(a) For the purpose of this section, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
(1) ADVANCED LIFE SUPPORT SERVICES. Any pre-hospital intervention by personnel certified at the level of EMT-Paramedic employed by the city or another political subdivision responding to a call for emergency medical service in the city. These interventions include, but are not limited to, cardiac monitoring and interpretation, external cardiac pacing, cardioversion, endotracheal intubation, intravenous cannulation, medication administration, needle decompression of the chest and intraosseous infusion.
(2) BASIC LIFE SUPPORT SERVICES. Any pre-hospital non-invasive intervention by personnel certified at the levels of EMT-Basic or EMT-paramedic employed by the city or another political subdivision responding to a call for emergency medical service in the city. These interventions include, but are not limited to, non-invasive methods of airway maintenance, oxygen administration, bleeding control, treatment of shock, splinting of fractures and patient assessment including taking and recording of patient vital signs.
(3) TRANSPORT. To carry or convey a person by publicly owned or operated motor vehicle being used in response to a call for emergency medical service from one location to another.
(b) Each person receiving emergency medical service from the city shall pay a utilization charge as follows.
(1) For basic life support services without transport, there shall be no fee.
(2) For basic life support services with transport, the fee shall be $550, plus $12 per mile.
(3) For advanced life support services without transport, there shall be no fee.
(4) For advanced life support services with transport, the fee shall be $750, plus $12 per mile.
(5) The Director of Finance shall waive the aforesaid fee or a portion thereof, where he or she finds and determines that the person receiving the services is indigent or otherwise unable to pay for such service, and there is no other source for the payment thereof. The Director of Finance and/or Fire Chief shall notify each party billed of the terms of this division (b) in conjunction with the billing for the fee.
(c) Insurance information shall be provided to EMS personnel at the time of service. EMS services provided by the city shall be reimbursed by insured users to the extent of coverage.
(d) The city shall waive all co-payments and/or deductibles otherwise owed by city residents who have medical insurance, Medicare or Medicare HMO coverage as a source of health insurance.
(e) The city may engage a private contractor to collect EMS fees. This contract shall be reviewed as necessary by the administration and Council to determine if services and costs are beneficial to the city.
(f) The charges herein shall be in addition to any other charges payable for such services, including, but not limited to, any tax levied, all or part of which pays any portion of the cost of emergency medical services, and/or any charges for services rendered by others.
(g) The revenues generated by the charges for emergency medical services herein may be deposited into one or more funds established by the Council for the purposes of the acquisition of emergency medical services vehicle(s) and equipment, including the payment of the costs of financing thereof, EMS supplies, fees and wages (including overtime) for paramedic service and any costs incurred in the collection of such fees.
(Ord. 2005-50, passed 6-7-2005; Ord. 2009-31, passed 2-2-2009; Ord. 2016-15, passed 2-1-2016)