Letter from NBPAS

[Spine Specialist]

Dear colleagues,

NBPAS continues to grow with 4000 diplomats and over 40 hospitals accepting NBPAS certification as an alternative to ABMS. For a complete list of accepting hospitals, go to NBPAS.org.



The anti-MOC “movement” got a boost at the 2016 AMA annual meeting in Chicago this June. At this meeting there was a great deal of discussion about MOC, in part led by the Pennsylvania Medical Society (PAMED) delegation which hosted a Maintenance of Certification (MOC) panel discussion. As part of that discussion, NBPAS board member Bonnie Weiner, MD spoke about the NBPAS alternative. Following the meeting, PAMED issued a statement of no confidence in the ABIM's Board and leadership.



Notably, at the AMA meeting the House of Delegates approved resolution 309 stating:

"RESOLVED, That our American Medical Association call for the immediate end of any mandatory, secured recertifying examination by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) or other certifying organizations as part of the recertification process for all those specialties that still require a secure, high-stakes recertification examination.”


This resolution comes on the heels of the Oklahoma state legislature passing a law this April highlights stating:

“Nothing in the Oklahoma Allopathic Medical and Surgical Licensure and Supervision Act shall be construed as to require a physician to secure a Maintenance of Certification (MOC) as a condition of licensure, reimbursement, employment or admitting privileges at a hospital in this state. For the purposes of this subsection, “Maintenance of Certification (MOC)” shall mean a continuing education program measuring core competencies in the practice of medicine and surgery and approved by a nationally recognized accrediting organization.”


These events highlight the momentum building in this country to do away with MOC altogether. Several of the ABMS boards including the ABIM have recently announced an alternative to the Q10 year high stakes recertifying exam. While this is a welcome change, these boards replace the Q10 year exam with more frequent take home exams that many believe add little or nothing to patient care and do not change the appearance of economic motivation by the member boards. For example, with 200,000 diplomats, at $250 per year, the ABIM will see $50M in annual revenue from MOC.


This is NOT the time to let up on the grass roots anti-MOC movement. We are all busy, hardworking physicians. Please take the time to spread the word. We are making progress but continue to need your help. Many resources including sample letters and PowerPoint presentations and News are available at NBPAS.org. Do your part to help the anti-MOC movement.



Sincerely,

Paul Teirstein, MD
National Board of Physicians and Surgeons
www.nbpas.org
888-861-4448

(888) 861-4448
www.nbpas.org

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[OB1🤙]

I am proud of my NBPAS certification. After my ABA cert lapses, I will not be renewing it.

We're near a tipping point. People are realizing that we don't need to stand idly by and let ourselves be extorted.

MOCA is a joke. The MOCA minute is an insult to my intelligence and training. The MOCA homework projects are unethical research on patients without their consent for the personal gain of the "researcher."

Just say no.

 

[Consigliere]

While I'm as anti-MOC as the next guy, the NBPAS certification is only being accepted in "over 40 hospitals." What's a fella to do when most other hospitals require "traditional" recertification? Yep, suck it up and be a party to the scam so you can keep your job and feed your family.

 

[pgg]

While I'm as anti-MOC as the next guy, the NBPAS certification is only being accepted in "over 40 hospitals." What's a fella to do when most other hospitals require "traditional" recertification? Yep, suck it up and be a party to the scam so you can keep your job and feed your family.

Exactly, I cheer the anti-MOC movement but for now, I'm going to keep tithing $210/year to the ABA and keep doing this stupid MOCA stuff. That label still matters, and looking ahead just a few years when I go looking for work, the last thing I really need to add to the interview plate is a discussion or defense of some kind of alternate board cert status.

There are plenty of hills to die on out there. The anti-MOC crusaders can take this one.

 

[OB1🤙]

While I'm as anti-MOC as the next guy, the NBPAS certification is only being accepted in "over 40 hospitals." What's a fella to do when most other hospitals require "traditional" recertification? Yep, suck it up and be a party to the scam so you can keep your job and feed your family.

Well how did those 40 hospitals come to accept it? You gotta go to the MEC and fight for it. Push for legislation like in Oklahoma and Michigan. It takes work.

 

[OB1🤙]

Exactly, I cheer the anti-MOC movement but for now, I'm going to keep tithing $210/year to the ABA and keep doing this stupid MOCA stuff. That label still matters, and looking ahead just a few years when I go looking for work, the last thing I really need to add to the interview plate is a discussion or defense of some kind of alternate board cert status.

There are plenty of hills to die on out there. The anti-MOC crusaders can take this one.

In your position, yeah, you do what you gotta do. But I'm secure in my job. I can afford to fight.

 

[Mman]

While I'm as anti-MOC as the next guy, the NBPAS certification is only being accepted in "over 40 hospitals." What's a fella to do when most other hospitals require "traditional" recertification? Yep, suck it up and be a party to the scam so you can keep your job and feed your family.

I'm fairly certain insurance companies can and do require board certification/eligibility to reimburse you for your claims. You'd have to get them to accept your alternative certification as well if you want to get paid for your work.

 

[OB1🤙]

I'm fairly certain insurance companies can and do require board certification/eligibility to reimburse you for your claims. You'd have to get them to accept your alternative certification as well if you want to get paid for your work.

This varies regionally. This is being brought up and squashed at the state level. Oklahoma recently unanimously passed a bill banning this practice- http://changeboardrecert.com/documents/ANTI-MOCLAWINOK2016.pdf . Other states are doing the same.

Again, it takes work.