Title
Consider adopting Ordinance No. 3463 amending the Farmers Branch Code of Ordinances, Appendix A - Fee Schedule, Section 30-33, and take appropriate action.
Body
BACKGROUND:
Ordinance No. 3463 has been prepared to address needed changes related to fees associated with providing emergency medical service. The City of Farmers Branch provides emergency medical/ambulance transport service through the Fire Department at an annual cost of approximately $4.2 million.
During recent budget work sessions, City Administration discussed increasing the City's emergency ambulance service transport rates as a measure to reduce the subsidy to the cost of providing ambulance service and to maximize Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance revenues while minimizing a patient's out-of-pocket expenses.
DISCUSSION:
Increasing ambulance transport rates will bring increased reimbursement to the City of Farmers Branch, but will not increase fees beyond our costs or raise the rates for residents beyond those charged by neighboring jurisdictions. The intent is to ensure that the rates cover a portion of rising costs and the related activities in the collection of those fees.
Since October 2011, the City has charged emergency ambulance service fees of:
Service
Resident
Non-Resident
Basic Life Support
$400
$600
Advanced Life Support, Level 1
$575
$700
Advanced Life Support, Level 2
$625
$750
Mileage charge for transport from nearest City limit to any hospital outside of the City. One (1) mile charge for transport to any hospital within the City.
$10
$10
City Administration proposes an increase in rates to:
Service
Resident
Non-Resident
Basic Life Support
$650
$725
Advanced Life Support, Level 1
$650
$725
Advanced Life Support, Level 2
$800
$875
Mileage charge for transport from nearest City limit to any hospital outside of the City. One (1) mile charge for transport to any hospital within the City.
$15
$15
These increased rates are projected to increase ambulance fee re...
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