Watch Out for CME Audit Notices from the Medical Board

Several physicians have reported to the Pennsylvania Medical Society that auditors from the Pennsylvania Board of Medicine have found discrepancies in their Category 2 CME credits. 

The Pennsylvania Medical Society is working with the state Board of Medicine and the American Medical Association (AMA) to address the discrepancy concerns.  

In the meantime, if you receive a discrepancy notice from the state Board of Medicine, be sure to address it.  

The Pennsylvania Medical Society’s CME department can assist members with CME questions. If you have any questions or need assistance, please call (800) 228-7823. 

More information will be available soon, so stay tuned for details.

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Comments: 5


This sounds like a complicated issue. If you're a member of the Pennsylvania Medical Society, give us a call at (800) 228-7823 and we'll be glad to help you.

PA Medical Society at 11/24/2010 10:37:26 AM


I recently submitted an application to reactivate my medical license after an 8 year hiatus. The Medical Board had told me when I called that I needed to document the required 100 hours of CME that I had earned in the prior "2 years." Although they had no problem with acceptance of my Category 2 credit, my credits were truncated at 1/1/09, leaving me with only 20 months applicable to my total. I had submitted CME from 9/25/08 to 9/24/2010, the two year period before my application date. I was told in further correspondence that unless my application was approved by 12/31/2010, then I would have to resubmit with all new CME earned AFTER 1/1/2011. While I can understand a two year cycle for license renewals, I cannot understand why an application submitted apart from the renewal cycle would be forced to conform to a rigid two-year clock. I asked the Board representative who wrote my discrepancy letter this question but was not given any answer. Fortunately, I have well in excess of the required number of hours and have provided the Board with additional documentation to more than make up for the disqualified hours. The email communications I received from the Board office were in a tone that was derogatory, accusatory, and unprofessional. I expected far more. My responses were factual and direct. Hopefully this doesn't jeopardize approval of my application and force me to accrue another 100 hours after 1/1/2011. Given the shortage of physicians and my desire to reenter practice, why would the Board's office personnel be so reluctant to approve my completed application with exhaustive documentation?

anonymous at 11/19/2010 7:14:26 PM


With all the free CME (Category 1) it is really quite easy to get the required CME any time that is convenient even for the busiest physicians. I don't even record Category 2 any more for exactly the reasons that are outlined by anonymous.

askj2 at 1/15/2010 8:09:32 AM


1) For category 2 credit, the board gives "research project" as an example of an acceptable activity. For this, the board states that you "must document the material used in doing the research project such as internet/journal readings, etc." I submitted complete copies of published articles to the board (as category 2 CME). Even though the submitted articles clearly fulfilled the AMA criteria and followed the guidelines for medical writing and research (not only for category 2, but also for category 1), the board twice would not accept them without further "documentation." The board's reasoning as reflected in their letters to me were incomprehensible. Their request for "documentation" was patently nonsensical, as I had submitted the entire article (text and references/bibliography). After I sent two detailed letters of explanation with explicit references to the board's stated example and to the AMA guidelines for category 1 and category 2 CME credit for published articles and medical writing and research, the board finally accepted what I had submitted. 2) The state board does NOT require obtaining PRA certificates from the AMA. The board also states that PRA certificates are NOT proof of CME compliance by themselves. However, the board states that the physician must supply (to the board) copies of certificates/documents submitted to earn PRA credit. Regarding category 2 CME, the board's guidelines, expectations, and interpretations of acceptable activities (and physician's documentation of such activities) is confusing and, in some instances, contradictory or conflicting with AMA guidelines.

anonymous at 12/18/2009 6:19:13 AM


The malpractice rates for general surgery in Penna ar now $150.000 and become impossible for someone in solo practice. May I keep my license so I can write prescriptions for my family? george.gowen@verizon.net

anonymous at 12/17/2009 4:31:57 PM

Last Updated: 12/17/2009
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