News

Aetna Scraps Required Prior Auth for Cataract Surgery - 05/15/2024

Organized medicine’s efforts across the nation to torpedo or curb prior authorization recently got a small but encouraging boost when Aetna rescinded its year-old preauthorization requirement for cataract surgeries.

Delegates Emphasize Women’s, Reproductive Health Ahead of Legislative Session - 05/15/2024

Continuing its mission to improve the health of mothers and babies in Texas, along with addressing ongoing sexual health and opioid crises, TMA passed and strengthened policy to shape the association’s advocacy come legislative session.

New Medicare Advantage Rules Aim to Improve Access, Equity - 05/15/2024

 Medicare Advantage enrollees soon may benefit from expanded access to outpatient behavioral health care and more equitable prior authorization policies.  

New TMA Policies Aim to Strengthen Physician Workforce Pipeline - 05/14/2024

Among others, top new policies direct TMA to study ways to assist unmatched medical graduates and to advocate for increased per-resident funding to offset medical schools’ teaching costs – a rate that has not budged since 2008. Read more.

TMB Proposed Rules on Abortion Ban Exceptions Invite TMA Opposition - 05/14/2024

The Texas Medical Board (TMB) recently released proposed rules intended to clarify exceptions to the state’s overlapping abortion laws. But TMA argues the proposal could exacerbate physician confusion, administrative burden on practices, and patient care delays. Read more.

Jenny Shepherd Says “I Do” to TMAA Presidency - 05/13/2024

The longtime medical advocate became the 107th Texas Medical Association Alliance (TMAA) president at TexMed May 4.

TMA House Prioritizes Noncompetes, Physician Payment Reform - 05/13/2024

The TMA House of Delegates adopted several policies intended to alleviate economic pressure on physician practices. Those include directing the association to advocate for more statutory limitations on noncompete agreements in employment contracts and protections from health plans’ problematic payment policies. Read more.

Congressional Committees Grill United CEO Over Cyberattack - 05/13/2024

Federal lawmakers on both sides of the aisle rebuked UnitedHealth Group CEO Andrew Witty for the company’s handling of the recent cyberattack on its subsidiary, Change Healthcare, during back-to-back hearings. TMA has been in touch with members of Congress regarding the attack’s impact on physicians, among other advocacy efforts. Read more.

“Your Voice Has Power:” Dr. Glaucomflecken Lauds Texas Physician Advocacy - 05/09/2024

The experience of a cardiac arrest and surviving testicular cancer – twice – might seem even less funny than incisive critique of the U.S. health care system. But in the hands of Will Flanary, MD, an ophthalmologist in Oregon City, Ore., who moonlights as Dr. Glaucomflecken on social media, these topics occasion cathartic laughter.

TMA House Elects New Leadership - 05/09/2024

In addition to installing G. Ray Callas, MD, as president, Texas Medical Association delegates elected several top leaders at TexMed 2024, making history in the process.

Dues Increase, Independent Practice Committee Approved by TMA House - 05/09/2024

With an eye toward strengthening the Texas Medical Association and the Texas physician practices it represents, the House of Delegates approved a handful of new policies that include a phased-in dues increase and a standing committee on independent practice.

Mental Health Care to Expand With State Hospital Renovations Under Way - 05/09/2024

Renovations to Texas state mental health hospitals are under way across the state with the help of investments from state legislators and support from the Texas Medical Association to expand access to behavioral health care.

ChatGPT Adviser Harvey Castro, MD, Shares AI Insights at TexMed - 05/09/2024

As a Dallas emergency physician, Harvey Castro, MD, began experimenting with ChatGPT – an artificial intelligence chatbot trained on data from the internet to generate human-like responses to text prompts – in November 2022 after asking himself what he’d “want from AI in a hospital setting.”

Physician-Legislator Burgess Wins TMA’s Highest Honor - 05/08/2024

In recognition of his nearly 50-year career spanning obstetrics-gynecology practice in Lake Dallas and 11 terms in Congress, the Texas Medical Association awarded U.S. Rep. Michael Burgess, MD (R-Lewisville), the 2024 Distinguished Service Award at its annual conference, TexMed, in Dallas on May 3.

Physicians Advocate, Educate, Innovate at TexMed 2024 - 05/08/2024

From cutting-edge CME and robust discussion to the installation of new association leadership and policymaking, this year’s annual meeting in Dallas was filled with excitement as more than 1,200 physicians, residents, and medical students successfully fulfilled the three missions of TexMed 2024: advocate, educate, and innovate.

Walk with a Doc Takes Steps to Improve Texans’ Health - 05/08/2024

Texas Medical Association physicians interested in helping their patients get active can join TMA's Walk with a Doc (WWAD) program, now in its 12th year in Texas. TMA covers the cost of start-up fees for members, a $2,100 value.

Texas Senate Interim Charges Underscore TMA Legislative Priorities - 04/29/2024

Scope-of-practice creep and access to mental health care are among the 57 charges Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick recently issued for Senate committees to study ahead of the 2025 legislative session. The Texas Medical Association’s advocacy for medicine-friendly policy also continues apace during the interim, with the association closely monitoring several of these charges.

Cigna to Deny Claims Without Z-Code Documentation - 04/24/2024

Starting July 14, Cigna Healthcare will deny certain claims that are billed with a Z code and without documentation, a move that could add to physicians’ administrative burden.

Dawn Duster Examines “Rubik’s Cube” of New DNR Law - 04/23/2024

The in-hospital DNR law, codified as Senate Bill 11 in the 2017 Texas Legislature, went into effect on April 1, 2018. Ms. Atwood and Jason Morrow, MD, medical director of inpatient palliative medicine at University Health System in San Antonio, examined the legal requirements of the complicated law and associated ethical considerations.

TexMed 2024 Brings Exciting Speakers to All Attendees - 04/23/2024

Thanks to a new scheduling approach, attendees at TexMed 2024 will experience a more cohesive conference, bringing together members from all different stages in the path of organized medicine.

Senate Committee Weighs Medicare Physician Payment Reform - 04/22/2024

Following a months-long, full-court press by the Texas Medical Association and others in organized medicine, Congress recently considered bolstering Medicare physician payment to ensure vulnerable patients’ access to care for chronic conditions during a Senate Finance Committee hearing on April 11.

RSVP For TMA Sections Business and Networking at TexMed - 04/22/2024

Prepare for TexMed 2024, the Texas Medical Association’s largest annual meeting, by RSVPing for section activities by April 26 and reviewing resolutions for sections to discuss.

Feds Extend Marketplace Special Enrollment Amid Medicaid Unwinding - 04/19/2024

Texas patients who have been disenrolled from Medicaid in the wake of the COVID-19 public health emergency now have more time to find alternative coverage on the federal marketplace. The extension could mitigate a coverage cliff about which the Texas Medical Association has long raised concerns.

Practice Viability Consequences of Cyberattack Weighed by House Subcommittee - 04/19/2024

The Feb. 21 cyberattack on Change Healthcare – and its consequences for physician practice viability, industry consolidation, and patient access to care – were the subject of the first of several anticipated congressional hearings on the topic. UnitedHealth Group – notably absent from the hearing – faces mounting pressure to account for the attack.

Fingerprinting Services to Be Offered at TexMed - 04/18/2024

Because many Texas physicians now are required to provide fingerprints to renew their medical licenses, the Texas Medical Association has contracted with Idemia to make these services available onsite at TexMed 2024 for registered conference attendees.