Telemedicine

Texas Medicaid, CHIP Changes Extended Through March - 02/25/2021

Some Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) flexibilities put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic, including authority to use telemedicine more broadly, have been extended through March, state health officials announced.   

Support Telemedicine Payment Parity - 02/03/2021

Payments to physicians for the care they provide their patients should be based on the “service delivered” – not the “delivery type” – when the care meets the standard required by law. Physicians must have the flexibility to decide whether to see their patients via telehealth or in person without unnecessary and disconnected pricing incentives.

Improve Access to Telemedicine Services for Texas Patients - 01/30/2021

Texas must adapt and ensure telemedicine is a viable path for patients and physicians in the near future.

Health Plans Extend Telemedicine, Cost-Share Waivers - 01/05/2021

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, health plans in Texas have adopted various temporary deadlines and extensions as part of their coronavirus policies.

Some Telemedicine Now Allowed Across State Lines to Battle COVID-19 - 12/09/2020

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has paved the way for health care professionals to administer certain telehealth services across state lines to help in the fight against COVID-19, giving out-of-state physicians some interstate telehealth treatment allowances beyond what Texas state law allows.

Delegates Support Expanding Telemedicine, Financial Relief Programs - 11/19/2020

As telemedicine expands because of the COVID-19 pandemic, physicians at the American Medical Association’s Special Meeting of the House of Delegates approved a measure on Tuesday that called for telemedicine’s use to continue beyond the national public health emergency.

Telemedicine Boot Camp: Physicians Get Trained for the Future of Remote Care - 11/12/2020

Thanks in large part to COVID-19, telemedicine has arrived. Where does it go from here? That was much of the focus of a Telehealth Virtual Bootcamp, an Aug. 29 presentation by the Telehealth Initiative that touched on technology, applications, and payment.

TMA: Fair Telemedicine Payments will Ensure Patients’ Care Continues - 09/25/2020

Statement by Texas Medical Association (TMA) President Diana L. Fite, MD, regarding Gov. Greg Abbott’s announcement today that Texas’ state-regulated health plans will continue to pay physicians and health care providers the same rate for patients’ telemedicine care as for in-person care, through the end 2020.

Tips on Maintaining Professionalism During Virtual Meetings? There’s a Webinar for That - 09/02/2020

If you’re looking for tips and information on maintaining or improving your professional presence during virtual meetings via Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or any other virtual platform, tune in to the Texas Medical Association’s latest webinar, How to Have a Virtual Professional Presence.

How to Prescribe Controlled Substances Under COVID-19 Waivers - 08/19/2020

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 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.

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.

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.