Continuing Medical Education Act - CME

This law requires medical professionals to receive continuing medical education on pain and palliative care every three years

In 2016 both houses of the New York State Legislature passed legislation to ensure that professionals who can prescribe controlled substances receive continuing medical education on pain and palliative care every three years.  End of Life Choices New York initiated this legislation.

The legislation, which passed as part of an omnibus opioid bill (A.10727 Linda B. Rosenthal, D-Manhattan) / (S.8139 Terrence Murphy, R-Carmel), was for several years carried by Rosenthal and Senate Health Committee Chairman Kemp Hannon (R-Garden City), most recently as A.355/S.4348.

Numerous studies show that too many patients suffer from inadequate pain management, which is partly due to insufficient training of doctors in medical school and after. The post graduate training, as required by the CME Act, will improve pain and palliative care for patients.

The bill requires that professionals licensed to prescribe controlled substances take a three-hour course covering pain management, palliative care and addiction, approved by the New York State Department of Health, every three years.