Mergers, Acquisitions/Changes

Mergers, Acquisitions, and/or Dissolutions (94-06-A)

When the corporate structure of an accredited provider is altered by an acquisition, merger, or dissolution, action will be taken if the OSMA determines that there have been significant changes with the accredited provider's continuing medical education program.

In order for the OSMA to accurately assess how the organization has changed or remained the same since its last accreditation review, accredited providers will be asked to describe in detail and to compare their current status with how they were described in their last application, the following items:

• Mission statement
• Staffing
• Reporting structure (including organization chart(s))
• Designated entity
• Source of funding, budget approval

(ACCME 97-A-15)

In addition to information provided by the accredited provider to address the areas identified above, the following guidelines will be considered by the Focused Task Force on Accreditation in its determination of the effect of the changes on the accredited provider's CME program:

1. All mergers of accredited providers will be required to continue to adhere to the CME Essential Areas, Elements & Policies.
2. If a merger involving one or more OSMA accredited providers of CME occurs, it is the responsibility of the accredited provider to notify the OSMA Focused Task Force on Accreditation within four (4) weeks.
3. All CME activities of the new merged entity will be considered a new program by the OSMA Focused Task Force on Accreditation.
4. All new merged programs may be surveyed one (1) year after the effective merger (if deemed necessary) or the date of resurvey B whichever comes first.
5. These new programs will be evaluated on their continued compliance with the Essential Areas, Elements & Policies and their basic accreditation will be based solely on compliance with the Essential Areas, Elements & Policies.
6. The new program may receive any type of accreditation based upon the existing accreditation classifications (probationary, provisional, full accreditation). If the new program is in compliance with the Essential Areas, Elements & Policies the duration and type of accreditation will be determined by the OSMA Focused Task Force on Accreditation based upon the site surveyors' assessment of the continuity of the CME structure, the corporate structure, and the new merged entity's educational goals.
7. A newly merged provider could, therefore, be non-accredited, fully accredited, provisionally or probationary accredited based on compliance with the Essential Areas, Elements & Policies and continuity of its program.

   For Example:

   • The new entity might have essentially the same CME and corporate structure as before, i.e., accredited provider and smaller non-accredited program. The CME and corporate structure essentially takes over a smaller hospital. No change in leadership or goals.
   • Two accredited providers merge and take the best of the old programs and combine it into a new entity. The CME relationship to corporate administration remains the same.

   In both Example A and B, the OSMA Focused Task Force on Accreditation could give four (4) years of full accreditation if all Essential Areas, Elements & Policies were in compliance.

   Additional Examples:

   • Accredited provider merges with several other programs. A new corporate structure with new educational goals is formed. The CME committee is chaired by the DME of the old provider. However, the CME mission and reporting relationship are entirely different.
   • Two (2) accredited providers merge their corporate and CME structures and decide to start all over. The OSMA site surveyors find a new program that is better than before but with new goals, personnel, and mission.

   In Example C, one DME can't make or assure the success of a program. This program could be given provisional or a two-year accreditation depending on the input of the site surveyors. In Example D, a provisional two-year accreditation would probably be given with several notes of commendation. This really is a new program and, even though better than previous programs, should be watched closely as it grows.