News
TMA News Room
Medical Emergency Continues for Medicare/Medicaid Patients
A state budget cut to patients who rely on Medicare and Medicaid for their care is devastating physician practices and putting patient care in jeopardy. TMA President C. Bruce Malone, MD, told Rio Grande Valley physicians that TMA continues to work on the problem.
Source: News Room | 9 May 2012 | 6:16 pm
TMA to Give Away More Than 2,000 Bicycle Helmets to Texas Children in May
To protect children from head injuries and encourage fitness, the Texas Medical Association’s (TMA’s) Hard Hats for Little Heads program will give away more than 2,000 bicycle helmets in May, which is Bike Month.
Source: News Room | 7 May 2012 | 11:23 am
Judge Backs TMA on Patient Safety Issue
State District Judge Rhonda Hurley signed her final judgment in favor of the Texas Medical Association and the patients it works to protect Monday. The judgment invalidates the Texas State Board of Chiropractic Examiners’ (TBCE) vestibular testing rule by declaring the test is beyond chiropractors’ lawful scope of chiropractic
Source: News Room | 24 Apr 2012 | 5:36 pm
TMA’s New Toolkit Makes “Meaningful Use” Meaningful
The new TMA Meaningful Use Achievement Toolkit provides detailed instructions about what physicians must do, using their particular EHR product, to meet any one of the 25 meaningful-use stage one criteria defined by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Source: News Room | 18 Apr 2012 | 1:20 pm
TMA to Give Away 1,500 Bicycle Helmets to Children in March
In an effort to protect children from head injuries and encourage fitness, the Texas Medical Association’s (TMA’s) Hard Hats for Little Heads program will give away nearly 1,500 bicycle helmets during Brain Injury Awareness Month in March.
Source: News Room | 17 Apr 2012 | 12:27 pm
Physicians Learn About Legislature, Health Reform, Social Media
2011 Texas Medical Association (TMA) Winter Conference in Austin, featuring presentations by Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott; American Medical Association (AMA) President Cecil Wilson, MD; and nationally-renowned medical blogger “KevinMD” — Kevin Pho, MD.
Source: News Room | 17 Apr 2012 | 11:54 am
Physicians Advocate a Healthy Environment for Texas Patients
As scientific evidence strengthens the connection between air and water pollution and disease, Texas physicians seek ways to restrict the amount of toxins in the environment, reports Texas Medicine magazine, the official publication of the Texas Medical Association (TMA).
Source: News Room | 4 Apr 2012 | 12:22 pm
TMA to Give Away More Than 2,500 Bicycle Helmets to Texas Children in April
In an effort to protect children from head injuries and encourage fitness, the Texas Medical Association’s Hard Hats for Little Heads program will give away nearly 2,500 bicycle helmets during Child Safety Month in April.
Source: News Room | 4 Apr 2012 | 12:11 pm
Rio Grande Valley Physicians and Patients to Rally
News conference and rally by physicians and their patients urging Texas leaders to rescind state budget cuts that threaten vital health care access for hundreds of thousands of “dual-eligible” Texans. Dual-eligible patients are old enough to qualify for Medicare and able to qualify for Medicaid assistance because of their income.
Source: News Room | 26 Mar 2012 | 1:47 pm
Texas Physicians Urge 18-Year-Olds to Sign Up for ImmTrac
The good news is that Texas’ immunization registry — ImmTrac — was expanded to include adult vaccinations. The bad news is that unless young adults fill out an ImmTrac Adult Consent Form when they turn 18, the state will purge their immunization records from the registry.
Source: News Room | 8 Mar 2012 | 11:38 am
TMA Statement: Medicare “Doc Fix” Fixes Nothing
Statement by C. Bruce Malone, MD, TMA's president, about Congress’ latest patch to stave off the current 27.4-percent Medicare cut until the end of 2012, instead of implementing a permanent solution.
Source: News Room | 17 Feb 2012 | 12:47 pm
Seniors Face Medicare Meltdown, Again
The health of more than 3 million Texas seniors is in jeopardy, again. If Congress doesn’t take action, Medicare patients could lose access to the doctors they know and trust.
Source: News Room | 14 Feb 2012 | 12:29 pm
Acceso a médicos a través de Medicare en peligro
La salud de más de 3 millones de adultos mayores de Texas se encuentra en peligro nuevamente. Si el Congreso no toma medidas urgentemente, los pacientes de Medicare podrĂan perder el acceso a los mĂ©dicos que conocen y confĂan.
Source: News Room | 14 Feb 2012 | 12:23 pm
Houston Physician Named TMA President-Elect
The Texas Medical Association (TMA) has elected Michael E. Speer, MD, of Houston president-elect of the association, the nation’s largest state medical society. TMA’s House of Delegates, the association’s governing body, elected Dr. Speer during TexMed, the group’s annual conference, held this week in Houston.
Source: News Room | 6 Feb 2012 | 5:19 pm
Get a Flu Shot Now, Say Physicians
As flu season approaches, Texas Medical Association (TMA) physicians want to remind Texans to get vaccinated against this potentially serious, even fatal illness. For patients who are needle-phobic, there are new ways to get vaccinated.
Source: News Room | 6 Feb 2012 | 5:14 pm
Austin Physician Elected TMA’s 146th President
The Texas Medical Association (TMA) elected C. Bruce Malone, MD, of Austin, its 146th president. TMA’s House of Delegates, the association’s policymaking body, elected Dr. Malone leader of the nation’s largest state medical society during its annual meeting this week in Houston.
Source: News Room | 6 Feb 2012 | 5:07 pm
TMA, Cancer Society, Church Participate in Cancer Study
Men and women between the ages of 30 and 65 who have never been diagnosed with cancer are needed to participate in the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Prevention Study-3 (CPS-3).
Source: News Room | 1 Feb 2012 | 5:49 pm
Broader Raw Milk Sales a Sour Idea, Physicians Say
Is raw milk bad milk? Drinking raw, unpasteurized milk can make you sick, or even kill you, physicians say. But Texans with permits could sell raw milk or raw milk products directly to consumers at their home or food markets or farmers markets, in a bill up for debate in the Texas House of Representatives’ Public Health Committee today.
Source: News Room | 1 Feb 2012 | 2:03 pm
TMA, ACS, Local Church Join National Cancer Study
News conference: TMA, the American Cancer Society, and St. David’s Episcopal Church are unveiling a historic cancer prevention study that could change the face of cancer for future generations. Local residents can enroll in the study with help from St. David’s Episcopal Church and TMA during select dates in February and March.
Source: News Room | 30 Jan 2012 | 5:28 pm
TMAF Honors Medical Program, Clinics for Serving Patients
The Texas Medical Association Foundation (TMAF) has presented its 2012 John P. McGovern Champion of Health and Secondary Award to two Texas programs aimed at serving uninsured and underinsured patients.
Source: News Room | 30 Jan 2012 | 12:29 pm
TMA Asks CMS to Delay E-Prescription Deadline
TMA today urged the Centers for Medicare Medicaid Services CMS to push back its fast-approaching deadline for physicians to report they have prescribed medications electronically or be penalized. The unreasonable deadline is causing serious problems for Texas physicians and their patients.
Source: News Room | 12 Jan 2012 | 11:16 am
Congress Heads Home With a Lump of Coal for Medicare Patients
Congress’ failure to pass legislation stopping a 27.4-percent cut to physician’s Medicare payments threatens access to care for millions of Medicare patients and military families on TRICARE.
Source: News Room | 21 Dec 2011 | 1:36 pm
Doctors Advise: Getting a New Bike? Add a New Helmet
If you are buying your child a new bike this holiday season, throw in a new helmet too, suggest Texas Medical Association (TMA) physicians. Your child’s old helmet or a sibling’s hand-me-down helmet may not provide the head protection needed, and could be dangerous to your child’s safety.
Source: News Room | 6 Dec 2011 | 11:31 am
Texas Legislators to Receive Friends of Medicine Award
The Texas Medical Association (TMA) will honor 15 Texas legislators this evening for their relentless energy, dedication, and steady leadership on behalf of Texas’ patients and physicians.
Source: News Room | 2 Dec 2011 | 1:58 pm
Doctors Angry as Medicare Meltdown Looms
In 30 days, physician Medicare payments could drop below the cost of providing care. Doctors have no choice but to consider limiting the number of Medicare patients they see. No doctor wants that to happen. Medicare patients and military families deserve better.
Source: News Room | 1 Dec 2011 | 1:00 pm
State Medical Society Named a “Top Workplace”
Source: News Room | 18 Nov 2011 | 6:11 pm
TMA Prepares Young Physicians to Become Effective Leaders
“Patients have always looked to their physicians for guidance,” says Texas Medical Association President C. Bruce Malone, MD. That’s why TMA developed the TMA Leadership College, whose second class has been named.
Source: News Room | 18 Nov 2011 | 4:40 pm
State Medical Society Walks the “Get Healthy” Walk
TMA and TMA Insurance Trust (TMAIT) have embraced a worksite wellness program called Get FIT to improve health and fitness. Employees hit the gym together weekly, and collectively they have shed more than 368 pounds since last year.
Source: News Room | 17 Nov 2011 | 12:51 pm
Will Congress Deny Health Care to Military Families?
The families of our nation’s military could lose their doctors. As America celebrates Veterans Day, veteran and medical groups are asking Congress to protect military families’ ability to see a physician when they need to.
Source: News Room | 11 Nov 2011 | 11:48 am
Physicians Protect Patients From Eating Contaminated Food
Outbreaks of people getting sick from eating contaminated food regularly make news. Physicians often are the first to detect the problem. They protect patients and the community by watching for and reporting suspected food-borne illnesses, and a new Texas law aims to speed their discovery as well.
Source: News Room | 8 Nov 2011 | 11:28 am
TMA Survey: Physicians Confused and Anxious
More than ever before, physicians are confused and anxious about their profession, and believe the health care system continues to be broken, according to a new survey by TMA.
Source: News Room | 24 Oct 2011 | 5:40 pm
“Doom” Discussion to Headline Physicians’ Conference
2011 Texas Medical Association Fall Conference in Austin, featuring presentations on how to navigate the new health care law, accountable care organizations, and myriad regulatory changes facing physicians. TMA also will recognize a beloved past president and bestow Texas medicine’s highest honor.
Source: News Room | 20 Oct 2011 | 3:43 pm
Medicare Meltdown Forces Physicians Out of Medicare
Seniors, military families, and Texans with disabilities who rely on Medicare as their health insurance are at serious risk of losing their doctor. A new TMA survey indicates that 50 percent of Texas physicians are considering opting out of the Medicare program altogether.
Source: News Room | 20 Oct 2011 | 1:44 pm
TMA Honors Arlington Surgeon With Distinguished Service Award
As a kid apprentice for the doctor next door to his father’s dry cleaning shop in tiny 1952 Alpine, Texas, little did Bohn D. Allen imagine he would one day receive Texas’ highest physician honor; yet today TMA celebrated Dr. Allen, a longtime Arlington surgeon, as the 2011 Distinguished Service Award recipient.
Source: News Room | 19 Oct 2011 | 2:20 pm
TMA Seeks Minority Medical Student Applicants for Scholarships
Each year TMA awards $5,000 scholarships to outstanding minority students entering each of Texas’ nine medical schools. TMA encourages Hispanic, African-American, and Native American students entering medical school in the fall of 2012 to apply by the Jan. 9 deadline for the next round of scholarships.
Source: News Room | 13 Oct 2011 | 11:58 am
TMA Unveils “Don’t Spit on the Sidewalk” Public Health Exhibit
The Texas Medical Association (TMA) unveils its new History of Medicine exhibit, “Don’t Spit on the Sidewalk.”
Source: News Room | 23 Sep 2011 | 12:12 pm
Prescription Drug Shortages Threaten Patient Care
A record shortage of prescription medications threatens patients with complications and even death if they receive a less-effective alternative medication or the wrong dosage of a substitute drug, or have to go without the drug altogether.
Source: News Room | 13 Sep 2011 | 12:44 pm
TMA Announces Anson Jones, MD, Award Media Winners
Top health care news stories and series highlight the 2011 winners in the Texas Medical Association’s (TMA’s) Anson Jones, MD, Awards for media excellence.
Source: News Room | 30 Aug 2011 | 4:22 pm
Texas Patients to Benefit From New Health Laws
The health of all Texans will improve due to several new laws passed this year. Starting Sept. 1, patients will receive protection from new rules governing medical matters from student athletic concussions to health insurance policies to the physician workforce.
Source: News Room | 29 Aug 2011 | 12:22 pm
Law Aims to Lessen Harm From Student-Athlete Concussions
A new law aims to keep students safer from concussions as they hit the playing field this school year.
Source: News Room | 23 Aug 2011 | 8:09 pm
Physicians’ Heat Advisory: Play it Safe
Relentless record-breaking temperatures spell bad news for student athletes as they gear up for practice under Texas’ sizzling summer sun. Texas Medical Association (TMA) physicians urge athletes and coaches to play it safe during the current severe heat wave. They caution that overexposure to heat can lead to heat exhaustion and heat stroke, a potentially deadly illness that can occur when a person’s body temperature rises over 105°F.
Source: News Room | 5 Aug 2011 | 1:38 pm
TMA Physicians, Families Give 100,000 Helmets to Children
More than 100,000 children are riding Texas streets more safely, thanks to bicycle helmets Texas Medical Association (TMA) physicians and families have given them. TMA’s Hard Hats for Little Heads program gave out its 100,000th helmet to a child in May.
Source: News Room | 27 Jul 2011 | 4:57 pm
Texas College Students’ First Mandatory Test: Get Meningitis Vaccine
As Texas students prepare for college, it’s critical they get vaccinated against meningococcal disease — more commonly called bacterial meningitis, says Donald Murphey, MD, a Fort Worth infectious disease specialist and advocate for TMA’s Be Wise — ImmunizeSM vaccine program.
Source: News Room | 26 Jul 2011 | 12:08 pm
Texas Physician Leaders Elected to AMA Positions
The American Medical Association (AMA) has elected three Texas Medical Association (TMA) physicians to AMA leadership positions. AMA elected the Texans during its annual policymaking meeting taking place this week in Chicago.
Source: News Room | 22 Jun 2011 | 4:51 pm
Texas Physicians Urge Governor to Protect Babies
TMA physicians are calling on Gov. Rick Perry to sign new legislation aimed at protecting the tiniest among us from a deadly disease. House Bill 3336 requires doctors and other health care providers to give mothers of newborns information on pertussis before they leave the hospital, including the recommendation that they get the tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap) vaccine just after the baby is born.
Source: News Room | 8 Jun 2011 | 1:54 pm
Texas Physicians Urge Governor to Sign Medical Board Changes
The TMA president today urged Gov. Rick Perry to sign three significant bills that reform how the Texas Medical Board handles complaints against physicians.
Source: News Room | 27 May 2011 | 2:21 pm
Doctors Urge Governor to Sign Meningitis Bill
Texas physicians are urging Gov. Rick Perry to protect Texas college students on and off campus against a potential killer, by signing new legislation that may protect college students from meningococcal disease, which strikes teenagers and young adults living in close quarters.
Source: News Room | 26 May 2011 | 11:54 am
San Antonio Physician Tagged TMA’s “Young at Heart”
The Young Physician Section of the Texas Medical Association presented William W. Hinchey, MD, of San Antonio its Young at Heart Award during TexMed 2011, TMA’s annual conference.
Source: News Room | 20 May 2011 | 12:20 pm
Texas Physicians Convene to Tackle Medicine’s Top Issues
More than one thousand physician leaders and health care experts will convene in Houston for TexMed 2011 — TMA’s annual conference.
Source: News Room | 11 May 2011 | 1:37 pm
Measles – a Once-Forgotten Disease – is Back
Measles, commonly regarded as a disease of the past, is back. Vaccines have done such a great job of eradicating the measles here that some people no longer fear the disease. But TMA physicians see an increase in cases, and recommend vaccine vigilance.
Source: News Room | 10 May 2011 | 11:57 am
New Law Helps Patients in Rural Texas
The state’s largest physician organization urged Gov. Rick Perry to sign a bill, passed by the Texas House today, that will help rural communities recruit physicians.
Source: News Room | 4 May 2011 | 6:16 pm
TMA to Give Away More Than 2,000 Bicycle Helmets to Texas Children in May
To protect children from head injuries and encourage fitness, the Texas Medical Association’s (TMA’s) Hard Hats for Little Heads program will give away more than 2,000 bicycle helmets in May, which is Bike Month.
Source: News Room | 29 Apr 2011 | 6:54 pm
Texas Physician Kicks Off New National Interview Series
Sidney Ontai, MD, MBA, a Plainview, Texas, family physician and physician leader with the Texas Medical Association (TMA), is the first featured doctor in a new national radio franchise premiering this week.
Source: News Room | 19 Apr 2011 | 4:33 pm
Save Money, Save Lives
As the state of Texas faces a huge budget crisis and the people of Texas face a huge health crisis, the Texas Public Health Coalition (TPHC) today offered solutions for both.
Source: News Room | 13 Apr 2011 | 3:40 pm
TMA Supports Vaccination Bill to Protect Patients
Texas Medical Association TMA physicians are voicing support for a bill that would call for health care workers in facilities like hospitals to be vaccinated against communicable diseases.
Source: News Room | 5 Apr 2011 | 9:20 am
Doctors in White Coats Headed to Austin to Lobby for Patients
More than 350 physicians and medical students from across the state are headed to Austin for the Texas Medical Association’s (TMA’s) First Tuesdays at the Capitol.
Source: News Room | 4 Apr 2011 | 1:10 pm
TMA Statement: Steep Cuts in House Budget. Steep Price to Pay
Statement by TMA president Susan R. Bailey, MD, about the Texas House of Representatives’ budget proposals being considered this week.
Source: News Room | 31 Mar 2011 | 5:56 pm
Study: Texas Physicians’ Practices Are Huge Economic Shot in the Arm
Physicians’ medical practices have a tremendous positive impact on Texas’ economy, according to a new study commissioned by TMA and AMA.
Source: News Room | 31 Mar 2011 | 5:42 pm
Retracted Autism Study Spreads Fear and Preventable Disease
A study attempting to link autism to the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine, though ultimately retracted and now alleged to be fraudulent, is lowering immunization rates and increasing the prevalence of vaccine-preventable diseases, explains TMA's Texas Medicine magazine.
Source: News Room | 23 Mar 2011 | 11:29 am
Doctors Say: Get a Tdap Shot
To help protect adults and infants from whooping cough, TMA physician leaders urge adult patients to get vaccinated with the combined tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap) vaccine... and now adults over age 65 who care for an infant or plan to be around one should get the Tdap shot too. This follows updated recommendations by the national Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.
Source: News Room | 17 Mar 2011 | 1:09 pm
TMA Honors Cancer Outreach Program for Serving Uninsured Patients
TMAF has presented its 2011 John P. McGovern Champion of Health Award to the Julie Rogers “Gift of Life” Program of Beaumont, and secondary awards to The University of Texas Medical Branch's Community Health Program and St. Vincent’s Student-Run Free Clinic.
Source: News Room | 1 Feb 2011 | 6:52 pm
Texas Physicians: Law Won't Lower Cost or Improve Care
Texas physicians forecast higher health care costs and lower quality under America's new health reform law, according to a new Texas Medical Association (TMA) physician survey .
Source: News Room | 26 Jan 2011 | 5:23 pm
Texas Physicians to Patients: Quit Smoking in 2011
Smoking is, without a doubt, unhealthy, and new evidence reinforces that fact. Now it’s more important than ever for smokers to make quitting smoking a top goal in 2011, TMA physician leaders say.
Source: News Room | 7 Jan 2011 | 11:36 am
TMA to Ask for AMA Policy Improvements for Patients
More than 100 TMA physicians and medical students are attending AMA's annual fall policymaking meeting, at which they'll ask the national body to adopt policy that would lessen patients’ burden from medical debt, and to report where graduating medical students complete their residencies and take root as practicing physicians.
Source: News Room | 28 Dec 2010 | 12:08 pm
Alexander Rejoins Texas Medical Association’s Legislative Affairs Team
Troy Alexander has rejoined the Texas Medical Association’s (TMA’s) legislative affairs staff, as associate director.
Source: News Room | 13 Dec 2010 | 2:49 pm
Congress Stops Medicare Meltdown, For Now
Statement by Susan Rudd Bailey, MD, TMA president, in regard to Congress’ passage of HR 4994, the Medicare and Medicaid Extenders Act of 2010.
Source: News Room | 9 Dec 2010 | 2:21 pm
It’s Not Too Late to Get Your Flu Shot
If you didn’t get your flu shot in October, it’s not too late. In fact, getting vaccinated for the flu is just as effective whether you get the shot in November, December, or even January. That’s good news for flu shot procrastinators.
Source: News Room | 23 Nov 2010 | 3:02 pm
Two Largest Patient-Advocacy Groups Unite to Save Medicare
Today, the nation’s largest state medical society and one of the largest patient-advocacy groups united to stop the Medicare Meltdown. This is the first time these two immense patient-advocacy groups have joined forces to ensure Texas’ 3 million Medicare patients receive the care promised by the U.S. government.
Source: News Room | 18 Nov 2010 | 7:31 pm
Medicare Meltdown a Reality in Texas
For Immediate ReleaseOct. 11, 2010 Contact Pam Udall phone (512) 370 1382cell (512) 413 6807 Brent Annearphone (512) 370 1381cell (512) 656 7320
Source: News Room | 25 Oct 2010 | 11:55 am
Pill Mill Bill Requires State Certification by Sept. 1
Texans seeking pain relief soon can take comfort from a new state law requiring pain management clinics to be certified by the Texas Medical Board (TMB) by Sept. 1.
Source: News Room | 3 Oct 2010 | 4:07 pm
Texas Medical Residents Forced to Leave the State
Texas medical school graduates hoping to find their dream training position increasingly are settling for positions outside the state as medical residency slots in Texas continue to shrink, explains Texas Medicine magazine, TMA's official publication.
Source: News Room | 2 Oct 2010 | 2:33 pm
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