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WBMD » Topics » Failure to maintain our CME accreditation could adversely affect Medscapes ability to provide online CME offeringsThis excerpt taken from the WBMD 10-Q filed Nov 10, 2008. Failure
to maintain our CME accreditation could adversely affect
Medscape’s ability to provide online CME
offerings
Medscape’s continuing medical education (or CME) activities
are planned and implemented in accordance with the current
Essential Areas and Policies of the Accreditation Council for
Continuing Medical Education, or ACCME, which oversees providers
of CME credit, and other applicable accreditation standards. In
2007, ACCME revised its standards for commercial support of CME.
The revised standards are intended to ensure, among other
things, that CME activities of ACCME-accredited providers, such
as Medscape, are independent of “commercial
interests,” which are now defined as entities that produce,
market, re-sell or distribute healthcare goods and services,
excluding certain organizations. “Commercial
interests,” and entities owned or
Table of Contents
controlled by “commercial interests,” are ineligible
for accreditation by the ACCME. The revised standards also
provide that accredited CME providers may not place their CME
content on Web sites owned or controlled by a “commercial
interest.” In addition, accredited CME providers may no
longer ask “commercial interests” for speaker or topic
suggestions, and are also prohibited from asking
“commercial interests” to review CME content prior to
delivery.
As a result of the revised standards, we have made certain
adjustments to our corporate structure, management and
operations intended to ensure that Medscape will continue to
provide CME activities that are developed independently from
those programs developed by its sister companies, which may not
be independent of “commercial interests.” ACCME
required accredited providers to implement changes relating to
placing CME content on Web sites owned or controlled by
“commercial interests” by January 1, 2008 and is
requiring accredited providers to implement any corporate
structural changes necessary to meet the revised standards
regarding the definition of “commercial interest” by
August 2009. We believe that the adjustments that we and
Medscape have made to our structure and operations satisfy the
revised standards.
In June 2008, the ACCME announced a
“call-for-comments” on several ACCME proposals,
including the following:
The ACCME sought comments on the above, and the comment period
ended to end on September 12, 2008. The comments submitted
to the ACCME indicated significant backing from the medical
profession for commercially-supported CME and, accordingly, we
believe that it is unlikely that a proposal for complete
elimination of such support would be adopted. However, we cannot
predict the ultimate outcome of the process, including what
other alternatives may be considered by ACCME as a result of
comments it has received. The elimination of, or restrictions
on, commercial support for CME could adversely affect the volume
of sponsored online CME programs implemented through our Web
sites.
Medscape’s current ACCME accreditation expires at the end
of July 2010. In order for Medscape to renew its accreditation,
it will be required to demonstrate to the ACCME that it
continues to meet ACCME requirements. If Medscape fails to
maintain its status as an accredited ACCME provider (whether at
the time of such renewal or at an earlier time as a result of a
failure to comply with existing or additional ACCME standards),
it would not be permitted to accredit ACCME activities for
physicians and other healthcare professionals. Instead, it would
be required to use third parties to provide such CME-related
services. That, in turn, could discourage potential sponsors
from engaging Medscape to develop CME or education-related
activities, which could have a material adverse effect on our
business.
Table of Contents
This excerpt taken from the WBMD 10-Q filed Aug 11, 2008. Failure
to maintain our CME accreditation could adversely affect
Medscape’s ability to provide online CME
offerings
Medscape’s continuing medical education (or CME) activities
are planned and implemented in accordance with the current
Essential Areas and Policies of the Accreditation Council for
Continuing Medical Education, or ACCME, which oversees providers
of CME credit, and other applicable accreditation standards. In
2007, ACCME revised its standards for commercial support of CME.
The revised standards are intended to ensure, among other
things, that CME activities of ACCME-accredited providers, such
as Medscape, are independent of “commercial
interests,” which are now defined as entities that produce,
market, re-sell or distribute health care goods and services,
excluding certain organizations. “Commercial
interests,” and entities owned or
Table of Contents
controlled by “commercial interests,” are ineligible
for accreditation by the ACCME. The revised standards also
provide that accredited CME providers may not place their CME
content on Web sites owned or controlled by a “commercial
interest.” In addition, accredited CME providers may no
longer ask “commercial interests” for speaker or topic
suggestions, and are also prohibited from asking
“commercial interests” to review CME content prior to
delivery.
As a result of the revised standards, we have made certain
adjustments to our corporate structure, management and
operations intended to ensure that Medscape will continue to
provide CME activities that are developed independently from
those programs developed by its sister companies, which may not
be independent of “commercial interests.” ACCME
required accredited providers to implement changes relating to
placing CME content on websites owned or controlled by
“commercial interests” by January 1, 2008 and is
requiring accredited providers to implement any corporate
structural changes necessary to meet the revised standards
regarding the definition of “commercial interest” by
August 2009. We believe that the adjustments that we and
Medscape have made to our structure and operations satisfy the
revised standards.
In June 2008, the ACCME announced a
“call-for-comments” on several ACCME proposals,
including the following:
The ACCME is currently seeking comments on the above, with the
comment period scheduled to end on September 12, 2008. We
expect that comments submitted to the ACCME will indicate
significant backing from the medical profession for
commercially-supported CME and, accordingly, believe it is
unlikely that a proposal for complete elimination of such
support would be adopted. However, we cannot predict the
ultimate outcome of the process, including what other
alternatives may be considered by ACCME as result of comments it
receives. The elimination of, or restrictions on, commercial
support for CME could adversely affect the volume of sponsored
online CME programs implemented through our Web sites.
Medscape’s current ACCME accreditation expires at the end
of July 2010. In order for Medscape to renew its accreditation,
it will be required to demonstrate to the ACCME that it
continues to meet ACCME requirements. If Medscape fails to
maintain its status as an accredited ACCME provider (whether at
the time of such renewal or at an earlier time as a result of a
failure to comply with existing or additional ACCME standards),
it would not be permitted to accredit ACCME activities for
physicians and other healthcare professionals. Instead, it would
be required to use third parties to provide such CME-related
services. That, in turn, could discourage potential sponsors
from engaging Medscape to develop CME or education-related
activities, which could have a material adverse effect on our
business.
Table of Contents
This excerpt taken from the WBMD 10-Q filed May 12, 2008. Failure
to maintain our CME accreditation could adversely affect
Medscape’s ability to provide online CME
offerings
Medscape’s CME activities are planned and implemented in
accordance with the current Essential Areas and Policies of the
Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education, or
ACCME, which oversees providers of CME credit, and other
applicable accreditation standards. In 2007, ACCME revised its
standards for commercial support of CME. The revised standards
are intended to ensure, among other things, that CME activities
of ACCME-accredited providers, such as Medscape, are independent
of “commercial interests,” which are now defined as
entities that produce, market, re-sell or distribute health care
goods and services, excluding certain organizations.
“Commercial interests,” and entities owned or
controlled by “commercial
Table of Contents
interests,” are ineligible for accreditation by the ACCME.
The revised standards also provide that accredited CME providers
may not place their CME content on Web sites owned or controlled
by a “commercial interest.” In addition, accredited
CME providers may no longer ask “commercial interests”
for speaker or topic suggestions, and are also prohibited from
asking “commercial interests” to review CME content
prior to delivery.
As a result of the revised standards, we have made certain
adjustments to our corporate structure, management and
operations intended to ensure that Medscape will continue to
provide CME activities that are developed independently from
those programs developed by its sister companies, which may not
be independent of “commercial interests.” ACCME
required accredited providers to implement changes relating to
placing CME content on websites owned or controlled by
“commercial interests” by January 1, 2008 and is
requiring accredited providers to implement any corporate
structural changes necessary to meet the revised standards
regarding the definition of “commercial interest” by
August 2009. We believe that the adjustments that we and
Medscape have made to our structure and operations satisfy the
revised standards.
Medscape’s current ACCME accreditation expires at the end
of July 2010. In order for Medscape to renew its accreditation,
it will be required to demonstrate to the ACCME that it
continues to meet ACCME requirements. If Medscape fails to
maintain its status as an accredited ACCME provider (whether at
the time of such renewal or at an earlier time as a result of a
failure to comply with existing or additional ACCME standards),
it would not be permitted to accredit ACCME activities for
physicians and other healthcare professionals. Instead, it would
be required to use third parties to provide such CME-related
services. That, in turn, could discourage potential sponsors
from engaging Medscape to develop CME or education-related
activities, which could have a material adverse effect on our
business.
These excerpts taken from the WBMD 10-K filed Feb 29, 2008. Failure
to maintain our CME accreditation could adversely affect
Medscape’s ability to provide online CME
offerings
Medscape’s CME activities are planned and implemented in
accordance with the current Essential Areas and Policies of the
Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education, or
ACCME, which oversees providers of CME credit, and other
applicable accreditation standards. In 2007, ACCME revised its
standards for commercial support of CME. The revised standards
are intended to ensure, among other things, that CME activities
of ACCME-accredited providers, such as Medscape, are independent
of “commercial interests,” which are now defined as
entities that produce, market, re-sell or distribute health care
goods and services, excluding certain organizations.
“Commercial interests,” and entities owned or
controlled by “commercial
Table of Contents
interests,” are ineligible for accreditation by the ACCME.
The revised standards also provide that accredited CME providers
may not place their CME content on Web sites owned or controlled
by a “commercial interest.” In addition, accredited
CME providers may no longer ask “commercial interests”
for speaker or topic suggestions, and are also prohibited from
asking “commercial interests” to review CME content
prior to delivery.
As a result of the revised standards, we have made certain
adjustments to our corporate structure, management and
operations intended to ensure that Medscape will continue to
provide CME activities that are developed independently from
those programs developed by its sister companies, which may not
be independent of “commercial interests”. ACCME
required accredited providers to implement changes relating to
placing CME content on websites owned or controlled by
“commercial interests” by January 1, 2008 and is
requiring accredited providers to implement any corporate
structural changes necessary to meet the revised standards
regarding the definition of “commercial interest” by
August 2009. We believe that the adjustments that we and
Medscape have made to our structure and operations satisfy the
revised standards. However, we cannot be certain whether ACCME
will find that these adjustments are sufficient, nor can we
predict whether ACCME will impose additional requirements.
Medscape’s current ACCME accreditation expires at the end
of July 2010. In order for Medscape to renew its accreditation,
it will be required to demonstrate to the ACCME that it
continues to meet ACCME requirements. If Medscape fails to
maintain its status as an accredited ACCME provider (whether at
the time of such renewal or at an earlier time as a result of a
failure to comply with existing or additional ACCME standards),
it would not be permitted to accredit ACCME activities for
physicians and other healthcare professionals. Instead, it would
be required to use third parties to provide such CME-related
services. That, in turn, could discourage potential sponsors
from engaging Medscape to develop CME or education related
activities, which could have a material adverse effect on our
business.
Failure to maintain our CME accreditation could adversely affect Medscape’s ability to provide online CME offerings Medscape’s CME activities are planned and implemented in accordance with the current Essential Areas and Policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education, or ACCME, which oversees providers of CME credit, and other applicable accreditation standards. In 2007, ACCME revised its standards for commercial support of CME. The revised standards are intended to ensure, among other things, that CME activities of ACCME-accredited providers, such as Medscape, are independent of “commercial interests,” which are now defined as entities that produce, market, re-sell or distribute health care goods and services, excluding certain organizations. “Commercial interests,” and entities owned or controlled by “commercial
Table of Contentsinterests,” are ineligible for accreditation by the ACCME. The revised standards also provide that accredited CME providers may not place their CME content on Web sites owned or controlled by a “commercial interest.” In addition, accredited CME providers may no longer ask “commercial interests” for speaker or topic suggestions, and are also prohibited from asking “commercial interests” to review CME content prior to delivery. As a result of the revised standards, we have made certain adjustments to our corporate structure, management and operations intended to ensure that Medscape will continue to provide CME activities that are developed independently from those programs developed by its sister companies, which may not be independent of “commercial interests”. ACCME required accredited providers to implement changes relating to placing CME content on websites owned or controlled by “commercial interests” by January 1, 2008 and is requiring accredited providers to implement any corporate structural changes necessary to meet the revised standards regarding the definition of “commercial interest” by August 2009. We believe that the adjustments that we and Medscape have made to our structure and operations satisfy the revised standards. However, we cannot be certain whether ACCME will find that these adjustments are sufficient, nor can we predict whether ACCME will impose additional requirements. Medscape’s current ACCME accreditation expires at the end of July 2010. In order for Medscape to renew its accreditation, it will be required to demonstrate to the ACCME that it continues to meet ACCME requirements. If Medscape fails to maintain its status as an accredited ACCME provider (whether at the time of such renewal or at an earlier time as a result of a failure to comply with existing or additional ACCME standards), it would not be permitted to accredit ACCME activities for physicians and other healthcare professionals. Instead, it would be required to use third parties to provide such CME-related services. That, in turn, could discourage potential sponsors from engaging Medscape to develop CME or education related activities, which could have a material adverse effect on our business. | EXCERPTS ON THIS PAGE:
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