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Key Issues - 03/20/2025

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

First Tuesdays at the Capitol Lets Legislators Hear What Matters Most to Medicine - 03/19/2025

Since 2003, TMA member physicians, medical students, and TMA Alliance members have told their stories to legislators via First Tuesdays at the Capitol. Advocates for medicine have two more opportunities this session to share their views.

Touting Texas: David N. Henkes, MD, Championed the State’s Physicians in His 25 Years on the Delegation to the AMA - 03/10/2025

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.”

‘This Day Is Huge’: Medicine Doubles Down on Health Care Access Advocacy on First Tuesday - 03/06/2025

TMA’s signature advocacy event, founded by the TMA Alliance, continues to connect physicians, medical students, and the alliance with lawmakers to shepherd the association’s legislative priorities to fruition.

TMA Testifies to Block AI Use in Prior Auth, Support Health of Young and Aging Texans - 03/05/2025

Physicians made the rounds in the Texas Senate, providing testimony to prohibit unfair prior authorization practices, launch a new dementia care institute, and keep the growing populations of kids and seniors healthy.

TMA Welcomes State Budget Provisions for Medicine, Healthy Living Legislation - 02/27/2025

TMA physicians weighed in on the state budget, applauding appropriations supporting medicine and urging additional funding, and advocating for a Texas Senate bill aiming to make Texans healthier.

Straight Shooter: Incoming TMA President Ray Callas, MD, Aims for Practice Protections, Membership Gains - 02/27/2025

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.

‘Better and Better Every Year’: TexMed Evolves to Meet Members’ Needs - 02/27/2025

TexMed evolves to meet members’ needs through new CME, exciting keynote presentations.

Fire in His Belly: Outgoing TMA President G. Ray Callas, MD, Traverses Texas to Advocate for Medicine - 02/27/2025

When G. Ray Callas, MD, was first elected president of the Texas Medical Association, he was moved by the trust his fellow physicians put in him to speak on their behalf and advocate for them.

Let Doctors Be Doctors: Jay Shah, MD, Readies For a Holistic Approach to Serving as TMA President - 02/27/2025

For Jayesh B. “Jay” Shah, MD, the incoming president of the Texas Medical Association, his journey to become a physician started in his hometown of Vadodara (formerly Baroda), then a city of more than a million people in western India.

TMA Calls for Increased Funding to Help TMB Address Workforce Issues - 02/21/2025

TMA President G. Ray Callas, MD, advocated for Texas Medical Board (TMB) funding, citing record numbers of physician license applications. Plus, learn the Texas House committee assignments that may influence medicine’s legislative agenda. Read more.

Scope Bills, Budget Gains Mark Start of 2025 Legislative Session - 02/10/2025

Capping off a robust week of advocacy, TMA is now targeting a pair of scope of practice infringement bills, as well as tracking other measures to advance prior authorization reform and boost funding for the state’s medical education, public health, and safety net programs.

Texas Physicians Secure Top Spots in National Leadership Training Program - 02/07/2025

Just 25 seats were available for the inaugural hybrid training program hosted by the Physicians Foundation and Brandeis University. Starting in September, the program will teach physicians how to shape health care policy through leadership and advocacy.

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.

Physicians Rally Around TMA Legislative Priorities at Inaugural Virtual Event - 01/15/2025

With the curtain rising on the 2025 legislative session rising Jan. 14, TMA leaders detailed to attendees how its top 10 legislative priorities tie into physicians’ needs across the state, and how to help advocate at the Capitol on medicine’s most pressing issues in similar upcoming TMA events.

Teens Vulnerable to Social Media Harm, Exploitation, TMA Tells Legislators - 01/14/2025

 TMA presented data on how unfettered access to social media imperils youth. Medicine proposes new protections to safeguard kids as they navigate a digital terrain rife with the risk of manipulation and exploitation.    

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.

TMA’s Top Legislative Priorities: Guarding Against Scope of Practice Expansion - 01/06/2025

TMA is working to grow the physician workforce and preserve physician-led health care in Texas.

TMA’s Top Legislative Priorities: Striking the Right Balance on Noncompete Agreements - 01/06/2025

TMA endorses a noncompete agreement policy protecting both employee and employer physicians.

TMA’s Top Legislative Priorities: Protect Medicine from Corporate Influence - 01/06/2025

TMA continues its work to keep nonmedical entities and corporate influences from interfering with physicians.

TMA’s Top Legislative Priorities: Improve Women’s Health and Clarify Abortion Exceptions - 01/06/2025

The Texas Medical Association made big strides last session, securing a hard-won waiver extending Medicaid postpartum coverage to one year and expanding access to other women’s health care through the Healthy Texas Women (HTW) and Family Planning Program, for instance.

TMA’s Top Legislative Priorities: Seeking Prior Authorization Reform - 01/06/2025

In 2025, TMA will advocate for improvements to a landmark prior authorization bill and address burdensome Medicaid practices.

TMA’s Top Legislative Priorities: Protect Immunizations to Protect Public Health - 01/06/2025

TMA will work to safeguard immunizations this legislative session.

Six Ways to Get Involved in TMA Advocacy - 01/03/2025

There are many ways Texas Medical Association members can get involved with advocacy. We highlight six avenues for members to help.

TMA’s Top Legislative Priorities: Enhance Medicaid Payments and Coverage - 12/31/2024

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