Less than a week after NBC News detailed how the hospital system Atrium Health of North Carolina aggressively pursued former patients’ medical debts, placing liens on their homes to collect on hospital bills, the nonprofit company announced it would cancel those obligations and forgive the unpaid debts associated with them. Some 11,500 liens on people's homes in North Carolina and five other states will be released, Atrium’s parent company, Advocate Health, said with some dating back 20 years or more. The company declined NBC News’ request for an interview about the shift. When Belk could not afford to pay them, Atrium Health pursued him in court, the company confirmed. Mike Belleme for NBC News fileBelk said he was stunned to receive a phone call from an Atrium Health executive Tuesday advising him that his debts would be forgiven.

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Persons: Health, Lester Holt ”, Terry Belk, Belk, what’s, Mike Belleme, “, ” Belk, Rebecca Cerese, Atrium’s, “ I’m, Terry, ” Cerese, ” Organizations: NBC, Health, Advocate, Charlotte, NBC News, North Carolina Justice Center Locations: North Carolina, Charlotte, N.C