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Bradley County approves MOU to bill hospital for self‑pay EMS transfers, seeks repayment for prior transports
Summary
The commission authorized the mayor to sign a memorandum of understanding letting the county bill Bradley Medical Center at a Medicare‑allowable rate for self‑pay transfers and said the hospital will reimburse about $70,000 owed for transports already billed.
Bradley County’s finance committee on Feb. 5 authorized a memorandum of understanding with Bradley Medical Center enabling the county to bill the hospital for self‑pay ambulance transports at a Medicare‑allowable rate instead of billing uninsured patients directly.
Adam, a county staff member who explained the agreement, said the county has been billing the hospital for several months and the accrued amount owed is "probably over $70,000 right now." Under the MOU, the county will bill the hospital at the Medicare allowable rate and the hospital will reimburse the county; staff described the arrangement as guaranteed income compared with previous collection rates from self‑pay patients.
Commissioner Denny Hughes moved to authorize the mayor to sign the MOU; Commissioner Alford seconded. Commissioners approved the motion 5–0, and the chair said the full commission will consider final approval later the same evening.
Adam also noted prior challenges remain around prior authorization for some transports — a separate problem that has been reduced since earlier years but persists for selected cases.
