News

Governor Vetoes Bill Gutting Medical Board - 06/30/2025

The full force of TMA advocacy came to bear in the veto of Senate Bill 268, which would have eviscerated an important Texas Medical Board function: halting the unlicensed practice of medicine by health professionals licensed by another Texas agency.

AI, Physician Finances to Headline Business of Medicine Conference - 06/26/2025

TMA members can attend free when they register before Friday, Sept. 12. Plus, attend TMA’s Border Health Conference the same weekend for insight into pressing health care issues on the Texas-Mexico border.

VA Seeking Refunds from Physicians for Past CHAMPVA Claims - 06/26/2025

Physicians may soon hear from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) seeking refunds for payments it says were made in error. TMA has provided information on what steps physicians may take.

Local Alliances Contribute More Than $250,000 in Annual Support to Future Physicians and Nurses - 06/25/2025

A scholarship once funded by a book fair in Tyler and another for Dallas County nursing students are among the longest-running local alliance programs supporting health care in Texas since the 1950s. The TMA Foundation is helping to add even more impact.

Vaccines Still Offer Best Protection Against Respiratory Viruses, Medicine Affirms in Open Letter - 06/25/2025

Alongside the American Medical Association and state medical societies nationwide, TMA added its signatory to a reaffirmation of the value of vaccines to protect against flu, RSV, and other respiratory illnesses ahead of an expected difficult season.

TMA President Responds to Lack of Medicare Payment Fix in Senate Budget Reconciliation Proposal - 06/25/2025

Statement attributed to Texas Medical Association President Jayesh “Jay” Shah, MD, regarding the failure of the U.S. Senate budget reconciliation proposal to adequately address physician Medicare payments.

Texas Delegation Joins Push to Protect Medicine at AMA Annual Conference - 06/25/2025

Medicare payment reform, federal Medicaid sustainability, and vaccination education and safety highlighted the robust debates Texas physicians engaged on during a strong showing at the American Medical Association annual conference alongside hundreds of their peers.

TMA Grants Build Community Connections for Underserved Patients - 06/24/2025

Applications are open through Aug. 22 for Vaccines Defend What Matters local impact grants. The $3,500 grants, funded by the TMA Foundation, can be used to vaccinate underserved and uninsured populations and toward outreach initiatives that address vaccine hesitancy. Read more.

LSC Bestows Scholarships to Five Future Physicians Dedicated to the Medically Underserved - 06/23/2025

The Lone Star Caucus, comprised of smaller, nonmetro county medical societies, awards scholarships annually. Meet this year’s winners, recognized for their outstanding achievements and leadership skills. Read more.

CMS Announces Latest Scores for Quality Payment Program - 06/23/2025

The Medicare Quality Payment Program will award a slightly higher percentage of positive payment adjustments in 2025 compared to 2024. However, the maximum will be considerably lower than last year’s.

Study: Maternal Mental Health Shows Significant Declines - 06/23/2025

Self-reported declines in maternal mental health could portend adverse outcomes for children. State and national resources help physicians connect parents to help.

TMA Vigilant of New Medicare Advantage Audits - 06/17/2025

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has begun what the agency itself calls an “aggressive” new strategy to audit all Medicare Advantage plans annually to review whether insurers and their networks are inflating patients’ illnesses, leading to overpayments – and the additional compliance burdens and possible repayments could fall on physicians.  

MAD Drive Bolsters Hard Hats for Little Heads - 06/17/2025

A well-fitted helmet can save a child’s life, and thanks to passionate donors at the 2025 Texas Medical Association Foundation Gala, more than $50,000 will provide such gear to kids through Hard Hats for Little Heads, a signature outreach program.

TMA Invests in Medicine’s Future with 2025 Excellence in Science Teaching Awards - 06/17/2025

Curiosity, scientific thought process, and love of learning – all are characteristics instilled in future physicians as early as kindergarten by the five recipients of 2025’s Ernest and Sarah Butler Awards for Excellence in Science Teaching.

HHSC Extends Medicaid Revalidation Another Six Months - 06/12/2025

The state is providing physicians with additional time to take a key step in caring for Medicaid patients. It’s also providing a reentry pathway for physicians disenrolled last year.

Schedule II Stimulant Medications Are Subject to the Same Prescribing Limitation as Opioids - 06/11/2025

Spotty awareness of a DEA rule’s applicability to all Schedule II controlled substances – not just opioids – could leave some physicians who prescribe Schedule II controlled substances, which includes some common stimulants, in legal peril if they run askance of it, according to member reports to TMA.

AI Experts Added to Committee on Health Information Technology - 06/11/2025

Recognizing the potential of augmented and artificial intelligence to greatly impact patient care and physician interests, the Texas Medical Association has announced the addition of 10 expert consultants to its Committee on Health Information Technology.

Survey: Small, Private Practices Now Less Common - 06/10/2025

Physician practices are increasingly tied to hospitals and private equity entities, and they’re also getting larger. Those are among the key findings of the latest nationwide study conducted by the American Medical Association.

Where Are They Now? 15 Years of Leadership College: Lenore DePagter, DO - 06/05/2025

The time Lenore DePagter, DO, spent in the TMA Leadership College set her on a path in organized medicine and launched her career in health care administration. Learn how to apply before the June 13 deadline.

New CME Helps Physicians Detect a High-Risk Pregnancy Complication that Masquerades as Mundane - 06/03/2025

Unchecked, outcomes can be dire. Physicians can access CME to help identify hyperemesis gravidarum and defuse the risk it poses to patients and their pregnancies.

Maternal Health, THC Study Prioritized by TMA House - 06/03/2025

Topping the list of recommendations from the TMA House on women’s health: increasing oversight of crisis pregnancy centers and education around maternal health equity.

Physicians Work More, Take Less Vacation, Multiple Burnout Studies Find - 06/02/2025

“The inability of most physicians to completely disengage from patient care while on vacation should be considered a system failure – one with consequences for both the patient and the physician,” one study said.

TMA Celebrates History of Medicine with Sam Houston State University Gallery - 06/02/2025

TMA has long supported the preservation of and education about medicine’s past, maintaining an archive of historical artifacts for over 100 years. Now, some of those artifacts will teach future physicians, with support from the association’s History of Medicine Committee.

Preview Your Medicare Clinician Profile Through June 25 - 05/29/2025

Physicians participating in the Quality Payment Program will see their 2023 performance scores showcased on two publicly accessible websites. One of those will also feature star ratings in up to 17 categories including preventive health and patient safety.

Texas Exceeds Latest Recommendations to Quell Syphilis - 05/29/2025

Texas’ mandated screenings for syphilis during pregnancy align with and surpass recently reaffirmed guidance from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. The state’s numbers continue to climb, but at a lower rate. Physicians can earn CME or attend in-person or virtual meetings coordinated by the state to keep apprised.