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TMB Rewrites Rule to Improve Chronic Pain Care for Texas Patients
The Texas Medical Board (TMB) recently revised one of its rules in a way that makes it easier for physician practices to provide more comprehensive pain management. The rule change came about of widespread concerns that patients who cannot access effective treatment for chronic pain from a physician will turn to illicit substances, increasing problems of addiction, overdoses and overdose deaths. Read more
Updated Boosters are Cutting the Risk of Getting Sick from COVID-19
by about Half
The updated Covid-19 boosters are cutting the risk that a person will get sick from the coronavirus by about half, even against infections caused by the rapidly spreading XBB.1.5 subvariant. New studies, conducted by researchers at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), are among the first looks at how the bivalent boosters have continued to work in the real world as the virus has evolved. Read more
What the End of the PHE Means for COVID Vaccines, Testing and Treatments
The COVID-19 crisis spurred an unprecedented combination of public health initiatives and funding. Much of it was made possible by the public health emergency (PHE) declared by the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in January 2020. So, the expiration of the PHE naturally raises questions about what will happen to initiatives, such as vaccination, that are crucial to protecting people from COVID-19. Read more
Starting Early, Help Identify Suicide Risk by Screening for ACEs
Suicide announces itself in many ways. For Austin psychiatrist Thomas Kim, MD, word came recently in the form of a blunt phone call from a patient. Dr. Kim shared the story while taking part in the latest panel discussion in the Texas Medical Association and Texas Public Health Coalition’s (TPHC’s) Distinguished Speaker Series: “Behavioral Health & Suicide Prevention: What You Can Do.” Continue Reading
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