Joint Sponsorship

Joint Sponsorship (99-08-K)

All OSMA-accredited providers of CME are required to follow all elements of Revised Essential 7 for Joint Sponsorship in addition to the OSMA’s Indicators for Compliance, to be found in substantial compliance for accreditation.

Joint Sponsorship: Activity Planning and Presentation in Partnership With Non-Accredited Providers

The accredited provider shall accept responsibility that the Essential Areas, Elements & Policies are met when educational activities are planned and presented in joint sponsorship with non-accredited providers.

1. The accredited provider must be able to show with written documentation that each such sponsored CME activity was planned and implemented in compliance with the Essential Areas, Elements & Policies of the OSMA.
2. All printed materials for activities created according to this Essential must carry the following statement:

   "This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas, Elements & Policies of the Ohio State Medical Association through the joint sponsorship of <insert name of OSMA accredited provider> and <insert name of non-accredited provider>. The <insert name of OSMA accredited provider> is accredited by the OSMA to provide continuing medical education for physicians."

3. The accredited provider must utilize specific written policies and operating procedures to effectively govern the planning and implementation of its jointly sponsored activities. The accredited provider may require that the non-accredited provider meet requirements that are more restrictive than or exceed the minimum requirements of the OSMA.
4. If two or more accredited providers are involved in an activity, then one of them must assume responsibility for the activity and this must be clearly indicated on all the printed materials through the following accreditation statement:

   "This activity has been jointly planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas, Elements & Policies of the Ohio State Medical Association by <insert name of OSMA accredited provider 1> and <insert name of OSMA accredited provider 2>. The <insert names of OSMA accredited providers> are accredited by the OSMA to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

   <Insert name of OSMA accredited provider 1> has been designated to take responsibility for the content, quality, and scientific integrity of this CME activity."

   (ACCME 96-C-07)

   Note (1/1/01): The ACCME no longer recognizes the co-sponsorship accreditation statement. CME activities that are co-sponsored should use the directly sponsored activity statement, naming the one accredited provider that is responsible for the activity.

OSMA Indicators for Compliance with Revised Essential 7 (99-08-L)

In order to substantially meet all elements of Essential 7, the OSMA has developed and will utilize the following guidelines as indicators for compliance:

The accredited provider’s CME Mission Statement contains Joint Sponsorship as part of the program’s scope and/or as part of the description of kinds of activities which are to be offered to participating physicians. Documentation required and maintained by accredited providers for joint-sponsored activities should be the same as documentation maintained by the accredited provider for its own sponsored activities.

The accredited provider’s accreditation statement contained in promotional materials includes the following statement:

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas & Policies of the Ohio State Medical Association through joint sponsorship of <insert name of OSMA accredited provider> and <insert name of non-accredited provider>. The <insert name of accredited provider> is accredited by the OSMA to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The provider’s designated entity has written policies and procedures (which should be available for review by the accrediting body) governing the provider’s joint sponsorship activities in regard to:

1. All jointly sponsored CME activities follow a procedure outlined in a Planning Document developed and/or approved by the accredited provider. Documentation is needed showing that each activity results from a process which is compliant with the Essential Areas, Elements & Policies;
2. Reasons for engaging in the joint sponsorship process;
3. Types of non-accredited CME providers with whom the accredited CME provider intends to partner;
4. Reasons which would impel the accredited provider to dissolve the partnership with the non-accredited provider;
5. Letter of agreement between the accredited CME provider and the non-accredited provider (signed, dated and kept on file) detailing the various elements listed above, as well as any others which the accredited provider may require;
6. Documentation of any financial arrangements between the accredited and the non-accredited CME provider; and
7. Name of the individual(s) responsible for ensuring compliance with the indicators for compliance of Revised Essential 7.

CME activities developed by two or more accredited providers shall have printed (hard copy and/or electronic) material which clearly identifies which provider assumed full responsibility in assuring compliance with the Essential Areas, Elements & Policies. The provider designating CME credit must maintain complete documentation to support compliance with each of the Essential Areas, Elements & Policies. Financial relationships between the providers should be available for review by the accrediting body.

Delegating Responsibility for Educational Grants (00-03-O)

The accredited provider may delegate the responsibility for receiving and disbursing funds from educational grants to an educational partner. However, the letter of agreement regarding the grant must be between the accredited provider and the commercial supporter and the accredited provider must maintain and be able to produce as documentation a full accounting of funds.

(ACCME 99-A-14)

Beginning to Joint Sponsor (00-03-W)

Beginning to participate in joint sponsorship represents a major change in the overall program of an accredited provider which must be reported to the OSMA.

(ACCME 89-A-01)