Guest guest Posted January 14, 2004 Report Share Posted January 14, 2004 As far as I know utilities are still turned off for none payment . Lights gas water, but not ems police or fire. We absorb and right off the losses and still provide care for the pt. We have also found that filling liens throws good money after bad. We have found that paying a collection agency throws good money after bad. Re: Liens for EMS bills > > > > > > > Do you not think that it would be a bit quick to throw a lien on > someone > the > > day of or the day after treat/transport? > > Not at all, if you wait, you run a risk of missing an opportunity to > collect. All the lien does, is insure that we get out money. Remember > that > the lien is against the judegement that they may receive, not against > their > house or their car. > > > I do not imagine an EMS service > > would keep a contract to long, at all, if this were to start > occurring. I > > could see some politicians getting some phone calls and as the old > saying > > goes, shit rolls down hill. > > Because we collect? > > Would those be the same politicians pissing and moaning because we are > nowhere near budget? > > Why should the business of EMS work any less at insuring their financial > survival? Isn't that where 90% of our issues come from? Don't we wish we > could do better at billed vs. collected? > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 14, 2004 Report Share Posted January 14, 2004 I'm confused. Why would it scare anyone off from calling 911? Have you ever personally been in a car wreck that was the other driver's fault, for example? THEIR insurance has to pay off on the claim including your medical expenses... Many people file all their medical bills for the claim for their settlement from that insurance company and then receive one check for this, generally through their attorney (who promptly takes his/her cut). Then the original claimant is left to take the remainder of the money and pay their medical bills, etc. If anything is LEFT, it is supposed to be theirs. However, since THEY are left to decide how to pay everything off out of the settlement, many do NOT pay a dime on the medical bills. They take the money and run. This happens EVERY day across the nation. THAT is what this is about - nothing else.... Jane Hill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 15, 2004 Report Share Posted January 15, 2004 > OK Folks. You asked for it. Here it is. This is the text of SB 504 which > added EMS services to the provisions of the Texas Property Code which > previously allowed hospitals to file liens against certain parties for hospital bills. And EMS services are also capable of using it, as well they should be, we need all the help we can get collecting our money. > > Take a look at this and you'll see rather quickly why one of the posters here > said " see your attorney. " Hell, I'm an attorney and it would take me days > of study to figure out how to apply this piece of legislative shit and make it > stick. The hoops you have to jump through to sustain this lien would > discourage most from even trying. It's really quite simple, you treat and transport, that same day, you gather all the information, take 10 minutes to fill out the paperwork, in our case, we have a secretary to do it, and by now she has it down to a science, drive it to your county clerk and file the lien, it is up to their attorney to make sure that we get a check for our services, the amount which is included in the settlement, then we release the lien, and they get all the rest of the money. It's not up to me to make sure you do yor thing, it's up to you to make sure I get my money, then you get yours, no different than the bank being the first lien holder while your car is financed, they get their money, then you get your car. EMS services in a county of less than 575,000 can do it, and I highly recommend it. 55.0002 > © An emergency medical services provider has a lien on a > cause of action or claim of an individual who receives emergency > medical services in a county with a population of 575,000 or less > for injuries caused by an accident that is attributed to the > negligence of another person. For the lien to attach, the > individual must receive the emergency medical services not later > than 72 hours after the accident. Curious what your county population is? http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/maps/texas_map.html There are certain criteria which must be met, but imagine collecting on all the BS 'Allstate' wrecks that you go to and transport from.......remember that you may bill (theoreticaly) 500.00, the plaintiff adds 500.00 to their claim, and you now have a lien for 500.00, in order for the plaintiff to get the balance of their settlement, you must get your 500.00. > The other side of the story is that, once you file the lien, the debtor and > his attorney will be totally baffled about how to defend it. Which may well be why we get paid, it is easier to pay us, than to argue with us..., kinda like the alligator shoe being on the other foot........ (no offense to the alligators on the list) Just remember to release the lien, nothing like a pissed off alligator to ruin your day..... Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 15, 2004 Report Share Posted January 15, 2004 > OK Folks. You asked for it. Here it is. This is the text of SB 504 which > added EMS services to the provisions of the Texas Property Code which > previously allowed hospitals to file liens against certain parties for hospital bills. And EMS services are also capable of using it, as well they should be, we need all the help we can get collecting our money. > > Take a look at this and you'll see rather quickly why one of the posters here > said " see your attorney. " Hell, I'm an attorney and it would take me days > of study to figure out how to apply this piece of legislative shit and make it > stick. The hoops you have to jump through to sustain this lien would > discourage most from even trying. It's really quite simple, you treat and transport, that same day, you gather all the information, take 10 minutes to fill out the paperwork, in our case, we have a secretary to do it, and by now she has it down to a science, drive it to your county clerk and file the lien, it is up to their attorney to make sure that we get a check for our services, the amount which is included in the settlement, then we release the lien, and they get all the rest of the money. It's not up to me to make sure you do yor thing, it's up to you to make sure I get my money, then you get yours, no different than the bank being the first lien holder while your car is financed, they get their money, then you get your car. EMS services in a county of less than 575,000 can do it, and I highly recommend it. 55.0002 > © An emergency medical services provider has a lien on a > cause of action or claim of an individual who receives emergency > medical services in a county with a population of 575,000 or less > for injuries caused by an accident that is attributed to the > negligence of another person. For the lien to attach, the > individual must receive the emergency medical services not later > than 72 hours after the accident. Curious what your county population is? http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/maps/texas_map.html There are certain criteria which must be met, but imagine collecting on all the BS 'Allstate' wrecks that you go to and transport from.......remember that you may bill (theoreticaly) 500.00, the plaintiff adds 500.00 to their claim, and you now have a lien for 500.00, in order for the plaintiff to get the balance of their settlement, you must get your 500.00. > The other side of the story is that, once you file the lien, the debtor and > his attorney will be totally baffled about how to defend it. Which may well be why we get paid, it is easier to pay us, than to argue with us..., kinda like the alligator shoe being on the other foot........ (no offense to the alligators on the list) Just remember to release the lien, nothing like a pissed off alligator to ruin your day..... Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 15, 2004 Report Share Posted January 15, 2004 > Do you not think that it would be a bit quick to throw a lien on someone the > day of or the day after treat/transport? Not at all, if you wait, you run a risk of missing an opportunity to collect. All the lien does, is insure that we get out money. Remember that the lien is against the judegement that they may receive, not against their house or their car. > I do not imagine an EMS service > would keep a contract to long, at all, if this were to start occurring. I > could see some politicians getting some phone calls and as the old saying > goes, shit rolls down hill. Because we collect? Would those be the same politicians pissing and moaning because we are nowhere near budget? Why should the business of EMS work any less at insuring their financial survival? Isn't that where 90% of our issues come from? Don't we wish we could do better at billed vs. collected? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 15, 2004 Report Share Posted January 15, 2004 > Gene- > > In our 911 service here in Dogpatch, we find it so much simpler to write off > the debts that go over 365 days......even those requested and signed for, > rather than defend against a suit for refusal to pick up a " patron " who has > an extensive record of failure to pay.... > > TD If you are writing off one or two, that may be the case, if you are writing off 100 per year, that's a different story. 100 calls X 300.00 is 30k in revenue you are throwing out the window. Placing a lien does not force them to pay something they don't have, or don't owe, nobody has been forced form their homes, no cars have been repossessed, it simply insures that EMS gets their money from the settlement. Any any service that refuses to pick up a patient, no matter how much he owes is just getting closer to the alligator pond. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 15, 2004 Report Share Posted January 15, 2004 We seem to be confusing 2 issues here. The ability to place a lien on a judgment, and caring for patients who do not have the ability to pay. The liens can ONLY be placed when the injuries are caused by an accident due to the negligence of others, i.e. MVC's, slip and falls at the grocery store, etc., and those liens are paced against upcoming awards, not their homes cars or paychecks. Those liens insure that we get our money from the settlement.....no settlement....no money. Unless we collect from a different source. If the patient is adding our billed amount to their requested settlement amount, is it not fair that we should get it? This has nothing to do with indigent care, or absorbing the fees of those who are unable, (not unwilling) to pay. Mike Re: Liens for EMS bills > > > > > > > > > > > > > Do you not think that it would be a bit quick to throw a lien on someone > > the > > > day of or the day after treat/transport? > > > > Not at all, if you wait, you run a risk of missing an opportunity to > > collect. All the lien does, is insure that we get out money. Remember that > > the lien is against the judegement that they may receive, not against > their > > house or their car. > > > > > I do not imagine an EMS service > > > would keep a contract to long, at all, if this were to start occurring. > I > > > could see some politicians getting some phone calls and as the old > saying > > > goes, shit rolls down hill. > > > > Because we collect? > > > > Would those be the same politicians pissing and moaning because we are > > nowhere near budget? > > > > Why should the business of EMS work any less at insuring their financial > > survival? Isn't that where 90% of our issues come from? Don't we wish we > > could do better at billed vs. collected? > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 15, 2004 Report Share Posted January 15, 2004 Your from South Texas aren't you???? Mike Re: Liens for EMS bills > > > > > > > Do you not think that it would be a bit quick to throw a lien on > someone > the > > day of or the day after treat/transport? > > Not at all, if you wait, you run a risk of missing an opportunity to > collect. All the lien does, is insure that we get out money. Remember > that > the lien is against the judegement that they may receive, not against > their > house or their car. > > > I do not imagine an EMS service > > would keep a contract to long, at all, if this were to start > occurring. I > > could see some politicians getting some phone calls and as the old > saying > > goes, shit rolls down hill. > > Because we collect? > > Would those be the same politicians pissing and moaning because we are > nowhere near budget? > > Why should the business of EMS work any less at insuring their financial > survival? Isn't that where 90% of our issues come from? Don't we wish we > could do better at billed vs. collected? > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 15, 2004 Report Share Posted January 15, 2004 Why? See my post about *when* it is appropriate to place a lien and then explain to me why people would be scared of calling 911. Mike > I really do believe that if services were to start this practice, people > would scare off some citizens from calling 911. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 15, 2004 Report Share Posted January 15, 2004 > Do you really want to scare off people from calling 911? > I believe they'll be fine after a little debriefing.......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 15, 2004 Report Share Posted January 15, 2004 > Do you really want to scare off people from calling 911? > I believe they'll be fine after a little debriefing.......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 15, 2004 Report Share Posted January 15, 2004 > Do you really want to scare off people from calling 911? > I believe they'll be fine after a little debriefing.......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 15, 2004 Report Share Posted January 15, 2004 > As far as I know utilities are still turned off for none payment . Lights gas water, but not ems police or fire. > We absorb and right off the losses and still provide care for the pt. We have also found that filling liens throws good money after bad. > We have found that paying a collection agency throws good money after bad. > a) The cost of filing a lien is miniscule in comparison to the amount you will get in return from the patients settlement, and this includes man hours to file it. most collection agencies don't charge 'up front', they keep a percentage of what they collect, so it doesn't cost you a dime, if you collection agency is 'collecting' from you just to collect from them, you need to find a different agency. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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