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An Insurance Company Auditor Tried to Destroy My Career - 09/16/2019

It didn’t matter that the charges against me were ludicrous. The potential consequences were only too real, and potentially catastrophic. Had the State Medical Board decided against me, I could have lost my license. I hired a lawyer, sinking more than $8,000 into legal fees. I was cleared by a unanimous committee vote. But other physicians facing similar situations may not be as lucky.

YPS 2019-2020 Executive Council - 09/16/2019

Young Physician Section Executive Council

McGovern Medical School at UTHealth to Host First-Anniversary Walk With a Doc Texas Event - 09/16/2019

Houston residents of all ages are encouraged to lace up their walking shoes and join Samuel D. Luber, MD, and colleagues from McGovern Medical School for their first-anniversary Walk With a Doc (WWAD) Texas event. 

TMA Can Take Lead in Addressing Social Determinants of Health - 09/16/2019

Despite widespread knowledge about the impact of social determinants of health – such as housing and food insecurity – the U.S. health care system does a poor job of taking those factors into account when caring for patients, the co-founders of The Health Initiative, a Boston nonprofit, told physicians at the Texas Medical Association's Fall Conference on Saturday.  

Opioids and Pharmacy: PMP Extension Granted - 09/16/2019

When it came to opioids and pharmacy matters, some of the major pieces of medicine’s 2019 agenda came down to something everyone wishes they had more of: time. Physicians need it to get comfortable with a mandate to check the state’s prescription monitoring program (PMP). Patients need it to make sure the pain medications they’re prescribed do what the drugs are supposed to do. The legislature listened, and TMA achieved wins on both counts, as well as on increased transparency from pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs).

Federal Dollars Bolster Texas Efforts to Combat Maternal Mortality - 09/13/2019

 A pair of Texas agencies won separate multi-million dollar grants from the U.S. government to help curb maternal death and illness in the state. 

House Bill 3703 (86th Texas Legislature) and Expansion of Texas’ Compassionate Use Act - 09/12/2019

In its 2019 session, the Texas Legislature passed House Bill 3703 (Rep. Stephanie Klick), effective immediately, expanding the list of diseases that may be treated with low-tetrahydrocannabinols (THC) cannabis. The bill also broadened the types of specialty physicians who may qualify to register with the Compassionate Use Registry of Texas to recommend treat-ment with low-THC cannabis to patients.

San Angelo Physicians Assume TMA Leadership Positions - 09/12/2019

Two San Angelo physicians will begin new terms in Texas Medical Association (TMA) leadership positions during the TMA Fall Conference this week.

AIMing to Save Lives: More Standardized Care Could Bring Down Texas' Maternal Death Rate - 09/12/2019

Texas’ maternal death rate is still high, and public health officials are betting that more standardized care will bring it down with guidelines set up by the Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health (AIM).

CRNAs Can’t Administer Anesthesia Unless Physician Delegates It, AG Rules - 09/12/2019

The state attorney general has agreed with the Texas Medical Association in an official opinion that keeps certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) from administering anesthesia without physician delegation.

Send TMA Your Prior Auth Nightmare Stories - 09/11/2019

Arbitrary. Confusing. Frustrating. Never-ending. Maddening. Those are some of the terms we can actually print that describe physicians’ perceptions of insurance companies’ prior authorization requirements and approval processes. Your personal stories of patient harm due to prior authorization request delays or denials can give the Texas Medical Association the ammunition it needs to fight this problem. Please submit your stories via email to the TMA Payment Advocacy Department.

New Web Page Helps You Help Prevent Student Concussions - 09/11/2019

To help you prevent and/or care for traumatic brain injuries, the Texas Medical Association has created a web page about student-athlete concussions to raise awareness among physicians, student-athletes and their parents, and coaches.

Temple Physicians Assume TMA Leadership Positions - 09/10/2019

Three Temple physicians will begin terms in Texas Medical Association (TMA) leadership positions during the TMA Fall Conference next week.

Dallas-Area Physicians to Begin Serving in TMA Leadership Positions - 09/10/2019

Seventeen Dallas-area physicians will begin new terms of service in Texas Medical Association (TMA) leadership positions next week during the TMA Fall Conference.  The physicians are in Dallas, Flower Mound, Frisco, McKinney, Murphy, and Plano.

Abilene Physician to Begin Serving in TMA Leadership Position - 09/10/2019

Joshua B. Reed, DO, an Abilene family physician in practice for five years, was appointed to serve on the Texas Medical Association’s (TMA’s) Committee on Membership. He will begin his three-year term in September during the TMA Fall Conference.

San Antonio Physicians to Begin New TMA Leadership Positions - 09/10/2019

Seven San Antonio physicians will begin terms in Texas Medical Association (TMA) leadership positions this week during the TMA Fall Conference.

Opioids, Telemedicine, Legislative Update to Highlight TMA Fall Conference - 09/10/2019

Physicians Meet to Address Health Care Priorities. Navigating the opioid crisis, using telemedicine to expand a medical practice and help more patients, and top issues from the 2019 Texas Legislature highlight the 2019 Texas Medical Association (TMA) Fall Conference. 

Houston-Area Physicians Begin TMA Leadership Positions - 09/09/2019

Thirty Houston-area physicians who practice in Houston, Bellaire, Cypress, and Sugar Land will begin new terms of service in Texas Medical Association (TMA) leadership positions next week during the TMA Fall Conference.

Lubbock Physicians Assume TMA Leadership Positions - 09/09/2019

Eleven Lubbock physicians will begin terms in Texas Medical Association (TMA) leadership positions during the TMA Fall Conference next week.

Galveston-Area Physicians Assume TMA Leadership Positions - 09/09/2019

Two Galveston-area physicians and a medical student will begin new terms of service in Texas Medical Association (TMA) leadership positions during the TMA Fall Conference next week.

Tyler-Area Physicians Renew TMA Leadership Positions - 09/09/2019

Two Tyler-area physicians will begin new terms of service in Texas Medical Association (TMA) leadership positions during the TMA Fall Conference next week.

Dozens of Austin-Area Physicians to Start Serving in TMA Leadership Positions - 09/09/2019

Thirty-five Austin-area physicians will begin terms of service in Texas Medical Association (TMA) leadership positions, during this week’s TMA Fall Conference.

Amarillo Physicians to Begin Serving in TMA Leadership Positions - 09/09/2019

Three Amarillo physicians will begin new terms of service in Texas Medical Association (TMA) leadership positions, during week’s TMA Fall Conference.

Beaumont Physician to Begin Serving as TMA Leader - 09/09/2019

L. Andy Chen, MD, a Beaumont oncologist in practice for 10 years, was elected to serve on the Texas Medical Association (TMA) Council on Health Service Organizations. He will begin his three-year term this week during the TMA Fall Conference.

College Station Physician to Begin Serving as TMA Leader - 09/09/2019

Rejeesh V. Vasudev, MD, a College Station internist in practice for eight years, was elected to serve on the Texas Medical Association (TMA) Council on Constitution and Bylaws. He will begin his two-year term next week during the TMA Fall Conference.