Title
Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) recommending the Board:
1) Discharge the HHSA Director from further accountability to collect the debts identified on the attached Discharge of Accountability Report in the amount of $2,225,536 pursuant to Government Code Sections 25257 through 25259, for the period 2007 through 2018; and
2) Direct the County Auditor-Controller to adjust the charge of $2,225,536 against the HHSA Director on behalf of the Health and Human Services Agency.
FUNDING: N/A
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND:
In accordance with California Government Code Section 25257 to 25259.5, the “Board of Supervisors may make an order discharging the department, officer, or employee from further accountability and if appropriate may direct the County Auditor-Controller to adjust any charge against the department, officer, or employee in a like amount.”
When County debts are determined to be uncollectible for any of the following reasons, the accounts shall be presented to the Board of Supervisors (Board) annually for discharge from further accountability to collect the debts:
1. Bankruptcy;
2. Death of the debtor;
3. Statute of Limitations has expired; and
4. Unable to bill to 3rd Party.
In accordance with Board Policy B-4, Section I, paragraph e), the Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) may provide ambulance billing via a contracted ambulance billing vendor, Intermedix. Additionally HHSA contracts for collections processing of uncollected accounts with Access Capital, Inc. (Access). Accounts are reviewed for completeness and accuracy by County staff, and then passed to Intermedix for the initial billing process.
Intermedix first attempts to bill insurance, if the insurance information is available. Intermedix makes three attempts to collect the balance due or insurance information from the client. If they are unsuccessful in those three attempts, then the account is transferred to Access for collections processing. Access uses tools no...
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