Medicaid Crackdown on Trans Youth: The Trump administration says Medicaid and CHIP will stop covering gender-affirming surgeries, puberty blockers, and hormones for minors, with a taper for those already on treatment and mental health still covered. Hospital Affordability Push: A U.S. parliamentary panel backs capping private hospital room charges in metros at average three-star hotel rates and calls for upfront, legally binding cost estimates plus financial navigators. Rural Access & Tech Upgrades: HaysMed in Kansas touts plans for a new PET/CT scanner funded through rural transformation dollars, while Pro Medicus won a 7-year cloud imaging contract with St. Luke’s Health System across three states. New Care Models: A cochlear implant team at Al Nahda Hospital in Oman reports 835+ surgeries, and a Denmark-led SNIPR phage therapy case report highlights compassionate-use success against MDR E. coli in a kidney transplant patient. Healthcare Costs & Coverage Confusion: A report spotlights rising prepayment demands and insurance-network mix-ups that can derail care before treatment starts. Public Health & Safety: Maternal “I Gave Birth” wristbands expand to help flag postpartum risks, and a medical gas system upgrade at Hospital Labuan completes to improve safety during power disruptions.