NCMS to Congress: Protect Medicaid, Reform Medicare Payment … Help North Carolina
The President’s tax bill, H.R. 1 / One Big Beautiful Bill, which passed both the US Senate and US House and signed into law on July 4th, has drawn considerable attention since it was introduced on May 20, 2025. The bill was presented to Congress to make tax cuts enacted in 2017 permanent, while also introducing new tax considerations. It includes tax cuts for individuals and businesses and offsets the cost of the cuts through measures that will impact Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the ACA Insurance Marketplace, and Student Loans.
On and encouraging note, the legislation includes a positive adjustment to Medicare physician payment though not to the extent that the NCMS and other physician organizations have advocated for. In 2026, payment will increase 2.25%.
Since the first of the year, when anticipation of H.R. 1 took center stage, the NCMS has remained in contact with our fourteen US House and two US Senate offices. Over the course of six months, 75+ meetings on Capitol Hill and many communications, concern has been shared over the projected loss of coverage and care for Medicaid beneficiaries. A key point of emphasis has focused on the resulting threat of Medicaid expansion ceasing due to an automatic “trigger” provision which eliminates the program in the event the existing funding formula is changed.
NCMS appeals to Congress
In the lead up to final action on H.R. 1 and in follow-up to earlier communications, the NC Medical Society issued appeals to each of our state’s members of the US Senate and US House outlining concerns over the impact of H.R. 1. Below are links to the text of each of those letters.
Message to North Carolina members of the US Senate
Message to North Carolina members of the US House
We know that many NCMS members have reached out to their members of Congress on this issue. Those calls and emails are appreciated and have helped elevate our collective voice on behalf of patients and the medical profession.
As the impact of H.R. 1 is assessed, the NCMS will continue to engage with elected officials, both at the state and federal levels, to preserve and promote coverage and care for our state’s citizens.
Do you know your state and federal legislators?
More importantly, do your legislators know you?