In a last-ditch effort to win the votes of Republican holdouts Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, the Graham-Cassidy sponsors amended the bill Sunday to shift more money towards those states.
The bill's authors, Sens. Lindsey Graham and Bill Cassidy revised the bill to provide more funding for states that are low in population but have a high spend on healthcare.
[Also: McCain to vote 'no' on Graham-Cassidy, Collins leaning 'no']
Maine would get 43 percent more while Alaska would receive 3 percent more.
Kentucky and Arizona would also benefit. Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky has said he would not be bullied into voting for the bill and John McCain of Arizona has said he would not vote for it.
[Also: Senate's healthcare cuts could grow as high as $4 trillion under Graham-Cassidy, Avalere says]
The support of Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas is also in question.
Republicans are down to the wire on a September 30 deadline to pass repeal and replace legislation to the Affordable Care Act by a simple majority vote through budget reconciliation.
[Also: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says Graham-Cassidy will go before Senate next week]
No Democrats are expected to vote for the bill that would repeal parts of the ACA including Medicaid expansion. States could apply for waivers to other ACA mandates such as coverage for essential health benefits.
The federal government would still collect ACA tax money, but would turn over the funds to the states through block grants for health insurance and Medicaid coverage.
Insurers and healthcare providers have come out against the bill because it would repeal the ACA's individual and employer mandates and they say would destabilize the health insurance market.
Millions are projected to lose health insurance should the bill pass. The Congressional Budget Office is expected to have a preliminary score of the bill as early as today.
The Senate Finance Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing on the bill at 2 p.m. today.
Senators Patty Murray and Kirsten Gillibrand will hold a press conference at noon on Monday. Graham-Cassidy would take away maternity care for 13 million women, gut protections for people with pre-existing conditions, which would cost pregnant women about $17,320 more, leave at least 32 million people without health insurance, and prevent millions of people from getting basic care at Planned Parenthood health centers, they said.
Twitter: @SusanJMorse
Email the writer: susan.morse@himssmedia.com