Dr. Benbassat and the physicians who have joined Change Board Certification, believe that MOC should not be associated with hospital privileges, insurance reimbursement, or network participation. It should not be required for maintenance of licensure either, said Dr. Benbassat, who is concerned that ABIM is discussing tying licensure to MOC.
Meanwhile, the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons has filed suit against the American Board of Medical Specialties, claiming that the MOC process is a restraint of trade because it will effectively keep doctors from practicing if they do not participate. The suit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey on April 23, and seeks to stop what it calls the ABMS’s "continuing violations of antitrust law and misrepresentations about the medical skills of physicians who decline to purchase and spend time on its program."
The organization is also aiming to get a refund of fees paid by its members to ABMS and its 24 member boards.
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