What is ABIPP?
The American Board of Interventional Pain Physicians (ABIPP) is a Specialty Board providing Board Certification in Interventional Pain Management and Competency Certification in Controlled Substance Management, Competency Certification in Coding, Compliance, and Practice Management and Competency Certification in Fluoroscopic Interpretation and Radiological Safety. The eligibility requirements and examination materials for ABIPP certification programs have been developed based on substantial review and analysis of the current state of medical and scientific knowledge of the treatment of pain, as reflected in the medical literature. The ABIPP Board of Directors, with the assistance and advice of the professionals in relevant fields, has developed certification programs that recognize accepted levels of knowledge and expertise in the profession, with the goal of improved patient care.
ABIPP requires both a theoretical and practical examination in the field of interventional pain management. The theoretical examination is administered by Dr. Gerald A. Rosen, Psychometrician, 140 Cabrini Blvd., #101, New York, NY, 10033, e-mail: , and Herbert P. Bawden, Jr., MS, Consulting Psychologist, 555 Buckstone Drive, Southampton, PA, 18966, e-mail:
Both ABIPP Part I and II are psychometrically validated by Alan C. Bugbee, Jr., PhD, Psychometrician, 28 North Loomis Street, Naperville, IL, e-mail:
Timothy Habick, Ph.D., President, Reasoning, Inc., 1341 Gilbert Road, Meadowbrook, PA 19046. Phone: 215-275-5388 e-mail:
In September of 2005, the American Board of Interventional Pain Physicians was formed in order to provide board certification in Interventional Pain Management with the ultimate goal of state medical licensure boards and ABMS recognition.
In addition to offering certification to physicians in interventional techniques ABIPP expounded on this by offering and requiring a crucial missing certification component - Controlled Substance Management and Coding, Compliance and Practice Management, which is vital to Interventional Pain Management physicians.
ABIPP certification was created as a response to the need for a board specifically for the sub-specialty of interventional pain management.
• Board Certification in IPM
• Competency Certifications
• Interventional Pain Management
• Controlled Substance Management (CCSM)
• Fluoroscopy Interpretation and Radiation Safety (CFIRS)
• Regenerative Medicine in Interventional Pain Management
• Endoscopic Lumbar Decompression Competency Exam
- Anatomy Physiology: 10%
- Pharmacology: 10%
- Psychology: 5%
- Assessment of Pain: 5%
- Diagnostic Testing: 5%
- Pain Syndromes: 15%
- Interventional Techniques: 15%
- Non-Interventional Practical Techniques of Pain Management: 10%
- Coding, Compliance, and Practice Management: 10%
- Controlled Substance Management: 10%
- Ethics: 5%
- Caudal epidural injections
- Lumbar interlaminar epidural injections
- Lumbar/sacral transforaminal epidural injections
- Cervical epidural injections
- Thoracic epidural injections
- Lumbar/sacral medial branch and L5 dorsal ramus blocks
- Cervical medial branch blocks
- Thoracic medial branch blocks
- Lumbar/sacral facet joint nerve radiofrequency neurolysis
- Cervical medial branch radiofrequency neurolysis
- Thoracic medial branch radiofrequency neurolysis
- Sacroiliac joint injections
- Cervical sympathetic blocks
- Lumbar paravertebral sympathetic blocks
- Intercostal nerve blocks
- Lumbar discography
- Celiac plexus blocks (not Splancnic nerve blocks)
- Percutaneous epidural adhesiolysis
- Spinal cord stimulation lead placement
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Clinicians who study for and pass competency examinations can improve the efficiency of their medical practice to meet federal and state regulations. Certification proves that they have taken the necessary steps to deal with major areas of government scrutiny, which should be helpful if exposed to an audit or investigation by the OIG or DEA.
ABIPP requires physicians to have completed an ACGME residency and to have an active license to practice medicine in one of the 50 states. Candidates with institutional license, such as residents, may also appear for the examination. Applicants should have:
• Completed ACGME approved residency in a primary specialty or is currently a resident enrolled in the ACGME approved residency program.
• A professional standing satisfactory to ABIPP.
ABIPP offers competency certification in CODING, COMPLIANCE, AND PRACTICE MANAGEMENT (CCCPM). Advance study guide The applicant is tested in the following subject areas:
• DOCUMENTATION 20%
• PRACTICE MANAGEMENT 20%
• CODING AND BILLING 40%
• COMPLIANCE 20%
The American Board of Interventional Pain Physicians is a specialty board providing Board Certification in Interventional Pain Management and Competency Certification in Controlled Substance Management, Competency Certification in Coding, Compliance and Practice Management and Competency Certification in Fluoroscopic Interpretation and Radiological Safety.
The major goals of ABIPP are to maintain the highest standards of practice of interventional pain management by fostering education and training in interventional pain management, including interventional techniques alone or in conjunction with other modalities of treatments.
To achieve these major goals, ABIPP has undertaken to offer Diplomate Certification for interventional pain physicians. This includes not only a theoretical evaluation of knowledge, but competency in performing interventional techniques, and patient management.
Consequently, the rules of ABIPP are much more stringent and complicated than other available boards at the present time.
Minimum Requirements
For any candidate to be considered for ABIPP Diplomate Certification the minimum requirements are:
A primary ABMS board certification.
An active license to practice medicine in the United States
Certification
In addition to the above requirements, a physician who has an ABMS subspecialty in Pain Medicine and a Fellowship in Pain Medicine must have the following in order to become certified:
Competency certification in both areas of Controlled Substances, and Coding, Compliance and Practice Management.
ABIPP PART II
Requirements for a candidate with primary board certification but without fellowship training in pain medicine or interventional pain management AND without an ABMS Subspecialty in Pain Medicine:
A primary ABMS board certification.
An active license to practice medicine in the United States
Practiced interventional pain management (practice involving interventional pain management at least 40% of time for 4 years or full-time for 3 years with:
A total of 150 hours of continuing education credits in pain management/pain medicine.
Of these 150 hours, 30 hours must be cadaver training
Successful completion of ABIPP Part I theoretical examination.
Successful completion of ABIPP Part II practical examination
Note: Certification in fluoroscopic interpretation and radiation safety is NOT a requirement for ABIPP certification
Fee Structure
ABIPP Part I examination (theoretical examination) - $1,000. (A candidate appearing for Part I examination need not appear for competency certifications in controlled substances and coding, compliance, and practice management unless it is required for some other purpose).
ABIPP PART II (practical examination) - $1,500
Various review courses offered are to facilitate not only preparation for examination, but for education. Thus it is not mandatory for a person to attend any of the review courses.