Top Stories Affecting Physicians and Patients

• Medicaid

  Reform Medicaid First, Then ExpandTMA President, Michael E. Speer says, "Texas physicians have a clear message for our federal and state policymakers on the issue of Medicaid expansion: “Reform first, then expand only with a state-specific plan that targets the unique health care needs of our state’s population and that Texas taxpayers can afford.”
• Public Health

  Ban Texting on Texas Roads, Say PhysiciansA statewide ban on texting while driving passed the Texas House Committee on Transportation, with the support of Texas physicians who see the suffering and death that can result from the potentially dangerous practice. House Bill 63 by Rep. Tom Craddick (R-Midland), would ban text-based communications except when using a GPS device, pressing a button to make a call, or using voice-operated technology.
• Medicaid/Medicare

  Some Coverage Reinstated for Poor, Ill Texans Texas’ “medical emergency” has been partially averted. The Texas Legislative Budget Board has directed the Health and Human Services Commission to restore part of a cut in payments for patients covered by both Medicare and Medicaid. Because they qualify for both government health insurance programs, these patients are sometimes called “dual-eligible” patients. They are often the poorest and sickest Texans.
• Medicaid/Medicare

  Drop in Physician Acceptance of Medicaid, Medicare Patients Texas Medical Association (TMA) physician leaders have long predicted government regulatory burdens, red tape, payment hassles, and low pay would erode the physician foundation of both Medicaid and Medicare. That day is here, read more ...
• Public Health

  TMA: Women's Right to KnowThe Woman's Right to Know booklet that Texas law requires physicians to give to all patients considering an elective abortion is factually inaccurate and not science-based, the chair of TMA's Maternal and Perinatal Health Committee wrote to state public health officials.
• Health Information Technology

  Despite Hurdles, Texas Physicians Implement EHRsMore Texas Medical Association (TMA) physicians use electronic tools to help them practice medicine than ever before, according to a preliminary TMA survey. Sixty percent of Texas physicians report now using an electronic health record (EHR), up from 43 percent from 2009.