News

Need Help With Residency Relocation Expenses? TMA Can Help - 04/06/2026

If you found out your residency destination during the recent Match Day but now find yourself scrambling to gather the funds to get there, the Texas Medical Association is here to help you finance the next leg

Advanced Care Sees AI Innovation at UT Health San Antonio - 04/06/2026

At the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, artificial intelligence (AI) is used to reduce physicians’ workloads – and soon, it will be deployed to help streamline patients’ encounters in its research hospital.

Apply to Be on the Texas Medical Disclosure Panel - 04/02/2026

The 13-member body determines which risks and hazards related to medical care must be disclosed to patients. Four physicians are being sought to serve a five- or six-year term.

TMA On Tour February 2026 - 04/02/2026

TMA had an active February, staging a conference and traveling en masse to a national advocacy gathering. The association also crisscrossed the state in various ways to reach physicians where they live and further key initiatives aligned with TMA’s mission.

Mandatory Medicare Specialty Pilot Reveals Texas Participants - 04/02/2026

Just over 1,100 Texas physicians are on the initial participant list for a 2027 program addressing heart failure and low back pain in patients. The program will use the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System’s Value Pathways performance measures, drawing TMA’s attention.

Mosquito-Borne Illnesses Warm Up with Texas Weather - 04/01/2026

Global officials note an increase in chikungunya cases in South America, inching closer to Texas. Texas’ largest concern remains West Nile virus.

Prior Auth Challenges Physician Effort to Save Patient’s Foot - 03/31/2026

After a peer-to-peer review maintained the determination to deny a San Antonio vascular surgeon’s request for prior authorization, she put the patient’s best interests first and intervened without guarantee of payment. The physician is currently appealing to recoup full payment.

Texas Match Day Totals Show Jumps in Key Specialties - 03/31/2026

One student said opening his envelope was “like opening a treasure chest.” A Match Day analysis shows Texas has continued growth in critical areas like internal medicine, neurology, and emergency medicine.

TEXPAC-Endorsed Candidates Post Strong Primary Results - 03/30/2026

TMA’s political action committee (TEXPAC) had a 92%-win rate across Texas Senate and House races, advancing medicine-friendly candidates to November’s general election. The victories, including that of one physician hopeful, reinforce ongoing efforts to prioritize physician-led care and health policy in the state.

Remote Patient Monitoring Still a Priority for Federal Officials - 03/30/2026

TMA can assist physicians who offer remote patient monitoring with documentation and billing help, such as what guidelines they must follow to receive payment from Medicare. Read more.

AI Use Among Physicians Has Doubled, AMA Survey Finds - 03/25/2026

New research from the American Medical Association found more than four in five physicians now use AI in their practices, most often to document clinical care and summarize medical research. However, nearly half of survey respondents worry patients may use AI for tasks requiring clinical judgment.

Attend TexMed 2026 for Over 30 Hours of Cutting-Edge CME - 03/24/2026

TexMed 2026’s robust CME topics will focus on leadership and professional development, artificial intelligence, and physician health and wellness, among other topics. Plus, celebrate and socialize with physician peers.

New Types of Medicare Cuts Impact Physician Payment - 03/23/2026

The 2026 Medicare physician fee schedule included a small increase, including a one-time positive payment adjustment, but also included two cuts that could offset those gains. Organized medicine is continuing a dialogue over the changes.

Highest Share of Federal Rural Funds Going to Texas Public Hospital Districts - 03/20/2026

Texas received the greatest Rural Health Transformation Program award of any state. One physician says by supporting rural hospitals in need, the program has the potential to strengthen Texas’ entire health care system.

New Syphilis Hotline to Help Clinicians Statewide Regardless of Specialty, Case Complexity - 03/19/2026

The Department of State Health Services collaborated with TMA to launch the resource, meant to facilitate help from expert consultants as the disease continues to spread. Roughly a quarter of congenital syphilis cases nationwide are diagnosed in Texas.

Appointments Now Open for TexMed 2026 Blood Drive - 03/18/2026

Attendees can roll up their sleeve and give on April 17 or April 18 in Corpus Christi. Appointments and walk-ins are both welcome. The blood drive comes as the state rolls out a statewide prehospital whole blood network.

Future of HHSC, DSHS to Be Determined by Sunset Review - 03/18/2026

Every 12 years, each state agency is subject to a sunset review process culminating with the Texas Legislature authorizing its continuation. TMA is providing initial input on two entities instrumental to the state’s health infrastructure.

HPV Vaccines Key to Texas’ Improvement in Cervical Cancer - 03/17/2026

Since the human papillomavirus vaccine was made available in 2006, cervical cancer incidence rates are down 27% nationally and 17% in Texas, according to a new study. Researchers say vaccine uptake is higher with physician recommendation.

Hep B Vaccination Rates Decline Nationally, Mirroring Texas Trends - 03/16/2026

World Health Organization data shows a double-digit drop in hepatitis B vaccination rates since 2023. More Texas school children are also showing up for class without the vaccine.

WISeR Online Prior Auth Process for Original Medicare Shows Promise - 03/16/2026

To educate physicians on the progress of Medicare’s new prior authorization pilot, TMA has been in contact with Cohere Health, the technology vendor selected by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to manage the program in Texas in partnership with Novitas.

New Medicare Pilot Promotes Technology to Treat Certain Chronic Conditions - 03/16/2026

The program targets high blood pressure, diabetes, musculoskeletal pain, and depression, and encourages the use of wearable devices, including ones patients already have. Physicians have until April 1 to apply for inclusion in July’s initial launch.

Most Primary Care Physicians Affected by Drug Shortages - 03/10/2026

Eighty-eight percent of clinicians indicated they had encountered medication supply deficits looking back over a six-month window, according to a recent American Medical Association report. Survey results revealed these shortages lead to more prior authorization requests and overtime work.

How to Get Your Medical Practice to Rank in AI Search Results - 03/10/2026

To boost your practice’s visibility in an ever-changing search landscape, start by optimizing your practice’s website for artificial intelligence in addition to traditional search engines.

New Member Benefit Makes Accessing Emerging Medical Research Easy - 03/10/2026

With a TMA membership, physicians can use DeepDyve within the Knowledge Center to quickly locate material that supports both clinical decision-making and professional development – without having to pay for individual subscriptions.

Record Physician License Applications Flood Texas - 03/10/2026

The Texas Medical Board received a record 8,270 license applications during the 2025 fiscal year, marking the third consecutive year the total topped 8,000. The state’s record surge in physician applications coincides with a continued population boom.