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CMS Announces Latest Scores for Quality Payment Program - 06/23/2025

The Medicare Quality Payment Program will award a slightly higher percentage of positive payment adjustments in 2025 compared to 2024. However, the maximum will be considerably lower than last year’s.

Now is the Time: Texas Delegates to AMA Make a Strong Push for Fixing What Ails Medicare - 06/23/2025

Texas Medical Association members made their voices heard at the American Medical Association’s three-day National Advocacy Conference (NAC), Feb. 10-12, 2025, calling for a long-term Medicare payment fix.

Multiple Choice: How Two APMs Are Contributing to Cost-Conscious Health Care - 06/17/2025

The Medicare Shared Savings Program and ACO REACH program provide physicians with two viable payment models incentivizing better patient care outcomes.

TMA Vigilant of New Medicare Advantage Audits - 06/17/2025

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has begun what the agency itself calls an “aggressive” new strategy to audit all Medicare Advantage plans annually to review whether insurers and their networks are inflating patients’ illnesses, leading to overpayments – and the additional compliance burdens and possible repayments could fall on physicians.  

Who Can Do the Face-to-Face Encounter for Home Health? - 06/12/2025

Medicare won’t pay home health agencies to care for Medicare patients without a physician’s certification, which must include a face-to-face encounter with the patient. Here’s who can perform that encounter.

HHSC Extends Medicaid Revalidation Another Six Months - 06/12/2025

The state is providing physicians with additional time to take a key step in caring for Medicaid patients. It’s also providing a reentry pathway for physicians disenrolled last year.

Preview Your Medicare Clinician Profile Through June 25 - 05/29/2025

Physicians participating in the Quality Payment Program will see their 2023 performance scores showcased on two publicly accessible websites. One of those will also feature star ratings in up to 17 categories including preventive health and patient safety.

TMA’s First 2025 Legislative Victory Protects Sensitive Test Results - 05/23/2025

Gov. Greg Abbott signed TMA’s first victory of the 2025 legislative session to allow physicians a way to communicate to their patients receive serious or sensitive test results in a supportive manner rather than via electronic patient portals. Texas physicians will still need to comply with information blocking provisions after the three-day pause.

Texas Medicaid Delays Online Enrolling and Credentialing Integration - 05/22/2025

In April, the Texas Medicaid & Health Partnership had announced physicians could enroll and get credentialed in a one-stop, two-step process. The pause means the status quo remains for now.

TMA Preserves Technology’s “Human Element” with New EHR, AI Policies - 05/21/2025

Texas physicians unanimously adopted new TMA policy advocating for EHR-generated health care forms, circumventing lengthy manual processes and unnecessary expenses placed upon physician practices. Also adopted: new policy that strengthens TMA’s efforts to stay abreast of AI advancements.

HHS Establishes Information-Blocking Disincentives for Clinicians - 05/01/2025

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released a final rule that aims to hold health care professionals, including physicians, accountable for information blocking as determined by the HHS Office of Inspector General.

Top Technology Recommendations Align with TMA Policy, Education - 04/29/2025

TMA technology staff attended a regional meeting of a nationwide cybersecurity coalition comprised of 450 other health care organizations, including the American Medical Association, to learn about emerging technology trends in medicine and how to reduce harm to physician practices.

MedPAC Calls for Tying Medicare Payment to Inflation with a Permanent Update - 04/22/2025

The agency advising Congress on Medicare issues calls for a physician payment structure tied to the Medical Economic Index, in line with TMA advocacy. The recommendation calls for a permanent payment update in 2026 and beyond.

Medicaid Funding Streams Crucial in State, Federal Advocacy Discussions - 04/17/2025

In the chance the federal government moves forward with proposed cuts that could negatively impact Medicaid, TMA is here to help Texas physicians understand and navigate Medicaid’s funding complexities. Read more.

TMA’s Top Legislative Priorities: Enhance Medicaid Payments and Coverage - 04/17/2025

TMA will work to enhance Medicaid payments and coverage this legislative session

TMA Signs Letter Calling for Congress to Protect Medicaid Funding - 04/17/2025

As the U.S. House of Representatives considers $880 billion in cuts from the committee overseeing Medicaid, TMA and all 50 state medical societies detailed the impacts such a cut would make to patient care and practice viability.

Medicine Backs New Legislation Halting Latest Medicare Payment Cut - 04/14/2025

Led by physician lawmakers, the proposed legislation would cancel the most recent physician pay cut and provide some extenuating relief for the remainder of the year. TMA recently joined the American Medical Association’s national advocacy conference to take their efforts to lawmakers’ doorsteps in D.C.

I Never Knew TMA: Had AI Experts on its HIT Committee - 03/31/2025

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.

CMS Issues New MIPS Hardship, Extension Tied to IV Fluid Shortage - 03/28/2025

The 15-day window opens today, March 31, and comes in response to medicine’s advocacy. TMA encourages affected physicians to document those shortages and the impact on their practices.

UPDATE: Submit 2024 MIPS Data by April 14 to Avoid 9% Pay Cut - 03/28/2025

The data submission period for Medicare’s 2024 Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) performance year is underway and closes on April 14 at 7 pm CT. At stake is a pay cut of up to 9% in the 2026 payment year.

Congress Extends Medicare Telehealth Flexibilities for Another Six Months - 03/24/2025

Several pandemic-era Medicare telehealth and payment flexibilities will now last through Sept. 30 following recent action by Congress, including those that waive geographic site restrictions for mental health telemedicine services provided without an in-person visit.

Proposed Cybersecurity Rule Changes Create Undue Burden, TMA Warns Feds - 03/18/2025

The proposal recommends sweeping, significant revisions to established standards for patient health information, but may overstep its reach and create financial pressure physicians can’t afford.

20 Everyday HIPAA Tips - 03/17/2025

 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.  

Advancing Primary Care: Medicare Rolls Out New Payment Codes for Treating Chronic Conditions - 03/04/2025

Though the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has introduced another acronym into the Medicare mix, some physicians express optimism this particular one could help practices stay viable.   For Greg Fuller,

Without Congressional Action, Medicare Telehealth Waivers Will End March 31 - 02/26/2025

Medicare telehealth waivers previously extended by Congress will expire March 31, meaning Medicare patients will no longer be able to have telemedicine visits while in their home and physicians will again be required to meet with patients in-person before a telemedicine mental health consultation.