“Republican leaders on Capitol Hill are moving decisively away from extending key Obamacare tax credits that help more than 20 million Americans pay for health insurance — following direct cues from President Donald Trump while also stoking ire among many in the GOP who fear severe political repercussions,” Politico reports.

Senate Republicans will vote on a plan Thursday to replace enhanced Obamacare subsidies with new funds through health savings accounts for two years, Punchbowl News reports.

The bill will get a vote alongside a Democratic proposal to extend the subsidies for three years.

Neither proposal is expected to get 60 votes.

A new Morning Consult survey found that 58 percent of Americans say Congress should extend the Obamacare subsidies, while 24 percent say it should let them expire.

“Senate Republicans have no shortage of health care plans. The challenge is getting all 53 of them to rally behind one,” Politico reports.

“Three days before a high-profile vote on a Democratic proposal to extend expiring Obamacare subsidies, GOP senators are nowhere near coalescing behind any single alternative that could be put up alongside it. Instead, Republican leaders appear happy allowing their members to freelance, even as Democrats and some in their own ranks fume at the lack of clear direction.”

“For Republicans, the risk of proceeding Thursday with a side-by-side vote is clear. While Democrats say they will have their entire 47-member caucus behind the three-year extension, any GOP plan right now is likely to fall well short of complete unity — and highlight the divisions in their party.”

“A bipartisan group of House members is introducing a bill to extend the enhanced Obamacare subsidies for two years with new income limits and anti-fraud measures,” Punchbowl News reports.

“The bipartisan group is considering trying to force a House vote through a discharge petition. And they have a legislative vehicle they could use to speed up the process.”

“Yet using a discharge petition would be a long shot. It’s not clear if House Democratic leadership would back this compromise, which would need heavy support from their side to succeed. But lawmakers seeking an ACA patch — even if it can’t happen until after the subsidies expire on Dec. 31 — are turning to last-ditch plans as the deadline approaches.”

“Millions of Americans are confronting the highest health insurance costs in years. For those enrolling in Obamacare for next year, the plans will cover a considerably smaller fraction of their medical bills,” the New York Times reports.

“More and more people are discovering that their deductibles are rising significantly, worsening fears that they will no longer be able to pay for medical care. That’s on top of higher premiums; they could more than double.”

“With affordability increasingly out of reach, some people are facing the dire prospect of dropping their insurance altogether, even if they’re still eligible for subsidies. Others may forgo doctors’ visits or trips to the emergency room to avoid the expense.”

NPR: Republicans push high deductible plans and health savings accounts.

Senate Republicans are leaning toward not proposing an alternative to Democrats’ health care subsidies legislation during a much-watched floor vote this week, Semafor reports.

A new Gallup poll finds 57% of Americans approve of the Affordable Care Act, three points higher than last year’s reading and a record high since Gallup started asking the question in 2012.

“Republicans have yet to coalesce around a healthcare strategy just days before an expected vote on extending enhanced Obamacare subsidies, triggering concerns from some GOP lawmakers about a voter backlash,” the Wall Street Journal reports.

“The Senate is expected to vote this week on a Democratic-backed measure to extend the enhanced healthcare subsidies for three years. Senate Republican leaders agreed to hold the vote as a condition for ending the government shutdown.”

“The Democratic proposal isn’t expected to pass, heightening the risk that the subsidies will expire and millions of people will see their healthcare costs rise starting next month. Republicans haven’t yet united around an alternative proposal, as they struggle with how—or whether—to extend the subsidies and address issues that animate conservative such as healthcare fraud.”

“Senate Majority Leader John Thune and House Speaker Mike Johnson are both considering votes on GOP health care priorities next week — if they can figure out what those priorities are,” Axios reports.

“Democrats are unified in their demand for a three-year extension of Affordable Care Act’s enhanced subsidies, which expire Dec. 31. Republicans are still divided and debating their counter offers.”

“A group of vaccine advisers to U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Friday voted to remove the broad recommendation that all newborns in the U.S. receive a hepatitis B vaccine,” Reuters reports.

NBC News: “The vote came after a day and a half of heated debate and confusion that included misinterpreted data and pleas from public health experts to uphold recommendations for the vaccine that protects against an incurable infection.”

“Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer announced Thursday that Democrats will offer a clean three-year extension of enhanced Affordable Care Act tax credits for a vote next week,” CBS News reports.

“Democrats had the opportunity to present the legislation of their choice. Some moderates sought a compromise position that would stand a chance at earning the 60 votes needed to advance. Schumer’s decision to seek a clean extension means the bill is highly unlikely to pick up support from Republicans, although the move so will force GOP members to take a politically uncomfortable vote.”

“Speaker Mike Johnson is racing to finalize a Republican health care plan in time to present it to his conference at their weekly meeting Tuesday, but his team still needs to decide on major contours of the plan,” Politico reports.

New York Times: “Some voters may punish congressional Republicans in next year’s midterm elections if expanded Obamacare insurance subsidies are allowed to expire at the end of this month, a new poll released Thursday suggests.”

“Without the extension of larger subsidies, which lower the cost of health insurance under the Affordable Care Act for millions of Americans, many people will see their health expenses rise by about $1,000 next year. Among those facing a spike, most said they would blame President Trump or Republicans in Congress.”

Punchbowl News: “The deadline to extend Obamacare premium subsidies is just three weeks away. And Congress is nowhere on this issue.”

“There’s been no real push from party leaders on either side to secure a deal, leaving moderates and vulnerable Republicans scrambling.”

“As the chances for a deal hover near zero, the fingerpointing has only intensified ahead of “show” votes in the Senate next week. Senate Republican leaders are dealing with an absent White House while they struggle to coalesce around a messaging bill to counter Democrats’ unity on a subsidy extension.”

“A top pollster for President Donald Trump advised a group of House Republicans on how to defend against Democrats’ attacks over expiring Obamacare tax credits: focus on reducing drug prices instead,” Politico reports.

“Tony Fabrizio showed new polling to members of the Republican Study Committee in a closed-door meeting held a few blocks from the Capitol Wednesday. He argued the most effective way for Republicans to counter Democrats’ health care messaging is to change the subject and pivot to reducing drug prices in tandem with Trump.”

“Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) is pitching his colleagues — and President Donald Trump — on a new health care plan,” Politico reports.

“Hawley believes his new bill, which would allow all tax payers to deduct up to $25,000 per person in medical expenses, would help offer Republicans an agenda to coalesce behind while boosting the GOP’s affordability message heading into an election year. The bill also allows out of pocket spending on premiums to be deducted.”