Standing Up for Texas Doctors

Dr Malone testifying at House Public Health Committee
Medical Emergency ContinuesA state budget cut to patients who rely on Medicare and Medicaid for their care is devastating physician practices and putting patient care in jeopardy. TMA President C. Bruce Malone, MD,  told Rio Grande Valley physicians that TMA continues to work on the problem. “We hear your urgent stories and feel your and your patients’ pain,” Dr. Malone said during his second meeting with Valley area physicians about the medical emergency the cut is creating. The cut is harming access to care across Texas.
Dr. Malone Medicare News Conference
Women Have Right to Know the FactsThe Woman's Right to Know booklet that Texas law requires physicians to give to all patients considering an elective abortion is factually inaccurate and not science-based, the chair of TMA's Maternal and Perinatal Health Committee wrote to state public health officials.
Student
TMA: Scrap ICD-10 EntirelyTMA is glad the federal government postponed adoption of the ICD-10 coding system until 2014 but believes it should skip ICD-10 for a more up-to-date coding system. If officials don't do that, then they should delay ICD-10 even longer. That was the message TMA delivered in a letter to U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.
Lady doc and Capitol
Physicians Get $2 Billion+ From RICO SuitsPhysicians have earned more than $2 billion from settlements of federal class-action anti-racketeering lawsuits against the nation's largest for-profit HMOs by TMA and 18 other state and county medical societies and physician representatives, according to the Physicians Advocacy Institute(PAI).

Helping Doctors with Their Practice

Calendar of Doom
Calendar of Doom Can Keep You Compliant

Are You Ready for These Deadlines?

 
June 1 - Deadline to Opt Out of Medicare 
June 30 - New HIPAA 5010 Enforcement Discretion Period Ends
June 30 - File e-Prescribing Claims to Avoid Penalty
BIlling and Coding tab
5010 Deadline Extended, AgainAcknowledging that many physicians and billing entities still aren't ready, federal officials are giving physicians three more months before it begins enforcing the use of HIPAA 5010 transaction standards. The new deadline is June 30.
Practice Help Technology Home Tab
Meaningful Use Public Health Measures According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Meaningful Use Stage 1 measures, physicians must attest to at least one public health measure from the list of menu criteria in an effort to improve and public health. Texas physicians who provide immunizations to patients should perform at least one test by submitting patient immunization data to ImmTrac, the state's immunization registry.
TMA Consultants
Hire a TMA Consultant TodayLooking for seamless solutions to your most puzzling practice problems? For the best in practice management assistance, contact TMA Practice Consulting today.With practice management experience, knowledge of best practices, and access to TMA’s tools and resources, a TMA consultant can provide customized solutions specific to your practice.

The Information Texas Doctors Need

What's Hot

  • TEXPAC Celebrates 50 Years of Advocacy

    Despite some bumps along the way, TEXPAC compiled an impressive record of achievement over the past five decades, from unseating numerous incumbents hostile to organized medicine's agenda, to reshaping a trial lawyer-dominated Texas Supreme Court, to electing a number of its own to state House and Senate seats. Those victories played a direct role in some of TMA's biggest wins in the legislative arena, including landmark tort and managed care reforms. (From the May issue of Texas Medicine.)

     READ MORE
  • Latest TMA Tweet texmed: The TMA Member Physicians Daily is out! http://t.co/1VWC5VO8 ▸ Top stories today via @DrCCrow @texmed @VHPDocsRead More

  • Closing Your Practice?

    TMA’s new publication, Closing or Selling Your Medical Practice is now available! Are you thinking about closing or selling your medical practice? Several things need to be taken into account when making a career-changing decision. This book also contains forms, lists, and sample letters to help you follow the law and protect your interests. READ MORE

  • Medical Jobs Center

    TMA Medical Jobs connects you to recruiters searching for qualified candidates. Post your résumé free of charge, view job openings, or post job openings from your own practice. Employers, post your positions here to reach a highly targeted segment of qualified candidates. READ MORE

  • New TMA Vendor Guide

    This easy-to-use, online publication is comprehensive listing of companies that provide products and services to medical practice professionals. Use it as a reference when seeking reputable practice management resources throughout the year! READ MORE

  • In the Spotlight

    Who will lead Texas medicine into the future? Will it be you? Apply today for TMA Leadership College. READ MORE

Education & Events

  • Are You Coding Correctly for Your Specialty?

    Through June 5 -- Multiple Cities 

    Correct coding ensures compliance and proper payment. TMA’s half-day interactive seminar gives participants a comprehensive, specialty-specific coding curriculum using real-world examples with the most up-to-date information.

  • Nonphysician Practitioners: Fundamentals of Billing and Supervision

    Statewide -- Through June 7

    Using a nonphysician practitioner (NPP) in your practice? Thinking about hiring one? Attend our half-day seminar and learn how to do it right.
  • POEP Breast Cancer Dinner

    June 20, 2012 -- Austin 

    Attend a free dinner lecture and earn up to 2 hours of continuing medical education. Topics include Screening for Breast Cancer and Genetic Testing: BRCA Analysis.