147.10 PROVISION OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES; FEES AND CHARGES.
(a) Emergency medical services shall be provided by the Fire and Rescue Department on a fee basis in response to any call for such service. Every person using such services, or the guardian of such person, or any other person who is financially responsible for such person, shall be liable for the payment of fees and charges as established by this section.
(b) The Safety Director is hereby authorized to establish fees and charges for the delivery of various levels of emergency medical services by the Fire and Rescue Department and shall file such fees and charges with the Finance Director and the Clerk of Council annually on the first business day of the year.
(c) All billings for fees and charges established by this section shall be made by the Finance Director and all moneys collected shall be deposited into the General Fund of the City.
(d) The Mayor may enter into an agreement(s) on behalf of the City to engage the services of a billing and collection company which shall submit claims on behalf of the City to private insurers and/or the Federal Health Care Program of Medicare and Medicaid and shall issue bills to persons using emergency medical services for such amounts not covered by insurance only to the extent provided herein. Each person who uses emergency medical services provided by the City whether the person is transported or just treated on scene shall assign any insurance proceeds available to such person to the City. The City shall not issue bills to persons using emergency medical services who are residents of or income taxpayers employed in the City for any applicable co-payment or deductibles otherwise due to the City and shall treat income and/or property tax revenues received from such persons as satisfaction and payment of such co-payments or deductibles. The City is authorized to bill and collect from all other individuals such amounts as are not covered by insurance or Medicare or Medicaid.
(e) When emergency medical services are provided by City of Beachwood personnel to persons outside the City limits pursuant to a mutual aid agreement or understanding with another municipality, the City shall bill such person in accordance with the practices of the requesting municipality but based upon the fees and charges established by this section. When emergency medical services are provided within the City of Beachwood by personnel of another municipality pursuant to a mutual aid agreement or understanding, such person shall be billed in accordance with the provisions of this section.
(f) The Mayor, upon the recommendation of the Fire Chief and the City’s billing agent, is hereby authorized, on a case-by-case basis, where a catastropic situation, contested services or financial hardship is demonstrated to accept payment of fees and charges for the delivery of various emergency medical services by the Fire and Rescue Department in an amount less than the fee schedule. (Ord. 2019-59. Passed 5-6-19.)