TMA Hotlines

Welcome to TMA Practice Help

  • TMA Practice Consultants

    Looking for seamless solutions to your most puzzling practice problems?

    Operating a medical practice in today’s environment creates challenges every day. TMA Practice Consulting is here to provide practical solutions. You can get hands-on, customized consulting services including operations assessments, coding reviews, new practice set-ups, and more. Read More

Practice Help Articles

  • ICD-10
    TMA Prepares You for ICD-10 in 2014The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services earlier this month reconfirmed its plans to delay the implementation of the ICD-10 coding system for a year, from October 2013 to October 2014. The department previously announced it was delaying ICD-10 because of objections from TMA and others.
  • Payer News
    Aetna Deselecting 130 Texas PhysiciansAetna has notified 130 Texas physicians it will terminate them from its networks on July 1, TMA's Payment Advocacy Department has learned. Aetna says it told the physicians a year ago it was concerned about their billing patterns. Evaluation and management (E&M) codes were the only ones Aetna examined, and its concern involves primarily levels 4 and 5 E&M codes.
  • HIPAA 5010
    5010 Deadline ExtendedAcknowledging 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 Health Insurance Portability and Accountability (HIPAA) 5010 transaction standards. The new deadline is June 30.
  • E-Prescribing
    Did You Get an E-Prescribing Penalty?Some physicians have picked up a 1-percent Medicare penalty this year for not e-prescribing in 2011, even though they thought they did everything correctly.
  • HIT Resources
    HIT Tools and Resources at Your FingertipsTMA works diligently to give you the tools you need to tackle the challenges of technology. Whether you need help selecting an electronic health record (EHR) or understanding the EHR incentive program or information on e-prescribing, TMA has the resources. Take a look at some of the tools TMA makes available for physicians.
  • Medicaid
    Medicaid HMO Expansion Begins March 1On March 1, 2012, the Medicaid HMO model will replace the Primary Care Case Management model in South Texas and rural Texas. The majority of Medicaid patients in these counties will be required to obtain their health care services through one of the Medicaid HMOs approved by the state to operate in their community.

Education

Using an NPP in Your Practice? Do It Right.

Do you employ a nonphysician practitioner (NPP)?  Thinking about hiring one?  Attend our Nonphysician Practitioners: Fundamentals of Billing and Supervision half-day seminar. Read More