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New TMA Committee to Bolster Private Practices - 03/30/2022

The COVID-19 pandemic and a recent spike in inflation are just the latest in a string of pressures that are increasingly driving private practices in Texas and across the nation out of business – a trend the Texas Medical Association is aiming to reverse through the formation of a new Ad Hoc Committee on Independent Physician Practices.

Racism: A Very Important Health Problem - 01/14/2022

“Americans should not be surprised that it took the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man, under the knee of a white police officer to take the COVID-19 pandemic off the lead of every newscast, off the top of every mind, and off the tip of every tongue. Our great country was born with a big problem with racism. Today – 155 years after the end of the Civil War, 65 years after Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a Montgomery, Ala., bus, 28 years after Rodney King implored us to “all get along” – our great country still has a big problem with racism..."

An Overworked Force: Texas Grapples With Medical Staffing Shortage Amid COVID-19 Surge - 12/14/2021

Texas grapples with a medical staffing shortage amid a renewed COVID-19 surge.

Strength in Numbers: Women Physicians Seek to Change the Culture of Medicine - 12/02/2021

In Texas, women accounted for 36% of active physicians as of September, just under the national rate of 37% and more than double their share 25 years ago. They now outnumber men among Texas medical school enrollees, suggesting they may account for most of the physician workforce in future decades.

Virtual Summit: A Closer Look at Primary Care - 10/08/2021

This year’s virtual version of the Texas Primary Care Consortium (TPCC) Summit – a learning lab, collaborative gathering, and catalyst for primary care transformation in Texas – kicks off this Thursday, Oct. 14, and continues on Oct. 15.

Get Help Applying for Provider Relief Funds - 10/04/2021

Planning to apply for financial assistance through the fourth phase of the COVID-19 Provider Relief Fund (PRF), or for funding from the American Rescue Plan (ARP) targeted toward rural practitioners? If so, the federal Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) has several technical assistance webinars coming up with guidance on how to navigate the PRF portal, including one this Tuesday, Oct. 5, from 2- to 3 pm CT.

Sixteen Ways to Save Money in Your Practice - 09/23/2021

Looking for ways to trim practice expenses? Here are some easy suggestions for saving a little here and a little there. It can add up.

Newly Licensed Physicians Hit Another All-Time High in Texas - 09/21/2021

Texas has done an excellent job of attracting new physicians over the last two decades, with recent data showing physician growth outstrips population growth.

Continue GME Expansion to Meet State’s Physician Workforce Needs, TMA Tells CMS - 07/02/2021

After more than two and a half decades, Congress has – by a modest amount – expanded the number of graduate medical education (GME) positions funded by Medicare. A recent Texas Medical Association letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) called on the agency to implement the change while keeping Texas and future GME expansion in mind.

Furthering Medical Education in Texas - 05/26/2021

Medical education in Texas is moving in the right direction. The Texas Medical Association has been a major partner in advancing medical education initiatives. This special symposium issue on medical education examines residency training costs, the Next Accreditation System, graduate medical education in rural Texas, Texas' physician workforce needs, the current state of education reform, and efforts to retain medical graduates in Texas.

Physicians Are Right to Avoid Wasting Vaccine - 02/04/2021

Statement by Texas Medical Association (TMA) President Diana L. Fite, MD, and Harris County Medical Society President Gary J. Sheppard, MD, about situations physicians and health care workers might face when trying to administer all COVID-19 vaccine without wasting it. This issue emerged after Houston authorities leveled accusations against a local physician.

Support State Graduate Medical Education Funding - 02/01/2021

Having an adequate number of graduate medical education (GME) positions is fundamental in preparing physicians needed for Texas. The state’s medical schools are doing their part to educate more physicians. If there are not enough GME positions to train graduates in a medical specialty, those physicians can be expected to leave the state for training elsewhere, and many who leave will not return to practice in the state.

Five Simple Things You Can Do for Your Practice - 01/14/2021

The only way for you to effect "real change" is through the legislative process. Here are five simple things you can do for your practice starting today - right at your desk.

Priority: Primary Care - 11/30/2020

The Texas Medical Association and other corners of organized medicine know primary care is part of the bedrock of a sturdy health care system. So medicine – including the Texas Primary Care Consortium (TPCC), of which TMA is a member, and the Texas Academy of Family Physicians (TAFP) – is engaging policymakers to not only help the state’s primary care system survive the pandemic, but also enable it to thrive for the long haul.

Tell HHSC: How Has COVID-19 Impacted Your Practice? - 11/09/2020

Have unexpected technology costs and staffing changes had a substantial impact on your practice during the pandemic? Have inpatient and outpatient services fluctuated? Do you use telemedicine? The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) wants to know and invites physicians to participate in its 2020 COVID-19 Impact Survey.

Road to Recovery: COVID-19 Tests, Bends, and Breaks Texas Practices - 10/27/2020

Ricardo Garza, MD, was still walking the tightrope: standing, but unable to withstand another gust of wind. COVID-19 swept away about 35% of the San Antonio solo cardiologist’s practice revenue, and that was just what he could calculate as he waited for insurers to process straggling claims. But he had returned to in-office operations without any layoffs. While some practices are surviving – and trying their best to prepare for future threats – others weren’t so lucky. On-the-ground experiences align with the Texas Medical Association’s Practice Viability Survey in showing COVID-19 was, and still is, a disruptor unlike any other – challenging or torpedoing the viability of various practice types.

'This Makes Me Feel More Alive': Catching COVID-19 Helped Physician Find New Ways to Help Patients - 10/27/2020

Catching COVID-19 helped family physician Tim Martindale, MD, find new ways to help his patients.

Growing Residents: Texas Med Schools Find Ways to Create More GME Slots - 10/21/2020

Texas’ plan to grow and keep more physicians in state is coming to fruition, but it will require constant nurturing to reach harvest. The latest crop will come out of a collaboration between one of the state’s newest medical schools, in Fort Worth, and Baylor Scott and White All Saints Medical Center. The program will create as many as 150 new residency positions in the Dallas-Fort Worth area through 2027. Collaborations between medical schools and health care institutions will add to those numbers in coming years.

UTHealth San Antonio Long School of Medicine Wins TMA’s Med Student Chapter of Year Award - 10/16/2020

The UT Health San Antonio Long School of Medicine has received the Texas Medical Association Medical Student Section (TMA-MSS) 2019-20 Chapter of the Year Award. TMA’s House of Delegates policymaking body announced the award during its virtual meeting earlier this month.

How Health Plans Are Covering COVID-19 Testing and Treatment - 10/09/2020

Many health insurers in Texas are waiving patient costs associated with COVID-19. Last week in a news release, Gov. Greg Abbott and the Texas Department of Insurance asked insurers and HMOs to cover testing consistent with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance, and telemedicine visits.

Medicare Advance Payment Loans Due; AMA Seeks Delay - 08/13/2020

Physicians who received payments in the spring from the Medicare Accelerated and Advance Payment Program are supposed to start repaying those loans as early as this month. But given that most practices are still struggling with lost revenue and cash-flow disruptions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the American Medical Association is asking the Trump administration to delay and possibly reconsider those repayments.

Texas Doctors: Protect Patients’ Access to Care From Budget Cuts - 06/04/2020

The Texas Medical Association (TMA) and several other health organizations are urging state leaders to protect patient access to care by taking essential health care services off the financial chopping block.

Bill Would Expand Student Loan Forgiveness for Texas Physicians - 05/21/2020

The Texas Medical Association and California Medical Association applauded a bipartisan group of U.S. senators for introducing a bill that addresses physician shortages and improves access to care, particularly in children’s hospitals and nonprofit hospitals.

Some Emergency Business Loans Will Be Audit-Free, Feds Say - 05/19/2020

If you received a loan of less than $2 million from the Small Business Administration (SBA) Paycheck Protection Program, it likely will not be subject to an audit or potential penalties and damages, the U.S. Treasury Department said.

TMA Supports Governor’s Science-Based Plan to Reopen Texas - 04/17/2020

Statement by Texas Medical Association (TMA) President David C. Fleeger, MD, about Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s announcement on reopening Texas.