Recess is over: Health bill debate gains traction

Senator Ted Cruz has proposed an amendment to the healthcare bill. Photo by Gage Skidmore

Republican Senator Pat Toomey told CNBC's The Squawk Box Monday morning that a new version of the heathcare bill would be unveiled today, according to CNBC.

"We've got a new version that comes out today," Toomey of Pennsylvania reportedly said.

No other Republican leaders are talking about an amended bill being released today, the day Senators get back to work following the July 4 recess.

During the Sunday talk shows, two Republican senators, Senator John McCain of Arizona, speaking on CBS's Face the Nation, and Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana on Fox News Sunday, used the term "dead" to describe the bill's chances, though Cassidy put the odds at 50-50, according to Business Insider.

The report also said the GOP is targeting a vote on the bill for July 17.

Senator Ted Cruz of Texas offered an amendment to the bill last week that is reportedly being scored by the CBO, according to The Washington Post.

[Also: Insurers gain from some Senate bill provisions but Medicaid funding remains a top concern]

The Cruz amendment would segment plans for two different markets. In one, insurers could offer a pared-down plans minus ACA essential benefits that would appeal to healthy consumers who want lower premiums.

Another would offer ACA-compliant plans with higher premiums for consumers needing more expensive coverage. This type of coverage would be similar to the high-risk pool proposal put forward by House Republicans this year, but without the federal funding to the states to help lower premiums.

Some conservatives such as Rand Paul of Kentucky are pushing for a straight repeal of the ACA.

Toomey admitted to CNBC that Republicans are "in a tight spot" on votes.

They can afford only two defections within their party to pass the Senate healthcare bill called the Better Care Reconciliation Act.

Moderate Republicans such as Senator Susan Collins of Maine have said they are concerned about the cuts to Medicaid that are in the bill, and a Congressional Budget Office score that puts an additional 22 million people on the rolls of the uninsured under the Senate bill.

[Also: Numbers of uninsured changes little from House version of healthcare bill, CBO score estimates]

Toomey said a 6 percent growth rate in healthcare spending is unsustainable and that the bill does not throw anybody off of Medicaid.

President Trump has made it clear he wants a new health bill before Senators again take a recess in August.

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

Twitter: @SusanJMorse