Chapter 5.65
EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE TRANSPORT CHARGES1
Sections:
5.65.010 EMS transport charges imposed.
5.65.020 Categories of EMS transport charge.
5.65.030 Medicare and Medicaid.
5.65.040 Policy and financial assistance.
5.65.010 EMS transport charges imposed.
A. All persons transported for emergency medical service (EMS) by the city's fire department emergency aid and paramedic units after December 31, 2008, shall be charged and billed by the city at rates set and adjusted as necessary by resolution of the city council. The mayor or designee shall establish a procedure to bill and collect EMS transport charges. The city may contract with a billing service and/or collection agency to bill and collect the same.
B. A resident of the city, or a resident of a jurisdiction that contracts with the city for EMS, or an employee at, and transported from, a business within the city or a jurisdiction that contracts with the city for EMS, who supplies the city with information and documentation of his medical insurance policy necessary to bill his insurance provider for EMS transport charges, and who assigns his insurance benefits for the same to the city, shall not be billed for that portion of the EMS transport charges that is in excess of amounts paid by his insurer(s).
C. A person who does not meet the criteria set forth above in subsection (B) of this section, who supplies the city with information and documentation of his medical insurance policy necessary to bill his insurance provider for EMS transport charges, and who assigns his insurance benefits for the same to the city, shall be billed for that portion of the EMS transport charges that is in excess of amounts paid by his insurer(s).
D. A person, regardless of residence, who does not supply the city with information and documentation of his medical insurance policy necessary to bill his insurance provider for EMS transport charges because he is unable or unwilling, or because he does not have any type of insurance coverage for such charges, or who fails to assign his insurance benefits for the same to the city, shall be billed for the entire EMS transport charges.
E. The EMS transport charges herein imposed shall not apply to persons transported by the city's fire department emergency aid and paramedic units from geographical boundaries of the cities of Lynnwood, Mountlake Terrace, Brier and Shoreline or the unincorporated areas of Snohomish County other than Esperance served by Fire District No. 1, unless specifically authorized by interlocal agreement.
F. The use of the term “insurance” or any variation thereof in this section shall include Medicare and Medicaid. [Ord. 3706 § 1, 2008].
5.65.020 Categories of EMS transport charge.
EMS transport charges shall consist of one of the following, in addition to a charge for each mile, or fraction thereof, that the patient is transported: Basic Life Support, Advanced Life Support Level 1, or Advanced Life Support Level 2. Such additional charges shall be established by resolution (see ECC 5.65.010(A)). [Ord. 3706 § 1, 2008].
5.65.030 Medicare and Medicaid.
Charges for the EMS transport authorized by this chapter shall be construed and implemented in a manner consistent with applicable Medicare and Medicaid requirements, when applicable. If any method or procedures authorized by this chapter for the purpose of establishing, implementing, imposing or collection of charges for EMS transport is found to conflict with Medicare and/or Medicaid requirements, the conflicting part of this chapter shall be inoperative to the extent the same applies to Medicare and/or Medicaid. The operation of the remainder of this chapter shall remain unaffected. [Ord. 3706 § 1, 2008].
5.65.040 Policy and financial assistance.
A. It is the city of Edmonds' policy that ability to pay is never a condition of service. All aspects of pre-hospital service shall be provided to all patients without discrimination toward those with no ability or inadequate means to pay.
B. The mayor or designee shall establish a program consistent with criteria and rules set forth in WAC 246-453-001 through 246-453-060 to provide financial assistance and debt forgiveness to persons who do not have the ability to pay in full for EMS transport charges imposed in this chapter. [Ord. 3706 § 1, 2008].
Code reviser's note: Ord. 3706 added this chapter as Ch. 5.60. It has been editorially renumbered to avoid duplication.