Stories written by Emma Freer

TMA Ask the Expert: Medicare Physician Fee Schedule - 05/23/2026

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS’) 2022 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule takes effect on Jan. 1 and raises several concerns for physicians treating Medicare patients, including a series of mandated pay cuts totaling nearly 10% and changes to the already complex Quality Payment Program (QPP).

TMA Calls on Lawmakers to Stop the Latest Medicare Pay Cut - 05/21/2026

Just days remain for Congress to stop yet another pending Medicare physician pay cut, and the Texas Medical Association is again feverishly working the nation’s Capitol.

Inflation Reduction Act Expands Health Coverage, Ignores Medicare Payment Fix - 05/21/2026

The Inflation Reduction Act, which President Joe Biden signed into law on Aug. 16, has made headlines for its deficit- and climate change-related provisions. But the omnibus legislation also will expand health care coverage and lower Medicare prescription drug costs.

TMA Urges CMS to Nix Penalties Related to E-Prescribing Controlled Substances - 05/21/2026

The Texas Medical Association is pushing back against proposed penalties for physicians who don’t electronically prescribe controlled substances.

TMA Fights Another Proposed Medicare Pay Cut, While Pressing for Reform - 05/21/2026

TMA recently responded to the Medicare's 984-page proposal with concerns about a 4.4% pay cut and other potentially harmful changes related to scope expansion, e-prescribing penalties, and physicians’ administrative burden.

Medicare Fee Schedule a Mixed Bag for 2023 - 05/21/2026

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently posted the 2023 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, which takes effect Jan. 1 and brings with it a mixed bag of consequences for physicians.

Mending Medicare: Federal Spending Law Reduces Physician Pay Cut Amid Reform Push - 05/21/2026

A massive federal spending law took effect in late 2022, delivering a smaller-than-scheduled Medicare physician pay cut in 2023, but the Texas Medical Association and others in organized medicine continue to push for comprehensive reform.

Medicine Achieves Reduction in Medicare Physician Pay Cut Amid Push for Reform - 05/21/2026

After a concerted advocacy campaign by the Texas Medical Association and others in organized medicine, Congress lessened a Medicare physician pay cut that took effect Jan. 1. Despite this intervention, physicians still face declining Medicare payments in 2023 and in 2024, underscoring the need for comprehensive reform. Meanwhile, TMA experts continue to analyze other potentially positive provisions of the extensive spending law that averted the cuts and its specific implications for Texas.

Study: Health Plan Directories Remain Spotty Despite Legislative Intervention - 05/21/2026

Health plans continue to maintain inaccurate directories of in-network physicians and other health care professionals, despite a federal law that aims to ensure such directories are up to date.

Medicine Backs Proposed Medicare Prior Authorization Reforms - 05/21/2026

Physicians caring for Medicare patients soon may find relief from onerous prior authorization requirements that frequently delay, discourage, or drive up the costs of care, thanks to proposed regulations governing Medicare Advantage (Part C) and prescription drug (Part D) plans.

New Federal Rules Limit Short-Term Insurance Plans, Enhance Protections - 05/20/2026

Following advocacy by the Texas Medical Association, the U.S. departments of Health and Human Services, Labor, and the Treasury recently issued final rules that strengthen consumer protections related to short term, limited duration insurance.

Prior Auth Processes to Streamline Under Medicare Advantage, Other Federal Programs - 05/20/2026

Physicians who care for patients enrolled in federal health plans can expect shorter prior authorization response times and other process improvements in coming years, thanks to longstanding advocacy by the Texas Medical Association and others in organized medicine.

Texas ACOs Produce Millions in Medicare Shared Savings Despite Pandemic - 11/13/2025

After a transition year in 2019,  accountable care organizations (ACOs) enrolled in the Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) faced another daunting challenge: the COVID-19 pandemic.

Delegating to Nonphysician Practitioners - 09/12/2025

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.

“Incident-to” Billing for Nonphysician Services Requires Vigilance - 09/12/2025

For many physician employers, the subject of nonphysician practitioners (NPPs) and “incident-to” billing prompts more questions than answers.

Fight Vaccine Hesitancy With These Physician Tips - 08/26/2025

There is plenty of opportunity for discussions around vaccine hesitancy in Texas, where only 55% of people 12 and older are fully vaccinated, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. This puts Texas below the national average of 60%, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

New Law Prohibits Employer COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates, With Exceptions - 08/22/2025

Thanks to advocacy by the Texas Medical Association, guardrails for patient safety and practice viability are included in a new state law that prohibits employers, including physician offices and health care facilities, from mandating COVID-19 vaccines among employees.

Texas Senate Interim Charges Underscore TMA Legislative Priorities - 08/22/2025

Scope-of-practice creep and access to mental health care are among the 57 charges Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick recently issued for Senate committees to study ahead of the 2025 legislative session. 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.

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.