Financial Relationship Definitions

Ineligible company

An ineligible company is any entity whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients. The ACCME does not consider providers of clinical service directly to patients to be ineligible companies.

Financial relationships

There is no minimum financial threshold; we ask that you disclose all financial relationships, regardless of the amount, with ineligible companies.  Inherent in any amount is the incentive to maintain or increase the value of the relationship. Individuals must disclose regardless of their view of the relevance of the relationship to the education.

Individual stocks and stock options should be disclosed; diversified mutual funds do not need to be disclosed. Research funding from ineligible companies should be disclosed by the principal or named investigator even if that individual’s institution receives the research grant and manages the funds.

Financial relationships are those relationships in which the individual benefits by receiving a salary, royalty, intellectual property rights, consulting fee, honoraria, ownership interest (e.g., stocks, stock options or other ownership interest, excluding diversified mutual funds), or other financial benefit. Financial benefits are usually associated with roles such as employment, management position, independent contractor (including contracted research), consulting, speaking and teaching, membership or advisory committees or review panels, board membership, and other activities from which remuneration is received, or expected. 

Relevant financial relationships

The ACCME defines "relevant financial relationships" as financial relationships in any amount that exists between the person in control of content and an ineligible company occurring within the past 24 months where the content of the education is related to the products of an ineligible company with whom the person has a financial relationship.  Relevant financial relationships depend on the situation, and not on the character or actions of the individual.