The Latest: Sen. Collins calls for bipartisan reform effort

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on the Republican health care bill (all times local):

12:20 p.m.

Moderate Republican Sen. Susan Collins says it's time for the GOP and Democrats to work together to fix the health care law.

In an interview Monday, the Maine lawmaker rejected a proposal from conservative Sen. Ted Cruz that would allow insurers to offer skimpier, stripped-down plans along with Obamacare policies. Collins said the plan would lead to unaffordable costs for individuals with pre-existing conditions and caps on coverage.

Collins said it's time to move away from a Republican-only approach. She said Republicans and Democrats need to acknowledge the flaws in Barack Obama's Affordable Care Act that need to be fixed and the two parties should work together.

Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is trying to produce a Republican bill that would muster the necessary votes.

But McConnell also said that if he is unable to get 50 votes for the GOP plan, he would try to shore up insurance markets, a legislative step that would involve Democrats.

7:05 a.m.

President Donald Trump has a message for lawmakers returning this week from their July Fourth recess with another recess just three weeks away: Get health care done.

The president tweeted Monday, "I cannot imagine that Congress would dare to leave Washington without a beautiful new HealthCare bill fully approved and ready to go!"

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell plans to check vital signs on his GOP bill as senators trickle back to Washington from a July Fourth break that many spent listening to constituents vent about health care.

Thus far, there's no sign he's secured enough votes to pass a bill. He can only afford to lose two out of 52 Republican senators.

The Congressional Budget Office estimates that at least 22 million more people would become uninsured under Republican legislation.

5 a.m.

Two moderate Republicans have indicated that the initial GOP bill to repeal and replace the nation's health law is probably "dead" and President Donald Trump's proposal to just repeal it appears to be a "non-starter."

Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana says, "We don't know what the plan is. Clearly, the draft plan is dead."

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., says it may now be time for Republicans to come up with a new proposal with support from Democrats.

He says, "I think my view is it's probably going to be dead."

McCain adds that this doesn't mean Democrats will control the bill if they have a say in it. He adds, "It means they can have amendments considered. And even when they lose, then they're part of the process."