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Local Chapter Nominations

It is time to nominate local chapter Presidents and Vice Presidents! 

When nominating, consider that these individuals will be the leaders in navigating what topics are important to your local area, TPS membership, and our industry. They will promote networking and lead the dialogue on various topics. Topics may include: Medicine/ Legal/ Pharmacy/Federal and State Legislative and Regulatory Updates, as needed. 

 To be eligible, nominees must be current TPS members. Visit the directory to see if they are a member. 

 Please use the link below to submit your nominations for President and Vice President.

 Nominations are due by January 31, 2021.

Opioid Treatment Programs: New for 2021

The calendar year 2021 Physician Fee Schedule final rule includes information for Medicare-enrolled Opioid Treatment Programs (OTPs):

• New covered services include FDA-approved opioid antagonist medications, specifically naloxone, for emergency treatment of opioid overdose, as well as overdose education provided in conjunction with opioid antagonist medication
• New codes for nasal and injectable naloxone
• Medicare Part B coverage of hospital outpatient or free-standing institutional OTP services; these providers will submit claims using the institutional claim form (837i electronically or CMS-1450 paper claim)

We updated the OTP webpages and the Enrollment (PDF) and Billing & Payment (PDF) fact sheets with this and other new information. 

Texas Launches Opioid Misuse Prevention Website to Fight Addiction, Overdoses

AUSTIN – Texas Health and Human Services is launching a new website featuring videos, the latest information and helpful resources to promote Texas Targeted Opioid Response (TTOR), which is a statewide public health effort to fight against opioid addiction and overdose.

The new website, TXopioidresponse.org, is available in English and Spanish and provides tips for safe opioid use, as well as information about the dangers of misusing prescription opioid medications.

“One in five Texans has experienced an opioid overdose or know someone who has,” said Kasey Strey, TTOR Director at Texas Health and Human Services Commission. “We are dedicated to preventing prescription opioid misuse, overdoses and opioid use disorder. With awareness of the risks and how to take medications safely, Texans can prevent opioid misuse and help put an end to the opioid crisis.”

At its December 4, 2020 meeting, the Texas Medical Board adopts rule changes. Specifically: 

CHAPTER 170. PRESCRIPTIONS OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES New Subchapter D, and new §170.10, entitled Electronic Prescribing of Controlled Substances, sets forth requirements and exceptions related to controlled substance e-prescribing. Further, the rule sets forth the process and circumstances in which a physician may obtain a waiver from controlled substance e-prescribing requirements, in accordance with Texas Health and Safety Code §481.0756, as set forth by H.B. 2174 (86th Leg. (2019)). 

New §170.10 rule found here! 

Input Needed for Development of Utilization Review Agent Plan-Based Audit by Nov 3

When: May 6 - 7, 2020

Where: Online

Register: Click Here

New Telehealth Services Available

CMS has issued a new list of telemedicine and telehealth services that can be reimbursed through Medicare during the federally-declared Public Health Emergency for COVID-19. The complete list of covered services is available on the DWC telemedicine page.

Commissioner Brown has issued this memo on the changes.

DWC Issues Bulletin Suspending Certain Provisions and Rules Due to COVID-19

Commissioner Brown has issued a new bulletin on COVID-19 as it relates to the Texas workers' compensation system. Here are some of the items covered in the new bulletin:

• work search compliance standards for supplemental income benefits;
• testing, training, application, and recertification requirements for designated doctors; and
• required medical exams.

View the full bulletin on the TDI website.

DWC Operations Update in Response to COVID-19

Commissioner Brown sends an update to system participants about changes in DWC’s operations in response to COVID-19. Read more at https://bit.ly/2QIbQQm.

The move to telehealth will make it easier for providers to prescribe an opioid or other controlled substance during the COVID-19 public health emergency.

March 18, 2020 - Telemedicine has found yet another key purpose during the coronavirus public health emergency: the prescribing of controlled substances, such as opioids.

Per new clarification from the US Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), healthcare professionals can now prescribe a controlled substance to a patient using telehealth technology.

This announcement comes in the wake of the public health emergency declared by HHS Secretary Alex Azar on January 31, 2020.

Telemedicine for Worker’s Compensation

Telehealth is a great tool in battling the spread of infections. Texas workers’ compensation allows for billing and reimbursement of certain telemedicine and telehealth services in place of regular on-site medical care. Ask your doctor about services they might provide.

NCHS Data Brief No. 356, January 2020

PDF Versionpdf icon (423 KB)

Holly Hedegaard, M.D., Arialdi M. Miniño, M.P.H., and Margaret Warner, Ph.D.

The American Medical Association on Tuesday awarded former Texas State Rep. John Zerwas, MD, its Dr. Nathan Award for Outstanding Government Service.

Dr. Zerwas, an anesthesiologist from Richmond, served in the Texas House of Representatives from 2007 to 2019. He stepped down in September to become The University of Texas System’s new executive vice chancellor for health affairs.

“A physician, an advocate, and a citizen-legislator, Dr. Zerwas has served the citizens and patients of Texas with distinction,” AMA Board Chair Jesse M. Ehrenfeld, MD, said in a statement. “As a legislator, he stood on principle, and put science and evidence first when fighting for public health, his constituents, and the people of Texas. For his outstanding work and leadership, the AMA is pleased to present Dr. John M. Zerwas with the Nathan Davis Award.”

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