Now that the GOP efforts to repeal and replace ACA are apparently all but dead, there are signs of bipartisan efforts to secure and stabilize marketplaces. Bloomberg News (9/28, Edney, Litvan) reports that on Thursday, Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) said he and Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) “are close to an agreement” to stabilize Affordable Care Act marketplaces, “but the real issue now is securing the backing of leaders from both parties and enough senators to move forward.” The article says the two lawmakers had been working on the deal until the ACA repeal bill which failed earlier this week “gained steam briefly.” The piece adds that it remains “unclear whether their restarted bipartisan effort will eventually be able to gain necessary support,” given that President Trump and House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) have both indicated they would not back such a measure. One step forward, two steps back. Stay tuned.