washington u.s. congress wrestle healthcare tuesday lawmakers party consider approach beyond simply repeal replace obamacare widen healthcare discussion appear unlikely yield dramatic change soon mark shift long-running republican effort gut 2010 patient protection affordable care act obamacare formally know republicans last attempt july overturn former democratic president barack obama signature healthcare law fell one short senate humiliate defeat president donald trump senate majority leader mitch mcconnell one senate committee bipartisan effort way tuesday repair obamacare without repeal lead republican health committee chairman lamar alexander panel top democrat patty murray want stabilize obamacare individual insurance market protect cost-sharing subsidies payments go insurers help reduce out-of-pocket medical expense low-income americans enrol obamacare trump make repeal replace obamacare major campaign promise repeatedly threaten stop payments insurers say would force 20 percent premium price increase alexander also want state flexibility design health insurance plan obamacare say tuesday goal small bipartisan step could break years-long partisan stalemate law tennessee lawmaker say hop bipartisan consensus proposal sometime next week although unclear mcconnell would bring measure floor noncommittal ask tuesday republicans supportive wisconsin senator ron johnson say government keep fund cost-sharing subsidies insurance premiums would likely rise government would spend money tax credit help consumers afford premiums insurance company get money either way johnson tell reuters maine republican susan collins vote repeal replace obamacare july say hop support bipartisan obamacare repair effort base hear far would expect say effort watch closely company anthem inc antm.n trim number state counties sell obamacare plan 2018. company say tuesday still work state regulators market participation next year l2n1lt17a anthem insurers deadline sept. 27 finalize 2018 obamacare roles separately independent senator bernie sanders 2016 democratic presidential candidate push plan widen medicare health insurance program seniors include everyone republicans look askance idea sanders long champion lead democrats like house democratic whip steny hoyer say priority improve obamacare republican anti-obamacare campaign entirely two republicans plan announce new repeal-and-replace proposal wednesday white house support senators lindsey graham bill cassidy offer legislation give state money form block grant instead federal fund state get obamacare critics say approach would effectively cut billions dollars fund obamacare subsidies medicaid program poor many state expand obamacare cassidy-graham bill must pass end september comply senate procedural rule allow advance simple majority rather 60 vote need bill would take extraordinary lift get do deadline say senator john thune member republican leadership congress revisit obamacare time bipartisan twist