The impact of mandatory continuing medical education

MANY states are either moving toward or have adopted legislation that mandates physician participation in continuing medical education (CME). To date, 13 states have CME requirements in effect, another ten states have passed enabling legislation that has not been implemented, and the others have not taken formal action. In June 1975, the governor of Michigan signed into law Public Act 112, which mandates participation in CME as a prerequisite for annual reregistration of the license to practice medicine. Each physician must show evidence of participation in 50 hours of CME activities, approved by the Board of Medical Examiners, in the calendar year before application for reregistration. This law appears to result from a concept, held by many legislators, that CME provides a handle on medical practice and that manipulation of that handle will result in direct and desirable effects on medical practice. Participation in CME is perceived as a means