MOC is crazy and unfair

I attempted the (MOC) exam last fall and failed after hours of practice trying to prepare studying things I have not done in 20 years, i.e. vent settings and renal calculations.

The knowledge that we are tested on is for people coming straight out of residency, not a PCP who has been in a successful office practice for 20 years. I was going to attempt to take it again in the fall of 2016, but only because my hospital, which I never admit to, requires it for me to remain affiliated with them even though I am using the hospitalist service 100%.  

The whole thing is crazy. My specialty now is suboxone maintenance and there was not one question on the test concerning this.

Lisa M. Noyes-Duguay, MD

Westerly, Rhode Island

Next: MOC is scary, 'extortion' at best

MOC is scary, ‘extortion’ at best

I am a board certified neurologist since 1997, re-certified by MOC in

2007 and I absolutely will not be participating in MOC again. The

Newsweek articles were such an eye opener that I actually feel violated.

It represents extortion at its best and what is even scarier is that I suspect the boards will lobby the insurance companies, Medicare, and all of their political allies to require doctor be board certified in order to participate. They will be losing millions of dollars if they don’t and I don’t think they are going to cave that easily. 

Denise Bongiovanni D.O.

Denville, NJ

Next: Physicians should drop MOC now

Physicians should drop MOC now

The solution to abolishing (MOC) prior to 2020 is to simply not take the exam.  Once a critical number of physicians are not boarded by the ABMS the problem is gone.  

I understand there are some situations where there may be immediate adverse consequences to not recertifying but there are also a lot of individuals that could drop it to help move the ball forward.

My wife and I just dropped ABFP/MOC certification.

We will continue to be board certified – through the National Board of Physicians and Surgeons – join even if you don’t drop ABMS right now.

John Nolte, MD Family Practice

Miriam Nolte, MD Family Practice

Anchorage, Alaska

Next: Trump may not be far off with Medicaid reform

Trump may not be far off with Medicaid reform

In response to “Donald Trump unveils seven-point healthcare reform plan (MedicalEconomics.com, March 3, 2016),” (this is) not a bad start. States should control Medicaid. State governments can be inept but at least they can address individual regional attitudes in a country with large regional differences, and state governments are more accessible to their constituents. Moreover, the multiple laboratory concepts (are) valid.

I love the idea of medical providers posting prices. Anything that moves the system away from the third party payers is good.

Anthony M. Perry, MD

Scranton, PA

Next: Just say no to recertification

Just say no to recertification

The solution to MOC is for all 905,000 physicians to just say no.  Then, the MOC people will go away as will the requirements for MOC per hospital and insurance contracts.  

The second best solution in our democratic society is to put it to a vote, board by board.  Physicians already have to pass medical school, muster out of residency programs, pass a certification exam, report CME hours, perform well by hospital quality assurance, and withstand reviews of their treatment programs by insurers and online sites.  And then there’s torts.  

So just what does MOC do for us?  After 38 years private and academic practice, my answer is that MOC is a guppy tax. Don’t stand for it. 

As Jefferson said:  “Disobedience to tyranny is obedience to God.”

Anthony E. Foley MD

Dayton, Ohio