Stories written by Alisa Pierce

Physicians Can Become Influencers with New TMA Resource - 01/15/2026

TMA’s new academy is a self-paced program that educates physicians on how to become social media influencers by focusing on basic building blocks like branding, messaging, storytelling, and beyond.

Alternate Paths: Will Limited Licenses Help Alleviate Texas’ Workforce Shortages? - 01/14/2026

House Bill 2038, known as the "Doctor Act," allows Texas to establish "limited" and "provisional" licenses for unmatched medical graduates and international medical graduates. 

Cap at Hand: Federal Loan Changes Could Exacerbate Medical Students’ Financial Challenges - 01/14/2026

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act caps students’ borrowing for professional schools – including medical schools – at $50,000 annually, with a total limit of $257,500. The change takes effect July 1, 2026.

Why This Physician Is ‘Using as Many AI Tools as Possible’ - 01/12/2026

Ogechika Alozie, MD, uses artificial intelligence for clinical decision support, treatment recommendations, and billing, payment, and contract review, among other applications. He says physicians shouldn’t fear the technology – and should instead use it to help medicine grow.

Don’t Forget: Fingerprinting Mandatory for License Renewal - 01/07/2026

Failure to comply could delay license renewal or reinstatement, as one Texas physician learned. TMA encourages members to begin the process early, as fingerprint background check results are required before physicians can access the online registration.

Community Support: Texas Aims to Use Federal Funding to Address Rural Health Care Challenges - 01/05/2026

Texas aims to use federal funding to address rural health care challenges.

Physicians Must Disclose AI Use Alongside Existing HIPAA Requirements, Per State Laws - 12/30/2025

Texas Senate Bill 1188 and Texas House Bill 149 require physicians to follow certain disclosure requirements when using artificial intelligence (AI). As these laws take effect, Texas physicians should ensure compliance in conjunction with HIPAA mandates.

Cigna Clarifies Terms, Conditions of Its High-Level E/M Downcoding Policy - 12/30/2025

In communication with TMA, Cigna confirmed its policy will not apply to all physicians and those subject to it can request to be removed from the review process under certain circumstances. Nevertheless, the limited scope of the “exemption” could still represent a significant operational and financial challenge for some practices.

Lasting Impact: Leaders Look Back as Two TMA Sections Turn 50 - 12/24/2025

Five decades ago, medical students, residents, and fellows were given a formal voice within the Texas Medical Association via its Medical Student Section (MSS) and Resident and Fellow Section (RFS).

‘Caring for Myself and Medicine’: Julia Choi, MD, Attended TexMed to Complete Triathlon, Defend Medicine - 12/22/2025

Julia Choi, MD, attended TexMed 2025 with dual goals: to complete her third triathlon, and to defend the profession of medicine.

Clinic Uses AI for Better Patient-Physician Interactions - 12/10/2025

Their transcription tool, powered by artificial intelligence, is fully integrated within the electronic health record, leaving physicians with the ability to focus entirely on the patient in front of them.

2025 Legislative Wrap-Up: Amid Bad Insurance Bills Defeated, Gold Card Law Refinements Close Gaps - 12/08/2025

House Bill 3812 addresses some of the shortfalls and inconsistencies among payers in the intended implementation of Texas’ landmark prior authorization exemption law. The law took effect Sept. 1 but additional rulemaking by the Texas Department of Insurance is likely.    

Free Early-Career Education for Residency Programs Open for 2026 - 12/04/2025

Each “Starting Your Career” seminar is conducted live or online by TMA’s practice management experts and focuses on nonclinical skills critical to starting or entering practice.

Texas in the Running for Federal Rural Health Care Funding - 11/25/2025

The state’s “Rural Texas Strong: Supporting Health and Wellness” proposal requests $1 billion over five years for wide-ranging improvement programs reaching each of Texas’ 202 rural counties. With some of medicine’s ideas incorporated, TMA is cautiously analyzing the proposal’s potential to support rural physicians.

Medical Community Service Project Takes Root at Local Medicine Matters - 11/18/2025

What began as a small, heartfelt initiative in Tarrant County has blossomed into a statewide effort by local medical alliance members to connect with and support medical residents across Texas through care packages.

TexLa Resource Center Aids Physicians Integrating Telemedicine Technologies - 11/17/2025

The federally funded TexLa Telehealth Resource Center is based at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. Information on its resources to support both new and existing telehealth programs in the region is now on TMA’s website.

Read and Review: TMA Offers Insight into Common Physician Contracts - 11/13/2025

TMA offers tips, insight into common types of contracts physicians encounter across their careers.

Tailored Programming: Upcoming TMA Conferences Meet Physicians Where They Practice - 11/13/2025

Texas Medical Association offers two upcoming conferences that members can attend - Business of Medicine Conference in El Paso in September and Local Medicine Matters in Tyler in October.

2025 Legislative Wrap-Up: Erosions to Medical Liability Reforms Fail - 11/13/2025

Medicine’s work this session to preserve Texas’ landmark medical liability reforms started and ended like legislative sessions past with a perennial attempt to index the landmark 2003 noneconomic damages cap to inflation. But that story had a twist this session in that the vehicle to do so, House Bill 4036, was pushed by a pair of Republicans alongside its typical Democrat contingency.  

AMA AI Center Puts Physicians at the Heart of Health Care Innovation - 11/07/2025

The new resource hub has the potential to harness physicians’ growing interest in augmented intelligence. TMA’s most recent health information technology survey found Texas physicians are cautiously optimistic the technology will reduce electronic health record and administrative burden.

$3 Billion Dementia Research Investment Up for Vote in November - 11/05/2025

Alzheimer’s disease, which comprises 60-80% of dementia cases, is rising in Texas and becoming a public health crisis, per state officials. TMA supports a new research institute aiming to change that.

Physician Compensation Increasingly Tied to Productivity, Data Finds - 10/28/2025

Only 29% of physician contracts feature a straight starting salary with no production bonus, according to data from a top physician recruiting firm. While quality still plays a role in some bonuses, volume-based metrics are on the rise.

Physicians Benevolent Fund ‘Helps Fill the Gap’ with Short-Term Support - 10/24/2025

In addition to long-term assistance, the fund provides physicians with temporary aid for personal expenses such as mortgage, utilities, transportation, and health care bills.

TMA Foundation Grants Immunize Communities, Educate Patients - 10/22/2025

The TMA Foundation offers grants of up to $3,500 to fund vaccination activities, educational resources, and community outreach events. This year’s awardees will provide free immunizations and aim to reduce barriers to care.

Texas to Seek Federal Rural Health Care Funding with TMA Support - 10/13/2025

The Rural Health Transformation Fund, established under the federal budget bill, makes available a total of $50 billion to states over five years. Of that amount, $25 billion will be distributed equally among approved states, and the remaining half allocated based on grant applications and a priority weighting system.