Morning Medical Update: Texas governor signs patient safety bill; 1.7 million Americans use health sharing arrangements; Next COVID vaccine should only target XBB strains

Texas governor signs patient safety bill

Gov. Greg Abbott signed a bill that will protect patients from dangerous doctors. HB 1998 will make it a Class A misdemeanor to lie on medical license applications, prevent doctors from practicing in Texas if they’ve been convicted, and require all physicians to be monitored monthly among other things. The change comes five years after the infamous Texas surgeon, “Dr. Death” was sentenced to life in prison.

1.7 million Americans use health sharing arrangements

The first national count of Americans who rely on health sharing plans reports that the number is extremely high – 1.7 million. Sharing plans do not guarantee payment for health services. Many of the plans ask members for charitable donations as well.

Next COVID vaccine should only target XBB strains

The Food and Drug Administration is recommending that the next COVID vaccine only target XBB strains. The XBB strains are proving to be more difficult than prior Omicron subvariants. Currently, in the United States XBB strains account for 98% of cases. Worldwide, XBB strains account for 95% of cases.