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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAmending Chapter 9 to Address Ambulance/Medical Service FeesORDINANCE No. 10368 -15 Passed by the Common Council of the City of South Bend, Indiana July 13, Attest :� JOHN V Attest: 2015 Presented by me to the Mayor of the City of South Bend, Indiana July 14, 2015 City Clerk President of Common Council JOHN VOORDE Approved and signed by me TV 1 1 Y 20 I's- City Clerk ORDINANCE NO. 10 3 63i 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. South Bend's current ambulance and medical user fees took effect on August 1, 2014 (Ordinance No. 10321 -14). 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 June 1, 2015. 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 2015 Medicare Fee Schedule. To fully recover the costs and expenses of the Fire Department paramedic branch in providing ambulance and emergency medical services, a modest adjustment is required of the current rates. Specifically, a new rate is appropriate for Specialized Care Transports applied to transports made by Memorial Hospital's neo -natal transport units. 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, 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 Pngie (EMT- Basie)'. (e) Advanced Life Support, Level 1 (ALS1): 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. ' 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) $315.84 $420.07 $320.34 $ 426.05 (2) Basic Life Support—(BLS Emergency)r� 505 34 67 , n 512.55 681.69 (3) Advanced Life Support –(ALS Non Emergency) 379.01 504.08 384.41 511.26 (4) Advanced Life Support-- Emergency (ALS -1 Emergency) X09.. 798. 2 608.66 809.51 (5) Advanced Life Support – (ALS -2 Emergency 868.55 , , « , 880.94 1,171.64 (6) Mileage, Basic (Within City Limits) (per patient miles, minimum one (1) mile) 12.66 12.66 12.66 12.66 (7) Mileage, Rural (per patient miles, minimum one (1) mile) 19.16 19.16 19.16 19.16 (8) Non - Transport Medical Calls 150.00 200.00 150.00 1 200.00 (9) Specialized Care (AO 434) 1,041.11 1,3 4.67 (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 Pngie (EMT- Basie)'. (e) Advanced Life Support, Level 1 (ALS1): 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. ' 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 ". (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 pus /bolus or by continuous infusion excluding crystalloid, hypotonic, 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) Intraosseousline (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 3anuar; 1,,14WAu¢ust 1, 2015. 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. Member o ommon Council Attest: City Clerk Presented by me to the Mayor of the City of South Bend, Indiana on the f A41, day of 2015, at lOY- o'clock—C�_.m. City Cle k Approved and signed by me on the at o'clock, m. 7 !ff READING PUBLIC HEARING7_t3'l,- 3,d READING )-13 -I NOT APPROVED REFERRED PASSED 3-0 -I J f 1� day of u 2 o I S, Mayor, City o o th end, Indiana Filed In Clark's JUN 16 2G1� JOAN VOOR02 CITY CLERK, SOUTH BEND, IN TO THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND: Your Committee of the Whole, to whom was referred: BILL NO. 33 -15 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. This bill was heard by the Health & Public Safety Committee. Karen L. White Chairperson, Committee of the Whole x222 S. MICHIGAN STREET SOUTH BEND, INDIANA 466oi -282x CITY OF SOUTH BEND PETE BUTTIGIEG, MAYOR SOUTH BEND FIRE DEPARTMENT STEPHEN I'. Cox FIRE CHIEF PHONE 574/ 235-9255 Fax 574/ 235-9305 Filed in Clerk's Office JUN 16 2015 JOHNVOORDE CITY CLERK, SOUTH BEND, IN Common Council President Tim Scott June 16, 2015 County-City Building South Bend, IN 46601 President Scott, I am respectfully requesting the South Bend Common Council consider my recommendation to increase the Ambulance User Fees charged by the South Bend Fire Department. As stated in City Ordinance No. 10321 -14, I have provided the required Annual Review of User Fees with the recommendation for an increase that reflects the increase in reimbursement amounts allowed by Medicare. These amounts are current to this year. As I have stated in the past, Medicare typically adjusts this reimbursement allowance at least annually, which usually includes an increase in the rate of reimbursement. If adjustments are not made to our user fees, we are unable to take advantage of Medicare's reimbursemincreases. I appreciate your consideration on this matter. I look forward to presenting the ordinance to Council at your Committee and regular meetings. Sincerely, 4 � Step n F. Cox Fire Chief JAMES LOPEZ TODD L. SKWARCAN ANDREW J. MYER JOHN CORTHIRR FEDERICO RODRIGUEZ, JR ASST. CHIEF OPERATIONS AssT. CHIEF SERVICES ASST. CHIEF EMS ASST. CHIEF TRAINING FIRE MARSHAL.