Texas Medicine Today

Texas Medicine Today is a daily newsletter from the Texas Medical Association, with stories customized to fit your specific interests. For the next several weeks at least, the newsletter will contain ONLY stories related to the coronavirus pandemic.

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COVID-19 TODAY'S NEWS

 

Use This Guide to Take the Right Steps for Your Practice’s Finances

As the COVID-19 curve rises, your practice revenue and cash flow might be trending downward. To help you take decisive actions to shore up practice operations for the weeks to come, the Texas Medical Association’s practice viability experts have created a step-by-step guide for you to use

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CMS Offers More Flexibility, Financial Stability for COVID-19 Care

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has taken several actions that will give physicians, hospitals and other providers greater flexibility and the financial stability they need to combat the COVID-19 global pandemic.

 

TMLT Offering Premium, Coverage Relief to Physicians During COVID-19 Emergency

Texas Medical Liability Trust, the largest medical liability insurance provider in Texas, has announced several changes to help members care for COVID-19 patients and to offer relief from financial hardships related to the pandemic. In a statement, TMLT said it will not cancel any policy if members cannot pay premiums on time because of COVID-19.



Immediate Changes Needed for Physicians to Stay in Business During the Pandemic

The CARES Act offers much-needed help to the acute needs of hospitals and the medical supply chain during the COVID-19 pandemic. This aid will facilitate the production of critical supplies such as ventilators and PPE (personal protective equipment). The law failed to consider the needs of the doctors who will run the ventilators and wear the masks.

 

COVID-19: UPDATES

 

To keep you up to date on the latest information, guidance, and resources related to COVID-19, the Texas Medical Association continues to update the stories below. 

As of Thursday, 4,669 cases have been confirmed in Texas and 70 deaths, according to a tracker for Texas COVID-19 cases published by the state Department of State Health Services.

 

COVID-19: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW 

 

Medicare Sequester Fee Cut to Continue Throughout 2020: Since April 1, 2013, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has cut all physician payments by 2% to trim spending because Congress and then-President Barack Obama could not agree on a new federal budget. That cut has continued until this year, but the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) temporarily suspended it for services provided from May 1 to Dec. 31, 2020.

 

TDI Makes Some Prescriptions Easier to Obtain: The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) has announced an emergency rule to make it easier for Texans with TDI-regulated health insurance to get early refills and to get prescriptions at more locations, including by home delivery.

 

Circumcision Considered “Incidental” to Childbirth, TMB Says: Ever since Gov. Greg Abbott issued an executive order last month directing the postponement until late April of all surgeries and procedures “that are not immediately necessary,” the Texas Medical Association has heard from physicians asking whether circumcision after childbirth is a necessary service. TMA has spoken to the Texas Medical Board, which said that circumcision is considered an "incidental" service in connection with delivering a baby and therefore permissible.

 

TMA White Paper Explains Non-Urgent Surgeries Rule

 

Concerned About Your Practice’s Finances? TMA Has Answers

 

“What If I’m Running Low on PPE?”

 

TMA Podcast Offers Practical Telemedicine Pointers

 

Telephone-Only Consultation Coverage and Payment Vary

 

COVID-19 Resources, All in One Place

To help Texas physicians prepare TMA is compiling the news and information you need right now on our online COVID-19 Resource Center. Bookmark that page as we will update it continually.