About TMA

Americans should not be surprised that it took the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man, under the knee of a white police officer to take the COVID-19 pandemic off the lead of every newscast, off the top of every mind, and off the tip of every tongue. Our great country was born with a big problem with racism. Today – 155 years after the end of the Civil War, 65 years after Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a Montgomery, Ala., bus, 28 years after Rodney King implored us to “all get along” – our great country still has a big problem with racism.

Dan Finch, a trusted advocate for Texas physicians for nearly 40 years, is the Texas Medical Association’s (TMA’s) new vice president for advocacy, TMA Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer Michael J. Darrouzet announced today.

As more reports come in on the spread of coronavirus COVID-19, TMA has convened a task force of public health experts to help Texas physicians prepare for the next phase. We’ve started by compiling all the news and information you need right now on our online resource center. Bookmark that page as we will update it continually.

COVID-19 Resource Center  

Upcoming deadlines and extensions in effect during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday passed a bipartisan bill that would make loans obtained under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) more accessible to small businesses, such as medical practices. The bill would eliminate certain restrictions on the loan terms and allow businesses more time to use the funds. It now moves to the Senate.

Like most independent medical practice physicians struggling to stay afloat during the COVID-19 pandemic, Austin pediatrician Brian Temple, MD, had to make a critical choice: reduce salaries and work hours, or lose the staff and pediatric practice he and his partner had built over six years.

Several North Texas county medical societies have formed a coalition to collectively address health issues throughout the region.

More businesses will be allowed to open starting today, including day cares, youth clubs and sports, and beauty salons, Gov. Greg Abbott said at a Capitol press conference.

The Texas Medical Association (TMA) installed Houston emergency physician Diana L, MD, as its 155th president. She took office in a ceremony before a live and online gathering of the organization’s Board of Trustees and outgoing president David C. Fleeger, MD. The TMA House of Delegates policymaking body elected Dr. Fite last year to serve as president-elect for one year before assuming the presidency today. She will lead America’s largest state medical society for one year.

More than 12 county medical societies along with several alliance chapters have found a temporary workaround for Texas' PPE famine: They're asking their communities to donate masks, gloves, face shields, or any other medical supplies that protect them from infection.

Nearly every one of the 132 legislative candidates endorsed by TEXPAC, the Texas Medical Association political action committee, won their party’s nomination in the March 3 primary. Another five are headed for runoff elections on May 26. Only two lost outright.

In 2019, the Texas Medical Association remained committed to Texas physicians and to the practice of medicine in the Lone Star State.

TMA presented its inaugural Laurance N. Nickey, MD, Lifetime Achievement Award to Robert W. Haley, MD, director of the Division of Epidemiology at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas and a TMA physician leader. Doctors presented the award Saturday at the 2020 TMA Winter Conference in Austin.

Photo: TMA/Matthew Lemke

On Jan. 1, 1997, just as Louis J. Goodman, PhD, took over as the Texas Medical Association’s chief executive, Michael J. Darrouzet started as CEO of the Dallas County Medical Society (DCMS).

A panel of medicine’s representatives in the Texas Legislature said Saturday that 2019 was a good year for medicine in Austin, but unfinished business remains for the next session in 2021.

Physicians checked off major accomplishments during the 2019 session of the Texas Legislature, including finally convincing lawmakers that raising the age to purchase tobacco to 21 was the right thing for the state's present and future. Medicine also scored improvements on the insurance front and vital funding increases.

Susan Rudd Bailey, MD, an allergist from Fort Worth, was unanimously elected today by the American Medical Association House of Delegates to be the next AMA president. “Challenging times remain for our health care system,” she told the delegates

The Texas Medical Association building in downtown Austin has been renamed in honor of Louis J. Goodman, PhD, who has served as TMA executive vice president and CEO for the past 22 years.

The 2019 Texas Legislature is now in session — and TMA is ready to fight for medicine. See our plan to help Texas physicians put the health back into health care. 

According to a nationwide survey of health care professionals conducted last year, several specialties have burnout rates of 50 percent or more. Hospitalists led the survey, with 66 percent of respondents feeling burnt out.

TMA Physician Health and Wellness provides educational resources regarding well-being, dimensions of meaning in work, burnout, stress, work-life integrations, fatigue, mental/emotional quality of life, and physical quality of life.

MIPS and HIPAA require practices to conduct a security risk analysis at least once a year. Many physicians find out through these reports that their practices have a lot of work to do to keep patient records safe.

Thanks to a generous grant from Texas Medical Association Insurance Trust, dozens of CME courses in the TMA Education Center are now FREE for members.

You can keep up with federal and state requirements that affect your practice by regularly checking TMA's Deadlines for Doctors.