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Don't Miss Out! Medicare Pays for Chronic Care Management - 11/22/2019

Do you manage patient referrals and care transitions between and among physicians and health care settings? Do you spend time reconciling medication lists and managing prescription refills for your patients? Do you take calls during and after office hours to address patient care needs? If the answer is yes and you're not billing for these types of services, you're missing out on a new CPT code and practice revenue opportunity from Medicare.

Texas Physicians Push to Improve Health Care for LGBTQ Patients - 09/03/2019

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer/questioning (LGBTQ) patients face unique barriers that put them at greater risk for mental and physical health problems. Often, their health disparities result from a lack of family support, public prejudice, and fear of the health care system. Texas physicians have launched a new workgroup and are adapting their practices to treat this underserved population.

Quality Care Pilot Takes Flight - 09/03/2019

How one children's clinic uses a targeted program to dramatically improve care, lower costs.

Physician, Hospital Groups Distribute Urgent Measles Advisory - 08/06/2019

Texas doctors and hospitals have a new tool to fight the ever-increasing measles threat, as the number of people sickened by the infectious yet preventable disease climbs. The Texas Medical Association (TMA) and Texas Hospital Association (THA) have created a new resource to help physicians, hospitals, and other health care professionals combat the highly contagious, yet entirely preventable, respiratory illness.

All Together Now: Health Care Mergers Reshape the Way Texas Physicians Practice - 08/02/2019

Consolidation has touched just about every part of today’s health care industry. Hospitals, medical practices, pharmacies, insurance companies are all merging in various ways — a trend epitomized by the 2018 announcement that hospital systems Baylor Scott & White Health in Dallas and Memorial Hermann in Houston plan to become one big nonprofit.

A Focused Leader: Incoming TMA President David Fleeger, MD - 08/02/2019

Incoming TMA President David Fleeger, MD, sets his sights on protecting the patient-physician relationship and equipping physicians for sea changes affecting medicine.

Faulty Guidelines - 06/03/2019

Former Texas Medical Association President Josie Williams, MD, was tenacious in advocating that organized medicine pay zealous attention to two topics: data and guidelines. In this, she was both sage and prescient. We have done well in following her recommendations on data, but we continue to fall far short of where we need to be on guidelines.

Texas Physicians Fight End-of-Life Bill With Passion - 05/10/2019

When the Texas Medical Association urged members to ask their state senators to vote “no” on a key bill regarding treatment disputes at the end of life, they didn’t hold back. Hundreds of Texas physicians took up the call, using TMA’s Grassroots Action enter to share very personal and passionate messages with their senators.

Death Certificate Problems Being Addressed, State Says - 03/06/2019

State health officials say they are continuing to address problems and long wait times associated with the rollout of the new TxEVER system for registering death and birth certificates. On Monday, DSHS officials told the Texas Medical Association that they significantly reduced wait times by shifting staff from other departments to handle customer service phone lines.

Dawn Duster Examines “Rubik’s Cube” of New DNR Law - 02/05/2019

The in-hospital DNR law, codified as Senate Bill 11 in the 2017 Texas Legislature, went into effect on April 1, 2018. Ms. Atwood and Jason Morrow, MD, medical director of inpatient palliative medicine at University Health System in San Antonio, examined the legal requirements of the complicated law and associated ethical considerations.

The Risk of Speaking Up - 02/04/2019

Whistleblowing may be ethical, but physician protections for it could stand to improve.

Section 9: Don’t Let Corporations Play Doctor - 01/30/2019

The Last Line of Defense: Physicians are the last line of defense between a patient and a corporation’s bottom line, says Austin hospitalist Dieter Martin, MD.

TMB Won’t Penalize Physicians For Technical Problems With Vital Registry - 01/28/2019

The Texas Medical Board confirmed Saturday that it will not take action against physicians who experience technical issues with Texas’ new vital statistics registry, TxEVER.

TMA: Put Health Back Into Health Care - 01/28/2019

As the 86th Texas Legislature zeroes in on problems to solve this legislative session, physicians urge lawmakers to prioritize improving the health of Texans.

Death Act: Directive to Physicians - 01/18/2019

The Texas Health and Safety Code authorizes the use of a written Directive to Physicians in accordance with these guidelines.

Surgeries in Mexico Linked to Antibiotic-Resistant Infections - 01/15/2019

Several Americans have developed antibiotic-resistant infections after undergoing invasive medical procedures in Mexico, health officials warned recently.

Problems With Texas’ New Vital Statistics Registry Fixed, Official Says - 01/07/2019

The new TxEVER system should be operating smoothly after experiencing technical difficulties in the days after going live, an official with the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) said Friday. If you weren’t already aware, the DSHS on Jan. 1 rolled out the system for processing death and birth certificates that it says will be easier and more accurate.

Capital Gains: Attracting Investors Without Losing Independence - 01/02/2019

Can physicians line up venture capital without letting go of their independence? It’s not so easy.

Protect Patients in Any Health Care Market Consolidation - 12/12/2018

As hospitals continue to merge in Texas, physicians on medical staffs may have less influence on hospital operations. And it becomes more difficult for small physician group practices to survive. Physicians, both solo and in established small medical groups, feel pressure to merge into large practice groups or enter into employment agreements in order maintain a viable practice.

Get the Latest Palliative Care Information at Free CME Event - 11/06/2018

If you are interested in staying up to date on palliative care and how physicians can provide the best care for patients during this sensitive time, plan to attend a free continuing medical education (CME) event next week.

Learn From the Experts - 09/26/2018

The Texas Quality Summit, scheduled for November 18-19 and hosted by the Texas Medical Association and the American College of Medical Quality, will give physicians the tools they need to prosper in a value-based care environment.

Austin Hospitalists Sue TeamHealth Over Corporate Practice of Medicine - 08/07/2018

An Austin-based medical practice has filed a lawsuit against the company St. David’s HealthCare uses to help staff physicians at its chain of hospitals, the latest in a tug of war that pits corporate finances against the physician’s view of what’s best for their patients.

Corporate Encroachment - 07/02/2018

Recent complaints suggest threats to Texas’ ban on corporate practice.

What Is It Like to be Dying? An Interview With My Dad - 06/22/2018

As I mentioned in a recent Fontenotes, my parents both went on hospice in March. In the ensuing months, we have had many talks about dying and all the physical, emotional, and financial needs that surround this last stage of life.

Texas Medicine Investigation Exposes Threats to Texas’ Ban on Corporate Practice of Medicine - 06/22/2018

An Austin physician group, one of the city’s largest hospital systems, and an outside hiring firm are engaged in a tug of war that pits corporate finances against the physicians’ view of what’s best for their patients, a three-month investigation by Texas Medicine magazine found.