VOLUME 27, ISSUE 2

THE ABA ROLLS OUT MOCA 2.0

Russell K. McAllister Education Editor

The American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA) is rolling out MOCA 2.0 January 1st, 2016 in an effort to reimagine its Maintenance of Certification in Anesthesiology (MOCA) program to address critiques of the current program, while continuing to meet American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) standards. The ABA initially launched MOCA in 2004 and we have seen changes over the years including changes in the testing format, the requirement for a practice improvement project, and a required simulation experience at an ABA approved simulation center.

Other ABMS participating boards have come under fire recently for failing to deliver MOC that physicians found meaningful. Most notably, the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) issued an apology to its diplomates (http://www.abim.org/news/abim-announces-immediate-changes-to-moc-program.aspx) and promised meaningful changes in its MOC, including a 2 year moratorium on some of the MOC requirements that were deemed to be less meaningful by its diplomates. The struggles of the ABIM have received national attention through two articles published recently in Newsweek. Two other ABMS specialty boards (Pediatrics and Family Medicine) responded to news of the ABIM changes with statements to their members that they would continue to closely examine their certification requirements, but that nothing would change.

The ABA, however, organized a MOCA Redesign Task Force last year and asked for input from its members through informal feedback at booths at major meetings and through an anonymous feedback website (http://moca.theaba.org/fg.pl). Based on feedback received, on January 1st, 2016, the ABA will launch MOCA 2.0, which is a major redesign of the MOCA content. The ABA recently sent a notice to its diplomates giving an update on the progress of the MOCA 2.0 program that included the following statements:

  • All diplomates who have certificates that expire in 2016 or later and who are participating in MOCA will be enrolled in the pilot. Non-time limited certificate holders are encouraged and welcome to participate, but will not be automatically enrolled.
  • The MOCA Minute application, an interactive learning tool that we began piloting in 2014, will replace the MOCA Examination as the Board’s MOC Part 3: Assessment of Knowledge, Judgment, and Skills. You may learn more about the MOCA Minute application in the 2015 edition of ABA News.
  • As of Jan.1, 2016, simulation will become an optional Part 4 activity. We consider simulation a valuable education tool and will continue to strongly encourage it.
  • We are developing a variety of MOCA Part 4: Improvement in Medical Practice options that will give diplomates greater flexibility to complete activities relevant to their practice. The Board will award points to diplomates completing MOCA Part 4 activities based on the time and effort required to complete them. A minimum number of Part 4 points will be required for all diplomates participating in the MOCA 2.0 pilot. We will share the details about the point system in the coming months.
  • There will be an annual $210 fee to participate in MOCA 2.0, which will replace the current $2,100 MOCA fee paid every 10 years.

As diplomates of the ABA, it will be imperative for us to continue to follow this process closely in order to maintain certification, but also in order to participate in the process by offering meaningful feedback to ABA leaders as they continue to refine the process to best serve its diplomates and, ultimately, our patients.

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