While most CME providers are focusing on the downtrend, the ACCME Annual Report has some encouraging takeaways.

The ACCME 2009 Annual Report data released last week show that increased competition for continuing medical education (CME) resources has produced fewer stakeholders that are more effectively delivering physician education.

In short, the data point to the fact that a competitive CME world is making certified education more cost effective.

As projected by several analysts, commercial grant funding of CME decreased by 17.7% between 2008 and 2009. From a high of $1.2 billion in industry grant funding for CME in 2007, the total amount of industry grant funding dropped 29 percent in the last two years to $856 million in 2009.

The 2009 figure is the lowest amount of CME grant funding by industry since 2002. That’s the bad news. Now for the good. The cost of CME has decreased, while physician attendance and participation continues to grow.

Consider the following statistics, derived from ACCME Annual Report data. To download the complete ACCME 2009 Annual Report, click here. If you have any additional questions, please contact Global Education Group at 303-395-1782.