(A) Any person held in custody, detained, transported to, confined or incarcerated in the City Jail, including but not limited to individuals who are:
(1) Under arrest;
(2) Incarcerated pre-trial;
(3) Imprisoned following conviction or revocation;
(4) Escaped from confinement and re-captured in the city;
(5) On hold for immigration or other federal authority;
(6) Held on medical health detention purposes;
(7) Held in Hammond awaiting extradition to another jurisdiction or probable cause hold in the City Jail;
shall be responsible financially for the payment of any medical services rendered to that individual, including ambulance or other medical transportation costs, during the course of his or her confinement in the City Jail.
(B) These costs include any treatment deemed necessary by his or her treating physician, jail hospital staff or EMTs, whether or not requested by the person confined.
(1) Such persons shall be required to reimburse the city for any fees or charges incurred by the city for such services, or for any services charged by the medical facilities or practitioners to the city.
(2) The city is authorized to bill insurance carriers, Medicaid and Medicare in order to obtain reimbursement of any and all medical costs expended by the city.
(3) The city may pursue collection actions, where warranted, to recover such costs.
(C) The city intends to create an enforceable ordinance, compliant with all federal, state and local laws, in the event that this section, or any part of it, or any provision, discount, amendment or any classification contained therein, is found to be unconstitutional, the remaining portion will remain in effect and will be found to be valid.
(Ord. 9159, passed 5-30-2012)