News

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.

TMA Vigilant of New Medicare Advantage Audits - 06/04/2025

CMS’ expanded audits likely mean more medical records requests lie ahead. TMA is monitoring the efforts closely and asks members to contact its Physician Payment Resource Center for coding and billing assistance.

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.

Where Are They Now? 15 Years of Leadership College: Rick Ngo, MD - 05/28/2025

Houston surgeon Rick Ngo, MD, took from TMA’s Leadership College the tools to be a health care champion. He encourages young physician members to seek admission to the program to “enhance their understanding” of advocacy. Applications are now open.

Member Expertise Drives TMA Councils, Committees in Policy Work - 05/28/2025

Members of TMA’s councils and committees are selected based on a comprehensive set of criteria, such as regional representation, subject area expertise, and county medical society involvement.

Where Are They Now? 15 Years of Leadership College: Erica Hughes, MD - 05/27/2025

Building confidence to encourage other physicians to be leaders is just one of the main takeaways Erica Hughes, MD, gleaned from TMA’s leadership development initiative. Applications are now open until June 13.

CMS Suspends Eight MIPS Improvement Activities, Announces 2025 Exception Applications Process - 05/23/2025

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services leaves 96 of the 104 traditional improvement activities available to physicians using the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System. It also indicated that physicians who have completed or are in the midst of completing any of the eight suspended activities can still use them this year.

TMA’s First 2025 Legislative Victory Protects Sensitive Test Results - 05/23/2025

Gov. Greg Abbott signed TMA’s first victory of the 2025 legislative session to allow physicians a way to communicate to their patients receive serious or sensitive test results in a supportive manner rather than via electronic patient portals. Texas physicians will still need to comply with information blocking provisions after the three-day pause.

Combating Measles Resource Center - 05/22/2025

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.

Texas Medicaid Delays Online Enrolling and Credentialing Integration - 05/22/2025

In April, the Texas Medicaid & Health Partnership had announced physicians could enroll and get credentialed in a one-stop, two-step process. The pause means the status quo remains for now.

Keep Kids Safe This National Bike Month with Hard Hats for Little Heads - 05/22/2025

As young cyclists observe National Bike Month this May, prevent serious injuries by giving the gift of safety: a well-fitted helmet. TMA will match your helmet purchases, contributing to the hundreds of thousands of helmets distributed since 1994.

TMA Elects Board, House Leaders and New AMA Representation - 05/22/2025

Alongside newly installed TMA President Jayesh “Jay” Shah, MD, many physician leaders were elected by their peers to serve as Board of Trustee members and American Medical Association delegates. New names also stepped into parliamentary positions.

TMA Preserves Technology’s “Human Element” with New EHR, AI Policies - 05/21/2025

Texas physicians unanimously adopted new TMA policy advocating for EHR-generated health care forms, circumventing lengthy manual processes and unnecessary expenses placed upon physician practices. Also adopted: new policy that strengthens TMA’s efforts to stay abreast of AI advancements.

Chiropractic Scope Expansion Proposed Under Federal Legislation - 05/21/2025

Federal legislation proposes changing the definition of “physician” to include chiropractors. The American Medical Association, TMA, and dozens of other medical organizations call on Congress to nix it, spotlighting patient safety risk and possible increased Medicare costs.

New TMA Policies Strive to Bolster Physician Workforce - 05/21/2025

Attempting to fix Texas’ maternal care deserts and other physician workforce deficits, the House of Delegates voted in support of expanded physician training opportunities and statewide initiatives, particularly focused on rural areas.

‘We’ve Got a Long Way to Go’: Physician Burnout Persists Amid Modest Reduction - 05/19/2025

Burnout is down and satisfaction with work-life integration is up, a Mayo Clinic study reveals. But the practice of medicine remains fraught as physicians incur a heavy mental load to continue heeding what is for many a calling.

TMA Forges New Policies on Same-Day Services, Patient Attribution in Value-Based Care - 05/16/2025

The house adopted several other payment-related policies as well, all emerging from ongoing physician frustration with payer practices that hinder patient care.

Bypassing PBMs: TexMed Speaker Spells Out Path to Lower Drug, Health Care Costs - 05/16/2025

Generic lifesaving drugs can run up to $10,000 for a month’s supply. Alex Oshmyansky, MD, wants to ensure patients see reduced costs and better access to those medications in the future.

‘Misinformation ... Spreads Faster Than Accurate Information. I’m Trying to Change That’ - 05/16/2025

The most popular physician on social media, Mikhail “Doctor Mike” Varshavski, DO, closed TexMed 2025 with a highly attended presentation on how Texas physicians can utilize the relationship between health care and the internet to connect with patients.

Apply for Local Impact Grants to Provide Free Immunizations in Your Community - 05/15/2025

Applications are open for TMA Foundation grants of up to $3,500 to support vaccine provision and education. The deadline to apply for the current cycle of grants is May 23, and the funds can be put to use in a variety of ways to serve your community.