FAQs — Participation in MOC
Why should I participate in MOC and what will happen if I decide not to participate in MOC?
In addition to the personal benefits of demonstrating one’s professionalism, commitment to lifelong learning and quality improvement needed to provide the highest quality Allergy and Immunology care, there are several other potential reasons why a Diplomate will want to participate in MOC:
- Patients and the public are more avidly seeking documentation that their physician is practicing the highest quality medicine, and for many stakeholders, board certification and MOC are becoming a measure of quality. If you choose not to participate you will be listed as not participating in MOC in the ABAI and ABMS databases.
- Insurers are looking at ways to identify "quality" providers and it is possible that reimbursement or carrier network participation could be tied to such defined quality in the future. The Blue Cross/Blue Shield Association has begun to emphasize participation in MOC to its members, and it is increasingly likely that participation in MOC will become a quality measure. Thus if you choose not to participate in MOC any such credits may not be available to you.
- State licensure boards are actively looking at Maintenance of Licensure (MOL) programs, and the ABMS and its member boards are working with the Federation of State Medical Boards to assure that participation in MOC will qualify for MOL.
- In certain states, malpractice carriers have already started to give discounted premium rates to physicians participating in MOC.
Read some fact sheets about the value of Maintenance of Certification, published by ABIM.
If I have a time-unlimited certificate will I lose my certification if I don’t participate in MOC?
No. MOC is a voluntary process for time-unlimited certificate holders. ABAI will not "revoke" a time unlimited certificate for failure to participate in MOC, however, beginning in 2011, the Diplomate will be reported in ABMS and ABAI databases as "Not Meeting MOC Requirements".
I’m nearing retirement and am not sure whether to participate or where to start the process?
The reasons to participate are listed above.
In order to start the process a Diplomate will need to formally start the MOC program by registering on the ABAI Web Portal. The individual’s timetable will show where in the process they are and what will be needed by certain dates.
Note at this time, that a time unlimited Diplomate who is participating in MOC will not have to sit for the secure exam until 2021, year 10 of the MOC cycle (or 2019 if they want to take it early)!
