Stories with related Professional Interests

Low-Level Code May Have High Misuse - 08/27/2025

It’s been called the “nurse visit” code, and also “the most abused code in the CPT book.” Do you use CPT code 99211 correctly?

Pinch Points: Health Care Isn’t Immune to a Tight Labor Market - 08/18/2025

Health care isn’t immune to a tight labor market, but employee retention efforts can help.

Use These Four Steps With Irate Patients - 08/07/2025

When faced with a highly emotional patient, your first task is to lower the emotional level of the patient so you can negotiate a reasonable solution. Use these four steps to accomplish that.

PAs and APRNs: How Do These Midlevels Differ? - 08/05/2025

Physicians interested in hiring a midlevel practitioner for their practice sometimes wonder whether they should hire a physician assistant or an advanced practice registered nurse. Here’s the basic difference between the two.

Interview Candidates the Smart Way - 08/05/2025

When interviewing candidates for your practice staff, it’s a good idea to work from prepared questions. Here’s why.

Eight Reasons Your New Employee Didn’t Work Out - 08/05/2025

Hiring the right employee isn’t an easy job, nor a particularly fun one. You don’t want to do it all over again in a couple of months because your recent new hire didn’t work out. If that happened to you, here are some things you may have done wrong.

What’s a Good Way to Measure Physician Productivity? - 07/29/2025

An effective way to measure physician productivity is in relative value units (RVUs). Monitoring physician productivity can be one element in tracking a practice’s financial health.

How to Set a Standard Fee Schedule for Your Practice - 06/16/2025

 You have complete authority and responsibility to set your own standard practice prices. When you set your fees, consider basic business principles, including profit, return on investment, competition, and marketing.  

What Financial Questions Should You Be Asking Your Administrator? - 04/22/2025

Here are common questions you should be asking your facility or practice administrator to help you navigate wRVU reviews and calculations.

Why You Need a Written Payment Policy - 03/19/2025

If your practice is wishy-washy about your payment policy, you essentially are allowing each patient to make his or her own policy. What other business allows its customers to decide when and how they will pay?

When It Rains (and Pours) … - 03/19/2025

According to news reports, nearly half of Texas was under flood watches or warnings at the beginning of June 2016. Does your practice have a policy for inclement weather and similar disaster or emergency conditions?

What’s Your Policy for Unused Paid Time Off? - 03/19/2025

Do any state laws govern how to handle unused paid time off when an employee leaves our practice?

Use Telephone Scripts for Best First Impression and Efficiency - 03/19/2025

One way to ensure a consistent experience for callers to your practice is the use of standard telephone scripts, or outlines for more complex calls.

Practice E-Tips on Commercial Insurance - 03/17/2025

Get helpful practice tips on working with commercial insurance providers.

Don’t Overlook Credit Card Processing Fees - 02/14/2025

In today’s world of coinsurance and high-deductible health plans, more of a practice’s revenue comes from the patient, and taking credit cards has become a must. But are you paying too much for credit card processing services?

Putting the AI in Paid: Payer Use of Artificial Intelligence Sparks Physician Concerns - 12/20/2024

Physicians - worried about payers' increasing use of artificial intelligence to process prior authorization requests, enable value-based care models, and systematically deny coverage - are seeking transparency on behalf of their patients and practices.

Marketing Toolkit - 11/07/2024

Two important parts of many physicians’ business are marketing and advertising to attract new patients to the practice. This toolkit may be of assistance to Texas physicians in preparing a marketing vision and plan for their practice.

Practice Operations Toolkit - 11/05/2024

The process of evaluating the operational efficiency of a medical practice can be simultaneously complex, time-consuming, and eye-opening. This toolkit may be of assistance to you in assessing your medical practice operations.

Revenue Cycle Assessment Toolkit - 11/05/2024

This toolkit may help you assess the health and management of your revenue cycle, including front desk and business office operations, supervisory oversight, information technology, and processes related to data entry, reporting, and benchmarking.

Financial Analysis Toolkit - 11/05/2024

The Texas Medical Association developed this toolkit with information pertaining to key performance indicators, benchmarking your practice, and your financial dashboard. This toolkit may assist you in assessing the financial viability of your practice.

Business Plan Toolkit - 11/05/2024

The Texas Medical Association developed this toolkit to assist Texas physicians in creating a business plan. Business plan documents require information specific to your practice model and vision, such as market, staffing, equipment, service lines, and space.

Policies, Procedures and Forms for Telemedicine Services - 09/17/2024

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

Speaking Their Language: TMA Payment Experts Fight for Physicians’ Best Interests - 05/17/2024

Texas Medical Association experts communicate with payers on behalf of physicians’ best interests.

Seeking Balance: TMA Opposes Feds' Implementation of the No Surprises Act - 04/09/2024

The Texas Medical Association supported the patient protections in the federal No Surprises Act but also knew from the beginning that the law's payment arbitration provisions were flawed and could give insurers an advantage.

The Knowledge Center Turns 20: Answering Physicians' Questions and Stewarding Medical History - 04/09/2024

The Texas Medical Association Knowledge Center helps physicians navigate daily challenges, and stewards an archive of Texas medical history.