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: 2026-02-02 to 2026-02-08

📋 In This Week's Newsletter

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

This Week's Congressional Calendar

• House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health: Prescription Drug Supply Chain Hearing: The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health will hold a hearing titled 'Lowering Health Care Costs for All Americans: An Examination of the Prescription Drug Supply Chain' in Rayburn 2123 on February 11, 2026 at 3:15 pm EST.
• Senate Veterans' Affairs: Building a 21st Century VA Health Care System Hearing: The Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee is scheduled for hearings focused on the next generation of VA's community care network on February 11, 2026 at 3:00 pm EST in Russell 418.
• House Veterans' Affairs: Markup on Five Veterans Health Bills: The House Veterans' Affairs Committee will mark up several bills, including the Sharri Briley and Eric Edmundson Veterans Benefits Expansion Act of 2026, on February 12, 2026 at 9:00 am EST.
• House Education and Workforce: Disability Employment Hearing: A House Education and Workforce Committee field hearing, 'Work, Dignity, and Choice in Disability Employment,' will be held at Green Valley Enterprises, Beaver Dam, WI, on February 13, 2026 at 10:15 am CST.
• Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Business Meeting on Telehealth and Suicide Lifeline Geolocation: The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee will meet for consideration of S.3199 (988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline geolocation info) and other bills at Capitol Room 216 on February 11, 2026 at 2:00 pm EST.

Legislative Updates

Medicare Health Professional Shortage Area Bonus Expansion Bill Introduced

Bill 7324, proposing to extend Medicare health professional shortage area bonus eligibility to practitioners providing mental health and substance use disorder care, was referred on February 3, 2026 to the Committees on Energy and Commerce and Ways and Means.

Sources: www.congress.gov

ALS-Related Services Coverage Under Medicare—Bill 7336 Introduced

Bill 7336, seeking expansion of Medicare to cover services for individuals diagnosed with ALS, was sent to the Committees on Energy and Commerce and Ways and Means on February 3, 2026.

Sources: www.congress.gov

Demonstration Pilot Program for Hygiene Materials—Bill 7367

Bill 7367, creating a demonstration pilot to test innovative funding for access to hygiene materials for low income households, was referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce on February 4, 2026.

Sources: www.congress.gov

Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Grant Program—Bill 7385

Bill 7385 would direct HHS, via CDC, to establish a grant program related to pre-exposure prophylaxis, with referral to the House Energy and Commerce Committee on February 4, 2026.

Sources: www.congress.gov

Mental and Behavioral Health Career Promotion Grant Program—Bill 7394

Bill 7394 aims to establish a career promotion grant program for mental and behavioral health professions, referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce on February 5, 2026.

Sources: www.congress.gov

What We're Reading This Week

• Opinion | Our Health Care System Isn’t Built for You to Get Old: The article assesses challenges seniors and family caregivers face within the current U.S. healthcare infrastructure.
• Rural care could see impact from tighter visa rules: Axios examines how stricter visa regulations may affect staffing at rural healthcare facilities.
• Dr. Oz Is Fighting an Uphill Battle to Sell Congress on Trump’s Healthcare Plan: WSJ reports on Dr. Mehmet Oz’s legislative efforts and the debate around proposed healthcare frameworks.
• Kaiser readies for pharmacy, lab worker strike as nurse walkout continues: Reuters covers impending pharmacy and laboratory worker strikes at Kaiser during an ongoing nurse labor stoppage.
• GE HealthCare forecasts 2026 profit above estimates on strong demand for medical devices: GE HealthCare projects higher earnings driven by increased demand for medical technology.

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