News

Books and Brunch: Dallas Physicians Promote Literacy, Healthy Habits - 04/01/2025

Physicians in Dallas County, including a mother-daughter medical duo, treated patients to breakfast, games, and free books at their Texas BookShare event. Thanks to generous support from the TMA Foundation, TMA members can host a Texas BookShare event for free or as little as $500.

Walk with a Doc Turns 20, Creates Lasting Community Changes - 04/01/2025

Walk with a Doc is celebrating its 20th anniversary by challenging physicians and their patients to walk for at least 20 minutes every day in April – and two Dallas physicians are celebrating a one-year anniversary of their own.

Insurance Concerns Dominate TMA Testimony - 03/31/2025

One bill would exempt certain plans from important patient protections, while another could undo reforms to insurer ranking and tiering practices.

CMS Issues New MIPS Hardship, Extension Tied to IV Fluid Shortage - 03/28/2025

The 15-day window opens today, March 31, and comes in response to medicine’s advocacy. TMA encourages affected physicians to document those shortages and the impact on their practices.

UPDATE: Submit 2024 MIPS Data by April 14 to Avoid 9% Pay Cut - 03/28/2025

The data submission period for Medicare’s 2024 Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) performance year is underway and closes on April 14 at 7 pm CT. At stake is a pay cut of up to 9% in the 2026 payment year.

‘An Honor and a Tremendous Relief’: Scholarship Furthers Medical Careers - 03/26/2025

Sixteen Houston area medical students received awards from the Harris County Medical Society Alliance Scholarship Fund to buffer the costs of medical school. The scholarships help defray debt and soften the edges of expenses that pile up in the second half of medical school.

YouTube’s ‘Doctor Mike’ Talks Online Success, Patient Trust Ahead of TexMed 2025 - 03/25/2025

YouTube sensation, philanthropist, and family physician Mikhail “Doctor Mike” Varshavski, DO, spoke about the origins of his internet career, fighting rampant online disinformation, and building patient trust in an exclusive Q&A with TMA ahead of his TexMed 2025 presentation.

Combating Measles Resource Center - 03/25/2025

Get caught up on measles-related news from state and federal agencies, as well as TMA's actions and resources, with this webpage. Find information from DSHS, patient-facing materials, and links to clinical insights.

Congress Extends Medicare Telehealth Flexibilities for Another Six Months - 03/24/2025

Several pandemic-era Medicare telehealth and payment flexibilities will now last through Sept. 30 following recent action by Congress, including those that waive geographic site restrictions for mental health telemedicine services provided without an in-person visit.

TMA Monitoring Approximately 2,800 Bills, Testifies for Patient Protections - 03/24/2025

Bolstered by testimony from dedicated physicians across the state, the Texas Medical Association took to both houses of the Texas Legislature to protect patient safety, as well as promote fair data use and healthier social media practices for youth.

Feds Scrap TMA-Opposed SUNSET Regulation-Review Rule - 03/21/2025

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has turned out the lights on a “sunset” rule requiring extensive federal review of thousands of regulations, which the Texas Medical Association and others in organized medicine believed would needlessly divert HHS’ attention from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Earn CME and Hear Practical Measles Guidance as Outbreak Expands - 03/21/2025

As the West Texas outbreak shows little sign of slowing, TMA and DSHS present an update and strategies for combating measles in a CME-qualifying webinar.

First Tuesdays at the Capitol Lets Legislators Hear What Matters Most to Medicine - 03/19/2025

Since 2003, TMA member physicians, medical students, and TMA Alliance members have told their stories to legislators via First Tuesdays at the Capitol. Advocates for medicine have two more opportunities this session to share their views.

Panel Makes Big Change in Draft Federal Surprise Billing Law - 03/18/2025

Thanks to incessant lobbying from physicians, hospitals, organized medicine, and the Physicians Advocacy Institute, a key congressional committee today made significant revisions in a bill to reduce the strain of surprise billing on patients. “This certainly sounds like an improvement,” said Texas Medical Association President David Fleeger, MD, “but the devil will be in the details.”

Proposed Cybersecurity Rule Changes Create Undue Burden, TMA Warns Feds - 03/18/2025

The proposal recommends sweeping, significant revisions to established standards for patient health information, but may overstep its reach and create financial pressure physicians can’t afford.

TMA Delivered For You In 2019 - 03/17/2025

From legislative wins in Austin to protecting patients and ensuring that physicians are fairly compensated for their care, the Texas Medical Association looked out for your best interests every day of the year in 2019. Here are TMA’s top 10 accomplishments during 2019.

New AI CME to Go Lets Physicians Listen and Learn - 03/17/2025

Whether practicing in a hospital, rural clinic, or independent practice, physicians see firsthand the integration of augmented intelligence (AI) in health care. Gain the insights and practical tools you need to adopt AI responsibly and enhance your medical practice.

New TMA Scholarship Inspires Inaugural North Texas Recipient to Think Globally - 03/12/2025

The North Texas Specialty Physicians Scholarship awards $40,000, disbursed over four years, to chosen medical students who previously or currently reside in Johnson, Parker, and Tarrant counties. Yousuf Din, the 2024 recipient and first to receive the scholarship, seeks to serve his community with the breathing room the award creates.

TMA Grants Build Community Connections for Underserved Patients - 03/11/2025

Physicians have until Feb. 7 to apply for the first of three rounds of $3,500 Vaccines Defend What Matters local impact grants funded by the TMA Foundation. Grantees can use the funds to vaccinate underserved and uninsured populations and toward outreach initiatives that address vaccine hesitancy.  

Students, Residents, Fellows: Apply for Leadership Positions - 03/11/2025

Applications are due Saturday, April 15, for several leadership positions within the Medical Student Section (TMA-MSS) or Resident and Fellow Section (TMA-RFS).

Prior Authorization Fuels Physician Burnout, Decreases Access to Care, AMA Survey Finds - 03/10/2025

Prior authorization continues to intensify physician burnout, increase health care costs, and limit patients’ access to care, per AMA. Meanwhile, TMA advocates against health plans’ use of artificial intelligence in the prior auth process and aims to reduce its burden on physicians.

Confidential Physician Counseling Now Free Thanks to TMAIT - 03/10/2025

Anticipate Joy provides a deep well of support for physicians and their families for free, courtesy of a grant from TMA Insurance Trust (TMAIT). TMA encourages members to avail themselves of the counseling services, which ensure privacy and impose no limit on individual sessions with therapists.

TMA Signs Letter Calling for Congress to Protect Medicaid Funding - 03/06/2025

As the U.S. House of Representatives considers $880 billion in cuts from the committee overseeing Medicaid, TMA and all 50 state medical societies detailed the impacts such a cut would make to patient care and practice viability.  

Texas Influences a Dozen AMA Policies - 03/06/2025

Texas made its presence known in Chicago when the Texas Delegation to the American Medical Association arrived to advocate for stronger action to fix physicians’ Medicare payments once and for all, health plan accountability, and vigilance on scope creep in emergency departments.

‘This Day Is Huge’: Medicine Doubles Down on Health Care Access Advocacy on First Tuesday - 03/06/2025

TMA’s signature advocacy event, founded by the TMA Alliance, continues to connect physicians, medical students, and the alliance with lawmakers to shepherd the association’s legislative priorities to fruition.