GME BULLETIN BOARD
FICA Clarification - January 25, 2012
The IRS refunds referenced in the news today (January 2012) are not applicable to the University of Minnesota residents and fellows. The refunds referred to in the news are for the period of time prior to April 1, 2005. From 1998 to April 1, 2005, the University did not require residents and fellows to pay FICA taxes so no refunds are available. The University did receive refunds for the 1992-98 period, but those funds were distributed to residents and fellows many years ago. Our Current IRS/FICA status is summarized as follows:
In compliance with final IRS regulations the University withheld the employer and employee portion of FICA from April 1, 2005 forward, and initiated a case against the United States of America, that was eventually heard by the US Supreme Court. On January 11, 20011 The Supreme Court affirmed the decision of the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals in favor of the Treasury Department and against the University of Minnesota and Mayo. This means that the Mayo and University refund claims are denied and NO refunds will be available to residents.
We continue to withhold the employer and employee portion of FICA today, in compliance with the IRS regulations, and we are not entitled to any further refunds. Questions: please contact William P. Donohue, Deputy General Counsel, University of Minnesota.
Phone: 612-624-4100 Special Direct Consolidation Loan--Effective January 17, 2012 until June 30, 2012 A new, temporary, Special Direct Consolidation Loan will be available beginning on January 17, 2012 until June 30, 2012. Borrowers will be eligible for this Special Direct Consolidation Loan with a reduced interest rate, if they have at least one commercially-held FFEL loan after 2008 in grace, deferment, or repayment, as well as one Direct loan or ED-held FFEL loan. The interest rate for the commercially-held FFEL loans will be calculated by using a weighted average less a 0.25 percentage point reduction and borrowers will be eligible for another 0.25 percentage point reduction if the loan payment is set up for automatic payment. Borrowers will be contacted by e-mail and U.S. mail by the Department if they are eligible. To take advantage of the Special Direct Consolidation Loan program and the interest rate reductions, eligible borrowers must act by June 30, 2012. For more information on the Special Direct Consolidation Loan, view the Department of Education’s Website at: http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/specialconsolidation.jsp.
Well-Being: Emotional Shifting Technique Learn how to use Emotional Shifting Technique to minimize stress, enhance clarity and learning and emotional management, and decrease errors. Emotional shifting is the art of substituting one emotional response for another, more desirable response. Emotional shifting is a quick tool to help prevent yourself from sliding down the slippery slope of emotions toward usual mistakes in thinking - especially generalizing and maximizing negative circumstances. Emotional shifting involves actively engaging a positive emotional state, which favorably affects both physiological and mental processes. In this session you will also see how emotional shifting enhances cortical function. Hope you will be able to attend this valuable session! Q's? contact Marilyn Becker becke024@umn.edu
ABMS Board Approves New Board Eligibility Policy--Effective January 1, 2012
A new Board Eligibility policy was approved by the Board of Directors at its September 2011 meeting. The policy requires all 24 ABMS Member Boards to implement expiration dates for Board Eligibility. Each Member Board will determine its expiration dates. However, the date must be no fewer than three, and no more than seven, years following the successful completion of either accredited training or an Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education-accredited residency program (or its equivalent) plus time (if any) in practice required by the applicable Member Board for admissibility to the certifying examination. Previously, physicians could remain “Board Eligible” for an indeterminate period of time.
This policy becomes effective January 1, 2012.
Physicians who continue to represent themselves as “Board Eligible” following the expiration date will be considered in violation of ethical standards of ABMS and the Member Boards. Furthermore, they must complete all requirements for re-entry into the certification process as established by their respective Member Board.
Member Boards will be responsible for establishing and implementing a transition plan to provide sufficient notice of the new policy to their members. Such plans will allow for all candidates who have completed residency training, but not yet achieved Board Certification as of the policy effective date, to have at least until January 1, 2015 but no longer than January 1, 2019 to achieve certification. On January 1, 2019, the transition period is complete, and the policy is in full effect and applicable to all candidates for certification by their respective Member Board.
Changes to USMLE Step 3--Starting mid-February 2012
Starting mid-February 2012, a transition period will begin in which the number of Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs) and Computer-based Case Simulation (CCS) cases in current forms of the Step 3 examination will change. Because the changes, as well as routine modifications to the test item pool, there will be a delay in score reporting for most Step 3 examinations administered from mid-February 2012 through early May 2012. The target date for reporting Step 3 scores for most examinees testing during that interval will be Wednesday, June 6, 2012. Also, there are changes being made to the Step 3 CK and CCS sections that will be instituted mid-February, and updated practice materials that incorporate these changes. For more information please refer to the USMLE website. USMLE - CHANGE IN MINIMUM PASSING REQUIREMENTS FOR STEP 3--Effective November 1, 2011
The USMLE periodically reviews the level of proficiency required to meet the recommended minimum passing level for each of USMLE Step exam and has just released the results of its review for Step 3. The USMLE Step 3 Committee has decided to raise the three-digit score recommended to pass Step 3. At its October 2011 meeting, the USMLE Step 3 Committee conducted a review of the minimum passing requirements for the Step 3 examination. During the meeting, the Step 3 Committee considered information from multiple sources, including: Results of content-based standard setting exercises conducted in 2011 with three independent groups of physicians; Results of surveys of various groups (e.g., state licensing representatives, medical school faculty, samples of examinees) concerning the appropriateness of current pass/fail standards for Step examinations; Trends in examinee performance; Score precision and its effect on the pass/fail decision.
As a result of its review, the Step 3 Committee decided to raise the three-digit score recommended to pass Step 3 from 187 to 190. The new minimum passing score will be applied to Step 3 examinations for which the first day of testing is on or after November 1, 2011. Q's? contact Marilyn Becker becke024@umn.edu 2012 GME Coordinator Conference--Save the Date!
April 17, 2012 is the date set for the 2012 GME Coordinator Conference, sponsored by MMCGME. Additional information is available at: http://www.mmcgmeservices.org/currentnews/home.html
2012 GME Orientation Dates Set!GME orientation will conduct two orientation sessions in 2012, and all incoming residents and fellows who have never completed a residency or fellowship at the University of Minnesota will be required to attend one of the sessions. The sessions will be held on: Monday, June 18 and Monday, July 2, 2012
New GME Duty Hours Resource Page: Included on the page are the ACGME revised Common Program Requirements, an outline of the changes from 2003 to present, ACGME FAQs and much more. This is a work in progress so check back frequently. If you have innovative ideas that you would like to share with your colleagues, please email Lori@umn.edu and we will post them to the site.
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GME BULLETIN BOARD
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