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Home My WebLink AboutAgenda Report - June 20, 1991 (79). OF CITE' OF LO®I COUNCIL COMMUNICATION o AGENDA TITLE: Ambulance Rate Schedule Adjustments Nei DATE: June 20, 1991 PREPARED BY: City Manager RECOMMENDED ACTION* That the City Council review the requested amended rate schedule for ambulance service i n the City of Lodi and take action as deemed appropriate. BACKGROUND NiTA AM The City Code provides that the City Council "reserves the right to finally determine and fix by resolution, the rates to be charged by the operator of the ambulance service." 114 Michael N. Nilssen, owner -operator of Lodi Ambulance Service, has, in accordance with the provisions of the City Code, filed with the City a request to amend the ambulance rates charged in the City of Lodi. A copy of the requested mw rate schedule is attached (Exhibit A). Also attached (Exhibit B) is a copy of an order of the County Board of Supervisors and an accompanying Board resolution establishing the County ceiling for ambulance rates. The request of Lodi Ambulance Service is in accordance with the mw ceiling. The rate for Basic Life Support (non -emergency calls such as transferring a patient from one hospital to another) would increase by approximately 12%. The Basic Life Support rate for emergency calls would increase by approximately 35%. The current Basic Life Support rate includes the emergency rate, and according to data gathered by the County of San Joaquin's Emergency Medical Services Agency, this was not sufficient to cover costs. The Advance Life Support rate would also be increased by approximately 12%. This charge is made when medical treatment is required during the transportation to the hospital of a seriously ill or injured person. The other rates would be increased as follows: Might Call, 10%; Oxygen, 12%; and Mileage, 11%. The my rates would be effective the day following City Council action. A copy of the appropriate City of Lodi resolution is also attached (Exhibit Q. The rate ceilings established by the Board of Supervisors are based on a number of factors. These include data gathered in a State-wide survey of fees in other areas; an analysis of Medicare reimbursement rates; the ambulance company's financial statements; and an internal audit of each company's operating procedures, pay scales, equipment, and other factors. APPROVED: THOMAS A. PETERSON Ambulance Rate Schedule Adjustments June 20, 1991 All of the other ambulance companies in the County have filed requests with the Board of Supervisors to implement the same my rate schedule at the ceiling established by the Board. The City of Lodi i s the only City i n the County which requires City Council review and approval of ambulance rate schedules. The ambulance conpany has requested that the City of Lodi consider transferring this authority to the County and this matter will be the subject of a "Shirtsleeve" meeting this fall. Staff has no problem with this request. Mr. Nilssen will be in attendance at the City Council meeting to present this request and to answer any questions Councilmembers may have. FUNDING: None required Respectfully submitted, A Thomas A. Peterson City Manager TAP: b r Attachments CCCOM220/TXTA,0IA LIFE MEDICAL INDUSTRIES, INC. PROPOSED RATES (to b implemented 06 -21 -91) ---------------------------- ALS Base Rate $470.00 BLS Base Rate $265.00 Emergency $ 55.00 Night $ 55.00 Oxygen $ 37.00 Mileage $ 10.00 CCCOM220/TXTA.07A EXISTING RATES (06-01-90) -------------- $420.00 $236.00 $ 50.00 $ 33.00 $ 9.00 EMS May 30, 1991 P-aTq' 1B San Joaquin Emergency Medical Services Agency A Division of Health Care Services Thomas A. Peterson, City Manager City of Lodi Call Box 3006 Lodi, California 95241-1910 Dear Mr. Peterson: The San Joaquin EMS Agency conducted its annual review of ambulance rates, This analysis and staff's recommendations were presented to the Board of Supervisors on May 21, 1991. The Board of Supervisors adopted a revised schedule for ambulance rates. A copy of the Board order and new rate schedule is enclosed for your information. The charges listed represent the maximum ambulance rates that can be levied by the ambulance provider, unless an exemption is approved by the City and by the County. Individual increases for all. charges are approximately 12%. The Ambulance Ordinance requires ambulance providers to post changes in their rates at least thirty (30) days prior to implementation, and receive the approval of the EMS Agency. During 1990, staff initiated a study to evaluate the advisability of changing the ambulance rate structure to a single charge system. This analysis will continue during the 1991-92 fiscal year. Sincerely, Gam. Elaine L. Hatch EMS Coordinator /dl cc: Michael N. Smith, Director, Health Care Services D. DeSelms, Ambulance Ordinance Officer Michael Nilssen, Life Medical Industries Enclosure P.O. Box 1020• Stockton, California 95201 • 2094686818 Before the Board of Supers cors, County Of San Joaquin, State cf California MOTION: pMT I SIMAS ADJUSTMENT TO COUNTY AMBULANCE RATES PURSUANT TO AMBULANCE ORDINANCE 13245 IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the Board of Supervisors adopt the attached resolution revising the maximum ambulance rates for the County of San Joaquin for emergency medical services, effective W 21, 1991; and, IT 1S FURTHER ORDERED that the Board of Supervisors direct the-. Director of Health Care Services to continue the evluation of changing the ambulance rate structure to a single emergency charge system. I HEREBY CERTIFY that the above order was passed and adopted on MAY 21 1991 by :he following vote of the Board of Supervisors. to ad:: AYES: Yit14.1it- t7, COSTA, SUi1SA. SIMAS,QARBEf3 NOES: NONE ABSENT: NONE ABSTAIN: NONE Copies to: n JORETTA J. HAYDE Clerk of the board of Super.isors County or San Joaquin Stare or California COB 12 By .IORETTA !. NAYDE eputy clerk. THE BOARD OF SUPrRVISORS OF THE COUNTY OF jaN JOAQUIN STATE OF CALIFORNIA R-91-,39 t RESOLUTION SETTING AMBULANCE RATES 010 Effective May 21, 1991 BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Supervisors hereby sets the emergency ambulance rates under the Ordinance Code of San Joaquin County, Section 4-7909 as follows: I. POLICIES A. Ambulance providers may charge rates equal to or below the rates listed in Section II & 111 below. B. The rate structure applies to county areas and to incorporated areas where the City Council has adopted the ordinance. C. Changes in rates must be posted with the EMS Agency at least thirty (30) days prior to its implementation. D. The base rate charged to patients will be consistent with the patient's treatment and in accordance with San Joaquin County's policies and procedures (e.g. patients receiving BLS care are charged the BLS base rate. Patients receiving ALS care are charged the ALS base rate). 11. MAXIMUM RATES FOR BASIC LIFE SUPPORT (BLS) SERVICES Base Rate $265.00 Emergency $ 5 5.0 0 Night. $ 5 5.0 0 Oxygen $ 37.00 Mileage $ 10.00 Ill. MAXIMUM RATES FCR ADVANCED LIFE SUPPORT (ALS) SERVICES Base Rate* $470.00 *includes emergency Night C a 11 $ 55 . Q''! Oxygen $ 37.00 Mileage $ 10.00 i `r IV- CHARGES ABOVE MAXIMUM RATES An ambulance provider may charge above the rates listed in Sections 11 and III above after meeting the following conditions: A. The ambulance provider must present justification for its higher charges to the City Council within its service zone. B. Upon the City Council approval and the Board of Supervisors' concurrence with the higher charges, the ambulance providers may set higher fees for its service areas. - PASSED AND ADOPTED this 21st of May 1991 by the following vote of the Board of Supervisors to wit: AYES = WILHOIT, COSTA, SOL ISA, SWAS, BAFcril NOES: NONE ABSENT: NONE .ATTEST: JORETTA J. HAYDS Clerk of the Board of Supervisors of the County of San Joaquin, State of California BY MARY ANINE CW1 Deputy clerk `►, ,,,,= j G€OQRGE 1 BARDER GEORGE BARBER, CIiAIPIMAN aoard of Supervisors County of San Joaquin State of California DIST: COB-Orig.; CAP -2 County Counsel, HCS -2 RESOLUTION NO. 9I-113 A RESOLLTRON OF THE LODI = COUNCIL APPROVING AMENDED FEE SCHEDULE FOR SERVICE PROVIDED BY LIFE MM AL INDUSTRIES, INC. RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of Lodi does hereby approve the amended fee schedule for service provided by Life Medical Industries, Inc., to be implemented June 2.1, 1991, as shown on Exhibit A, attached hereto and thereby made a part hereof. Dated: June 20, 1991 i z I hereby certify that Resolution No. 91-113 as passed and adopted by the City Council of the City of Lodi in an adjourned regular meeting held June 20, 1991 by the following vote: Ayes: Council Members - Penni no, Pinkerton, Si egl ock and Hi nchman (Mayor) Noes : Council Members - None Absent: Council Members - Snider A 4�L Alice M. Reimche City Clerk 91-113 LIFE MEDICAL INDUSTRIES, INC. taxa=czxoxaaxaaxaaa=a.zaaxazxaa=a.zx=zxoxaexaaaaxxaxzxxzaxxxxxvozxxxaxxxxaaxexx PROPOSED RATES EXISTING RATES (to be implemented 06-21-91) (06 -01 -90) ---------------------------- -------------- ALS Base Rate $470.00 $420.00 BLS Base Rate $265.00 $236.00 Emergency $ 55.00 - Night $ 55.00 $ 50.00 Oxygen $ 37.00 $ 33.00 Mileage $ 10.00 $ 9.00 aaaaaxaaxaaaaza_aaaaaaaamaaaaazzaaaaaazaaaxzaamsaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaozxaxxzzxxaab=xx= �CCOM220/TXTA.07A CITY COUNCIL DAVID A4 HINCHMAN, Mayor JAMES W PINKERTON. Ir I Mayor Pro Tempore i PHILLIPA PENNINO JACK A SIEGLOCK i JOHNR (Randy) SNIDER CITY OF LODI CITY HALL. 221 WEST PINE STREET P.O BOX 3006 LODI, CALIFORNIA 95241-1910 (209) 334.5634 FAX 120913,13-6795 June 25, 1991 THOMAS A PETERSOr4 Citv Man.iger SLICE M REIMCHE City Clerk BOB McNATT Ci:r Attorney Michael Ni is s e n Life Medical Industries P.O. Box 692170 Stockton, CA 95269 Dear 1V4 Nilssen: This letter will confirm action taken by the Lodi City Council at its adjourned regular meeting of June 20, 1991 whereby the City Council adopted Resolution No. 91-113 amending the rate schedule for ambulance service in the City of Lodi. A certified copy of Resolution No. 91-113 1 s attached. Further, the City Council determined that prior to future rate reviews, staff 1 s to join with the San Joaquin Emergency Medical Services Agency i n reviewing Life Medical Industries' financial statements. Should you have any questions regarding this matter, please do not hesitate to call this office. Very truly yours, Alice M. Reim e City Clerk AMR/Jmp