Note 3 - Accounts Receivable and Accounts Receivable Allowance

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2019

Notes to Financial Statements

Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts [Text Block]

3. Accounts Receivable and Accounts Receivable Allowance

The Company’s accounts receivable, net, consisted of the following

(in thousands)

:

		March 31, 2019			December 31, 2018
Accounts receivable	$	218,832		$	220,455
Allowance		(14,037	)		(13,683	)
Accounts receivable, net	$	204,795		$	206,772

We record an accounts receivable allowance based on historical patterns of billing adjustments, length of operating and collection cycle and customer negotiations, behaviors and payment patterns. Changes in these estimates are recorded to revenue in the period of change. The following is a summary of the activity in the accounts receivable allowance

(in thousands)

:

		March 31,  2019			December 31,  2018
Balance--beginning of period	$	13,683		$	14,799
Provision		5,411			20,453
Charge-offs		(5,057	)		(21,569	)
Balance--end of period	$	14,037		$	13,683