Texas Medicine Index of Subjects, 2008

A Publication of the Texas Medical Association

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M|N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|Y|Z

A

Access to Health Care . SeeHealth Services Accessibility

Accidents . See alsoHead Protective Devices
billing for [traffic] accident victims (Managing Your Practice), Jan p 6
trends in fall-related mortality among older adults in Texas, May pp 56-59

Accounting
learn the basics of accounting online (Managing Your Practice), Sep p 5

Acosta, Manuel , Sep p 28 (photo)

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
epidemiological summary of HIV/AIDS in Tarrant County, 2000 through 2005, Jul pp 47-52
technology reveals higher number of new U.S. HIV infections, Oct p 45

Adolescents
adolescent immunization (MedBytes), Aug p 64
adolescent vaccine coverage, Aug p 36
repairing young minds: Texas needs more child, adolescent psychiatrists, Oct pp 41-44
shots for big tots, Aug pp 35-38
study shows improved health behaviors by students, Aug p 40
teen birth rate up first time in 14 years, Feb pp 38-39
toolkit offers solutions to adolescent vaccination barriers, Aug p 37

Advertising
ACOG against direct-to-consumer genetic testing advertising, Aug p 46
scaring up patients: ad campaign for genetic screening worries physicians, Aug pp 43-46
wanted: your online classifieds [for TMA's Web site] (Managing Your Practice), Dec p 5

Aetna Inc.
Aetna promises to be good [after antiracketeering lawsuit settlement] (Rounds), Aug pp 14-16
delays decision to stop paying for certain anesthesia services, Apr pp 43-45
promises, promises: TMA helps hold HMO's feet to the fire, Apr pp 18-24

Aged . See alsoGeriatrics
trends in fall-related mortality among older adults in Texas, May pp 56-59

AIDS . SeeAcquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

Air Pollution
environmental health (MedBytes), Sep p 64
Houston, DFW top ozone pollution list, Jul pp 28-29
Texas' nonattainment and near nonattainment areas, Sep p 35
toxin tamers: partnership wants clean business, clean air, Sep pp 33-36

Allen, Bohn
receives Young at Heart Award, Jun p 11 (photo)
Texas needs more physicians, Sep p 13 (photo)

Allied Health Personnel . See alsoHealth Personnel
lead a first-rate team with TMA's new NPP [Nonphysician Practitioners] guide (Rounds), Feb pp 12-13
scope-of-practice fight looming in 2009 [legislative session] (Rounds), Mar p 9

Alpar, John J.
ophthalmology: the impossible becomes routine (Reflections on Medicine), May p 13

Amarillo, TX
Amarillo works to pass [no-smoking] ordinance, May p 39

Ambulatory Care
adequacy of outpatient care among hospitalized adult asthmatics in a southwest US border city, Oct pp 56-62

American College of Cardiology Foundation
cardiologists formally back physician ownership, Apr p 31

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
ACOG against direct-to-consumer genetic testing advertising, Aug p 46

American Heart Association
heart association helps patients cut salt, Oct pp 51-52
heart disease 2010 goal achieved, AHA reports, Apr pp 36-37

American Medical Association
AMA backs New York medical rate-setting probe, Apr p 45
House of Delegates
AMA adopts TMA call for antitrust relief, Jan p 10
AMA house ponders Medicare meltdown (Rounds), Jan pp 9-10
other issues merit action, Jan pp 10-11
Texans rack up AMA victories, Aug pp 9-10

Rohack, Jim, elected AMA president-elect, Aug p 9 (photo)
Texans in the spotlight (Rounds), Jan p 10

America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP)
health plans launch campaign for universal coverage, Sep p 31

Anabolic Agents
anabolic steroids (MedBytes), Feb p 56
avoid the 'roids: UIL to test high school athletes for steroids, Feb p 35-39
UIL chooses firm to administer steroid testing, Apr p 36

Analgesia
pain primer for primary physicians: essential concepts, Jun [insert]

Anderson, Richard (Newsmakers), May p 44

Anesthesia
Aetna delays decision to stop paying for certain anesthesia services, Apr pp 43-45

Anthem/WellPoint
promises, promises: TMA helps hold HMO's feet to the fire, Apr pp 18-24

Antibacterial Agents
UTHSCA team reports antibiotic resistance (Rounds), Apr p 15

Antitrust Laws
AMA adopts TMA call for antitrust relief (Rounds), Jan p 10

Appel, Stanley H. (Newsmakers), May p 44

Argenbright, Keith E. , Jun p 22 (photo)

Arnold, Tom
"still the greatest profession" (Reflections on Medicine), Feb p 14

Asthma
adequacy of outpatient care among hospitalized adult asthmatics in a southwest US border city, Oct pp 56-62

Athletics.SeeSports

Audits.SeeMedical Audits

Austin, TX
looking after each other [during Hurricane Ike], Nov pp 47-49 (photo)
physicians and nurses triage patients evacuated from Galveston, Nov pp 16-17 (photo)

Automobile Accidents . SeeAccidents

Availity LLC
completes claims-processing improvements (Rounds), Aug pp 31-32
completes transition of THIN providers, Oct pp 38-39
free sometimes costs: Availity working to resolve claims-submission problems, Apr pp 41-43

Avery Family
A&M accepts land donation for Round Rock campus, Mar p 36

Awards and Prizes
Butler Awards in Science Teaching
awarded to three teachers by Ernest and Sarah Butler, Jun p 12 (photo)
honor the science teachers: nominations being accepted (Rounds), Aug p 18

Butler, Max C., receives Distinguished Service Award, Jun p 10 (photo)
C. Frank Webber Award presented to Dennis Dove, Jun p 11 (photo)
Goodman, Louis J., receives 2008 Texas Society of Association Executives Distinguished Executive Award, Dec p 24 (photo)
June Bratcher Award for Political Action, Sep p 42 (photo), 44-46
Young at Heart Award presented to Bohn Allen, Jun p 11 (photo)

B

Bailer, Jill, Jun p 12 (photo)

Bailey, Susan Rudd
reelected to AMA Council on Medical Education, Aug p 9 (photo)

Balance Billing . SeeInsurance, Health, Reimbursement

Baldwin, John C ., Apr p 50 (photo)

Barnett, Stephen , Oct p 42 (photo)

Bauer, David , Dec p 10 (photo)

Baylor College of Medicine, Houston
[Hurricane] Ike has minimal impact on Houston medical schools, Nov p 37

Beaumont, TX
voices of Ike, Nov pp 16-30

Becker, Emilie , Oct p 42 (photo)

Benold, Terrell , Jun p 6 (photo)

Berk, Steven L ., Apr p 47 (photo); Dec p 43 (photo)

Berry, Phil H ., Jul p 37 (photo)

Berthelsen, Spencer R . (Newsmakers), Jan p 46 (photo)

Bertini, John E., Jr. , Apr pp 29-31 (photo); Nov p 51 (photo)

Bettinger, Jerry (Newsmakers), Sep p 50

Bettridge, Heather , Dec p 53 (photo)

Bicycle Helmets . SeeHead Protective Devices

Billing . SeePatient Credit and Collection

Birth Rate
teen birth rate up first time in 14 years, Feb pp 38-39

Bledsoe, Maya (Newsmakers), Feb p 48

Blood-Borne Pathogens
OSHA rules (Managing Your Practice), Mar p 5

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas
ACMP (Advisory Committee on Measures of Performance) action items, Jan p 22
Blue Cross changes imaging policy (Managing Your Practice), Jul p 3
Blue Cross compliance process [for antiracketeering lawsuit settlement] announced, Dec p 35
how do you rate with Blue Cross? (Rounds), May p 9
know your managed care contracts [when considering concierge medicine], Jun p 34
making sense of the [RACI] system, Sep p 25
promises, promises: TMA helps hold HMO's feet to the fire, Apr pp 18-24
RACI rescinded: Blue Cross eliminates physician-hated cost-measurement tool, Sep pp 18-24
sacroiliac joint injections [no longer covered] (Managing Your Practice), Jul p 3
swipe it: TDI to test health care "smart cards," Mar pp 43-46
TDI fines Blue Cross over non-network claims (Rounds), Oct p 9
TMA recommendations to BCBSTX [on risk-adjusted cost index], Sep p 23
will Blues stop paying for "never events?", Mar p 46
worse than the BCS: TMA causes improvements to Blue Cross ratings, Jan pp 21-26

Bonner, Tucker
Texan on JCAHO medical staff task force (Rounds), Mar p 11

Bonnet, John D.
Dr. Bonnet leads TMA's 50-Year Club (Rounds), Jun p 17

Booker, Brooks , Jun p 6 (photo)

Books
free e-book [TMA Practice E-Tips] to improve your practice (Rounds), Jul p 11
top-selling medical reference [Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine] free online (Managing Your Practice), Jul p 3

Booton, Steven , Dec p 10 (photo)

Bourgeois, Keith
backlog blues: TrailBlazer faces mounting Medicare enrollment forms, May p 34 (photo)
fines, fines, fines: TDI penalizes insurers for prompt pay violations, Dec p 32
free sometimes costs: Availity working to resolve claims-submission problems, Apr p 43 (photo)
lessons from [Tropical Storm] Allison, Nov p 51 (photo)
physicians sound off [on insurance carrier rating systems], Jan p 23 (photo)
RACI rescinded: Blue Cross eliminates physician-hated cost-measurement tool, Sep p 20-21 (photo)
"they sat on our money:" TDI repeatedly fines UnitedHealthcare for late claims payment, Feb p 22 (photo)
what's behind the veil? New York AG probes UCR determination, May p 30 (photo)
where's the charity? financial woes force physicians to rethink charity care, Jul p 31 (photo)

Bragg, David , Dec p 10 (photo)

Brain Injuries
hard hats protects 4,000 little heads (Rounds), Jan pp 12-13
tips on how to promote brain injury prevention (Rounds), Jan p 13

Branch, Dan , Nov p 53 (photo)

Brandau, George H.
those were the days (Reflections on Medicine), Jul p 10

Brandfellner, Heather
Texans in the spotlight (Rounds), Jan p 10

Bratcher, June
June Bratcher award winners make a difference for medicine, Sep pp 44-46
partners in politics: June Bratcher forges powerful alliance, Sep pp 41-46 (photos)

Breast Neoplasms
DSHS offers new cancer treatment resource (Managing Your Practice), Apr p 5

Brotherton, Stephen
avoid the 'roids: UIL to test high school athletes for steroids, Feb p 35 (photo)
elected Speaker of House of Delegates, Jun p 12

Brown, Ari , Aug p 38 (photo)

Brown, Jessica , Jun p 10 (photo)

Buckingham, Dawn , Aug p 9

Burgess, Michael
Burgess bill helps small hospitals create residency programs, Nov pp 55-56 (photo)
debates presidential health care reform proposals, Nov p 13 (photo)
discusses Medicare payment issues, Jun p 28 (photo)
Medicare disaster averted, for now, Sep p 30 (photo)
speaks at TEXPAC forum, Mar p 10 (photo)
speaks to House of Delegates about Medicare SGR formula, Jun p 13 (photo)
The Texas Medicare manifesto: slightly better than nothing, Mar p 20 (photo)

Burns-Banks, Dianna
pediatrician recommends simple steps to make Medicaid more viable, Jan p 19
tag, you're it: TMA urges physicians to reexamine Medicaid participation, Jan pp 14-19 (photo)

Burross, D. Clifford
presents Distinguished Service Award to Max C. Butler, Jun p 10 (photo)

Bush, Laura
naming ceremonies for Laura W. Bush Institute for Women's Health, Jan p 13 (photo)

Bushart, Paul (Newsmakers), Feb p 48

Butler, David
hard hats protects 4,000 little heads (Rounds), Jan p 12 (photo)

Butler, Ernest and Sarah
present Butler Awards in Science Teaching to three outstanding teachers, Jun p 12 (photo)
University of Texas School of Music named for Ernest and Sarah Butler, May p 48 (photo)

Butler, Max C.
receives Distinguished Service Award, Jun p 10 (photo)

C

C. Frank Webber Award
presented to Dennis Dove, Jun p 11 (photo)

Callendar, David , Nov pp 34-35 (photo)

Cancer.SeeNeoplasms

Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas
beyond [Proposition] 15: the next step for Texas cancer research, Jan pp 35-40

Cancer Therapy & Research Center
UTHSCSA to merge with cancer research center, Feb p 44

Capelo, Jaime , Nov p 13 (photo)

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
return of the ice age: therapeutic hypothermia, Jul pp 44-46

Cardiovascular Diseases
heart association helps patients cut salt, Oct pp 51-52
heart disease 2010 goal achieved, AHA reports, Apr pp 36-37
heart screening program targets kids, May p 40
hold the salt: physicians look to lower sodium consumption, Oct pp 49-52
return of the ice age: therapeutic hypothermia, Jul pp 44-46

Carlo, John , Apr p 33 (photo)

Carr, Robert , Apr p 47 (photo)

Carter, Bruce , May p 37 (photo)

Cavanagh, Dwight (Newsmakers), Jan p 44 (photo)

Caylor, Art
living with mito [mitochondrial disease] (Commentary), Nov pp 5-6

Centers for Disease Control . SeeUnited States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).SeeUnited States Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)

Cervical Neoplasms
DSHS offers new cancer treatment resource (Managing Your Practice), Apr p 5

Charity Care . SeeUncompensated Care

Chenven, Norman , Jun p 22 (photo)

Child Welfare . See alsoHead Protective Devices ; Immunization
heart screening program targets kids, May p 40
HRSA grants $12 million to improve maternal, child health, Jul p 30
minority kids' health care lacking (Rounds), Apr pp 15-16
repairing young minds: Texas needs more child, adolescent psychiatrists, Oct pp 41-44
salt adding to childhood obesity problem, Oct p 52
Texas gets childhood obesity prevention grant, Dec p 41

Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP).SeeState Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP)

Childs, Tilden L., III (Newsmakers), Dec p 7

Chlorine
pattern of chlorine gas exposures reported to Texas poison control centers, 2000 through 2005, Mar pp 52-57

Christian, George , Nov p 13 (photo)

Chumley, Delbert L. (Newsmakers), Jan p 46 (photo)

Cigarettes.SeeSmoking

CIGNA HealthCare
know your managed care contracts [when considering concierge medicine], Jun p 34
New York AG agreements spur physician-ranking reform, Jan p 26
promises, promises: TMA helps hold HMO's feet to the fire, Apr pp 18-24

Claims.SeeInsurance Claim Reporting

Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate
spatial distribution of orofacial cleft defect births in Harris County, Texas, and radium in the public water supplies: a persistent association?, Dec pp 56-63

Clinical Competence
an update on competency testing (Letter), May p 6
prove your worth: state medical boards eye competency testing, Mar pp 33-36
the voice of polite dissent [on clinical competency testing] (Commentary), Sep pp 55-56
why we test (Commentary), Dec p 3

Clinical Science . SeeResearch

CMS . SeeUnited States Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)

Coal
Texas coal-fired power plants face cloudy future, May pp 40-41

Coding for Insurance Reimbursement . SeeInsurance Claim Reporting

Cohen, Jordan J. , Apr p 50 (photo)

Collins, Donald R., Jr. , Nov p 51 (photo)

Communicable Diseases
first line of defense: physicians must report unusual illnesses, Dec pp 37-40
infectious disease (MedBytes), Nov p 64

Communication
e-mail etiquette (Managing Your Practice), Mar p 6
phone manners 101 (Managing Your Practice), May p 3
TMB schedules new town hall meetings, Aug pp 11-13
town hall meeting lets physicians listen to patients (Rounds), Jul p 9

Competence.SeeClinical Competence

Concierge Medicine
the careful concierge: concierge medicine attractive, but possibly risky, Jun pp 33-38
know your managed care contracts, Jun p 34
limits on physician charges for Medicare-covered services, Jun p 35

Confidentiality
privacy notices (Managing Your Practice), Feb p 7

Congenital Abnormalities
spatial distribution of orofacial cleft defect births in Harris couty, Texas, and radium in the public water supplies: a persistent association?, Dec pp 56-63

Conoley, Patrick M. (Newsmakers), Dec p 7

Conservation of Energy Resources
save money, conserve electricity (Rounds), Jul p 11

Consultation.SeeReferral and Consultation ; Remote Consultations

Contracts
AMA adopts TMA call for antitrust relief (Rounds), Jan p 10
the careful concierge: concierge medicine attractive, but possibly risky, Jun pp 33-38
know your managed care contracts [when considering concierge medicine], Jun p 34
negotiating a contract (Managing Your Practice), Apr p 5

Cooley, Denton A.
top heart surgeons Cooley and DeBakey put their decades-old feud to rest (Trusted Leader), Jan pp 43-45 (photo)

Corneal Transplantation
donor screening helps predict infection risk in corneal transplant (Rounds), Apr p 15

Cornyn, John
Cornyn files Medicare reform bill (Rounds), May p 9
doctor hospital ownership fight draws near, Apr p 29 (photo)
Medicare disaster averted, for now, Sep p 27 (photo)

Cost Control
prevention investment could save $16B over five years, Sep pp 37-38
RACI rescinded: Blue Cross eliminates physician-hated cost-measurement tool, Sep pp 18-24

Cravey, Russell S. (Newsmakers), Dec p 7

Cross Infections
donor screening helps predict infection risk in corneal transplant (Rounds), Apr p 15
Medicare expands no-pay list (Rounds), Oct p 10
will Blues stop paying for "never events?", Mar p 46

Crow, Christopher (Newsmakers), Jan p 44

Crownover, Myra , May p 38 (photo)

Culberson, John , Jun p 29 (photo)

Culp, Brittney
presents C. Frank Webber Award to Dennis Dove, Jun p 11 (photo)
Texans in the spotlight (Rounds), Jan p 10

Culture
As I Lay Dying (Commentary), Feb pp 49-50

Curran, Doug , Mar p 9 (photo)

Curry, Mitchell
concierge medicine, Jun pp 37-38

D

Dallas, TX
Houston, DFW top ozone pollution list, Jul pp 28-29
toxin tamers: partnership wants clean business, clean air, Sep pp 33-36

Death
As I Lay Dying (Commentary), Feb pp 49-50

Death Certificates
electronic death registration required soon (Rounds), Aug p 13

DeBakey, Michael
top heart surgeons Cooley and DeBakey put their decades-old feud to rest (Trusted Leader), Jan pp 43-45 (photo)
tribute to a legend, Sep pp 8 (photo) , 9-10

Delisi, Dianne White , Apr p 33 (photo)

Delivery of Health Care
Brandau, George H.: those were the days (Reflections on Medicine), Jul p 10
feeling the health insurance squeeze (Commentary), Apr p 3
TMB schedules new town hall meetings, Aug pp 11-13
town hall meeting lets physicians listen to patients (Rounds), Jul p 9
UT-Houston School of Public Health to open health care management school (Rounds), Aug p 18

Dell, Robert Vance (Newsmakers), Dec p 7 (photo)

Deuell, Robe rt, Jun p 9 (photo)

Diagnosis
NIH becomes medical supersleuth, Jul p 40

Dickey, Nancy W.
debates presidential health care reform proposals, Nov p 13 (photo)
says physician shortage issue may become national or worldwide problem, Jun pp 41 (photo), 42

Diet
heart association helps patients cut salt, Oct pp 51-52
hold the salt: physicians look to lower sodium consumption, Oct pp 49-52
salt adding to childhood obesity problem, Oct p 52

Disabled Persons
Texas, 30 other states seek billions from Medicare, Dec p 28

Disaster Planning
are we ready? Texas examines its emergency preparedness, Apr pp 33-37
disaster preparedness (MedBytes), Apr p 56
doctors = trust: physicians respond to San Angelo [evacuee] crisis, Jul pp 25-28
statewide disaster preparedness and planning, Apr p 34

Disasters
apply now for TMA's Ike relief fund (Rounds), Dec p 9
damaged practices: TMA rescues displaced physicians; establishes $1 million relief fund, Nov pp 40-42
DSHS avoids public health crisis [after Hurricane Ike], Nov pp 44-45
group working on [disaster] relief plans, Sep pp 49-51
Hurricane Ike disaster relief program donors, Nov p 42
Ike has minimal impact on Houston medical schools, Nov p 37
lessons from [Tropical Storm] Allison, Nov p 51
looking after each other, Nov pp 47-49 (photo)
surviving Ike: UTMB moves quickly to get back on its feet, Nov pp 32-38
UTMB students need help, too (Rounds), Dec pp 9-10
voices of Ike, Nov pp 16-30

Disease Notification
first line of defense: physicians must report unusual illnesses, Dec pp 37-40

Distinguished Service Award
awarded to Max C. Butler by D. Clifford Burross, Jun p 10 (photo)

DocSite Registry
physicians wanted to participate in TMA-endorsed Physicians' Foundation for Health Systems Excellence Save Small Practice Program (Rounds), Mar pp 11-12
use DocSite to earn a Medicare bonus, Dec p 53

Dominguez, Edward , Aug p 38 (photo)

Dominguez, Michael , Dec p 10 (photo)

Donahue, David , Aug p 22 (photo)

Dove, Dennis
receives C. Frank Webber Award, Jun p 11 (photo)

Drug Abuse . SeeSubstance Abuse Detection
in sports. SeeSports

Drug and Narcotic Control
consistency of DEA final rule on multiple prescriptions with Texas law (Ask the TMA Knowledge Center), Mar p 12
DPS collects more Schedule II-V drug information (Rounds), Oct pp 9-10

Drug Industry
TMA, TMLT battle Wyeth in Supreme Court, Oct p 32

Drug Resistance, Bacterial
detecting MRSA: Scott & White launches universal MRSA screening, Feb pp 41-44
DSHS releases staph infection prevention guidelines, Feb p 44
UTHSCA team reports antibiotic resistance (Rounds), Apr p 15

Drugs . SeePharmaceutical Preparations ; Prescriptions, Drug

Duncan, Robert , Apr p 10 (photo)

Dymond, Susan B ., Dec p 53 (photo)

E

E-Prescribing . SeeMedication Systems

Eades, Brian
Amarillo works to pass [no-smoking] ordinance, May p 39 (photo)
elected to TMA Foundation Board of Trustees, Aug p 18 (photo)

Economics, Medical . See alsoInsurance Claim Reporting ; Insurance, Health, Reimbursement ; Medicaid ; Medicare
comparing the financial condition of Texas hospitals using a novel definition for the safety net, Aug pp 56-62
dollars for quality? physicians receive first payments for quality reporting, Oct pp 35-38
free sometimes costs: Availity working to resolve claims-submission problems, Apr pp 41-43
getting started: TMA consultants help physicians set up their practices, Dec pp 49-53
identifying the identifier: NPI implementation causing headaches for physicians, Aug pp 29-30
preventing prevention: obstacles make preventive care more difficult, Jun pp 18-23
prove your worth: state medical boards eye competency testing, Mar pp 33-36
required NPI [national provider identifier] use began March 1, Mar p 46
swipe it: TDI to test health care "smart cards," Mar pp 43-46
"they sat on our money:" TDI repeatedly fines UnitedHealthcare for late claims payment, Feb pp 16-23
turnip-squeezing time: getting money from legislature could be difficult, Nov pp 53-55
where's the charity? financial woes force physicians to rethink charity care, Jul pp 31-33
where's the money going? [from insurance premiums paid by small businesses], May pp 16-21
will Blues stop paying for "never events?", Mar p 46
workers' comp worth it? state hopes higher fees will bring doctors back, Feb pp 29-32

Education, Medical . See alsoSchools, Medical ; Students, Medical
3+3=family physicians: Tech wants accelerated residency program, Dec pp 43-46
Burgess bill helps small hospitals create residency programs, Nov pp 55-56
educators say medical training should focus on outcomes, Dec p 46
Fred, Herbert L.: I remember when (Reflections on Medicine), Oct p 13
geriatric education center to focus on vulnerable elderly, Jan p 30
primary care crisis, Dec pp 15-23
simulation training in a pediatric residency program, Jan pp 50-53
spread too thin: reimbursement, other factors drive physicians from geriatrics, Jan pp 29-33
still not enough: Texas faces physician shortage despite growing workforce, Jun pp 41-43
Texas needs more physicians, TMA tells legislators (Rounds), Sep p 13
TMA Medical Education Summit charts medical education's 2009 legislative agenda (Rounds), Apr pp 10-12
turnip-squeezing time: getting money from legislature could be difficult, Nov pp 53-55
UT-Houston School of Public Health to open health care management school (Rounds), Aug p 18
UTMB launches doctoral degree in clinical science, Jan p 33

Education, Medical, Continuing
CME awarded for practice operations improvements (Rounds), May pp 11-12
CME helps you help patients kick the habit (Rounds), Dec p 12
CME transcripts made easy (Managing Your Practice), Nov p 7
greetings from TMB (Rounds), Apr p 14
learn the basics of accounting online (Managing Your Practice), Sep p 5
Medicaid CME (Managing Your Practice), Feb p 8
online CME on Medicaid program available from Texas Dept. of State Health Services, Jan p 18
online CME on newborn screening is available, Jun p 51

El Paso Medical School . SeePaul L. Foster School of Medicine, El Paso

Elderly . SeeAged

Electricity
save money, conserve electricity (Rounds), Jul p 11
Texas coal-fired power plants face cloudy future, May pp 40-41

Electronic Mail
e-mail etiquette (Managing Your Practice), Mar p 6

Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) . SeeMedical Records Systems, Computerized

Electronic Prescribing . SeeMedication Systems

Ellis, Rodney
physicians vs. cigarettes: doctors champion city smoking bans, May p 38 (photo)

Embezzlement.SeeTheft

Emergency Medical Services
doctors = trust: physicians respond to San Angelo [evacuee] crisis, Jul pp 25-28

Emergency Preparedness . SeeDisaster Planning

Employment . See alsoHealth Personnel
HHSC funds [development of] health care programs, May p 22
Houston effort to develop small employer coverage fails, May pp 19-20
how to contest unemployment claims (Managing Your Practice), Jan p 5
TMAIT can help you get the [employee insurance] coverage you need easily and economically, May p 22
what are required medical office workplace postings for patients and employees? (Ask the TMA Knowledge Center), May p 12
where's the money going? [from insurance premiums paid by small businesses], May pp 16-21

EMRs.SeeMedical Records Systems, Computerized

Environmental Pollution . See alsoAir Pollution
environmental health (MedBytes), Sep p 64
spatial distribution of orofacial cleft defect births in Harris Couty, Texas, and radium in the public water supplies: a persistent association?, Dec pp 56-63

Equipment and Supplies
Congress delays DMEPOS competitive bidding process, Sep pp 30-31

Escovar, Raphael
Texans in the spotlight (Rounds), Jan p 10

Evacuees.SeeRefugees

Evans, Carolyn
presents plaque to Gary Floyd for volunteer work on educational loans, Apr p 12 (photo)
primary care crisis, Dec p 16 (photo)
TMA Board of Trustees awards eight scholarships to minority medical students, Jun p 10 (photo)

Evans, Randy (Newsmakers), Sep p 50

F

Factor, Dennis J. (Newsmakers), May p 44 (photo); Sep p 50 (photo)

Falls.SeeAccidents

Family Leave and Medical Act
FMLA and you (Managing Your Practice), Apr p 5

Family Practice
3+3=family physicians: Tech wants accelerated residency program, Dec pp 43-46
doctors for donation: organ donor campaign targets primary care physicians, Jul pp 37-40
factors influencing Texas family medicine residents' intended scope of practice, Jun pp 55-61
outcomes of a Texas family medicine residency rural training track: 2000 through 2007, Sep pp 60-63
pain primer for primary physicians: essential concepts, Jun [insert]

Family Therapy
TMA sues family therapists board (Rounds), Nov p 14

FDA.SeeUnited States Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB)
prove your worth: state medical boards eye competency testing, Mar pp 33-36
the voice of polite dissent [on clinical competency testing] (Commentary), Sep pp 55-56

Fees, Medical.See alsoInsurance, Health, Reimbursement ;
Medicare--fee schedule
New Year's resolution: when was the last time you reviewed and updated your practice codes and fee schedule? (Managing Your Practice), Jan p 5

Feldman, Mark (Newsmakers), Feb p 48

Fellowships and Scholarships
2008 TMA minority scholarships available (Rounds), Feb p 12
scholarships available for Houston medical students (Rounds), Aug p 14
TMA Board of Trustees awards eight scholarships to minority medical students, Jun p 10 (photo)
TMLT awards eight medical school scholarships (Rounds), Oct p 11
TMLT offers medical student scholarships (Rounds), Apr p 14

Ferreris, Juan Jose
calls for better vaccine reimbursement, Jun pp 18 (photo), 19
primary care crisis, Dec p 16 (photo)

Fielder, Drew , Jun p 6 (photo)

Fields, Margie , Apr p 18 (photo)

Fiesinger, Troy , Dec p 44 (photo)

Financial Management, Hospital
comparing the financial condition of Texas hospitals using a novel definition for the safety net, Aug pp 56-62

Financing, Government
funds support cancer research expansion [at Scott & White Memorial Hospital] in Temple, Jan p 39
grant funds newborn screening performance measures, Jun pp 50-51
grant supports M.D. Anderson vaccine research, Jan pp 39-40
HRSA grants $12 million to improve maternal, child health, Jul p 30
Texas gets childhood obesity prevention grant, Dec p 41
tobacco settlement funds offset health costs, Jun p 38
turnip-squeezing time: getting money from legislature could be difficult, Nov pp 53-55

Firearms
House of Delegates rejects ownership study, amends firearms policy (Rounds), Jun pp 9-12
trigger locks for guns (correction), Aug p 16

Fite, Diana
Newsmakers, Jan pp 44-45
Texans in the spotlight (Rounds), Jan p 10

Fleeger, David
Texans in the spotlight (Rounds), Jan p 10

Fleming, William H., III
named president-elect by House of Delegates, Jun pp 9 (photo), 12
presents C. Frank Webber Award to Dennis Dove, Jun p 11 (photo)

Floyd, Gary, Apr p 12 (photo)

Fonseca, Vincent, Oct pp 49-50 (photo)

Fontenot, Sarah Freymann, Nov pp 12-13 (photo)

Food and Drug Administration.SeeUnited States Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

Food Labeling
heart association helps patients cut salt, Oct pp 51-52
hold the salt: physicians look to lower sodium consumption, Oct pp 49-52

Foreign Medical Graduates
TMA celebrates history of Texas IMGs, Feb pp 13-14

Foxhall, Lewis
fines, fines, fines: TDI penalizes insurers for prompt pay violations, Dec p 31

Fraga, Denise, Jun p 10 (photo)

Fraud
OIG refines self-disclosure protocol, Jun p 38

Fred, Herbert L.
I remember when (Reflections on Medicine), Oct p 13

Friedberg, Errol (Newsmakers), Jan p 44 (photo)

Frierson-Stroud, Lee
looking after each other [during Hurricane Ike], Nov pp 47-49 (photo)

Funding, Government Financed.SeeFinancing, Government

G

Galveston, TX
surviving Ike: UTMB moves quickly to get back on its feet, Nov pp 32-38
voices of Ike, Nov pp 16-30

Garcia, A. Tomas, III
greetings from the TMB: what happens if you get bad news, Jul p 17 (photo)
Newsmakers, May p 45 (photo)
voices of Ike, Nov pp 19-30 (photo)

Garretson, Melissa, Aug pp 22 (photo), 25

Genetic Diseases, Inborn
screening for life: expanded newborn screening tackles rare disorders, Jun pp 47-51

Genetic Screening
ACOG against direct-to-consumer genetic testing advertising, Aug p 46
guidelines for cancer genetic counseling or testing, Aug pp 45-46
scaring up patients: ad campaign for genetic screening worries physicians, Aug pp 43-46

Geographic Information Systems
spatial distribution of orofacial cleft defect births in Harris Couty, Texas, and radium in the public water supplies: a persistent association?, Dec pp 56-63

Geriatrics
geriatric education center to focus on vulnerable elderly, Jan p 30
geriatrics (MedBytes), Jan p 60
spread too thin: reimbursement, other factors drive physicians from geriatrics, Jan pp 29-33

Giam, Patrick Y. (Newsmakers), Feb p 49; Dec p 7

Gifts.See also Texas Medical Association--Physician Benevolent Fund
Texas A&M Health Science Center accepts land donation for Round Rock campus, Mar p 36
UTHSC-San Antonio gets $25 million gift, Mar p 36

Gilmer, William (Newsmakers), Sep p 50 (photo)

Giri, Shankar P.G. (Newsmakers), Dec p 7

Goben, Christopher M., Jun p 47 (photo)

Goldman, Stanford M. (Newsmakers), May p 44 (photo)

Goldstein, Gary, Dec p 9 (photo)

Goodfriend, Alan, Nov p 26 (photo)

Goodman, David, Apr p 10 (photo)

Goodman, Louis J.
chosen for Texas Society of Association Executives Distinguished Executive Award, Dec p 24 (photo)
discusses need for long-term solution to Medicare fee, Sep p 27 (photo)
receives donations from Humana for Hurricane Ike relief fund, Dec p 9 (photo)

Goolsbey, Elaine, Nov p 17 (photo)

Gothard, Sander (Newsmakers), Jan p 44

Gottesman, Andrew R. and Tobi
free sometimes costs: Availity working to resolve claims-submission problems, Apr pp 41-43 (photo)

Grants.SeeFinancing, Government

Great-West Life & Annuity Insurance Co.
TDI fines silent PPO (Rounds), Jul pp 10-11

Greer, T. David
elected to TMA Foundation Board of Trustees, Aug p 18 (photo)

Gros, Albert T.
pulling back the Oz curtain, Dec p 26 (photo)
round three: interim study assures balance billing returns in 2009, Feb p 26 (photo)
The Texas Medicare manifesto, Mar p 20 (photo)
where's the money going?, May p 17 (photo)

Gross, Sheldon, Jun p 30 (photo); Sep p 41 (photo)

Guerra-Cantu, Sandra, Jul p 26 (photo)

Guidry, Mark, Nov p 44 (photo)

Gunby, Robert, Jr., Sep p 44 (photo)

Guns.SeeFirearms

H

H-E-B
TMA, H-E-B OK NPI deal (Managing Your Practice), Aug p 5

Hall, Harry E. (Newsmakers), Jan p 45; Dec p 7

Halley, Melanie, Jan p 36 (photo)

Halliday, Alan (Newsmakers), Sep p 50

Handel, Paul B., Sep p 22 (photo); Oct p 38 (photo)

Hard Hats for Little Heads.SeeHead Protective Devices

Harle, Dorothy, Sep p 41 (photo)

Harris County Medical Society
medical society rates insurance companies, Feb p 21
scholarships available for Houston medical students (Rounds), Aug p 14

Harris County, TX
Houston effort to develop small employer coverage fails, May pp 19-20
spatial distribution of orofacial cleft defect births in Harris Couty, Texas, and radium in the public water supplies: a persistent association?, Dec pp 56-63

Hartman, Ted, Apr p 47 (photo)

Hauser, Barbara
winner of June Bratcher Award for Political Action, Sep pp 42 (photo), 45

Haydon, Hans (Newsmakers), Feb p 48

Hazardous Substances
pattern of chlorine gas exposures reported to Texas poison control centers, 2000 through 2005, Mar pp 52-57
spatial distribution of orofacial cleft defect births in Harris Couty, Texas, and radium in the public water supplies: a persistent association?, Dec pp 56-63
toxin tamers: partnership wants clean business, clean air, Sep pp 33-36

Head Protective Devices
hard hats protects 4,000 little heads (Rounds), Jan pp 12-13
physicians champion helmet safety, Sep p 14
tips on how to promote brain injury prevention (Rounds), Jan p 13

Health Behavior
study shows improved health behaviors by students, Aug p 40

Health Care Accessibility
outcomes of a Texas family medicine residency rural training track: 2000 through 2007, Sep pp 60-63

Health Care Delivery.SeeDelivery of Health Care

Health Care Quality Improvement Act
doctor vs. hospital: federal court says hospital did peer review right, Oct pp 27-32

Health Care Reform
Obama vs. McCain: comparing the candidates' health plans, Oct pp 14-24
TMA launches health system reform effort, Oct p 19

Health Care Surveys
[Harris County] Medical Society rates insurance companies, Feb p 21
it's time to learn about improving quality (Rounds), Dec p 11
liability reforms pay off for patients, physicians (Rounds), Nov pp 9-12
Physicians' Foundation "Medical Practice in 2008" survey
about the survey, Dec p 24
primary care crisis, Dec pp 15-23

Health Facilities, Proprietary
American College of Cardiology Foundation formally backs physician ownership, Apr p 31
good bill, bad bill [mental health services; physician-owned facilities] (Rounds), May p 9
House of Delegates rejects ownership study, amends firearms policy (Rounds), Jun pp 9-12
it's the care that counts: doctor hospital ownership fight draws near, Apr pp 27-31
physician ownership saves Houston's oldest hospital, Apr pp 29-30

Health Information Technology (HIT).SeeMedical Informatics Applications

Health Insurance.SeeInsurance, Health

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
privacy notices (Managing Your Practice), Feb p 7

Health Maintenance Organizations
promises, promises: TMA helps hold HMO's feet to the fire, Apr pp 18-24

Health Manpower
comparison of Texas and U.S. physician-to-population ratios, Jun p 42
primary care crisis, Dec pp 15-23
reasons for U.S. physician shortage, Dec p 21
still not enough: Texas faces physician shortage despite growing workforce, Jun pp 41-43
Texas needs more physicians, TMA tells legislators (Rounds), Sep p 13

Health Net
promises, promises: TMA helps hold HMO's feet to the fire, Apr pp 18-24

Health Personnel.See alsoAllied Health Personnel ; Employment ; Physicians
employee hepatitis B vaccination (Managing Your Practice), Sep p 6
Family Leave and Medical Act (FMLA) and you (Managing Your Practice), Apr p 5
how to contest unemployment claims (Managing Your Practice), Jan p 5
improving your staff's productivity (Managing Your Practice), Oct p 6
lead a first-rate team with TMA's new NPP [Nonphysician Practitioners] guide (Rounds), Feb pp 12-13
overwhelmed by overtime? (Managing Your Practice), May p 3
what are required medical office workplace postings for patients and employees? (Ask the TMA Knowledge Center), May p 12

Health Policy
comparing the financial condition of Texas hospitals using a novel definition for the safety net, Aug pp 56-62
Obama vs. McCain: comparing the candidates' health plans, Oct pp 14-24
presidential health care policy (MedBytes), Oct p 64

Health Services Accessibility
[tort] reform improves access to care, Aug p 25

Hearn, Patrick
becomes first male president of TMA Alliance, May p 48 (photo)
sworn in as president of TMA Alliance, Jun p 9 (photo)

Hearn, Yvonne, Jun p 28 (photo)

Heart Arrest
return of the ice age: therapeutic hypothermia, Jul pp 44-46

Heart Diseases
heart disease 2010 goal achieved, AHA reports, Apr pp 36-37
heart screening program targets kids, May p 40

Hein, H.A. Tillmann (Newsmakers), Dec p 7

Helmets.SeeHead Protective Devices

Henkes, David N. (Newsmakers), Jan p 45 (photo); May p 45 (photo)

Hepatitis B
employee hepatitis B vaccination (Managing Your Practice), Sep p 6

Herpes Zoster
CDC recommends shingles vaccine, Jul p 28

Herrera, Rhonda
"they sat on our money:" TDI repeatedly fines UnitedHealthcare for late claims payment, Feb pp 16-23 (photo)

Hibbard, Arlis W., Nov p 48 (photo)

Highmark
promises, promises: TMA helps hold HMO's feet to the fire, Apr pp 18-24

Hinchey, William W.
administers oath of office to Josie R. Williams, Jun p 14 (photo)
speaks at TEXPAC forum, Mar p 10 (photo)
The Texas Medicare manifesto: slightly better than nothing, Mar pp 18-23
TMA president demands Congress fix Medicare payment system (Rounds), Apr pp 9-10
what's behind the veil? New York AG probes UCR ["usual, customary, and reasonable" charge] determination [by insurance companies], May p 28 (photo)
where's the charity? financial woes force physicians to rethink charity care, Jul p 32 (photo)
white coats invade Washington, Jun p 30 (photo)

HIPAA.SeeHealth Insurance Portability and Accountability Act

Hispanic Americans
adequacy of outpatient care among hospitalized adult asthmatics in a southwest US border city, Oct pp 56-62

History of Medicine
Alpar, John J.: ophthalmology; the impossible becomes routine (Reflections on Medicine), May p 13
Arnold, Tom: "still the greatest profession," Feb p 14
Brandau, George H.: those were the days (Reflections on Medicine), Jul p 10
Fred, Herbert L.: I remember when (Reflections on Medicine), Oct p 13
Kelsey, Mavis R., Sr.: "you just have to try," Jan pp 45-46 (photo)
medical illustration exhibit opens this month in TMA History of Medicine Gallery (Rounds), Aug p 12
Meyer, George G.: "I did what had to be done" (Reflections on Medicine), Mar pp 13-14
Ramsey, Jack D.: the changing image of radiology (Reflections on Medicine), Apr p 13
Rodgers, L. Rodney: art in the practice of medicine (Reflections on Medicine), Sep pp 15-16
TMA celebrates history of Texas IMGs, Feb pp 13-14
Ware, Elgin W., Jr.: the greatest generation? (Reflections on Medicine), Aug pp 20-21

HIV Infections
epidemiological summary of HIV/AIDS in Tarrant County, 2000 through 2005, Jul pp 47-52
technology reveals higher number of new U.S. HIV infections, Oct p 45

Hobbs, Helen (Newsmakers), Jan p 45 (photo)

Holcomb, John
physicians sound off [on insurance carrier rating systems], Jan p 23

Holcomb, John R., Nov p 14 (photo)

Homer, Ladon W.
beyond [Proposition] 15: the next step for Texas cancer research, Jan pp 36, 38 (photo)
Texas needs more physicians, Sep p 13 (photo)
where's the charity? financial woes force physicians to rethink charity care, Jul p 32 (photo)

Horth, Bob, Sep pp 49-51 (photo)

Hospital Medical Staff.SeeMedical Staff, Hospital

Hospital-Physician Joint Ventures
American College of Cardiology Foundation formally backs physician ownership, Apr p 31
good bill, bad bill [mental health services; physician-owned facilities] (Rounds), May p 9
it's the care that counts: doctor hospital ownership fight draws near, Apr pp 27-31
physician ownership saves Houston's oldest hospital, Apr pp 29-30

Hospitalization
adequacy of outpatient care among hospitalized adult asthmatics in a southwest US border city, Oct pp 56-62

Hospitals
Burgess bill helps small hospitals create residency programs, Nov pp 55-56 (photo)
CMS to demonstrate bundled Texas hospital, physician payments, Jul p 34
comparing the financial condition of Texas hospitals using a novel definition for the safety net, Aug pp 56-62
doctor vs. hospital: federal court says hospital did peer review right, Oct pp 27-32
hospitals sue to stop Medicaid cuts, May pp 30-31
Medicare hospital, Advantage health plan payments to jump, Jun p 31

Houston, TX
Houston, DFW top ozone pollution list, Jul pp 28-29
Houston effort to develop small employer coverage fails, May pp 19-20
[Hurricane] Ike has minimal impact on Houston medical schools, Nov p 37
lessons from [Tropical Storm] Allison, Nov p 51
spatial distribution of orofacial cleft defect births in Harris Couty, Texas, and radium in the public water supplies: a persistent association?, Dec pp 56-63
voices of Ike, Nov pp 16-30

Hoverman, Isabel, Sep p 22 (photo)

Hoyle, James, Jan p 35 (photo)

Huang, Craig (Newsmakers), Sep p 50 (photo)

Huang, Philip, Nov p 48 (photo)

Humana
donates $25,000 for TMA's Hurricane Ike relief fund, Dec p 9 (photo)
promises, promises: TMA helps hold HMO's feet to the fire, Apr pp 18-24

Hunsaker, Jerry, Mar p 9 (photo)

Hurricane Ike
apply now for TMA's Ike relief fund (Rounds), Dec p 9
damaged practices: TMA rescues displaced physicians; establishes $1 million relief fund, Nov pp 40-42
DSHS avoids public health crisis [after Hurricane Ike], Nov pp 44-45
Hurricane Ike disaster relief program donors, Nov p 42
Ike has minimal impact on Houston medical schools, Nov p 37
lessons from [Tropical Storm] Allison, Nov p 51
looking after each other, Nov pp 47-49
surviving Ike: UTMB moves quickly to get back on its feet, Nov pp 32-38
UTMB students need help, too (Rounds), Dec pp 9-10
voices of Ike, Nov pp 16-30

Huston, Rebecca L.
voices of Ike, Nov pp 19, 30

Hutchison, Kay Bailey, Jun p 13 (photo); Sep p 28 (photo)

Hutton, J. Thomas (Newsmakers), Sep p 51 (photo)

Hyer, Pat, Jun p 28 (photo)
winner of June Bratcher Award for Political Action, Sep pp 42 (photo), 45-46

Hypertension
hold the salt: physicians look to lower sodium consumption, Oct pp 49-52

Hypothermia, Induced
return of the ice age: therapeutic hypothermia, Jul pp 44-46

I

Imaging.SeeRadiography

Immunization.See alsoVaccines and Vaccination
adolescent immunization (MedBytes), Aug p 64
the cocoon strategy [vaccination program] (Commentary), Aug p 3
health groups release 2008 immunization schedules, Mar p 40-42
immunization liability (Managing Your Practice), Apr p 6
preventing prevention: obstacles make preventive care more difficult, Jun pp 18-23
promote vaccinations during immunization month (Rounds), Aug p 19
shots for big tots, Aug pp 35-38
Texas childhood immunization rates hit five-year high, Dec pp 40-41
TMA vaccine advocacy, Mar p 38

Incentive Reimbursement.SeeReimbursement, Incentive

Indigency, Medical.SeeMedical Indigency

Infection
detecting MRSA: Scott & White launches universal MRSA screening, Feb pp 41-44
donor screening helps predict infection risk in corneal transplant (Rounds), Apr p 15
DSHS releases staph infection prevention guidelines, Feb p 44
first line of defense: physicians must report unusual illnesses, Dec pp 37-40
infectious disease (MedBytes), Nov p 64
Medicare expands no-pay list (Rounds), Oct p 10
OSHA rules (Managing Your Practice), Mar p 5
UTHSCA team reports antibiotic resistance (Rounds), Apr p 15
will Blues stop paying for "never events?", Mar p 46

Influenza
program tracks flu statewide, Mar p 40; Dec p 39

Influenza Vaccine
flu vaccine reimbursement, Mar p 39
Medicare covers flu shots (Managing Your Practice), Feb p 8
protect yourself against the flu (Rounds), Feb p 12
so far, so good: flu vaccine supply appears adequate, Mar pp 37-42
TMA vaccine advocacy, Mar p 38
WHO and FDA recommend flu vaccine changes, Apr p 35

Inhalation Exposure
pattern of chlorine gas exposures reported to Texas poison control centers, 2000 through 2005, Mar pp 52-57

Insurance Carriers. See alsoBlue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas;UnitedHealthcare
Aetna Inc.
delays decision to stop paying for certain anesthesia services, Apr pp 43-45
promises to be good [after antiracketeering lawsuit settlement] (Rounds), Aug pp 14-16

AMA adopts TMA call for antitrust relief (Rounds), Jan p 10
the careful concierge: concierge medicine attractive, but possibly risky, Jun pp 33-38
complaining to TDI (Managing Your Practice), Apr p 6
dealing with Unicare (Managing Your Practice), Jan p 5
feeling the health insurance squeeze (Commentary), Apr p 3
fines, fines, fines: TDI penalizes insurers for prompt pay violations, Dec pp 31-34
good data best defense against physician profiling (Rounds), Jun pp 12-13
[Harris County] Medical Society rates insurance companies, Feb p 21
health plans launch campaign for universal coverage, Sep p 31
holding insurance companies accountable [prompt pay law], Jun p 23

Humana
donates $25,000 for TMA's Hurricane Ike relief fund, Dec p 9 (photo)
promises, promises: TMA helps hold HMO's feet to the fire, Apr pp 18-24

know your managed care contracts [when considering concierge medicine], Jun p 34
negotiating a contract (Managing Your Practice), Apr p 5
New York AG agreements spur physician-ranking reform, Jan p 26
phony auditors (Managing Your Practice), Mar p 6
promises, promises: TMA helps hold HMO's feet to the fire, Apr pp 18-24
pulling back the Oz curtain: TMA seeks to shine light on health plan business practices, Dec pp 25-28
reimbursement rates compared, May p 28
TDI fines silent PPO (Rounds), Jul pp 10-11
TDI takes action against silent PPOs, Dec p 33
TRPN (Three Rivers Provider Network) soliciting physicians again, Jan pp 26-27
what is your [medical loss] ratio?, May p 18
what we [TMA] do (Commentary), Jun pp 5-6
what's behind the veil? New York AG probes UCR ["usual, customary, and reasonable" charge] determination, May pp 27-31
where's the money going? [from insurance premiums paid by small businesses], May pp 16-21

Insurance Claim Reporting. See alsoInsurance, Health, Reimbursement ; Medicare
are you losing revenue by undercoding? (Rounds), Apr p 16

Availity LLC
completes claims-processing improvements (Rounds), Aug pp 31-32
completes transition of THIN providers, Oct pp 38-39
free sometimes costs: Availity working to resolve claims-submission problems, Apr pp 41-43

coding means correct revenue (Rounds), Jan p 13
hello, I'm sick [telephone consultation], Mar p 5
HHS proposes ICD-10 code sets, Oct pp 32-33
how to bill for telephone consultations (Managing Your Practice), Nov p 7
New Year's resolution: when was the last time you reviewed and updated your practice codes and fee schedule? (Managing Your Practice), Jan p 5
staying ahead of the payers (Managing Your Practice), Nov p 7
TDI fines Blue Cross over non-network claims (Rounds), Oct p 9
the three Rs of consultation (Managing Your Practice), Feb p 8
United refines claim letters (Managing Your Practice), Oct p 5

Insurance, Health.See alsoMedicaid ; Medically Uninsured ; Medicare
the careful concierge: concierge medicine attractive, but possibly risky, Jun pp 33-38
comparing the financial condition of Texas hospitals using a novel definition for the safety net, Aug pp 56-62
feeling the health insurance squeeze (Commentary), Apr p 3
health plans launch campaign for universal coverage, Sep p 31
HHSC funds [development of] health care programs, May p 22
Houston effort to develop small employer coverage fails, May pp 19-20
know your managed care contracts [when considering concierge medicine], Jun p 34
Obama vs. McCain: comparing the candidates' health plans, Oct pp 14-24
presidential health care policy (MedBytes), Oct p 64
pulling back the Oz curtain: TMA seeks to shine light on health plan business practices, Dec pp 25-28
SCHIP (State Children's Health Insurance Program) renewed for 18 months, Mar p 23
swipe it: TDI to test health care "smart cards," Mar pp 43-46
TMAIT can help you get the coverage you need easily and economically, May p 22
town hall meeting lets physicians listen to patients (Rounds), Jul p 9
UnitedHealthcare announces physician designation changes, Oct p 39
what is your [medical loss] ratio?, May p 18
what's behind the veil? New York AG probes UCR ["usual, customary, and reasonable" charge] determination, May pp 27-31
where's the money going? [from insurance premiums paid by small businesses], May pp 16-21

Insurance, Health, Reimbursement.See alsoInsurance Claim Reporting ; Medicaid ; Medicare ; Quality Indicators, Health Care
Aetna delays decision to stop paying for certain anesthesia services, Apr pp 43-45
AMA backs New York medical rate-setting probe, Apr p 45
billing for accident victims (Managing Your Practice), Jan p 6
CMS to demonstrate bundled Texas hospital, physician payments, Jul p 34
dealing with Unicare (Managing Your Practice), Jan p 5
fines, fines, fines: TDI penalizes insurers for prompt pay violations, Dec pp 31-34
[Harris County] Medical Society rates insurance companies, Feb p 21
hello, I'm sick [telephone consultation], Mar p 5
holding insurance companies accountable [prompt pay law], Jun p 23
identifying the identifier: NPI implementation causing headaches for physicians, Aug pp 29-30
preventing prevention: obstacles make preventive care more difficult, Jun pp 18-23
promises, promises: TMA helps hold HMO's feet to the fire, Apr pp 18-24
pulling back the Oz curtain: TMA seeks to shine light on health plan business practices, Dec pp 25-28
reimbursement rates compared, May p 28
round three: interim study assures balance billing returns in 2009, Feb pp 25-28
spread too thin: reimbursement, other factors drive physicians from geriatrics, Jan pp 29-33
staying ahead of the payers (Managing Your Practice), Nov p 7
TAHP suggests limiting prompt pay penalties, Dec p 34
"they sat on our money:" TDI repeatedly fines UnitedHealthcare for late claims payment, Feb pp 16-23
things change [change of diagnosis] (Managing Your Practice), Mar p 6
TMA resources reduce payment hassles for physicians, Feb p 19
TMA wins reimbursement for [neonatal] screening, Jun p 50
TRPN (Three Rivers Provider Network) soliciting physicians again, Jan pp 26-27
United changes reimbursement policy (Rounds), Apr p 14
will Blues stop paying for "never events?", Mar p 46
workers' comp fee schedule online, May p 9
workers' comp worth it? state hopes higher fees will bring doctors back, Feb pp 29-32

Insurance, Liability.See alsoTexas Medical Liability Trust
in defense of medicine: physicians counter legal and legislative attacks on tort reform, Aug pp 22-28
physicians benefit from lower premiums, better recruiting, Aug p 26

International Medical Graduates.SeeForeign Medical Graduates

Internet and World Wide Web
adolescent immunization (MedBytes), Aug p 64
anabolic steroids (MedBytes), Feb p 56
disaster preparedness (MedBytes), Apr p 56
environmental health (MedBytes), Sep p 64
geriatrics (MedBytes), Jan p 60
infectious disease (MedBytes), Nov p 64
performance improvement [for preventive care services] (MedBytes), Jun p 64
presidential health care policy (MedBytes), Oct p 64
primary care in underserved areas (MedBytes), Dec p 64
script standards to change [for Medicare Part D] (Rounds), Aug pp 16-17
state Web site makes [tissue] donor registration easy, Jul p 40
sun safety (MedBytes), Jul p 56
TMA Web site
answers your NPI questions, Aug p 30
wanted: your online classifieds [for TMA's Web site] (Managing Your Practice), Dec p 5

vaccination (MedBytes), Mar p 64
women's health (MedBytes), May p 64

Internship and Residency
3+3=family physicians: Tech wants accelerated residency program, Dec pp 43-46
Burgess bill helps small hospitals create residency programs, Nov pp 55-56 (photo)
factors influencing Texas family medicine residents' intended scope of practice, Jun pp 55-61
outcomes of a Texas family medicine residency rural training track: 2000 through 2007, Sep pp 60-63
simulation training in a pediatric residency program, Jan pp 50-53
turnip-squeezing time: getting money from legislature could be difficult, Nov pp 53-55

J

Jackson, Robert E. (Newsmakers), Jan p 45

Janaki, Lalitha M. (Newsmakers), Dec p 7 (photo)

Janek, Kyle, Feb p 36 (photo)

Jekot, Jeffrey M. (Newsmakers), Feb p 49; Dec p 7

Jennings, John C., Aug p 43 (photo); Nov p 55 (photo)

Jernigan, Nick, Sep p 14 (photo)

Johnson, Rich, Jun p 30 (photo)

Johnson, Sam
Texas lawmaker files Medicare "freedom to choose" bill, Dec p 27

Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations
Texan, Tucker Bonner, on medical staff task force (Rounds), Mar p 11

Jones, Edith Irby (Newsmakers), Jan p 46 (photo)

Jones, Mason, Jun pp 33 (photo), 36

Jones, William, Jun pp 33 (photo), 36

June Bratcher Award for Political Action
award winners make a difference for medicine, Sep pp 44-46
June Bratcher, with other winners, Sep p 42 (photo)
nominations open in December, Sep p 46

Jurisprudence
AMA adopts TMA call for antitrust relief (Rounds), Jan p 10
AMA backs New York medical rate-setting probe, Apr p 45

Antiracketeering lawsuits
Aetna promises to be good [after antiracketeering lawsuit settlement] (Rounds), Aug pp 14-16
Blue Cross compliance process [for antiracketeering lawsuit settlement] announced, Dec p 35
compliance dispute procedure, Apr p 23
promises, promises: TMA helps hold HMO's feet to the fire, Apr pp 18-24
RICO settlements at a glance, Apr p 21

the careful concierge: concierge medicine attractive, but possibly risky, Jun pp 33-38
consistency of DEA final rule on multiple prescriptions with Texas law (Ask the TMA Knowledge Center), Mar p 12
in defense of medicine: physicians counter legal and legislative attacks on tort reform, Aug pp 22-28
doctor vs. hospital: federal court says hospital did peer review right, Oct pp 27-32
fines, fines, fines: TDI penalizes insurers for prompt pay violations, Dec pp 31-34
greetings from the TMB: what happens if you get bad news, Jul pp 16-21
holding insurance companies accountable [prompt pay law], Jun p 23
hospitals sue to stop Medicaid cuts, May pp 30-31
legal protection for volunteers, Jul p 26
New York AG agreements spur physician-ranking reform, Jan p 26
notifying patients when leaving a practice (Managing Your Practice), Jun p 3
"off the record" is off limits (Managing Your Practice), Aug p 5
OIG refines self-disclosure protocol, Jun p 38
South Texas labeled civil justice "hellhole," Mar pp 29-30
TAPA (Texas Alliance for Patient Access) amicus briefs, Mar p 28
Texas, 30 other states seek billions from Medicare, Dec p 28
Texas physicians sue to protect liability reforms (Rounds), Apr p 9
"they sat on our money:" TDI repeatedly fines UnitedHealthcare for late claims payment, Feb pp 16-23
TMA sues family therapists board (Rounds), Nov p 14
TMA, TMLT battle Wyeth in Supreme Court, Oct p 32
tobacco settlement funds offset health costs, Jun p 38
tort reform under attack: ex-Cowboy's wife challenges 2003 reforms, Mar pp 27-30
TRPN (Three Rivers Provider Network) soliciting physicians again, Jan pp 26-27
what are required medical office workplace postings for patients and employees? (Ask the TMA Knowledge Center), May p 12
what's behind the veil? New York AG probes UCR ["usual, customary, and reasonable" charge] determination [by insurance companies], May pp 27-31
worse than the BCS: TMA causes improvements to Blue Cross ratings, Jan pp 21-26

K

Kalafut, Roberta, Aug p 12 (photo)

Kelsey, Mavis R., Sr.
"you just have to try" (Reflections on Medicine), Jan pp 45-46 (photo)

Klawitter, Arthur
the view from Needville [on Medicare]: cows listen better than Congress, Mar pp 24-25 (photo)

Knauss, Mary
wins compliance dispute with Aetna, Apr pp 18 (photo), 20-21

Knochel, James
doctor vs. hospital: federal court says hospital did peer review right, Oct pp 27-32

Knotts, Robert, Jun p 10 (photo)

Kolkhorst, Lois, Apr p 10 (photo)

Kottman, Robert W. (Newsmakers), Feb pp 48-49

Kravitz, Larry (Newsmakers), Feb p 48

Kridel, Russell, Jun p 29 (photo)

Kronberg, Gregory M. (Newsmakers), Feb p 49; Dec p 7

Kubala, Mark J.
Newsmakers, Sep p 51 (photo)
voices of Ike, Nov pp 19-30, 21 (photo)

Kuhl, Walter (Newsmakers), Feb p 48

L

Lain, Edward
getting started: TMA consultants help physicians set up their practices, Dec pp 49 (photo), 50

Lakey, David L.
are we ready? Texas examines its emergency preparedness, Apr p 34 (photo)
doctors = trust: physicians respond to San Angelo [evacuee] crisis, Jul p 25 (photo)
DSHS avoids public health crisis [after Hurricane Ike], Nov p 44 (photo)
electronic death registration required soon (Rounds), Aug p 13 (photo)
Texas childhood immunization rates hit five-year high, Dec p 40 (photo)

Lall, Arun, Nov pp 40, 41 (photo)

Langston, Edward, Mar p 20 (photo)

Law(s).SeeJurisprudence ; Legislation, Medical ; Tort Reform

Legislation
Amarillo works to pass [no-smoking] ordinance, May p 39
comprehensive smoke-free ordinances in Texas, May p 38
physicians vs. cigarettes: doctors champion city smoking bans, May pp 37-41

Legislation, Medical.See alsoTort Reform
beyond [Proposition] 15: the next step for Texas cancer research, Jan pp 35-40
Burgess bill helps small hospitals create residency programs, Nov pp 55-56 (photo)
Congress delays DMEPOS competitive bidding process, Sep pp 30-31
Cornyn files Medicare reform bill (Rounds), May p 9
disaster averted, for now: Congress cancels Medicare cut, but permanent fix still elusive, Sep pp 27-31
Family Leave and Medical Act (FMLA) and you (Managing Your Practice), Apr p 5
feds change VFC (Vaccines for Children) storage rules (Rounds), Oct p 11
feds finally release patient safety rule (Rounds), Apr p 14
First Tuesday program begins Feb. 3, Nov p 61
good bill, bad bill [mental health services; physician-owned facilities] (Rounds), May p 9
health care prime topic of interim legislative studies, Feb p 28
it's the care that counts: doctor hospital ownership fight draws near, Apr pp 27-31
Klawitter, Arthur: the view from Needville [on Medicare]; cows listen better than Congress, Mar pp 24-25 (photo)
lawmaker says new report boosts Rio Grande Valley medical school, Nov p 56
medical students push loan deferment bill, Jun pp 30-31
Medicare bill includes e-prescribing incentives (Rounds), Oct pp 10-11
PSOs [patient safety organizations] to improve quality, patient safety, May p 31
pulling back the Oz curtain: TMA seeks to shine light on health plan business practices, Dec pp 25-28
round three: interim study assures balance billing returns in 2009, Feb pp 25-28
SCHIP renewed for 18 months, Mar p 23
scope-of-practice fight looming in 2009 [legislative session] (Rounds), Mar p 9
TAHP suggests limiting prompt pay penalties, Dec p 34
Texas lawmaker files Medicare "freedom to choose" bill, Dec p 27
The Texas Medicare manifesto: slightly better than nothing, Mar pp 18-23
Texas needs more physicians, TMA tells legislators (Rounds), Sep p 13
TMA launches health system reform effort, Oct p 19
TMA Medical Education Summit charts medical education's 2009 legislative agenda (Rounds), Apr pp 10-12
TMA vaccine advocacy, Mar p 38
turnip-squeezing time: getting money from legislature could be difficult, Nov pp 53-55
white coats invade Washington: physicians rally support for Texas Medicare Manifesto, Jun pp 26-30

Levy, Mark, Jun p 6 (photo)

Levy, Steven
spread too thin: reimbursement, other factors drive physicians from geriatrics, Jan pp 31-32

Liability, Legal.See alsoTort Reform
in defense of medicine: physicians counter legal and legislative attacks on tort reform, Aug pp 22-28
greetings from TMB (Rounds), Apr p 14
immunization liability (Managing Your Practice), Apr p 6
liability reforms pay off for patients, physicians (Rounds), Nov pp 9-12
"off the record" is off limits (Managing Your Practice), Aug p 5
South Texas labeled civil justice "hellhole," Mar pp 29-30
ten ways to avoid EMR liability (Managing Your Practice), Dec p 5
Texas [lawsuit damage] cap under attack (Commentary), May pp 51-52
TMA, TMLT battle Wyeth in Supreme Court, Oct p 32
TMLT, JUA offer risk management services (Rounds), Oct p 11
tort reform under attack: ex-Cowboy's wife challenges 2003 reforms, Mar pp 27-30

Licensure
scope-of-practice fight looming in 2009 [legislative session] (Rounds), Mar p 9

Licensure, Medical
an update on competency testing (Letter), May p 6
prove your worth: state medical boards eye competency testing, Mar pp 33-36
TMA's New-to-Texas Web page [helps to get licensure], Jul p 18
TMB steps up processing of licensure applications, Jul pp 22-23
the voice of polite dissent [on clinical competency testing] (Commentary), Sep pp 55-56
why we test (Commentary), Dec p 3

Loans, Student.SeeStudents, Medical

Long, Joe R. and Teresa Lozano
UTHSC-San Antonio gets $25 million gift, Mar p 36

Lozano, Michael
concierge medicine, Jun pp 37-38

M

Malone, Libby
elected to TMA Foundation Board of Trustees, Aug p 18 (photo)

Malpractice.See alsoLiability, Legal ; Tort Reform
greetings from the TMB: what happens if you get bad news, Jul pp 16-21
"off the record" is off limits (Managing Your Practice), Aug p 5
South Texas labeled civil justice "hellhole," Mar pp 29-30
tort reform under attack: ex-Cowboy's wife challenges 2003 reforms, Mar pp 27-30

Managed Care Programs
feeling the health insurance squeeze (Commentary), Apr p 3

Mandatory Reporting
first line of defense: physicians must report unusual illnesses, Dec pp 37-40

Marcus, Howard
discusses tort reform at TMA Fall Conference, Nov pp 12-13
Newsmakers, Feb p 48

Marital Therapy
TMA sues family therapists board (Rounds), Nov p 14

Marketing
ACOG against direct-to-consumer genetic testing advertising, Aug p 46
how to boost referrals (Managing Your Practice), Aug p 6
scaring up patients: ad campaign for genetic screening worries physicians, Aug pp 43-46
TMB schedules new town hall meetings, Aug pp 11-13
town hall meeting lets physicians listen to patients (Rounds), Jul p 9

Mass Screening
detecting MRSA: Scott & White launches universal MRSA screening, Feb pp 41-44
doctors = trust: physicians respond to San Angelo [evacuee] crisis, Jul pp 25-28
heart screening program targets kids, May p 40
task force: don't screen men over 75 for prostate cancer, Oct pp 45-46

Maternal Health Services
HRSA grants $12 million to improve maternal, child health, Jul p 30

Mattox, Ken
voices of Ike, Nov pp 19, 20 (photo), 23, 25-28

McCain, John
Obama vs. McCain: comparing the candidates' health plans, Oct pp 14-24

McCleskey, Ralph, May p 37 (photo)

McCray, Brandy, Jun pp 19, 20 (photo)

McCulley, James (Newsmakers), Sep p 51 (photo)

McFarland, David (Newsmakers), Feb p 48

McGee, William Gordon
former TMA president dies (Rounds), Jun p 17 (photo)

McKinney, Kevin
voices of Ike, Nov pp 19, 29

McPhillips, Bridget, Dec p 52 (photo)

M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.SeeUniversity of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

MedBytes.SeeInternet and World Wide Web

Medicaid
don't lose your patients [by failing to use national provider identifier] (Rounds), Apr p 14
hospitals sue to stop Medicaid cuts, May pp 30-31
Medicaid CME (Managing Your Practice), Feb p 8
Medicaid fee increases, Jan p 17
not convinced (Letter), Mar p 3
not convinced; neither is he (Letter), Mar p 3
online CME available from Texas Dept. of State Health Services, Jan p 18
pediatrician recommends simple steps to make Medicaid more viable, Jan p 19
physician fee increases result in 4-percent increase in physician participation, Nov p 14 (photo)
smart card project to go statewide, Feb p 32
smoking cessation would save Texas Medicaid millions, Feb p 38
streamlines radiology preauthorization process (Managing Your Practice), Sep p 5
tag, you're it: TMA urges physicians to reexamine Medicaid participation, Jan pp 14-19 (photo)
tamper-resistant paper is available [for prescriptions] (Managing Your Practice), May p 3
use the NDC [national drug code] (Managing Your Practice), Apr p 6

Medical Audits
phony auditors (Managing Your Practice), Mar p 6

Medical Errors
medical errors are preventable (Managing Your Practice), Jun p 3
physicians call error-reporting systems inadequate, Mar p 30
will Blues stop paying for "never events?", Mar p 46

Medical Indigency.See alsoMedically Uninsured
health care prime topic of interim legislative studies, Feb p 28
tobacco settlement funds offset health costs, Jun p 38

Medical Informatics Applications.See alsoMedical Records Systems, Computerized
governors urge rapid HIT adoption, Nov p 60
HIT summit held in Houston (Rounds), Mar p 12
script standards to change [for Medicare Part D] (Rounds), Aug pp 16-17
stakeholders discuss Rx for e-prescribing success (Rounds), Dec pp 10-11
swipe it: TDI to test health care "smart cards," Mar pp 43-46

Medical Records
destroy medical records securely (Managing Your Practice), Sep p 6
destroying medical records (Managing Your Practice), Jan p 6
TMA Knowledge Center can help with medical records issues, Nov p 60
who owns what? (Managing Your Practice), Feb p 7

Medical Records Systems, Computerized
EMRs and you (Managing Your Practice), Jan p 6
physicians slow to adopt electronic health records (Rounds), Aug p 32
script standards to change [for Medicare Part D] (Rounds), Aug pp 16-17
ten ways to avoid EMR liability (Managing Your Practice), Dec p 5

Medical Staff, Hospital
Texan, Tucker Bonner, on medical staff task force (Rounds), Mar p 11

Medical Student Section, TMA
C. Frank Webber Award presented to Dennis Dove, Jun p 11 (photo)
honors state Senator Robert Duncan and Rep. Lois Kolkhorst, Apr p 10 (photo)

Medical Students.SeeStudents, Medical

Medically Underserved Areas
House of Delegates backs increased loan repayments, Jun p 44
outcomes of a Texas family medicine residency rural training track: 2000 through 2007, Sep pp 60-63
primary care in underserved areas (MedBytes), Dec p 64

Medically Uninsured
comparing the financial condition of Texas hospitals using a novel definition for the safety net, Aug pp 56-62
Obama vs. McCain: comparing the candidates' health plans, Oct pp 14-24

Medicare
avoiding secondary identifier problems (Managing Your Practice), Oct p 5
the careful concierge: concierge medicine attractive, but possibly risky, Jun pp 33-38
changes audiology services "incident to" (Managing Your Practice), Sep p 5
CMS to demonstrate bundled Texas hospital, physician payments, Jul p 34

Fee schedule
AMA house ponders Medicare meltdown (Rounds), Jan pp 9-10
concierge medicine: limits on physician charges for Medicare-covered services, Jun p 35
disaster averted, for now: Congress cancels Medicare cut, but permanent fix still elusive, Sep pp 27-31
flu vaccine reimbursement, Mar p 39
hello, I'm sick [telephone consultation], Mar p 5
how to fix Medicare (Letter), May pp 5-6
Medicare coverage determinations to change [because of new contract between TrailBlazer and USCMMS], May pp 34-35
Medicare covers flu shots (Managing Your Practice), Feb p 8
Medicare hospital, Advantage health plan payments to jump, Jun p 31
payments: doctors vs. other providers, Mar p 21
physician practice costs vs. Medicare cuts, Mar p 22
The Texas Medicare manifesto (Commentary), Feb pp 5-6
The Texas Medicare manifesto: slightly better than nothing, Mar pp 18-23
TMA president demands Congress fix Medicare payment system (Rounds), Apr pp 9-10
white coats invade Washington: physicians rally support for Texas Medicare Manifesto, Jun pp 26-30

free sometimes costs: Availity working to resolve claims-submission problems, Apr pp 41-43
hospital, Advantage health plan payments to jump, Jun p 31
immunization liability (Managing Your Practice), Apr p 6

Legislation
AMA house ponders Medicare meltdown (Rounds), Jan pp 9-10
Congress delays DMEPOS competitive bidding process, Sep pp 30-31
disaster averted, for now: Congress cancels Medicare cut, but permanent fix still elusive, Sep pp 27-31
Klawitter, Arthur: the view from Needville [on Medicare]; cows listen better than Congress, Mar pp 24-25 (photo)
Medicare bill includes e-prescribing incentives (Rounds), Oct pp 10-11
Texas lawmaker files Medicare "freedom to choose" bill, Dec p 27
The Texas Medicare manifesto (Commentary), Feb pp 5-6
The Texas Medicare manifesto: slightly better than nothing, Mar pp 18-23
TMA president demands Congress fix Medicare payment system (Rounds), Apr pp 9-10
white coats invade Washington: physicians rally support for Texas Medicare Manifesto, Jun pp 26-30

Medicare expands no-pay list (Rounds), Oct p 10
Medicare MACs [Medicare administrative contractors] (Managing Your Practice), Mar p 6

Physician participation
backlog blues: TrailBlazer faces mounting Medicare enrollment forms, May pp 33-34
CMS extends Medicare participation deadline, Feb p 32
a joint effort [between TMA and TrailBlazer to deal with enrollment problems], May p 34
PAR for the course [Medicare participation status] (Managing Your Practice), Apr p 5
physicians face Medicare [participation] decisions, May p 35

PPTN (Professional Provider Telecommunications Network) gives online access to Medicare claims status (Managing Your Practice), Aug p 6

Quality reporting
dollars for quality? physicians receive first payments for quality reporting, Oct pp 35-38
feedback reports available for 2007 PQRI participants, Oct p 36
use DocSite to earn a Medicare bonus, Dec p 53

script standards to change [for Medicare Part D] (Rounds), Aug pp 16-17
Texas, 30 other states seek billions from Medicare, Dec p 28
use the new ABN [Medicare advanced beneficiary notice] (Managing Your Practice), Oct p 6

Medicare Part C
Medicare hospital, Advantage health plan payments to jump, Jun p 31

Medicare Part D
script standards to change [for Medicare Part D] (Rounds), Aug pp 16-17

Medication Systems
Medicare bill includes e-prescribing incentives (Rounds), Oct pp 10-11
script standards to change [for Medicare Part D] (Rounds), Aug pp 16-17

Mendelsohn, John (Newsmakers), May p 46

Mental Health Services
attracting talent in child and adolescent psychiatry, Oct p 43
DSHS awards $25M for community mental health services, Aug pp 38-40
good bill, bad bill [mental health services; physician-owned facilities] (Rounds), May p 9
repairing young minds: Texas needs more child, adolescent psychiatrists, Oct pp 41-44

Mercier, David W. (Newsmakers), Feb p 49; Dec p 7

Merryman, James (Newsmakers), Feb p 48

Messer, Ann, Jun p 6 (photo)

Methicillin Resistance
detecting MRSA: Scott & White launches universal MRSA screening, Feb pp 41-44
DSHS releases staph infection prevention guidelines, Feb p 44

Mexico
adequacy of outpatient care among hospitalized adult asthmatics in a southwest US border city, Oct pp 56-62

Meyer, George G.
"I did what had to be done" (Reflections on Medicine), Mar pp 13-14

Meyerson, Robert (Newsmakers), Feb p 48

Middleman, Amy, Aug p 36 (photo)

Military Personnel
Rose, Keith: local doctor creates clothing with tourniquets for troops (Trusted Leader), Feb pp 47-49

Miller, Hillary (Newsmakers), Feb p 48

Minority Groups
2008 TMA minority scholarships available (Rounds), Feb p 12
minority kids' health care lacking (Rounds), Apr pp 15-16
TMA Board of Trustees awards eight scholarships to minority medical students, Jun p 10 (photo)

Misconduct.SeeProfessional Misconduct

Mitochondrial Diseases
living with mito (Commentary), Nov pp 5-6

Mortality
trends in fall-related mortality among older adults in Texas, May pp 56-59

Motion Pictures
get cigarettes out of the movies (Rounds), Oct p 12

Moy, Clifford C.
elected Vice Speaker of House of Delegates, Jun p 12
Newsmaker, Sep p 52
prepares to testify at AMA House of Delegates, Jan p 9 (photo)

Murray, Jeffrey
rallies support for Proposition 15 in Fort Worth, Jan p 36 (photo)

N

National Institutes of Health
NIH becomes medical supersleuth, Jul p 40

National Provider Identifier (NPI)
avoiding secondary identifier problems (Managing Your Practice), Oct p 5
CMS nixes NPI extension, Jul p 34
don't lose your patients [by failing to use national provider identifier] (Rounds), Apr p 14
identifying the identifier: NPI implementation causing headaches for physicians, Aug pp 29-30
required NPI use began March 1, Mar p 46
TMA, H-E-B OK NPI deal (Managing Your Practice), Aug p 5
TMA Web site answers your NPI questions, Aug p 30

Natural Disasters.SeeDisasters

Neidner, Kenneth, Apr p 47 (photo)

Nelson, Jane, Jan p 36 (photo)

Neonatal Screening
grant funds newborn screening performance measures, Jun pp 50-51
HRSA grants $12 million to improve maternal, child health, Jul p 30
online CME on newborn screening is available, Jun p 51
screening for life: expanded newborn screening tackles rare disorders, Jun pp 47-51
TMA wins reimbursement for screening, Jun p 50
what they're looking for, Jun p 49

Neoplasms
beyond [Proposition] 15: the next step for Texas cancer research, Jan pp 35-40
DSHS offers new cancer treatment resource (Managing Your Practice), Apr p 5
funds support cancer research expansion [at Scott & White Memorial Hospital] in Temple, Jan p 39
grant supports M.D. Anderson vaccine research, Jan pp 39-40
guidelines for cancer genetic counseling or testing, Aug pp 45-46
Texas Tech launches new cancer center, Nov p 56
UTHSCSA to merge with cancer research center, Feb p 44

Neu, Bradley, Jun p 12 (photo)

"Never Events."SeeMedical Errors

Newborn screening.SeeNeonatal Screening

Nezda, Susan, Jun p 13 (photo)

Nguyen-Trong, Jessica, Aug p 9

Nielsen, Nancy H., Apr p 45 (photo); May p 28 (photo)

Nonphysician Practitioners.SeeAllied Health Personnel

North Houston Gastroenterology Clinic PA
"they sat on our money:" TDI repeatedly fines UnitedHealthcare for late claims payment, Feb pp 16-23

NPI.SeeNational Provider Identifier (NPI)

O

Obama, Barack
Obama vs. McCain: comparing the candidates' health plans, Oct pp 14-24

Obesity
more Americans report being obese, CDC data show, Sep pp 36-37
salt adding to childhood obesity problem, Oct p 52
Texas gets childhood obesity prevention grant, Dec p 41

Occupational Exposure
OSHA rules (Managing Your Practice), Mar p 5

O'Farrell, Kevin (Newsmakers), Feb p 48

Office of the Inspector General (OIG).SeeUnited States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

O'Neal, Barry L.
spread too thin: reimbursement, other factors drive physicians from geriatrics, Jan p 31 (photo)

Ophthalmology
Alpar, John J.: ophthalmology; the impossible becomes routine (Reflections on Medicine), May p 13

Organ Donors.SeeTissue Donors

Orth, Reid
reelected vice chair of AMA Medical Student Section, Aug p 9
Texans in the spotlight (Rounds), Jan p 10
white coats invade Washington, Jun p 27 (photo)

Ortiz, Solomon, Jr., Mar p 10 (photo)

Osteopathic Medicine
new osteopathic medical schools approved (Rounds), Aug p 18

Otto, William (Newsmakers), Feb p 48

Outcome and Process Assessment (Health Care)
educators say medical training should focus on outcomes, Dec p 46

Outpatient Care.SeeAmbulatory Care

Ozier, Gary, Jul p 9 (photo)

Ozone
Houston, DFW top ozone pollution list, Jul pp 28-29
Texas' nonattainment and near nonattainment areas, Sep p 35

P

Padro, David, Jun p 10 (photo)

Pain
pain primer for primary physicians: essential concepts, Jun [insert]

Palmer, Laura, Dec p 52 (photo)

Patel, Neha
Texans in the spotlight (Rounds), Jan p 10

Patient Communication.SeeCommunication

Patient Credit and Collection
assessing your billing and collections processes (Managing Your Practice), Sep p 6

Patient Education
a 40-inch flat-screen member benefit (Commentary), Jul pp 5-6
free TVs from TMA (Rounds), Jun p 17

Patient Identification Systems
swipe it: TDI to test health care "smart cards," Mar pp 43-46

Patient Safety.SeeSafety

Patient Simulation
simulation training in a pediatric residency program, Jan pp 50-53

Patrick, Donald, Jr.
Lyle Thorstenson presents plaque to retired TMB Executive Director, Oct p 10 (photo)
prove your worth: state medical boards eye competency testing, Mar p 35 (photo)
retires as TMB executive director, Jul p 21

Patterson, Jan Evans, Apr p 15 (photo)

Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, El Paso
LCME accredits El Paso medical school, Apr p 50

Pediatrics
simulation training in a pediatric residency program, Jan pp 50-53

Peel, Deborah (Newsmakers), Jan p 46

Peer Review
doctor vs. hospital: federal court says hospital did peer review right, Oct pp 27-32
TMA supports fair, effective peer review, Oct p 28

Performance Ratings.SeeQuality Indicators, Health Care

Pertussis Vaccine
the cocoon strategy [vaccination program] (Commentary), Aug p 3

Pevoto, Patrick S. (Newsmakers), Jan p 45; Dec p 7

Pharmaceutical Industry.SeeDrug Industry

Pharmaceutical Preparations.See alsoPrescriptions, Drug
medical errors are preventable (Managing Your Practice), Jun p 3
TMA gets you [FDA] drug alerts fast on Health Care Notification Network (HCNN), Dec p 38
use the NDC [national drug code] (Managing Your Practice), Apr p 6

Pharmacies
TMA, H-E-B OK NPI deal (Managing Your Practice), Aug p 5

Physician Impairment
TMA helps physicians in times of trouble, Dec p 23

Physician Misconduct.SeeProfessional Misconduct

Physician-Owned Health Facilities.SeeHealth Facilities, Proprietary ; Hospital-Physician Joint Ventures

Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI).SeeQuality Indicators, Health Care

Physicians
Burns-Banks, Dianna: TMA urges physicians to reexamine Medicaid participation, Jan pp 14-19 (photo)
can't we all just get along? Tech, community physicians build strong relationships, Apr pp 47-49
Caylor, Art: living with mito [mitochondrial disease] (Commentary), Nov pp 5-6
damaged practices: TMA rescues displaced physicians; establishes $1 million relief fund, Nov pp 40-42

DeBakey, Michael
top heart surgeons Cooley and DeBakey put their decades-old feud to rest (Trusted Leader), Jan pp 43-45 (photo)
tribute to a legend, Sep pp 8 (photo) , 9-10

doctor vs. hospital: federal court says hospital did peer review right, Oct pp 27-32
Klawitter, Arthur: the view from Needville [on Medicare]; cows listen better than Congress, Mar pp 24-25 (photo)
medical board tentatively approves plan to resolve complaints quicker (Rounds), Feb p 11
Pettigrove, John R. : As I Lay Dying (Commentary), Feb pp 49-50

Reflections on Medicine
Alpar, John J.: ophthalmology; the impossible becomes routine, May p 13
Arnold, Tom: "still the greatest profession," Feb p 14
Brandau, George H.: those were the days, Jul p 10
Fred, Herbert L.: I remember when, Oct p 13
Kelsey, Mavis R., Sr.: "you just have to try," Jan pp 45-46 (photo)
Meyer, George G.: "I did what had to be done," Mar pp 13-14
Ramsey, Jack D.: the changing image of radiology, Apr p 13
Rodgers, L. Rodney: art in the practice of medicine, Sep pp 15-16
Ware, Elgin W., Jr.: the greatest generation?, Aug pp 20-21

Rose, Keith: local doctor creates clothing with tourniquets for troops (Trusted Leader), Feb pp 47-49

Supply and Distribution
comparison of Texas and U.S. physician-to-population ratios, Jun p 42
primary care crisis, Dec pp 15-23
reasons for U.S. physician shortage, Dec p 21
still not enough: Texas faces physician shortage despite growing workforce, Jun pp 41-43
Texas needs more physicians, TMA tells legislators (Rounds), Sep p 13

TMB schedules new town hall meetings, Aug pp 11-13
town hall meeting lets physicians listen to patients (Rounds), Jul p 9
trusted leaders, not "providers" [installation speech of Josie R. Williams], Jun pp 14-16
Williams, Josie R.: living her dream (Trusted Leader), May pp 43-47 (photo)

Physicians, Family
3+3=family physicians: Tech wants accelerated residency program, Dec pp 43-46
doctors for donation: organ donor campaign targets primary care physicians, Jul pp 37-40
factors influencing Texas family medicine residents' intended scope of practice, Jun pp 55-61
pain primer for primary physicians: essential concepts, Jun [insert]
primary care crisis, Dec pp 15-23
primary care in underserved areas (MedBytes), Dec p 64

Physicians' Foundation for Health Systems Excellence Save Small Practice Program (PFHSE), Mar pp 11-12
Physicians' Foundation "Medical Practice in 2008" survey
about the survey, Dec p 24
primary care crisis, Dec pp 15-23

Physician's Practice Patterns
good data best defense against physician profiling (Rounds), Jun pp 12-13

Plested, William G., Apr p 29 (photo)

Poison Control Centers
pattern of chlorine gas exposures reported to Texas poison control centers, 2000 through 2005, Mar pp 52-57

Poliner, Lawrence R.
doctor vs. hospital: federal court says hospital did peer review right, Oct pp 27-32

Politics
First Tuesday program begins Feb. 3, Nov p 61
Obama vs. McCain: comparing the candidates' health plans, Oct pp 14-24
partners in politics: June Bratcher forges powerful alliance, Sep pp 41-46

Power Plants
Texas coal-fired power plants face cloudy future, May pp 40-41

PQRI (Physician Quality Reporting Initiative).SeeQuality Indicators, Health Care

Practice Management, Medical.See alsoProfessional Practice
are you losing revenue by undercoding? (Rounds), Apr p 16
the careful concierge: concierge medicine attractive, but possibly risky, Jun pp 33-38
CME awarded for practice operations improvements (Rounds), May pp 11-12
free e-book [TMA Practice E-Tips] to improve your practice (Rounds), Jul p 11
getting started: TMA consultants help physicians set up their practices, Dec pp 49-53

Health Care Surveys
physicians plan to alter practices in next one to three years, Dec p 21
primary care crisis, Dec pp 15-23
Texas physicians' dissatisfaction with medical practice, Dec p 17

Houston effort to develop small employer coverage fails, May pp 19-20
lead a first-rate team with TMA's new NPP [Nonphysician Practitioners] guide (Rounds), Feb pp 12-13

Managing Your Practice (column)
assessing your billing and collections processes, Sep p 6
avoiding secondary identifier problems, Oct p 5
billing for accident victims, Jan p 6
Blue Cross changes imaging policy, Jul p 3
challenged by overhead costs?, Aug p 6
CME transcripts made easy, Nov p 7
complaining to TDI, Apr p 6
dealing with Unicare, Jan p 5
destroy medical records securely, Sep p 6
destroying medical records, Jan p 6
DSHS offers new cancer treatment resource, Apr p 5
e-mail etiquette, Mar p 6
employee hepatitis B vaccination, Sep p 6
EMRs and you, Jan p 6
Family Leave and Medical Act (FMLA) and you (Managing Your Practice), Apr p 5
hello, I'm sick [telephone consultation], Mar p 5
how to bill for telephone consultations, Nov p 7
how to boost referrals, Aug p 6
how to contest unemployment claims, Jan p 5
immunization liability, Apr p 6
improving your staff's productivity, Oct p 6
learn the basics of accounting online, Sep p 5
Medicaid CME, Feb p 8
Medicaid streamlines radiology preauthorization process, Sep p 5
medical errors are preventable, Jun p 3
Medicare covers flu shots, Feb p 8
Medicare MACs [Medicare administrative contractors], Mar p 6
Medicare to change audiology services "incident to," Sep p 5
negotiating a contract, Apr p 5
New Year's resolution: when was the last time you reviewed and updated your practice codes and fee schedule?, Jan p 5
notifying patients when leaving a practice, Jun p 3
"off the record" is off limits, Aug p 5
on-site training from TMA, Oct p 5
OSHA rules, Mar p 5
overwhelmed by overtime?, May p 3
PAR for the course [Medicare participation status], Apr p 5
phone manners 101, May p 3
phony auditors, Mar p 6
PPTN (Professional Provider Telecommunications Network) gives online access to Medicare claims status, Aug p 6
privacy notices, Feb p 7
sacroiliac joint injections [no longer covered], Jul p 3
spending hours on research, not patient care? [let TMA Knowledge Center do it for you], Aug p 5
staying ahead of the payers, Nov p 7
stop embezzlement before it starts, Dec p 5
tamper-resistant paper is available [for prescriptions], May p 3
ten ways to avoid EMR liability, Dec p 5
things change [change of diagnosis], Mar p 6
the three Rs of consultation, Feb p 8
TMA, H-E-B OK NPI deal, Aug p 5
top-selling medical reference [Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine] free online, Jul p 3
United changes claims processing, Feb p 7
United refines claim letters, Oct p 5
use the NDC [national drug code], Apr p 6
use the new ABN [Medicare advanced beneficiary notice], Oct p 6
wanted: your online classifieds [for TMA's Web site], Dec p 5
who owns what?, Feb p 7

physicians wanted to participate in TMA-endorsed PFHSE Program (Rounds), Mar pp 11-12
preventing prevention: obstacles make preventive care more difficult, Jun pp 18-23
pulling back the Oz curtain: TMA seeks to shine light on health plan business practices, Dec pp 25-28
required NPI [national provider identifier] use began March 1, Mar p 46
save money, conserve electricity (Rounds), Jul p 11
TMAIT can help you get the [employee insurance] coverage you need easily and economically, May p 22
what are required medical office workplace postings for patients and employees? (Ask the TMA Knowledge Center), May p 12
where's the charity? financial woes force physicians to rethink charity care, Jul pp 31-33
where's the money going? [from insurance premiums paid by small businesses], May pp 16-21
your goal for 2008: stronger practice operations (Rounds), Feb pp 14-15

Preferred Provider Organizations
TDI fines silent PPO (Rounds), Jul pp 10-11
TDI takes action against silent PPOs, Dec p 33

Pregnancy in Adolescence
teen birth rate up first time in 14 years, Feb pp 38-39

Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas
doctor vs. hospital: federal court says hospital did peer review right, Oct pp 27-32

Prescriptions, Drug.See alsoPharmaceutical Preparations
consistency of DEA final rule on multiple prescriptions with Texas law (Ask the TMA Knowledge Center), Mar p 12
DPS collects more Schedule II-V drug information (Rounds), Oct pp 9-10
medical errors are preventable (Managing Your Practice), Jun p 3
Medicare bill includes e-prescribing incentives (Rounds), Oct pp 10-11
script standards to change [for Medicare Part D] (Rounds), Aug pp 16-17
stakeholders discuss Rx for e-prescribing success (Rounds), Dec pp 10-11
tamper-resistant paper is available (Managing Your Practice), May p 3
TMA, H-E-B OK NPI deal (Managing Your Practice), Aug p 5
use the NDC [national drug code] (Managing Your Practice), Apr p 6

Pretorius, Mark (Newsmakers), Sep p 50

Preventive Health Services
performance improvement (MedBytes), Jun p 64
preventing prevention: obstacles make preventive care more difficult, Jun pp 18-23
prevention investment could save $16B over five years, Sep pp 37-38

Price, David, Jun p 28 (photo)

Price, Mia, Jun p 28 (photo)

Priestner, Maureen
winner of June Bratcher Award for Political Action, Sep pp 42 (photo), 46

Primary Care Physicians.SeePhysicians, Family

Primary Health Care
primary care crisis, Dec pp 15-23
primary care in underserved areas (MedBytes), Dec p 64

Prince, Joseph
voices of Ike, Nov pp 19, 29

Pringle, Peggy, Dec p 52 (photo)

Privacy of Patient Data.SeeConfidentiality ; Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA)

Professional Misconduct
greetings from the TMB: what happens if you get bad news, Jul pp 16-21
TMB: pay the "ticket" or go to "court" (Rounds), May p 10

Professional Practice.See alsoPractice Management, Medical
can't we all just get along? Tech, community physicians build strong relationships, Apr pp 47-49
the careful concierge: concierge medicine attractive, but possibly risky, Jun pp 33-38

Health Care Surveys
physicians find recruiting new talent difficult, Dec p 20
physicians plan to alter practices in next one to three years, Dec p 21
Texas physicians' dissatisfaction with medical practice, Dec p 17
Texas physicians enjoy patient, professional relationships, Dec p 19

Kelsey, Mavis R., Sr.: "you just have to try" (Reflections on Medicine), Jan pp 45-46 (photo)
Pettigrove, John R. : As I Lay Dying (Commentary), Feb pp 49-50
primary care crisis, Dec pp 15-23
trusted leaders, not "providers" [installation speech of Josie R. Williams], Jun pp 14-16
the voice of polite dissent [on clinical competency testing] (Commentary), Sep pp 55-56

Prompt Payment.SeeInsurance, Health, Reimbursement

Prostate Neoplasms
task force: don't screen men over 75 for prostate cancer, Oct pp 45-46

Prudential
promises, promises: TMA helps hold HMO's feet to the fire, Apr pp 18-24

Pruitt, Basil A., Jr. (Newsmakers), May p 46

Pruitt, Bryan (Newsmakers), Feb p 49

Pruitt, Spencer, Aug p 9

Prusak, Marilyn, Nov p 48 (photo)

Psychiatry
attracting talent in child and adolescent psychiatry, Oct p 43
repairing young minds: Texas needs more child, adolescent psychiatrists, Oct pp 41-44

Public Health.See alsoImmunization ; Influenza ; Vaccines and Vaccination
are we ready? Texas examines its emergency preparedness, Apr pp 33-37
avoid the 'roids: UIL to test high school athletes for steroids, Feb p 35-39
beyond [Proposition] 15: the next step for Texas cancer research, Jan pp 35-40
detecting MRSA: Scott & White launches universal MRSA screening, Feb pp 41-44
doctors = trust: physicians respond to San Angelo [evacuee] crisis, Jul pp 25-28
DSHS awards $25M for community mental health services, Aug pp 38-40
DSHS program tracks flu statewide, Mar p 40
DSHS releases staph infection prevention guidelines, Feb p 44
first line of defense: physicians must report unusual illnesses, Dec pp 37-40
get cigarettes out of the movies (Rounds), Oct p 12
health groups release 2008 immunization schedules, Mar p 40-42
heart disease 2010 goal achieved, AHA reports, Apr pp 36-37
heart screening program targets kids, May p 40
hold the salt: physicians look to lower sodium consumption, Oct pp 49-52
HRSA grants $12 million to improve maternal, child health, Jul p 30
more Americans report being obese, CDC data show, Sep pp 36-37
new clinical treatments help smokers quit smoking, Aug pp 40-41
performance improvement (MedBytes), Jun p 64
physicians vs. cigarettes: doctors champion city smoking bans, May pp 37-41
preventing prevention: obstacles make preventive care more difficult, Jun pp 18-23
prevention investment could save $16B over five years, Sep pp 37-38
repairing young minds: Texas needs more child, adolescent psychiatrists, Oct pp 41-44
screening for life: expanded newborn screening tackles rare disorders, Jun pp 47-51
smoking cessation would save Texas Medicaid millions, Feb p 38
so far, so good: flu vaccine supply appears adequate, Mar pp 37-42
study shows improved health behaviors by students, Aug p 40
teen birth rate up first time in 14 years, Feb pp 38-39
Texas coal-fired power plants face cloudy future, May pp 40-41
Texas flunks women's health, Jan p 40
TMA Council on Public Health funding recommendations, Jan p 37
TMA vaccine advocacy, Mar p 38
trends in fall-related mortality among older adults in Texas, May pp 56-59
UIL chooses firm to administer steroid testing, Apr p 36
UT-Houston School of Public Health to open health care management school (Rounds), Aug p 18

Q

Quality Assurance, Health Care
grant funds newborn screening performance measures, Jun pp 50-51
it's time to learn about improving quality (Rounds), Dec p 11
physicians call error-reporting systems inadequate, Mar p 30

Quality Indicators, Health Care
Physician rating systems
ACMP (Advisory Committee on Measures of Performance) action items, Jan p 22
good data best defense against physician profiling (Rounds), Jun pp 12-13
how do you rate with Blue Cross? (Rounds), May p 9
how to challenge your rating, Jan p 24
making sense of the [Blue Cross RACI] system, Sep p 25
New York AG agreements spur physician-ranking reform, Jan p 26
physicians sound off, Jan p 23
RACI rescinded: Blue Cross eliminates physician-hated cost-measurement tool, Sep pp 18-24
TMA recommendations to BCBSTX, Sep p 23
what we [TMA] do (Commentary), Jun pp 5-6
worse than the BCS: TMA causes improvements to Blue Cross ratings, Jan pp 21-26

PQRI (Physician Quality Reporting Initiative)
dollars for quality? physicians receive first payments for quality reporting, Oct pp 35-38
feedback reports available for 2007 PQRI participants, Oct p 36
use DocSite to earn a Medicare bonus, Dec p 53

R

Racht, Edward (Newsmakers), Sep p 52

Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO).SeeJurisprudence

Radiography
Blue Cross changes imaging policy (Managing Your Practice), Jul p 3
House of Delegates rejects ownership study, amends firearms policy (Rounds), Jun pp 9-12
Medicaid streamlines radiology preauthorization process (Managing Your Practice), Sep p 5

Radiology
Ramsey, Jack D.: the changing image of radiology (Reflections on Medicine), Apr p 13

Radium
spatial distribution of orofacial cleft defect births in Harris Couty, Texas, and radium in the public water supplies: a persistent association?, Dec pp 56-63

Raimer, Ben G.
surviving Ike: UTMB moves quickly to get back on its feet, Nov pp 34-38 (photo)

Ramsey, Jack D.
the changing image of radiology (Reflections on Medicine), Apr p 13

Rating Systems.SeeQuality Indicators, Health Care

Ravenell, Joseph (Newsmakers), Feb p 49

Ray, Walker, Dec p 17 (photo)

Reddy, Guru N. (Newsmakers), May p 46

Referral and Consultation
how to boost referrals (Managing Your Practice), Aug p 6
the three Rs of consultation (Managing Your Practice), Feb p 8

Refugees
doctors = trust: physicians respond to San Angelo [evacuee] crisis, Jul pp 25-28

Reimbursement, Incentive
dollars for quality? physicians receive first payments for quality reporting, Oct pp 35-38

Reimbursement Mechanisms.SeeInsurance, Health, Reimbursement

Relicensure.SeeLicensure, Medical

Religion
As I Lay Dying (Commentary), Feb pp 49-50

Remote Consultations
hello, I'm sick [telephone consultation], Mar p 5
how to bill for telephone consultations (Managing Your Practice), Nov p 7

Research
beyond [Proposition] 15: the next step for Texas cancer research, Jan pp 35-40
funds support cancer research expansion [at Scott & White Memorial Hospital] in Temple, Jan p 39
UTMB launches doctoral degree in clinical science, Jan p 33

Research Funding.SeeFinancing, Government

Residency.SeeInternship and Residency

Retirement
notifying patients when leaving a practice (Managing Your Practice), Jun p 3

Richardson, Joan, Nov p 35 (photo)

Risk Management
TMLT, JUA offer risk management services (Rounds), Oct p 11

Risk Taking
study shows improved health behaviors by students, Aug p 40

Roberts, Richard, Aug p 22 (photo)

Roberts, Sam, Nov p 16 (photo)

Robinson, Mari, Nov p 57 (photo)

Rodgers, Darren, Sep p 21 (photo)

Rodgers, L. Rodney
art in the practice of medicine (Reflections on Medicine), Sep pp 15-16

Rodriguez, Rene (Newsmakers), Jan p 45 (photo)

Rohack, Jim
elected AMA president-elect, Aug p 9 (photo)
The Texas Medicare manifesto: slightly better than nothing, Mar p 19 (photo)
white coats invade Washington, Jun pp 26, 30 (photo)

Rose, Keith
local doctor creates clothing with tourniquets for troops (Trusted Leader), Feb pp 47-49

Rubin, Craig
spread too thin: reimbursement, other factors drive physicians from geriatrics, Jan p 30 (photo)

Rural Health
outcomes of a Texas family medicine residency rural training track: 2000 through 2007, Sep pp 60-63

Russell, Peggy
spread too thin: reimbursement, other factors drive physicians from geriatrics, Jan pp 29-33
visits with 94-year-old patient, Jan p 29 (photo)

Ruud, Christopher, Aug p 44 (photo)

S

Safety.See alsoHead Protective Devices ; Medical Errors
feds finally release patient safety rule (Rounds), Apr p 14
PSOs [patient safety organizations] to improve quality, patient safety, May p 31
stakeholders discuss Rx for e-prescribing success (Rounds), Dec pp 10-11

Salt.SeeSodium Chloride

San Angelo, TX
doctors = trust: physicians respond to San Angelo [evacuee] crisis, Jul pp 25-28

Sanchez, Eduardo, Jan p 36 (photo); Jun pp 5, 21 (photo)

Scholarships.SeeFellowships and Scholarships

Scholl, Catherine L.
Aetna delays decision to stop paying for certain anesthesia services, Apr p 44 (photo)
Newsmakers, Feb p 49; Dec p 7
warns physicians of tough scope of practice fight looming, Mar p 9 (photo)

Schools, Medical.See alsoEducation, Medical ; Students, Medical
[Hurricane] Ike has minimal impact on Houston medical schools, Nov p 37
lawmaker says new report boosts Rio Grande Valley medical school, Nov p 56
LCME accredits El Paso medical school, Apr p 50
new osteopathic medical schools approved (Rounds), Aug p 18
new U.S. medical schools approved, in pipeline, Jun pp 43-44

Texas A&M University System Health Science Center
accepts land donation for Round Rock campus, Mar p 36
A&M accepts land donation for Round Rock campus, Mar p 36
A&M contributes to nation?s largest first-year medical class, Dec p 46
simulation training in a pediatric residency program, Jan pp 50-53

Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
3+3=family physicians: Tech wants accelerated residency program, Dec pp 43-46
can't we all just get along? Tech, community physicians build strong relationships, Apr pp 47-49
launches new cancer center, Nov p 56

University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston
geriatric education center to focus on vulnerable elderly, Jan p 30
[Hurricane] Ike has minimal impact on Houston medical schools, Nov p 37
School of Public Health to open health care management school (Rounds), Aug p 18

University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio
UTHSC-San Antonio gets $25 million gift, Mar p 36
UTHSCSA team reports antibiotic resistance (Rounds), Apr p 15
UTHSCSA to merge with cancer research center, Feb p 44

University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston
outcomes of a Texas family medicine residency rural training track: 2000 through 2007, Sep pp 60-63
surviving Ike: UTMB moves quickly to get back on its feet, Nov pp 32-38
UTMB launches doctoral degree in clinical science, Jan p 33
UTMB students need [Hurricane Ike] help, too (Rounds), Dec pp 9-10

Schultz, Robert Douglas, Jul p 27 (photo)

Scope of Practice.SeeLicensure

Scott & White Hospital
detecting MRSA: Scott & White launches universal MRSA screening, Feb pp 41-44
funds support cancer research expansion [at Scott & White Memorial Hospital] in Temple, Jan p 39
simulation training in a pediatric residency program, Jan pp 50-53

Screening.SeeGenetic Screening ; Mass Screening ; Neonatal Screening

Seavall, Vanessa, Dec p 53 (photo)

Seifert, Saundra, Jul p 27 (photo)

Seifert, Stephen, Jul p 27 (photo)

Shah, Jayesh
elected vice chair of AMA International Medical Graduate Section, Aug p 9
Newsmakers, Feb p 50

Shah, Kiran H., Nov p 57 (photo)

Sherwood, Edward, Dec pp 37-38 (photo)

Shingles.SeeHerpes Zoster

Simulation Training.SeePatient Simulation

Siy, Linda
where's the money going?, May pp 16, 19 (photo), 21

Skin Neoplasms
sun safety (MedBytes), Jul p 56

Smart Cards.SeePatient Identification Systems

Smith, Charlotte, Jan p 9 (photo)

Smith, George F., Dec p 9 (photo)

Smith, Lamar, Sep p 27 (photo)

Smithee, John, Feb p 25 (photo)

Smoking
Amarillo works to pass [no-smoking] ordinance, May p 39
comprehensive smoke-free ordinances in Texas, May p 38
get cigarettes out of the movies (Rounds), Oct p 12
physicians vs. cigarettes: doctors champion city smoking bans, May pp 37-41
tobacco settlement funds offset health costs, Jun p 38

Smoking Cessation
CME helps you help patients kick the habit (Rounds), Dec p 12
new clinical treatments help smokers quit, Aug pp 40-41
smoking cessation would save Texas Medicaid millions, Feb p 38

Sodium Chloride
heart association helps patients cut salt, Oct pp 51-52
hold the salt: physicians look to lower sodium consumption, Oct pp 49-52
salt adding to childhood obesity problem, Oct p 52

Spann, Joseph, Jun p 6 (photo)

Spencer, Chris (Newsmakers), Feb p 48

Sports
anabolic steroids (MedBytes), Feb p 56
avoid the 'roids: UIL to test high school athletes for steroids, Feb p 35-39
UIL banned substances, Feb p 36
UIL chooses firm to administer steroid testing, Apr p 36

St. Joseph Medical Center
physician ownership saves Houston's oldest hospital, Apr pp 29-30

Staphylococcal Infections
detecting MRSA: Scott & White launches universal MRSA screening, Feb pp 41-44
DSHS releases staph infection prevention guidelines, Feb p 44

State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP)
SCHIP renewed for 18 months, Mar p 23

Steiger, Mark, Dec pp 49, 52-53 (photo)

Steroids.SeeAnabolic Agents

Strate, Susan
physicians sound off, Jan p 23 (photo)
prove your worth: state medical boards eye competency testing, Mar p 35 (photo)
pulling back the Oz curtain, Dec p 27 (photo)
"they sat on our money," Feb p 20 (photo)

Student Athletes.SeeSports

Students, Medical.See alsoSchools, Medical
2008 TMA minority scholarships available (Rounds), Feb p 12
Gary Floyd receives plaque for volunteer work on educational loans for medical students, Apr p 12 (photo)
House of Delegates backs increased loan repayments, Jun p 44
medical students push loan deferment bill, Jun pp 30-31
scholarships available for Houston medical students (Rounds), Aug p 14
TMA Board of Trustees awards eight scholarships to minority medical students, Jun p 10 (photo)
TMLT awards eight medical school scholarships (Rounds), Oct p 11
TMLT offers medical student scholarships (Rounds), Apr p 14
UTMB students need [Hurricane Ike] help, too (Rounds), Dec pp 9-10

Stultz, Dan, Apr p 33 (photo)
Substance Abuse Detection
avoid the 'roids: UIL to test high school athletes for steroids, Feb p 35-39
UIL chooses firm to administer steroid testing, Apr p 36

Sunlight
sun safety (MedBytes), Jul p 56

Surveys.SeeHealth Care Surveys

Swift, Bernard, Jr., Feb p 29 (photo)

Swygert, Thomas A. (Newsmakers), Feb p 49

T

Tan, Erwin, Nov p 13 (photo)

TAPA (Texas Alliance for Patient Access)
amicus briefs, Mar p 28

Tarrant County, TX
epidemiological summary of HIV/AIDS in Tarrant County, 2000 through 2005, Jul pp 47-52

Taxes
comptroller revises [franchise] tax rules (Rounds), Jul p 12
Texas comptroller revises franchise tax rules (Rounds), May p 10

Taylor, Thomas V., Nov p 51 (photo)

Teenagers.SeeAdolescents

Telephone Consultation.SeeRemote Consultations

Television
a 40-inch flat-screen member benefit (Commentary), Jul pp 5-6
free TVs from TMA (Rounds), Jun p 17

Terk, Jason
repairing young minds: Texas needs more child, adolescent psychiatrists, Oct p 43 (photo)

Teuscher, David
Texans in the spotlight (Rounds), Jan p 10
voices of Ike, Nov pp 19, 20-21

Tewoldeberhan, Alem, Jun p 10 (photo)

Texas.See alsoHurricane Ike
adequacy of outpatient care among hospitalized adult asthmatics in a southwest US border city, Oct pp 56-62
Amarillo works to pass [no-smoking] ordinance, May p 39
comparing the financial condition of Texas hospitals using a novel definition for the safety net, Aug pp 56-62
comprehensive smoke-free ordinances in Texas, May p 38
doctors = trust: physicians respond to San Angelo [evacuee] crisis, Jul pp 25-28
epidemiological summary of HIV/AIDS in Tarrant County, 2000 through 2005, Jul pp 47-52
factors influencing Texas family medicine residents' intended scope of practice, Jun pp 55-61
outcomes of a Texas family medicine residency rural training track: 2000 through 2007, Sep pp 60-63
pattern of chlorine gas exposures reported to Texas poison control centers, 2000 through 2005, Mar pp 52-57
repairing young minds: Texas needs more child, adolescent psychiatrists, Oct pp 41-44
South Texas labeled civil justice "hellhole," Mar pp 29-30
spatial distribution of orofacial cleft defect births in Harris Couty, Texas, and radium in the public water supplies: a persistent association?, Dec pp 56-63
still not enough: Texas faces physician shortage despite growing workforce, Jun pp 41-43
Texas childhood immunization rates hit five-year high, Dec pp 40-41
Texas gets childhood obesity prevention grant, Dec p 41
trends in fall-related mortality among older adults in Texas, May pp 56-59

Texas Alliance for Patient Access (TAPA)
amicus briefs, Mar p 28

Texas A&M University System Health Science Center
accepts land donation for Round Rock campus, Mar p 36
contributes to nation's largest first-year medical class, Dec p 46
simulation training in a pediatric residency program, Jan pp 50-53

Texas Association of Health Plans
TAHP suggests limiting prompt pay penalties, Dec p 34

Texas Business for Clean Air (TBCA)
toxin tamers: partnership wants clean business, clean air, Sep pp 33-36

Texas Department of Health and Human Services Commission
HHSC funds [development of] health care programs, May p 22

Texas Department of Insurance (TDI)
complaining to TDI (Managing Your Practice), Apr p 6
fines Blue Cross over non-network claims (Rounds), Oct p 9
fines, fines, fines: TDI penalizes insurers for prompt pay violations, Dec pp 31-34
Houston effort to develop small employer coverage fails, May pp 19-20
swipe it: TDI to test health care "smart cards," Mar pp 43-46
takes action against silent PPOs, Dec p 33
TDI fines silent PPO (Rounds), Jul pp 10-11
"they sat on our money:" TDI repeatedly fines UnitedHealthcare for late claims payment, Feb pp 16-23

Texas Department of Public Safety
collects more Schedule II-V drug information (Rounds), Oct pp 9-10

Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS)
avoids public health crisis [after Hurricane Ike], Nov pp 44-45
awards $25M for community mental health services, Aug pp 38-40
offers new cancer treatment resource (Managing Your Practice), Apr p 5
program tracks flu statewide, Mar p 40; Dec p 39
releases staph infection prevention guidelines, Feb p 44
screening for life: expanded newborn screening tackles rare disorders, Jun pp 47-51
shots for big tots, Aug pp 35-38

Texas Health Information Network (THIN)
Availity completes transition of THIN providers, Oct pp 38-39
free sometimes costs: Availity working to resolve claims-submission problems, Apr pp 41-43

Texas Health Systems
doctor vs. hospital: federal court says hospital did peer review right, Oct pp 27-32

Texas Medical Association
50-Year Club led by Dr. John D. Bonnet (Rounds), Jun p 17
Annual Report: your vision, your voice, your TMA, Apr [insert]
Committee on Physician Health and Rehabilitation: TMA helps physicians in times of trouble, Dec p 23
continuing medical education. SeeEducation, Medical, Continuing
Council on Public Health funding recommendations, Jan p 37

Fall Conference
stay united to protect tort reform (Rounds), Nov pp 12-14
tort reform, health care debate top agenda (Rounds), Aug pp 13-14

History of Medicine
celebrates history of Texas IMGs, Feb pp 13-14
medical illustration exhibit opens this month in TMA History of Medicine Gallery (Rounds), Aug p 12

House of Delegates
backs increased loan repayments, Jun p 44
rejects ownership study, amends firearms policy (Rounds), Jun pp 9-12
trigger locks for guns (correction), Aug p 16

Hurricane Ike
apply now for TMA's Ike relief fund (Rounds), Dec p 9
damaged practices: TMA rescues displaced physicians; establishes $1 million relief fund, Nov pp 40-42
Hurricane Ike disaster relief program donors, Nov p 42

a joint effort [between TMA and TrailBlazer to deal with enrollment problems], May p 34
lead a first-rate team with TMA's new NPP [Nonphysician Practitioners] guide (Rounds), Feb pp 12-13

Legal Affairs
TMA sues family therapists board (Rounds), Nov p 14
TMA, TMLT battle Wyeth in Supreme Court, Oct p 32

Member Services
a 40-inch flat-screen member benefit (Commentary), Jul pp 5-6
free e-book [TMA Practice E-Tips] to improve your practice (Rounds), Jul p 11
free TVs from TMA (Rounds), Jun p 17
introducing the new TMA Deposit Program (Rounds), Feb p 12

New-to-Texas Web page [helps to get licensure], Jul p 18

Officers
Fleming, William H., III. SeeFleming, William H., III
Hinchey, William W. SeeHinchey, William W.
Williams, Josie R. SeeWilliams, Josie R.

Physician Benevolent Fund
apply now for TMA's Ike relief fund, Dec p 9
PBF helps us take care of our own (Rounds), Dec p 12

recommendations to BCBSTX [on risk-adjusted cost index], Sep p 23

TexMed 2008
call (210) 301-4398 to play golf at TexMed (Rounds), Apr p 16
renew your passion for medicine at TexMed 2008, Apr p 12
TexMed in San Antonio (Rounds), Mar p 11

TMA gets you [FDA] drug alerts fast on Health Care Notification Network (HCNN), Dec p 38
TMA, H-E-B OK NPI deal (Managing Your Practice), Aug p 5

TMA Knowledge Center
Drug Enforcement Administration final rule on multiple prescriptions (Rounds), Mar p 12
got questions? (Ask the TMA Knowledge Center), Jun p 3
Knowledge Center can help with medical records issues, Nov p 60
spending hours on research, not patient care? [let TMA Knowledge Center do it for you] (Managing Your Practice), Aug p 5
top-selling medical reference [Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine] free online (Managing Your Practice), Jul p 3

TMA launches health system reform effort, Oct p 19

TMA Practice Consulting
challenged by overhead costs? (Managing Your Practice), Aug p 6
CME transcripts made easy, Nov p 7
getting started: TMA consultants help physicians set up their practices, Dec pp 49-53
meet the consultants, Dec pp 52-53 (photos)
on-site training from TMA (Managing Your Practice), Oct p 5
staying ahead of the payers (Managing Your Practice), Nov p 7

TMA resources reduce payment hassles for physicians, Feb p 19
TMA supports fair, effective peer review, Oct p 28

TMA Web site
answers your NPI questions, Aug p 30
wanted: your online classifieds [for TMA's Web site] (Managing Your Practice), Dec p 5

TMA wins reimbursement for screening, Jun p 50
vaccine advocacy by TMA, Mar p 38
what we do (Commentary), Jun pp 5-6

Texas Medical Association Alliance
Hearn, Patrick
becomes first male president of TMA Alliance, May p 48 (photo)
sworn in as president of TMA Alliance, Jun p 9 (photo)

partners in politics: June Bratcher forges powerful alliance, Sep pp 41-46

Texas Medical Association Foundation
escape to the Mexican riviera, Apr p 12
new board members named, Aug pp 18-19 (photos)

Texas Medical Association Insurance Trust
TMAIT can help you get the [employee insurance] coverage you need easily and economically, May p 22

Texas Medical Board
administrative penalty guidelines, Jul p 19
Donald Patrick to retire as TMB executive director, Jul p 21
facing the skeptics: TMA hears physicians' concerns about board, Nov pp 57-60
greetings from the TMB: what happens if you get bad news, Jul pp 16-21
greetings from TMB (Rounds), Apr p 14
medical board tentatively approves plan to resolve complaints quicker (Rounds), Feb p 11
prove your worth: state medical boards eye competency testing, Mar pp 33-36
schedules new town hall meetings, Aug pp 11-13
steps up processing of licensure applications, Jul pp 22-23
TMB: pay the "ticket" or go to "court" (Rounds), May p 10
we learned a lot from the doctors, Nov p 59
why we test (Commentary), Dec p 3

Texas Medical Liability Trust
cuts rates again, Dec p 35
greetings from TMB (Rounds), Apr p 14
physicians benefit from lower premiums, better recruiting, Aug p 26
TMA, TMLT battle Wyeth in Supreme Court, Oct p 32
TMLT awards eight medical school scholarships (Rounds), Oct p 11
TMLT, JUA offer risk management services (Rounds), Oct p 11
TMLT offers medical student scholarships (Rounds), Apr p 14

Texas Medical Practice Act
doctor vs. hospital: federal court says hospital did peer review right, Oct pp 27-32

Texas-Mexico Border
adequacy of outpatient care among hospitalized adult asthmatics in a southwest US border city, Oct pp 56-62

Texas State Board of Examiners of Marriage and Family Therapists
TMA sues family therapists board (Rounds), Nov p 14

Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
3+3=family physicians: Tech wants accelerated residency program, Dec pp 43-46
can't we all just get along? Tech, community physicians build strong relationships, Apr pp 47-49
naming ceremonies for Laura W. Bush Institute for Women's Health, Jan p 13 (photo)
Texas Tech launches new cancer center, Nov p 56

TexMed 2008.See Texas Medical Association--TexMed 2008

TEXPAC
scope-of-practice fight looming in 2009 [legislative session] (Rounds), Mar p 9

Theft
stop embezzlement before it starts (Managing Your Practice), Dec p 5

Thomas, R. Russell, Jr.
Newsmakers, Feb p 50
prove your worth: state medical boards eye competency testing, Mar p 34 (photo)

Thompson, Carole
winner of June Bratcher Award for Political Action, Sep pp 42 (photo), 45

Thompson, James N., Mar p 34 (photo)

Thorne, Lewis D.
elected to TMA Foundation Board of Trustees, Aug p 18 (photo)

Thornton, Lettie, Jan p 29 (photo)

Thorstenson, Lyle
presents plaque to retired TMB Executive Director, Donald Patrick, Oct p 10 (photo)
white coats invade Washington, Jun p 29 (photo)

Three Rivers Provider Network
TRPN soliciting physicians again, Jan pp 26-27

Tissue Donors
doctors for donation: organ donor campaign targets primary care physicians, Jul pp 37-40
donor screening helps predict infection risk in corneal transplant (Rounds), Apr p 15
state Web site makes donor registration easy, Jul p 40

Tobacco.SeeSmoking

Todd, Susan, Jun p 10 (photo)

Toledo, Cathy
winner of June Bratcher Award for Political Action, Sep p 45

Tonymon, Susie
winner of June Bratcher Award for Political Action, Sep p 45

Tort Reform
in defense of medicine: physicians counter legal and legislative attacks on tort reform, Aug pp 22-28
history of the 2003 reforms (Rounds), Nov p 11
liability reforms pay off for patients, physicians (Rounds), Nov pp 9-12
more physicians coming to Texas (Rounds), Nov pp 10-11
physicians benefit from lower premiums, better recruiting, Aug p 26
stay united to protect tort reform (Rounds), Nov pp 12-14
TAPA (Texas Alliance for Patient Access) amicus briefs, Mar p 28
Texas [lawsuit damage] cap under attack (Commentary), May pp 51-52
Texas physicians sue to protect liability reforms (Rounds), Apr p 9
tort reform, health care debate top Fall Conference agenda (Rounds), Aug pp 13-14
[tort] reform improves access to care, Aug p 25
tort reform under attack: ex-Cowboy's wife challenges 2003 reforms, Mar pp 27-30
trial lawyers eye legislative attack on tort reforms, Aug pp 27-28

Tourniquets
Rose, Keith: local doctor creates clothing with tourniquets for troops (Trusted Leader), Feb pp 47-49

Toxic Substances.SeeHazardous Substances

TrailBlazer Health Enterprises
backlog blues: TrailBlazer faces mounting Medicare enrollment forms, May pp 33-34
a joint effort [between TMA and TrailBlazer to deal with enrollment problems], May p 34
Medicare coverage determinations to change, May pp 34-35
PPTN (Professional Provider Telecommunications Network) gives online access to Medicare claims status (Managing Your Practice), Aug p 6

Treatment Outcome
educators say medical training should focus on outcomes, Dec p 46

Truax, Gayle, Nov p 16 (photo)

Truth Disclosure
OIG refines self-disclosure protocol, Jun p 38

Tuthill, Patti
winner of June Bratcher Award for Political Action, Sep p 45

U

Ultraviolet Rays
sun safety (MedBytes), Jul p 56

Uncompensated Care
where's the charity? financial woes force physicians to rethink charity care, Jul pp 31-33

Underserved Areas.SeeMedically Underserved Areas

Unicare
dealing with Unicare (Managing Your Practice), Jan p 5

Uninsured.SeeMedically Uninsured

United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
feds change VFC (Vaccines for Children) storage rules (Rounds), Oct p 11
more Americans report being obese, CDC data show, Sep pp 36-37
program tracks flu statewide, Mar p 40; Dec p 39
recommends shingles vaccine, Jul p 28
technology reveals higher number of new U.S. HIV infections, Oct p 45
warns of vaccine shortage (Rounds), Feb p 12

United States Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
to demonstrate bundled Texas hospital, physician payments, Jul p 34
dollars for quality? physicians receive first payments for quality reporting, Oct pp 35-38
extends Medicare participation deadline, Feb p 32
feedback reports available for 2007 PQRI participants, Oct p 36
Medicare MACs [Medicare administrative contractors] (Managing Your Practice), Mar p 6
nixes NPI extension, Jul p 34

United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
OIG refines self-disclosure protocol, Jun p 38
proposes ICD-10 code sets, Oct pp 32-33
PSOs [patient safety organizations] to improve quality, patient safety, May p 31

United States Drug Enforcement Administration
consistency of DEA final rule on multiple prescriptions with Texas law (Ask the TMA Knowledge Center), Mar p 12

United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
TMA gets you [FDA] drug alerts fast on Health Care Notification Network (HCNN), Dec p 38
WHO and FDA recommend flu vaccine changes, Apr p 35

United States Health Resources and Services Administration
HRSA grants $12 million to improve maternal, child health, Jul p 30

United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration
employee hepatitis B vaccination (Managing Your Practice), Sep p 6
OSHA rules (Managing Your Practice), Mar p 5

UnitedHealthcare
announces physician designation changes, Oct p 39
changes claims processing (Managing Your Practice), Feb p 7
changes reimbursement policy (Rounds), Apr p 14
know your managed care contracts [when considering concierge medicine], Jun p 34
refines claim letters (Managing Your Practice), Oct p 5
"they sat on our money:" TDI repeatedly fines UnitedHealthcare for late claims payment, Feb pp 16-23

Universal Coverage
health plans launch campaign for universal coverage, Sep p 31

University Interscholastic League
anabolic steroids (MedBytes), Feb p 56
avoid the 'roids: UIL to test high school athletes for steroids, Feb p 35-39
UIL banned substances, Feb p 36

University of Texas at Austin
School of Music named for Ernest and Sarah Butler, May p 48 (photo)

University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston
geriatric education center to focus on vulnerable elderly, Jan p 30
[Hurricane] Ike has minimal impact on Houston medical schools, Nov p 37
School of Public Health to open health care management school (Rounds), Aug p 18

University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio
UTHSC-San Antonio gets $25 million gift, Mar p 36
UTHSCSA team reports antibiotic resistance (Rounds), Apr p 15
UTHSCSA to merge with cancer research center, Feb p 44

University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
grant supports M.D. Anderson vaccine research, Jan pp 39-40

University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston
launches doctoral degree in clinical science, Jan p 33
outcomes of a Texas family medicine residency rural training track: 2000 through 2007, Sep pp 60-63
surviving Ike: UTMB moves quickly to get back on its feet, Nov pp 32-38
UTMB students need [Hurricane Ike] help, too (Rounds), Dec pp 9-10

Updike, Tracie Dalene, Nov p 40

V

Vaccines and Vaccination.See alsoImmunization ; Influenza Vaccine
adolescent immunization (MedBytes), Aug p 64
adolescent vaccine coverage, Aug p 36
CDC recommends shingles vaccine, Jul p 28
CDC warns of vaccine shortage (Rounds), Feb p 12
the cocoon strategy [vaccination program] (Commentary), Aug p 3
employee hepatitis B vaccination (Managing Your Practice), Sep p 6
feds change VFC (Vaccines for Children) storage rules (Rounds), Oct p 11
grant supports M.D. Anderson vaccine research, Jan pp 39-40
health groups release 2008 immunization schedules, Mar p 40-42
immunization liability (Managing Your Practice), Apr p 6
Medicare covers flu shots (Managing Your Practice), Feb p 8
preventing prevention: obstacles make preventive care more difficult, Jun pp 18-23
promote vaccinations during immunization month (Rounds), Aug p 19
shots for big tots, Aug pp 35-38
so far, so good: flu vaccine supply appears adequate, Mar pp 37-42
TMA vaccine advocacy, Mar p 38
toolkit offers solutions to adolescent vaccination barriers, Aug p 37
vaccination (MedBytes), Mar p 64
WHO and FDA recommend flu vaccine changes, Apr p 35

Valadez, Adolfo
first line of defense: physicians must report unusual illnesses, Dec pp 38-39 (photo)
Newsmakers, Feb p 50

Vann, Vincent R.
getting started: TMA consultants help physicians set up their practices, Dec pp 49-50

Ventricular Fibrillation
return of the ice age: therapeutic hypothermia, Jul pp 44-46

Vergona, Charles , Nov p 18 (photo)

Villearreal, Jaime, Jun p 10 (photo)

Viroslav, Joseph (Newsmakers), Jan p 46

Voluntary Workers
doctors = trust: physicians respond to San Angelo [evacuee] crisis, Jul pp 25-28
legal protection for volunteers, Jul p 26

W

Walker, J. Patrick
voices of Ike, Nov pp 19, 29

Ware, Elgin W., Jr.
the greatest generation? (Reflections on Medicine), Aug pp 20-21

Water Pollution, Radioactive
spatial distribution of orofacial cleft defect births in Harris Couty, Texas, and radium in the public water supplies: a persistent association?, Dec pp 56-63

Watts, Dennis, Nov p 16 (photo)

Web Sites.SeeInternet and World Wide Web

Wells, Kristen, Jun p 10 (photo)

West, O. Clark (Newsmakers), Dec p 7 (photo)

Westbrook, Bob, May p 37 (photo)

Whitehurst, Darren, Jun p 30 (photo)

Whitman, Gary Jacob (Newsmakers), Dec p 7 (photo)

Wichita County Medical Alliance
group working on [disaster] relief plans, Sep pp 49-51

Wildenthal, Kern, Sep p 52

Wilhelmus, Kirk, Apr p 15 (photo)

Williams, Josie R.
Aetna delays decision to stop paying for certain anesthesia services, Apr p 44 (photo)
doctor vs. hospital: federal court says hospital did peer review right, Oct pp 27-32
dollars for quality? physicians receive first payments for quality reporting, Oct pp 35-38
it's time to learn about improving quality (Rounds), Dec p 11
liability reforms pay off for patients, physicians (Rounds), Nov p 9 (photo)
living her dream (Trusted Leader), May pp 43-47 (photo)
Medicare disaster averted, for now, Sep p 27 (photo)
preventing prevention: obstacles make preventive care more difficult, Jun p 21 (photo)
RACI rescinded: Blue Cross eliminates physician-hated cost-measurement tool, Sep p 21 (photo)
speaks at TMA Fall Conference, Aug p 13 (photo)
takes oath of office from William W. Hinchey, Jun p 14 (photo)
town hall meeting lets physicians listen to patients (Rounds), Jul p 9 (photo)
trusted leaders, not "providers" [installation speech], Jun pp 14-16
white coats invade Washington, Jun p 30 (photo)

Williams, Michael, May p 33 (photo)

Winston, Barry
"they sat on our money:" TDI repeatedly fines UnitedHealthcare for late claims payment, Feb pp 16-23

Women's Health Services
naming ceremonies for Laura W. Bush Institute for Women's Health, Jan p 13 (photo)
Texas flunks women's health, Jan p 40
women's health (MedBytes), May p 64

Workers' Compensation
workers' comp fee schedule online, May p 9
workers' comp worth it? state hopes higher fees will bring doctors back, Feb pp 29-32

World Health Organization
WHO and FDA recommend flu vaccine changes, Apr p 35

World Wide Web.SeeInternet and World Wide Web

Wyatt, Alvin, Jun p 10 (photo)

Wyeth (Pharmaceutical Co.)
TMA, TMLT battle Wyeth in Supreme Court, Oct p 32

Y

Yates, Michelle, Jun p 12 (photo)

Yee, Tommy (Newsmakers), Sep p 50

Young at Heart Award
presented to Bohn Allen by Young Physician Section, Jun p 11 (photo)

Young, Donald
RACI rescinded: Blue Cross eliminates physician-hated cost-measurement tool, Sep pp 18-24

Young, Elaine Roch
RACI rescinded: Blue Cross eliminates physician-hated cost-measurement tool, Sep pp 18 (photo), 20

Young Physician Section, TMA
Rodney Young presents Young at Heart Award to Bohn Allen, Jun p 11 (photo)

Z

Zavaleta, Thomas (Newsmakers), Feb p 48

Zerwas, John, Mar p 10 (photo)

Zoghbi, Huda (Newsmakers), Dec p 7 (photo)

Texas Medicine Main Page