This is Queen Street Analytics' weekly digest of regulatory developments, legislative discussions and other government-related news concerning healthcare providers, doctors, physicians, clinicians, pharmacies and pharmacists, dental care providers, oral care providers, naturopaths, and old-age care providers. Once a week, we break down the most important updates in this space in under five minutes.

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Dates: 2026-05-03 to 2026-05-09

📋 In This Week's Newsletter

• 🏛️ This Week's Congressional Calendar
• 📜 Legislative Updates
• 🗺️ State Government News
• 📚 What We're Reading This Week

This Week's Congressional Calendar

• House Veterans' Affairs Committee to Mark Up Multiple Health-Related Bills: The House Veterans' Affairs Committee will hold a markup session on May 14 in Room 360 of the Cannon House Office Building to consider a slate of bills, including the BEACON Act of 2026, Veteran Opioid Emergency Treatment Act, Blast Overpressure Research and Mitigation Task Force Act, and others related to veteran health, education, and benefits.

Legislative Updates

Medicaid Outreach and Assistance for Communities Act of 2026 Introduced

Bill 8650, titled 'Medicaid Outreach and Assistance for Communities Act of 2026,' was referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce on May 4. The bill addresses Medicaid outreach and related assistance for underserved communities.

Sources: www.congress.gov

Coverage for Self-Measured Blood Pressure Monitoring for Pregnant and Postpartum Individuals

Bill 8716 was introduced to require coverage of self-measured blood pressure monitoring for pregnant and postpartum individuals, amending several federal acts. The legislation was referred to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, Ways and Means, and Education and Workforce on May 7.

Sources: www.congress.gov

Requirement for Accurate Billing Practices in Hospital Claims

Bill 8684 proposes amending ERISA to require group health plans and group health insurance issuers to only pay claims from hospitals with policies ensuring accurate billing. The bill was referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce on May 7.

Sources: www.congress.gov

Addressing Health Needs of Incarcerated Women Related to Pregnancy and Childbirth

Bill 8690 aims to address the health needs of incarcerated women related to pregnancy and childbirth. Latest action, as of May 7, was referral to the Committees on the Judiciary, Budget, and Homeland Security.

Sources: www.congress.gov

Notification Requirement for Emergency Contract Health Services under Indian Health Care

Bill 8658 proposes to amend the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, focusing on modifying notification requirements for emergency contract health services for certain beneficiaries. It was referred to the Committees on Natural Resources and Energy and Commerce.

Sources: www.congress.gov

State Government News

California's Paid Family Leave Program Sees Record Applications

Governor Newsom announces California’s Paid Family Leave program received over 482,000 applications last year, paying more than $19 billion to support family bonding and caregiving since 2004.

Sources: www.gov.ca.gov

New York Announces Funding for Health and Community Revitalization Projects

Governor Hochul announced $19 million for 27 projects in Catskill, Athens, and Greenwich, including expanded mental health services and new supportive housing components.

Sources: www.governor.ny.gov

Indiana Signs Law Banning Harmful Foreign-Produced Vaping Products

Governor Braun ceremonially signed Senate Enrolled Act 185, authored by Sen. Ron Alting, banning vaping products manufactured in foreign adversarial nations such as China.

Sources: www.indianasenaterepublicans.com

Indiana Law Expands Oversight for Drug Compounding and Health Care Services

Indiana Senate Enrolled Act 282, authored by Sen. Ed Charbonneau and signed into law, adds oversight for drug compounding and requires medical spas to register with the Medical Licensing Board.

Sources: www.indianasenaterepublicans.com

California Launches Program for Free Diapers for New Parents

Governor Newsom announced California’s Golden State Start program, which will provide 400 free diapers to each newborn delivered in participating hospitals starting this summer.

Sources: www.gov.ca.gov

What We're Reading This Week

• Giuliani Seeks to Have Health Care Covered by 9/11 Program: Rudy Giuliani requests to have his cancer care covered by the 9/11 health program.
• Opinion | This Is the Biggest Culprit for High Health Care Spending: Analysis discusses factors driving high health care costs in the United States.
• Innovation will provide solutions to Long COVID — the new chronic disease of our time: The expansion of innovation could drive new approaches to long COVID.
• Who Are You Getting Your Health Advice From?: Pew survey considers the influence of non-traditional sources on health advice in the U.S.
• Opinion | You Can’t Be Born Here. You Can Only Die.: An opinion on the declining number of rural hospitals and implications for birth access.
• HHS targets ‘overmedication’: The Department of Health and Human Services announces new efforts to address overmedication.

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