The American College of Cardiology (ACC) is examining a policy under which companies requesting space for satellite symposia at its annual meeting must become exhibitors.

Kay Ferris, ACC director of corporate relations, said the policy is a way to vet companies and that the college's new chief learning officer, Joseph Green, PhD, may end up changing it, but not in time for this year's meeting.

A number of societies tie satellite space to being an exhibitor, but such rules seem to contradict the Standards for Commercial Support from the ACCME, which prohibit promotion as a condition of commercial support for CME activities.