AOA Osteopathic Continuous Certification 2013-2015 Cycle
December 17, 2014
1. Category 1A Credit is granted for live programs provided by Category 1 CME sponsors. Category 1B is granted for programs of a more casual nature (online, teaching, writing) provided by Category 1 CME sponsors. Category 2A is granted for live programs sponsored by non-AOA accredited providers. Category 2B is granted for programs of a more casual nature (online, teaching, writing) sponsored by non-AOA accredited providers.
2. AOA recertifying physicians must fulfill 120 hours of CME credit during each three year CME cycle. 150 hours are required for the American Osteopathic Board of Family Practice, the American Osteopathic Board of Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine, and the American Osteopathic Board of Anesthesiology.
3. The 120/150 hours may include a variety of credit levels (1A, 1B, 2A, 2B) but must include at least 30 1A credits and 50 specialty CME credits in primary specialties.
4. In order to maintain a license to practice osteopathic medicine in the state of Arizona, osteopathic physicians are required to obtain 20 hours of CME per year. Of that, at least 12 hours must be 1A credit provided by a Category 1 CME sponsor. No more than 8 hours may be provided by an accredited AMA or ACCME provider and certified as AMA PRA Category 1 credit.
So What's New?
1. For physicians holding certifications of added qualifications (CAQs), a minimum of 50 specialty CME credits for each must also be earned with a minimum of 13 of the credits earned at the level of the CAQ. It is anticipated that physicians may begin to consider prioritizing CAQs due to the additional cost and time involved in the OCC process.
2. Practice Performance Assessment and Improvement is the only new component in 5 item osteopathic continuous certification process. Physicians must engage in continuous improvement through comparison of personal practice performance measured against national standards their medical specialty. The physician submits information to the board based on their current practice. (Documents can include patient surveys and quality improvement data.) The data will be reviewed against national standards for patient care, and the physician will receive a report with recommendations for improvement. At that time, physicians should make a plan for ongoing improvement, to be submitted during the next recertification period. It is notable that any specialty board may insert another form of review in place of this component. Physicians who do not see patients or advise residents during the cycle may request an affidavit for the removal of this component from the continuous certification process.
3. All Specialty Certifying Boards operating under the jurisdiction of the AOA have been qualified by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for the 2013 PQRS MOC Program Incentive. This will allow those who qualify to apply for an additional 0.5% incentive payment for 2013 submitted Medicare/Medicaid claims. CMS requires that you be registered for the PQRS, meet the PQRS reporting requirements, be AOA board certified, and be participating in OCC in order to qualify for this incentive. The MOC incentive program requires physicians "to perform activities more frequent than is required" for OCC. Please visit your specialty board website listed below for requirements.
Your specialty certifying board may be contacted using the information in the chart for complete details about your eligibility for certification, requirements for maintaining certification, and recertification.
Questions regarding your certification status and general OCC information may be directed to the AOA Division of Certification at certification@osteopathic.org or (800) 621-1773, ext. 8266. For verification of certification please visit www.DOProfiles.org.
CERTIFYING BOARD | PRIMARY CERTIFICATION | CERTIFICATION OF SPECIAL QUALIFICATIONS (CSQ) | CERTIFICATION OF ADDED QUALIFICATIONS (CAQ) |
Anesthesiology Claire Barnes, Certification Manager,142 E. Ontario St., Chicago, IL 60611, (800) 621-1773, ext. 8279 aoba2@osteopathic.org www.aobanes.com | Anesthesiology | None offered | Addiction Medicine* Critical Care Medicine Pain Management |
Dermatology Renee Herron, Administrator, P.O. Box 493, Kirksville, MO 63501, (660) 349-9666, execdirector@aobd-derm.org www.aobd-derm.org | Dermatology | None offered | Dermatopathology MOHS-Micrographic Surgery |
Emergency Medicine Josette Fleming, Executive Director, 8765 W. Higgins Rd., Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60631, (773) 724-3161, Fax (773) 724-3162aobem@aol.com www.aobem.org | Emergency Medicine | None offered | Emergency Medical Services |
Family Physicians
| Family Medicine and OMT** | None offered | Addiction Medicine* |
Internal Medicine Gary L. Slick, DO, Executive Director, 1111 W. 17th St., Tulsa, OK 74107, (918) 561-1267 admin@aobim.org www.aobim.org | Internal Medicine | Allergy/Immunology | Addiction Medicine |
Neurology & Psychiatry Sandy Elcock, Administrative Assistant, 2730 S. Val Vista Dr., #146, Gilbert, AZ 85296, (480) 650-3206 aobnp@att.net www.aobnp.org | Neurology | Child/Adolescent | Addiction Medicine |
Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine | Neuromusculoskeletal | None offered | Sports Medicine |
Nuclear MedicineJennifer Hausman, Certification Manager, 142 E. Ontario St., Chicago, IL 60611, (800) 621-1773, ext. 8102 aobnm@osteopathic.org www.aobnm.org | Nuclear Medicine* | None offered | Nuclear Cardiology* |
Obstetrics & Gynecology Mary Cameron, Certification Manager, 142 E, Ontario St., Chicago, IL 60611, (800) 621-1773, ext. 8271 aobog@aobog.org www.aobog.org | Obstetrics & Gynecology Obstetrics & Gynecology Surgery* | Gynecologic Oncology | None offered |
Ophthalmology & Otolaryngology Alvin D. Dubin, DO, Executive Director; Debra Bailey, Administrative Director, 4764 Fishburg Rd., Suite F, Huber Heights, OH 45424, | Ophthalmology | None offered | Otolaryngic Allergy Sleep Medicine |
CERTIFYING BOARD | PRIMARY CERTIFICATION | CERTIFICATION OF SPECIAL QUALIFICATIONS (CSQ) | CERTIFICATION OF ADDED QUALIFICATIONS (CAQ) |
Orthopedic Surgery Barbara Sharp, Executive Director, 800 Military St, Suite 800, Port Huron, MI 48060, (877) 982-6267 bsharp@aobos.org www.aobos.org | Orthopedic Surgery | None offered | Hand Surgery |
Pathology Jennifer Hausman, Certification Manager, 142 E. Ontario St., Chicago, IL 60611, (800) 621-1773, ext. 8102 aobpa@osteopathic.org www.aobpath.org | Laboratory Medicine
| Forensic Pathology | Blood Banking/ Transfusion Medicine* |
Pediatrics Claire Barnes, Certification Manager, 142 E. Ontario St., Chicago, IL 60611, (800) 621-1773, ext. 8109 aobp@osteopathic.org www.aobp.org/index.cfm | Pediatrics | Adolescent & Young Adult Medicine | Sports Medicine |
Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Ellen Woods, Executive Director, 142 E. Ontario St., Chicago, IL 60611, (800) 621-1773, ext. 8195 aobpmr@osteopathic.org www.aobpmr.org | Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation | None offered | Sports Medicine |
Preventive Medicine Ellen Woods, Executive Director, 142 E. Ontario St., Chicago, IL 60611, (800) 621-1773, ext. 8195 aobpm@osteopathic.org www.aobpm.org/index.cfm | Preventive Medicine/Aerospace Medicine | None offered | Occupational Medicine**** |
Proctology Jennifer Hausman, Certification Manager, 142 E. Ontario St., Chicago, IL 60611, (800) 621-1773, ext. 8102 proctology@osteopathic.org www.aobpr.org | Proctology | None offered | None offered |
Radiology Erin Maulsby, Certification Manager, 119 E. 2nd St., Milan, MO 63556, (660) 265-4011 erin@aobr.net www.aobr.org | Diagnostic Radiology
| Radiation Therapy* | Body Imaging* |
Surgery Alvin D. Dubin, DO, Executive Director; Debra Bailey, Administrative Director, 4764 Fishburg Rd., Ste. F, Huber Heights, OH 45424, (800) 782-5355 info@aobs.org www.aobs.org | Surgery (general) | None offered | Surgical Critical Care |