HomeMy WebLinkAbout1994 Ordinance No. 058•
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ORDINANCE NO. _!i_f
SERIF.5 OF 1994
BY AUTHORITY
COUNCILBILLNO . 55
INTRODUCED BY COUNCIL
MEMBER WIGGINS
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 1, CHAPI'ER 6G, OF THE ENGLEWOOD
MUNICIPAL CODE 1985, BY THE ADDITION OF A NEW SECTION 10 RELATING TO
EMERGENCY MEDICAL TRANSPOR'l° Fl'.:ES.
WHEREAS, th, Fire division of the Englewood Safety Services Department is called
numerous times drning the year for emergency medical transport ; and
WHEREAS, the Englewood City Council desires t.o establish a charge for such service
where b-ans port is for residents and non-resi dents of the City of Englewood;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
ENGLEWOOD, COLORADO, THA'r·
~-'!'he Englewood City Cou·,cil hereby approves amending Title 1, Chapter 6G, of
the Englewood Mw,_icipal Code which shall read a s follows:
1-6-G-10: EMERGENCY MEDICAL TRANSPORT FEEB:
A . A FEE SHALL BE CHARGED FOR ANY PERSO N TRANSPORTED BY THE
ENGLEWOOD FIRE DIVISION. THE FEE ESTABLISHED SHALL BE THE
USUAL AND CUSTOMARY CHARGE FOR SUCH SEJWJCE IN THIS
COMMUNITY. THE CITY SHALL CONTRIBUTE A TWENTY PERCENT
(20%) SUBSIDY TO ENGLEWOOD RF:SIDENTS.
B . "TRANSPORT' SHALL MEAN THE ACTUAL PHYSICAL TRANSPORT
FROM ONE PLACE IN OR NEAR THE CITY TO ANOTHER PLACE BY THE
USE OF TRANSPORT EQUIPMENT OF THE ENGLEWOOD FIRE
DEPARTMENT.
C . THE CITY MANAGER SHALL CAUSE TO HAVE PROMULGATED IN
WRITfNG REASONABLE BILLING AND COLLECTION PROCEDURES.
D . AN AMBULANCE, BILLING REVIEW PANEL, CONSISTING OF MEMBERS
OF THE COMMUl.fITY AND CITY STAFF, SHALL BE ESTABLISHED BY
THE CITY MANAGER TO HEAR APPEALS AND PROTESTS , AND TO
MAKE ADJUSTMENTS TO TRANSPORT FEE BILLINGS WHEN DEEMED
REASONABLE AND APPROPRIATE. UNLESS OTHERWISE
DETER..'\IJNED , FAILURE TO PAY THE FEE ESTABLISHED SHALL
CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION.
E. THE EFFECTIVE DAT E FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS ORDINANCE
WILL BE JANUARY 1, 1995.
lnb-oduced , read in full , and passed on first reading on the 17th day of Oct.ober, 1994 .
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Publiahod u a Bill for an Ordinance on the 20th day or October, 1994 .
Read by title, amended and paued on final reading on the 7th day or November, 1994.
Published as amended as Ordinance No . 2{ Series or 1994, on the 10th day or
November, 1994.
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Loucrishia A. Ellis, City Cle rk
I , Loucris bia A Ellis, City Clerk or the City or Englewood, Colorado, hereby certify that
the above and foregoing is a true copy or the Ordi~_!}Ce amended and passed on fin al
reading an d published by title as Ordinance No.~ Series or 1994.
~~d.fa ·
Loucrishia A Elli s
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•--------,---C-OU_N_O_L_C_O_MM_U_N--:-ICA_TI_O_N ____ ,,
Date
October 17, 19 94
INITIATED BY
A1ffllla ltan
11 d
Department of Safety Servic~
S11t>]«t Emergency Medical
Servict> Transpo rt Fees
STAFF SOURCE Chris Olson , Deputy Director of Safety Services
COUNCIL GOAL NIA
ISSUE/ACTION PROPOSED
Staff seeks Council support for the attached bill for an 01 m;t!\ce amending the Englewood
Mun icipal Code by ad di ng a new section relating to Emerge1\ty Medical Transport Fees .
PREVIOUS COUNCIL ACTION
Approval of Ordinance No . 19, Series of 1989, implementing "" ambulance transportation fee for
non-res id ents only .
BACKGROUND
Since 1989, the City has been charging non-residents for ambulance transportation serv ices.
Re ve nue has averaged about forty percent of collections , or ab out $60,000 per year. Fees have
remained constant ever since the charge was implemented . In 1994, the Department expects to
transport approximately 1200 patients , 588 being non-residents . Thesf' numbers will be similar
in 1995 .
The Department proposes to utilize a new private bill ih g firm, plus the bill collection serv ices of
the State of Colorado , and is anticipating a significant increase in successful collections as
compared to the cu rrent expe rience .
The Department 's experience indicates that most reimbursement comes from insurance carriers,
with relatively little payment received directly from individuals . As many non-residents are
wi thout permanent addresses , collection rates for residents should be significantly higher .
STAR' ANALYSIS
Due lo the continued need for alternative revenues for City operations, the Department of Safety
:;ervas his determined that the ambulance transportation fee should be applicable to all
ndivlduals utilizing the service, including Englewood residents . In a majority of cases, the :ee for
this service will be covered under individual medical insurance policies, or under the provi sions
of Medicare or Medicaid .
In addition , staff recommends thal the fees for trar",portation services be raised to the
approximate level of the usual and customar7 fee ;, presently being charged in the area .
Staff al •o recommends that a review committee be established by the City Manager, consisting of
cumml.!1l ity members and city staff that can address appeals and complaints regarding
transportat ion charges .
ANANCIAL IMPACT
With the general increase in fees , plus the implementation of a transport charge on residents , it is
expected that approximately $513,000 will be billed, with over $227,000 collected at e
minimum .
The only in crease in expenses wHI be the billing service charge by the private vendor, wh ich will
be ten percent of collections .
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