North Carolina’s new medical debt relief program, involving over 65 hospitals, aims to forgive up to $4 billion in debt for low-income residents but faces criticism over its potential impact on rural hospitals and broader healthcare issues.
North Carolina’s New Medical Debt Relief Program Aims to Erase $4 Billion, Involves Major Hospitals
According to The Charlotte Observer, in North Carolina, Governor Roy Cooper‘s new program aims to tackle medical debt by getting over 65 of the state’s 99 hospitals to participate. This initiative could eliminate $4 billion in medical debt for residents. Major hospitals like Atrium, UNC Health, and Duke Health are on board. The program offers these hospitals increased funding for treating Medicaid patients if they agree to forgive medical debts. Hospitals had until Friday to join the effort.
The program, approved by federal health agencies, focuses on debts from January 2014 onwards. It helps those on Medicaid and people with lower incomes. Patients won’t need to do anything extra to get this help. Hospitals will automatically handle the debt relief. However, some are concerned that the plan might not help rural hospitals and could lead to higher insurance costs.
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$4 Billion in Medical Debt: North Carolina’s Initiative to Erase Hospital Bills (PHOTO: North Carolina Health News)
Critics Question the Effectiveness of North Carolina’s Medical Debt Relief Program Amid Concerns Over High Bills and Collection Practices
Critics like State Treasurer Dale Folwell and Senate leader Phil Berger worry that the program might not fix bigger issues like high hospital bills and tough debt collection practices. They think the plan is being rushed and might not be effective in the long run. Despite these doubts, the program aims to provide much-needed relief to many people struggling with medical debt in North Carolina.
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