26-19 Amending Ordinance to Address Ambulance/Medical Fees

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Filed in Clerk's Office BILL NO. 26-19 AUG 05 2019 K ORDINANCE NO. ARE FOWLER CITY CLERK,SOUTH BEND,IN AN ORDINANCE OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA,AMENDING SECTION 9-16 OF CHAPTER 9,ARTICLE 3, OF THE SOUTH BEND MUNICIPAL CODE TO ADDRESS AMBULANCE/MEDICAL SERVICE FEES STATEMENT OF PURPOSE AND INTENT Since 1981,the City of South Bend, Indiana has codified the regulation of ambulance and medical user fees into the South Bend Municipal Code. South Bend's current ambulance and medical user fees took effect on June 27, 2016 (Ordinance No. 10444-16). The South Bend Fire Administration has regularly reported to the Common Council its ambulance service activity pursuant to Chapter 9, Section 9-18 of the South Bend Municipal Code, and has provided its recommendation regarding adjustment of user fees. The Fire Chief's most recent report was submitted to the South Bend Common Council on May 31, 2019. The City's ambulance and medical user fees have remained unchanged for over three years but based on its recent survey of these fees and charges, and due to increased costs to the City for personnel training and necessary medical supplies, it is recommended that ambulance and medical user fees be adjusted consistent with the 2019 Medicare Fee Schedule. To help recover the costs and expenses of the Fire Department paramedic branch in providing ambulance and emergency medical services, an adjustment is required of the current rates. It is also necessary to add and define a new category of ambulance and medical user fee for "paramedic intercept" services which are now reimbursed by Medicare. Such services are provided when paramedic support is rendered to an advanced life support non-paramedic ambulance in order to give a higher level of service to a patient in need of paramedic care. It is further recommended by the Fire Administration that hereafter the South Bend Fire Chief be authorized to adjust these user fees once annually and automatically by the same percentage rate as any adjustments made to the Medicare Fee Schedule rates, with notice to the City Clerk after which such new rates will take effect. These changes are reasonable, appropriate, based on the cost of service as reasonably determined by Medicare, and in the best interests of the City of South Bend. NOW,THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the Common Council of the City of South Bend, Indiana, as follows: