IBM adopts rule clarifying time frame for mandated pain and end-of-life CME
September 25, 2012
The Iowa Board of Medicine now requires physicians who regularly provide primary health care to patients in Iowa to receive two hours of CME credits every five years each in chronic pain management and in end-of-life care. Rules recently adopted by the IBM clarify that physicians subject to these two new mandates who had a permanent license on August 17, 2011, have until August 17, 2016 to complete this CME training and then shall complete the training every five years thereafter.
A physician who “regularly provides primary health care” is defined for purposes of these two mandates as all emergency physicians, family physicians, general practice physicians, internists, neurologists, pain medicine specialists, psychiatrists, and any other physician who regularly provides primary health care to patients. IMS, through its Committee on Law and Ethics, soon will offer a Web-based 2-hour end-of-life care CME that meets IBM requirements. Currently, IMS has a 2-hour chronic pain CME available for physicians.