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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.

Rural Residencies: Texas Tech’s Rural Training Track Brings More Physicians to Small Towns - 03/26/2019

In all his dreams about becoming a doctor, Ivan Becerra, MD, never imagined he’d lead a cesarean section delivery during just his second year of residency. Yet last August, that’s exactly what he was doing at Pecos County Memorial

The Deal's Off: Baylor, Memorial Hermann Opt to Skip Merger - 03/12/2019

Many health care companies have merged in recent years, but nothing symbolized the high-dollar, high-stakes nature of the trend like the proposed $14 billion merger of Texas health care giants Baylor Scott & White Health in Dallas and Memorial Hermann Health System in Houston. But then officials from both health care systems abruptly called off the deal today.

Each Physician Generates $2.4 Million For Hospitals, Survey Shows - 02/28/2019

According to a survey released this week, a physician generates an average of almost $2.4 million per year in net revenue on behalf of his or her affiliated hospitals. That’s an increase of almost 52 percent from 2016 figures, according to the  2019 Physician Inpatient/Outpatient Revenue Survey .

Physician Employment Continues to Grow, Survey Shows - 02/21/2019

According to a survey released this week, hospitals and health systems acquired 8,000 medical practices nationwide between July 2016 and January 2018. Also during those 18 months, 14,000 physicians left private practice for employment arrangements with hospitals, the numbers show.

Help Rural Hospitals Receive State Revenue - 02/05/2019

If you understand rural health needs and have some time to help hospitals in those areas seek state funding, the State Office of Rural Health needs your help.

Rural FP Finds Rewards With Full-scope Training, Deep Roots - 01/04/2019

Texas physician acknowledges the hard work it takes to build a solo practice in a rural community.

Learn How TMA Will Work for Rural Physicians at the Capitol - 12/01/2018

Tune in to a 30-minute Virtual Meeting for Select Counties to learn about TMA’s strategies for the upcoming legislative session from TMA Vice President of Public Affairs Darren Whitehurst, and to find out more about organized medicine from John Flores, MD, chair of the TMA Council on Socioeconomics.

Crisis in the Country - 09/26/2018

Since 2010, Texas has seen more rural hospitals close than has any other state, leaving huge gaps in health care; however, the state's rural areas have options for maintaining health care facilities.

Rural Doc Hopes to Build Ties With Big Cities - 09/20/2018

Jacksonville OB-Gyn hopes rural docs and big centers can build collegiality.

Have Your Say on Texas’ Rules on Caring for Stroke, Trauma - 09/20/2018

The Texas Department of State Health Services is revising rules on stroke and trauma facility designation and is seeking your input.

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.

Is Your Hospital a Help — or a Hindrance? - 07/18/2018

This month, TMA is trying to get a better understanding of how hospital relationships affect you and your practice. Check your inbox for a survey that will help TMA demonstrate the importance of protecting physicians who practice in nonphysician-controlled environments.

Researchers Seek Your Input on Palliative Care Telementoring Program - 06/22/2018

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center is creating an online mentoring program, called ECHO Palliative Care Texas, to help rural physicians care for patients who need supportive and/or palliative care as they receive cancer treatment.

TMA Applauds 15-month Medicaid Waiver Extension - 06/19/2018

Statement of John Holcomb, MD, Chair of the Texas Medical Association Select Committee on Medicaid, CHIP & Uninsured, on today's Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announcement confirming a 15-month extension of the Medicaid 1115 Waiver for the state of Texas.

Rural Texas Physician - 04/27/2018

Spring 2017 Rural Texas Physician is a quarterly electronic periodical for physicians in the many rural areas of Texas caring for patients and their communities. TMA’s grassroots membership is the strength of the association.

Is Congress Doing Enough to Protect Physician Practices? - 02/27/2018

The Physicians Advocacy Institute is urging federal lawmakers to re-examine health care policies to ensure they promote competition and put private physicians on a level playing field with hospitals and other corporate entities.

Reviewers Required for Rural Revenue Recipients - 02/06/2018

If you understand rural health needs and have some time to help facilities in those areas seek state funding, the State Office of Rural Health needs your help.

Peer Review Farce - 01/31/2018

TMA's policies on medical peer review promote a fair, reasonable system; the association condemns peer review abuses that harm physicians and have negative ramifications for patient care. Doctors subjected to unwarranted peer review action can sue. TMA came to the aid of locum tenens emergency physician Van Mask, MD, after he sued Coon Memorial Hospital in Dalhart, alleging officials published false and defamatory statements about him and falsely represented that he had quality and liability problems pursuant to a medical staff committee review. TMA argues in part that the hospital's ER/Trauma Committee didn't appear to be a medical peer review committee under Texas law. The case was settled before going to trial.

Road to Resolution - 01/31/2018

No one knows the challenges of a rural practice better than family physician Jeff Alling, MD, who delivered babies for 18 years at a hospital that later stripped him of his obstetric privileges. With help from the Texas Medical Association and the Texas Academy of Family Physicians, Dr. Alling and other family doctors ultimately regained their obstetrical privileges. But the road to resolution was rocky, and the parties narrowly avoided an expensive legal battle.

Fair Evaluations, No Witch Hunts - 01/31/2018

Physicians have greater protection against "sham" peer review thanks to a decision by the Texas Supreme Court. The decision will help physicians who believe business competitors or a hospital's administrators are using every means available to destroy their reputation.

Improving Health in Hard-to-Reach Communities - 01/25/2018

The health impact pyramid offers a framework for considering the relative significance of socioeconomic determinants of health and for prioritizing interventions that may be effective in improving health outcomes in hard-to-reach and rural populations. Barriers to health care delivery in rural settings are outlined with examples provided. Demonstration projects in East and West Texas are reviewed. Those programs reach unique populations such as agricultural and migrant workers and those with mental illness by using innovative approaches, such as the use of specially trained community health workers and telehealth and telemedicine. Having a health impact on hard-to-reach groups and rural populations is largely a function of overcoming numerous barriers. Adopting a population health approach that engages the community in overcoming those barriers is likely to be more effective in producing improved health outcomes.

Higher Liability Caps Would Hurt Access to Care - 04/04/2017

I am concerned about the future of medical care in our community, and many, many others like it in Texas. Physicians in rural areas already work harder and make less money due to cuts in payment. I’m age 55. Our eldest physician, Rusty West, is 58. It’s always been difficult to recruit doctors to come to a rural community. But I am convinced that it will be even harder to recruit if the cap is raised and insurance premiums go back up again. There is a point when the practice of medicine in rural Texas becomes economically unsustainable. Raising the cap on damages moves us to that point as the increased cost can’t be passed on to our patients, many of whom are on Medicare and Medicaid.

Comments Sought on Infection Reporting - 06/17/2016

State health officials are accepting physician comments on proposed rules for mandatory reporting of infections that patients acquire while in a hospital or other health care facility.