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Health Information Technology

  • HIT Resources

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    TMA 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), getting started with telemedicine or understanding MACRA, TMA has the resources.

    See What We Offer

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  • HIT Articles

    Find the Right EHR With TMA’s Updated Comparison Tool

    Hardship

    If you’re shopping for an electronic health record (EHR), the Texas Medical Association’s updated EHR Comparison Tool is the place to start investigating options. 
    This members-only benefit helps physicians identify product features, functionality, and pricing that will best suit their practice.

    Find Out More About EHRs

  • Ten Tips for Getting a Good Deal From Your Tech Vendor

    Tech Contracts  

    Technology is an integral part of modern health care. But how can you pursue the best possible deal from your technology vendor? Larry Chu, MD, a member of the Texas Medical Association’s Committee on Health Information Technology, says you need to sweat the details of your vendor contract.

    Get Tips to Consider  

  • How to Renew Your Electronic Prescribing Hardship Waiver

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    Physicians and other prescribers in Texas must now electronically prescribe controlled substances (EPCS). However, prescribers who demonstrate financial or technical hardships, or other exceptional circumstances, are eligible for a waiver from the Texas Medical Board (TMB) that, if approved, grants a one-year delay. If the hardship persists, prescribers must renew that waiver annually.

    Get the Details  

  • Let Your Patients Know You Use Telemedicine

    Telemedicine  

    During the COVID-19 public health emergency, many state and federal waivers were put in place to help expand the use of telemedicine.  

    So if you are offering these services, be sure your patients know they can see you without coming into the office.  

    Get Some Tips  

  • Hospitals Required to Send Admit, Discharge, Transfer Notices to Physicians

    Changes to Telemedicine  

    As of May 1, hospitals must electronically share their admit, discharge, and/or transfer (ADT) notices with the patient’s established primary care physician, group, or other practitioner identified by the patient. 

    Find Out More  

  • Taking Privacy to a New Level: Texas Lowers Reporting Threshold for Security Breaches

    HIPAA breach  

    The federal requirements have not changed, but starting Jan. 1, breach notification requirements became even more stringent for Texas physicians or medical entities. 

    Get New Reporting Details  

  • How Can You Exchange Patient Data?

    HIT

    Ideally, all members of a health care team –physicians, hospitals, labs – should be able to use HIT and EHRs to share patient information through a secure network, a process called interoperability.

    Health Information Exchange (HIE) can be accomplished in different ways, and the needs and requirements vary by practice.

    Find Out How You Can Share Patient Information

  • What could a TMA membership mean for you, your practice, and your patients?

    Join TMA Now

  • Advocacy

    Here are the latest comment letters and articles by TMA regarding health information technology and the Quality Payment Program (QPP):

    TMA Comment Letter to the ONC Re: USCDI v3 (Apr. 27, 2022)

    TMA Comment Letter to the ONC Re: Request for Information: Electronic Prior Authorization Standards, Implementation Specifications, and Certification Criteria (Mar. 25, 2022)

    TMA Comment Letter to CMS RE: Requested Feedback on Medicare and Medicaid COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Flexibilities (Oct. 26, 2021)

    TMA Comment Letter to Urban Institute on Draft Developer-Reported Measures for the Electronic Health Record Reporting Program (Sept. 14, 2021)

    TMA Comment Letter to CMS on the 2022 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule and Quality Payment Program Proposed Rule (Sept. 13, 2021)

    TMA Comment Letter to the National Committee on Vital and Health Statistics (NCVHS) (July 30, 2021)

    TMA Comment Letter to the ONC Re: USCDI v2 (April 15, 2021)

    TMA Letter to the FCC Re: COVID-19 Telehealth Program Application Evaluation Metrics (Jan. 14, 2021)

    TMA Comment Letter to CMS on Payer APIs and Medicaid CHIP Prior Authorization Proposed Rule (Jan. 4, 2021) Read the TMT article. 

    TMA Comment Letter to CMS Re: Medicare Program; CY 2021 Payment Policies Under the Physician Fee Schedule and Other Changes to Part B Payment Policies of Proposed Rulemaking (Oct. 5, 2020)

    TMA’s Comment Letter on the CMS Electronic Prescribing for Controlled Substances (EPCS) Request for Information (Sept. 25, 2020)

    TMA Comment Letter to the DEA Re: Interim Final Rule on E-Prescribing of Controlled Substances (EPCS) (June 22, 2020)

    TMA Comment Letter to the OIG Re: Anti Kickback Statute (Dec. 31, 2019)

    TMA Comment Letter to CMS Re: Stark Law (Dec. 31, 2019)

    AMA House Rejects MIPS Plan (Texas Medicine Today, Nov. 20, 2019)

    TMA Comment Letter on 2020 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) and MACRA Quality Payment Program (QPP) Proposed Rule (Sept. 27, 2019)

    TMA Comment Letter to CMS on Secure Electronic Prior Authorization for Medicare Part D (Aug. 16, 2019)

    TMA Comments to ONC on TEFCA Draft Two (June 17, 2019)

    Texans Invite AMA to Join Crusade to Fix QPP (Texas Medicine Today, June 5, 2019)

    TMA Comment Letter to ONC on Information Blocking (June 3, 2019)

    TMA Comment Letter to CMS on Interoperability and Patient Access (June 3, 2019)

    Sign Letter Urging Congress to Address EHR Usability

    TMA Comment Letter to ONC Re: Reducing Regulatory and Administrative Burden with EHRs (Jan. 28, 2019)

    TMA Comment Letter to ONC Re: the EHR Reporting Program Request for Information (Oct. 17, 2018)

    TMA Comment Letter on 2019 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule and QPP Proposed Rule (Sept. 10, 2018)

    TMA Comments on Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment Systems Rule (June 25, 2018)

    TMA Comment Letter to ONC Re: Draft Trusted Exchange Framework (Feb. 20, 2018)

    TMA Wins MIPS Exemption for Many Harvey-Affected Practices (Action, Dec. 15, 2017)

    TMA Comments on 2018 MACRA Program  (Aug. 21, 2017)

    TMA Letter to CMS Re: Proposed Rules On the Medicare and Medicaid Incentive Programs that are Part of the Hospital Inpatient and Long-Term Care Hospital Prospective Payment Systems (June 13, 2017) 

    TMA Outlines EHR Concerns for House Chair (Action, Mar. 1, 2017)

    TMA Letter to House Chair, Kevin Brady Re: Health Information Exchange (Feb. 15, 2017)

    TMA, AMA Letter Asking CMS to Defer Implementation of the 2015 Edition of Certified Electronic Health Record Technology (CEHRT) (Feb. 27, 2017)

    Learn More About Advocacy Efforts