Medicare/Medicaid Oversight: HHS OIG flagged high Medicare Advantage denial rates for long-term care, rehab and SNF admissions, with appeals overturning many denials—raising questions about prior authorization practices. CMS Digital Modernization: CMS created a new Office of Health Technology and Products to modernize Medicare/Medicaid tech and claims systems, with new data, interoperability and open-source policy divisions. Medicaid Flexibility Watch: CMS also outlined how it will calculate “budget neutrality” for Medicaid section 1115 demonstrations, setting up future state experiments. Behavioral Health Access: A new look at how PBMs are tackling behavioral health highlights ongoing gaps since COVID-era disruptions left mental care access still strained. Maternal Immunization Impact: A study reports a single-dose RSV vaccine during pregnancy cut infant hospitalization risk by about 70%, reinforcing the value of maternal protection. Diabetes Screening at Home: Two ADA 2026 studies point to scalable early type 1 diabetes screening models that aim to prevent DKA by catching disease stages sooner. Women’s Health Focus: Coverage calls out a “migraine-sized gap” in women’s health policy attention, while a local Sioux Center Health doctor expands menopause-focused care and training. Clinical Safety & Equity: Research in urology clinics finds female clinicians face far higher rates of patient-perpetrated harassment, and a separate study shows sociodemographic labeling can sway pediatric decision-making even when clinical details match. Tech in Stroke Care: Penumbra’s Thunderbolt device won FDA clearance for clot removal in acute ischemic stroke, a potential boost for Boston Scientific’s neurovascular push. Healthcare Affordability Politics: California’s ballot fight pits a union push to cap executive pay and require more clinic spending against a hospital-backed measure to tighten union political spending rules. Rare Disease Pipeline: Otsuka completed its Transcend Therapeutics acquisition, aiming to advance a rapid-acting PTSD candidate into late-stage development. COVID Prevention Trial: Invivyd dosed first participants in a phase 3 trial of VYD2311 as a potentially more tolerable antibody-based alternative to repeated vaccination.