Welcome to the Galveston County Medical Society

For practice opportunities, click on “advertising“ and scroll down to “announcements.“   

Health System Reform Updates Summary of Key Provisions of House & Senate Legislation House Passes Medicare Fix Bill HR 3961 Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act Fix Detailed Summary of Affordable Health Care for American Act Preliminary Summary on Senate Finance Health Care Reform Bill  Senate Finance Committee Releases HSR proposal TMA Campaigns for Health Reform TMA Health Reform Principles Patients: Check out Me & My Doctor Web site Click here to complete the online HSR survey Join the "Fix What's Wrong, Keep What's Good Facebook cause

What will be the Impact of the 2010 Medicare Fee Schedule on your practice? More

Updated H1N1 Information for Physicians and Patients: Downloadable flyers have been created, one for physicians and one for patients, to provide you and your patients with the latest information on H1N1. Click here for the physician flyer.  Click here for the patient informational flyer.

**DSHS has asked that if you have signed up for the H1N1 vaccine, please confirm you still want the vaccine and the quantity you need.  DSHS will send you an e-mail asking you to re-confirm your quantity.  

BCBSTX will be taking over Unicare's commercial business in Texas by Jan 2010.  More 

Red flags rules compliance date delayed until June 1, 2010. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has delayed the compliance deadline of the Red Flags Rule until June 1, 2010. The AMA has been urging the FTC and Congress that physicians are not "creditors" and should not be subject to the rule. For more information on the FTC's decision.

States Plans for H1N1 Flu Surge: The State announced that the Novel H1N1 flu vaccine will not be available through traditional vaccine distribution channels but rather will be distributed exclusively through the Texas Department of State Health Services. Visit the Galveston County Health District for more information.

TMLT Announces Entrust:  TMLT has launched a colleague referral program for it's policyholders calledn Entrust. TMLT-insured physicians referring three colleagues to TMLT will receive a free 3-hour TMLT CME online course "Ten Things That Get Physicians Sued." Completion of the course can then earn a 3% premium credit at their next policy renewal.  More

Medicare Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC)  Connolly Healthcare, the Texas RAC, has activated two audit issues in Texas.  Click here to review CMS approved audit issues in Texas.  To learn more about the Texas RAC, click here.

Medicare Enrollment Available Online - Now there is a way for physicians to enroll or make a change in their Medical enrollment information. The Internet-based Provider Enrollment, Chain and Ownership System (PECOS) will allow physicians and non-physicians practitioners to enroll, make a change in their Medicare enrollment, view their Medicare enrollment information on file with Medicare, or check on the status of a Medicare enrollment application via the Internet.  For additional information, go to the download section of www.cms.hhs.gov/MedicareProviderSupEnroll.

Medicaid has posted new information related to Hurricane Ike and Dolly claims processing for uninsured patients. For more information click here.

Beginning September 1 for all physicians, the state requires that medical certifiers on a death certificate submit the medical certification and attest to its validity using an electronic process approved by the State Registrar.  For details click on http://www.texmed.org/Template.aspx?id=6917

TMA lunchtime seminar series: Risk Management. Stay up to date on important issues that affect your practice’s liability risk. More 

We value your membership in GCMS and the Texas Medical Association. If you need help or have a question, please call the GCMS office, 409-935-3000, or e-mail lacoya_boone@hcms.org.

If you wish to apply for membership online, go to the TMA Web site, www.texmed.org, and click on “Join.”