Note: Bills that change current law do not show the amended text correctly below. Please view Original PDF to see amended sections:
SJR 62 - Enrolled - PDF
SJR62
191376-2
By Senators Melson, Albritton, Allen, Beasley, Blackwell,
Brewbaker, Bussman, Chambliss, Coleman-Madison, Dial, Dunn,
Figures, Glover, Hightower, Holley, Holtzclaw, Livingston,
Marsh, McClendon, Orr, Pittman, Reed, Sanders, Sanford,
Scofield, Shelnutt, Singleton, Smith, Smitherman, Stutts,
Waggoner, Ward, Whatley and Williams
RFD:
First Read: 13-FEB-18
SJR62
SJR62
ENROLLED, SJR62,
URGING THE AMERICAN BOARD OF MEDICAL SPECIALITIES TO
HONOR ITS COMMITMENT TO REDUCE THE BURDEN AND COST OF THE
MAINTENANCE OF CERTIFICATION PROGRAM ON ALABAMA PHYSICIANS.
WHEREAS, Alabama physicians support lifelong
learning, self-regulation and the highest standards for
medical care; and
WHEREAS, some physicians, in addition to maintaining
state medical licensure, also voluntarily pursue board
certification within their respective medical specialities to
further their education, knowledge, experience, and skills;
and
WHEREAS, up until the American Board of Medical
Specialities (ABMS) created its Maintenance of Certification
(MOC) program, medical specialty board certification was
largely held as a lifetime credential; and
WHEREAS, Alabama physicians desiring to maintain
their specialty board certification believe the current MOC
program neither reflects the realities of their individual
practice environments nor does it improve quality of medical
care; and
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WHEREAS, the increasingly burdensome requirements of
MOC, which include significant time away from clinical
practice and considerable financial expenditures necessary for
board review courses and materials and travel to testing
sites, have driven some physicians to drop board certification
altogether; and
WHEREAS, ABMS member boards, in the opinion of
Alabama physicians, have abused the privilege with which they
have been entrusted by their diplomates through punitive
application of MOC at the expense of Alabama physicians, their
families, and ultimately, Alabama patients; and
WHEREAS, while speciality board certification
remains technically voluntary, certification has increasingly
become a requirement for hospital staff privileges and
reimbursement; and
WHEREAS, the Medical Association of the State of
Alabama adopted at its 2017 Annual Session an official policy
supporting maintenance of skills and other efforts to improve
quality of care but opposing "any further requirements for MOC
as a condition of licensure, reimbursement, employment or
admitting privileges at a hospital"; and
WHEREAS, the Medical Association of the State of
Alabama's MOC Study Committee, recognizing the multitude of
problems with the current AMBS MOC model, believes the
National Board of Physicians and Surgeons should also be given
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consideration by physicians seeking specialty board
certification; now therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA, BOTH
HOUSES THEREOF CONCURRING, That the ABMS is called upon to
exhibit leadership and influence in encouraging its member
boards to make immediate changes to their MOC progress, and
changes should at a minimum include an end to mandatory
high-stakes testing, creation of other pathways for
recertification, and a significant reduction in cost and time
required of physicians.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That while pursuit of
federal or state legislative remedies remains a possibility,
absent substantial improvement in MOC in the aforementioned
areas, ABMS can likely expect further physician exodus en
masse in favor of certifying boards with clinically relevant
programs that foster lifelong learning in a non-punitive
manner.
BE IT EVEN FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this
resolution be sent to the American Board of Medical
Specialities and each member of the Alabama Congressional
Delegation.
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President and Presiding Officer of the Senate
Speaker of the House of Representatives
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Senate 13-FEB-18
I hereby certify that the within Senate Joint Resolution
originated in and was adopted by the Senate.
Patrick Harris,
Secretary.
House of Representatives
Adopted: 20-FEB-18
By: Senator Melson