Governor Cooper announces 99 hospitals in NC have signed onto a Medicaid debt relief plan

RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCT) — This week, Governor Roy Cooper announced all 99 eligible hospitals in North Carolina have signed on to the state’s innovative plan to receive medical debt for millions.

The plan is referred to as the first of its kind with its purpose being to ease medical debt for low and middle-income patients in North Carolina. It is also a joint effort between Cooper and the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.

By signing the plan, the hospitals have committed to relieving medical debt dating back to January 1, 2014, for all Medicare beneficiaries, as well as medical debt deemed uncollectible for patients whose income is at or below 350% of the federal poverty level.

He said the move could forgive up to $4 billion for an estimated two million in North Carolina, much of it being hospital debt.

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