Stories written by Phil West

TMB Assists with CME Tracking Platform as Deadline Nears - 06/01/2026

The Texas Medical Board is taking steps to help physicians understand how to use the new mandatory tracking application CE Broker, including through webinars to be hosted this summer. TMA continues to field physician questions in advance of the Sept. 1 effective date.

Act Soon: Texas Medicaid, CHIP Login System Changing in June - 05/28/2026

All Texas Medicaid physicians must change their login information June 8-15 or risk losing access. The change to a more secure login process precedes a TMA-supported overhaul of the physician enrollment and credentialing system coming in 2027.

Quality Payment Program Exception Applications Open Now Through Dec. 31 - 05/27/2026

Physicians enrolled in the Quality Payment Program can apply for exemptions covering either interoperability or extreme and unusual circumstances. The submissions, due Dec. 31, will impact 2028 Medicare payment.

2025 Legislative Wrap-Up: Texas Medicaid Enrollment, Eligibility Systems Get Modernization Funding - 05/22/2026

The Texas legislature preserved Medicaid allotments that TMA advocated for in the 2023 session, while providing funding to support two important online systems.

Chiropractors Seek to Expand Scope, Reopening Decades-Old Fight - 05/22/2026

Texas’ chiropractic board is seeking the state’s opinion on whether the board has the authority to adopt a rule permitting a chiropractor to perform needle electromyography. TMA’s response is a continuation of its advocacy to keep chiropractors in safe scope of practice.

TMA Addresses Health Care Costs in House Committee Hearing - 05/19/2026

Supporting a new Texas House select committee’s goal of making health care more affordable, TMA identified cost drivers, chiefly administrative burden. More opportunities will follow to offer solutions.

New Federal Bill Attempts to Stabilize Medicare Payment - 05/13/2026

Congress is considering legislation that would address budget neutrality, calculations for practice expenses, and variance in the conversion factor – all elements impacting Medicare physician payment.

Learn New CME Tracking System with TMA’s Help - 05/11/2026

As of Sept. 1, Texas physicians renewing their licenses must track all CME through an online platform many are still unfamiliar with. TMA continues to answer questions from physicians regarding the new process, and TMB is hosting a May 13 webinar to provide additional guidance.

Legislative Interim Charges Add Health Care Affordability to Recurring Concerns - 05/11/2026

The priorities issued by state leaders provide a roadmap for the 2027 legislative session. Among them, TMA expects scope, insurance, and public health to be central issues once more, plus a renewed emphasis on health care affordability and fraud, waste, and abuse.

Talk with a Doc: Jayesh ‘Jay’ Shah, MD, Created Podcast Showcasing Physicians’ Personal Stories - 05/08/2026

Jayesh "Jay" Shah, MD, encouraged physicians to become the healthiest, best versions of themselves during his time as TMA president. He created a platform allowing physicians to tell their personal stories via a podcast titled with his longtime motto, "Let Doctors Be Doctors."

Supporting Medicine’s Supporters: TEXPAC Calls for More Members to Strengthen the Party of Medicine - 05/06/2026

TEXPAC’s grassroots approach resulted in successful campaigns across the political spectrum to boost medicine’s sway in the Texas Legislature, but to keep that record strong, and keep pace with medicine’s opponents, TEXPAC is looking to grow its ranks.

‘Take Medicine Back’: New TMA President Rallies Physicians with Eight-Point Plan - 05/05/2026

In a stirring speech at TexMed 2026 in Corpus Christi, Bradford Holland, MD, commenced his TMA presidency by laying out a vision to improve health care for patients and the physicians caring for them. Meanwhile, Immediate Past President Jayesh “Jay” Shah celebrated physicians’ collective strength in the last year.

Physician Payment and Practice Viability Drive House of Delegates Action - 05/04/2026

Preparing the Texas Medical Association for ongoing advocacy, the TMA House of Delegates approved a raft of policy at TexMed 2026 addressing physician payment concerns and practice viability.

Walking the Walk: TMA’s New President Knows the Pressures of Maintaining a Practice - 05/04/2026

Bradford W. Holland, MD, the Texas Medical Association's recently inducted president, was destined to be a doctor. But he was also drawn to medical policymaking while still in medical school, and has developed his abilities to advocate for physicians through experiences with TMA's Leadership College, its House of Delegates, and TEXPAC.

State Grants Additional Medicaid Revalidation Extensions - 04/23/2026

TMA advises physicians with Medicare revalidation due dates within 180 days to start the process and advance applications to in-flight status. The association’s Physician Payment Resource Center can help physicians unfamiliar with the Provider Enrollment and Management System or the revalidation process.

Latest MedPAC Report to Congress Aims to Mitigate Pending Cuts - 04/14/2026

This year, the commission is floating a modest payment adjustment for 2027 to limit the impact of the expiration of a one-year increase of 2.5% that applies in 2026 only. Practice viability and payment rates remain core concerns for TMA.

Collaborative Vaccination Campaign Backed by TMA Grant - 04/13/2026

With support from Vaccines Defend What Matters, Galveston’s medical school and a longtime partner clinic for the underserved again joined forces to give flu and Tdap vaccines. TMA’s grant program is taking applications for its next cycle, due May 22.

Mandatory Medicare Specialty Pilot Reveals Texas Participants - 04/02/2026

Just over 1,100 Texas physicians are on the initial participant list for a 2027 program addressing heart failure and low back pain in patients. The program will use the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System’s Value Pathways performance measures, drawing TMA’s attention.

Prior Auth Challenges Physician Effort to Save Patient’s Foot - 03/31/2026

After a peer-to-peer review maintained the determination to deny a San Antonio vascular surgeon’s request for prior authorization, she put the patient’s best interests first and intervened without guarantee of payment. The physician is currently appealing to recoup full payment.

New Types of Medicare Cuts Impact Physician Payment - 03/23/2026

The 2026 Medicare physician fee schedule included a small increase, including a one-time positive payment adjustment, but also included two cuts that could offset those gains. Organized medicine is continuing a dialogue over the changes.

Future of HHSC, DSHS to Be Determined by Sunset Review - 03/18/2026

Every 12 years, each state agency is subject to a sunset review process culminating with the Texas Legislature authorizing its continuation. TMA is providing initial input on two entities instrumental to the state’s health infrastructure.

WISeR Online Prior Auth Process for Original Medicare Shows Promise - 03/16/2026

To educate physicians on the progress of Medicare’s new prior authorization pilot, TMA has been in contact with Cohere Health, the technology vendor selected by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to manage the program in Texas in partnership with Novitas.

New Medicare Pilot Promotes Technology to Treat Certain Chronic Conditions - 03/16/2026

The program targets high blood pressure, diabetes, musculoskeletal pain, and depression, and encourages the use of wearable devices, including ones patients already have. Physicians have until April 1 to apply for inclusion in July’s initial launch.

Keep AI in Health Care Physician-Centered, TMA Cautions Feds - 03/05/2026

As the federal government looks to encourage more widespread adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) in clinical care, TMA highlights ongoing concerns about interoperability, reliability, and keeping patient data secure.

Advocacy, Passion Motivates Medical Student Scholarship Winners - 03/04/2026

The Harris County Medical Alliance Scholarship has awarded close to half a million dollars in its history. This year, 16 medical students at three Houston schools are receiving scholarships.