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TMA Fall Conference Oct. 15-16
A special session on health information technology featuring the man in charge and a panel discussion on health system reform in Texas are scheduled for TMA's 2010 Fall Conference Oct. 15-16 at the Hyatt Regency in Austin.
Sign Petition to Save Medicare
Doctors want to take care of Medicare patients. Congress is forcing doctors to limit the number of Medicare patients we see or to quit taking Medicare patients altogether. Sign the petition by clicking here.
Confused? TMA Demystifies Health Reform
If you're confused about the new health system reform law and its many new provisions, you're not alone. That's why the Texas Medical Association will host its second Tele-Health Reform School next month. We want to help you survive and thrive in this new health care landscape.
Podiatrists Can't Expand Scope to Ankle
It's final. The Texas State Board of Podiatric Medical Examiners cannot go beyond its statutory authority and the will of the Texas Legislature.
Congress Approves Medicaid Funds
Texas will gain about $850 million in federal money for Medicaid, thanks to congressional approval of legislation extending enhanced matching federal Medicaid payments through mid-2011. The U.S. House of Representatives joined the Senate in approving the bill Aug. 10.
Sued? You're Not Alone
An American Medical Association survey shows that an average of 95 medical liability claims are filed for every 100 physicians in the United States. That's almost one per physician and demonstrates the need for the rest of the country to adopt liability reform like Texas did.
TDI: Post Drug Formularies Online
State law should require insurance companies and pharmacy benefit managers to post accurate and complete drug formularies online that physicians can access when prescribing medications for patients, says the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) in a report to state officials and legislative leaders.
FDA Warns Against Unapproved IUDs
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning physicians not to use unapproved intrauterine devices (IUDs) and intrauterine systems (IUSs) or face the possibility of going to jail.
The Revised 2010 Workers' Compensation Fee Schedule By Geographic Region – Incorporating Revisions Made In the Federal Affordable Care Act
The federal health reform bill, which was adopted into law on March 23rd, 2010 modified geographic adjustment factors and some relative values used in Medicare.
Medicaid, CHIP Fees Drop Sept. 1
Fees paid to physicians for treating patients in Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program will be cut by 1 percent across the board on Sept. 1. The reduction will apply to all physician/professional services, as well as hospitals and other providers.
Health Reform Law Concerns Physicians
Texas physicians forecast higher health care costs and lower quality under America's new health reform law, according to a new TMA physician survey.
Medicare Seeks Imaging Proposals
Physicians interested in participating in the Medicare Imaging Demonstration program have until Sept. 21 to submit a proposal to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
UnitedHealth Settlement Deadline Coming
Oct. 5 is the deadline for physicians to file a claim to share in the $350 million settlement of the lawsuit against UnitedHealth Group over its system for determining "usual, customary, and reasonable" charges for out-of-network services.
TMA's Health Reform Action Center
So what exactly is the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act? What does it mean for you, for your profession, for your patients? TMA is here to help you survive and thrive in the new health care landscape. Our team of legal and policy experts have read and distilled down the 3,000-page law for you.
TMA Exhibit Explores "Courage and Determination" of Pioneer African-American Physicians in Texas
To highlight the struggles of early African-American physicians in Texas, the Texas Medical Association (TMA) this week unveiled a new exhibit “Courage and Determination — A Portrait of Pioneering African-American Physicians in Texas” in its History of Medicine Gallery in Austin.
TMA Summary of New Health Law - HR 3590
Now you can find out what actually is in The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) (PDF) passed by Congress and signed into law by President Obama. The summary also includes amendments that were added in the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010. The new law is very complex and will be influenced by the many regulations that must be adopted under its provisions. TMA’s summary is just that, a summary of the law. It doesn’t discuss all the details contained within the statute.
Medicare Fees Affect Medicaid Patients
Responses to TMA's March survey thus far show that ongoing problems with Medicare fees are affecting physicians' acceptance of Medicaid patients.
Physicians and Patients Unite Across the U.S. to Stop the Medicare Meltdown
What began as a one-state petition drive to capture Congress’ attention to fix Medicare has expanded into a nationwide grassroots effort. Physicians and patients from coast to coast have united to gather 1 million signatures or more.
Medicare Meltdown Action Center
First, do no harm. With the U.S. House of Representatives likely to take a historic vote on health system reform this weekend, TMA is engaged on multiple fronts to make sure the end result doesn’t violate the Hippocratic Oath. Take action now by doing one of these five things.
Member Survey Results Support TMA Decision to Not Back Senate Health Reform Bill
Texas physicians and medical students say America’s health system is in need of reform, but they don’t prescribe radical change, and they believe the U.S. Congress’ current treatment plan will do more harm than good.
TMA's Health System Reform Principles
Your Texas Medical Association will not sit and watch as Congress and the Obama administration develop their plans to reform the nation's health care system. Acting at the direction of the TMA House of Delegates, the TMA Select Committee on Health System Reform has developed guiding principles the association will follow as it makes Texas physicians' voices heard in Washington.
Last Published: 8/19/2010
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