WASHINGTON - An Obamacare overhaul bill would reduce the federal spending by $133 billion over the next decade, according to a Congressional Budget Office score released Monday.

However, the CBO also found that millions of people could lose comprehensive health insurance that covers high-cost medical events over the same period. "That number could vary widely depending on how states implemented the legislation, although the direction of the effect is clear," CBO said.

The score does not include information about some of the legislation's most recent changes.

The score estimates whether the legislation would reduce budget deficits by at least as much as was estimated for Obamacare, whether it meets reconciliation rules that allow it to be passed through a simple majority, and whether the bill would increase budget deficits in the long term.

The bill, known as Graham-Cassidy, was introduced by Republican Sens. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, Dean Heller of Nevada, and Ron Johnson of Wisconsin. It would divert revenue from Obamacare to states to craft their own healthcare systems and would give them funding through block grants.

The latest version of the legislation makes changes to the provisions for pre-existing illnesses and provides more funding to states whose senators are on the fence about the bill or have said they oppose it.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said he expects to bring the bill to the floor for a vote this week. (Source: The Washington Examiner)

Sen. Susan Collins deals potential lethal blow to GOP health care bill

WASHINGTON--The GOP's last-ditch effort to repeal and replace Obamacare received what appeared to be a fatal blow Monday evening when Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, announced her decision not to support the bill, becoming the crucial third Republican to oppose it.

Collins joins Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Rand Paul, R-Ky., as GOP "no" votes. Unless one of them switches their position, Republicans can't muster the 50 votes needed to pass it.

Momentum for the bill sputtered Monday morning even after a new version was released by authors Sens. Lindsey Graham and Bill Cassidy that included new incentives to appease the concerns of a handful of uncommitted Republican senators.

GOP leaders faced a Saturday deadline to pass Graham-Cassidy with a simple Senate majority and it's still unclear if Republican leaders will put the bill before the Senate for a vote, even without the votes for it to pass.

Collins announced her position despite changes being made to the bill to get remaining holdouts on board. An analysis of state-by-state health care funding shows that under Graham-Cassidy, Maine would see a 43 percent increase in federal health care funds, Arizona would get an additional 14 percent, Kentucky another 4 percent and Alaska 3 percent. But Collins said despite the positive numbers, Maine would still lose money by dismantling the Affordable Care Act.

Collins announced her position after an incomplete analysis of an earlier version of Graham-Cassidy by the Congressional Budget Office found that "millions" would lose their health insurance under the plan.

Protestors filled the hallways outside the hearing room that snaked around the corner and down the length of a city block. Hundreds of people chanted "shame" as Graham entered the hearing room to testify before the committee. Voluminous protests inside the hearing room delayed the start of the hearing. Chairman Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, attempted to gavel in the committee but protestors drowned him out. Police dragged them out, many of whom are disabled and in wheelchairs, out one by one. (Source: NBC News)

Story Date: September 26, 2017