the CME exclusion be completely eliminated. In the proposal, CMS said "Eliminating the exemption for payments to speakers at certain accredited or certifying CME events will create a more consistent reporting requirement, and will also be more consistent for consumers who will ultimately have access to the reported data."
Comments will be accepted on the proposed rule until Sept. 2.
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