Changes to ABIM’s Maintenance of Certification Program David B. Hellmann, M.D., M.A.C.P. September 17, 2013

Reducing Redundancy  ABIM is committed to continuously evaluating the program and ensuring that our assessments are: as unburdensome as possible; as authentic as can be; and as harmonized with other requirements as possible.  ABIM knows most physicians are already engaged in professional self-assessment and improvement.

Why is ABIM Changing MOC? American Board of Medical Specialties Allergy & Immunology Anesthesiology Colon/Rectal Surgery Dermatology Emergency Medicine Family Medicine Internal Medicine Medical Genetics Neurological Surgery Nuclear Medicine Obstetrics & Gynecology Ophthalmology Orthopedic Surgery Otolaryngology Pathology Pediatrics Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Plastic Surgery Preventive Medicine Psychiatry & Neurology Radiology Surgery Thoracic Surgery Urology  The American Board of Medical Specialties (of which ABIM is a member) is requiring more frequent engagement of diplomates in MOC activities: all Boards are required to develop a continuous MOC program.

Why is ABIM Changing MOC? Every 10 Years is not enough “The growing knowledge base requires that training and ongoing licensure and certification reflect the need for lifelong learning and evaluation of competencies.” National Research Council. Crossing the Quality Chasm: A New Health System for the 21st Century. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press, 2001.

What Are the New Requirements?  By December 31, 2015, complete an MOC activity, either offered by ABIM or another organization, to earn ABIM MOC points.  By December 31, 2018, earn a total of 100 MOC points in a mix of Self-Evaluation of Medical Knowledge and Self-Evaluation of Practice Assessment modules (as well as complete the new patient safety and patient survey requirements).

Patient Safety & Patient Survey Requirements  Currently one option to meet patient safety requirement: the ABP- lead Joint Primary Care Board product.  Developing process to meet requirement with patient safety related activities at institutions.  Will be adding many more patient safety options.  PIMs with a patient survey will count toward patient survey requirement.  Will offer options to meet requirement without doing a full PIM.  Developing process to approve surveys already in use. Diplomates have until December 31, 2018 to meet the Patient Survey and Patient Safety requirements

How will this impact Grandfathers?  ABIM will honor certifications that are valid indefinitely (assuming you hold a current and valid license).  Grandfathers will need to pass an MOC exam by 12/31/23 in order to be reported as "Meeting MOC Requirements."  Grandfathers who miss any of the MOC program requirements will be reported as "Certified, Not Meeting MOC Requirements." They will NOT be reported as Not Certified for failing to meet MOC requirements.

What Else Will be Different About MOC?  Earn MOC points for taking an exam  Flexible fee structure – annual payment option  Grace periods for newly certified and physicians in fellowship

How Much Will it Cost After the Program Launches?  If you are enrolled in MOC most diplomates will not owe anything until their current enrollment expires.  Cost to maintain more than one certification will be the fee of the most expensive certification plus half for each of the others.  Options to pay annually or pre-pay 10 years.  Newly certified diplomates in internal medicine will receive a 1-year fee waiver.  Diplomates in fellowship will receive an MOC program fee credit after every successful fellowship year completed.  Fee includes one MOC exam for each certification you are maintaining. (Exam re-takes are $775.)  All ABIM modules are included in the fees. Diplomates can complete as many as they would like and earn CME without additional costs. MOC in Internal Medicine around $200 per year Subspecialty MOCaround$250 per year

Listening to Diplomates What we learned from focus groups conducted with diplomates: Diplomates would like a great deal of personalized guidance and reminders to stay on track. Diplomates want to succeed in MOC, whatever the requirements. Changes to MOC: ABIM will develop messages that strongly encourage physicians to visit a new ABIM Physician Portal launching in 2014, early and often. Clear communication to everyone who helps physicians manage their MOC requirements. The message from diplomates is loud and clear: “Just tell me what to do!”

I Want to Know About My Particular Situation:  Visit moc2014.abim.org to help answer any questions about the new MOC requirements.moc2014.abim.org

What’s Not Changing?  You will still have the ability to earn points by working in groups, participating in Learning Sessions and receiving credit for approved society products; however, the patient safety and patient survey requirements are new.  How you meet the Self-Evaluation of Medical Knowledge and Self-Evaluation of Practice Assessment requirements isn’t changing.  You must still take an MOC exam every 10 years.

Components of MOC  Secure Exam  Self-Evaluation of Medical Knowledge  Self-Evaluation of Practice Assessment  Patient Survey Module  Patient Safety Module

Self-Evaluation of Medical Knowledge  ABIM Self-Evaluation products Annual Update in Internal Medicine [3 available every year] Clinical Skills Care for the Underserved Point of Care Patient Safety Modules Other approved products offered by medical societies and other organizations Visit for a complete list.

Additional Options for ACP Members  ACP Annals Ethics Module  ACP Annals Patient Safety Module  MKSAP 15 Updates 1-4  MKSAP 16 Parts A & B  MKSAP 16 Update 1

Performance Report Improvement Chart review Patient survey Impact Practice Improvement Module plan do study act Practice review

Ways to Complete PIMs  By yourself or in a group. Your entire practice can complete as a team. Full point credit for the module for each diplomate participating in MOC.  With residents or fellows as a PIM in Residency.  By using data/measurements from medical societies/other sources.  By using data from your own practice.

Approved Quality Improvement (AQI) Options from ACP  ACP Closing the Gap: Cardiovascular Risk  ACP Closing the Gap: Diabetes Risk  ACP: Medical Home Builder: Manage Diabetes Mellitus and Immunize Adults Modules Get more information at

ABIM’s Aim: To Harmonize MOC with Real- Life Practice and Other Imperatives  Today Help in staying current. Opportunity to earn CME credit. An aid in meeting some hospitals’ and medical groups’ privileging requirements. Recognition in certain health plan physician directories and inclusion in quality-tiered networks. A marker of professionalism.  A likely future Counts for Maintenance of Licensure (MOL). Included in increasingly robust public and private physician ranking/assessment systems.

Need Help?  Looking for more information about the new MOC program requirements? Visit the official site at moc2014.abim.orgmoc2014.abim.org  Not enrolled in MOC? Log in to and complete the online enrollment.  Checking your MOC status? Log in to to view your MOC Status Report.  Have questions? Call ABIM’s Diplomate Services Department, ABIM (2246). us at: Go online to: