Greg Murphy, Representative of North Carolina, said that his three decades as a surgeon provide him with unique insight into Medicaid reform. He praised Republican achievements in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBB) in a statement made on X.
“As the only practicing surgeon in Congress, serving Eastern North Carolina for over 30 years, no one better understands the stakes of Medicaid reform than I do,” said Gregory Francis Murphy, U.S. Representative for North Carolina’s 3rd congressional District (R). “I am proud of the work Republicans accomplished in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.”
The OBBB reforms Medicaid by introducing several measures, including 80-hour monthly work requirements for most adults by 2027, co-pays up to $35 per visit, quarterly eligibility checks, restrictions on provider taxes, capping state payments above Medicare rates, and establishing a $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Fund. According to the Wall Street Journal, the act also proposes cuts exceeding $1 trillion in Medicaid spending over ten years.
North Carolina’s Medicaid program currently covers approximately 3,012,000 individuals with total spending amounting to $19.4 billion—over 70% of which is federally funded. As reported by KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation), children constitute 43% of enrollees, rural residents make up 26%, while seniors or people with disabilities account for 64% of spending despite representing only 23% of enrollees.
Nationally, Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) enrollment reached 78.4 million in April 2025. According to KFF and the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the new work requirements under the OBBB could result in the removal of 4.8 million adults from Medicaid. Up to 7.5 million Americans may lose coverage nationwide due to these changes, marking a significant shift in eligibility.
Murphy has been serving as a U.S. Representative for North Carolina’s 3rd District since 2019. According to Wikipedia, he focuses on rural healthcare, veterans’ issues, and agricultural support and previously served in the North Carolina House.
