Transparency in Marketing Incentives for Accredited CME

ACCME Highlights (07/07/22)

The Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) has provided guidance regarding marketing incentives for accredited CME. The organization notes that accredited CME providers offering tangible high-value incentives such as gift cards must uphold transparency in marketing them. Providers must guarantee the receipt for the CME activity "separates and discloses the nature and value of the incentives of tangible monetary value" from the cost of the activity, ACCME said. Purchasers should also note the incentives' potential ramifications in terms of tax reporting obligations. This information should be included in the main body of the text about the CME activity prior to purchase, and not in the fine print or the terms and conditions. Receipts for incentive-associated purchases must also state that any reimbursed amount must be reported as personal income for tax purposes.

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