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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1995-136 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 RESOLUTION NO. 95-136 RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO APPROVING A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING FOR AMBULANCE TRANSPORT SERVICES WITH COURTESY AMBULANCE SERVICES OF SAN BERNARDINO. BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. The Mayor is hereby authorized and directed to approve a Memorandum of Understanding for ambulance transport services with Courtesy Ambulances Services of San Bernardino in a form as attached hereto as Exhibit A. SECTION 2. The authorization to execute the above- referenced Agreement is rescinded if the parties to the Agreement fail to execute it within sixty (60) days of the passage of this Resolution. I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing resolution was duly adopted by the Mayor and Common Council of the City of San Bernardino at a regular meeting thereof, held on the 1st , 1995 by the following May day of vote, to wit: Council Members: NEGRETE CURLIN HERNANDEZ OBERHELMAN DEVLIN POPE-LUDLAM MILLER ;}/<'//:7'_ I c/ _..,. 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 RESOLUTION.. . APPROVING A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING FOR AMBULANCE TRANSPORT SERVICES WITH COURTESY AMBULANCE SERVICES OF SAN BERNARDINO. ?~ May The foregoing resolution is hereby approved this of Approved as to form 9 and legal content: JAMES F. PENMAN City Attorney day 1995. -> CJY'''-.} Z/c_t'k-~ T0m Minor, Mayor - City of San Bernardino ~ 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 95-136 MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING AMBULANCE TRANSPORT SERVICES This Memorandum of Understanding is made by and between the City of San Bernardino (hereinafter referred to as "City"), and Courtesy Services of San Bernardino, Inc. (hereinafter referred to as "Courtesy"). I. Term: The agreement set forth in this Memorandum of Understanding shall take effect on May 1, 1995, and will continue for one year periods and will be renewed annually unless at least 90 days prior to the expiration of any term written notice of election to not renew shall be presented by either party to the other. Ci ty and Courtesy shall review the terms and provisions hereof on a regular basis to insure that they remain in conformity with all applicable laws. II. Responsibilities of Parties: A. City shall: 1. Staff and operate an emergency 9-1-1 system that will allow for the answering of emergency calls and the subsequent dispatch of all emergency medical responders at a level designated by City. 2. Pursue the training of all dispatchers in an approved priority dispatching program so that all 9-1-1 calls can be professionally evaluated as to type and level of emergency. Upon successful completion of such training, City will dispatch calls based upon the screening done and resources available. Designation of resources needed will be at the reasonable discretion of City. DAB/j [Rates.MOU] 1 45'-/!(" 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 3. Comply regulations, with all applicable standards, policies, state and local procedure and statutes, protocols; B. Courtesy shall: 1. Provide all ambulance service needs of whatever nature within the City on a continuous, twenty-four (24) hour per day basis, except when prevented from doing so by an act of God. If for any reason Courtesy is at any time unable to provide the requested level of ambulance service, it will promptly inform City and shall promptly arrange for backup by way of mutual aid from adjacent ambulance providers; 2. Be the exclusively dispatched emergency transportation provider for medical aid requests. Upon Courtesy's arrival and evaluation of the medical aid request, Courtesy shall follow all relevant medical protocols as prescribed by INLAND COUNTIES EMERGENCY MEDICAL AUTHORITY ("ICEMA"). Upon Courtesy's evaluation of an emergency medical condition, Courtesy shall promptly notify City's dispatch of same without interruption or delay of patient treatment or transport. 3. Immediately notify City dispatch of any direct requests for emergency ambulance service from a private person, and to proceed to the incident location in compliance with applicable standards and procedures; 4. Maintain all ambulances with safety and emergency equipment as required by the California Vehicle Code and the California Code of Regulations, and other administrative rules promulgated from time to time by the San Bernardino County Health Officer DAB/j [Rates.MOUl 2 /Jr~ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 DAB/j III. Ambulance Rate Schedules: 1. The initial rates for ambulance service shall be in accordance with schedule "A" attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference, and shall remain in effect until at least May 1, 1996 or until a Court of competent jurisdiction rules that the Ci ty does not have the authority to regulate ambulance rates. Modifications of rates shall be considered each year, and new rates shall be determined not less than 30 days before each annual renewal date of this Memorandum. 2. Rates shall be established for each of the following: a. Basic Life Support (BLS) as defined under California law and ICEMA regulations; b. Advanced Life Support (ALS) as defined under California law and ICEMA regulations; c. All-inclusive Advanced Life Support; d. Unscheduled response/emergency; e. Night/weekend surcharge, for patients transported between 7:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., or on Saturday or Sunday; f. Additional patients; g. EKG monitoring; h. Oxygen administration; i. Additional mileage; j. Waiting time. 3. Attached hereto as Schedule "B" and incorporated herein by reference are further ambulance rate definitions applicable to the rate categories set forth in sub-paragraph 2 3 [Rates.MOU] 1 above. 2 4. a. Courtesy will accept assignment from Medicare 3 for ambulance service which is medially allowable for Medicare 4 enrollees. The enrollee shall be responsible for payment of 5 Medicare deductible and co-payments. 6 b. For financial hardship cases, Courtesy will 7 accept Medicare assigned payment as payment in full for ambulance 8 service which is medically allowable for Medicare enrollees. A 9 Medicare enrollee claiming hardship shall sign a Financial 10 Hardship Disclosure form and provide same to Courtesy, which will 11 include the form in the patient's file. In such validated 12 financial hardship cases, Courtesy will write-off any remaining 13 Medicare annual deductible and co-payments. It is understood that 14 Medicare has the right to validate financial hardship. If such 15 hardship is not validated, Medicare may require the enrollee to 16 pay the annual Medicare deductible and co-payments. 17 c. For financial hardship patients not covered by 18 Medicare, Courtesy will accept third party payment as payment in 19 full. A Non-Medicare financial hardship case is defined as a 20 person who qualifies for City's Utility Tax Exemption Program, or 21 who is covered by the Medi-Cal program. 22 d. No bi11ings or charges shall be made by Courtesy 23 or any of its personnel prior to any emergency services being 24 rendered. 25 IV. Inspection of Records: 26 In order to reasonably assure itself that Courtesy is 27 making proper charges for the services performed, upon receipt of 28 any written complaint from any user wi thin City of Courtesy's DAB/j {Rates.MOU] 4 175-/311 1 service, where such user contends that he/she has been requested 2 to pay an excessive charge for service, City shall have the right, 3 upon reasonable request, and during ordinary business hours, to 4 review Courtesy's billing records pertaining to the complaining 5 patient at Courtesy's place of business. However, to the extent 6 that City shall examine the billing records of Courtesy as herein 7 provided, City shall faithfully maintain the confidentiality of 8 all such records so as not to interfere with, or diminish, the 9 right of privacy and confidentiality of any of Courtesy's 10 patients. 11 V. Assignment 12 This Agreement may be assigned by Courtesy only with the 13 prior written approval of City, which approval shall not be 14 unreasonably withheld. 15 VI. Indemnification 16 The parties hereto agree to defend, indemnify, save and hold 17 the other party, its officers, agents and employees harmless from 18 any claims or suits that may be brought by third persons on 19 account of persona 1 injury, death, or damage to property, or a 20 property or business or personal interest, arising from any 21 negligent act or omission by that party while performing services 22 or duties under this agreement. 23 VII. Insurance 24 During the term of this Agreement, Courtesy shal1 maintain 25 in effect policies of public liability and property damage 26 insurance and automobile liability insurance both in the amounts 27 of at least $2,000,000 and naming the City as an additional 28 insured covering only City's liability that may exist because of DAB/j [Rates.MOUl 5 1J5~/Jy 1 Courtesy's acts or omissions. Courtesy shall also maintain in 2 effect Workers' Compensation insurance in statutory limits. Upon 3 request by City, Courtesy shall provide copies of all policies of 4 insurance. 5 VIII. Litigation 6 The parties recognize and understand that they are involved 7 in litigation entitled County of San Bernardino, et al. v. City of 8 San Bernardino, et al. Subject to any further rights of appeal, 9 the parties agree to be bound by a final decision in that 10 litigation and such decision, where in conflict with this 11 Agreement, shall prevail. 12 IX. Continuing Discussion/Medicare Bil1ing. 13 Prior to the entry into this Agreement, City and Courtesy 14 have had discussions regarding Medicare billing and the 15 possibility of Courtesy obtaining Medicare funds, either directly 16 or indirectly, for the benefit of City. 17 It is understood that the parties intend to continue, in 18 good faith, to discuss such matter, but that its resolution or 19 failure to be resolved is free of impact upon the agreement being 20 reached by this Memorandum. 21 / / / 22 / I / 23 / / / 24 I / / 25 /// 26 / / / 27 / / / 28 11/ DAB/j [Rates.MOU] 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 95-136 X. Notice Any notice to be given from one party to the other pursuant to this Agreement shal1 be in writing and deposited with the United states Posta 1 Service, postage prepaid and addressed as follows: To City: To Courtesy: City Administrator City of San Bernardino 300 North "0" Street San Bernardino, Ca 92418 Courtesy Services of San Bernardino, Inc. 338 West Seventh Street San Bernardino, CA 92401 Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to prevent the giving of notice by personal service. Executed this 'ilL day of /11tJJ ' 1995. CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO B~~l!l~~~ f Mayor ATTEST: ByaM ('~ ~i (5j~fh2c11~~/ ~ Approved as to form 24 and lega1 content: 25 James F. Penman City Attorney :,~~ 28 DAB/j [Rates.MOUl By 7 1 2 A. 3 B. 4 c. 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 95-136 DAB/j [Rates,MOUl SCHEDULE OF AMBULANCE RATES Basic Life Support response to a routine non-emergency Unscheduled responselemergency Additional Charges: 1. Each mile or fraction of a mile 2. Waiting time after first fifteen- minute period or fraction thereof thereafter 3. Night surcharge, 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. Monday through Friday, or weekend service 4. Each additional patient, fifty percent over charge for one patient 5. Paramedic Rates: a. Advanced Life Support Response to a call b. EKG monitoring c. All Inclusive Advanced Life Support Service 6. Oxygen administration 7. Response to a call for ambulance not used 8. Rigid Collar SCHEDULE A 285.62 112.29 11. 80 25.23 80.40 419.21 57.40 622.10 69.64 -0- -0- 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 DABI 95-136 1 2 3 4 5 AMBULANCE RATE DEFINITIONS BLS Base - this response to call charge applies when: 1) An EMT-1A staffed ambulance responds to a call. 2) A paramedic staffed ambulance responds to a scheduled call and/or a paramedic is not requested and paramedic intervention is not provided. 6 ALS Base - this response to cal1 charge applies when: 7 1) A paramedic staffed ambulance responds to an unscheduled response call and does not provide ALS intervention. 2) A paramedic staffed ambulance is requested to respond to a scheduled call which does not require ALS intervention. ALS-Al1 Inclusive Service - this response to call charge applies when a paramedic staffed ambulance provides paramedic intervention beyond the EMT I-A scope of practice. The ALS All Inclusive Service includes the following services: 1) Emergency service 2) EKG monitoring 3) Paramedic services and supplies (paramedic radio contact, I.V. administration, MAST application, drug administration, defibrillation, blood draw, etc.) Unscheduled responselEmergency charge - the charge applies for an immediate dispatch of an ambulance. This charge coincides with BLS and ALS Base rates. This charge is included in the ALS-Al1 Inclusive Service and should not be charged as an additional line item in this situation. Scheduled cal1 - those requests for ambulance service which are submitted directly to Courtesy which do not require Courtesy to respond on an emergency or immediate basis, but to reasonably schedule performance in accordance with its existing resources. Mileage - the charge applies for each patient mile or fraction thereof from point of pick-up to destination. Mileage may also be charged if an ambulance has to fOllow-up a helicopter transport to retrieve mandated equipment. Night Service - the charge occurs between the hours of 1900 to 0659 military time. This charge is included in the weekend service and should not be charged as a separate line item in that situation. Weekend Service - the charge occurs from 0001 hours Saturday through 2400 hours Sunday. The weekend rate is inclusive of any night service charges. SCHEDULE B [Rates.MOU] 95-136 . - Medicare Assignment Comparison Current Rates Medicare Medicare Patient Amount of Rate Allowed Pavs Pays Write-off BLS 178.84 167.49 134.00 44.84 0.00 Emergency 81.24 76.03 60.82 20.42 0.00 Mileage 8.94 6.90 5.52 3.42 0.00 Wait Time 16.38 0.00 0.00 16.38 0.00 Night 52.18 48.77 39.02 13.16 0.00 ALS Base Rate 272.00 167.49 134.00 138.00 0.00 EKG Monitoring 37.25 0.00 0.00 37.25 0.00 All Inclusive 403.75 378.10 302.48 101.27 0.00 Oxygen 22.37 20.95 16.76 5.61 0.00 Rigid Collar 45.00 0.00 0.00 45.00 0.00 Proposed Rates Medicare Medicare Patient Amount of Rate Allowed Pavs Pays Write - off BLS 285.62 167.49 134.00 33.49 118.13 Emergency 112.29 76.03 60.82 15.21 36.26 I Mileage 11.80 6.90 5.52 1.38 4.90 Wait Time 25.23 0.00 0.00 0.00 25.23 Night 80.40 48.77 39.02 9.75 31.63 ALS Base Rate 419.21 167.49 134.00 33.49 251.72 EKG Monitoring 57.40 0.00 0.00 0.00 57.40 All Inclusive 622.10 378.10 302.48 75.62 244.00 Oxygen 69.64 20.95 16.76 4.19 48.69 Rigid Collar 0.00 0,00 0.00 0.00 0,00 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 95-136 Oxygen - the charge occurs when oxygen is administered. charge is inclusive of materials such as tubing, masks, etc. may be used for the administration of oxygen. This which Wai ting Time - the charge occurs when there are circumstances occurring which are beyond Courtesy's control that delay the normal commencement of transport. Waiting time is billed in fifteen (15) minute increments. The first fifteen (15) minutes are not billed. However, anything after that is billed in increments of fifteen (15) minutes per unit. Rates for multiple loads: 1) Each additional stretcher or gurney patient carried at the same time shall be charged the full base rate for response to the call and half the mileage rate. 2) Each additional sit-up patient shall be charged half the base rate for response to the call and half the mileage. DAB/j [Rates.MOUl