Connecticut State Health Department Enforcement Of CME Requirements For Healthcare Providers

It is a rare Connecticut healthcare professional who does not, in the course of his or her career, encounter a letter from the Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) asking for a response to a patient complaint. As a matter of course, however, in recent years, whenever the DPH requires a response from a healthcare practitioner related to a particular patient complaint or incident, they also ask for evidence of malpractice insurance, and documentation of compliance with Connecticut’s continuing medical education (CME) requirements for healthcare practitioners. That requirement is set forth in §20-10b of the Connecticut General Statutes (“Continuing Medical Education. Definitions. Required Number of Contact Hours. Qualifying Obligation. Exceptions. Waivers. Requirements for License Reinstatement”).

Recent contacts with the DPH suggest that the Department is paying particular attention to this statutory requirement, and it has been suggested that while a patient complaint might be concluded successfully, from the standpoint of a practitioner, non-compliance with the CME requirement set forth in the statute may result in a separate statement of charges against the practitioner.

A quick review of the statute reveals the following: 50 contact hours* of continuing medical education needs to be completed in the 24-month period prior to any license renewal. Such education shall be in the area of the physician’s practice and reflect the professional needs of the licensee, but it most also include at least one contact hour of training or education in the following five areas:

1. Infectious diseases, including but not limited to HIV;

2. Risk management;

3. Sexual assault;

4. Domestic violence; and,

5. Cultural competency.

The above CME requirements apply to all persons engaged in an active professional practice including those physicians functioning as medical directors of a managed care organization or other organizations. At license renewal time each practitioner is asked to sign a statement attesting to the fact that he or she has satisfied this CME requirement.

Given the Department’s apparent decision to focus on CME compliance, it behooves all healthcare practitioners to be aware of and in compliance with §20-10b of the Connecticut General Statutes so as to avoid the possibility of facing professional discipline at the hands of the State of Connecticut.

* A “contact hour” is defined as a minimum of 50 minutes of educational activity.