[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Commissioners of the Town of West New York as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 11-17-2008 by Ord. No. 19/08]
Whereas, it is anticipated that the New Jersey State Department of Health will issue licensure for the Town of West New York Emergency Medical Services Program (the "program") to be administered by the Town of West New York Emergency Medical Services Division (the "Division"); and
Whereas, most residents have a health insurance plan or Medicare/Medicaid which provides payments to relieve their payment obligations; and
Whereas, the program will provide experience and statistics regarding the service and the patients served; and
Whereas, it is in the best interest of the taxpayer of the municipality to establish a third-party payment plan (the "plan") in accordance with the Center of Medicare and Medical Service guidelines ("CMS") so that taxpayers will not be responsible for any out-of-pocket expenses:
The Code of the municipality is hereby amended by adding an article entitled "Third-Party Payment Plan for Emergency Medical Services."
A. 
The Town or the Division will proceed to procure from the New Jersey State Department of Health licensure for the Town of West New York Emergency Medical Services Program (the "program") to be administered by the Town of West New York Emergency Medical Services Division (the "Division"); and
B. 
The Division will apply for a provider number from the federal and state Medicare/Medicaid programs enabling the municipality to include the third-party payment plan (the "payment plan"); and
C. 
The Town shall not balance-bill the deductibles and copays for the Town of West New York residents, including those covered by Medicare/Medicaid, nor bill those Town of West New York residents without insurance coverage for payment obligations; and
D. 
The Director of the Division of Emergency Medical Services (the "Director") and the Chief Financial Officer of the municipality (the "CFO"), in consultation with the municipality's program consultant, will be responsible for the plan's billing.
The Director and the CFO shall annually review the plan's cost accounting records. The CFO shall obtain an industry average.
A. 
The Town's designated third-party billing contractor or ambulance billing administrator ("EMS Consultant") shall be authorized to enter into contracts with various hospitals that provide (ALS) services to the patients that are transported by Town of West New York emergency medical services allowing the hospital to bundle-bill Medicare for services rendered. Any contract entered into by a third-party billing contractor and any hospitals that provide (ALS) services to the patients that are transported by Town of West New York emergency medical services shall not conflict with any term of a contract, including the term of such contract, between the EMS Consultant and the Town. The hospital will reimburse the municipality for its transportation costs within 30 days of receiving payment.
B. 
The Town may contract with volunteer first-aid squads to provide third-party billing as established in this article should that be necessary.
The CFO shall annually, no later than March 1, adjust the fee for services as set forth in § 31-3 herein pursuant to the recommendation of the Director of the Division and the EMS Program Consultant(s).
[Added 4-18-2012 by Ord. No. 9/12]
All ordinances inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed.
[Added 4-18-2012 by Ord. No. 9/12]
This article shall take effect immediately upon passage and publication as provided by law.