Fla. County Asked to Write Off Uncollected Ambulance Fees

May 19--A week after Palm Beach County Administrator Bob Weisman's warned county commissioners about another tight budget year, the fire-rescue department will ask county commissioners Tuesday to forgive $24.2 million in uncollected ambulance transportation fees.

Palm Beach County Fire Rescue generated $82.2 million in transport fees from 2007-10, with most of it paid by patients' insurance.

But officials say they haven't been able to collect $24.2 million, a balance that mainly resulted from patients who didn't have medical coverage or whose insurance didn't cover all or part of the fees because of insurance denials, high deductibles or other reasons.

"It's a tight budget year. We just know this is the cost of doing business every year.'' Fire-Rescue Chief Jeff Collins said. "In essence, this is not debt forgiveness. It's more of an accounting practice that takes it off the books.''

Collins said uncollectable amounts usually are written off every year. "But this will be four years' worth of write-offs. That's why it looks like a sizable amount,'' he said.

Fire Rescue's collection agency -- Advanced Data Processing Inc. -- is still trying to make collections from fees for each of the last three years. ADPI's contract expires Sept. 30.

Collins said APDI has a 62 percent collection rate, which is about the same as the company's statewide average.

Patients are sent three statements, about 45 days apart. They are encouraged to set up monthly payment plans. But Collins said most of the uncollected charges involve indigents and people who can't afford to pay.

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