Story highlights The deal would make it easier for states to obtain waivers to customize Obamacare rulesThere are no guarantees that Republican leadership would bring such a plan to the floor(CNN) Sens. Lamar Alexander and Patty Murray have reached a deal "in principle" to restore Affordable Care Act cost-sharing reduction payments for two years in exchange for more state flexibility in Obamacare. The deal would make it easier for states to obtain waivers to customize Obamacare rules to their needs. This agreement would speed administration approval of the waivers and allow states to copy provisions in waivers that were already approved. However, it does not actually loosen any of Obamacare's regulations, which had been a key goal of the Republican effort to repeal the health reform law.

Source: CNN October 17, 2017 18:28 UTC