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  • iconTMA Board Approves Expanding References to Evidence-Based Vaccine Resources - 9/26/2025 7:45:05 PM

    In response to a turbulent landscape surrounding immunizations that has contributed to physician uncertainty, the Texas Medical Association Board of Trustees has taken an interim action to help physicians locate additional external sources of immuniz...

  • iconOpioid-like Exposures from Kratom Derivative on the Rise - 9/24/2025 6:16:06 PM

    With exposures precipitously higher than in preceding years, the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) is urging people not to use products containing an opioid-like chemical found in the kratom plant and providing clinical guidance, ...

  • iconDivision of Medical Economics - 9/23/2025 7:17:46 PM

    The Division of Medical Economics represents and advocates for TMA in state and federal regulatory, socioeconomic, and health policy through support and guidance to public, private, and legislative entities, and through development of association pol...

  • iconTMA Board of Councilors Current Opinions - 9/23/2025 7:07:20 PM

    TMA Board of Councilors Current Opinions INTRODUCTION The Board of Councilors serves as the ethical policy making body of the Texas Medical Association. First constituted in 1903, the Board is composed of a Councilor and Vice Councilor from the 15 ...

  • iconDelegating to Nonphysician Practitioners - 9/12/2025 8:37:58 PM

    Delegating prescriptive authority to nonphysician practitioners (NPPs), such as nurse practitioners and physician assistants, can help physicians manage their workloads and budgets. But doing so requires vigilance to comply with state scope-of-practi...

  • iconOpioid Labeling Changes Leave Room for Physician Judgment - 9/11/2025 7:05:24 PM

    The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is requiring a raft of safety labeling changes to opioid pain medications to support informed decision-making by physicians.   As well as “to help health care professionals and patients make treatme...

  • icon2025 Legislative Wrap-Up: Life of the Mother Act Provides Clarity Around Medical Emergency Exception for Pregnant Patients - 9/2/2025 6:05:07 PM

      The Texas Medical Association’s advocacy in support of physician autonomy helped propel a raft of legislative gains for women’s health this session, chief among them: the passage of Senate Bill 31, the Life of the Mother Act, by Sen. Bryan Hu...

  • iconTexas Medicine Today - March 2023 - 8/27/2025 4:54:56 PM

    March 31, 2023 TMA to Congress: Tie Medicare Physician Payment to Inflation TMA Testifies on Flurry of Insurance, Public Health Bills U.S. Main Residency Match Posts Another Year of Record-High Positions New Cigna Policy Requires Additional Doc...

  • iconMedicine Whelms Nurse Scope Expansion Bill - 8/27/2025 3:32:06 PM

    Wave after wave of white coats took to the microphone during a lengthy and intense hearing on a nurse scope bill, deflecting and derailing claims that such expansion is the magical, no-cost answer to solving Texas’ rural access-to-care shortages. ...

  • iconE-Prescribing of Controlled Substances to be Required Jan. 1 - 8/26/2025 9:15:48 PM

    Although state law and Medicare policy will require electronic prescriptions for all controlled substances beginning Jan. 1, Texas prescribers have several options for delaying implementation for at least another year. State lawmakers in 2019 passed...

  • iconTexas Medicine Today - September 2022 - 8/25/2025 4:03:15 PM

      Sept. 30, 2022 “Rainbow” Fentanyl-Related Overdoses Among Youth Trigger DEA, DSHS Warnings TMA Fights Another Medicare Pay Cut on Tap, While Pressing for Reform Sept. 29, 2022 Health Plans Begin Implementing Prior Auth Exemption Pro...

  • iconTexas Medicine Today - December 2022 - 8/22/2025 11:58:02 PM

    Dec. 16, 2022 Satisfy CME Mandates With TMA Courses  Check Claims Dates for Drug Administration as 2023 Coding Updates Loom Newborn Screening Kits Expire Dec. 31; Cost Updates Expected Spring 2023 Apply for MIPS Hardship Relief by Jan. 3 ...

  • iconTexas Medicine Today - November 2023 - 8/22/2025 10:02:21 PM

    Nov. 30, 2023 CMS Strengthens Price Transparency for Hospitals Nov. 29, 2023 Feds Extend Telemedicine Prescribing Flexibilities Through 2024 PAI Study Shows Cost-Savings of Physician-Owned Hospitals Amid Medicare Reform Debate Nov. 28, 2...

  • iconTexas Medicine Today - June 2025 - 8/22/2025 7:25:20 PM

    June 30, 2025 VA Seeking Refunds from Physicians for Past CHAMPVA Claims AI, Physician Finances to Headline Business of Medicine Conference Lone Star Caucus Supports Five Future Physicians with Scholarships June 27, 2025 Vaccines Still Off...

  • iconSAFER Guides Help Safeguard Practice Operations During EHR Downtime - 8/14/2025 1:33:59 PM

    Health care organizations have experienced more data breaches in the last seven months than at that same point in all years previous – a shocking new reality for physicians who rely on electronic health records (EHRs) and other integrated techno...

  • iconTexas Medicine Today - April 2023 - 8/13/2025 6:06:47 PM

    April 28, 2023  Congress Weighs Legislation Tying Medicare Physician Payments to Inflation April 27, 2023 Congress Weighs Legislation Tying Medicare Physician Payments to Inflation CMS Proposal Could Alleviate Prior Auth Stress in Fede...

  • iconTexas Medicine Today - May 2023 - 8/11/2025 9:17:35 PM

    May 31, 2023 Delegates Tackle Health Care Workforce Shortages New TMA Policy Recognizes People with Disabilities as Health Disparity Population Apply for a Grant to Help Promote Vaccines May 30, 2023 Virtual Election Voting Trial Approved ...

  • iconTexas Medicine Today - December 2024 - 8/8/2025 9:51:06 PM

    Dec. 20, 2024  DSHS Updates Patient Education Resource for Prenatal Practitioners TMA to Represent Texas Physicians’ Coding, Payment Concerns on National Credentialing Organization TMA Foundation Gala Co-Chairs to Lead Fundraising Effort ...

  • iconTexas Medicine Today - November 2022 - 8/4/2025 5:16:49 PM

    Nov. 30, 2022 CDC Revises Opioid Guidelines in the Wake of Confusion, Overreaction Evidence-Based Strategies Key to Fighting Texas Suicide Rates Suicide Risk in Kids With Adverse Childhood Experiences Exacerbated by Pandemic TMA Mobilizes Menta...

  • iconTMA Delegates OK Policy on Certain Health Care Disparities, LGBTQ Health Section - 7/17/2025 9:15:46 PM

    At an unprecedented live virtual meeting Saturday, the Texas Medical Association House of Delegates took action on a variety of initiatives important to the health of all Texans, including adopting policy to address health care disparities specifical...

  • iconSummary of TMB Rules for Reporting CME Activities - 6/23/2025 4:20:02 PM

    Physicians are required to complete 48 credits of continuing medical education every 24 months. At least half of these hours must be in formal, category I or 1A courses. A physician must report during registration if she or h...

  • iconSchedule II Stimulant Medications Are Subject to the Same Prescribing Limitation as Opioids - 6/11/2025 8:02:42 PM

    While many physicians are aware of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) rules for prescribing a 90-day supply of an opioid medication, fewer may know the requirements extend to all Schedule II controlled substances, which includes stimulant...

  • iconBypassing PBMs: TexMed Speaker Spells Out Path to Lower Drug, Health Care Costs - 5/16/2025 2:59:35 PM

    The best way to reduce health care costs for physicians and especially patients? Cut out the middlemen: pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs).   During his talk at Friday’s opening session of TexMed 2025 in San Antonio May 9, Dallas emergency r...

  • iconMandated CME Requirements Shift Under TMB Rules Revamp - 5/12/2025 6:19:19 PM

    A recent reorganization of Texas Medical Board (TMB) rules has removed certain universal CME obligations. The removal of universal CME requirements could result in a lighter load for physicians but may make it more challenging to determine what ...

  • icon‘If That’s Not Expanding Scope, I Don’t Know What Is’: Bill Grants Scope Shortcut to Rural APRNs - 5/6/2025 9:15:02 PM

    How many physicians does it take to stop a bad scope expansion bill? With patient safety on the line, Texas Medical Association physicians took no chances, showing up in force in opposition to Senate Bill 3055 as it went before the Senate State Affai...

  • iconUpdates in Pain Medicine for Opioid Prescribing, UDT - 4/29/2025 3:38:06 PM

  • icon04.21.2025 House Bill 3219 Removing Clinical Involvement in Prescribing Poses Risks to Patient Safety, TMA Testifies - 4/22/2025 7:19:48 PM

  • iconTexas Medicine Today - October 2023 - 4/17/2025 8:04:23 PM

    Oct. 31, 2023 CDC Grant Funds Drug Overdose Data Collection in Texas TMA Has Your Mandated CME – For Free  Smith County Podcast Sparks Alliance Connections Oct. 30, 2023 Feds Update HIPAA Security Risk Assessment Tool Proposition 8 A...

  • iconSponsored Content: Make an Impact on Your Patients and Practice - 4/14/2025 5:52:45 PM

    It is a busy afternoon, and a patient comes to your office to discuss ongoing pain from a previous injury. You check the Texas Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP) and find concerning data indicating potential prescription opioid misuse and a seriou...

  • icon03.18.25 TMA Federal Comments to DEA Telemedicine Prescribing - 3/31/2025 7:59:51 PM

  • iconTMA Foundation General Endowment Improving the Health of More Texans - 3/21/2025 1:45:29 PM

    The General Endowment has funded $276,239 program grants and $463,401 for TMAF operations capacity in the nearly seven years it has made distributions.   2024-2025 Grants Continued support to improve the health and well-being of chil...

  • iconPractice E-Tips on Legal Topics - 3/17/2025 3:30:12 PM

    Advertising/Marketing | Billing & Coding | Contracts | Court | Delegation of Duties | Health Care Payment Plans | HIPAA | Informed Consent | Medicaid & Medicare | Medical R...

  • iconScope Bills, Budget Gains Mark Start of 2025 Legislative Session - 2/10/2025 5:52:23 PM

    Capping off a robust week of advocacy, the Texas Medical Association has begun its work targeting a pair of scope-of-practice infringement bills before the 2025 Texas Legislature and digging into the Senate’s first take on a proposed state budget....

  • iconCongress Extends Medicare Telehealth Waivers, Payment for Audio-Only Visits - 1/10/2025 11:07:33 PM

    With telehealth extensions granted under the American Relief Act, TMA has updated its telehealth waiver chart to reflect these temporary changes that, among others, waive geographic site restrictions for mental health telemedicine services provi...

  • iconMedicine Meets AI: Artificial Intelligence Has Potential in Patient Care - 12/20/2024 10:47:30 PM

    Artificial intelligence (AI)-driven technology isn’t a futuristic concept for League City family physician Priya Kalia, MD. In fact, as an assistant clinical professor of family medicine at The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Dr. K...

  • iconTMA Installs Beaumont Anesthesiologist as President - 12/10/2024 12:18:36 AM

    May 4, 2024 The Texas Medical Association (TMA) installed Beaumont anesthesiologist G. Ray Callas, MD, as president during TexMed, the association’s annual conference, held in Dallas this year. “It’s an honor and a privilege to take care of patie...

  • iconVoice of Reason: TMA’s Board of Councilors Tackles Ethical Policymaking - 12/5/2024 7:08:18 PM

    College Station urologist Alisa Berger, MD, spent years unaware of the Texas Medical Association Board of Councilors. She’s pretty sure she learned about the board while enrolled in TMA’s Leadership College as a young physician. But it didn’t stick u...

  • iconTexas Medicine Today - February 2023 - 12/5/2024 12:56:50 AM

    Feb. 28, 2023 Lege Poised to Boost GME Funding; TMA Urges Rural Workforce Investment New GME Program Creates Rural Training Opportunity Apply Now: Scholarships for Students Who Want to Serve the Underserved Feb. 27, 2023 Medicine Backs Pro...

  • iconRecord State Budget Opens Door for Health Care Investment - 12/5/2024 12:32:04 AM

    The 88th Texas Legislature kicked off earlier this month, and the Texas Medical Association is already tracking nearly 700 bills, including promising proposals to reduce prior authorization requirements and concerning ones regarding scope expansion.&...

  • iconDEA Extends Controlled Substance Prescribing via Telemedicine Through 2025 - 11/25/2024 5:29:48 PM

    The United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), in collaboration with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), for a third time to allow physicians to virtually prescribe certain controlled medications, effective Jan. 1 through Dec...

  • iconSenate Committee Tackles Scope of Practice in Access-to-Care Hearing - 11/18/2024 9:40:33 PM

    In a hearing packed with representatives from medicine, nursing, pharmacy, behavioral health, licensing boards, and academia, the Senate Health and Human Services Committee tackled Texas’ health care workforce shortages with the Texas Medical Associa...

  • iconAbbott Signals Support for Opioid Crisis Interventions - 11/18/2024 9:06:51 PM

    Texas Gov. Greg Abbott recently listed the fentanyl crisis as one of seven “emergency” items this session, clearing a path toward passage of Texas Medical Association-backed legislation that aims to curb opioid-related deaths. TMA already is trackin...

  • iconSafety in Statute: State Law Guides Violence Prevention in Health Care - 11/18/2024 8:50:47 PM

    Two and a half years after a violent attack on Children’s Medical Group in Austin, pediatrician Tammy McConnell, DO, still can’t go down the side corridor of the office where the horrific shooting of her colleague Lindley Dodson, MD, took place. On ...

  • iconPatient Care Protected: Scope Creep/GME Funding - 11/18/2024 8:21:45 PM

    Related content: 2023 Legislative Wrap-Up: TMA Secured Big Wins With a New Strategy TMA Priority: Protect independent diagnosing and prescribing as the practice of medicine; address current workforce shortages in a way that ensures patients hav...

  • iconPhysician-Led Results: Scope-of-Practice Creep/GME Funding - 11/18/2024 8:21:03 PM

    TMA priority: Protect independent diagnosing and prescribing as the practice of medicine; address current workforce shortages in a way that ensures patients have access to the same standard of care, no matter where they live.    Session re...

  • iconPatient Care Protected: Medicaid Coverage for Women and Children - 11/18/2024 8:15:57 PM

    Related content: 2023 Legislative Wrap-Up: TMA Secured Big Wins With a New Strategy TMA Priority: Pursue more comprehensive coverage of and secure additional funding and resources for maternal and behavioral health care for women and children. ...

  • iconTMA to Fight for Health Coverage Expansion, Scope of Practice During 2021 Legislature - 11/18/2024 6:42:54 PM

    Although the details about how the 2021 Texas Legislature will operate beginning in January are still unclear, the topics lawmakers will vigorously debate will have a familiar refrain. At the 2020 Texas Medical Association Advocacy Retreat on Saturd...

  • iconAbbott Signals Support for Opioid Crisis Interventions: Federal Efforts Also Are Underway - 11/18/2024 6:40:04 PM

    Texas Gov. Greg Abbott in February listed the fentanyl crisis as one of seven “emergency” items this session, clearing a path toward passage of Texas Medical Association-backed legislation that aims to curb opioid-related deaths.   Illicit...

  • iconScoping Out the Best Care: TMA Defends Team-Based Care Model - 11/18/2024 6:39:16 PM

    At the outset of the 2023 legislative session, San Antonio pediatric anesthesiologist John Shepherd, MD, put on his white coat and marched to the pink dome in Austin to meet with several Bexar County lawmakers. Although the conversations were wide-r...

  • iconPhysician Input Will Shape CME at TexMed 2025 - 11/12/2024 10:10:37 PM

    Do you have an educational topic in mind to be considered for TexMed 2025?   Submit it now through the application portal by the Dec. 31 deadline.   TMA’s education planning team will evaluate all proposals after Dec. 31. A...