At its meeting on November 5, the Ohio Academy of Family Physicians Board of Directors adopted a position of neutral with technical assistance on House Bill (HB) 273, a proposal to prohibit a physician from being required to secure maintenance of certification (MOC) as a condition of obtaining licensure, reimbursement, employment, or obtaining admitting or surgical privileges at a hospital or health care facility.
The OAFP understands member frustrations with the cost and time spent on MOC when many question the process’s application to practice and whether the process actually improves the quality of patient care. The OAFP has long, however, complained about interference in the practice of medicine and is concerned that asking the legislature to get involved in this piece of medical practice is a bad precedent to set. The leadership of the American Board of Family Medicine (ABFM) is changing and we have seen indications that attitudes at the ABFM may be shifting in ways that are more receptive to physician concerns with MOC.
The OAFP opposes legislative interference into the practice of medicine and feels that matters regarding board certification and MOC are issues best addressed through professional self-regulation and peer review and not through legislative action.
The Academy does not support using board certification or MOC being mandated or used as a sole criterion for decisions involving credentialing, privileging, payment, employment, or licensure. Board certification and MOC are only one component of professional self-regulation and are not an absolute requirement in the determination of clinical privileges, credentialing, licensure, payment, and employment.
The OAFP has always been and continues to be committed to principles of lifelong learning, continuing professional development, clinical expertise of the health care workforce, and the principles of professional self-regulation. Self-regulation, self-scrutiny, and peer review are hallmarks of professionalism. This matter is best handled by our profession and not through legislative action.
The OAFP Board of Directors is planning to have a mega issue discussion about the ABFM at its January 2018 board meeting and will be inviting an ABFM representative to participate in that discussion.
Watch for updates in future editions of the Weekly Family Medicine Update.