(a) A fee shall be charged by the City for each person receiving Emergency Medical Service from the City as follows:
1. Basic Life Support (BLS) $850.00
2. Advanced Life Support Level 1 (ALS1) $1,000.00
3. Advanced Life Support Level 2 (ALS2) $1,100.00
4. Transport on Mileage (both BLS and ALS $ 17.00 per mile
5. On scene treatment without transport when
transport service is refused by patient $50.00
6. On site lift assist with or without BLS or ALS $50.00
7. Wait time for Non-Emergency Transport $ 60.00 per quarter hour
8. For DOA Service Runs $650.00
9. For Helicopter preparation Service Runs will be billed at
BLS, ALS1, or ALS2 service provided $
(b) The Safety Service Director is authorized to collect the charges for emergency medical services by the City and to enter into, subject to approval of Council, contracts with a third party billing company for the collection of the fees.
(c) Emergency Medical Service personnel shall inquire whether a person receiving emergency medical services is covered by any private or public health insurance plan, and, if the person is covered, shall make further reasonable inquiry to obtain the minimum data required to maintain accurate records and to provide the third party billing company with the information necessary to submit bills to the insurance carrier or public health care program (e.g. Medicare or Medicaid) or to the patient's financially responsible party when required by law. The City and/or its third party billing company shall submit bills for the emergency medical services provided to people to their private insurance providers and/or Federal Health Care Programs such as Medicare and Medicaid for services provided. The City will not balance bill when prohibited by law.
(d) Each person, whether a resident or a non-resident, calling for and/or who receives emergency medical services from the City (a "Patient") will be billed the rates established in this Section for the emergency medical services provided (i.e. BLS, ALS1, ALS2, etc.). The rates and all additional charges established herein are to apply to each patient regardless of whether the ambulance carries or provides services to more than one patient at the same time.
(e) The Safety Service Director may establish by rule an indigent waiver determination policy based on the Department of Health and Human Services poverty guidelines to use in considering waiving the out-of-pocket financial obligations of patients demonstrating a bona fide inability to pay. In such instances the individual requesting the waiver shall have the burden of providing any documentation required, including but not limited to verification of income.
(f) The Safety Service Director, or the authorized third party billing contractor, shall make reasonable efforts to collect amounts due from all Patients of the City for the costs of services provided.
(g) All fees and charges collected by the City for providing emergency medical services shall be deposited to the Fire Levy Fund and such funds shall be used solely for the purpose of maintenance, operation and replacement of the ambulances and ambulance equipment, and for personnel to operate and maintain the ambulances.
(h) Billing for emergency medical services rendered to another political subdivision shall be as mutually agreed in writing between the City and the other political subdivision, and collected pursuant to the procedures set forth in subsections (a) through (g) hereof, as applicable.
(Ord. 22-051. Passed 9-14-22.)