Lawmakers introduced two bills before the state House Health Policy Committee that would prohibit the state from requiring physicians to maintain board certification to keep their medical license. The legislation would also bar health insurers from requiring physicians to maintain their certification to receive reimbursement payments, according to the report.
Proponents of the bill argue board certification organizations continue to raise the requirements necessary to obtain certification, making it harder and more costly for some physicians to continue practicing medicine.
During his testimony before the House Health Policy Committee, state Rep. Edward Canfield, DO, R-District 84, who sponsored the bills, said the certification process promotes “extreme stress” and cited certain studies that have “found no difference” in the quality of care delivered by physicians with expiring and nonexpiring board certifications.
“In medicine, we’re trained to follow the science,” said Dr. Canfield during his testimony, according to the report. “In this case, the science indicates that requiring doctors to take national board exams … has not been proven to improve patient care.”
However, opponents of the legislation claim reapplying for board certification ensures physicians are up-to-date on the latest procedures and technologies. Health insurers who oppose the bills, such as Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, claim such legislation would “virtually eliminate the ability of health plans to establish their own reasonable credentialing for physician network participation,” the report states.
A representative for the insurer told MiBiz the requirements certain board certification agencies maintain “are reliable indicator[s] of a physician’s training and competence to care for patients within a medical specialty.”
The bills are similar to legislation introduced nearly one year ago. The most recent legislation, however, includes language explicitly banning hospitals from requiring board certifications for physicians to receive admitting privileges, according to the report.
Officials said the committee plans to hold additional hearings on the legislation.
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