More than 52,000 Illinois residents have been relieved of $72 million of medical debt under a state pilot program that debuted earlier this year. A state pilot program designed to erase medical debt for 300,000 Illinois residents has already helped thousands eliminate $72 million of debt, the governor’s office announced Thursday.

More than 52,000 Illinoisans will hear that some or all of their medical debt has been cleared by the state soon. Letters will be sent out next week telling individuals in nearly every county throughout the state that their debts have been eliminated.

Illinois will erase $72 million in medical debt for over 52,000 residents, Gov. JB Pritzker announced Thursday.