To: The American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM)

Subject: Petition to Eliminate the Maintenance of Certification (MOC) Program

Dear Members of the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM),

We, the physicians are writing this petition to express our deep dissatisfaction with the Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program administered by the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM). We firmly believe that the MOC program has become burdensome, costly, and lacks evidence to support its effectiveness in improving patient care or physician competence. We respectfully request that the ABIM take immediate action to eliminate the MOC program and adopt alternative, less burdensome methods of ensuring physician competence and continuous professional development.

The MOC program, originally intended to uphold the standards of medical practice and promote lifelong learning, has evolved into a complex and time-consuming process that poses significant challenges to practicing physicians. Its requirements for ongoing assessments, time-consuming paperwork, and costly fees have placed an undue burden on physicians, negatively impacting the quality of care they can provide to their patients. Many physicians find themselves having to choose between investing valuable time and resources in MOC compliance or dedicating those resources to improving patient care and staying up-to-date with the latest medical advancements.

Moreover, there is limited empirical evidence supporting the notion that MOC participation leads to improved patient outcomes or better physician performance. The lack of transparency regarding the program's financials and its overall effectiveness raises concerns about the motivations behind its perpetuation.

As concerned stakeholders, we propose an alternative approach that would better support physician competence and continuing education without imposing unnecessary hurdles. Our suggested alternatives include:

Encouraging voluntary, accessible, and evidence-based continuing medical education (CME) programs to promote lifelong learning among physicians.
Establishing a system for peer evaluation and feedback, encouraging self-assessment, and fostering a culture of continuous quality improvement.
Developing specialty-specific pathways that allow physicians to tailor their professional development to their individual needs and areas of expertise.
By eliminating the MOC program and adopting alternative methods of assessment, the ABIM can restore the trust and respect of the medical community and focus on promoting the highest standards of medical care.

We, the undersigned, urge the ABIM to take our concerns seriously and act promptly to eliminate the Maintenance of Certification program. By doing so, the ABIM can demonstrate its commitment to supporting physicians, improving patient care, and maintaining the integrity of the medical profession.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. We look forward to your timely response and decisive action.

Sincerely,

The diplomats of the board of internal medicine