ACCME Definition of a Commercial Interest

In August 2007, the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) modified its definition of a "commercial interest" as follows:

“A commercial interest is considered any entity producing, marketing, re-selling, or distributing health care goods or services consumed by, or used on, patients.”

Visit the ACCME web site for additional information.

While this definition was made effective as of August 2007, the ACCME provided accredited providers, who would be impacted by this new definition, two years to modify their corporate structures and transition the CME component of their organization to an independent entity. August 2009 is the date by which ACCME will hold accredited providers accountable to the revised definition. If they have not complied, they will lose their ACCME accreditation.

As a result, on August 1, 2009, the AAFP will require those applying for AAFP CME accreditation to attest that they are in compliance with the ACCME Standards for Commercial Support; including the new definition of "commercial interest.”