No policy change has been enacted, but remarks about moving Medicare to the states raise questions for southeastern North Carolina.
By BC News Staff Writer
Bolivia, NC — Medicare remains fully intact and federally administered, despite recent public comments from President Trump suggesting that states could one day take over funding for the program. No bill has been introduced, no executive order has been issued, and no federal action has been taken to end Medicare or shift it to state control. The idea surfaced as the President discussed the financial strain of ongoing war spending, but it has not advanced beyond informal remarks.
For Brunswick and Columbus counties – where older adults make up a significant share of the population the clarification matters. More than one‑third of Brunswick County residents and over one‑fifth of Columbus County residents rely on Medicare for hospital care, primary care, and prescription coverage. Local healthcare systems, including Novant Health Brunswick Medical Center and Columbus Regional Healthcare System, depend heavily on federal Medicare reimbursements to sustain emergency departments, specialty services, and rural clinics.
County officials and healthcare providers say the region is particularly sensitive to any discussion of Medicare restructuring, even hypothetical. Southeastern North Carolina’s aging population, combined with the financial challenges facing rural hospitals, means that any shift away from federal funding — even as a concept — raises concerns about long‑term stability. For now, however, Medicare continues unchanged, and no federal proposal exists to alter how the program is funded or administered.
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