ITEM TITLE:
#26-50 - Establishing Uniform Ambulance Transport Fees, Repealing Resolution 23-02 Formerly Establishing Ambulance Fees, and Authorizing Development of a Resident Co-Pay Waiver Policy
SUBMITTED BY: Tracy Raynor, Fire Chief
FISCAL NOTES:
Expenditure Required: n/a
Unencumbered Balance: n/a
Funding Source: n/a
RECOMMENDATION:
Approve Resolution 26-50.
SUMMARY STATEMENT:
The City currently maintains separate resident and non-resident ambulance transport fees. A review of the City’s ambulance billing and collection data indicates that the existing resident fees are substantially below current reimbursement benchmarks, while the non-resident fees are also below comparable market rates. As a result, the City may not be receiving the full reimbursement available from insurance companies and other third-party payers.
Staff recommends replacing the resident and non-resident fee structure with one uniform fee schedule. Under the proposed schedule, all patients would be charged $800 for a BLS transport or $1,175 for an ALS transport, regardless of residency. These rates would better position the City to receive the maximum allowable reimbursement from commercial insurers and other payers whose payments may be influenced by the amount billed. To maintain financial benefit for residents, staff also recommends adopting a Resident Co-Pay Waiver Policy.
The resolution and a full explanation of proposed changes is attached.