2/7/2025
The bonus is earned by physicians, including psychiatrists, who provide primary care or mental health services to Medicare patients in geographic areas that lack enough health care professionals to meet the needs of their populations.
2/7/2025
Influenza activity is rebounding aggressively, with outpatient influenza-like illness (ILI) now surpassing its January peak to hit 7.0%. In the past 22 years.
2/7/2025
America's patients and physicians are counting on Congress to provide this much needed relief and work toward achieving long-term Medicare physician payment reform.
1/31/2025
Starting April 1, Aetna will pay physician practices only 85% of the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule’s allowed amounts for services provided by non-physician practitioners.
1/31/2025
Physicians will not see changes in 2025 to federal independent dispute resolution (IDR) fees tied to the No Surprises Act, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recently announced.
1/31/2025
The Texas Department of State Health Services is announcing two confirmed cases of measles in residents of Gaines County. Both cases are in unvaccinated school age children who were hospitalized in Lubbock and have since been discharged.
1/24/2025
Through more than 25 years of follow-up, supine hypertension was associated with greater risks of fatal and nonfatal coronary heart disease, heart failure, stroke, and all-cause death.
1/24/2025
The pause also applies to anything intended to be published in the Federal Register, where the executive branch communicates rules and regulations, and the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, a CDC scientific publication.
1/24/2025
This program comes after The Dallas Morning News and the San Antonio Express-News published a thorough investigation into preventable trauma deaths.
1/17/2025
Algorithm glitches are one facet of a dilemma that computer scientists and doctors have long acknowledged but that is starting to puzzle hospital executives and researchers.
1/17/2025
Between November 2023 and October 2024, about 5.3 million people with Medicare Part D coverage used these drugs to treat a variety of conditions, such as cancer, type 2 diabetes, and asthma.
1/17/2025
Texas’ 2025 legislative session runs from Jan. 14 to June 2. Lawmakers will debate a bevy of issues and pass hundreds of bills that affect Texans’ lives. Here’s a rundown of how legislation moves through the Capitol.
1/10/2025
A U.S. District Court in Alabama has given preliminary approval to a landmark antitrust settlement involving Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS).
1/10/2025
First Tuesday visits to the Capitol will be held in February, March, April, and May of 2025 in conjunction with the 89th Session of the Texas Legislature. DCMS invites our member physicians to register to attend.
1/10/2025
Please join fellow Dallas County physicians and their guests on Saturday, January 25, 2025, for an evening of entertainment and celebration. All DCMS members are invited to attend as we welcome the incoming 2025 President and Board of Directors.
12/13/2024
While the overall public health risk remains low, increasing samples submitted to public health labs statewide can help DSHS determine if spikes in influenza A activity stem from H5N1.
12/13/2024
Draft recommendations from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force are aimed at getting more people screened and spreading the word that women can take their own vaginal samples to check for cancer-causing HPV.
12/13/2024
Members have three weeks remaining to submit ideas for CME at TMA's annual meeting, TexMed. Educational topics must fall into the categories of leadership and professional development; physician health and wellness; population and public health; busi
12/6/2024
Texas Medicare administrative contractor, Novitas, has published the 2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule for download in PDF, Excel, and TXT formats. Individual code lookups will be available Jan. 1. Get the fee schedule.
12/6/2024
As of November, about 37% of adults 18 and older had received a seasonal flu shot, while 19% had received updated coronavirus vaccines and 40% of adults 75 and older – the group at greatest risk – got an RSV vaccine.
12/6/2024
In the wake of a divisive election season, there is one important sign of bipartisanship prevalent on Capitol Hill.
11/22/2024
The National Maternal Mental Health Hotline is a cornerstone of the Biden-Harris Administration’s broader efforts to improve maternal health and supports HRSA’s ongoing initiative to reduce maternal mortality and health disparities.
11/22/2024
On November 15, 2024, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) confirmed the first reported case of clade I mpox in the United States.
11/22/2024
A traumatic pandemic has prompted many patients to undertake advance care planning to secure the quality treatment they deserve. Physicians can receive compensation for this delicate and vital process through Medicare.
11/8/2024
Health officials say it’s important to get vaccinated ahead of the holidays, when respiratory bugs tend to spread with travel and indoor celebrations.
11/8/2024
Patients who live outside of metropolitan areas frequently drive for more than 20 minutes for a primary care visit, according to new data published in Annals of Internal Medicine.
11/8/2024
Mark Casanova, MD, has a sign in his office reminding him of his team’s unconventional motto: “Stomp Out Suffering.” “A number of years ago, at the end of a team meeting, I just uttered the words as motivation.”
11/1/2024
After years of consecutive physician payment cuts, including a 2.8% cut scheduled to go into effect on January 1, it's clear that the Medicare physician payment model is hopelessly broken. Thankfully, Congress has started to take this threat to the f
11/1/2024
As respiratory illness season continues, TMA has an assortment of Vaccines Defend What Matter videos to help you educate families on the importance of keeping vaccinations updated.
11/1/2024
TMA's billing, coding, and payment page offers resources for physician practices, from one end of the continuum to the other. Educate yourself with our articles and tools, or get help with more complex questions.
10/25/2024
In the practice of medicine, noncompete agreements have special public policy concerns, “as their use can impact continuity of care, access to needed medical services, and patient choice of a physician,” the Texas Medical Association recently testifi
10/25/2024
Starting Nov. 18, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) will no longer pay physicians for outpatient or inpatient consultations when they report those services with Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes 99242 – 99245 and 99252 – 99255.
10/25/2024
The Lancet published the first real-world data analysis of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine efficacy among older US adults in a large multistate study. The study shows the vaccine was 80% effective in protecting against hospitalizations and
10/11/2024
“We have been asked to start looking at ways to conserve our IV fluids so we don’t have a situation where elective surgeries would need to be postponed,” said Shaina Drummond, MD, president-elect of the Dallas County Medical Society.
10/11/2024
After the Change Healthcare cyberattack earlier this year, cybersecurity has become a central concern for physicians and patients alike. Join us for this AMA Advocacy Insights webinar on Oct. 18 at 12:30 p.m.
10/11/2024
District Judge Laurie Eiserloh of Travis County blocked Texas HHS Executive Commissioner Cecile Erwin Young from finalizing a set of contracts that would have displaced nearly half the Texans who receive Medicaid & Children’s Health Insurance Plan.
10/4/2024
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is not anticipating a major impact on the availability of health care products stemming from the port strike that began this week, with current assessments foreseeing a “limited” effect.
10/4/2024
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released the 2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule (MPFS) that includes yet another 2.8% cut to physician Medicare payments on Jan. 1, 2025.
10/4/2024
Texas has seen an increase in THC poisonings among young children over the past few years. One Dallas County Commissioner is trying to get the attention of parents to help bring the numbers down.
9/27/2024
CDC recommends a single dose of an RSV vaccine for everyone ages 75 and older and for people ages 60–74 who are at increased risk of severe RSV.
9/27/2024
As part of a second round of interim charges announced Sept. 10, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick added noncompete clauses to the Senate Business and Commerce Committee’s list ahead of the 2025 session.
9/27/2024
The AMA Women Physicians Section (WPS) Inspiration Award honors and acknowledges physicians who have offered their time, wisdom and support throughout the professional careers of fellow physicians, residents and students.
9/20/2024
The legislation extends critical telehealth provisions for two years that began during the COVID-19 pandemic and were set to expire at the end of the year.
9/20/2024
Congratulations to the Dallas County Medical Society participants of the TMA Leadership College Class of 2025: Matthew Edwards, MD, Sina Najafi, DO, Subhan Tabba, MD.
9/20/2024
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is planning oversight of third-party healthcare vendors in the wake of the Change Healthcare cyberattack, said Jonathan Blum, the agency's principal deputy administrator.
9/6/2024
When you support the Dallas County Medical Society on #NTXGivingDay, you are helping ensure DCMS can continue to support Dallas County physicians and provide opportunities to local students to cultivate the next generation of Dallas physicians.
9/6/2024
As Medicare telehealth flexibilities rapidly approach their expiration date, researchers from Cornell examined 2022 Medicare fee-for-service claims to understand how physician characteristics impacted telehealth use.
9/6/2024
Effective September 1, HHSC is transitioning contracts for the STAR+PLUS program. This document provides STAR+PLUS members and providers with resources for assistance with go-live concerns.
8/23/2024
As of Monday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that the number of people testing positive for Covid keeps rising and that emergency room visits for Covid have been increasing since mid-May.
8/23/2024
With feedback and final scores for the 2023 performance year of Medicare’s Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) now available online, Texas Medical Association experts urge physicians to check their scores soon as they will impact 2025 payment
8/23/2024
Texas’ performance with the nation’s 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline – launched by a 2022 federal law – is seeking to catch up to other states in important areas, according to a new study, as the resource remains underused in part because many physicia
8/16/2024
Congratulations to DCMS members Kristen Bishop, MD, Kevin Klein, MD, James “Brad” Cutrell, MD, William Gary Reed, MD, E. Sherwood Brown, MD, PhD, MBA, and Christiana Sahl Renner, MD, MS, on receiving these prestigious awards and recognitions.
8/16/2024
The FDA approval was based on data from the company's phase 2 PaTH Forward trial and the Phase 3 PaTHway trial.
8/16/2024
The Food and Drug Administration said it approved the spray from drugmaker ARS Pharmaceuticals Inc. as an emergency treatment for adults and older children experiencing life-threatening allergic reactions known as anaphylaxis.
8/2/2024
The FDA published an alert on July 26 after receiving reports of dosing errors involving compounded semaglutide injectable products dispensed in multidose vials.
8/2/2024
The Texas Health and Human Services Commission has developed a recorded presentation for Medicaid and CHIP providers about the extended postpartum coverage to 12 months for eligible Medicaid and CHIP recipients as directed by House Bill 12, 88th Legi
8/2/2024
To keep up with surging demand in mental health services, provider plans to open ‘a place of healing’ for southern Dallas area in late 2025.
7/26/2024
The patient is a male resident of the City of Dallas in the 75230-zip code diagnosed with West Nile Non-Neuroinvasive Disease (WNNND).
7/26/2024
Two hospitals in California in recent months have been cited by state inspectors for allowing certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) to practice beyond their scope, leading to one hospital temporarily stopping use of CRNAs in surgeries.
7/26/2024
Congress must act to stop the proposed pay cut and support the bipartisan House Resolution 2474 to reform Medicare’s broken payment system and ensure physicians receive inflationary updates like hospitals and other Medicare providers receive.
7/19/2024
KRLD's Mike Rogers talked to Dr. Donna Casey, Immediate Past President of the Dallas County Medical Society, about the current COVID situation.
7/19/2024
Among those surveyed, 34 percent said they use TikTok to get most of their health advice, making it more than twice as popular as the other options listed.
7/19/2024
It is important to note that physicians and other health care providers will be subject to CMS and ONC’s disincentive regulations starting July 31, 2024.
6/21/2024
Submit your comments using the Draft Policy Comment Submission (HHS Form 1342). VDP will consider the comments when developing the final policy and share the final policy and implementation information later.
6/21/2024
Texans have new tools to understand conditions around maternal and child health in the state. The Texas Department of State Health Services has launched new public data dashboards on maternal health and infant health as part of its Texas Health Data
6/21/2024
Citing research that shows social media could be negatively impacting youth mental health, Dr. Vivek H. Murthy said a surgeon general's warning on social media platforms, similar to those on tobacco and alcohol products, could raise awareness for par
6/14/2024
The Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor, and the Treasury are announcing a 120-calendar-day exception period for disputing parties impacted by the recent Change Healthcare cybersecurity incident.
6/14/2024
The NHE estimates discussed in the report contain expected effects from the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA), including anticipated effects associated with the law’s provisions regarding the redesign of Medicare’s Part D drug benefit, negotiatio
6/14/2024
The bill, introduced by Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., and Rep. Suzan DelBene, D-Wash., would require Medicare Advantage plans to establish electronic prior authorization programs for health care providers beginning in 2027.
6/7/2024
TMA member candidates looking to serve on the committee as AI experts should have experience in active medical practice and using or implementing AI in that setting; technology literacy; and interest in medical ethics, policymaking, and risk manageme
6/7/2024
Stranch, Jennings, & Garvey are available to discuss legal options with DCMS members. DCMS does not endorse any particular strategy or firm, but wants to provide this resource as a starting point for members harmed by Change Healthcare.
6/7/2024
On June 23, 2022, the FDA issued marketing denial orders (MDOs)External Link Disclaimer to JUUL Labs, Inc. for all of their products marketed in the United States at the time.
5/31/2024
Texas physicians who care for Medicaid patients should confirm their email address is valid in the Texas Medicaid and Healthcare Partnership’s (TMHP’s) Provider Enrollment Management System (PEMS) to ensure effective communication and timely payments
5/31/2024
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) published a Final Rule to modify the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy Rule to support reproductive health care privacy. Physician are r
5/31/2024
In Nature Medicine today we published the first 3-year report on major outcomes for over 135,000 people who had Covid from the US Department of Veteran Affairs. Of the participants, nearly 115,000 were not hospitalized and over 20,000 required hospit
5/24/2024
The Texas Medical Association continues to monitor the cyberattack, which disrupted payment and revenue cycle management operations across the U.S., leaving countless physician practices without income.
5/24/2024
Spring and summer bring a different State of Affairs. While respiratory viruses, like flu and RSV, have largely receded, we face a plethora of other health annoyances and potential threats.
5/24/2024
In a call with state and local health authorities, Nirav Shah, CDC’s principal deputy director, said flu surveillance efforts should not be allowed to go into off-season mode this summer, given the need to detect human infections with H5N1, if they a
5/17/2024
The launch comes weeks after Walgreens' brand was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in April.
5/17/2024
Lifting current restrictions could dramatically expand the number of doctor-owned hospitals, now estimated at 250-265 nationally, according to Physician-Led Healthcare for America (PHA), which advocates for POHs.
5/17/2024
The FDA issued a Warning Letter to Cue Health after an inspection revealed that the company made changes to these tests and that the changes reduced the reliability of the test to detect SARS-CoV-2 virus.
5/10/2024
Dallas pediatric cardiologist Lee Ann Pearse, MD, has been active in organized medicine her entire career. She was a member of TMA’s Council on Socioeconomics and Council on Legislation, and a district chair of TEXPAC, TMA’s Political Action Committe
5/10/2024
H5N1 is taking up a lot of brain space for epidemiologists, virologists, and veterinarians alike. Alarm bells are going off, many questions are thrown around, and frustration is brewing. Concern has percolated to the public.
5/10/2024
The draft legislation proposes the creation of a “Medicare Drug Shortage Prevention and Mitigation Program” that would encourage improved contracting and purchasing practices in the drug supply chain. The program would begin in 2027, according to the
5/3/2024
The Texas Medical Association’s advocacy for medicine-friendly policy also continues apace during the interim, with the association closely monitoring several of these charges.
5/3/2024
TMALC alumni represent a variety of specialties and practice settings – the main requirement for participation is a desire to learn, grow, and have a positive impact on the field of medicine. Deadline to apply is June 20, 2024.
5/3/2024
The USPSTF recommends biennial screening mammography for women aged 40 to 74 years. The USPSTF concludes that the current evidence is insufficient to assess the balance of benefits and harms of screening mammography in women 75 years or older.
4/12/2024
The proposal “includes an array of provisions that range from raising cybersecurity standards to allowing people to opt out of algorithms that could be used to make medical decisions.”
4/12/2024
This study aimed to understand inflammatory processes that underlie long COVID and was not designed for biomarker discovery.
4/12/2024
The U.S. CDC on Friday issued a health alert to inform clinicians, state health departments and the public of a case of avian influenza in a person who had contact with dairy cows presumed to be infected with the virus.
3/22/2024
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is issuing this Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Advisory to inform clinicians and public health officials of an increase in global and U.S. measles cases.
3/22/2024
TMA and its allies advocated for House Bill 3359 by Rep. Greg Bonnen, MD (R-Friendswood), which passed unanimously in the final days of the session. The law, as written, strengthens network adequacy requirements for state-regulated PPOs and EPOs and
3/22/2024
The application will be open for the remainder of the extended data submission period, which closes April 15, 2024, at 8 p.m. ET.
8/9/2024
A group of lawmakers from the United States House of Representatives and Senate have sent a letter urging the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to work with Congress to maintain expanded access to telehealth.
8/9/2024
Syphilis, once nearly eliminated in the US, continues to resurge, reaching the highest rate of new infections recorded since 1950. In 2022, there were more than 207,000 cases diagnosed, which represents an 80% increase since 2018, and 17% over the pr
8/9/2024
Proposed policies would continue to ensure the strength and stability of Medicare Advantage and Part D programs.
1/29/2024
Between December 1, 2023 and January 23, 2024, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) was notified of 23 confirmed U.S. cases of measles, including seven direct importations of measles by international travelers and two outbreaks with m
1/29/2024
House Bill 1998 (HB 1998) requires all licensed physicians in Texas to have their fingerprints on file for criminal history background checks. Most physicians initially licensed since 2018 have already met this requirement as part of their license ap
1/29/2024
As a direct result of advocacy from the AMA and other physician organizations, CMS has taken significant steps toward rightsizing the prior authorization process.