The hospitals now have a series of deadlines to begin implementing the program that relieves past debt dating back to 2014, according to an Aug. 12 news release from Gov. Roy Cooper’s office.
By Jan. 1, 2025, patients who are enrolled in public health benefit programs, enrolled in Medicaid, or are experiencing homelessness will automatically qualify for charity care, according to the release. By July 1, 2025, hospitals will forgive past debt of Medicaid beneficiaries and will also have policies in place to ensure medical debt does not affect a person’s credit rating and to curb aggressive collection practices for low-income patients.
Hospitals are required to meet and report these and other benchmarks, as well as publicly post debt relief policies, according to the release.
By participating in the program, the hospitals will receive improved payments under the Healthcare Access and Stabilization Program.
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is partnering with Undue Medical Debt — formerly RIP Medical Debt — to support participating hospitals and help them identify medical debt that is eligible for relief.
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