Effective for this year’s license renewals, the Maryland Board of Physicians (MBP) now requires one credit hour of continuing medical education dedicated to opioid prescribing.  The one-hour requirement per renewal cycle will be in effect for two years for all Maryland licensed physicians, with continuation subject to review.  This development grew out of Governor O’Malley’s Executive Order 01.01.2014.12, later replaced by Governor Hogan’s own executive orders establishing the Heroin and Opioid Emergency Task Force, and setting up the Inter-Agency Heroin and Opioid Coordinating Council.

Although this mandate was opposed by both the MPS and MedChi in the 2014 General Assembly, the Governor used an Executive Order to have certain boards consider education for medical professionals on opioid prescribing and access to addiction treatment services.  Out of concern about the growing problem of overdose deaths, the MBP now requires that physicians’ continuing education includes “appropriate pain medication management and education for understanding substance use disorders treatment resources.”  The MBP posted a list of possible approved courses that fulfill the mandate (not an exhaustive list).  Visit the MBP Overdose Prevention page for more details.

The MPS Executive Committee has discussed how to best help members satisfy this mandate.  The April 18 MPS CME symposium on Women’s Mental Health includes an hour presentation that meets the new requirement.  The MPS is also considering partnering with MedChi to sponsor another CME event.  We have also contacted MADC – the Maryland Addictions Directors Council – to partner in developing a comprehensive list of addiction treatment services, and to research other online listings for addiction services in Maryland.

Another resource is the Providers’ Clinical Support System for Medication Assisted Treatment (PCSS-MAT), a SAMHSA funded initiative.  As a partner organization, the APA organizes 16 webinars per year that provide CME.  These free webinars are held the second Tuesday of each month from noon to 1 p.m.  APA’s webinar archive is available at www.APAeducation.org.  These trainings meet the MBP one hour opioid prescribing requirement.

More information will be forthcoming