MOC wars: ABMS, NBPAS, and MSPs

The Maintenance of Certification (MOC) debate continues. Earlier this month, the New England Journal of Medicine ran pro and con online Viewpoints regarding MOC; this week, the National Board of Physicians and Surgeons (NBPAS) proposed an alternative to the recertification process used by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS).

What does it mean for MSPs? Maybe nothing in the short term, CRCJ editorial advisors and others say, but it bears watching. Read the comments following each NEJM Viewpoint, and it’s clear that many physicians oppose the new MOC requirements for continuing education and the associated cost of staying ABMS-certified. If the NBPAScontinuingboard certification pathway gains traction, it could mean simpler recertification for physicians—if a hospital’s medical staff bylaws recognize NBPAS certification. MSPs must stay aware of the board certification requirements in their bylaws and how to respond if an applicant claims to be board-certified but not by an approved board.

Thanks for reading!

Mary Stevens, managing editor, Credentialing Resource Center