The American Board of Internal Medicine says that "a substantial majority" of the nation’s internists have met the new Maintenance of Certification requirements as of May 1, the deadline for doctors to be listed publicly on the ABIM’s website as having met those standards.
The ABIM reported that "despite vocal concerns" from physicians, some 150,000 have enrolled in the MOC program, 50,000 since the new requirements were instituted on Jan. 1.
Dr. Richard Baron
As part of the new MOC, every 2 years, physicians who are certified by the ABIM must earn at least some points by completing some of the educational activities approved for MOC credit. At the 5-year mark, they must earn 100 points, as well as complete patient safety and patient survey activities, to be considered up to date. Previously, physicians were given 10 years to earn 100 points. They must also pass their board exam every 10 years.
"We are listening to the feedback we have received from the community about changes to our program, but at the same time the public is seeking a way to know that their doctor is ‘keeping up in their field,’" Dr. Richard Baron, ABIM president and chief executive officer, said in a statement.
A petition to overturn most of the MOC changes begun by Dr. Paul Teirstein, chief of cardiology and director of interventional cardiology for Scripps Clinic in La Jolla, Calif., has collected more than 14,000 signatures since it was posted in late March.
According to the ABIM, since Jan. 1, physicians have claimed more than 245,000 hours of Continuing Medical Education (CME) through their MOC involvement, and nearly 20,000 physicians have already met their MOC requirements through 2015.
"MOC has clearly sparked a national conversation focused on what regular assessments are appropriate for ongoing specialty certification," Dr. Baron said. "We must look at how the MOC process meets the needs of physicians, patients, and others who rely on it as an indicator of a provider’s expertise."
The ABIM continues to say that MOC is needed because it is desired by patients and payers. "Those who choose to meet ABIM’s MOC requirements are differentiating themselves from some of their colleagues. They are saying, ‘I’m a cardiologist or oncologist, or whatever specialty they are certified in, who is meeting a standard set by my peers.’ That is a powerful statement to make to their patients, and to themselves," Dr. Clarence H. Braddock III, chair-elect of the ABIM Board of Directors, said in the ABIM statement.
The Board also said it is responding to criticism by making changes to the MOC program, including giving "credit" for activities physicians already are doing to maintain their knowledge base and improve their practices. It said it recognizes more than 270 programs created by medical societies, health systems, and others and that 32,000 ABIM diplomates already have fulfilled some requirements of MOC using those pathways.
"We recognize that the MOC program is not perfect, and we are committed to constant assessment of it," said Dr. Baron.
That may not be enough for some physicians.
Another group, Change Board Recertification, was started in 2010 with the aim of completely overhauling the MOC process.
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