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Emergency Rule Related to Issuance of Prescriptions Renewed for 30 Days

Emergency Rule Related to Issuance of Prescriptions Renewed for 30 Days

The emergency rule related to the issuance of certain prescriptions during the COVID-19 disaster has been renewed for 30 days. 

The emergency rule (§174.5) continues to allow physicians to utilize telemedicine for issuing previous prescription(s) for scheduled medications to established chronic pain patients if the prescribing physician has, within the past 90 days, seen a patient in-person or via a telemedicine visit using two-way audio and video communication. 

The emergency rule will remain in place for 30 days (until July 30, 2021 at 11:59 p.m.) or for the duration of the time period that the Governor’s disaster declaration of March 13, 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic is in effect, whichever is shorter, pursuant to Section 2001.034 of the Texas Government Code. 

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Mark White Academic Excellence Award

The Texas Pain Foundation is excited to announce a new award in honor of Mark White, DO, the 
Mark White Academic Excellence Award in Pain Medicine. 
Find out how you can submit your winning publication. 
Read about all the awards given at the Conference. 

Members Sought for the Drug Utilization Review Board

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission executive commissioner is looking for Drug Utilization Review Board members.

Advisory Committee / HHS Policy & Rules website

Members Sought for the Drug Utilization Review Board

If you’re interested in the statewide Drug Utilization Review Program for Medicaid, you may want to apply to be a member of the Drug Utilization Review Board. The Texas Health and Human Services Commission executive commissioner will appoint members to the board to serve a term expiring Aug. 31, 2025.

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We're back in person!

Meeting Registration is OPEN!

The Texas Pain Society’s Annual Scientific Meeting is the premier educational conference for pain management physicians in Texas. Each year over 200 physicians attend this one of a kind event.

Notable Pain Medicine-Specific CME Presentations will focus on the most current research and findings in pain medicine. Earn up to 17 AMA PRA Category 1tm and 2.75 hours of ethics/ professional responsibility in one weekend from distinguished state and national speakers.

1. Learn about the latest state law and rule changes from the Texas Medical Board and Texas State Board of Pharmacy and Drug Trafficking at the border

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Novitas Solutions and First Coast recently posted the following proposed Local Coverage Determinations (LCDs) for public comment.

Under the proposed LCDs, the specialties listed may have a particular interest in the policy. We encourage you to share the proposed LCDs and comment before July 24, 2021.

Novitas:

 Epidural Procedures for Pain Management (DL36920)

 

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13th Annual Scientific Conference

Registration and sponsorship information will be out soon!

TMB Updates

Here are some highlights. View the full update here

Prescribing Emergency Rule in Effect Through June
The emergency rule related to the issuance of certain prescriptions during the COVID-19 disaster was approved for 60 days at the end of April. The emergency rule (§174.5) continues to allow physicians to utilize telemedicine for issuing previous prescription(s) for scheduled medications to established chronic pain patients if the physician has, within the past 90 days, seen a patient in-person or via a telemedicine visit using two-way audio and video communication. The emergency rule will remain in place for 60 days (until June 30, 2021 at 11:59 p.m.) or for the duration of the time period that the Governor’s disaster declaration of March 13, 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic is in effect, whichever is shorter, pursuant to Section 2001.034 of the Texas Government Code. TMB will continue to provide updates on COVID-19 issues on the TMB website at tmb.state.tx.us/page/ coronavirus. For the latest COVID-19 information for health providers and the public, visit the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) COVID-19 web page at dshs.texas.gov/ coronavirus.
 
New Acupuncture Board Members Appointed
CONGRATULATIONS! Rey Ximenes, M.D., of Spicewood, is a consultant at Balcones Pain Consultants. He is past president and a member of the American Academy of Medical Acupuncture and the Austin Chapter of the Texas Pain Society. Additionally, he is a member of the American Society of Addiction Medicine, the American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians, and the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians. Ximenes received a Bachelor of Arts in Zoology from The University of Texas at Austin and a Doctor of Medicine from the University of Texas Medical School, Houston.
 
E-Prescribing Mandatory; Waivers Established 
Texas Physicians, House Bill 2174 (86th Legislature) mandated electronic prescribing of controlled substances (Schedules II-V) as of January 1, 2021. The law establishes a waiver from the electronic prescribing requirements in certain situations, including: economic hardship, technological limitations outside of the prescriber’s control and other exceptional circumstances. Once approved, waivers will be valid for one year. A prescriber may reapply no earlier than 30 days before the date the waiver expires. For more information on the requirement, how to apply for a waiver through the My TMB portal, and Frequently Asked Questions, please visit: http:// www.tmb.state.tx.us/page/ renewals-physicianelectronic-prescribingwavier.

 

TMB Emergency Rule Related to Issuance of Prescriptions Renewed for 60 Days

Emergency Rule Related to Issuance of Prescriptions Renewed for 60 Days

 

Texas Physicians and Physician Assistants, the emergency rule related to the issuance of certain prescriptions during the COVID-19 disaster has been renewed for 60 days. 

 

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#TakeBackDay April 24, 2021

The DEA’s Take Back Day events provide an opportunity for Americans to prevent drug addiction and overdose deaths. Encourage the gathering of unused, unwanted, or expired prescription drugs to dispose of safely during the upcoming event.

When: Saturday,  April 24, 2021 – 10 AM to 2 PM

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Happy Doctor's Day!

AAPM Covid Vaccination and Steroids

AAPM Covid Vaccination and Steroids 

DSHS Health Advisory - Candida auris

Health Advisory: Pan-Resistant Candida auris Identified in Texas

March 16, 2021

In January 2021, Candida auris became a Texas notifiable condition with required isolate submission to the DSHS Laboratory in Austin. Since it became reportable, seven cases of C. auris have been reported in Texas residents. Two of these cases were identified as resistant to all three classes of antifungal drug. These are the first cases of pan-resistant C. auris identified in Texas. This Health Advisory is intended to provide recommendations regarding laboratory identification methods, treatment options and infection control recommendations to mitigate C. auris transmission.

 

About Candida auris

Candida auris is a fungus that may cause serious illness for those it infects. C. auris can cause invasive infections, including bloodstream infections, which may result in death, particularly in hospital and long-term care patients. C. auris is a public health threat because it is often multidrug-resistant, is difficult to identify, and can persist on surfaces in healthcare environments, resulting in the spread of C. auris among patients in healthcare facilities. Patients exposed to C. auris may remain colonized for a long time, putting them at risk for a future C. auris infection and further spreading the fungus.  

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DEA Releases 2020 National Drug Threat Assessment


The 2020 NDTA is a valuable resource for all Americans, but especially those elected officials, law enforcement personnel, prevention and treatment specialists, and others who develop counter-drug policies, oversee law enforcement operations, and allocate resources.

 

The National Drug Threat Assessment (NDTA) is DEA’s annual comprehensive assessment of the threat posed to the United States by the trafficking and abuse of illicit drugs, the diversion and abuse of licit drugs, and the laundering of proceeds generated through illicit drug sales. 

 


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NEW DATE - Virtual CME Event hosted by Houston Chapter

 

Earn 1.25 AMA PRA Category 1tm and MOCA® credits for attending this event, hosted by TPS Houston Chapter. 

Find out more information here

TMB Emergency Rule Related to Issuance of Prescriptions Renewed

Texas Physicians and Physician Assistants, the emergency rule related to the issuance of certain prescriptions during the COVID-19 disaster has been renewed for 60 days.

The emergency rule continues to allow for telephone refill of certain prescriptions to established chronic pain patients as long as the patient has been seen by the prescribing physician, or health professional defined under Chapter 111.001(1) of the Texas Occupations Code, in the last 90 days either in-person or via telemedicine using audio and video two-way communication.

The emergency rule will remain in place for 60 days (until May 1, 2021 at 11:59 p.m.) or for the duration of the time period that the Governor’s disaster declaration of March 13, 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic is in effect, whichever is shorter, pursuant to Section 2001.034 of the Texas Government Code.

TMB will continue to provide any updates on COVID-19 issues on the TMB website at www.tmb.state.tx.us/page/coronavirus.

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TONIGHT! Rescheduled: Strengthening Medicine in the 87th Texas Legislature with Dr. Diana Fite

Rescheduled: Strengthening Medicine in the 87th Texas Legislature with Dr. Diana Fite

 

The February DCMS Connect event has been rescheduled to Wednesday, February 24 at 6:30pm.

DCMS Connect is excited to have TMA President Dr. Diane Fite as the speaker for the February DCMS Connect event. During the 87th Texas legislative session, TMA will work with legislators to navigate budget challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. They will also work to ensure that nothing interferes with the patient-physician relationship so that physicians can be there when their patients need them. Dr. Fite will speak to how you can help in this effort and how to participate in TMA advocacy events during this session.

Learning Objectives: 
1. Describe TMA's legislative strategies that ensure an improved health care landscape for physicians and their patients.
2. Identify the unique health care challenges Texas physicians and their patients continue to face.
3. Discuss specific actions TMA is taking to address legislative issue on state and federal levels.
4. Implement steps that physicians and their patients can take to continue improving the health care system.

1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ with the ethics designation.

The Texas Medical Association is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians. TMA designates this live activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
 
The Texas Medical Association designates this activity for up to one hour in the area of ethics and/or professional responsibility education.

Registration fee is $25.

Questions? Contact Cara Jaggers, DCMS director of events, at [email protected].

















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3rd Annual Interdisciplinary Pain and Opioid Crisis Seminar on April 23-24, 2021

Dr. Eduardo Bruera, Chair of Palliative, Rehabilitation, and Integrative Medicine, and Dr. Joseph Arthur, (Conference Chair), Associate Professor in Palliative, Rehabilitation, and Integrative Medicine, invite you and your colleagues to join us for this outstanding educational opportunity. We are happy to announce that registration for the 3rd Annual Interdisciplinary Pain and Opioid Crisis Seminar on April 23-24, 2021, is now open.

The 3rd Annual Interdisciplinary Pain and Opioid Crisis Seminar is CME credited for those attending in real-time. Registration is now open and in line with our mission to present accurate data for a global audience.  We hope you will join us for this outstanding educational opportunity.

This will be a great opportunity for all APRNs who attend the conference to earn credit towards their regulatory controlled substance CE requirement.

- REGISTRATION IS NOW AVAILABLE -

Please share the information about this virtual education day with your colleagues.  We look forward to seeing you in April. 

 



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Informed Consent Pain Management Agreement Now available in Spanish


SPANISH VERSION NOW AVAILABLE. Take advantage of this free resource for members! 

also available for Non-Members for only $50! 

Get your English and Spanish copies here. 

2021 Texas Workers' Compensation Conference Going Virtual

 

New Dates: Four-Day Virtual Conference

The 2021 Texas Workers’ Compensation Conference is happening virtually June 28 - July 1. The COVID-19 pandemic changed the way we do business, but human connections are more important than ever.

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Medicare News from Novitas Solutions

Medicare News for: 02/09/21


 Frequently asked questions


Medicare secondary payer (MSP) educational series

The questions and answers have been updated from the educational series. Please carefully review the information. 
 

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