TMA’s new podcast called TMA Health Beat will focus on public health issues and outreach programs organized by TMA. In the first episode, Marinel Munda, MD, a pediatrician from Tyler, Texas, talks about Walk with a Doc – a free program organized by physicians to encourage their patients to exercise. Dr. Munda explains why walking is important for a healthy lifestyle and how the program helps her give back to her community.

The Texas Medical Board clarifies new fingerprinting requirement ahead of February license renewals. Get instructions and details at the TMB website. Read the TMT article at www.texmed.org/TMT.

Guest Jeff Drummond, partner at Jackson Walker LLP in Dallas noted for his experience in advising on Texas privacy laws and HIPAA and cyber security concerns, answers frequent questions about HIPAA and Texas privacy laws. Get more help on this topic at the TMA Education Center.

We wish you the happiest of holidays! We'll be back in January with new episodes.

The final 2024 Medicare fee schedule solidifies pay cuts and heightens calls for reform. Robert Bennet, VP of TMA’s medical economics division, provides tips you can use today with your patients to fight the ongoing crisis surrounding the Sustainable Growth Rate formula. Get the ondemand Medicare 2024 Payment Update webinar to learn other key changes starting January 1, 2024. Use the links below to inform your patients and yourself on this call to action. TMA Medicare Toolkit Physician Office Materials: Flyers and Slate Card for Your Practice TMA Medicare Toolkit Social Medicare Graphics TMA Legislative Action Alerts H.R.2474 - Strengthening Medicare for Patients and Providers Act

TMA's Ask the Expert series answers physicians' questions on a wide range of practice management and regulatory topics. In this episode, staff experts will take on questions about medical records, which justify billing practices and are integral to risk assessment. To claim CME for this episode and access links to the resources discussed, go to www.texmed.org/CMEtoGo. Find more Ask the Experts topics.

During the pandemic, there was a significant reduction in the volume of complaints filed with the Texas Medical Board (TMB) and investigation notices issued by the board. Now, the board has begun to churn out more complaint notices. Listen to this episode to get quick tips to help you steer clear of TMB notices. Looking for more on this topic? Play the entire ondemand webinar in the TMA Education Center.

A new survey of Texas residents sheds some light on how patients are influenced by vaccines. Recorded at TexMed 2023, Dr. Mary Manis shares some of the survey findings and offers tips to improve vaccination rates in Texas. Visit the program page at the TMA Education Center to claim CME and to access resources for this episode.

Dr. Andre Chen, a Board Certified Addiction Medicine specialist in practice at Advanced Pain Care in Austin, TX provides guidance on opioid stewardship and substance use disorders. This program is eligible to count towards: (i) the eight hours of training on treatment and management of patients with opioid or other substance use disorders required for all U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration-registered practitioners, and (ii) the two hours of CME in the study of pain management and the prescribing and monitoring of controlled substances required by the Texas Medical Board. Participation in this program in no way implies that the participant has fully met the federal and state mandated training requirements. Participation in this program in no way implies the participant has fully met the federally and state-mandated training requirements. Participants are solely responsible for ensuring any mandated training requirements are completed. Claim CME for this episode or go to www.texmed.org/education for more CME programs.

The weight of the physician’s words can be monumental, driving medical decision-making by the patient and other decision-makers. An internal medicine physician and board-certified palliative medicine specialist, Dr. Rezaie shares some of her experiences with terminal patients and their families, and discusses techniques that can help frame and navigate difficult discussions. Claim CME for this episode or go to www.texmed.org/education for more CME programs.