Rep. Greg Murphy
U.S. Rep. Greg Murphy (R-NC) on Feb. 9 applauded enactment of four healthcare priorities as part of a larger appropriations bill signed into law on Feb. 3.
“I am proud to have helped lead the bipartisan effort to get the PBM Reform Act, the REAL Health Providers Act, a two-year extension of telehealth services for federally qualified health centers, and a one-year extension of the HOPE/HELP programs signed into law,” the congressman said. “These bills bring much-needed transparency and subsequent competition to the healthcare industry.
“These interventions will help improve access to care for patients and reduce the cost of lifesaving drugs by cracking down on the abuses of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) run by greedy insurance companies,” he added.
The president signed into law the 2026 Consolidated Appropriations Act, H.R. 7148, which incorporates elements of the bipartisan PBM Reform Act of 2025, H.R. 4317, that Rep. Murphy cosponsored in July 2025 with U.S. Reps. Buddy Carter (R-GA) and Debbie Dingell (D-MI).
The provisions from H.R. 4317 included in the larger package will establish new requirements for PBMs under Medicare Part D, including a policy to delink PBM compensation from the cost of medications and increase transparency; promote transparency for employers and patients in their prescription drug plans; and require the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to define and enforce “reasonable and relevant” contract terms in Medicare Part D pharmacy contracts, among others.
The appropriations bill also includes the bipartisan Requiring Enhanced and Accurate Lists (REAL) Health Providers Act, H.R. 5281, which calls for Medicare Advantage insurance plans to update their provider directories annually starting in 2028.
Rep. Murphy and U.S. Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) introduced H.R. 5281 in September 2025 to establish provider directory requirements, and to provide accountability for provider directory accuracy under Medicare Advantage.
The 2026 Consolidated Appropriations Act also extends Medicare telehealth flexibilities through Dec. 31, 2027. The legislation ensures continued coverage for home-based care, removes geographic restrictions, and allows audio-only, preventing a major expiration of services.
Rep. Murphy has supported expanding these services, specifically regarding telehealth in rural settings, and during the 118th Congress joined several Republicans to introduce legislation targeting the expansion of telehealth specifically for federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics that aligns with the final provisions of the 2026 extension.
The larger package also includes language from the Haiti Economic Lift Program Extension Act, H.R. 6504, which Rep. Murphy sponsored in December 2025 alongside lead cosponsor U.S. Rep. Adrian Smith (R-NE) to extend through Dec. 31, 2028 the HOPE/HELP (Haiti Economic Lift Program) trade preference programs, which allow for duty-free treatment of certain Haitian-manufactured textiles and apparel.