Latest updates on ACP's priorities, initiatives

ACP comments on MOC draft recommendations

ACP submitted comments on the draft report of the Continuing Board Certification: Vision for the Future Commission, convened by the American Board of Medical Specialties. Based on professional accountability principles, ACP conveyed strong support for the value of continuing certification programs to diplomates and the public when designed to support lifelong learning; a new model of continuing certification that is relevant, less burdensome, less costly, and consistent with principles of adult learning; and longitudinal, learning-focused assessment models that are less burdensome than highly secure examinations, and that support lifelong learning.

Updated ACP Ethics Manual addresses genetic testing, telemedicine, end-of-life care

ACP Ethics Manual, seventh edition, reaffirms ethical tenets of medicine and reexamines their application in changing circumstances. It was published as a supplement to Annals of Internal Medicine on Jan. 15.

New or significantly expanded sections include those on precision medicine and genetic testing, research and protection of human subjects, telemedicine, electronic communications, social media and online professionalism, electronic health records, and physician volunteerism. A related CME quiz and an MOC module are available for ACP members and Annals subscribers. ACP also offers ethics case studies for CME credit and MOC points.

ACP supports bill to require universal background checks for firearms purchasers

ACP is encouraged by the Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019, introduced in the House of Representatives in early January, which would expand background checks to cover almost all private firearms sales and transfers, with very limited exceptions. ACP strongly supports policies that strengthen background checks for individuals seeking to purchase firearms and reduce injuries and deaths stemming from gun violence.

In 2018, ACP released a policy paper, “Reducing Firearm Injuries and Deaths in the United States,” offering evidence-based strategies to help reduce firearms-related injuries and deaths. All ACP firearms-related health policy content published in Annals of Internal Medicine is available at .

ACP analyzes, rates performance measures in 2019 CMS MIPS

ACP's Performance Measurement Committee recently released an analysis of 18 performance measures applicable to internal medicine within the 2019 Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS).

The Committee found that among 18 MIPS measures relevant to internists only 9 (50%) were valid measures of physician-level quality performance. Policymakers, physician organizations, and measure developers should encourage inclusion of measures rated as valid in accountability, payment, and reporting programs. In a paper published in the May 10, 2018, New England Journal of Medicine, the Committee analyzed and rated an additional 86 performance measures included in MIPS and found that only 32 were valid (37%).

ACP recognizes the importance of the performance measurement field in the changing health care environment. The College's goal is to encourage the use of high-quality, evidence-based performance measures to optimally guide the improvement of the quality of patient care and the practice of internal medicine. ACP's meaningful performance measure recommendations for other topics can be accessed online.