Greenville Reporter

ECU Health, in partnership with the nonprofit organization Undue Medical Debt, has announced a significant initiative aimed at eliminating over $186 million in past-due hospital medical debt for more than 32,000 eligible patients. This effort will see debt relief letters distributed throughout December and into the New Year.

Eligible individuals do not need to apply for this relief. Instead, those who qualify will receive a letter from Undue Medical Debt detailing which of their past-due debts have been erased. The nonprofit collaborates with hospitals nationwide to purchase large portfolios of overdue medical debt at minimal cost and then forgives these debts.

This collaboration between ECU Health and Undue Medical Debt began before the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services launched its own statewide medical debt relief initiative. This state initiative includes plans for changes to Medicaid/Medicare reimbursement policies and financial aid standards set to take effect in 2025.

Under the guidelines set by Undue Medical Debt, qualifying individuals are those whose hospital debts exceed 5% of their annual income or who earn at or below four times the federal poverty level. For a family of four, this means an annual income under $124,800 qualifies them for automatic debt elimination.

Allison Sesso, CEO and President of Undue Medical Debt, expressed gratitude for the collaboration: “We’re grateful to collaborate with ECU Health to help ease the burden of medical debt in eastern North Carolina.” She added that this program aims to provide both financial and emotional relief while encouraging continued engagement with healthcare services.

The initiative is part of ECU Health's broader mission to improve health outcomes in eastern North Carolina by serving underserved communities where many residents are low-income or uninsured. It aligns with ECU Health’s non-predatory billing practices focused on charity care and transparent pricing.

Brian Floyd, Chief Operating Officer at ECU Health, emphasized their commitment: “At ECU Health, our commitment to our mission and patients is at the heart of all we do.” He noted that this collaboration would significantly impact many people in their underserved region.