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Safely Incorporate Remote Patient Monitoring Into Your Practice - 02/07/2025

If you’re considering using telemedicine or remote patient monitoring, the Texas Medical Liability Trust’s (TMLT) Risk Management team has some recommendations to protect you and your practice.


Are You Ready for Telemedicine Prime Time? - 02/07/2025

Like a stage actor who comes across awkward on a television or movie screen, you might find it challenging to connect with your patients during video telehealth visits. Here are some tips to make for five-star video telehealth visit.


Help Your Patients Help You with Telemedicine - 02/07/2025

TMA developed a Telemedicine Visit Tips reference sheet, designed to help your patients prepare for a telemedicine visit. You can customize the document for your practice and your patients. You may choose to add information specific to your telemedicine platform that addresses the technology questions you frequently receive from your patients.


Let Your Patients Know You Use Telemedicine - 02/07/2025

To make telemedicine more available, many state and federal rules and regulations regarding telehealth have changed temporarily during the COVID-19 public health emergency, including payments for certain types of visits. That’s all good news if you or your practice is struggling financially because of decreased in-person patient visits. But it doesn’t mean much if your patients don’t know about it.


Physicians Ask Lawmakers to Make Social Media Safer for Children, Prevent Data Mining - 02/03/2025

The Texas Medical Association and Texas Pediatric Society told a committee of the Texas Legislature about the importance of developing policies that promote healthy technology use for young people and restrict data mining of minors’ information.


DSHS Urges Measles Monitoring as More Cases Confirmed - 02/03/2025

DSHS has confirmed measles cases in Gaines and Lubbock counties as well as in Houston. Officials urge physicians to report any suspected cases immediately for investigation.


Doctor’s Orders to ‘Eat Healthy’ Bolstered by Updated FDA Metrics - 01/23/2025

The Food and Drug Administration’s new approach to deeming foods healthy affirms nutrition science and longstanding TMA policy. While serious obstacles to healthful eating remain, the new guidelines may provide a way to discuss dietary principles like portion sizes and balanced eating with patients.


Advancing Health Equity: Karen Batory’s 35-year TMA Career Shaped Public Health for the Association - 01/20/2025

Karen Batory’s extensive, 35-year career at TMA shaped public health for both the association and the state


Congress Extends Medicare Telehealth Waivers, Payment for Audio-Only Visits - 01/10/2025

With telehealth extensions granted under the American Relief Act, TMA has updated its telehealth waiver chart to reflect these temporary changes that allow physicians to provide telemedicine mental health services without conducting an in-person patient visit. The flexibilities were extended through March.


Enhancing Awareness: Physicians Can Help Dispel Myths to Ease the Syphilis Epidemic - 01/08/2025

Physicians can help dispel myths to ease the syphilis epidemic in Texas.


TMA’s Top Legislative Priorities: Expand Access to Care with Telemedicine Payment Parity - 12/31/2024

TMA supports improving access to high-quality, physician-led telemedicine care that is covered at the same rate as in-person visits.


Physicians: Carbon Monoxide Exposure Can be Deadly, Cause Permanent Organ Damage - 12/17/2024

More than a million people are still without power in Houston and Southeast Texas after Hurricane Beryl hit the Texas Gulf Coast on Monday, but their temporary solution could harm them. As people without electricity turn to alternate energy resources, physicians are reminding Texans about the dangers of carbon monoxide exposure.


As School is Starting, Are Your Child’s Immunizations Updated? - 12/17/2024

As kids are returning to school, physicians have an important reminder for parents: Make sure your children are up to date on all immunizations.


Multistage, Collaborative Review of State Trauma Rules Yields a Win for Medicine - 12/04/2024

A monthslong, multidisciplinary effort by a consortium of stakeholders in trauma and emergency medical services, including TMA, has borne fruit in trauma care rules that extend physician involvement and prioritize common sense in the trauma facility designation process.


I Never Knew TMA: Has Local Community Health and Outreach Programs - 11/27/2024

The Texas Medical Association’s community outreach programs offer a rewarding alternative for physicians to connect with their patients in ways that can have a big impact even beyond the office.  


DEA Extends Controlled Substance Prescribing via Telemedicine Through 2025 - 11/25/2024

Until the end of next year, physicians can continue to prescribe schedule II-V controlled substances via audio-video telemedicine visits without needing to conduct an in-person medical evaluation of the patient, per rulemaking by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Read more.


Safety in Statute: State Law Guides Violence Prevention in Health Care - 11/18/2024

A new state law guides violence prevention plans in health care.  


Texas' Broadband Boom: An Influx of Funds Could Turbocharge Telehealth Access - 11/18/2024

The federal government recently granted Texas $3.3 billion – the largest award of any U.S. state – to deploy and upgrade broadband networks, critical to ensuring access to telehealth care.


Travel Advisory: Travel Details Can Help Uncover a Diagnosis - 11/18/2024

Physicians can aid in the prevention and spread of travel-related illnesses with thorough questioning on trip history.


Unlocking TxEVER: Experts Weigh in on Best Practices for Texas’ Death Records Registry - 11/14/2024

Experts weigh in on best practices to navigate Texas’ death records registry.


Congress Extends Telemedicine Flexibilities in Medicare - 11/07/2024

The COVID-19-era flexibilities for telemedicine in Medicare will last at least another five months following recent action by Congress.


CDC: Masks Still Recommended for Everyone in Health Care Setting - 11/07/2024

Does the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend masking for physicians and other health care professionals to prevent the spread of COVID-19?


Respiratory Illness Rates Likely Stable for 2024-25, Vaccines Could Lower Peak - 10/25/2024

This year’s respiratory illness season is likely to bring a similar or lower number of combined peak hospitalizations due to COVID-19, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus compared with last season, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention telegraphed in its 2024-25 Respiratory Disease Season Outlook.


TMA Spotlights ACS Study to Improve Cancer Data for Black Women - 10/25/2024

Serving its goal of increasing access to cancer care, the Texas Medical Association’s Committee on Cancer is amplifying recruitment efforts for a new study, calling on Texas physicians to generate awareness to boost study enrollment and promote health equity. Read more.


OIG Calls for More Oversight of Remote Patient Monitoring in Medicare - 10/23/2024

The organization recommends greater scrutiny from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, including implementing additional safeguards, conducting physician education, and identifying and monitoring companies that bill for the service. Read more.