Title
Consider/Discuss/Act on an Amending the Code of Ordinances - Article 1 of Chapter 18, "AMBULANCES" by Establishing the City Fire Department as the Sole Provider of Emergency Ambulance Service and Appendix A- Schedule of Fees, Chapter18 Relative to Ambulance Service Charges
Summary
MEETING DATE: July 17, 2012
DEPARTMENT: Fire Department
CONTACT: Danny Kistner, Fire Chief
RECOMMENDED CITY COUNCIL ACTION:
· Approve Ordinance
ITEM SUMMARY:
· This Ordinance cleans up old and outdated language in Sections 18-2, 18-3, and 18-28.
o Sec. 18-2. General duty of fire department.
The fire department shall provide the following types of ambulance service within the corporate limits of the city until such a time as a permit for an additional service is authorized for the city:
(1) All emergency ambulance service; and
(2) All nonemergency transfer ambulance service.
Amend to read:
The fire department shall provide all emergency ambulance service within the corporate limits of the city. The city fire department may provide nonemergency transfer ambulance service.
o Sec. 18-3- Fees Charged for Service
At such a time as additional emergency ambulance service or nonemergency ambulance service shall be deemed necessary and a permit issued, the fees per call shall be equal to the fees charged by the city ambulance service at that time.
The city does not accept any responsibility for payments not being made to the permit holder by the patient.
Amend to:
(a) The fees charged by the city ambulance service shall be as set forth in Sec. 18-28.
(b) The city does not regulate fees for nonemergency ambulance service not provided by the fire department. The city does not accept any responsibility for service or payments arising from nonemergency transfer ambulance service.
o Section 18-28.
(6) Such costs as charged for medical supplies (fees set to cover City's cost) and drugs (at two times the City's cost) not covered by the receiving hospital/facility.
a. Routine ALS Supplies
50.00
b. Routine BLS Supplies
100.00
Amend to:
(6) Such costs as charged for medical supplies (fees set to cover City's cost) and drugs (at two times the City's cost) not covered by the receiving hospital/facility.
a. Routine ALS Supplies
100.00
b. Routine BLS Supplies
50.00
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
· Ambulance Service Fees have existed in McKinney since McKinney took over the responsibility for providing ambulance services to the community since 1977.
· Current Ambulance Service Description
o Five (5) ambulances are in service 24/7/365
o Each ambulance is staffed by two Firefighter-Paramedics per shift
o Thirty (30) Firefighter-Paramedics are required to maintain 24/7/365 service.
o Additional costs of ambulance service include the cost of the ambulances which have a five-year useful service life; the cost of advanced life support equipment, medical supplies, pharmaceuticals, fuel, maintenance, etc.
o Costs for everything related to the ambulance services we provide, (such as supplies, services, pharmaceuticals, vehicles, equipment, and maintenance) have risen and are expected to continue rising each year.
FINANCIAL SUMMARY: None
BOARD OR COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION: N/A