Congressman Don Davis Calls North Carolina General Assembly's $25 Million Investment to Reopen Martin General Hospital Step in Right Direction, Continues Push for Federal Partnership

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Don Davis (NC-01), a longtime champion for reopening Martin General Hospital, calls the North Carolina General Assembly's approval of a $25 million investment in the state’s budget toward restoring emergency medical services to Martin County a significant step in the right direction. 

“No parent, grandparent, or child should have to travel miles during a medical emergency simply because their hometown hospital closed. The investment brings us one step closer to restoring lifesaving emergency care for Martin County and surrounding communities while demonstrating what is possible when leaders come together to strengthen rural health care,” said Congressman Don Davis. 

While the state's investment marks an important milestone, Congressman Davis has emphasized that additional support will be necessary to fully restore hospital operations. He recently sent a letter to President Trump urging federal support for an estimated $175 million investment to reopen Martin General Hospital and strengthen rural healthcare infrastructure in eastern North Carolina, including support for expanding inpatient bed capacity at ECU Health Beaufort Hospital. 

"In my letter to President Trump, I emphasized that reopening Martin General Hospital is about saving lives, creating jobs, supporting economic development, and ensuring that families are not forced to drive long distances during medical emergencies," Davis said. "Federal and state partnerships are essential to making this vision a reality and strengthening our health care system in eastern North Carolina." 

Since Martin General Hospital closed in 2023, Congressman Davis has led federal efforts to restore emergency medical services, working with local officials, state leaders, health care providers, and federal partners to pursue designation as a Rural Emergency Hospital. 

To help ensure Martin General Hospital can reopen and remain financially sustainable, Congressman Davis introduced H.R. 4277, the Rural Emergency Hospital Financial Stability Act. The legislation would increase Medicaid reimbursement rates for Rural Emergency Hospitals to match outpatient hospital rates, helping such rural hospitals to remain financially stable and continue delivering care close to home. The National Rural Health Association and America’s Essential Hospitals support the legislation. 

"I will continue working with President Trump, Governor Stein, members of our congressional delegation, state lawmakers, local officials, and health care leaders until the doors of Martin General Hospital reopen," Davis said. "The people of Martin County have waited long enough. They deserve reliable emergency care close to home, and I will not stop fighting until that becomes a reality." 

Since Martin General Hospital closed in 2023, more than 20,000 residents have been left without local emergency medical care, forcing families to travel significantly farther during life-threatening emergencies. 

Congressman Davis also secured $1 million for critical infrastructure upgrades at Washington Regional Medical Center, and he is committed to advocating for additional funding.