Related Stories

Texas Delegates to AMA Make a Strong Push for Fixing What Ails Medicare - 05/12/2025

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.

How Two APMs Are Contributing to Cost-Conscious Health Care - 05/02/2025

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

Medicare Payment Cuts Drive Physician Shortage, TMA Tells AARP - 02/24/2025

After an AARP Bulletin article connected the current physician shortage to a wider health care crisis, TMA joined the Physicians Advocacy Institute to co-author a response focusing on the role that Medicare payment cuts play.

Are You Ready for Telemedicine Prime Time? - 02/07/2025

Like a stage actor who comes across awkward on a television or movie screen, you might find it challenging to connect with your patients during video telehealth visits. Here are some tips to make for five-star video telehealth visit.

Help Your Patients Help You with Telemedicine - 02/07/2025

TMA developed a Telemedicine Visit Tips reference sheet, designed to help your patients prepare for a telemedicine visit. You can customize the document for your practice and your patients. You may choose to add information specific to your telemedicine platform that addresses the technology questions you frequently receive from your patients.

Let Your Patients Know You Use Telemedicine - 02/07/2025

To make telemedicine more available, many state and federal rules and regulations regarding telehealth have changed temporarily during the COVID-19 public health emergency, including payments for certain types of visits. That’s all good news if you or your practice is struggling financially because of decreased in-person patient visits. But it doesn’t mean much if your patients don’t know about it.

Check Eligibility for Medicare Bonus Following Annual HPSA Update - 01/28/2025

Physicians, including psychiatrists, can receive a 10% quarterly bonus from CMS for providing primary care or mental health services to Medicare patients in qualifying areas, with some important distinctions on services rendered.

Congress Extends Medicare Telehealth Waivers, Payment for Audio-Only Visits - 01/10/2025

With telehealth extensions granted under the American Relief Act, TMA has updated its telehealth waiver chart to reflect these temporary changes that allow physicians to provide telemedicine mental health services without conducting an in-person patient visit. The flexibilities were extended through March.

Congress Averts Shutdown, Still Cuts Medicare Payment for 2025 - 01/06/2025

The American Relief Act of 2025, signed into law by President Biden Saturday morning, will extend funding for the government until mid-March. Congress was unable to include several of the Texas Medical Association’s federal goals as the new piece of legislation will not avert the 2.8% cut in Medicare physician payments that will start on Jan. 1, 2025.

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.

DEA Extends Controlled Substance Prescribing via Telemedicine Through 2025 - 11/25/2024

Until the end of next year, physicians can continue to prescribe schedule II-V controlled substances via audio-video telemedicine visits without needing to conduct an in-person medical evaluation of the patient, per rulemaking by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Read more.

Texas' Broadband Boom: An Influx of Funds Could Turbocharge Telehealth Access - 11/18/2024

The federal government recently granted Texas $3.3 billion – the largest award of any U.S. state – to deploy and upgrade broadband networks, critical to ensuring access to telehealth care.

Medicare Premiums, Deductibles to Increase in 2025 - 11/12/2024

Medicare patients will be paying more for their coverage in 2025, which will impact how much co-pay practices collect. The rise in patient costs comes at a time when Medicare physician payments still decline and payments to hospitals and other Medicare entities increase.

Feds’ Response to Cyberattack Aids Physicians, But Further Measures Needed - 11/07/2024

Eligible physician practices and others impacted by the recent cyberattack on Change Healthcare now may apply for accelerated and advanced payments for certain Medicare and Medicaid claims.

Congress Extends Telemedicine Flexibilities in Medicare - 11/07/2024

The COVID-19-era flexibilities for telemedicine in Medicare will last at least another five months following recent action by Congress.

Medicare Social Media Graphics - 11/06/2024

Once again, physicians’ Medicare payments are set to be cut, this time a 2.8% reduction in 2025. Please download the graphics and post them on your social media channels to raise awareness about the problem.

CMS Delays Dramatic Office-Visit Coding Changes Until 2021 - 11/04/2024

Following advocacy by the Texas Medical Association and much of organized medicine, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has delayed its proposal to dramatically overhaul evaluation and management coding for physician services, a proposal that TMA warned would make treating Medicare patients “even more challenging.”

OIG Calls for More Oversight of Remote Patient Monitoring in Medicare - 10/23/2024

The organization recommends greater scrutiny from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, including implementing additional safeguards, conducting physician education, and identifying and monitoring companies that bill for the service. Read more.