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Osteopathic Continuous Certification

December 16, 2014

Some Things to Remember

 
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 Different?

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 the osteopathic continuous certification process. Physicians must engage in continuous improvement through comparison of personal practice performance measured against national standards in 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 physicians 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 on the next page for requirements.

Specialty certifying boards may be contacted using the information here. Please contact them for complete details about eligibility for certification, requirements for maintaining certification, and recertification.

Questions regarding 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.

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