News

Ask the Expert: Requiring Employee COVID Testing - 09/20/2024

In light of a recent governor’s executive order banning COVID-19 vaccine requirements, physician practices may be wondering if instead they can require weekly COVID-19 testing from their employees. According to Austin attorney Tom Nesbitt – who answered the question from an attendee during the Texas Medical As

As Delta Variant Spreads Among Young Texans, Interest in Vaccines Increases - 09/20/2024

Texas’ third surge in COVID-19 – fueled by the fast-spreading delta variant – is making young people sick in record numbers.  That tragic uptick has many parents reassessing their attitude toward COVID-19 vaccines, says Gary Floyd, MD, a pediatric emergency department physician in Keller and president-e

Apply for COVID-19 Relief Funds Before Next Week’s Deadline - 09/20/2024

State health leaders are encouraging physicians who treat Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) patients to apply for federal COVID-19 relief funds before the Aug. 3 deadline. In a press release  dated July 24, Gov. Greg Abbott and the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC)

Apply by April 30 to Avoid a 7% MIPS Payment Penalty - 09/20/2024

The data submission period for the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) under the 2019 Quality Payment Program (QPP) ends at 7 pm (CT) Thursday, April 30 .  However, because of COVID-19 you might qualify for an exception that would result in a neutral payment adjustment, meaning neither a MIP

AMA Creates CPT Code for Coronavirus Test - 09/20/2024

The American Medical Association has created a Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code, 87635 , to report laboratory testing services that diagnose the presence of the novel coronavirus. The code, effective immediately, is defined as follows: 87635  Infectious agent detection by nucleic acid (DNA

Allow Choice Between In-Person and Virtual Learning, TMA Tells School Leaders - 09/20/2024

Although face-to-face education is superior to virtual learning, the time isn’t right for school districts to “completely dismantle” remote schooling, the Texas Medical Association is telling state education leaders. In a letter this week  to the Texas Association of School Boards and the Texas Associat

All Texans 65 and Older Prioritized for COVID-19 Vaccine - 09/20/2024

Anyone 65 and older and people with chronic health conditions such as, but not limited to, cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, obesity, and pregnancy will be among the next group to be prioritized for COVID-19 vaccines, state health officials announced today. The group, known as priority group 1B

Additional PPE Supplies in Texas Allocated, Officials Say - 09/20/2024

Update:  The limited availability of personal protective equipment (PPE) distributed to Texas’ major Regional Advisory Committees (RACs) has been allocated as of Tuesday, those RACS have told Texas Medical Association staff. However, TMA staff is working with the Texas Department of Emergency Management

Ad Campaign Promotes Importance of COVID-19 Vaccines to Blacks, Latinos in Texas - 09/20/2024

“I’ve taken a vaccine, my family knows I’ve taken a vaccine. They’ve done well, I’ve done well, and I want you to have that same comfort of it being safe as well as being effective.” That’s part of the message from a Houston family physician in the latest Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) television

Abbott: More PPE Distributed in Texas - 09/20/2024

Texas has received more personal protective equipment (PPE), including 2.5 million masks, that will be distributed throughout the state in the coming days, Gov. Greg Abbott said in a press conference Monday. “The Texas Medical Association greatly appreciates the work that Gov. Greg Abbott has done to bring mor

A Saxy Twist on a Familiar Message: Stay Home, Texas - 09/20/2024

Texas saxophonist, producer, and composer Joe Morales is staying home to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and he’s tooting his own horn about it. To help you remind your patients to scale down their time outside, Mr. Morales recorded a video with that message for the Texas Medical Association’s “ Stay Home, Texa

A Quick Guide to Each Payer’s Coronavirus Changes and Waivers - 09/20/2024

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, commercial and government payers have issued waivers and policy changes to help physicians care for as many patients as possible.  But each plan has different effective and expiration dates for telemedicine, testing, and treatment changes. And most commercial plans can o

A Quick Guide on COVID-19 Testing Options - 09/20/2024

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the ability to test people has been one of the most pressing – and confusing – aspects of treating and stopping the spread of the illness. In fact, adequate testing is one of the key components to Gov. Greg Abbott’s plan  to safely reopen Texas businesses and social act

A Quarter of Texans Could Have COVID-19 Antibodies, Survey Finds - 09/20/2024

More than a quarter of Texans could have COVID-19 antibodies, according to preliminary data from a statewide seroprevalance study by The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.  The Texas Coronavirus Antibody Response Survey, or  Texas CARES , seeks to understand the human anti

Texas Physicians Propose Mass Violence Prevention Strategies - 09/20/2024

How should Texas address the incidents of mass violence that have rocked the state in recent years? Physicians laid out medicine’s priorities before a special committee of the Texas House of Representatives late last week. The hearing  of the House Select Committee on Mass Violence Prevention and Comm

“What If I’m Running Low on PPE?” - 09/20/2024

One of the biggest challenges physicians have faced during the COVID-19 pandemic is keeping themselves, their staff, and their patients safe while still providing the best possible care.  Unfortunately, demand for personal protective equipment (PPE) is exceeding supply because of an extreme surge in pati

“Overlooked” Pediatricians Fight for Survival During Pandemic - 09/20/2024

For Angela Moemeka, MD, COVID-19 was a rude welcome to a nascent solo practice. The Coppell pediatrician opened her one-doc shop, Mark9 Pediatrics, in November. Now, nearly six months and one sweeping pandemic later, she’s in the same boat as many of her fellow pediatricians: Patient volume is down, and the

“I Literally Cried” – Practices React to TMA-Aided PPE Shipments - 09/20/2024

Since May 1, the Texas Medical Association and county medical societies have helped physician practices throughout the state receive personal protective equipment (PPE) they’ve desperately needed to safely care for patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. The TMA PPE Portal allows you to tell TMA how much PPE yo

“How Many More Are Coming?” What It’s Like Inside Hospitals as Coronavirus Grips Texas’ Rio Grande Valley - 09/20/2024

Photo by Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune Editor's Note: This story was originally published July 2 . Since then, the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations in the Trauma Service Area (TSA) that includes Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr, and Willacy counties has climbed from 693 to more than 1,500, including m

“Doctor, Will the Vaccines Give Me COVID-19?” - 09/20/2024

Are you getting frequently asked questions from patients about the COVID-19 vaccines? The Texas Medical Association has created a series of shareable social media graphics to help you answer those questions. The new “Get the Facts” graphics can help you address common concerns such as: “Will the vaccine

“Doctor, What Does ‘FDA-Approved Treatment’ Mean?” - 09/20/2024

Believe it or not, it’s been six months since reports first surfaced of coronavirus-related illnesses that we now know cause COVID-19. Seems like it’s been a lot longer than that. Well, since then, you’ve probably had to explain to your patients a lot of terms they – or possibly you – had never heard before o

“Vaccinate All Medical Staff,” Medicine Tells Hospitals - 09/20/2024

As more COVID-19 vaccines are distributed to facilities across the state, the Texas Medical Association is dedicated to working so that all Texas physicians receive doses to protect themselves and their patients.

“Texas Strong” Mask Campaign Calls on Texans to Come Together to Fight COVID-19 - 09/20/2024

As cases spike again throughout the state, the Texas Medical Association and four other members of the Texas Health Care Industry Strike Force on COVID-19 are reinforcing the call to wear masks through a new public service announcement campaign entitled “Texas Strong.”

Senate Committee Tackles Scope of Practice in Access-to-Care Hearing - 09/20/2024

In a hearing packed with representatives from medicine, nursing, pharmacy, behavioral health, licensing boards, and academia, the Senate Health and Human Services Committee tackled Texas’ health care workforce shortages with the Texas Medical Association delivering its message loud and clear: Expanding scope of practice is not the answer to helping patients in rural and underserved areas.

With FTC Rule in Limbo, Texas Legislature to Reconsider Noncompetes - 09/20/2024

Amid a pair of conflicting court rulings – one of which blocked a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) final rule banning most noncompete clauses – the Texas Senate is pondering related legislation for the upcoming session that could impact a significant number of physicians statewide.