Frequently Asked Questions
The NC MOC Program was created to give physicians an institutional resource for MOC requirements, thereby alleviating the administrative burden of working directly with his/her specialty board. In cases with large groups involving multiple specialty boards, working with each board directly could be quite burdensome. We also provide resources for guidance on selecting, developing, and implementing QI efforts, and we do all this at no charge to you.
When did the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill become an ABMS approved Portfolio Sponsor?
The NC MOC Program was approved as an ABMS Multi-Specialty Portfolio Program Sponsor in September 2015.
How does a physician or a physician assistant become involved to receive MOC Part IV or PI-CME credit?
Physicians and Physician Assistants can submit QI efforts for approval and credit or they can participate in an already approved QI effort.
Is there a fee associated with Physicians or Physician Assistants receiving Part IV MOC credit?
There is no fee associated with participating in the NC MOC program.
What are the Project Leader(s)’ responsibilities?
The project leader is responsible for submitting the Quality Improvement project application to the NC MOC Program Manager, providing updates (as requested) on the progress of the QI effort and monitoring and verifying physician and PA participation throughout the project.
Will the NC MOC Program assist me in obtaining my re-certification for MOC Part II or Part III?
The NC MOC Program focuses on MOC Part IV re-certification. While the program can provide QI resources, typically, physicians must work with their own individual boards regarding credit for these MOC components.
In June 2023, the NC MOC particpated in an ABPN Pilot program for physicians to receive MOC Part II credit.
Any ABMS board certified physician affiliated with the University of North Carolina Healthcare System or the Area Health Education Centers (Area L, UNC-Chapel Hill Program Office or MAHEC) may participate in the NC MOC Program. The program is multi-specialty; therefore, projects involving physicians from more than one specialty are encouraged. Please note that 17 of the 24 ABMS Medical Board participate in the Portfolio Program.
What is the process for reporting the Part IV MOC credit to the Specialty Medical Boards?
The Board certified physician does not report the Part IV credit to the Medical Specialty Board. The Physician provides their National Provider Identification (NPI) Number, Date of Birth, Individual Certifying Board Identification Number and a completed Attestation Form. This information allows the NC MOC Program to report each physician’s activity completion to the ABMS and to the other medical specialty boards.
Can physicians that are board certified by the American Osteopathic Association receive Part IV MOC credit?
The American Osteopathic Association is currently not one of the participating Medical Boards for the Multi-Specialty Portfolio Program. The physicians can participate and receive credit if they are Board Certified by one of the other ABMS Member Boards.
Quality Improvement projects that include at least two improvement cycles (Baseline measure, Intervention, Re-Measure, Refining Change; Re-Measure) must be completed for physicians to receive credit. The projects may be on-going or of a short duration. There is no particular, required QI process (LEAN, Six Sigma, Model for Improvement, etc.), but basic QI methods must be utilized.
Who is responsible for reviewing the submitted Quality Improvement Efforts’ Applications for Approval?
The NC MOC Staff can help physicians, physician assistants and Quality Improvement program managers prepare and review the application.
The application is then submitted and reviewed by the internal NC MOC Project Review Committee. If approved, the application is submitted to the ABMS Multi-Specialty Portfolio Program for review by the Portfolio Program Staff and Medical Specialty Boards’ staff members.
The ABMS Portfolio Program has entered into an “interprofessional collaborative agreement” with the National Commission on Certification of Physicians Assistants (NCCPA). Under this agreement, Physician Assistants (PAs) working in Portfolio Program sponsor organizations and participating with physicians on team-based inter-professional improvement activities will be able to receive NCCPA Performance Improvement CME (PI-CME) credit.
Are all Physician Assistants eligible to receive NCCPA PI-CME credit through the ABMS Portfolio Program?
This program is only available for Physician Assistants participating with physicians in previously approved quality improvement activities.
Can Physician Assistants receive NCCPA PI-CME credit for projects that include PAs only?
No, the approved quality improvement projects must include Physicians and Physician Assistants in order for PAs to receive PIC-CME Credit. The participation requirements are the same for Physicians and Physician Assistants.
How will Physician Assistants know when their PI-CME credit has been awarded?
The NCCPA will email the Physician Assistant when their credits have been logged in their record.
How many PI-CME Credits will Physician Assistants (PAs) receive for efforts submitted to the NCCPA through the Portfolio Program?
Physician Assistants will be awarded 30 PI-CME credits. NCCPA then doubles the first 20 PI-CME credits earned for each Physician Assistant per CME logging Cycle.
Do the approved Quality Improvement Efforts need to be CME certified in order for PA’s to receive credit?
No.