The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutAmending Chapter 9 to Adress Ambulance/Medical Service FeesORDINANCE No. 10321 -14 Passed by the Common Council of the City of South Bend, Indiana August 25, 20 14 Attest: Attest: City Clerk President of Common Council Presented by me to the Mayor of?h'e City of South Bend, Indiana August 26, 20 14 Approved and signed by me S L P7 to B 19 L 20 14 City Clerk pt FN ry Mayor Second Substitute Bill No. 41 -14 ORDINANCE NO, 1,031 -1-( AN ORDINANCE OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, AMENDING SECTIONS 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. The current rate ordinance went into effect on January 1, 2013 (Ordinance #10204 -12). The South Bend Fire Administration has regularly reported to the Common Council its ambulance service activity pursuant to Chapter 9, Article 3, Section 9 -18 of the South Bend Municipal Code, and has provided its recommendation regarding adjustment of user fees. Based on its 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 current Medicare Fee Schedule. In order for the Fire Department paramedic branch to fully recover the costs and expenses of providing ambulance and emergency medical services, an adjustment of the current rates is required. It is further recommended that the report to the Common Council required by Municipal Code Chapter 9, Article 3, Section 9-18, take place by June 1 of each calendar for the entire preceding fiscal year. These changes are reasonable, appropriate, 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: Section I. Chapter 9, Article 3, Section 9 -16 of the South Bend Municipal Code shall be amended to read in its entirety as follows: Sec. 9 -16. Ambulance /medical user fee -- Established. (a) The following user fee schedule shall be charged for all ambulance /medical services provided by the City through its paramedic branch of the Fire Department: (b)'The above fees shall be charged per patient run occurrence; however, when ambulance /medical services are provided for a patient using a private ambulance, the mileage fee shall not be charged; and further provided that when more than two (2) members of an immediate family residing at the same address are transported per incident, the basic fee, mileage fee, and emergency fee shall only be billed for two (2) persons. (c) Non - resident: Is defined as a person whose primary residence at the time of the service is outside the corporate boundaries of the City of South Bend, Indiana. (d) Basic Life Support (BLS): Means transportation by ground ambulance vehicle and medically necessary supplies and services, plus the provision of BLS ambulance services. The ambulance must be staffed by an individual who is qualified in accordance with State and local laws as an Emergency Medical Technician -Basic (EMT - Basic). (e) Advanced Life Support, Level 1 (ALSI): Means transportation by ground ambulance vehicles, medically necessary supplies and services and either an ALS assessment by ALS personnel or the provision of at least one ALS intervention. (f) Advance Life Support, Level 2 (ALS2): Means either transportation by ground ambulance vehicle, medically necessary supplies and services, and the administration of at least three (3) medications by intravenous pusibolus or by continuous infusion excluding crystalloid, hypotonic, ' ALS 1, ALS2 and BLS definitions track the language codified in Title 42 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Chapter IV, §414.605 entitled "Fee Schedule for Ambulance Services ". Resident Non- Resident Resident Non - Resident (1) Basic Life Support (BLS Nonemergency) $310.46 Q ^7 $315.84 $420.07 (2) Basic Life Support— (BLS Emergency)T 496 '73 2 66 67 ��° — 505.34 672.10 (3) Advanced Life Support -(ALS Non Emergency) 372.54 0 379.01 504.08 (4) Advanced Life Support-- Emergency (ALS -1 Emergency) 589.86 786.92 �� 600.09 798.12 (5) Advanced Life Support - (ALS -2 Emergency 853.74 A "" a4 o O 868.55 1,155.16 -4-,4 ° ° � (6) Mileage, Basic (Within City Limits) (per patient miles, minimum one (1) mile) 'r^.55 io.55 12.66 12.66 (7) Mileage, Rural (per patient miles, minimum one (1) mile) , o� r 19.16 19.16. (8) Non - Transport Medical Calls ' '"�0— kDO0,00 k250.00 (b)'The above fees shall be charged per patient run occurrence; however, when ambulance /medical services are provided for a patient using a private ambulance, the mileage fee shall not be charged; and further provided that when more than two (2) members of an immediate family residing at the same address are transported per incident, the basic fee, mileage fee, and emergency fee shall only be billed for two (2) persons. (c) Non - resident: Is defined as a person whose primary residence at the time of the service is outside the corporate boundaries of the City of South Bend, Indiana. (d) Basic Life Support (BLS): Means transportation by ground ambulance vehicle and medically necessary supplies and services, plus the provision of BLS ambulance services. The ambulance must be staffed by an individual who is qualified in accordance with State and local laws as an Emergency Medical Technician -Basic (EMT - Basic). (e) Advanced Life Support, Level 1 (ALSI): Means transportation by ground ambulance vehicles, medically necessary supplies and services and either an ALS assessment by ALS personnel or the provision of at least one ALS intervention. (f) Advance Life Support, Level 2 (ALS2): Means either transportation by ground ambulance vehicle, medically necessary supplies and services, and the administration of at least three (3) medications by intravenous pusibolus or by continuous infusion excluding crystalloid, hypotonic, ' ALS 1, ALS2 and BLS definitions track the language codified in Title 42 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Chapter IV, §414.605 entitled "Fee Schedule for Ambulance Services ". isotonic, and hypertonic solutions (Dextrose, Normal Saline, Ringer's Lactate); or transportation, medically necessary supplies and services, and the provision of at least one (1) of the following: (1) Manual defibrillation /cardioversion (2) Endotrachealintubation (3) Central venous line (4) Cardiac pacing (5) Chest decompression (6) Surgical airway (7) Intraosseous line (g) Non - Transport Medical Calls: Means a response to a medical emergency call by ambulance vehicle and the administration of ALS skills upon or medication given to a patient who then refuses transport to the hospital. (h) Mileage, Rural, shall apply to vehicle runs made to areas in zones or zip codes designated as rural by Medicare and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in its Medicare regulations. (i) The above fees shall take effect on januavy 1,-2009-Septemberl , 2014. Section II. Chapter 9, Article 3, Section 9 -18 of the South Bend Municipal Code is amended to read in its entirety as follows: Sec. 9 -18. A-rmu I Review of User Fees by Common Council Following September-1 Annual Report From the South Bend Fire Department. (a) The South Bend Fire Department shall prepare a report and file the same with the Office of the City Clerk on or before September-Lune I" of each year. Said report shall summarize ambulance /medical service runs u e'�gus 1 S'a of that year for the entire preceding fiscal year by identifying the number and type of each run; amount billed; amount collected; amount in collection; number of lawsuits filed; and recommendations with regard to fee amounts. Any fee recommended fee adjustments shall include reasons for the requested adjustments. (b) The Common Council shall review the report filed annually by the South Bend Fire Department. The Council's Personnel and Finance Committee and /or the Council's Health and Public Safety Committee shall make a formal recommendation to the Common Council following a public hearing. Data contained in the annual report and testimony provided at the committee's hearing shall be used in determining fair and equitable user fees. Section III. This ordinance shall be in full force the Common Council and approval by the Mayor. Attest, -4-- CA.4 City Clerk after its passage by Council Presented by me to the Mayor of the City of South Bend, Indiana on the z S` day of t3 )�, 2014, at I '43 o'clock-p - m. An k AAA City rk , /) � CtJ Xia� Approved and signed by me on the Z�— day of A::!� - 2 D c L, at r.'( ( o'clock, _.m. I st RRADING � -t $- I Y PUBLIC HEARING 9,-1- S --( Y 3rd READING NOT APPROVED REFERRED PAssED a' a ct L'�S ^ �C �1 a 1 1,('3 i, 4t� Mayor, City of South Bend, Indiana Filed In Clp,,11 i, 'office AUG 25 2014 JOHN Yo--oF CITY CLERK, SOL', H BEND, IN TO THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND: Your Committee of the Whole, to whom was referred: BILL NO. 41 -14 A BILL OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, AMENDING SECTIONS OF CHAPTER 9, ARTICLE 3, OF THE SOUTH BEND MUNICIPAL CODE TO ADDRESS AMBULANCE /MEDICAL SERVICE FEES Respectfully report that they have examined the matter and that in their opinion, this bill is being recommended to the full Council with a favorable recommendation as substituted. This bill was heard by the PARCS Committee. Valerie Schey Chairperson, Committee of the Whole