RALEIGH, N.C. (WBTV) – North Carolina hospitals are taking part in an innovative and groundbreaking plan to relieve billions of dollars of medical debt for millions of people.
During a news conference Monday, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper announced that every eligible hospital signed onto a plan that could wipe away $4 billion in debt in exchange for increased Medicaid payments.
“Hospitals can earn more by forgiving medical debt than trying to collect it. This is a win-win-win. It will help our hospitals, our people, and our economy thrive,” Cooper said Monday.
Cooper pointed to research showing hospitals only collect 5 percent of outstanding debt while the impact on the patients can be overwhelming.
“The mental toll of medical…
