More than $6.5 billion in medical debt has been relieved for more than 2.5 million North Carolinians over the past year, through a program set up by the state and paid for with federal funds.

Poor credit scores, dragged down by debt, can make it hard for people to be approved for jobs, rent applications, or loans to buy a home or start a business. So wiping out billions of dollars in debt — for nearly one-fourth of the state's population — should have immense benefits not just for the people in question but for the broader economy, Gov. Josh Stein said Monday as he announced the news.

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"This is life changing news for so many families," Stein said. "Medical debt is a tremendous burden that keeps families from financial security and emotional and physical well-being.

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