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2025 Legislative Wrap-Up: TMA Defeats Concerning Vaccine Bills For Second Session in a Row - 12/08/2025

Two bills that did survive will took effect Sept. 1, one of which imposes a specific informed consent form on physicians.

2025 Legislative Wrap-Up: Amid Bad Insurance Bills Defeated, Gold Card Law Refinements Close Gaps - 12/08/2025

House Bill 3812 addresses some of the shortfalls and inconsistencies among payers in the intended implementation of Texas’ landmark prior authorization exemption law. The law took effect Sept. 1 but additional rulemaking by the Texas Department of Insurance is likely.    

Inaugural TexMed Blood Drive Augments Whole Blood Efforts - 12/04/2025

The blood drive will take place April 17-18, 2026. Earlier this year, physician leaders joined other stakeholders to request funding for whole blood. Now, TMA looks to support and strengthen efforts as funds roll out.

TMA Council, Committee Applications Due Jan. 9 - 12/03/2025

The weeks leading up to TexMed, TMA’s annual policymaking conference, mean new members are selected for TMA’s councils and committees – the engine driving medicine’s grassroots advocacy. Physicians interested in serving or recommending a colleague to serve must submit nominations by Jan. 9, 2026.

Physicians Can Become Influencers with New TMA Resource - 12/03/2025

TMA’s new academy is a self-paced program that educates physicians on how to become social media influencers by focusing on basic building blocks like branding, messaging, storytelling, and beyond.

Behavioral Health Infrastructure Gets Legislative Focus with TMA-Supported Bills - 12/02/2025

In addition to addressing youth social media use, the legislature also set out to create a pipeline for aspiring mental health professionals. Plus, TMA will help study how to balance psychiatric care burdens.

Resolutions Due Jan. 30 for House of Delegates Consideration - 11/19/2025

With TexMed set a little earlier than usual this year in April, TMA’s House of Delegates is already gearing up its policymaking process. And good TMA policy starts with good resolution-writing, which can be done by any member.

Legislators Can Request Health Insurance Mandate Analysis Via New State Law - 11/18/2025

Though the filed version of the bill would have heavily favored insurance companies, TMA successfully worked to add data transparency provisions to promote a comprehensive and unbiased analysis. Lawmakers also focused on price transparency bills affecting how facilities can bill patients for services.

Key Issues - 11/13/2025

At the heart of TMA's agenda for the 2025 Texas legislative session is protecting the practice of medicine and the patient-physician relationship.

Touting Texas: David N. Henkes, MD, Championed the State’s Physicians in 25 Years on the AMA Delegation - 11/13/2025

David N. Henkes, MD, recalls his first American Medical Association meeting in San Francisco as a new member of the Texas Delegation to the AMA. The November 2001 conference was, in a word, “overwhelming.”

2025 Legislative Wrap-Up: Inside the Capitol – Lessons from the 89th Legislative Session - 11/13/2025

TMA Council on Legislation Chair Zeke Silva, MD, offers an inside look at what it was like to operate at the Capitol behind the scenes and on the stage during this year’s session.

2025 Legislative Wrap-Up: Erosions to Medical Liability Reforms Fail - 11/13/2025

Medicine’s work this session to preserve Texas’ landmark medical liability reforms started and ended like legislative sessions past with a perennial attempt to index the landmark 2003 noneconomic damages cap to inflation. But that story had a twist this session in that the vehicle to do so, House Bill 4036, was pushed by a pair of Republicans alongside its typical Democrat contingency.  

TMA Policymaking Operates on Physician-Driven Input - 11/12/2025

Every physician can look around and see a policy change or improvement that could make life better for patients and colleagues. TMA’s House of Delegates, the organization’s policymaking body that meets annually at TexMed, is often the best place to set reform in motion.

Obesity Rate Continues to Hike Among Adult Texans - 11/10/2025

Recent findings show the share of adults with obesity is still climbing, maintaining a 20-year upward trend in the state. Texas officials and the legislature work to combat the issue through state programs and new legislation.

Direct Payment Model Available to All Texas Physicians Under New State Law - 11/10/2025

House Bill 541, now in effect, replaces the “direct primary care” nomenclature from a TMA-backed 2015 law with the more inclusive “direct patient care.” In a typical direct care model, patients pay a monthly fee, and in return, receive services like office visits and in-office procedures without involving insurance.

Reaching for the Stars: For Bernard A. Harris Jr., MD, NASA Was the Start of a Childhood Dream Fulfilled - 11/07/2025

Bernard A. Harris Jr., MD, an astronaut and physician who has done two spacewalks, will be the featured speaker at the opening general session of TexMed, the Texas Medical Association’s annual conference, convening April 16-18, 2026. He’s titled his speech “An Astronaut’s Perspective: The Future of Medicine and Beyond.”

$3 Billion Dementia Research Investment Up for Vote in November - 11/05/2025

Alzheimer’s disease, which comprises 60-80% of dementia cases, is rising in Texas and becoming a public health crisis, per state officials. TMA supports a new research institute aiming to change that.

Ivermectin Can Now Be Dispensed in Texas Without Physician Prescription - 10/28/2025

TMA testified patient safety is at risk when physician oversight is removed from prescription medication dispensation. Concerns included determining proper dosages and potential interactions with other drugs.

Adverse Event Reporting Law Targets Emergency Use, Experimental Vaccines - 10/17/2025

A new state law effective Sept. 1 requires physicians to report serious adverse events for patients who receive emergency use-authorized (EUA) vaccines, but the recent termination of certain authorizations may narrow the bill’s impact going forward.

Donate Blood at TexMed - 10/10/2025

Attendees of TMA’s TexMed 2026 in Corpus Christi will have the opportunity to donate blood on-site during the conference on April 17-18. Donors will be able to direct their donation to a prehospital whole blood program supporting emergency care.

New Law Requires Texas Physicians to Disclose AI, Provide Guardians EHR Access - 10/07/2025

The bill also requires physicians to maintain EHRs only within the U.S. Physicians can face disciplinary action, including civil penalties and license suspension or revocation by the Texas Medical Board if found to have violated the law three or more times.

New Law Allows Health Plans to Steer Patients Via Incentives, Changes Ranking and Tiering Protections - 09/16/2025

Senate Bill 926, which took effect Sept. 1, authorizes certain health plans to steer patients toward certain physicians or health care entities via cost-sharing incentives. TMA advocacy secured provisions that help protect against deceitful steering and help physicians monitor and guard against errors.

County Medical Societies - 09/16/2025

Links to Texas County Medical Societies

Legislature Boosts Nutrition, Physical Activity in Texas Schools, Adds Physician CME Requirement - 09/12/2025

Senate Bills 25 and 379, which took effect Sept. 1, guarantee physical activity and recess for grade school children and ban sugar-sweetened drinks and candy from SNAP, respectively. Meanwhile, TMA is monitoring medical school and CME requirements still in development.

Elective IV Therapy Law Tightens Physician Delegation and Oversight Guidelines - 09/09/2025

Concern about invasive medical acts performed by people without medical expertise, in settings such as “med spas” and “IV lounges,” led TMA to support the new law, which took effect Sept. 1. It provides the Texas Medical Board an additional enforcement tool and spells out more specific regulations.