News

How to Renew Your Electronic Prescribing Hardship Waiver - 03/24/2023

Physicians and other prescribers in Texas must now electronically prescribe controlled substances (EPCS). However, prescribers who demonstrate financial or technical hardships, or other exceptional circumstances, are eligible for a waiver from the Texas Medical Board (TMB) that, if approved, grants a one-year delay. If the hardship persists, prescribers must renew that waiver annually.

TMA Testifies on a Flurry of Public Health, Insurance Bills - 03/24/2023

As of the March 10 bill filing deadline, state lawmakers had introduced more than 9,000 pieces of legislation, establishing a new record and teeing up the Texas Medical Association’s busiest session yet.

TMA-Backed Bills Would Increase Access to Women’s Reproductive, Early Childhood Health Care - 03/24/2023

Twelve month postpartum coverage and a boost to certain Medicaid payments top a list of measures Texas lawmakers are moving on that would bolster women’s health care services, in line with the Texas Medical Association’s priorities for

Update: TMA Pushes for Compliance With Second Surprise-Billing Win Amid Backlog of Payment Disputes - 03/24/2023

Amid much wrangling with federal regulators, the Texas Medical Association is taking steps to hold them accountable for complying with TMA’s second legal victory nullifying certain rules governing out-of-network payment disputes under the No Surprises Act.

DEA Permanently Lists Opioid Brorphine as a Schedule I Controlled Substance - 03/24/2023

The Drug Enforcement Administration recently listed the synthetic opioid brorphine as a Schedule I controlled substance, putting in in the same league as other potentially dangerous drugs that have no accepted medical use, like heroin and LSD.

TexMed Changes Give Physicians More Opportunities to Learn and Connect - 03/22/2023

Physicians attending this year’s TexMed conference will have more time to pursue education and networking opportunities, thanks to a new approach implemented by the Texas Medical Association Board of Trustees and staff.

Lege Poised to Boost GME Funding; TMA Urges Rural Workforce Investment - 03/22/2023

With a record-high budget at its disposal, the Texas Legislature seems poised to increase funding for graduate medical education in the 2024-25 biennium, fulfilling one of the Texas Medical Association’s legislative priorities. But physicians say more must be done to address the state’s physician workforce shortage, especially in primary care and in rural and underserved areas.

TMA Scholarship Cultivates a Diverse Workforce; Apply by March 27 - 03/21/2023

Are you sharing in the excitement of someone who's just been accepted to medical school?

Help Patients Find Outpatient Remdesivir with HHS Locator - 03/21/2023

Physicians who provide Veklury (remdesivir) for outpatient use can improve patient access to the COVID-19 therapeutic by volunteering their contact information to a Department of Health and Human Services directory.

TDI Eases Prior Authorization Request Process for Prescription Renewals - 03/20/2023

After a three-year effort, the Texas Medical Association recently secured a form change that allows physicians to bypass the most onerous part of prior authorization requests when renewing an existing prescription.

TMA’s “Battle This Session” Begins: Fighting Scope Creep - 03/16/2023

As expected, several scope-of-practice expansion attempts have crept their way into the more than 800 bills the Texas Medical Association is already tracking so far this legislative session, underscoring why fighting scope creep is medicine’s top priority.

Free Live Webinar: Medicaid Unwinding 101 – How to Prepare Your Practice and Your Patients - 03/16/2023

After more than three years and 11 extensions, the COVID-19 public health emergency will expire May 11. More pressingly, Texas will begin “unwinding” Medicaid continuous eligibility for the more than 2.5 million residents who benefited from such coverage thanks to federal COVID-19 relief funding.

Financial Stress During Residency? TMA Low-Interest Loans Can Help - 03/15/2023

“Professional and fast.” That’s how one Texas resident physician described the application process for a low-interest loan from the Texas Medical Association, which bridged the gap before he received his first paycheck during residency.

Labs – Including Those Run by Physicians – Face New Reporting Requirement in 2023 - 03/14/2023

Starting Jan. 1, medical laboratories – including physician-owned labs – face a reporting requirement from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services that will create a paperwork burden and could negatively affect payment rates.

Hospital Ownership the Focus of New Medicare Report - 03/14/2023

In an effort to analyze the impact of consolidation within the health care system, Medicare for the first time has released data on mergers and acquisitions for enrolled hospitals and nursing homes between 2016 and 2022. The action follows up on the Biden Administration's Executive Order on Promoting Competition.

Need Financial Assistance? TMA May Have a Fund for That - 03/14/2023

The Texas Medical Association oversees an array of funds designed to help physicians with financial needs at every step of their careers, from medical school to retirement. Yet many physicians don’t know about these funds or don’t fully understand how they can help.

New GME Program Creates Rural Training Opportunity - 03/13/2023

Medical students looking to land a rural training program for their residency this year have a new last-minute candidate to consider from Sam Houston State University College of Osteopathic Medicine (SHSU-COM).

TMA Decries Scope Bills That Would Allow Nurses to Practice Independently - 03/10/2023

Just three days before the bill-filing deadline, state lawmakers filed a pair of bills that would allow advanced practice registered nurses to practice independently.

House Recognizes TMA Alliance on First Tuesdays’ 20th Anniversary - 03/10/2023

Clad in commemorative scarves honoring the 20th anniversary of First Tuesdays at the Capitol, Texas Medical Association Alliance (TMAA) members stood tall among a sea of white coats as State Rep. Julie Johnson (D-Carrollton) recognized their dedication to medicine on the floor of the Texas House of Representatives on March 7.

TMA Backs Network Adequacy Bill and Other Insurance Reforms - 03/10/2023

With just a week until the bill-filing deadline, the Texas Medical Association is backing state legislation that furthers patients’ access to care by requiring adequate networks and bolstering prior authorization reforms, among other protections.

TMA Analyzes FTC Proposed Ban on Noncompetes - 03/09/2023

The interplay between federal and state efforts to ban noncompete agreements remains unclear as Texas Medical Association experts analyze a proposed Federal Trade Commission (FTC) rule on the matter.

DEA Proposed Rules Address Telehealth Prescribing Post PHE - 03/08/2023

Physicians found new flexibility in prescribing controlled substances via telemedicine during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now that the public health emergency is ending, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has proposed new rules for prescribers it says could preserve some of those flexibilities “with appropriate safeguards.”

QHINs Mark a Step Toward Interoperability - 03/07/2023

Physicians likely don’t need another acronym in their vocabulary, but “QHINs” bring some good news that translates to greater access to patient information.

Register for TexMed 2023: Navigating the Future of Medicine - 03/07/2023

Wondering what the future of medicine holds?Find out at TexMed, TMA’s largest annual conference, to be held this year May 19-20 at the Omni Fort Worth and Fort Worth Convention Center. TexMed is free for TMA members and includes access to more than 40 hours of CME, exciting networking opportunities, and valuable chances to connect with your peers in-person.

Get Started on This Year’s Hard Hats for Little Heads Events - 03/06/2023

It may be winter outside, but now’s the time to spring into planning warm-weather local events that promote Hard Hats for Little Heads – the Texas Medical Association’s longest running outreach program encouraging helmet use for all wheeled activities, including biking, skateboarding, and riding scooters.