Device-tax repeal surfaces as key in budget stalemate. White House says it's unwilling to compromise until shutdown ends.

As lawmakers in D.C. continue to wrangle over how to solve the government shutdown and debt ceiling impasse, the Affordable Care Act's medical device tax is emerging as a likely bargaining chip. But many wonder how the tax's $29.1 billion in funding for coverage expansion will be replaced. Minnesota GOP Rep. Erik Paulsen, says he's encouraged that there is a strong chance the device tax could be overturned.

Running out of time.

After a glitch-plagued rollout of state and federal healthcare exchanges, officials are scrambling to fix the marketplaces before a crucial mid-November deadline. If the problems can't be fixed in time for consumers to get enrolled by Jan. 1, it will hand ammunition to Republicans who want to delay the ACA's individual mandate. "If you can't enroll people, how can you penalize them?" asks Tom Miller of the American Enterprise Institute.

Beyond the glass ceiling. The top 25 women in Healthcare honorees take on key roles as significant change in the industry unfolds.

At a time when a national conversation is focused on the gender imbalance atop most professions, healthcare can boast of having women in some of the most important policy and executive positions. Those honored in ourTop 25 Women in Healthcare program have a few lessons to share. "Be willing to take the job that everyone else isn't migrating to and make it work for you," says Marilyn Tavenner, acting CMS administrator.