What Lawmakers Need to Know About Physician Board Certification
Board certification is a highly regarded metric for identifying physicians who have demonstrated mastery of their chosen field. Yet, it isn’t just patients who value board certification. Local, state, and federal lawmakers are also increasingly including language in healthcare legislation that specifically defines board certified physicians. At the American Board of Physician Specialties®, we support any legislation that benefits the public and our Diplomates throughout North America, but we also urge lawmakers to remember that there are three nationally recognized physician multi-specialty certifying bodies in the country: the ABMS, the ABPS, and the AOA. Any definition of board certification that does not include all three is unintentionally discriminating a significant number of physician leaders in North America.
The American Board of Physician Specialties is the official certifying body of the American Association of Physician Specialists. We have Diplomates in all 50 states, as well as Canada and Puerto Rico, and since we were founded in the mid-20th century, we have established a sterling reputation in the healthcare community. In order to become board certified, our physicians must meet our stringent eligibility requirements and successfully complete a standardized examination process. In short, our board certified physicians represent some of the best and the brightest in the health care industry and have repeatedly proven themselves to their peers, employers, and patients, which is why we are so committed to ensuring that our Diplomates have equal opportunities as their counterparts in the ABMS and AOA.
Our message to lawmakers is this: When defining board certification in any legislation that establishes eligible providers and/or standards of certification, be sure to include all three nationally recognized physician multi-specialty certifying bodies listed here. Healthcare policy is too important to inadvertently neglect some of the most highly trained and experienced professionals in the industry.
If you have any questions about board certification, the ABPS, or the credentials of our Diplomates, please contact us today.