11-26-12 Council Agenda & Packet

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Cover Letter to Proposed Ordinance Adjusting Ambulance and Medical User Fees October 15,2012 Page 2 It is my understanding that the current ambulance/medical user fees being charged by the City were established by a Council ordinance passed in 2008, which became effective January 1, 2009. I am attaching a copy of Chief Cox's August 27, 2012 entire report for reference purposes. It provides a chart on page 3 of the current user fees for residents and non-residents and the proposed user fees recommended for residents and non-residents for comparison purposes. • If it my further understanding that the local fees are typically 150% of the allowable reimbursement set by Medicare. Medicare usually adjusts fees on an annual basis. The governing federal regulations are set forth in 42 Code of Federal Regulations, § 414.601 - § 414.625 Subpart H entitled "Fee Schedule for Ambulance Services". I am attaching a copy of those regulations promulgated for Medicare & Medicaid Services, along with a November 2011 brochure entitled "Ambulance Fee Schedule"published by the Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare 7 Medicaid Services, for additional background information. Section 9-18 (b) of the South Bend Municipal Code calls for any proposed user fee adjustments to be reviewed by the Council's Personnel and Finance Committee and/or the Health and Public Safety Committee. Council Member White has agreed to have the attached Bill heard in a joint committee meeting. The standard of review as set forth in this same section is to determine what are "fair and equitable user fees". The annual report of the Fire Chief to the Common Council provides an opportunity for the sharing of key information about BLS and ALS service runs and related information. With this detailed information, the Common Council may then carefully weigh the proposed fee adjustments in light of local economic concerns and data, balanced with the costs for providing such ALS and BLS medical services needed to properly cover personnel and medical supply expenses. Additionally, the attached ordinance also provides an opportunity to discuss the concept of quarterly transferring $ 62,500 from the EMS/Fire Department Capital Fund#288 for a total of$250,000.00 annually. I recommend that the attached proposed ordinance be referred to the Personnel and Finance Committee and the Health and Public Safety Committee for a joint review, with 2nd & 3rd readings and public hearing to be set for November 12th. Any fee adjustments would not take place until January 1,2013. Thank you. Sincerely, Filed in Clerk's Office Dr. Fred Ferlic, Chairperson Health and Public Safety Committee OCT 16 2012 Attachments JOHN VOORDE CITY CLERK,SOUTH BEND,IN