NC Governor Announces $6.5 billion in Medical Debt Erased

North Carolina Governor Stein and North Carolina's Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) Secretary Sangvai announced that more than $6.5 billion in medical debt has been erased during the past year. In August 2024, eligible hospitals in North Carolina signed on to participate in the State's Medical Debt Relief Program (MDRP). MDRP is a collaboration between NCDHHS, 99 acute care hospitals, and Undue Medical Debt.

The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) approved using medical debt policies as a condition for eligibility for North Carolina hospitals to receive an enhanced level of payment under the Healthcare Access and Stabilization Program (HASP). To be eligible for the enhanced HASP payments, hospitals were required to relieve medical debt for certain low- and middle-income NC residents. For more information on this program, read here.