Responding to feedback, new CEO looks to “simplify without compromising value” of the program.
Philadelphia, October 28, 2024 — The American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) is eliminating the requirement to complete Maintenance of Certification (MOC) points every-two-years effective immediately, new ABIM President and CEO Furman S. McDonald, MD, MPH announced today.
As a result of this policy change, nearly 12,000 physicians certified by ABIM who are currently reported as “Certified, Not Participating in MOC,” due to missing the two-year point requirement will have their status updated to “Certified, Participating in MOC,” as long as all other MOC requirements are met.
“Physicians across all disciplines were clear that the two-year point requirement is confusing and did not provide added value.,” said Dr. McDonald, who became President and CEO of ABIM and the ABIM Foundation on September 1.
“ABIM is committed to listening to physician feedback on our programs and streamlining the process wherever possible. This is one thing we feel we can eliminate and simplify without compromising the value of the MOC program,” McDonald added.
ABIM is currently updating the Physician Portal and ABIM.org to reflect these changes, and affected diplomates will receive an email notification once the updates are completed.
The requirement to earn 100 MOC points every 5 years to be reported as certified and participating in MOC still remains in effect.
MOC points can be earned in many ways, including participating in the increasingly popular Longitudinal Knowledge Assessment (LKA), which earns up to 24 points annually. Physicians can take the traditional, 10-year MOC exam, which grants 20 points. They can participate in certain CME activities that are also eligible for MOC points. They can earn up to 100 points by becoming ABIM-certified in a subspecialty for the first time.
Diplomates with questions about their individual requirements, can contact ABIM at request@abim.org.
About the American Board of Internal Medicine
Since its founding in 1936 to answer a public call to establish more uniform standards for physicians, Certification by the American Board of Internal Medicine has stood for the highest standard in internal medicine and its 20 subspecialties. Certification has meant that internists have demonstrated – to their peers and to the public – that they have the clinical judgment, skills and attitudes essential for the delivery of excellent patient care. ABIM is not a membership society, but a physician-led, non-profit, independent evaluation organization. Our accountability is both to the profession of medicine and to the public.
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