Table of Contents: July 2015



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Volume 111, Number 7 — July 2015

COVER STORY (pages 24-31) 

TMA Uncovers Medicare Mistakes
The Texas Medical Association recently uncovered some major Medicare mistakes that show just why some physicians talk about leaving the federal program. Investigations and advocacy by TMA staff put Medicare on the path to a fix. By Amy Lynn Sorrel

PRACTICE MANAGEMENT (pages 33-37)

Living the Dream of Private Practice
When starting a private practice, physicians often face numerous legal, staffing, and real estate hurdles. Many turn to TMA Practice Consulting for help. By Kate Harrington

EDUCATION (pages 39-45)

Choosing Fellowship
Fellows tend to practice where they train, making retention critical to an adequate physician workforce. But as subspecialties grow, some question whether the trend is narrowing access to much-needed general care. By Amy Lynn Sorrel

PUBLIC HEALTH (pages 47-51)

Following the Science
A bill requiring student athletes to have an EKG before their first and third years of participation in school athletics didn't pass this legislative session. TMA and other organizations say the scientific evidence doesn't support mass screening. By Joey Berlin

LAW (pages 53-58)

Documenting Patient Care in EHRs
New Texas Medical Board rules attempt to underscore the importance of accurate information in the data-saturated electronic health record system and make doctors' reporting requirements clearer. By Joey Berlin

QUALITY (pages 59-62)

Technical Assistance Required
Medicare's Quality and Resource Use Reports help doctors gauge their performance in federal quality reporting mandates. But unraveling the mystery of scattergrams and composite scores is not easy. By Amy Lynn Sorrel

DEPARTMENTS

Fact (page 7)
Focus On (pages 8-9)
Commentary: Learning From Past Successes By Carlos R. Hamilton Jr., MD (pages 11-12)
Rounds (pages 15-23)
Deaths (page 23)
Back Talk (page 64)

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