RALEIGH, N.C. — Over $6.5 billion in medical debt was erased for over 2.5 million North Carolina residents.

North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein and the State Health and Human Services Secretary Dev Sangvai announced this move on Monday. This debt erasure realizes an initiative started by former Gov. Roy Cooper — although, his Medical Debt Relief Program only aimed to erase $4 billion.

Thousands of people have already gotten letters from hospitals saying their medical debt has been erased, according to the governor's office.

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For North Carolina hospitals to receive "an enhanced level of payment" through the Healthcare Acce

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