Medical License Status
Medical License Status
When the American Board of Family Practice (ABFP) was incorporated in 1969 as the 19th medical specialty board, many of its policies and requirements were unique to the medical specialty community. Most unique was the requirement for mandatory recertification--a requirement that is now embraced by all medical specialty boards. Other pioneering approaches adopted at the inception of the ABFP included an office record review process, 300 hours of continuing medical education within designated categories, the use of latent imagery on the proctored examination, and a currently valid, full, and unrestricted medical license. All remain in effect today, except the use of latent imaging.
All requirements are reviewed annually. Recently, the licensure requirement has been more closely scrutinized because of developments associated with physician licensing. Briefly, the Board's requirement for licensing states that "All Diplomates and candidates for certification and recertification must hold a currently valid, full, and unrestricted medical license to practice medicine in the United States or Canada." (The complete policy stated at the end of this article.)
The requirement for a full and unrestricted medical license has received additional attention from the Board since the American Medical Association (AMA) began its routine dissemination of a Physician Disciplinary Alert Bulletin. The bulletin lists initial disciplinary actions reported from one or more of the 67 allopathic or osteopathic licensing authorities, the US Department of Health and Human Services (Medicare and Medicaid), and the US Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
Upon receipt of the AMA bulletin, it was observed that Diplomates of the ABFP are generally delinquent in the self-reporting aspect of the licensing requirement. This requirement states that physicians are to inform the ABFP within 60 days of an action against their license. In many instances, the action by licensing authorities was not known to the ABFP until a candidate applied for recertification and answered the required questions concerning licensing.
When the Board is presented with disciplinary information from an application, the AMA bulletin, or any source including self-reporting, it is bound to make an inquiry to all appropriate licensing authorities. Should the inquiry produce verification that a license is not currently valid, full, and unrestricted, the ABFP will rescind the certification of the Diplomate and deny eligibility for future examinations until the license is restored to its previous status.
A candidate or Diplomate whose license has been rescinded may appeal the action to the Credentials Committee of the ABFP Board of Directors. This committee will review any and all written information the affected physician wishes to submit for the committee's consideration. During an appeal, the action to rescind certification or deny eligibility will be held in abeyance until the committee acts. Thus, the Diplomate's certification is restored and eligibility to make application for recertification reinstated during the appeals process.
Family physicians need to be aware that the ABFP is now enforcing all aspects of its policy on licensing. Any adverse action by a state licensing agency, agreement between a licensing agency and a physician, or voluntary action by a physician that revokes, restricts, or suspends the physician's medical license is a violation of ABFP policy. Should a physician fail to report a licensing board's action against his or her license, it could mean an additional year of ineligibility should the Board rescind Diplomate status. In summary, the integrity of the American Board of Family Practice is maintained by the consistent application of policies, particularly the policy on licensing adopted by the ABFP founders 30 years ago.
The Board's policy on licensing states,
A Diplomate of the American Board of Family Practice shall be required to hold a currently valid, full, and unrestricted license to practice medicine in the United States or Canada. Furthermore, every license to practice medicine held by a Diplomate in any state or territory of the United States or province of Canada must be currently valid, full, and unrestricted, whether or not the Diplomate in effect practices in such state, territory, or province. Diplomates shall be required to retain a full and unrestricted medical license in the United States or Canada even if they are out of the country for extended periods of time. Failure to retain a license will result in loss of Diplomate status and will result in loss of the ability to make application for certification, recertification, or other examinations offered by the Board.
In the event a Diplomate's license to practice in ANY state or territory of the United States or province of Canada is revoked, restricted, or suspended, the Diplomate's certificate is simultaneously rescinded at the time of the licensure revocation, restriction, or suspension. The physician must advise the American Board of Family Practice within 60 days and cease immediately identifying himself/herself in any way directly or indirectly as a Diplomate of the American Board of Family Practice. If the physician fails to notify the American Board of Family Practice of any revocation, restriction, or suspension with 60 days after the effective date, he/she shall be ineligible to seek reinstatement of Diplomate status for up to one year following the reinstatement of full and unrestricted licensure.
In cases where a physician has changed residence deliberately to avoid prosecution, loss of license, or disciplinary action by a state licensing agency, the Board reserves the right to revoke or suspend Diplomate status, and/or prohibit application for certification. Questions about licensure should be presented to the Board in writing.
If and when the physician's revoked, restricted or suspended license is reinstated in full (with no restrictions) and official written documentation of reinstatement is provided, the ABFP will honor the remainder of the current certificate and the Diplomate will not be required to be re-examined. If the current certificate has expired prior to the reinstatement of the license, the physician may make application for the next annual examination. Successful compliance with all application requirements, in effect at that time, will be expected.
When the American Board of Family Practice (ABFP) was incorporated in 1969 as the 19th medical specialty board, many of its policies and requirements were unique to the medical specialty community. Most unique was the requirement for mandatory recertification--a requirement that is now embraced by all medical specialty boards. Other pioneering approaches adopted at the inception of the ABFP included an office record review process, 300 hours of continuing medical education within designated categories, the use of latent imagery on the proctored examination, and a currently valid, full, and unrestricted medical license. All remain in effect today, except the use of latent imaging.
All requirements are reviewed annually. Recently, the licensure requirement has been more closely scrutinized because of developments associated with physician licensing. Briefly, the Board's requirement for licensing states that "All Diplomates and candidates for certification and recertification must hold a currently valid, full, and unrestricted medical license to practice medicine in the United States or Canada." (The complete policy stated at the end of this article.)
The requirement for a full and unrestricted medical license has received additional attention from the Board since the American Medical Association (AMA) began its routine dissemination of a Physician Disciplinary Alert Bulletin. The bulletin lists initial disciplinary actions reported from one or more of the 67 allopathic or osteopathic licensing authorities, the US Department of Health and Human Services (Medicare and Medicaid), and the US Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
Upon receipt of the AMA bulletin, it was observed that Diplomates of the ABFP are generally delinquent in the self-reporting aspect of the licensing requirement. This requirement states that physicians are to inform the ABFP within 60 days of an action against their license. In many instances, the action by licensing authorities was not known to the ABFP until a candidate applied for recertification and answered the required questions concerning licensing.
When the Board is presented with disciplinary information from an application, the AMA bulletin, or any source including self-reporting, it is bound to make an inquiry to all appropriate licensing authorities. Should the inquiry produce verification that a license is not currently valid, full, and unrestricted, the ABFP will rescind the certification of the Diplomate and deny eligibility for future examinations until the license is restored to its previous status.
A candidate or Diplomate whose license has been rescinded may appeal the action to the Credentials Committee of the ABFP Board of Directors. This committee will review any and all written information the affected physician wishes to submit for the committee's consideration. During an appeal, the action to rescind certification or deny eligibility will be held in abeyance until the committee acts. Thus, the Diplomate's certification is restored and eligibility to make application for recertification reinstated during the appeals process.
Family physicians need to be aware that the ABFP is now enforcing all aspects of its policy on licensing. Any adverse action by a state licensing agency, agreement between a licensing agency and a physician, or voluntary action by a physician that revokes, restricts, or suspends the physician's medical license is a violation of ABFP policy. Should a physician fail to report a licensing board's action against his or her license, it could mean an additional year of ineligibility should the Board rescind Diplomate status. In summary, the integrity of the American Board of Family Practice is maintained by the consistent application of policies, particularly the policy on licensing adopted by the ABFP founders 30 years ago.
The Board's policy on licensing states,
A Diplomate of the American Board of Family Practice shall be required to hold a currently valid, full, and unrestricted license to practice medicine in the United States or Canada. Furthermore, every license to practice medicine held by a Diplomate in any state or territory of the United States or province of Canada must be currently valid, full, and unrestricted, whether or not the Diplomate in effect practices in such state, territory, or province. Diplomates shall be required to retain a full and unrestricted medical license in the United States or Canada even if they are out of the country for extended periods of time. Failure to retain a license will result in loss of Diplomate status and will result in loss of the ability to make application for certification, recertification, or other examinations offered by the Board.
In the event a Diplomate's license to practice in ANY state or territory of the United States or province of Canada is revoked, restricted, or suspended, the Diplomate's certificate is simultaneously rescinded at the time of the licensure revocation, restriction, or suspension. The physician must advise the American Board of Family Practice within 60 days and cease immediately identifying himself/herself in any way directly or indirectly as a Diplomate of the American Board of Family Practice. If the physician fails to notify the American Board of Family Practice of any revocation, restriction, or suspension with 60 days after the effective date, he/she shall be ineligible to seek reinstatement of Diplomate status for up to one year following the reinstatement of full and unrestricted licensure.
In cases where a physician has changed residence deliberately to avoid prosecution, loss of license, or disciplinary action by a state licensing agency, the Board reserves the right to revoke or suspend Diplomate status, and/or prohibit application for certification. Questions about licensure should be presented to the Board in writing.
If and when the physician's revoked, restricted or suspended license is reinstated in full (with no restrictions) and official written documentation of reinstatement is provided, the ABFP will honor the remainder of the current certificate and the Diplomate will not be required to be re-examined. If the current certificate has expired prior to the reinstatement of the license, the physician may make application for the next annual examination. Successful compliance with all application requirements, in effect at that time, will be expected.
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