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Help Patients Make Wise Choices About Treatment Options - 07/20/2023

Tools are emerging to help physicians overcome the time constraints that can preempt discussions with patients.

Quality Improvement: Practice Awards and Free Webinars - 07/20/2023

TMA, the Texas Osteopathic Medical Association (TOMA), and the TMF Health Quality Institute are collaborating again to provide the Physician Practice Quality Improvement Award program. The award formally recognizes physician practices for their dedication and commitment to providing high-quality patient care and improving outcomes.

Driving the Quality Train: TMA Physicians Lead the Way, From Measures to Standardization - 07/10/2023

In a proactive effort to resolve physician complaints, TMA and its members are deeply involved in quality issues, from participating in the development of new measures to pushing payers for standardized quality programs and supporting physicians who are curious about value-based care.

Physician, Hospital Groups Distribute Urgent Measles Advisory - 06/29/2023

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.

Texas Physicians Push to Improve Health Care for LGBTQ Patients - 06/28/2023

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer/questioning (LGBTQ) patients face unique barriers that put them at greater risk for mental and physical health problems. Often, their health disparities result from a lack of family support, public prejudice, and fear of the health care system. Texas physicians have launched a new workgroup and are adapting their practices to treat this underserved population.

TMF Offers Resources to Navigate CMS Requirements - 05/16/2023

TMF has launched three physician-focused networks designed to save time, improve patient care, and reduce costs associated with meeting these requirements. These programs, focused on immunizations, behavioral health and value-based improvements, are designed to help physicians benefit from—and not be penalized by—these mandates.

Notice to Patients on the Departure of a Physician - 10/07/2022

When a physician departs a group, the practice should consider the issue of continuity of care for patients. The Texas Medical Board (TMB), in an attempt to address this, adopted regulations that must be followed whenever a physician leaves a group. This applies to physicians who are partners, members, or employees of the group.

Biden Administration to Launch Specialty Payment Model - 07/27/2022

A new, voluntary Medicare payment model option focused on cancer care opens the value-based care door wider for specialists at a time when such models have been limited.

Ten Tips for Effective Voice-Mail Messages - 09/23/2021

Voice mail is a great tool, but it can waste time and cause frustration if you don’t use it wisely. Follow these tips for leaving effective voice-mail messages every time.

Leading Innovation: Physician Entrepreneur Develops App to Engage Patients - 02/27/2021

In 2015, Austin cardiologist Manish Chauhan, MD, decided to finally act on an idea he’d been knocking around for a while – something to fill a void he’d witnessed when it came to engaging patients in their care.

The Customer Is Always Right? Patient-Reported Outcome Measures Have Fans and Detractors - 01/26/2021

For too long, some doctors say measures of a physician’s quality of care have been about process: the average length of a patient stay, for example, or a patient’s readmission rate. The bottom line is results, and that’s why a shift to patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures is necessary. However, even proponents of PRO measures note that collecting the information from patients for those metrics places burdens on physicians, and some remain skeptical of bonuses and penalties tied to a measure that derives from a subjective factor: what patients think.

Troubling Trend: Texas’ 2018 QPP Data Contains More Bad Signs - 01/05/2021

As the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services continues to churn out glowing data annually on its Quality Payment Program (QPP), a full picture of the program’s impact eludes the agency’s reporting. According to the Texas Medical Association’s analysis of state-level data in the 2018 QPP Experience Report, it’s clear that small practices continue to feel most of the program’s punitive pressures.

TMA Calls Governor’s Plan “Prudent and Careful” - 04/27/2020

Statement by Texas Medical Association (TMA) President David C. Fleeger, MD, in response to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s announcement that Texas hospitals now need to reserve only 15% of their capacity for COVID-19 patients.

RoweDocs to Host Walk With a Doc Texas Event - 02/18/2020

Houston residents of all ages are encouraged to lace up their walking shoes and join Latisha “Tisha” Rowe, MD, of RoweDocs for a Houston Walk With a Doc Texas event.

Cataract, Glaucoma, Cornea & Retina Consultants to Host Walk With a Doc Texas Event - 02/18/2020

 Nacogdoches residents of all ages are encouraged to lace up their walking shoes and join Orry C. Birdsong, MD, of Cataract, Glaucoma, Cornea & Retina Consultants for a Nacogdoches Walk With a Doc Texas event.

Allergy & Asthma Texas Health to Host its First Walk With a Doc Texas Event - 01/29/2020

San Antonio residents of all ages are encouraged to lace up their walking shoes and join Araceli Elizalde, MD, of Allergy & Asthma Texas Health for the clinic’s first San Antonio Walk With a Doc Texas event.

South Alamo Medical Group to Host Its First Walk With a Doc Texas Event - 01/13/2020

San Antonio residents of all ages are encouraged to lace up their walking shoes and join Miguel Ayala, MD, of South Alamo Medical Group for the group’s first San Antonio Walk With a Doc Texas event.

Houston Physician to Host Her First Walk With a Doc Texas Event - 01/06/2020

The Walk With a Doc concept is simple: Physicians organize walks in their communities and invite their patients, their patients’ families, and community members to join them. Walkers will enjoy a refreshing and invigorating walk with Dr. Averyt and other health care professionals, who will provide support to participants and answer questions during the walk.

Arlington Integrative Medicine to Host Its First Walk With a Doc Texas Event - 01/06/2020

The Walk With a Doc concept is simple: Physicians organize walks in their communities and invite their patients, their patients’ families, and community members to join them. Walkers will enjoy a refreshing and invigorating walk with Dr. Parvez and other health care professionals, who will provide support to participants and answer questions during the walk.

Help Medicaid Patients Keep Appointments With Free Rides - 12/11/2019

If your Medicaid patient has trouble keeping his or her appointments with your office due to lack of transportation or gas money, be sure the patient knows how to seek help from Medicaid.

Memorial Hermann Community Benefit Corporation to Host First-Anniversary Walk With a Doc Texas Event(1) - 11/11/2019

Houston residents of all ages are encouraged to lace up their walking shoes and join Guadalupe Roldan, MD, and colleagues from the Memorial Hermann Community Benefit Corporation for their first-anniversary Walk With a Doc (WWAD) Texas event.

UTMB Students to Host First Walk With a Future Doc Texas Event in Galveston - 11/11/2019

Galveston residents of all ages are encouraged to lace up their walking shoes and join Samuel Mathis, MD, and The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston (UTMB) medical students for the school’s first Galveston Walk With a Future Doc Texas event.

Lone Star Family Health Center to Host Walk With a Doc Texas Event - 11/06/2019

Conroe residents of all ages are encouraged to lace up their walking shoes and join Daniel Porter, MD, of Lone Star Family Health Center for the clinic’s Conroe Walk With a Doc (WWAD) Texas event.

Memorial Hermann Community Benefit Corporation to Host First-Anniversary Walk With a Doc Texas Event - 11/05/2019

Houston residents of all ages are encouraged to lace up their walking shoes and join Guadalupe Roldan, MD, and colleagues from the Memorial Hermann Community Benefit Corporation for their first-anniversary Walk With a Doc (WWAD) Texas event.

Laredo Premier Healthcare to Host First Anniversary Walk With a Doc Texas Event Saturday - 10/07/2019

 Laredo residents of all ages are encouraged to lace up their walking shoes and join Luis Benavides, MD, and colleagues from Laredo Premier Healthcare for Laredo’s first anniversary Walk With a Doc (WWAD) Texas event.