The vast majority of medical meeting planners—95 percent of them—receive health care industry funding for their educational meetings, according to a new report from the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA).

Titled "Impact of Pharmaceutical Guidelines and Industry Funding on Healthcare Organizations," the report studies the influence on health care meetings of recent changes to the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) and Advanced Medical Technology Association (AdvaMed) codes of ethics, both of which were modified last year to encourage a more transparent and ethical relationship between the health care companies that sponsor meetings and the health care professionals that attend them.

According to PCMA, over two-thirds of medical meeting planners (68 percent) say the new PhRMA and AdvaMed codes—which advise sponsors against paying for "reminder items" like branded pens and coffee mugs, as well as "gifts," including meals and even lanyards—have impacted the level of industry support for their educational meetings.

In addition:

• 79 percent of medical meeting planners apply educational grant funds received from industry to annual meeting educational sessions/courses.

• 53 percent of medical meeting planners apply educational grant funds received from industry to online education.

• 26 percent of medical meeting planners apply educational grant funds received from industry to recreational events during meetings.

• 37 percent of medical meeting planners say their organization receives over $1 million annually for educational meetings, and nearly 95 percent that their organization receives at least $100,000 from industry annually.

• 73 percent of medical meeting planners say industry funding makes up 44 percent or less of their organization's operating budget.

• 84 percent of medical meeting planners expect industry funding to decrease over the next one to three years.

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