Health bill faces challenges from senators, budget analysts
But in closed-door meetings,
A look at some of those obstacles and what senators are trying to doing about them:
SHORT-TERM FIX?
It's unclear
"We've discussed quite a bit the possibility of a two-step process," said Sen.
That could mean
Alexander, R-
"If we can't do the real thing, we'd have to do the next best thing,"
TIME IS TICKING
Because
Time is important, especially with Trump's problems distracting lawmakers. Insurance companies could grow increasingly spooked by the uncertainty and make health care markets even worse by raising premiums or pulling out.
Also, the longer it takes
GOP DIVISIONS
Conservatives and moderates are also bickering over how tightly to cut future spending on the entire
Many
Decisions await on helping states subsidize people with costly medical conditions and keeping insurers from fleeing unprofitable markets.
Making
BUDGET UNCERTAINTY
The
Senators will examine whether the House bill still cuts
Also being watched is whether a number of late changes in the House bill will force the House to vote again on the legislation. That would be a major problem for the
The budget office said the earlier House bill had
If the final House bill doesn't meet those targets, the filibuster protections will vanish unless the House approves a new version that does.
That wouldn't be easy.
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