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Rhode Island is using a $1 million state fund to erase medical debt for thousands of residents.

The state partners with a nonprofit, Undue Medical Debt, to buy and cancel qualifying debts for pennies on the dollar.

So far, the program has spent $138,271 to eliminate nearly $12 million in medical debt for 6,855 people.

In recent months, thousands of Rhode Islanders have received out-of-the-blue letters, bearing state Treasurer James Diossa's signature, informing them they have received a "no strings attached gift" from the state.

"Rest assured," the letters said. "You no longer owe this debt."

It may sound like the old "It says here you MIGHT be a winner" (emphasis on the "might") commercials for Alperts Furniture, but it's not.

Out of a $1 million one-time infu

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