Gregory F. Murphy

Murphy Introduces Bipartisan POPCaP Authorization Act for Veteran Prostate Cancer Treatment

Position: Congressman Murphy and Congressman Conaway support permanent authorization of the Precision Oncology Program for Cancer of the Prostate (POPCaP) within the VA system, arguing that the program is vital to address disproportionate prostate cancer rates among veterans, particularly African American veterans, and should not be dismantled or integrated into broader oncology care.

Washington, D.C. — Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D., introduced the POPCaP Authorization Act, legislation to permanently establish a Precision Oncology Program for Cancer of the Prostate (POPCaP). "As a urologist and representative of over 76,000 veterans, I understand how important the POPCaP Program is to treat individuals with prostate cancer," said Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. "Due to the exposures our veterans faced during their time serving our nation, they are far more likely to develop prostate cancer than civilian men. Given the special attention this disease demands, rolling the POPCaP Program into greater oncology care is insufficient. We have made great strides in research and treatment for veterans and cannot afford to slow our progress. This program is vital and must not be dismantled or diminished." "As a physician, a veteran, and a Member of Congress I have seen firsthand the consequences of gaps in care and inequities in health outcomes," said Congressman Herb Conaway, M.D. "Prostate cancer remains a serious and disproportionate threat to our veteran population, particularly for African American veterans, who continue to face significantly higher rates of both diagnosis and mortality. This legislation represents an important step toward addressing those disparities by strengthening research and improving the delivery of care within the VA system. We have both the tools and the responsibility to do better. We must ensure we are making the investments necessary to protect the health and dignity of those who have served our country." "The POPCaP Authorization Act represents a pivotal moment in the fight against prostate cancer," said Courtney Bugler, President and CEO, ZERO Prostate Cancer. "Our veterans face disproportionate risk due to service-related exposures, and African American veterans bear an unconscionable burden with twice the diagnosis rate and twice the mortality. We commend Representatives Murphy and Conaway for their leadership on this critical legislation. The VA's integrated healthcare system offers an unparalleled opportunity to advance precision oncology research while delivering quality care to those who've served our nation. Congress must now move swiftly to pass this bill and ensure its funding. Our veterans have earned this investment, and the breakthroughs generated through POPCaP will benefit all American men facing this disease." Background Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare system. In 2016, the VA Office of Research & Development launched the VA Precision Oncology Program to conduct state-of-the-art precision oncology research to improve care for Veterans and others with cancer. As part of this initiative, in 2016, the VA partnered with the Prostate Cancer Foundation to establish the Precision Oncology Program for Cancer of the Prostate (POPCaP). Currently, the VA plans to integrate the POPCaP program into a newly created Precision Oncology Program, diluting the quality of care that veterans with prostate cancer receive and making it more difficult for veterans to receive state-of-the-art treatments. ###

Murphy Applauds Passage of Historic Farm Bill to Support Eastern North Carolina Agriculture

Washington, D.C. — Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D., applauds the passage of H.R. 7567, the Farm, Food, and National Security Act. "Eastern North Carolina, rightly so, is proud of its rich farming tradition, especially hogs, turkeys, sweetpotatoes, cotton, peanuts, and tobacco," said Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. "Our farmers feed the nation and contribute to the global economy by producing world-class products. They are among America's finest people and deserve the resources they need to plant, harvest, and get their yield to market. As a member of the Ways and Means Committee, I am proud to have helped write and pass into law the Working Families Tax Cut that gave our producers a competitive edge, protected family farms, and provided much-needed tax certainty. I spend a great deal of time visiting farms in Eastern North Carolina and listening to what our farmers say they need out of Congress. I proudly supported the Farm, Food, and National Security Act, legislation that reauthorizes and reforms Department of Agriculture programs through FY2031 to build on pro-farmer provisions in the Working Families Tax Cuts, deliver certainty and regulatory clarity to farmers, and expand on investments in rural and agricultural communities." Background: Reauthorizes, modernizes, and improves key USDA programs through 2031, providing certainty to farmers and stakeholders who are currently operating under the third consecutive extension of the 2018 farm bill. Expands access to credit and risk management tools for producers who are facing some of the toughest times in the farm economy since the crisis of the 1980s. Promotes specialty crops, prioritizing domestic production of healthy fruits and vegetables. Streamlines working lands conservation programs and prioritizes responsible management of federal forests. Doubles funding for export promotion programs and ensures responsible oversight of humanitarian food aid programs. Modernizes rural development and energy programs, prioritizes cutting edge research, expands access to meat processing, and codifies key initiatives related to national security and foreign ownership of farmland. Protects interstate commerce for livestock producers and provides regulatory certainty for farmers who need access to critical crop protection tools.

Murphy Introduces the Senior Citizens' Freedom to Work Act

Position: Congressman Murphy opposes the retirement earnings test, which reduces Social Security benefits for early retirees who earn above a certain income threshold. He argues the policy penalizes work and should be repealed.

Washington, D.C. — Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. (NC-03), introduced the Senior Citizens’ Freedom to Work Act to repeal the retirement earnings test (RET), which reduces benefits for Social Security beneficiaries who claim early retirement but choose to continue working and make above a certain threshold. "American seniors' ability to earn income and enjoy the dignity of work should not be penalized by arbitrary parameters to receive Social Security benefits," said Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. "Current law unnecessarily complicates seniors' right to access the benefits they paid into for the entirety of their careers and must be done away with. While certain guardrails are in place to ensure the viability of Social Security and incentivize participation in the workforce, the Retirement Earnings Test does neither and is a bureaucratic hurdle that does more harm than good." Background The Retirement Earnings Test (RET) reduces Social Security benefits that early retirees are eligible to receive by nearly fifty percent for earning more than $21,240 annually. Although the reduction in benefits is returned to seniors upon reaching Full Retirement Age (FRA), many seniors are unaware of this and choose to earn below the income threshold. Senator Rick Scott, Chairman of the Senate Aging Committee, has introduced companion legislation in the Senate.

Murphy Introduces Legislation to Lower Out-of-Pocket Costs for Drugs

Position: Congressman Murphy supports legislation requiring that out-of-pocket drug expenditures count toward insurance deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums regardless of purchase channel, to reduce patient costs and promote competition in the drug marketplace.

Washington, D.C. — Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D., introduced the Every Dollar Counts Act, legislation to require out-of-pocket expenditures for covered drugs to count towards the patient’s maximum out-of-pocket and deductible, regardless of where such drugs are purchased. "Direct-to-patient platforms have the potential to radically transform the drug marketplace, applying much-needed downward pressure on the extraordinary cost of lifesaving medicines," said Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. "However, patients who are set to benefit most cannot apply their expenditures on drugs purchased through these platforms to their health insurance out-of-pocket contribution requirements. By making this possible, we are putting patients first and promoting competition to drive down costs further." "Affordability is the defining concern for Americans," said Joel White, President of the Council for Affordable Health Coverage. "In health care, it determines whether patients can get the medicines and care they need to stay healthy. Congressman Murphy’s legislation helps remove barriers to that care and improve health outcomes." Background Patients increasingly rely on a range of options to access prescription medications, including direct-to-patient (DTP) platforms, which have emerged as a source for lower prescription drug costs by cutting out the middlemen. Such DTP platforms can substantially lower out-of-pocket costs for patients, especially for high-cost, brand-name drugs. However, many health plans do not count out-of-pocket spending towards patients’ deductible or out-of-pocket limit unless the drug is purchased specifically through plan-designated channels. This existing framework may force patients to “pay twice” and lead to higher financial burden, fragmented access, delayed care, and market distortion. This policy closes a gap in the law to ensure patients receive full credit for what they spend on needed medications.

Murphy Introduces Legislation to Improve Medicare Reimbursement Stability

Position: The release advocates for modernizing the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule to improve reimbursement stability for physicians, arguing that current budget neutrality rules create unpredictable payment cuts that harm physician practices and patient access to care, particularly in rural and underserved areas.

Washington, D.C. — Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D., introduced the Provider Reimbursement Stability Act, legislation to modernize and update the underlying mechanics of the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) to improve stability for physicians and their patients. "Physicians in America who see Medicare patients are being forced to close their doors because of increasing medical costs and persistent cuts to their reimbursements," said Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. "With expenses for providing care continuing to rise, declining payments are forcing many doctors into retirement, to stop seeing Medicare patients, or to sell out to consolidated hospital systems, private equity, or even insurance companies just to keep practicing. As a result, access to care in rural and underserved communities is drying up. In an era of a shortage of physicians, we cannot lose good doctors to these ever-increasing pressures. By updating the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule reimbursement policies, we can protect private practice and ensure access to affordable, high-quality care across the country for generations to come." "Physicians work incredibly hard every day to care for us, our loved ones, and our communities, and they deserve to be fairly and appropriately compensated for that work," said Congressman Tom Suozzi. "Unfortunately, the current budget neutrality framework within the Medicare physician fee schedule can create uncertainty and unintended pay cuts based on outdated policies or faulty assumptions. We have to modernize outdated rules that hurt our doctors, and this bipartisan bill does just that. It just makes sense that we take care of the people who take care of us, and provide them with fairness and predictability so they can continue to provide quality care for patients across the country." "The bipartisan Provider Reimbursement Stability Act (PRSA) would reverse a damaging trend that negatively impacts healthcare providers nationwide," said Congressman John Joyce, M.D. "Under the current Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, physicians face unpredictable and unsustainable payment cuts that undermine their ability to deliver consistent care. Stable Medicare reimbursement for physicians is essential to preserving reliable, accessible healthcare for our seniors—particularly those in the rural and underserved communities that I represent." "We all want our doctors to deliver personalized, effective care to patients, which is directly affected by Medicare assuring fair and accurate compensation to providers," said Congressman Brad Schneider. "When Medicare’s estimates for different health care services are wrong, it automatically, and inappropriately cuts doctor pay across the board in order to stay 'budget neutral.’ The Provider Reimbursement Stability Act seeks to fix these errors and limit unintended payment reductions by introducing reforms that promote stability and fairness in Medicare physician payments. Because when doctors are supported, patients benefit." "Physicians across Iowa and the country are facing growing uncertainty under a broken and outdated reimbursement system," said Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks, M.D. "Stability in reimbursement is stability in access, especially in rural America. I’m proud to co-lead the Provider Reimbursement Stability Act to bring predictability, fairness, and long-overdue updates to how providers are paid. This is about protecting patient access, supporting our doctors, and ensuring our health care system works for the people it serves." "The current physician fee schedule has failed to keep pace with the cost of providing health care. When physicians can't afford to stay in practice, that means patients don't have access to the care they need," said Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. "I am proud to introduce this legislation that makes commonsense reforms to help physician compensation keep pace with inflation and ensure patients can access quality care." "When Congress established the current Medicare physician payment system a decade ago, it failed to account for inflation," said Congressman Bob Onder, M.D. "As a result, throughout the COVID-era inflation, medical expenses increased while physician reimbursement declined, forcing many doctors to limit or stop seeing Medicare patients altogether. Our seniors deserve better, and the Provider Reimbursement Stability Act will establish long-overdue guardrails against physician pay cuts unrelated to quality and ensure seniors have equal access to care as non-Medicare patients." "Economic forecasting is a dicey proposition," said Dr. Bobby Mukkamala, President of the American Medical Association. "So, when CMS makes a forecast for the initial utilization of a new Medicare service, sometimes that forecast turns out to be inaccurate once claims data become available. There’s no reason that patients and physicians should have to bear the brunt of that miscalculation. This bill allows for a recalibration so that unnecessary cuts can be avoided. That’s good budgeting and good medicine." According to the American Medical Association, when adjusted for inflation, Medicare reimbursement for physician services has declined 33% from 2001 to 2026. Background Certain MPFS reimbursement provisions have not been updated since the fee schedule was established in 1992. The Provider Reimbursement Stability Act: Increases the budget neutrality threshold from $20 million to $54.3 million and indexes the threshold to the cumulative percentage increase in the MEI every five years. Provides for budget neutrality corrections related to the estimated utilization of codes. Provides updates to direct costs used to calculate practice expense relative value units (RVUs) not less often than every 5 years. Limits year-to-year variance in the conversion factor by 2.5%.

Murphy Applauds Passage of DHS Funding Once Again to Keep America Safe

Washington, D.C. — Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D., applauds the passage of FY26 Department of Homeland Security funding to keep America safe, eliminate long security lines at airports, help Western North Carolinians rebuild their lives, and counter cyber threats to the nation. "I am proud to once again support funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and keep the federal government open for the American people," said Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. "DHS keeps our borders and coasts secure, our airports safe, counters foreign attacks on our nation's digital infrastructure, and coordinates the federal government's response to natural disasters, like Hurricane Helene. Unfortunately, Democrats continue to obstruct funding for our federal workers and their critical jobs for partisan politics. I do not feel it is right, regardless of who is causing this disaster, that members of Congress should receive pay when our affected federal workers are not. So, I am withholding my personal pay until Congress fulfills its obligation."

Murphy Applauds Passage of DHS Funding to Keep America Safe

Washington, D.C. — Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D., applauds the passage of FY26 Department of Homeland Security funding to keep America safe, eliminate long security lines at airports, help Western North Carolinians rebuild their lives, and counter cyber threats to the nation. "I am proud to support funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and keep the federal government open for the American people," said Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. "DHS keeps our borders and coasts secure, our airports safe, counters foreign attacks on our nation's digital infrastructure, and coordinates the federal government's response to natural disasters, like Hurricane Helene. Democrats are putting divisive partisan politics before the country once again by refusing to support funding for this critical agency."

Murphy Statement on U.S. Military Action in Iran

Position: Congressman Murphy supports U.S. military action against Iran, arguing that the Iranian regime poses a nuclear threat to Israel, the United States, and global stability, and that diplomatic efforts have been exhausted.

Washington, D.C. — Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D., issued the following statement regarding U.S. military action in Iran: "Decades of appeasement of the radical, Islamic terrorist regime of Iran are over," said Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D."Ayatollah Khamenei and his terrorist rulers, if allowed to develop a nuclear weapon, would never hesitate to use it against Israel, the United States, or any other country. They have proven that life means nothing to them by recently killing thousands of their own people. President Trump and his administration have given Tehran every opportunity to negotiate peace, but, just like they have always done before, they have delayed and refused to cooperate to buy time to become a nuclear power. America cannot allow the cancerous threat of Islamic jihadi ideology to have such a devastating weapon to threaten the stability and security of our allies and the global community. These sentiments have been said previously by both Democrat and Republican Presidents. This should not be a partisan issue. I support this overdue action by President Trump and commend his strong record of delivering peace through strength. May God bless our troops and keep them safe."

Murphy Applauds Historic Wins & Priorities Highlighted by President Trump in State of the Union Address

Position: Congressman Murphy supports tax relief measures and efforts to reduce healthcare and drug costs. He criticizes insurance company practices and calls for stronger patient protections in the healthcare system.

Washington, D.C. — Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D., applauds the historic wins and policy priorities highlighted by President Trump in his State of the Union address to Congress. "President Trump is delivering on his promises to rein in inflation and deliver tax relief. He and his administration have taken unprecedented action to lower healthcare and drug costs," said Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. "Under President Biden and Democratic leadership, due to reckless spending, inflation soared to record highs, making life in America unaffordable for so many. At the same time, the cost of quality healthcare skyrocketed while insurance companies made record profits on the backs of patients and taxpayers." "I applaud the President’s efforts to give hardworking folks a chance to thrive. As a member of the Ways and Means Committee, I am proud to have helped write the Working Families Tax Cut that will give American taxpayers $191 billion in new relief this year and promote pro-growth economic policies. While these initiatives are a great start, I remain committed to continuing to work tirelessly to lower the cost of living and provide opportunity for all Americans. As a physician who has taken care of patients in Eastern North Carolina for 35 years, I am appalled by what has become of our country's healthcare system. No one should have to fight endlessly with their insurance company to have the cost of a doctor's visit or necessary medication covered. Greedy insurers are squeezing patients and taxpayers dry. Their practices of deny, delay and obstruct continue to lead to patient harm and distress. I will never back down from taking on the biggest lobby in Washington. We must put patients before profits."

Murphy Applauds Passage of SAVE America Act

Washington, D.C. — Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D., applauds the passage of the SAVE America Act, legislation to require proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections and a photo identification document before voting in federal elections. "Free and fair elections are fundamental to American democracy," said Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. "Ensuring that only citizens participate in our federal elections and that voters confirm their identity before casting a ballot is common sense. Confidence in our elections is the bedrock of trust in governance and our nation's leaders. As a member of the House Administration Committee, I have worked on improving election integrity closely and remain committed to protecting the voices of all Americans at the polls." Background The SAVE America Act strengthens current law and protects election integrity by: Requiring any voter to show a photo ID when they cast a ballot. Absentee and mail-in voters can attach a copy of their ID to their mail-in ballot. Amending the NVRA to require States to obtain documentary proof of U.S. citizenship – in person – when registering an individual to vote in a federal election. Requiring States to regularly check for noncitizens and other ineligible registrants on their voter rolls. Directing States to create a procedure for addressing discrepancies in documentation so that no eligible voter is disqualified due to a name change.