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I Never Knew TMA: Had AI Experts on its HIT Committee - 02/07/2025

TMA’s HIT Committee stands among nine councils and 18 standing committees that channel physician expertise to influence policy and programs that support Texas patients and physicians and provide solutions to the challenges they encounter.

20 Everyday HIPAA Tips to Help You Stay Compliant - 01/30/2025

The goal of HIPAA is to make sure the protected health information you are responsible for or come into contact with remains confidential, secure, and available when you need it. Here are basic steps every practice can take to help make this happen.

I Never Knew TMA: Had Leadership Development Opportunities - 01/07/2025

TMA Leadership Development programming is designed to help build leadership skills, enhance your résumé, boost your career, and help you gain an understanding of how one can make a positive impact in your profession, your association, and your community.

Straight Shooter: Incoming TMA President Ray Callas, MD, Aims for Practice Protections, Membership Gains - 01/06/2025

Incoming Texas Medical Association President Ray Callas, MD, an anesthesiologist from Beaumont, cites as his top priorities preventing scope-of-practice creep, defending physician autonomy, and bolstering the TMA's membership.

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.

Ask “Dr. ChatGPT”: What Physicians Should Know About AI - 12/20/2024

Health care adviser Harvey Castro, MD, details what physicians should know about artificial intelligence.

TMA Develops New AI Education - 12/20/2024

Responding to significant interest from members after a 2023 standing-room-only TexMed event, the Texas Medical Association has developed a free webinar for members to learn how to integrate augmented or artificial intelligence technology, including ChatGPT, into patient care.

Executive Order Requires Safe, Secure Use of AI in Health Care - 12/20/2024

President Joe Biden signed an executive order Oct. 30 establishing new standards for the safe and secure use of artificial intelligence via federal oversight across different sectors, including health care.

Feds Require AI Transparency, Define Info-Blocking Exceptions - 12/20/2024

First-of-their-kind transparency regulations established by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services aim to help physicians determine the safety of artificial intelligence technology. The new rule also established a new information blocking exception and implemented a 21st Century Cures Act requirement for health IT developers. Read more.

TMA to Represent Texas Physicians’ Coding, Payment Concerns on National Credentialing Organization - 12/17/2024

TMA’s Director of Physician Payment Services has been appointed to the former Academy of Professional Coders’ National Advisory Board, where she will elevate the voices of Texas physicians through collaboration on coding, billing, and compliance issues.

TMA Installs Beaumont Anesthesiologist as President - 12/10/2024

The Texas Medical Association installed Beaumont anesthesiologist G. Ray Callas, MD, as president during TexMed, the association’s annual conference, held in Dallas.

TMA Elects San Antonio Physician President-Elect - 12/10/2024

The Texas Medical Association elected San Antonio internist and hyperbaric medicine specialist Jayesh B. “Jay” Shah, MD, president-elect during TexMed, the association’s annual conference, held in Dallas. Dr. Shah is the first Indian American TMA president-elect.

TMA Elects Houston, North Texas, Central Texas, Panhandle Physicians to Board - 12/10/2024

The Texas Medical Association has elected representatives from Amarillo, North Texas, Houston, Temple, and Waco to serve on its ;Board of Trustees. These physicians will decide and implement TMA policies and deliberate various health care issues that impact the health and lives of Texans.

The Physicians Foundation Seeks Health Care Leaders for New, Free Training Program - 11/20/2024

The one-year, hybrid training program will teach 25 physicians from across the country how to influence health care policy development at both state and federal levels. Participation in the program includes full coverage for tuition, travel, and CME credits.

Patient Care Protected: Scope Creep/GME Funding - 11/18/2024

The Texas Medical Association's top legislative priority this session was to protect independent diagnosing and prescribing as the practice of medicine and to address current workforce shortages in a way that ensures patients have access to the same standard of care, regardless of where they live.

Patient Care Protected: Medicaid Payment Increase - 11/18/2024

One of the Texas Medical Association's top legislative priorities this session was to help physicians grow their Medicaid panels and access to care with healthier payment rates.

Patient Care Protected: Network Adequacy, Surprise Billing - 11/18/2024

Spurred by physician reports of insurers taking advantage of their leverage in contract negotiations, the Texas Medical Association prioritized network adequacy reform this session.

Patient Care Protected: Medical Liability Reforms - 11/18/2024

For the 20th year in a row, the Texas Medical Association successfully defended the state's medical liability reforms, in keeping with its legislative priorities for the most recent session.

Patient Care Protected: Medicaid Coverage for Women and Children - 11/18/2024

The Texas Medical Association achieved a key legislative objective this session with the passage of House Bill 12 by Rep. Toni Rose (D-Dallas), which extends Medicaid postpartum coverage from two months to one year.

FTC Mandates Vendors Notify Patients of Breaches in Health Information - 11/07/2024

The Federal Trade Commission has amended its Health Breach Notification Rule to require vendors of personal health records and related entities not covered by HIPAA to notify individuals, the FTC, and, at times, the media, when a breach in protected health information occurs. The change will take effect July 29.

CMS Adds Cyberattack Option to MIPS Hardship Exemption - 11/07/2024

The option has been added to the Extreme and Uncontrollable Circumstances application. That portal is now open, and physicians have until Dec. 31 to file a hardship application and avoid a 2026 negative payment adjustment in the Merit-based Incentive Payment System. Read more.

How to Renew Your Electronic Prescribing Hardship Waiver - 11/07/2024

Physicians and other prescribers in Texas must now electronically prescribe controlled substances (EPCS). However, prescribers who demonstrate financial or technical hardships, or other exceptional circumstances, are eligible for a waiver from the Texas Medical Board (TMB) that, if approved, grants a one-year delay. If the hardship persists, prescribers must renew that waiver annually.

RFS Executive Council - 11/04/2024

Resident and Fellow Section Executive Council

Distinguished Service Award Recipients - 10/30/2024

TMA established the Distinguished Service Award in 1962 as a special recognition for meritorious achievement in medical science, advances in public health, and exceptional service to the medical profession and the community.

Listening Tour Connects TMA with Local Medical Communities - 10/30/2024

The practice of medicine in Texas in 2024 looks dramatically different than that of 20 or even 10 years ago, with a changing business landscape, complex administrative burdens, and serious obstacles to growing the physician workforce causing challenges to clinicians across the state.