Gov. Roy Cooper visits Winston-Salem to discuss medical debt

Gov. Roy Cooper stopped in Winston-Salem Tuesday to discuss medical debt relief with multiple community groups and agencies. 

According to a press release from his office, Cooper met members of the Winston-Salem-based Debt Jubilee Project, who buy medical debt from local hospitals in order to forgive it. He also met with members of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. 

Earlier this month, Cooper unveiled a plan that could see North Carolina hospitals forgive up to $4 billion in medical debt in exchange for access to increased Medicaid funds from the state. 

Per the release, there are about 90,000 residents in Forsyth County with a combined medical debt of $2 million. 

Cooper has been cast onto the national stage as one of the likely vice presidential candidates for Kamala Harris’ presidential bid. 

The two elected officials most recently shared the stage in Greensboro on July 11 during a Biden/Harris campaign stop.

Santiago Ochoa covers healthcare for WFDD in partnership with Report For America.