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Home My WebLink AboutDocumentation_Regular_Tab 11_07/14/2005 Me.t.nora.�dr�.nz TO. MICHAEL R. COUZZO, VILLAGE N ER FROM: JAMES M. WEINAND, FtRE CHt SUBJECT: EMS TRANSPORT FEE ADJU NT DATE: 06/23/2005 � I am requesting this item be piaced on the �Ilage Council Agenda for July 14, 2005, for their consideration. In accordance with Section 34-24 of the Village Code of Ordinances the pre-hospital emergency care user fees shall be reviewed annualty. The Code states that this shou{d be done with a detailed analysis of associated costs. The current cost of the program is hard to determine because the labor costs are buiit into the fire controf budget. We have crossed-trained personnei who provide both pre-hospitaf care and fire suppression activities. Likewise, the labor costs for the EMS billing; management and administrative support activities cannot be separated. In 1994/95 the Emergency Medical Services Division budget was established when the Village Council elected io bring the treatment of patients, in conjunction with pre-hospital emergency care, under the Fire- Rescue Department control. The Village Council authorized the hiring of additional firefighter/paramedics and established a flve person minimum crew to provide the necessary treatment and care of the citizens. In 1996/97 the Village Council decided that the ambulance transport service should be placed in the Fire- Rescue Department. We were providing all of the pre-hospital treatment with all associated expenses bome by the taxpayers of Tequesta. Jupiter Medical Center was providing the transporkation, expending 0% of the treatment costs and was receiving 100% of the revenue. After deliberation, the Village Council approved this request and estabfished the EMS Transportation budget allocation. Below, I have provided you the FY 04/05 Budget Year budget expenditure allocations for the Emergency Medical Services Division and the Transportation Division budget; also noted is the budgeted revenue projections. EMS Division expenditure allocation $320,660.00 Transportation Division expenditure aflocation $25,350.00 Total $346,010.00 Budgeted Revenue projection for FY 2004%05 $173,840.00 Since our EMS transport rates have not been adjusted for several years now, we are currently charging less than the Medicare allowable for this area. Viffage's Rates Verses Medicare A1lowable Rates Oxygen ALS-1 ALS-2 Specialty Mileage BLS Rate Usa e Rate Rate Care Rate Medicare $276.61 $0.00 $348.80 $473.96 $547.59 $6.13 Viiiage of Tequesta $315.00 $0.00 $315.00 $0.00 $0.00 $6.25 90°l0 ofi our calls are bifled at the ALS-1 rate Our previous user fee rate philosophy has been to establish a user fee rate centered on the average transport rates of providers in Palm Beach County and at least 5% above the Medicare ailowable rates for this area. 4t is always prudent to keep our transport and mileage rates above the current Medicare allowable to maximize future revenues. Below is a spreadsheet denoting the surrounding advanced life support providers in Paim Beach County and their current fee schedule. For comparison purposes, I have included a column titled Four Mile Transport. This column was added to denote the total fee associated with a four-mile transport, which represents approximately 95% of our transparts in the Tequesta area. Palm Beach County Ambulance & Fire Rescue Fee Schedule As of 06/20/2005 Spinal Agency BLS Oxygen ALS-1 ALS-2 Mileage Specialty Imob. 4-Mile ALS Rate Usa e Rate Rate Rate Care Fee Trans ort merican Medicat Res onse $359.00 $30.00 $359.00 $419.00 $7.70 $439.00 $419.8 Boca Raton Fire Rescue $488.25 $488.25 $630.00 $8.93 $656.25 $523.9 Bo nton Beach Fire Rescue $325.00 $400.00 $500.OQ $8.00 $20.00 $432.0 Delra Fire Rescue $328.00 $375.00 $475.00 $7.50 $595.00 $405.0 reenacres Public Safe $270.00 $306.00 $405.00 $6.50 $332.0 Lake Worth Fire Rescue $340.00 $340.00 $480.00 $6.00 $364.0 Medics Ambufance Ser. $220.00 $25.00 $310.00 $6.80 $362.2 North Palm Beach Public Safe $450.00 $450.00 $450.00 $7.00 $478,0 Pa4m Beach Fire Rescue $300.00 $340.00 $450.00 $7.00 $368.0 Pafm Beach Coun Fire Rescue $395.00 $395.00 $495.00 $7.95 $426,8 Palm Beach Gardens Fire Rescue $297.50 $27.50 $340.00 $7.00 $425.00 $395.5 Riviera Beach Fire Rescue $340.00 $340.00 $7.00 $16.00 $368.0 lest Palm Beach Fire Rescue $340.00 ��a.00 $480.00 $7.25 $580.00 $369.0 Avera e $342.52 $27.50 $367.94 $478.40 $7.28 $539.05 $18.00 $403.41 Medicare Allowable $276.61 $348.80 $473.96 $6.13 $547.59 $373.3 e uesta Fire Rescue $315.00 $315.Q0 $6.25 $340.0 . .-. . �� . �i •� �� ,. i • �� 2Q04 Statistical tnformation on Patients transported Percent�ge of patients Tequesta residents 62.0% Percentage of patients outside Tequesta 33.0% Percentage of patients outside Florida 5.0% Uninsured Patients 4.0% Insured Patients 96.0% Medicare or HMO Medicare Coverage 67.0% Other Insurance Caverage 33.0% If recommended rates are implemented we should be able to generate an additional $28,500.00 in revenue next year. Attached is a Resolution for your consideration. RESOLUTION N0.71-04/05 A RESOLUTION OF T�iE VILLAGE COUNCIL OF THE VILLAGE OF TEQUESTA, PALM BEACH COUNTY, ELORIDA, PROVIDING FOR TEE 2.OQ5 SCHEDULE OF USER FEES FOR PRE-HOSPITAI� EI�RGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES, IN ACCORDANCE WITB T8E VILLAGE CODE OF ORDINANCES, CHAPTER 34, ARTICLE V, SECTION 7.24, ESTABLISHMENT AND REVIEW OF FEES; REPEALNG THE EXISTING SAID USER FEES; PROVIDING FOR SEVLRABILITY; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. WSEREAS, The Village of Tequesta, Florida, provides pre- hospital care and transport service and has established a schedule for user fees to offset the cost of this service; and, WHEREAS, The Village Code of Ordinances, specifically Section 34-124, provides for the ability to adjust the user fees by means of changing conditions, inflation, or other cost factors associated with providing such service; and WHEREAS, the Village Council of the Village of Tequesta, Florida, deems it necessary to amend its user fee rates as set forth herein, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVLD BY THE VILLAGE COUNCIL OF THE VILLAGE OF TEQUESTA, PALM BEACH COUNTY, FLORIDA, AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. Chapter 34 of the Code of Ordinances, Article V, Pre-Hospital Emergency Medical Services, Section 34-124, Establishment and review of fees, shall be amended to increase the medical transportation charge from $315.00 to $365.00 for ALS service and to $495.00 for ALS Level 2 service; and to increase the per mile charge, from $6.25 per mile to $6.50 per mile;.�therefore, establishing a 2005 user fee rate schedule as follows: Emergency Medical Treatment $ 0.� Emergency Medical Transportation ALS $365.00 Emergency Medical Transportation ALS Level 2 $495.00 Plus, per mile charge, pickup to hospital $ 6.50 Section 2. Repeal of user fees and conflict. All other user fees of the Village of Tequesta, Florida, are parts hereof which are in conflict with this resolution or part of any other ordinance associated with user fee rates for ambulance transport service are hereby repealed. Section 3. Severability. If any portion of this. resolution or the application thereof is held invalid, such invalidity shall not effect the other provisions or applications of the existing ordinance, which can be given effect without the invalid provisions or applications, or ta this end, the provisions of this resolution are hereby declared severable. Section 4. Effective date. These user fees shall take effect upon passage of this resolution. THE FOREGOING RESOLUTION WAS OFEERED by Couneil Member , who moved its adoption. The motion was seconded by Council Member , and upon being put to a vote, the vote was as follows: � FOR ADOPTION AGAZNST ADOPTION The Mayor thereupon declared the Resolution duly passed and adopted this 14 day ot July, A.D 2005. MAYOR OF TEQUESTA Jim Huznpage ATTEST: Gwen Carlisle Village Clerk