North Carolina has made historic strides in expanding healthcare access and reducing financial barriers for millions of residents. In just over a year, the state’s groundbreaking medical debt relief program has erased more than $6.5 billion in medical debt, benefiting 2.5 million people far surpassing its original projections.
Implemented alongside Medicaid expansion in July 2024, the initiative was approved by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) as part of the Healthcare Access and Stabilization Program. This program requires hospitals that wish to receive enhanced reimbursements to adopt medical debt forgiveness policies, setting a precedent for how healthcare organizations address the financial burdens facing low-income patients.
By August 2024, all 99 eligible North Carolina hospitals had opted into the plan, which initially aimed to relieve $4 billion for 2 million residents. Hospitals were given strict deadlines to forgive past debt dating back to 2014 for Medicaid beneficiaries, implement safeguards to remove medical debt from credit reports, and limit aggressive collection tactics targeting vulnerable patients.
According to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS), the $6.5 billion total includes not only program-related forgiveness but also additional debt eliminated as hospitals updated internal policies. The state partnered with Undue Medical Debt (formerly RIP Medical Debt) to help hospitals identify eligible debt and ensure smooth program implementation over the next year.
Health and Human Services Secretary Dev Sangvai emphasized the emotional and financial benefits:
“Medical debt delays access to care, and easing debt is a pivotal step forward for improving health outcomes and lifting the burden for millions of North Carolinians.”
Why This Matters to Healthcare Employers and the Rising Demand for International Nurses
While North Carolina’s debt relief initiative is a win for patient access, it’s also creating a new challenge for healthcare providers: meeting the increased demand for services. Eliminating financial barriers means more people are seeking medical treatment and healthcare organizations must ensure they have qualified nursing staff to meet patient needs.
For many hospitals and clinics, this means *hiring international nurses* through immigration pathways such as EB-3 visas and H-1B sponsorships. As the patient load grows and competition for skilled talent intensifies, partnering with an experienced immigration law firm becomes critical.
At VisaMadeEZ, we specialize in helping healthcare organizations across the U.S. navigate complex visa requirements, recruit highly trained nurses from abroad, and ensure compliance with federal regulations. This includes support for:
- EB-3 Visa Sponsorship for long-term nursing positions
- H-1B Petitions for specialized nursing roles in critical care
- Streamlined green card processing for healthcare professionals
- Guidance on PERM Labor Certification for hospitals expanding their workforce
Looking Ahead
North Carolina’s medical debt relief program not only improves the lives of millions of patients but also underscores the importance of building a robust, diverse, and sustainable healthcare workforce. With demand for nurses especially in underserved and rural areas continuing to rise, international nurse recruitment offers a practical solution that benefits patients and providers alike.
For hospitals and healthcare employers seeking to meet this growing demand while navigating immigration procedures, VisaMadeEZ is here to help every step of the way.
Contact us today to learn how we can help your organization recruit top-tier international nursing talent and stay ahead in a rapidly changing healthcare landscape.
