Greg Murphy Opposed Medicaid Expansion, Which Covered More Than 727,000 North Carolinians, Voted Against Appropriations Bills That Extended Authorizations For Medicaid, And Said He Supported Using Block Grants For Medicaid, Which Could Mean Fewer Poor North Carolinians Getting Covered
2019: Murphy Opposed Medicaid Expansion In North Carolina, Calling It An “Already Bloated Program;” Medicaid Expansion Went On To Cover More Than 727,000 North Carolinians
February 2019: Murphy Said He Did Not Support Medicaid Expansion And Called It An “Already Bloated Program”
February 2019: Murphy: “Carolina Cares Does Not Expand Medicaid And I Do Not Support Any Expansion Of This Already Bloated Program.” “Governor Cooper is hijacking the common sense provisions of Carolina Cares in an attempt to justify his desire to expand Medicaid. They are two totally different entities and weaving them together is misleading and disingenuous. Carolina Cares does not expand Medicaid and I do not support any expansion of this already bloated program.” [Greenville Reflector, Greg Murphy Letter to the Editor, 2/3/19]
2019: Murphy Said Carolina Cares Was A “Conservative And Fiscally Responsible Alternative To Medicaid Expansion.” “Carolina Cares is a conservative and fiscally responsible alternative to Medicaid expansion that would not add a single person to the already 2 million North Carolinians on the Medicaid rolls. It is an entirely different insurance product.” [Greenville Reflector, Greg Murphy Letter to the Editor, 2/3/19]
- Murphy: “Medicaid Expansion Seeks To Add Yet Another Group To The Total Dependency Of A Government Program.” “Medicaid expansion seeks to add yet another group to the total dependency of a government program. Carolina Cares seeks to form a partnership with these hard working North Carolinians who are looking for a helping hand, not a hand-out.” [Greenville Reflector, Greg Murphy Letter to the Editor, 2/3/19]
August 2019: Murphy Called Medicaid “A Problem”
2019: Murphy Called Medicaid “A Problem.” MURPHY: “Let’s just compare Medicare and Medicaid because to be honest with you 95% of our public doesn’t know the difference. Medicare being a problem for seniors– being a program for seniors. Medicaid being a problem that is partially funded by the federal government but instituted by the state.” [Neuse News, Facebook, 11:13, 8/12/19] (VIDEO)
August 2019: Murphy Criticized Working-Age People Who Were On Medicaid And Did Not Have A Job
VIDEO: Murphy: “We Have A Workforce That Probably Needs To Say It’s Okay To Get Off The Rolls And Get A Job.” MURPHY: “I had employer after employer after employer tell me how badly they need workers. So we have a workforce that probably needs to say it’s okay to get off the rolls and get a job. It’s important for them.” [Neuse News, Facebook, 13:10, 8/12/19] (VIDEO)
VIDEO: Murphy: “I Think Unfortunately Now That Some Of The Culture Has Gotten Into, We Now Have Third-Generation Medicaid.” MURPHY: “Being part of this program in the last four years, we’ve actually cut on the average, $200, $300 million from the Medicaid budget each year by eliminated fraud, waste, and abuse. There are a lot of things that need to change with that. I think unfortunately now that some of the culture has gotten into, we now have third-generation Medicaid. That was never what the intention of the program was. It was not meant as a way of life. It was meant to be a stopgap, a bridge between when people could help themselves up and move out to get jobs, which is done, which is done. But unfortunately, especially in, and I see this in what I do, we’ve become generational in Medicaid. And that somehow, that thought process needs to stop because that’s not what our country is about. It’s not about handing out. It should be about helping up. And I think most people really want that especially in today’s economy. If you want a job, there is a job.” [Neuse News, Facebook, 12:10, 8/12/19] (VIDEO)
2026: Medicaid Expansion Covered More Than 727,000 North Carolinians
April 2026: More Than 727,000 North Carolinians Enrolled In Medicaid Expansion. [North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Medicaid Expansion Enrollment Dashboard, updated 5/1/26]
Image: see original report, p. 23
[North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Medicaid Expansion Enrollment Dashboard, updated 5/1/26]
2019: Murphy Voted Against Appropriations Bills That Extended Authorizations For Medicaid
November 2019: Murphy Voted Against Concurring With A Senate Amendment To A Continuing Resolution With A Further House Amendment To Maintain FY 2019 Funding In Addition To Extending Authorizations For Medicaid, Medicare, And The PATRIOT Act. In November 2019, Murphy voted against: “Lowey, D-N.Y., motion to concur in the Senate amendment to the short-term continuing resolution (HR 3055), with a further House amendment that would provide funding for federal government operations and services through Dec. 20, 2019, at fiscal 2019 levels. Among other provisions, it would extend through Dec. 20 authorizations for certain expiring programs and entities, including certain Medicaid and Medicare programs and other health-related HHS programs. It would increase or modify funding rates for certain activities, including to provide for a 3.1 percent pay increase for the members of the armed forces and to provide $7.3 billion for activities related to the 2020 decennial census. It would repeal a $7.6 billion rescission of federal highway funding set to take effect in July 2020; extend certain federal surveillance authorities under the Patriot Act and other existing law through March 15, 2020; and modify provisions related to the Justice Department fund for victims of state-sponsored terrorism, including to designate 50 percent of funds for victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.” The amendment was adopted by a vote of 231-192. [H.R. 3055, Vote #631, 11/19/19; CQ, 11/19/19]
Murphy Voted Against Providing FY 2020 Continuing Appropriations To Federal Agencies, Including Certain Medicare And Medicaid Programs, Through November 21, 2019. In September 2019, Murphy voted against: “Passage of the bill that would provide funding for federal government operations and services through Nov. 21, 2019, at fiscal 2019 levels. Among other provisions, it would extend through Nov. 21 authorizations for certain expiring programs and entities, including the National Flood Insurance Program, the Export-Import Bank, certain Medicare and Medicaid programs, and other health-related HHS programs; it would allow for increased funding rates for certain activities, including the 2020 census and FEMA disaster relief; and it would provide for reimbursements to the Agriculture Department Commodity Credit Corporation for payments made to farmers impacted by retaliatory tariffs and other export barriers.” The bill was adopted by a vote of 301-123. [H Res 4378, Vote #538, 9/19/19; CQ, 9/20/19]
2019: Murphy Said He Supported Using Block Grants For Medicaid, Which Could Mean Fewer Poor North Carolinians Getting Covered
May 2019: Murphy Said He Strongly Supported Trump’s Proposal For Medicaid Block Grants. “Proud to stand with @realDonaldTrump & strongly support his proposal for Medicaid Block Grants. The President is once again moving power away from DC & giving it back to the States. Watch this short video where I discuss this issue: https://youtube.com/watch?v=Dzub140Wk1U #NC03 #NCPOL #NCGOP.” [Greg Murphy, Facebook, 5/29/19]
Image: see original report, p. 24
[Greg Murphy, Facebook, 5/29/19]
VIDEO: May 2019: In Discussing Medicaid Block Grants, Murphy Said There Were “A Lot Of Individuals” Who “Should Be Moving Off Of Medicaid And Onto Private Insurance.” MURPHY: “Now here in our economy, which is literally the best in its history, we have a lot of individuals who are now on the edge, who really should be moving off of Medicaid and onto private insurance. If people want a job, there’s a job available. What Medicaid block grants do is give power back to the states.” [Greg Murphy via YouTube, 00:37, 5/28/19] (VIDEO)
January 2019: The Trump Administration Devised A Plan To Give Block Grants To States For Medicaid. “The Trump administration is quietly devising a plan bypassing Congress to give block grants to states for Medicaid, achieving a longstanding conservative dream of reining in spending on the health care safety net for the poor. Three administration sources say the Trump administration is drawing up guidelines on what could be a major overhaul of Medicaid in some states.” [Politico, 1/11/19]
Politico: Using Block Grants For Medicaid “Could Mean Fewer Low-Income People Getting Covered, Or State-Designated Cutbacks In Health Benefits.” “The Trump administration is quietly devising a plan bypassing Congress to give block grants to states for Medicaid, achieving a longstanding conservative dream of reining in spending on the health care safety net for the poor. […] Instead of the traditional open-ended entitlement, states would get spending limits, along with more flexibility to run the low-income health program that serves nearly 75 million Americans, from poor children, to disabled people, to impoverished seniors in nursing homes. Capping spending could mean fewer low-income people getting covered, or state-designated cutbacks in health benefits — although proponents of block grants argue that states would be able to spend the money smarter with fewer federal strings attached.” [Politico, 1/11/19]
2019: As A State Representative, Murphy Removed Himself As A Cosponsor Of The NC Health Care For Working Families Bill, A Change He Apparently Made In The Days Leading Up To His Primary Election
2015-2019: Murphy Served In The North Carolina House Of Representatives. “Dr. Murphy was recruited to serve in the North Carolina House of Representatives and did so from 2015 to 2019.” [Rep. Greg Murphy, Biography, accessed 6/22/26]
2019: Murphy’s Republican Primary Opponent Tried To Tie Murphy To His Legislation Calling For Expanding Health Care To Lower-Income North Carolinians. “Murphy, a urologic surgeon from Greenville, won the nomination over first-time candidate Joan Perry, a Kinston pediatrician, in a bid to replace Walter B. Jones, Jr., in the House. […] Perry tried to tie Murphy to his legislation calling for expanding health care to lower-income North Carolina residents, calling it ‘expansion of Medicaid by another name.’” [Raleigh News & Observer, 7/9/19]
July 9, 2019: Murphy Was Reportedly No Longer A Cosponsor Of The NC Health Care For Working Families Bill, A Change He Apparently Made In The Days Leading Up To The Primary Election. “Murphy, a urologic surgeon from Greenville, won the nomination over first-time candidate Joan Perry, a Kinston pediatrician, in a bid to replace Walter B. Jones, Jr., in the House. […] Perry tried to tie Murphy to his legislation calling for expanding health care to lower-income North Carolina residents, calling it ‘expansion of Medicaid by another name.’ Murphy is no longer a co-sponsor of the NC Health Care for Working Families legislation in the statehouse, a change apparently made in the days leading up to the election. The bill moved forward in the NC House on Tuesday, as part of a potential budget compromise with Gov. Roy Cooper. Murphy has said he supports block grants for Medicaid at the federal level. The bill moved forward in the NC House on Tuesday, as part of a potential budget compromise with Gov. Roy Cooper. Murphy has said he supports block grants for Medicaid at the federal level.” [Raleigh News & Observer, 7/9/19]
The NC Health Care For Working Families Program Would Provide Coverage To Certain Individuals Who Were Ineligible For Medicaid And Unable To Afford Health Insurance. “Part I of H655 directs the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to design and implement the NC Health Care for Working Families program to provide coverage to certain individuals who are currently ineligible for Medicaid and unable to afford health insurance.” [North Carolina General Assembly, H.B. 655, Bill Summary, 7/9/19]
2017: Murphy Called Medicaid Expansion In North Carolina “A Very Controversial Issue”
2017: Murphy: “Expanding Medicaid In Our State Has Been A Very Controversial Issue.” “For two hours Pitt County senior citizens made sure their voices were heard. The main concern was healthcare. ‘Expanding Medicaid in our state has been a very controversial issue, on one side you have where everybody should be covered, on the other side you say how do you pay for it,’ State Representative Dr. Greg Murphy said.” [WNCT News, 3/13/17]
In Discussing Potential Medicaid Expansion, Murphy Said, “On One Side You Have Where Everybody Should Be Covered, On The Other Side You Say How Do You Pay For It.” “For two hours Pitt County senior citizens made sure their voices were heard. The main concern was healthcare. ‘Expanding Medicaid in our state has been a very controversial issue, on one side you have where everybody should be covered, on the other side you say how do you pay for it,’ State Representative Dr. Greg Murphy said.” [WNCT News, 3/13/17]