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Price-shopping for coffee makers is easy. Finding the actual cost of a colonoscopy? Nearly impossible. But putting together a useful, comprehensive price-list for patients of the widely varying charges for various health procedures is difficult and expensive, states are learning.

Federal lawmakers have been unable to solve a widely acknowledged problem with the formula used to set the pay for doctors who treat Medicare patients. Now, after a series of temporary patches, a bipartisan solution may be at hand.

An analysis allays concerns that Medicare beneficiaries may have trouble getting in to see doctors. Access has been stable and is on par, or a little better, than for people with private health insurance.

The history of the Medicare drug law, and Medicare itself, suggests that rough launches of health expansions don't necessarily signal a lasting failure. So, proponents say, even a misfire of the health exchanges wouldn't doom the federal overhaul.

Beginning July 1, Colorado patients will start saving hundreds and even thousands of dollars on medical equipment because, after a 10-year delay, Medicare…

Trustees now expect the program's fund will be depleted in 2026. Meanwhile, Social Security's trust fund is still expected to go dry in 2033. Both programs' finances need to be reformed, experts agree.

Immigrants contribute tens of billions of dollars a year more to Medicare than immigrant retirees use in medical services, an analysis finds. Restrictions on immigration could deplete Medicare's finances.

Waste and aggressive treatment might not explain Medicare cost variations after all. Differing levels of health by region could account for most of the cost variation, an analysis finds.

Marilyn Tavenner, who has been running the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services in an acting capacity since late 2011, has a big job. The agency oversees health coverage for more than 100 million Americans.

How much hospitals around the country bill for 100 top procedures became public this week. Though insurance or Medicare may not actually pay the sticker price, some hospitals in Alaska are considering how they'll respond to more knowledgeable consumers.