Episode 092: The MOC Shakedown with Dr. Torie Sepah

Maintenance of Certification (or MOC) is a requirement by all the specialty boards in the United States that is above and beyond what the original certification is to become board certified. The old model used to be medical school, residency +/- fellowship, and then take your board certification exam to become a certified consultant for life. However, this all changed in the 90's as specialty boards put time limits on the original certification and then began to require MOC.

Dr. Torie Sepah is a board certified psychiatrist in Pasadena, CA and feels that the MOC process has become nothing more than a new shakedown. The previously small and modestly funded specialty boards have greatly expanded their revenue stream by forcing doctors to recertify on a continual basis through tests, modules, CMEs, and projects. This adds many hours of administrative burden for doctors to comply not to mention the ~$5000-10,000 price tag every ten years. Dr. Sepah thinks this is an outrageous requirement and calls for reform.

Later in the conversation we touch on COVID and what its effects are on those suffering from depression and anxiety. Dr. Sepah describes a troubling situation where even more patients are at risk for suicide without any increase in hospital beds. She likens the current concern for enough hospital resources today for COVID to her daily struggle to find a bed to hold her patients whom she is worried may kill themselves.