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Those who want a health bill passed by Christmas fear that if that doesn't happen, there could be a repeat of the brutal August town hall meetings. Others don't think the situation is so dire and say that Democrats could deliver the bill to Obama by the spring.

Democrats get new momentum from House passage of a health care bill, but face new tests in bridging differences within the party — and between the chambers — on cost, financing and coverage.

Comparing plans can save hundreds of dollars for some consumers but many people are overwhelmed at the prospect of making such a change. Seniors have until the end of the year to revise their coverage.

While much of the attention paid to the Senate health bill has been about the public option or financing, there are many lesser-known provisions that would affect consumers, from breast-pumping at work to retiree health benefits.

Starting this year, many Americans may be surprised to find that their local Walgreens or Duane Reade is no longer in their insurance network. That's because of a dispute between two health care giants. If the back of your insurance card says Express Scripts, you are affected.

Most hospitals make little effort to screen patients for tobacco use or to help smokers kick the habit permanently. That's a missed opportunity. Starting this month, though, hospitals can choose to adopt tobacco-cessation measures to help them comply with accreditation standards.

Hospitals that treat many poor people face challenges in managing their care. The problem is compounded by the fact that the same hospitals often have fewer resources at their disposal.

About half of African-American women in the U.S. are obese, compared to 30 percent of white women. Black women not only carry more weight, but they start piling on extra pounds years before their white counterparts. Around age 8 or 9, girls become less active, and the decline is steepest for black girls.

A new study shows that CT scans have increased in emergency rooms nearly six-fold since 1995 and show no sign of tapering off. But the findings also suggest that the ER may be overusing or misusing the technology.

An analysis just published in the policy journal Health Affairs questions a widely held belief that doctors in McAllen, Texas, overtreat all patients.