Stories with related Professional Interests

UnitedHealthcare Phasing Out Paper Checks - 08/03/2020

If you receive claims payments from UnitedHealthcare (UHC) in paper checks, now is the time to enroll in direct deposit. UHC says it will phase out sending paper checks for payments throughout the remainder of 2020

E&M Coding About to Change - 08/03/2020

First, the bad news: Physicians need to take some serious time between now and Jan 1, 2021, to study changes that are coming to Medicare outpatient evaluation and management (E&M) codes – changes most private insurers likely will follow. Now the good news: The changes should reduce the amount of documentation needed with each patient.

Tips and Strategies for Managing Remote Staff - 07/31/2020

If your practice is considering letting staff work remotely – or if it already has employees who do – the Texas Medical Association has created a course that provides tips and strategies to successfully manage those employees.

Take Our Billing and Coding Quiz - 07/17/2020

TMA Knowledge Center staff fields hundreds of questions about coding and billing from TMA members. Here are a few FAQs. Do you know the answers to these questions?

TMA Wants to Hear Your Thoughts on Practicing in Texas - 07/14/2020

Since 1990, the Texas Medical Association has asked Texas physicians for their thoughts on health care practice, the economic realities of practicing medicine in the state, and what issues they believe lawmakers should take on. Check your email and please answer this month’s survey.

Cut E-Prescribing Hassles for Physicians, TMA Tells Feds - 07/13/2020

The Texas Medical Association in June submitted comments urging DEA to consider physician workflow and widely available technologies when exploring any changes to the program.

Stay Visible to Connect with Patients Throughout the Pandemic - 07/10/2020

As the pandemic continues, remaining visible to your patients is essential to managing their health, building trust, and maintaining the viability of your practice. Providing accurate practice information, implementing and posting visit procedures and safety measures, and communicating regularly with your patients are all steps you can take to foster your patient-physician relationships now and for years to come. Here are a few more tips for connecting (or reconnecting) with patients with help from TMA.

The Tele-Future is Now: Will Telemedicine's Footprint Be Permanent Post-COVID-19? - 07/09/2020

COVID-19 threw Texas physicians headlong into telemedicine. Will its increased footprint be permanent? Physicians tell Texas Medicine that depends how telemedicine will be regulated and paid for.

Why Now Might Be a Good Time to Focus on Marketing - 07/09/2020

In order to rebuild under these challenging circumstances, practices must not let their marketing strategies take a backseat. Here are three strategies practices can use to stay top of patients’ minds, courtesy of the Texas Medical Association-endorsed website service provider Officite.

New CPT Code Is “Industry Standard” for COVID-19 Antigen Testing - 07/08/2020

Three new Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes are now on the list of COVID-19 lab testing codes, effective June 25

Use Social Media to Remind Your Patients to Be Safe This Summer - 06/18/2020

The Texas Medical Association created summer-themed graphics with simple reminders for people to wear a mask, wash hands frequently, and to practice social distancing as much as possible this summer. You can share them on your social media pages.

Want to Build Your Referral Base? Connect With Staff, Too - 05/13/2020

If you depend on physician referrals for new patients, will your colleagues — and their staff — remember you?

Focus on Member Services: Future-Proofing Your Practice - 05/13/2020

As medical practices collect and store more information electronically, physicians will encounter more frequent technology breaches. The cost of a breach can be huge: an average of $402 per compromised record, plus fines. TMA makes robust security for your practice easy through education and services designed to manage the worst technology risks.

Focus on Member Services: A Thriving Practice - 05/13/2020

An essential function of an effective practice is being seen and found when (and where) people are looking for you. Since launching in 2004, Yelp has collected more than 6.4 million customer reviews in the health care sector. That's why TMA helps members cultivate successful practice relationships by providing tools to accelerate practice growth.

Let TMA Help Keep Your Practice Compliant - 05/13/2020

In a medical practice, physicians, administrators, managers, and other staff may all be responsible for maintaining compliance with state and federal laws and regulations. The Texas Medical Association offers several resources, tools, and even discounts on compliance services to help keep your practice compliant.

Focus on Member Services: Avoiding Risk - 05/13/2020

Managing a medical practice comes with inherent risks, and physicians can face serious consequences for violating privacy, fraud, or abuse statutes. That's why physician members turn to TMA for help in establishing effective compliance programs, understanding the latest regulations, and navigating advancements in health IT.  

10 More Ways to Save Money in Your Practice - 05/12/2020

Past editions of TMA Practice E-Tips have suggested ways practices can save money and time in daily activities. Here are more tips … for TMA members only. These programs and services are free for TMA members, and can save practices thousands of dollars.

Policies, Procedures and Forms for Telemedicine Services - 04/06/2020

Use these policies, procedures and forms for telemedicine services in your practice.

How to Keep Your Practice Afloat During COVID-19 - 03/31/2020

Are you starting to worry about your practice’s financial health because of the COVID-19 pandemic? There are ways to keep your practice afloat.

Improve Your Overall Wellness With TMA’s Help - 02/26/2020

If your goal is to improve your wellness this year, the Texas Medical Association Committee on Physician Health and Wellness can really help. The committee has created online courses, toolkits, and free exercises to encourage health and well-being for physicians, residents, and medical students.

Beyond Burnout: Docs Decry Moral Injury From Financial Pressures of Health Care - 02/14/2020

A growing number of physicians, nurses, social workers and other clinicians are using the phrase “moral injury” to describe their inner struggles at work. The term comes from war: It was first used to explain why military veterans were not responding to standard treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder.

Your Website + SEO = A Perfect Match - 02/14/2020

If you would like to learn how to build your online credibility and reach patients through effective SEO, tune into a free, 45-minute webinar by Officite, a Texas Medical Association endorsed vendor.

TMA Helping You Use Telemedicine More Effectively - 02/10/2020

Whether you use telemedicine every day in your practice or you’re just starting to consider how it might benefit your patients, you probably have plenty of questions and concerns about using it effectively and within compliance. That’s why the Texas Medical Association formed a task force that will help TMA serve physicians who want to integrate telemedicine into their practice.

Wage Rule Extends Overtime to More Employees - 02/07/2020

Some of your employees may have become newly eligible for overtime pay on Jan. 1. The U.S. Department of Labor has increased the minimum salary for exempt employees to $684 per week – $35,568 annually – from the previous level of $455 per week ($23,660 annually). Any employee earning less than $684 per week is automatically nonexempt and thus eligible for overtime pay.

UnitedHealthcare Out-of-Network Referrals: Prior Approval, Patient Consent - 02/05/2020

If you are a UnitedHealthcare (UHC) participating physician referring a patient out of network in a nonemergency, you’re now required to first obtain either (1) prior approval from UHC; or (2) the patient’s written consent.