In a move that could mark a serious setback for independent cardiology certification, the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) denied the joint ACC/AHA/HRS/SCAI/HFSA request to launch a new American Board of Cardiovascular Medicine.
- Cardiologists currently receive board certification through the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM), but many feel the process wastes their time and money with few benefits.
- However, as cardiology becomes increasingly more complex and specialized, the argument is growing beyond convenience and now focuses on advancements that have made cardiology independent from internal medicine.
Pushing for independence since 2023, the new American Board of Cardiovascular Medicine would have been completely independent of the ABIM and focused solely on the certification processes for U.S. cardiologists and other CV specialists.
- Instead of granting ABCVM’s wish, ABMS openly rejected it, with no commentary or reasoning as to why.
One potential answer why? CV certification is a cash cow for ABIM when you look at the first time licensing fees and all of the annual maintenance charges that follow:
- As it stands, cardiologists are forced to fork over $1,400 for the Internal Medicine Certification Exam and then between $2,300 -$3,000 for CV subspecialization.
- To maintain board certification, cardiologists then pay $220 per year for the first certificate and $120 per year for each additional certificate they’ve earned.
- And finally, ABIM collects $700 in exam fees for the traditional 10-Year MOC Exam
From a financial angle, it makes sense that ABIM will hold onto the cardiology board certification mantle as long as it can, but as the specialty becomes increasingly diverse and subspecialized, that’ll be harder to justify.
- When ABIM started offering cardiology boards in 1941, electrophysiology, TAVR, and many other complex procedures didn’t exist.
The Takeaway
ABMS’ decision is certainly frustrating for those who support an independent cardiology board, and while the major societies are united on the issue, it’s clear they’ll need more than a strongly worded letter to get their way.
