How Is ACG Helping Decrease Regulatory Burden on Physicians?

Q: How is the American College of Gastroenterology helping decrease regulatory burden on physicians?

A: Since becoming president of the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) in October 2016, my goals have been to:

• Increase the impact and visibility of ACG’s legislative efforts at both state and national levels
• Strengthen the lifeblood of clinical research by augmenting clinical research funding and devising opportunities for creative research collaboration
• Ensure that easy-to-access, high-quality education is available to members in the format of their choice

One of my major initiatives has been to decrease regulatory burdens on physicians, particularly when it comes to American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Maintenance of Certification (MOC). I created a task force of dedicated and talented ACG members, studying opportunities to address the unintended consequences of MOC on the practice of medicine. They found that:

• There is a lack of independent data showing that MOC serves practicing physicians or patients.
• The direct and indirect costs of MOC are unacceptable.
• The MOC process is redundant, burdensome and expensive, and contributes to physician burnout, which is at an all-time high.

The task force is studying all approaches to the MOC crisis, including developing an independent MOC process, working with established or alternative certifying bodies, and supporting state and federal legislative efforts to limit the burden of MOC.

— Carol Burke, MD
Vice Chair, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology
Cleveland Clinic