The Physicians Benevolent Fund

The PBF Helps Care For Our Own

Since 1961, Texas Medical Association's Physicians Benevolent Fund (PBF) has helped Texas physicians and their families in need. Each month, the fund helps recipients with personal expenses such as rent or mortgage, utilities, insurance, medical bills, clothing, and food. Some recipients are elderly and not practicing medicine, some are disabled or ill, and some are widowed and raising families.

More than $3.9 million has been given in assistance payments to over 750 physicians and their families since PBF was established with a $2,500 donation from the late May Owen, MD, a Fort Worth pathologist and past president of TMA.

Direct Your Donation

Physicians dedicate their lives to helping their patients, but sometimes it’s the physician who finds themselves in need of care.

We can never predict who will be the next one of us needing help, so please consider donating today to one of three charitable funds set up to help Texas physicians experiencing personal hardship, battling health conditions of their own, or rebuilding their medical practice after a natural disaster.

Charitable donations to all Physicians Benevolent Fund (PBF) programs are tax-deductible to the full extent permitted by federal law.

The Physicians Benevolent Fund

• The Texas Medical Association’s Physicians Benevolent Fund provides financial assistance to Texas physicians and their families who have fallen on hard times because of poverty, sickness, disability, an accident, or other circumstances and cannot meet their day-to-day needs.
• Your gift provides life-saving support when physicians are facing adversity beyond their control. In times of personal crisis, this fund aims to provide relief from mounting healthcare bills, basic utilities, living expenses, and more.

PBF Wellness Fund

• The new PBF Wellness Fund provides financial assistance to licensed Texas physicians who cannot afford short-term treatment for wellness issues potentially affecting their ability to safely practice medicine. Assistance may also be available for household expenses for the family while the physician is receiving treatment.
• Your gift can help rebuild a colleague’s career during a very difficult time.

Donations

PBF remains alive today because of the generosity of TMA members willing to share financially with less fortunate colleagues and families. PBF is a 501(c)(3) organization; therefore, your charitable contribution(s) are tax-deductible to the fullest extent permitted by federal law and may be in the form of honoraria or memorials.

Contributions are accepted online with the link provided at the top of this page or mailed to:

The Physicians Benevolent Fund
ATTN: Finance Department
Texas Medical Association
401 W. 15th St.
Austin, Texas 78701-1680

If you live outside the country and wish to make a donation, please click here or call (800) 880-1300, Ext. 1602

New way to donate: Text "CARING" to 56512

Application Process

All applicants must complete a confidential questionnaire containing personal financial information to be considered.

Applications are reviewed by members of The Physicians Benevolent Fund Committee each May and September, with the committee acting on emergency cases in the interim.

If eligible, a home visit is scheduled to determine extent of need and offer alternate resources.

Eligibility criteria include:

• Applicants must be current residents of Texas.
• Physicians must be in good standing with the Texas Medical Board.
• Liquid asset limits - Liquid assets are those readily convertible into cash, including savings, bonds, stocks or shares, certificates of deposit, and individual retirement accounts. PBF uses the current year's Health and Human Services thresholds as a tool to determine liquid asset limits. Therefore, applicants cannot hold in liquid assets more than the 150% of Health and Human Services thresholds. For example, in 2020 a household of two cannot hold more than $25,860 in liquid assets. Check the HHS Threshold requirements HERE.