APA Board Supports Eliminating MOC Part IV

At its March meeting, the APA Board of Trustees voted unanimously for the following motion:

  • The APA Board of Trustees, acting on the recommendation of the Assembly Executive Committee, and representing over 36,000 psychiatrists, supports the elimination of Part IV of Maintenance of Certification (MOC). [Part IV is the “Improvement in Medical Practice” section, also known as Performance in Practice, or PIP. ]
  • Therefore, the Board recommends to the ABPN that they lobby and advocate that the ABMS eliminate Part IV of MOC,
  • The APA reaffirms its commitment to lifelong learning and quality improvement and support for the highest scientific and ethical standards of medical practice, and
  • The APA will establish a joint Board and Assembly Work Group … to evaluate the broad issue of maintenance of certification for psychiatry and its relationship to maintenance of state licensure and other accrediting bodies. …

On March 16, the APA sent a letter to the ABPN conveying this position.  ABPN notified diplomates that  it has asked ABMS to consider this change; however, unless that happens, it will require all 4 parts.  ABPN forwarded a letter from ABMS stating that it remains “fully committed to all elements of MOC.” The ABMS letter included a link where diplomates can directly share feedback for improving the MOC process.