Congressman Greg Murphy Says It’s Time to Band Together to Stop Physician Pay Cuts

As the only currently practicing physician in Congress, Rep. Greg Murphy (R-NC) sees medicine from a dual vantage point: inside the OR and inside the legislative process. In a wide-ranging conversation on the How I Doctor podcast, he makes a clear call to action: If physicians want to stop the erosion of their income and autonomy, they need to organize — fast.

“We’ve had a 30% decrease in inflation-adjusted physician payment over the last 20 years,” Murphy states, pointing to systemic issues baked into current Medicare formulas and payment structures. “The people making decisions about your pay have no clue what you do.”

A System Designed to Undervalue Physicians

Murphy doesn’t mince words about the forces behind physician disempowerment. He highlights a shift in healthcare economics where hospital systems and insurers command disproportionate influence.

He recalls a conversation with a senior congressional staffer who once told him, “Physicians earn too much anyway.” That offhand comment, he believes, encapsulates a growing lack of respect for the clinical profession. “These are the people writing the rules,” he says.

And the ACA’s prohibition on physician-owned hospitals? Murphy says that too was a power grab. “Who pushed for that? The hospital associations.”

Why Advocacy Falls Flat

Despite the existence of large medical societies and advocacy organizations, Murphy suggests many are missing the mark. “They’re focusing on climate policy, on DEI initiatives. Meanwhile, we’re being gutted,” he says. He’s called out groups directly for undermining recent congressional efforts to mitigate Medicare cuts. “If we can’t get a unified message from physicians, how are we supposed to get anything done in Congress?”

Murphy isn’t anti-organization — he just wants them to refocus. “If you’re not here to fight for doctors, what are you doing?”

Political Action, Not Just Passion

Murphy makes a strong case for physicians becoming politically active —not just by writing op-eds, but by funding campaigns and engaging directly with lawmakers. “The insurance and hospital lobbies are the top spenders in Washington,” he notes. “Doctors are nowhere on that list.”

His advice is blunt: “If you want to stop pay cuts, go to fundraisers. Meet your representatives. Tell your story. Donate. They need to see your face — and know your name.”

Why Staying on the Sidelines Isn’t an Option

Murphy warns that continued disengagement will accelerate the decline of physician influence. “If you think working harder is the solution, it’s not. You’ll just burn out while UnitedHealthcare’s stock climbs.”

The problem, he argues, isn’t just policy — it’s culture. “We’ve internalized the idea that sacrifice is our job, and we should just take it. But who does that help? Not the patient. Not you.”

A Message to Early-Career Physicians

His strongest words are reserved for younger doctors: “The system will not change for you unless you change it. And if you don’t get politically involved, you’re surrendering your autonomy before you’ve even built your career.”

Whether you agree with his politics or not, Congressman Greg Murphy’s message is clear: No one is coming to save physicians. If they want to protect their pay, their profession, and their future, they’ll have to do it themselves — together.