US health chief 'in a receiving mode' on health bill ideas

Republicans have sought to overturn Democratic former President Barack Obama's signature domestic healthcare law since it was enacted in 2010.Whatever the White House's efforts to push ahead with policy plans, there will be a spotlight on testimony by James Comey, the FBI director fired by Trump last month, to the Senate Intelligence Committee on Thursday.Senators will question Comey on whether Trump tried to get him to back off an FBI investigation into ties between the president's 2016 campaign and Russian Federation, an attempt that critics have said could constitute obstruction of justice. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., have voiced doubts that the votes exist to pass a health care bill before August.

Cassidy, a physician, has been a ringleader of sorts for Republican moderates skeptical of the GOP's partisan Obamacare repeal approach. "And exactly what the composition of that [bill] is I'm not going to speculate about because it serves no goal", the Kentucky Republican told Reuters, adding that President Trump and Vice President Mike Pence could help whip votes again as they did for the House. Susan Collins (R-Maine) will vote for the legislation.

"We've got to do something about it, both from the state standpoint but also from the federal taxpayer", Cassidy said. Congress is set to go on recess July 4. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., told Bloomberg senators are discussing a softer rollback of Medicaid expansion that extends beyond 2020. Wyden said he has little reason to think Senate Republicans will abandon the House bill's general framework.

Medicaid remains one of the thorniest issues for the Senate.

"You have to get 50 people - that means they have to get me and a lot of people who are concerned about Medicaid", said Senator Shelly Moore Capito of West Virginia, a state that depends heavily on the program. The topic of former FBI Director James Comey's upcoming testimony on Capitol Hill was not raised, the leaders said, though Trump was asked about it beforehand and wished Comey luck. Everyone needs health care, so when the Senate takes up the issue, everyone deserves to be heard and included. In the House bill, tax credits are based primarily on age. "I'm waiting for the small print at this point", Heller said. Richard Burr, R-N.C., came to the same conclusion and Sen.

Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) threw cold water on the Senate being able to pass a health care bill as he left the meeting, telling reporters "We're stuck".

Even if Paul is not lost yet, other conservatives like Sens. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, said leaders are already working with the CBO on certain options. Both could balk at the more modest Medicaid cuts and the maintenance of certain taxes; they've already been cagey about where they now stand on the bill. Those rules for the 2017 budget, intended for a health care bill, call for a $2 billion reduction in the deficit over 10 years.

Other potential swing votes include Sens. But if McConnell can somehow keep them in line, along with Cruz and Lee, he'll likely have the votes to pass the bill.

One senior Republican aide involved in the health care talks, dismissed suggestions the GOP had hit a wall and held out hope an agreement still could be reached.

But even as they insist that they're willing to work with Republicans if they abandon their repeal efforts, Senate Democrats also say that they can't underestimate the political will among Republicans to continue pushing for Obamacare repeal. But there is great appetite as soon as they abandon it. Under the House bill passed last month, insurers in states that waived community rating could charge more to those with pre-existing conditions if they let their coverage lapse. The White House on Monday night made clear that we won't see details of a Trump tax reform bill this summer.