Commissioners write off delinquent indigent EMS accounts

Published 11:56 am Friday, January 12, 2018

THOMASVILLE — Thomas County commissioners approved writing off 2015 Thomas County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) delinquent indigent accounts totaling $85,000.

A letter from EMS Director Tim Coram to commissioners says the accounts are not collectible.

“Many of these patients are elderly and have no means of paying off the balance of their accounts,” the letter says. “Other patients are unemployed, some patients have expired, and the remaining are accounts that are a result of patients who refuse to pay their bill and abuse Emergency Services.”

After the accounts are turned over to the Credit Bureau, they are actively pursued for collections for seven years. If an inquiry is made about a patient’s credit report after seven years, the account is flagged for collection of any remaining balance due.

Mike Stephenson, county manager, told commissioners the county’s auditor requested that the debts be written off.

“These outstanding accounts are still collectible,” Stephenson told commissioners. 

However, he added, collections are difficult.

Senior reporter Patti Dozier can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1820