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HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution_29-20_9/10/2020states: RESOLUTION NO.29-20 A RESOLUTION OF THE VILLAGE COUNCIL OF THE VILLAGE OF TEQUESTA, FLORIDA, AUTHORIZING THE UPWARD MODIFICATION OF EMS TRANSPORT USER FEES TO KEEP RATES COMPRABLE WITH OTHER PALM BEACH COUNTY AMBULANCE TRANSPORT SERVICES IDENTIFIED IN "EXHIBIT A"; AND AUTHORIZING THE VILLAGE MANAGER TO PROCEED ON BEHALF OF THE VILLAGE; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. WHEREAS, the Village Ordinance Section 34-124, Establishment and Review of Fees The pre -hospital emergency care user fees shall be determined and reviewed annually in accordance with a detailed analysis of associated costs. The purpose of this review is to evaluate the level of service for the pre -hospital emergency medical care system, to determine whether it should be adjusted based on changed conditions, to analyze the effects of inflation or other cost factors on the actual cost of providing such services, and to ensure that the user fees charged will not exceed the reasonably anticipated costs of fire -rescue pre -hospital emergency care system. WHEREAS, Tequesta Fire Rescue responds to more than 1200 calls for service each year and transports approximately 700 distressed patients to local hospitals to receive emergency care. Tequesta Fire Rescue enjoys an 82% collection fee rate, meaning 82% of our transport billable is collected. The majority of ambulance transportation fees are paid by a patient's medical insurance, or by the patient directly. WHEREAS, the user fees for Tequesta Fire Rescue have fallen short of the average Palm Beach County user fee and currently, we rank as the lowest fees in Palm Beach County. WHEREAS, Tequesta Fire Rescue proposes to bring user fees to the bottom line of all Palm Beach County Fire Rescue agencies. If approved, this proposal will increase both revenue and write offs; and it will bring Tequesta in line with surrounding agencies while maintaining the lowest EMS transport user fees in Palm Beach County. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE VILLAGE COUNCIL OF THE VILLAGE OF TEQUESTA, PALM BEACH COUNTY, FLORIDA, AS FOLLOWS: Section 1 Resolution No. 29-20 is hereby approved authorizing the upward modification of EMS transportation fee accounts as listed in "Exhibit A" to remain on par with other local Fire Rescue agencies; Section 2 This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon passage. RESOLUTION 29-20 EXHIBIT A 2020 Insurance and Payment Methods Medicare • Medicare itself represents 345 of the 706 (48%) • Mainstream insurances (AARP, Aetna, Blue Cross, Cigna, Humana, and United) represent 234 (33%), of which the split is about 50-50 Medicare vs Commercial plan type. Thus Medicare represents about 64.5% of our total call volume. Other Transports • 47 out of 706 were private pay (though some of those have Medicaid, which we do not accept). So only 6.7% were "uninsured". The other 93.3% were insured in one form or another. • Another 27 were non-traditional coverage (VA, Hospice, Worker's Comp, etc.) (5.8%) • Futures represents 25 of the 706 (3.5%) • Auto Insurance represents 18 (2.5%) Comparison Compared to local municipalities, the user fees for Tequesta Fire -Rescue have fallen behind the other Fire Rescue services in Palm Beach County as well as for Martin County Fire Rescue. In fact, we rank below both private ambulances companies in the BLS and ALS 1 Categories. See the current rates below. The following is the current User Fee Schedule for Palm Beach County Ambulance Transport Services provided by Palm Beach County Emergency Management: PBCO Fire Rescue Agend.es.,, Boca Raton Fire Rescue 795.00 12.00 750.00 750.00 850.00 Boynton Beach Fire Rescue 14.. 0 710.00 710.00 870.00 764.38 Delray Beach Fire Rescue 12.00 650.00 700.00 800.00 745.00 Greenacres Fire Rescue 13.50 670.00 670.00 830.00 220.63 North Palm Beach Fire Rescue 12.00 610.00 675.00 745.00 720.00 Palm Beach County Fire Rescue 13.50 670.00 670.00 830.00 720.63 Palm Beach Fire Rescue 12.00 750.00 750.00 850.00 795.00 Palm Beach Gardens Fire Rescue 12.00 700.00 750.00 800.00 795.00 Riviera Beach Fire Rescue 12.00 700.00 700.00 750.00 745.00 West Palm Beach Fire Rescue 12.00 700.00 700.00 750.00 745.00 Palm Beach County Average 12.55 690.96 707.50 807.50 754.04 Tequesta Fire Rescue 10.00 435.00 500.00 700.00 537.50 Difference -2.55 -255.96 -207.50 -107.50 -216.54 Our proposal is to bring Tequesta Fire Rescue user fees to the bottom line of all Palm Beach County Fire Rescue Agencies. If approved, this proposal will increase both revenue, and write offs and it will bring Tequesta in line with surrounding agencies while we will still maintain the lowest EMS transport user fees of any Palm Beach County Fire Rescue Agency. Additional Information on Insurance Definitions: Categories of Service BLS Category (A0425 BASIC LIFE SUPPORT) The Basic Life Support — Emergency category is the provision of BLS services as defined in the National EMS Education and Practice Blueprint for the EMS -Basic, including the establishment of a peripheral intravenous line, the context of an emergency response. An emergency response is one that, at the time the ambulance supplier is called, is provided after the sudden onset of a medical condition manifesting itself by acute symptoms of sufficient severity such that the absence of immediate medical attention could reasonably be expected to result in: 1. Placing the beneficiary's health in serious jeopardy; 2. Impairment to bodily functions; or 3. Serious dysfunction to any bodily organ or part. ALS 1 Category (A0427ADVANCED LIFE SUPPORT LEVEL 1) The Advanced Life Support, Level 1 category is the provision of an assessment by an advanced life support provider or the provision of one or more ALS interventions, in the context of an emergency response. An ALS provider is defined as a provider trained to the level of the EMT -Intermediate or Paramedic as defined in the National EMS Education and Practice Blueprint. An ALS Intervention is defined as procedure beyond the scope of an EMT -Basic as defined in the National EMS Education and Practice Blueprint. An emergency response is one that, at the time the ambulance supplier is called, is provided after the sudden onset of a medical condition manifesting itself by acute symptoms of sufficient severity such that the absence of immediate medical attention could reasonably be expected to result in: 1. Placing the beneficiary's health in serious jeopardy; 2. Impairment to bodily functions; or 3. Serious dysfunction to any bodily organ or part. ALS 2 Emergency Category (A0433 ADVANCED LIFE SUPPORT LEVEL 2) The Advanced Life Support, Level 2 category is: 1. The administration of three or more different medications, and 2. The provision of at least one of the following ALS procedures: • Manual defibrillation/cardioversion • Endotracheal intubation • Central venous line • Cardiac pacing Chest decompression Surgical Airway Intraosseous line An ALS provider is defined as a provider trained to the level of the EMT -Intermediate or Paramedic as defined in the National EMS Education and Practice Blueprint. An ALS Intervention is defined as procedure beyond the scope of an EMT -Basic as defined in the National EMS Education and Practice Blueprint. RESOLUTION Date 29-20 9/10/2020 Motion Council Member Frank D'Ambra Second Council Member Laurie Brandon FOR AGAINST ABSENT CONFLICT Mayor Abigail Brennan M ® © M Vice -Mayor Kyle Stone ®x Council Member Laurie Brandon ®x ri El Council Member Frank D'Ambra ®x F7 F1 M Council Member Bruce Prince E The Mayor thereupon declared the Resolution duly passed and adopted. MAYOR OF TEQUESTA: - 0 oRq SEAL INCORPORATED ATTEST: %,csi!NE 4 iLt t Lori McWilliams, MMC Village Clerk