News

TMA Critiques CMS’ Proposed Fee Schedule for Myriad Shortfalls - 10/04/2024

Noting that “private practices are breaking under the pressure of lack of adequate payment and increasing overhead,” the Texas Medical Association recommended numerous improvements to the 2025 proposed Medicare physician fee schedule. The schedule leads off with a 2.8% cut to physician payments and adds layers of complexity to its Quality Payment Program, among other administrative burdens.

Reviewers Required for Rural Revenue Recipients - 10/01/2024

If you understand rural health needs and have some time to help facilities in those areas seek state funding, the State Office of Rural Health needs your help.

DSHS Asks Texas Physicians to Increase Screening, Prevention Efforts for Congenital Syphilis - 10/01/2024

In its effort to turn the tide against rising congenital syphilis rates, the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) is asking physicians to increase screening and prevention efforts among pregnant women and their partners.

Listening Tour Connects TMA with Local Medical Communities - 09/30/2024

The practice of medicine in Texas in 2024 looks dramatically different than that of 20 or even 10 years ago, with a changing business landscape, complex administrative burdens, and serious obstacles to growing the physician workforce causing challenges to clinicians across the state.

Want to Add Remote Patient Monitoring to Your Telemedicine Services? - 09/27/2024

Physicians and patients alike are becoming more comfortable with visiting virtually and using technology to connect and share information. Remote patient monitoring is another aspect that can enhance the effectiveness of and satisfaction with telemedicine.

CMS Reopens 2023 MIPS Hardship Exception for Cyberattack - 09/26/2024

Thanks to medicine’s advocacy, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has reopened a hardship exception for the 2023 Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) performance period to account for February’s Change Healthcare cyberattack.

Legislature Examines Children’s Mental Health Ahead of 2025 Session - 09/24/2024

Texas lawmakers have made great strides in their ongoing investment in mental health services and support for children and their families, and that must continue if Texas is to improve such access to care and reduce the risk of behavioral health crises.

AMA Identifies Top Specialties That Spend Most Time in EHR - 09/24/2024

In a new study funded by the American Medical Association identifying top specialties stuck in electronic health records, authors found regardless of specialty, physicians frequently spend more than half their clinical time doing documenting, reviewing, ordering, and managing their inbox.

Senate Committee Tackles Scope of Practice in Access-to-Care Hearing - 09/23/2024

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.

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

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.”

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.

TMA Foundation: 25 Years and Improving - 09/19/2024

Twenty-five years later, well over 1 million Texans have benefited from the generosity of donors, leaders, and volunteers who have provided dozens of health improvement programs to communities across the state.

Death Certificate Problems Being Addressed, State Says - 09/19/2024

State health officials say they are continuing to address problems and long wait times associated with the rollout of the new TxEVER system for registering death and birth certificates. On Monday, DSHS officials told the Texas Medical Association that they significantly reduced wait times by shifting staff from other departments to handle customer service phone lines.