Telemedicine

TTUHSC, Texas A&M Receive Awards to Strengthen Rural Telehealth - 08/23/2021

Two Texas universities were among 36 award recipients nationwide that collectively received more than $19 million from the Biden-Harris administration to strengthen telehealth services in rural and underserved areas.

Update: TMB Extends Emergency Telemedicine Pain Script Waiver - 08/02/2021

The Texas Medical Board (TMB) extended until June 30 its emergency waiver permitting refills of certain controlled substance prescriptions to treat patients with chronic pain who recently saw their doctor in person or via telemedicine.

The Telehealth Initiative - 07/23/2021

The Telehealth Initiative – a program launched in January 2020 by The Physicians Foundation, American Medical Association, Texas Medical Association, Florida Medical Association, and Massachusetts Medical Society – didn’t anticipate the pandemic. But it did anticipate telemedicine’s potential wealth of applications for care. And when the pandemic hit – two months into the initiative’s yearlong quest to educate physicians and practices on telehealth and promote its use – telemedicine became more of an on-the-job training proposition than any participant had imagined.

Physician-Led Results: Steps Forward in Telemedicine - 07/08/2021

Coming into the 2021 session, the Texas Medical Association had hope that telemedicine’s success in allowing for remote care during the COVID-19 pandemic would prompt lawmakers to permanently relax many state policies restricting its use.

Let Your Patients Know You Use Telemedicine - 06/14/2021

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.

Immerse Yourself in Telehealth With New AMA Program - 05/11/2021

Building on the recent work of its Telehealth Initiative collaboration with the Texas Medical Association and others, the American Medical Association is offering physicians more guidance on how to create a telehealth foundation in their practice.

COVID-19: Telemedicine - 05/04/2021

View COVID-19 resources related to Telemedicine.

Policies, Procedures and Forms for Telemedicine Services - 05/04/2021

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

RUC-Solid Leadership: Zeke Silva, MD, Chairs Key AMA Medicare Payment Committee - 05/01/2021

San Antonio radiologist Zeke Silva, MD, looks to move Medicare payments into the future as chair of key AMA committee.

Learn the Risks, Rewards, Rules, Regulations of Using Telemedicine in Texas - 04/27/2021

To help you understand the state and federal rules and regulations regarding telemedicine, the Texas Medical Liability Trust (TMLT) has scheduled a virtual webinar for 6 to 8 pm (CT) Wednesday, April 28.

Still Considering Telemedicine Use? Free Educational Resources Now Available - 04/21/2021

If your practice is considering telemedicine, the Telehealth Initiative is offering free online access to multiple educational resources and tools that were part of a 12-month trial program designed to encourage increased use.

Accelerating RPM: COVID-19 Speeds Adoption of Remote Patient Monitoring - 04/14/2021

Before March 2020, remote patient monitoring (RPM) was a tool endocrinologist Thomas Blevins, MD, used to help patients with diabetes track and regulate blood sugar levels and report the results back to him. But when the COVID-19 pandemic forced many doctors to turn to telemedicine, Dr. Blevins and the nine other physicians on staff at Austin Diabetes and Endocrinology had to rev up their RPM use.

Medicaid Medical Directors: Telemedicine Critical, But Must Be Clinically Appropriate - 03/31/2021

A new white paper examines the “digital divide” between telehealth and certain groups that have trouble accessing it, such as Medicaid patients and rural populations.

Texas Medicaid, CHIP Changes Extended Through April - 03/26/2021

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 April, state health officials announced.   

Connecting Texas: TMA Backs Expanded Broadband Bill - 03/17/2021

TMA testified today in support of a bill to expand broadband access in Texas – thereby expanding the state’s telemedicine capabilities. Telemedicine has become “a very important tool in the physician toolbox to take care of patients,” as well as an important tool to extend care to underserved areas of the state, TMA said.

Help TMA Fight For Telemedicine Payment Parity - 03/08/2021

The Texas Medical Association has made telemedicine payment parity one of its top legislative priorities for the 2021 legislative session. Share your practice's experience using telemedicine via a brief survey.

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.