ESCAMBIA COUNTY, Fla. — Escambia County commissioners voted to write off $17,968,811.56 in unpaid EMS bills and send the accounts to collections.

EMS administrators say most of the debt involves uninsured patients or those without primary care, and note some “frequent fliers” repeatedly call 911 for nonemergencies, including requests for basic transportation, the Pensacola News Journal reported.

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Self-pay patients account for $12,751,627.95, nearly 71% of the county’s $17.97 million in EMS bad debt. Balances include one patient at $40,358.92; three patients owing $12,841.38 combined; nine owing $218,395.65; and 39 owing $509,615.18.

Each ambulance transport to a hospital costs about $1,000, and EMS is currently dea

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