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Democrats fear that GOP demands for concessions on a bill meant to stabilize insurance markets could lead to the end of key protections for consumers under ObamaCare. Republicans say that in exchange for funding for insurers that would help prevent an ObamaCare premium spike, Democrats should agree to expanding waivers that could allow states to opt out of certain requirements under ObamaCare. (Sullivan, 9/8)

Democrats want the bill to include multiple years of funding for key insurer payments, known as cost-sharing reduction (CSR) subsidies, while Republicans only want one year. Insurers have threatened to leave the market or hike premiums if they don't get more certainty on these payments. But a bigger sticking point is the changes Republicans want to make to ObamaCare's 1332 waivers. (Hellmann, 9/11)

Ohio Gov. John Kasich (R) on Friday voiced support for more state flexibility under ObamaCare, while also advocating for the Trump administration to fund subsidy payments to insurers. Kasich pushed back on the notion among some conservatives that the payments, known as cost-sharing reductions, are a bailout of insurers. (Weixel, 9/8)

Congress may have talked itself out of trying to kill Obamacare after more than seven years, so the idea of repairing the Affordable Care Act instead is gaining steam. And Ohio Gov. John Kasich is playing a big role in trying to make that happen. (Koff, 9/9)

The Senate this week launched hearings on both the fate of the individual insurance market and the future of the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which is set to expire at the end of September. Still in the mix on Capitol Hill is one possible last-ditch effort to “repeal and replace” the Affordable Care Act. But with Congress quickly wrapping up much of its “must-do” legislation, it’s not clear how or when these issues will be tackled, says a panel of experienced health care journalists in this week’s episode of “What the Health?” (9/8)