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The Texas Supreme Court's landmark decision to ban a woman from obtaining an abortion that her doctor said was medically necessary — and that a lower court had approved — is a nightmare come true for those in the ongoing fight for reproductive rights. (Nia-Malika Henderson, 12/14)

Soon after the end of Roe v. Wade, President Biden issued an executive order attempting to ensure access to reproductive health care services nationally. One outcome of the executive order was the creation of a website, ReproductiveRights.gov, to offer Americans seeking reproductive health care stable, consistent, and accurate information and guidance. (Michael Stebbins and Eric D. Perakslis, 12/15)

Despite our unmatched spending on health care, we Americans are not all that healthy. Our chronic disease burden is staggering, and life expectancy slides backward for the first time in generations. We’re burning $4.5 trillion a year – more than $13,000 per citizen – on reactionary medical services, and the results of that investment are nowhere to be seen, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (John Corsino, 12/15)

This year, nearly 300,000 Americans were diagnosed with prostate cancer. That's 300,000 daddies, brothers, and best friends who got hit with sledgehammer news that they have cancer. Then came the second sledgehammer—the cost of treatment. A drug called Xtandi could save their lives, but the price runs up to $190,000 a year. It's a familiar story: a diagnosis could force a family into bankruptcy to save the life of someone they love, while a giant drug company rakes in huge profits from every desperate patient. (Senator Elizabeth Warren, 12/14)

As open enrollment season for insurance is ending, patients should be aware of an alarming trend — the escalating rate of health insurance claim denials —and what they can do to advocate for themselves if denied coverage. Over the last year, denials have increased nearly 8%, with 11% of all claims being rejected, according to the American Medical Association. (Michael Osso, 12/15)

Some public health advocates have been calling for years for Massachusetts to create supervised consumption sites, where people can use illegal drugs that they obtained themselves under medical supervision. But the issue was a political nonstarter when former governor Charlie Baker opposed them, and former president Donald Trump’s US Attorney for Massachusetts Andrew Lelling promised to prosecute. (12/15)

For this week’s column, I wrote about three lifestyle changes that can make a big impact on health. One of them — incorporating small amounts of exercise into daily life — prompted many questions from Checkup readers. How can they measure how much exercise they are doing? And what type of exercise is best? (Leana S. Wen, 12/14)