Stories written by Emma Freer

Pinch Points: Health Care Isn’t Immune to a Tight Labor Market - 08/18/2025

Health care isn’t immune to a tight labor market, but employee retention efforts can help.

TMA Backs Network Adequacy Bill and Other Insurance Reforms - 08/08/2025

With just a week until the bill-filing deadline, the Texas Medical Association is backing state legislation that furthers patients’ access to care by requiring adequate networks and bolstering prior authorization reforms, among other protections.

Omicron Variant Underscores Importance of Proven Tools to Fight COVID - 08/08/2025

The recently discovered omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus has sparked fears about increased infectivity and transmissibility heading into the holiday season. But Texas Medical Association experts and public health officials say physicians and patients can lean into proven prevention strategies – including vaccination, masking, social distancing, improved ventilation, testing, and handwashing – as scientists continue to study the new threat.

“Administrative Churn” Could Cost Texas Medicaid Patients Their Coverage When PHE Ends - 08/08/2025

Nearly half of the 15 million Medicaid patients across the U.S. at risk of losing coverage when the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) ends may fall prey to “administrative churning.” That is, they could lose coverage despite remaining eligible because of difficulties navigating the renewal process, address changes, and other administrative challenges.

Congress Mitigates 2024 Medicare Physician Pay Cut - 08/08/2025

Congress recently passed legislation halving the 3.4% Medicare physician pay cut that took effect on Jan. 1, 2024, following a months-long, high-pressure advocacy campaign by the Texas Medical Association, the American Medical Association, and others in organized medicine. But TMA and its allies continue to push for additional reform given that any cut threatens physicians’ practice viability and vulnerable patients’ access to care.

Texas Leads National Charge for Medicare Physician Payment Reform - 08/08/2025

The Texas Delegation to the American Medical Association led the charge for more concrete action to achieve comprehensive Medicare physician payment reform , resulting in new AMA policy calling for less “talk” and more “action” to ensure access to care for patients.

Lege Poised to Boost GME Funding; TMA Urges Rural Workforce Investment - 08/05/2025

With a record-high budget at its disposal, the Texas Legislature seems poised to increase funding for graduate medical education in the 2024-25 biennium, fulfilling one of the Texas Medical Association’s legislative priorities. But physicians say more must be done to address the state’s physician workforce shortage, especially in primary care and in rural and underserved areas.

CMS Debuts MIPS Final Score Preview Tool - 08/04/2025

Clinicians who are eligible to participate in Medicare’s Merit-Based Incentive Payment System now can sneak a peek at – and confirm the accuracy of – their final scores for the 2021 performance period.

FDA Proposes Transition Plan for Medical Devices Granted COVID Emergency Approval - 08/04/2025

The COVID-19 public health emergency is expected to be extended a ninth time, through at least mid-July. But its eventual end raises questions about the medical devices and therapies used to diagnose and treat COVID that were issued emergency use authorizations on the basis of the federal emergency declaration.

Physician-Legislator Burgess Wins TMA’s Highest Honor - 07/29/2025

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.

TDI Eases Prior Authorization Request Process for Prescription Renewals - 02/28/2025

After a three-year effort, the Texas Medical Association recently secured a form change that allows physicians to bypass the most onerous part of prior authorization requests when renewing an existing prescription.

Straight Shooter: Incoming TMA President Ray Callas, MD, Aims for Practice Protections, Membership Gains - 02/27/2025

Incoming Texas Medical Association President Ray Callas, MD, an anesthesiologist from Beaumont, cites as his top priorities preventing scope-of-practice creep, defending physician autonomy, and bolstering the TMA's membership.

Going Viral: Dr. Glaucomflecken’s Medical Comedy Spreads Physician Advocacy - 02/27/2025

Dr. Glaucomflecken’s medical comedy videos spread physician expertise and advocacy.

Wellness Warriors: Physician-Led Wellness Initiatives Tackle Burnout - 01/14/2025

After years of sounding the alarm about physician burnout and demanding systemic changes, organized medicine – and the health care industry more broadly – is teeming with physician-led wellness initiatives on turbocharged trajectories.

Putting the AI in Paid: Payer Use of Artificial Intelligence Sparks Physician Concerns - 12/20/2024

Physicians - worried about payers' increasing use of artificial intelligence to process prior authorization requests, enable value-based care models, and systematically deny coverage - are seeking transparency on behalf of their patients and practices.

TMA-Backed Bills Would Increase Access to Women’s Reproductive, Early Childhood Health Care - 12/12/2024

Twelve month postpartum coverage and a boost to certain Medicaid payments top a list of measures Texas lawmakers are moving on that would bolster women’s health care services, in line with the Texas Medical Association’s priorities for

TMA Reups Opposition to “Broad, Sweeping” Scope Creep in Federal Legislation - 12/06/2024

Organized medicine raised concerns about the Improving Care and Access to Nurses, or “I CAN,” Act in a letter to U.S. House leaders. The federal legislation would expand nonphysician practitioners’ scope of practice in treating Medicare and Medicaid patients. Read more.

Voice of Reason: TMA’s Board of Councilors Tackles Ethical Policymaking - 12/05/2024

Established in 1903, the Board of Councilors renders and updates opinions on matters of medical ethics, from abortion and medical use of cannabis to physician-assisted suicide and restrictive covenants, among other responsibilities.

TMA Ask the Expert: Delegate to Nonphysician Practitioners - 12/05/2024

Delegating prescriptive authority to nonphysician practitioners (NPPs), such as nurse practitioners and physician assistants, can help physicians manage their workloads and budgets. But doing so requires vigilance to comply with state scope-of-practice laws and avoid costly billing mistakes.

Record State Budget Opens Door for Health Care Investment - 12/05/2024

The 88th Texas Legislature kicked off earlier this month, and the Texas Medical Association is already tracking nearly 700 bills, including promising proposals to reduce prior authorization requirements and concerning ones regarding scope expansion.

Abbott Signals Support for Opioid Crisis Interventions - 11/18/2024

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott recently listed the fentanyl crisis as one of seven “emergency” items this session, clearing a path toward passage of Texas Medical Association-backed legislation that aims to curb opioid-related deaths.

Bills Threaten Medical Liability Reforms - 11/18/2024

At least two bills have the Texas Medical Association on notice for threats that aim to weaken Texas’ landmark 2003 medical liability reforms meant to protect access to care and patient safety.

Closing the Gap: New Texas Network Adequacy Law Tackles Waivers - 11/18/2024

Although Texas has some of the strongest network adequacy rules in the country, poor enforcement and an overused waiver system have weakened physician practice viability and patients’ access to in-network care; thanks to advocacy by the Texas Medical Association, this will soon change.

First Steps: TMA Secures Medicaid Physician Rate Increases With Hopes for Momentum - 11/18/2024

TMA helped secure the first Medicaid physician rate increases in decades in hopes it will build momentum for future gains.

Texas' Broadband Boom: An Influx of Funds Could Turbocharge Telehealth Access - 11/18/2024

The federal government recently granted Texas $3.3 billion – the largest award of any U.S. state – to deploy and upgrade broadband networks, critical to ensuring access to telehealth care.