Connecticut Senator Proposes Expanding CME Requirements to Specialty Instruction Once Required Courses are Completed

A recent article from Stamford Plus news in Connecticut discussed recently proposed legislation regarding continuing medical education (CME) for physicians practicing in the state. 

State Representative Mike Molgano (R-144) testified on his proposed co-sponsored bill “An Act Concerning Continuing Education Courses For Physicians” in a public hearing of the Public Health Committee on Wednesday.  The bill (S.B. 466) would allow physicians to extend required continuing education courses with courses related to their specialty.

“Connecticut statute section 20-10b requires physicians to earn at least 50 contact hours of continuing medical education (CME) over a two-year period.  The statute stipulates education pertain to the physician’s area of practice, reflect the needs of the physician’s license, and include at least one hour of education or training in each of the areas of infectious diseases, risk management, sexual assault, domestic violence, and cultural competency,” Rep. Molgano said.

Molgano cited concerns from physicians about the stringent requirement.  Most of these physicians have taken and passed the same courses multiple times, and are eager to take courses relevant to their respective specialties. “It would be like if I went to College and took Algebra I all four years after having passed it the first time,” Rep. Molgano said. These courses would come after taking classes on infectious diseases, risk management, sexual assault, domestic violence, and cultural competency.

“The courses would be germane to their practices, reflective of their licenses, and of the subject matter pertaining to the topics enumerated in state statute. By extending course offerings, not only is redundancy eliminated, Connecticut physicians are afforded even greater opportunity to expand their professional skills necessary to meet the health care needs of the public,” Rep. Molgano added.

If the bill is enacted it would amend title 20-10b of the general statutes to allow a physician who has previously completed a required continuing education course to substitute a different course that is related to the physician’s specialty.  The bill was originally introduced by Senator Toni Boucher (R-26).

Updated (Aug. 7, 2013): A recent story from the ctpost commended the Connecticut House and Senate for passing this law. The article noted that the bill unanimously passed in both the Senate and the House to lengthen the time
requirement from two to six years for repeating the five mandated
topics. Doctors are still mandated to take the 50 hours of CME credits
every other year.

The bill that passed this year also added a sixth mandated CME topic of
behavioral health, which, in light of the Newtown tragedy, is
understandable.  The artilce noted that the Fairfield County Medical Association
has already scheduled a program on this topic so physicians can meet
the behavioral health requirement for medical license renewal.