Texas Physician License First Renewal - CME requirements waived?

[userofthecentury]

Hello folks,
Gald to be part of the community. Thank you for your time.

I wanted to find out if CME requirements are waived for first-time renewal of the Texas Physician License? Scenario is:

1. Residency completed from out of state in 2019
2. Got Licensed in TX in 2019
3. License expires in Aug. 2021
4. First renewal for next two years 2021 - 2023 due by end of Aug. 2021
5. Board certification completed in 2019 (within last 36 months)

As per info on this page: https://www.tmb.state.tx.us/page/resources-cme-for-md-dos

It seems I would not need the full CME credits except Human Trafficking and Ethics, Am I understanding this correctly?

Sorry if this is simple but my first renewal in Texas and wanted to make sure that I follow the rules. Thank you!

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[Raryn]

Per Board rule 166.2(c), a licensee shall be presumed to have complied with this section if in the preceding 36 months the licensee becomes board certified or recertified in a medical specialty and the medical specialty program meets the standards of the American Board of Medical Specialties, the American Medical Association, the Advisory Board for Osteopathic Specialists and Boards of Certification, or the American Osteopathic Association. This provision exempts the physician from all CME requirements, including the requirement involving the study of medical ethics and/or professional responsibility. This exemption is valid for a maximum of one registration.

Having been board certified during this cycle and not using this exemption before, you're exempt from all CME requirements, including the ethics one.

 

[userofthecentury]

Thank you for your reply. I spoke to TMB call center(?), the person read the page that I linked above (copied below for reference. I understand the board certification part but the last paragraph about MOC seems to suggest that I'm still required to complete few credits. The way it's written is little confusing. Are they saying that I'm still required to complete 2 credits the study of medical ethics and/or professional responsibility AND the two credits involving pain management and the prescription of opioids, OR the required course in the prevention of human trafficking...

So still required to complete 4 credits (2 for medical ethics, 2 involving pain management and prescription of opiods OR just complete course in the prevention of human trafficking.. Sorry for being dense but reting to make sense of it ..

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Board Certification

Per Board rule 166.2(c), a licensee shall be presumed to have complied with this section if in the preceding 36 months the licensee becomes board certified or recertified in a medical specialty and the medical specialty program meets the standards of the American Board of Medical Specialties, the American Medical Association, the Advisory Board for Osteopathic Specialists and Boards of Certification, or the American Osteopathic Association. This provision exempts the physician from all CME requirements, including the requirement involving the study of medical ethics and/or professional responsibility. This exemption is valid for a maximum of one registration.



Maintenance of Certification (MOC)

Per Board rule 166.2(d), a licensee shall be presumed to have complied with the formal and informal hours requirement of this section if the licensee:

• is meeting the Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program requirements set forth by a specialty or subspecialty member board of the ABMS or the Osteopathic Continuous Certification (OCC) program requirements set forth by the AOA, and
• the member board's MOC or OCC program mandates completion of CME credits that meet the minimum criteria set forth under the formal hours requirement.

PLEASE NOTE: This provision does not exempt the physician from the requirement for two credits involving the study of medical ethics and/or professional responsibility, the two credits involving pain management and the prescription of opioids, or the required course in the prevention of human trafficking, as outlined on the page above.
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[Raryn]

The first paragraph you quote talks about *becoming* certified or recertified - so basically taking a test. The second section just talks about *maintaining* certification - which is doing whatever hours are necessary to meet MOC. In the former, you are exempt from the medical ethics section and whatnot. In the latter, you are not. You meet the former.

 

[userofthecentury]

I think I'm starting to understand. As far as the MOC part of concerned, ABIM has extended the deadline until end of 2022.

ABIM to Extend All MOC Requirement Deadlines Through 2022

In this post:Letter to all ABIM Diplomates Details of the MOC deadline extensionQuestions you may have, answeredDear ABIM Diplomates, ABIM’s Board of Directors is a diverse set of clinicians practicing in a variety of settings, and just like you, has experienced directly the unprecedented...

blog.abim.org

When I look up my name on ABIM's website, it shows me as certified (this is expected) and it also shows me as participating in MOC. In light of ABIM's announcement of the extension of MOC requirement and the fact that I'm considered "participating" in MOC, looks like no action is required on my part at least until the end of 2022.

For the purpose of Texas physician license renewal, I would be considered exempt from CME requirements and I would be presumed to have met the MOC requirements from ABIM perspective..

Am I finally understanding this right?

 

[Raryn]

Looks like it, yes.

 

[userofthecentury]

Looks like it, yes.

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