Telemedicine

Texas Medicaid, CHIP Changes Extended Into October - 07/30/2020

As requested by the Texas Medical Association, the Health and Human Services Commission has extended some Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) flexibilities through Oct. 23.

Telemedicine Payments Promised, Regulations Eased - 07/30/2020

To help Texas physicians safely and effectively treat patients during the COVID-19 pandemic, several changes to telemedicine visits have taken effect, including payment for services and which platforms can be used.

Cut E-Prescribing Hassles for Physicians, TMA Tells Feds - 07/13/2020

The Texas Medical Association in June submitted comments urging DEA to consider physician workflow and widely available technologies when exploring any changes to the program.

Stay Visible to Connect with Patients Throughout the Pandemic - 07/10/2020

As the pandemic continues, remaining visible to your patients is essential to managing their health, building trust, and maintaining the viability of your practice. Providing accurate practice information, implementing and posting visit procedures and safety measures, and communicating regularly with your patients are all steps you can take to foster your patient-physician relationships now and for years to come. Here are a few more tips for connecting (or reconnecting) with patients with help from TMA.

Telemedicine During the COVID-19 Crisis and Beyond - 07/09/2020

On March 18, as the COVID 19 crisis accelerated, we converted overnight to “seeing” our patients by video. Our journey into telemedicine was abrupt, and there was a steep learning curve.

The Tele-Future is Now: Will Telemedicine's Footprint Be Permanent Post-COVID-19? - 07/09/2020

COVID-19 threw Texas physicians headlong into telemedicine. Will its increased footprint be permanent? Physicians tell Texas Medicine that depends how telemedicine will be regulated and paid for.

How to Prescribe Controlled Substances Under COVID-19 Waivers - 07/02/2020

If you treat patients with chronic pain, you can temporarily prescribe certain controlled substances during a telemedicine visit under state and federal waivers issued in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Telemedicine: What We Learned During the COVID-19 Crisis and Beyond - 05/29/2020

On March 18, as the COVID- 19 crisis accelerated, we converted overnight to “seeing” our patients by video. Our journey into telemedicine was abrupt, and there was a steep learning curve. Our practitioners have a number of interesting, and sometimes humorous, stories to tell.

Help Your Patients Help You with Telemedicine - 05/22/2020

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.

TMA Asks for Liability Protections, Help for Primary Care, Telemedicine Payment Parity - 05/20/2020

The Texas Medical Association repeated its call for Gov. Greg Abbott to order limited liability protections for physicians and providers responding to the COVID-19 crisis, and looked to Congress for more financial assistance for struggling medical practices.

Are You Ready for Telemedicine Prime Time? - 04/22/2020

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.

Policies, Procedures and Forms for Telemedicine Services - 04/06/2020

Use these policies, procedures and forms for telemedicine services in your practice.

TMA Podcast Offers Practical Telemedicine Pointers - 04/01/2020

To guide physicians who are struggling to get started, Texas Medical Association COVID-19 Task Force member Ogechika Alozie, MD, and TMA staff expert Shannon Vogel recorded a TMA Practice Well podcast about adopting telemedicine.

Telemedicine: What You Need To Know for COVID-19 and Beyond - 03/23/2020

Texas telemedicine laws and regulations have changed considerably over the past several years, and access has been greatly expanded because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Texas Medical Association has created a step-by-step guide to help you set up and use telemedicine effectively.

Texas Laws and Regulations Relating to Telemedicine - 03/19/2020

The 85th Texas Legislature (2017) passed Senate Bill 1107, a bill that marks a significant shift in how physicians may provide telemedicine in Texas. This document describes the new Texas legal and regulatory requirements that apply to a physician providing telemedicine medical services.

White Paper Has the 411 on Telemedicine - 03/19/2020

TMA's new white paper on telemedicine in Texas outlines the legal guidelines for providing care via telemedicine and additional requirements physicians should consider.

New TMA Telemedicine Resources - 03/16/2020

As COVID-19 cases rise across the state, physicians have been asking the Texas Medical Association about getting started with telemedicine. That’s why TMA staff has added new tools and information to the TMA telemedicine resource center.

TMA Helping You Use Telemedicine More Effectively - 02/10/2020

Whether you use telemedicine every day in your practice or you’re just starting to consider how it might benefit your patients, you probably have plenty of questions and concerns about using it effectively and within compliance. That’s why the Texas Medical Association formed a task force that will help TMA serve physicians who want to integrate telemedicine into their practice.

Your Telemedicine, TMA Questions Answered - 01/22/2020

If you're interested in telemedicine, or you want to know all the ways the Texas Medical Association can help you, tune into to a 30-minute virtual meeting scheduled for noon to 12:30 pm Thursday, Feb. 20.

Telemedicine: Valuable, But Not a Panacea - 09/18/2019

Telemedicine can provide patients with considerable convenience and satisfaction, but challenges still exist with insurance payments and bottom-line value for individual physicians. That’s what physicians who have successfully integrated telemedicine into their practices told fellow doctors during Saturday’s Dawn Duster presentation at the 2019 Texas Medical Association Fall Conference.

Making Telemedicine Work - 08/02/2019

Recent trends and new TMA-backed laws are about to reshape physicians’ practices when it comes to implementing telemedicine.

Legislative Hotline: Telemedicine Bill Up for Vote Today - 04/24/2019

Expanding access and payment for telemedicine services is a Texas Medical Association priority this session, and a bill that would improve physicians’ ability to serve their own patients electronically is making steady progress.

Section 8: Boost Access to Care - 03/07/2019

 In a rural Texas town where one-third of the patients admitted to the local hospital have no insurance, Athens family physician Douglas Curran, MD, does all he can to keep women like Rose (not her real name) out of the hospital.  

Telemedicine Can Help Expand Access to Health Care - 02/11/2019

If we are to save critical access hospitals in Texas for those who desperately need them, we must do better at supporting those who keep people out of the hospital with telemedicine policies that do not handcuff contracted physicians. To be clear, I would be delighted if the payers would pay a covered service delivered via telemedicine with parity, but I would be satisfied if payers simply allowed physicians to explore telemedicine options without risking their contract and negatively impacting their entire panel of patients.

TMA Pushes to Increase Telemedicine Use in Medicaid - 02/08/2019

It’s time for Texas to hit the accelerator on fostering more telemedicine use in Medicaid, the Texas Medical Association and several other organizations are telling the Texas Health and Human Services Commission.