Republican leaders try to flip wary centrists on healthcare bill

Senate GOP leaders hope offering more money for reducing insurance premiums for poor people is enough to get centrists to support their healthcare bill after they were cool to the latest version.

Republican leadership released a new version of the healthcare bill that adds $70 billion to a stability fund to stabilize the individual market and $45 billion for fighting opioid abuse. However, leadership faces a monumental task of winning support from several key centrists, especially after leaving in place more than $700 billion in Medicaid cuts.

They also are facing lingering conservative opposition and some members champing at the bit to file amendments to change the legislation.

While several changes to the bill were enough to get hardline conservative Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas on board, centrists were more skeptical.

"I want to make sure that with regards to those people who are currently getting coverage under Medicaid expansion there are some options for them," said Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, a key centrist vote.