Hospice and Palliative Medicine

Click on Link to New Policy: Primary Certification Requirement for Multidisciplinary Subspecialties

The American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology is transitioning from a co-sponsoring board to a qualifying board for Hospice and Palliative Medicine (HPM) and the ABPN will no longer offer HPM as a subspecialty certification. We are joined in this action by the American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA), the American Board of Emergency Medicine (ABEM), the American Board of Family Medicine (ABFM), the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ABOG), the American Board of Pediatrics (ABP), the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation ( ABPMR), the American Board of Radiology (ABR), and the American Board of Surgery (ABS).

Beginning January 2022, ABPN diplomates who would like to pursue certification, are currently certified, or have been certified in the past, in the subspecialty of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (HPM) through the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN) will now pursue/maintain their certification through the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM).

We understand this is a big change and you may have questions as to why it is happening and what it means for you.

Why is this change happening?

The American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) approved ABPN to discontinue their co-sponsoring status for HPM. This means that HPM certificates issued by ABPN will be transitioned to ABIM for continuing certification and ABPN diplomates wishing to become certified in Hospice and Palliative Medicine will do so through ABIM. Maintaining HPM certification through ABIM will enhance the HPM Continuing Certification process and assist in maintaining a high level of knowledge, judgment, and skills in HPM.

What does this mean for you?

All HPM Certificate of Added Qualification (CAQ) continuing certification standards and activities will move from ABPN to ABIM. Beginning January 2022, your HPM certification will be maintained through ABIM’s Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program, which requires you to earn some MOC points by the end of 2023 to continue to be reported as participating in MOC and 100 MOC points by the end of 2026 to continue to be reported as Certified. You will also need to meet your assessment requirement by your due year.

To maintain your other ABPN certification(s), you will need to continue to participate in ABPN’s Continuing Certification program. However, ABIM does have a reciprocity policy to help streamline your requirements.

What’s next?

ABIM and ABPN are working together to ensure we are doing all we can to make this transition as seamless as possible for you. To accommodate physicians with an assessment due in 2022, all physicians will receive an email from ABIM with instructions on how to sign in to your physician portal prior to the December 1, 2021 registration open for MOC assessments.

If you do not wish you maintain your HPM certification you will be able to deselect the certification from your ABIM portal.

For additional information on this transition, please review ABIM’s FAQs. Still have questions regarding your HPM certification? ABIM Customer Relationship Advocates are here to help at request@abim.org or 1-800-441-ABIM.

- Maintain Certification