The movement opposing the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program is gaining momentum. Physicians who oppose mandatory MOC requirements by hospitals and insurers have been influential in proposing legislation in 17 states so far to ban the requirements.
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January 2018“Some state medical societies have asked their state governments to legislate what MOC can and can’t be used for,” said Brian Nussenbaum, MD, executive director of the American Board of Otolaryngology (ABOto) and a member of ENTtoday’s editorial advisory board. The ABOto, which started requiring MOC in 2002, is one of 24 member boards that comprise the ABMS. To date, bills restricting the use of MOC for privileging, reimbursement and/or licensure have been introduced in 26 states and passed in seven (Georgia, Maryland, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas).
The legislation opposing mandatory MOC has been driven by some diplomates who say that certification processes are not relevant to their practices, are too time consuming and costly, and don’t accurately reflect what’s necessary to maintain the public trust in continuing certification. In addition, high-stakes exams that need to be taken at least every 10 years cause a great deal of anxiety.