July 23, 2025/Media, Press

Potential GOP Senate Primary Field Lines Up Behind Cuts Expected to “Create a Multibillion-Dollar Hole” in NC Health Care Budget

New reporting from The News & Observer shows just how much North Carolina could suffer under the GOP’s Medicaid cuts. Not only does the law gut health care for more than 650,000 North Carolinians, but it will also leave a “multibillion-dollar hole” in the state health care budget and lead to a “$50 billion loss in Medicaid funding.”

Read More from the News & Observer: 

  • “In North Carolina, lawmakers and the state health and human services department face a slew of changes — especially to Medicaid — that could strain state finances and reshape coverage for hundreds of thousands […] the loss of federal dollars threatens to force cutbacks to Medicaid benefits or eligibility.
  • “The federal changes affect multiple funding streams that support Medicaid and other safety-net programs. Combined, they could create a multibillion-dollar hole in North Carolina’s health care budget over the next decade, according to the state’s health and human services department.
  • “DHHS estimates all these changes could translate to a $50 billion loss in Medicaid funding for North Carolina over 10 years, with hospitals absorbing over 70% of the cuts, according to a forecast dated July 9 provided by DHHS.
  • “Failing to cover these costs ‘will place some hardship, particularly on rural hospitals, where they’ll probably have to provide services through emergency rooms and won’t get paid for it. It will be hard on young working families,’ especially those without employer-sponsored health insurance, he said.”

Reminder: As these devastating cuts become the center of the 2026 Senate race, the field of GOP candidates reportedly considering running for U.S. Senate is championing them – after Thom Tillis even admitted they would hurt North Carolina families and chose to retire rather than have to run on the cuts.

  • Michael Whatley said the law was a “huge win.” 
  • Pat Harrigan helped pass the bill, calling it a “historic win.”
  • Lara Trump called gutting Medicaid for over 650,000 North Carolinians and putting five rural hospitals at risk of closing a “gift.” 

 

###



Back to news