(A) For the purpose of this section, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
“AMBULANCE.” a motor vehicle operated by the Kokomo Fire Department equipped with facilities to convey infirm or injured persons in a reclining position.
“AMBULANCE PATIENT.” Any ill, infirm or injured person receiving emergency medical services from Kokomo Fire Department personnel holding emergency medical technician or paramedic certification from the State of Indiana and assigned to an ambulance operated by the Kokomo Fire Department.
“BASIC LIFE SUPPORT (BLS).” The emergency medical services rendered to an ambulance patient by an emergency medical technician or paramedic employed by the Kokomo Fire Department.
“EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN.” An individual employed by the Kokomo Fire Department and certified by the State of Indiana to provide emergency medical care at the scene of an accident, illness, or during transport in an ambulance.
“MILEAGE CHARGE.” The fee assessed for each mile or portion of a mile of transport.
“NON-RESIDENT.” An ambulance patient whose domicile is not within the municipal limits of the city.
“NON-TRANSPORT.” Those instances where an ambulance is dispatched to a location but the patient is not transported in the ambulance to or from a hospital, physician's office, nursing home, or other health care facility.
“PARAMEDIC.” An individual employed by the Kokomo Fire Department, and certified by the State of Indiana to perform advanced life support procedures as defined by applicable state protocols.
“RESIDENT.” An ambulance patient whose domicile is within the municipal limits of the city.
“TRANSPORT.” Those instances where an ambulance is dispatched to a location and the patient is transported in the ambulance to or from a hospital, physician's office, nursing home, or other health care facility.
(B) Responsible party. The ambulance patient, or the ambulance patient's legal representative or guardian in the case of a minor or adult under guardianship, shall be responsible for the payment of fees assessed under this section.
(C) Establishment of fee schedule. Charges shall be assessed and collected pursuant to the medicare ambulance fee schedule, as modified and amended, from each responsible party receiving basic life support services from the city ambulance service.
(D) Billing procedures. Responsible parties, including the legal representative of deceased responsible parties, will be billed within 30 days of the rendering of services. Charges will be due and payable 60 days after the date services are rendered. Unpaid charges are subject to collection action by the city.
(E) Annual review. Charges imposed by this section will be reviewed no less than annually by the Common Council and adjustments made as necessary to assure that charges remain reasonable in relation to the cost of providing the services set out herein. It shall be the obligation of the Kokomo Fire Department to provide the Common Council with data sufficient to support the amount of the charges.
(F) Disposition of funds. All funds collected pursuant to this section shall be deposited in the General Fund of the city.
(Ord. 6347, passed 10-11-04; Am. Ord. 6511, passed 11-19-07)