In 2017, the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) and its 24 member boards launched a major initiative—Continuing Board Certification: Vision for the Future Commission—to re-envision the future of continuing board certification. The commission recently released its draft report, which includes the key findings and recommendations for reforming how ABMS specialty boards operate continuing certification programs. The draft report is open for public comment until Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2019, at 9:00 p.m. Pacific Time.

The California Medical Association (CMA) is encouraging physicians to review the recommendations and provide comments on whether they believe that the proposed recommendations would improve their experience with continuing specialty certification.  

CMA has adopted extensive policy on the issue of Maintenance of Certification including that:

• CMA supports the highest standards for licensure to ensure the availability of competent physicians and that licensure be based on education, training, experience, ethical criteria. 
• CMA supports that continuing medical education is an important means of maintaining medical skill and obtaining new knowledge and techniques of treatment, and supports a broader definition of continuing medical education to recognize that educational activities that assist physicians in carrying out their professional responsibilities more effectively and efficiently are in fact continuing medical education.
• CMA supports that participation in Maintenance of Certification programs should be voluntary; that participation in Maintenance of Certification programs should not be a requirement for state licensure; and that participation in Maintenance of Certification programs may be a factor, but not a requirement, when assessing physician competence for employment, medical staff privileges and health plan participation.

For more information, including talking points to assist you in preparing your comments, click here.