HomeMy WebLinkAbout49-26 Amending Section 9-16 of the South Bend Municipal Code to Establish Rates for Mobile Integrated Health Care Visits1222 S. MICHIGAN STREET
SOui'H BEND, INDIANA 46601-2821
July 2026
PHONE 574 / 235-9255
FAX 574 / 235-9305
CITY OF SOUTH BEND JAMES MUELLER, MAYOR
SOUTH BEND FIRE DEPARTMENT
CARL R BUCHANON
FIRE CHIEF
Honorable Members of the South Bend Common Council
227 W. Jefferson Boulevard
South Bend, IN 46601
Re: Mobile Integrated Healthcare Billing Ordinance
Dear Council Members:
Filed in Clerk's Office
Jul 21, 2026
Bianca Tirado
City Clerk, South Bend, IN
Attached for your consideration is an ordinance amending Section 9-16 of the South Bend
Municipal Code to establish billing rates for Mobile Integrated Healthcare (MIN) services provided
by the South Bend Fire Department. In November 2021 the Department received State approval
to operate an MIH program, and recent changes to Indiana law authorize reimbursement for eligible
Mobile Integrated Healthcare services provided by approved EMS agencies.
The proposed ordinance establishes a fee schedule that will allow the City to bill and seek
reimbursement for these services while expanding the Department's ability to provide preventative,
post -discharge, behavioral health, and other non -emergency healthcare interventions that improve
patient outcomes and reduce unnecessary emergency department utilization.
This ordinance does not create a new program; rather, it provides the billing framework necessary to
support and sustain services already authorized under Indiana law and approved through the
State's Mobile Integrated Healthcare program. We respectfully request the Council's support.
Please contact me if you have any questions or would like additional information.
Sincfirely,
Todd Skwarcan
Assistant Chief
South Bend Fire Department
MICHAEL J. DAMIANO DEREK J. ERQUHART TODD L. SKWARCAN ANDREW J. MYER BRANDON S. ROARK
ASST. CHIEF OPERATIONS ASST. CHIEF FIRE PREVENTION ASST. CHIEF SERVICES Assn. CHIEF EMS Assr. CHIEF TRAINING
BILL NO. 49-26
ORDINANCE NO.
Filed in Clerk's Office
Jul 21, 2026
Bianca Tirado
City Clerk, South Bend, IN
AN ORDINANCE OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND,
INDIANA AMENDING SECTION 9-16 OF THE SOUTH BEND MUNICIPAL CODE TO
ESTABLISH RATES FOR MOBILE INTEGRATED HEALTH CARE VISITS
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE AND INTENT
The Indiana General Assembly established processes pursuant to Indiana Code 16-31-12
et seq. under which Emergency Medical Services ("EMS") providers can seek approval for
mobile integrated health programs. The City of South Bend Fire Department obtained approval
for its mobile integrated health program on November 16, 2021.
Recent changes to Indiana law, specifically amendments to Indiana Code 27-8-6-8,
require that a policy of accident and sickness insurance that provides coverage for emergency
medical services must provide reimbursement for emergency medical services that are performed
or provided as part of a mobile integrated healthcare program, regardless of whether the patient
is transported. Indiana Code § 16-18-2-110 defines "emergency medical services" broadly to
include care provided by certified EMS personnel within their scope of practice, which
encompasses MIH activities when performed under an approved MIH program.
In order to provide for billing and subsequent reimbursement for these services, the South
Bend Fire Department seeks to amend the South Bend Municipal Code to include billing rates
for mobile integrated healthcare services.
These amendments are in the best interest of the City and residents of the City of South
Bend.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION I. Section 9-16 of the South Bend Municipal Code shall be amended as follows:
(b) The following fee schedule establishes the charges for all mobile integrated health
services provided and billed by the City through its paramedic branch of the Fire Department:
Type of Service Provided
Resident
Non -Resident
(1)
Home Visit New Patient — 30 minutes
$150
$250
(2)
Home Visit New Patient — 60 minutes
250
350
(3)
Home Visit Established Patient — 20
minutes
100
150
(4)
Home Visit Established Patient — 40
minutes
200
300
(5)
Home Visit Established Patient — 60
minutes
250
350
(6)
Telehealth Medical Consult
25
75
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)
(h)
(i)
(1)
(k) The above fees shall take effect on September 1, 2019. The fees set forth in subsection
(b) shall take effect upon passage.
(1) Hereafter, and in the event Medicare or other federal or State health care regulations
require or allow an adjustment to ambulance/ medical user fees, the South Bend Fire Chief is
authorized to and may amend once annually the user fees set out in subpart (a) and (b) of this
Section by the same percentage as the Medicare Fee Schedule rates for such services have been
adjusted. This adjustment shall be effective on the calendar date immediately following the date
on which written notice of said fee rate adjustment is filed in the office of the City Clerk. At the
time such notice is filed, a copy of the new rates shall be made available in paper form for public
viewing in the South Bend Central Fire Station, and such new rates shall also be published
promptly on the City's web site.
SECTION II. This ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage by the
Common Council and approval by the Mayor.
Duly passed and adopted on this day of , 2026 by the Common
Council of the City of South Bend, Indiana.
Canneth J. Lee, Council President
South Bend Common Council
Attest:
Bianca L. Tirado, City Clerk
Office of the City Clerk
Presented by me, the undersigned Clerk of the City of South Bend, to the Mayor of the
City of South Bend, Indiana on the day of , 2026, at o'clock .m.
.m.
Bianca L. Tirado, City Clerk
Office of the City Clerk
Approved and signed by me on the day of , 2026, at o'clock
James Mueller, Mayor
City of South Bend, Indiana
BILL NUMBER [BLANK]
ORDINANCE NUMBER [BLANK]
AN ORDINANCE OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND,
INDIANA AMENDING SECTION 9-16 OF THE SOUTH BEND MUNICIPAL CODE TO
ESTABLISH RATES FOR MOBILE INTEGRATED HEALTH CARE VISITS
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE AND INTENT
The Indiana General Assembly established processes pursuant to Indiana Code 16-31-12
et seq. under which Emergency Medical Services ("EMS") providers can seek approval for
mobile integrated health programs. The City of South Bend Fire Department obtained approval
for its mobile integrated health program on November 16, 2021.
Recent changes to Indiana law, specifically amendments to Indiana Code 27-8-6-8,
require that a policy of accident and sickness insurance that provides coverage for emergency
medical services must provide reimbursement for emergency medical services that are performed
or provided as part of a mobile integrated healthcare program, regardless of whether the patient
is transported. Indiana Code § 16-18-2-110 defines "emergency medical services" broadly to
include care provided by certified EMS personnel within their scope of practice, which
encompasses MIH activities when performed under an approved MIH program.
In order to provide for billing and subsequent reimbursement for these services, the South
Bend Fire Department seeks to amend the South Bend Municipal Code to include billing rates
for mobile integrated healthcare services.
These amendments are in the best interest of the City and residents of the City of South
Bend.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION I. Section 9-16 of the South Bend Municipal Code shall be amended as follows:
(b) The following fee schedule establishes the charges for all mobile integrated health
services provided and billed by the City through its paramedic branch of the Fire Department:
Type of Service Provided
Resident
Non -Resident
(1)
Home Visit New Patient — 30 minutes
$150
$250
(2)
Home Visit New Patient — 60 minutes
250
350
(3)
Home Visit Established Patient — 20
minutes
100
150
(4)
Home Visit Established Patient — 40
minutes
200
300
(5)
Home Visit Established Patient — 60
minutes
250
350
(6)
Telehealth Medical Consult
25
75
(cb)
(de)
(ed)
(fe)
(fg)
(hg)
(ih)
(kt) The above fees shall take effect on September 1, 2019. The fees set forth in subsection
Lb) shall take effect upon passage.
(kl) Hereafter, and in the event Medicare or other federal or State health care regulations
require or allow an adjustment to ambulance/ medical user fees, the South Bend Fire Chief is
authorized to and may amend once annually the user fees set out in subpart (a) and (b) of this
Section by the same percentage as the Medicare Fee Schedule rates for such services have been
adjusted. This adjustment shall be effective on the calendar date immediately following the date
on which written notice of said fee rate adjustment is filed in the office of the City Clerk. At the
time such notice is filed, a copy of the new rates shall be made available in paper form for public
viewing in the South Bend Central Fire Station, and such new rates shall also be published
promptly on the City's web site.
SECTION II. This ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage by the
Common Council and approval by the Mayor.
Duly passed and adopted on this [blank] day of [blank] , 2026 by
the Common Council of the City of South Bend, Indiana.
Canneth Lee, Council President
South Bend Common Council
Attest:
Bianca L. Tirado, City Clerk
Office of the City Clerk
Presented by me, the undersigned Clerk of the City of South Bend, to the Mayor of the City of
South Bend, Indiana on the [blank] day of [blank] , 2026, at
[blank] o'clock [blank] . m.
Bianca L. Tirado, City Clerk
Office of the City Clerk
Approved and signed by me on the [blank] day of [blank] , 2026,
at [blank] o'clock [blank] .m.
James Mueller, Mayor
City of South Bend, Indiana