[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Edgewater as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Reimbursement program for services — See Ch. 45, Art. II.
[Adopted 4-21-1981 by Ord. No. 686-81 (Ch. 44 of the 1975 Code)]
[Amended 10-8-1985 by Ord. No. 827-85]
A. 
There is hereby established in the Borough of Edgewater a Volunteer First-Aid Squad. The Mayor and Council may appoint one of its members to serve as liaison between the governing body and the Volunteer First-Aid Squad.
B. 
It shall be the function of the Volunteer First-Aid Squad to render ambulance and first-aid service in emergencies and when called upon in accordance with the bylaws and rules and regulations established by the Mayor and Council for the governance of said Squad.
The Volunteer First-Aid Squad shall have the power to adopt such constitution and bylaws for its government and management as shall not be inconsistent with the laws of the United States, the State of New Jersey or the Borough of Edgewater or with the rules and regulations which may be adopted or approved by the Mayor and Council. The constitution and bylaws shall not become effective until they have been submitted to and approved by the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Edgewater.
A. 
No person shall become a member of the Volunteer First-Aid Squad unless, at the time of his or her appointment, confirmation or election by the Mayor and Council, he or she shall be a resident of the State of New Jersey, a citizen of the United States, the holder of a valid license to operate a motor vehicle in the State of New Jersey, of good moral character, between the ages of 18 and 55 years and shall have submitted to a physical examination and presented to the Mayor and Council a physician's certificate indicating such person's physical fitness.
B. 
An individual's membership in the Volunteer First-Aid Squad shall terminate upon the date of his or her 65th birthday.
C. 
Every person seeking to become a member of the Volunteer First-Aid Squad shall first make application to the Squad, and after approval of such application by the membership and subsequent confirmation by the Mayor and Council, such person shall become a member in good standing of the Volunteer First-Aid Squad.
D. 
Any applicant who has been rejected by the Volunteer First-Aid Squad may appeal to the Mayor and Council within 30 days after such rejection, by filing with the Borough Clerk a written statement setting forth fully the grounds upon which such person believes the application was denied and other facts that may be proper and relevant to such issue. The Mayor and Council shall inform the applicant of the date set for a hearing. At the hearing, the Mayor and Council, after considering all relevant evidence, shall determine whether or not the applicant shall be admitted to membership, and such decision shall be final. In the event of a vacancy in any office, the Squad shall hold an election for such office and such person elected by the active members shall, after confirmation by the Mayor and Council, enter into the performance of the duties thereof.
A. 
There shall be five classes of members in the Volunteer First-Aid Squad, which classes are as follows:
(1) 
Active members shall be those members who hold a current American National Red Cross standard first-aid certificate and who have been elected to full active membership.
(2) 
Active associate members shall be those members who have not yet completed the standard first-aid training course, but who have been assigned to limited active duty in order to fill the required quota of the squad.
(3) 
Inactive associate members shall consist of those who have signified their intention of becoming active members of the squad and who are qualified in all respects, except that they may not have completed the standard first-aid training course and have not been assigned to active duty.
(4) 
Drivers shall consist of those active members who have completed a defensive driving course.
(5) 
Medical advisory membership shall consist of local physicians who have agreed to serve in an advisory capacity to the Squad and who shall be appointed by the active membership on a year-to-year basis.
B. 
All associate members shall qualify as active members within one year from the date of their becoming associate members, unless granted an extension of time by the Squad membership.
C. 
Appointments to active membership shall be made from the associate membership list in the order of their election as associate members.
D. 
All members and employees of the Squad shall be subject to all laws of the State of New Jersey, which have been or may be in the future enacted concerning the conduct, benefit and protection of members of a volunteer ambulance and first-aid squad.
The officers of the Volunteer First-Aid Squad shall consist of a Chief, a Captain, a Lieutenant and a Secretary/Treasurer, who shall be active members in good standing. The officers shall be elected annually by the active members of the Squad in the manner prescribed by the Squad's bylaws, and upon their confirmation by the Mayor and Council, such officers shall commence the performance of their duties and hold office for a term of one year or until their successors have been qualified.
A. 
The Chief shall be in charge of the actual operation of the Volunteer First-Aid Squad. He or she shall preside at all meetings of the Squad, appoint all committees, call special meetings and shall be responsible for the good order of the equipment used by the Squad. The Chief shall conduct and be in charge of all drill meetings and shall supervise, prepare and post all duty rosters and shall supervise the preparation of reports of all Squad activities.
B. 
The Captain shall assist the Chief in the performance of the duties of such office and in the absence of the Chief, shall perform all his or her duties.
C. 
The Lieutenant shall be third-in-command of the Squad and shall perform the duties of the Chief when both the Chief and the Captain are absent.
D. 
The Secretary/Treasurer shall keep an accurate record of all meetings of the Squad, shall notify all members of meetings and shall keep and answer all correspondence addressed to the Squad and shall make a monthly report of the Squad's activities to be submitted to the liaison designated by the governing body. In addition, the Secretary/Treasurer shall be the custodian of all funds of the Squad other than those set forth for the Squad in the local municipal budget of the Borough. Such officer shall also keep an accurate record of all deposits made by the Squad in any bank accounts established by it and shall sign all properly drawn checks and shall additionally keep an accurate account of all receipts and expenditures made on behalf of the Squad.
[Added 5-18-1982 by Ord. No. 721-82]
There is hereby established in the Volunteer First-Aid Squad a Youth Squad to work with the Volunteer First-Aid Squad in the emergency and nonemergency care and transportation of the sick and injured of the Borough of Edgewater.
[Added 5-18-1982 by Ord. No. 721-82]
A. 
No person shall become a member of the Volunteer First-Aid Youth Squad unless at the time of his or her appointment he or she shall be a resident of the State of New Jersey, a citizen of the United States, of good moral character and at least 16 years of age, but shall not have reached his or her 18th birthday. An applicant for membership shall also have submitted to a physical examination and present to the Mayor and Council a physician's certificate indicating such person's physical fitness. Such person shall also be required to obtain permission from his or her parent or guardian in writing before becoming a member.
B. 
Every person seeking to become a member of the Youth Squad shall first make application to the Youth Squad, and upon approval by the Youth Squad, the application shall be submitted to the Volunteer First-Aid Squad, and after approval of such application by the membership and subsequent confirmation by the Mayor and Council, such person shall become a member in good standing of the Volunteer First-Aid Squad.
C. 
All members of the Youth Squad shall be required to complete first-aid courses and obtain appropriate certification as is established by the constitution and bylaws of the Volunteer First-Aid Squad.
D. 
An individual's membership in the Youth Squad shall terminate upon the date of his or her 18th birthday; provided, however, that upon reaching the age of 18 such member may submit an application for membership to the Volunteer First-Aid Squad for its review and approval and subsequent approval by the Mayor and Council. During the period of time from which the Youth Squad member submits an application for membership in the Volunteer First-Aid Squad and the time a decision is rendered on such application by the Mayor and Council, the member shall be permitted to function as a Youth Squad member.
[Added 5-18-1982 by Ord. No. 721-82]
A. 
Only those members of the Youth Squad who have met the minimum training required for membership shall be permitted to perform the duties of members of the Youth Squad. No Youth Squad member shall be permitted to drive the ambulance, to be a crew chief or to ride on the same crew as another Youth Squad member.
B. 
A member of the Youth Squad shall be required to ride as a fourth member on an ambulance crew until the Volunteer First-Aid Squad determines that such member is capable of being a third member of the crew. No member of the Youth Squad shall be permitted to ride in the back of the ambulance when a patient is being transported, unless an active member of the First-Aid Squad is present.
[Added 5-18-1982 by Ord. No. 721-82]
The Volunteer First-Aid Youth Squad shall have the power to adopt such constitution and bylaws for its government and management as shall not be inconsistent with the laws of the United States, State of New Jersey or the Borough of Edgewater or with the rules and regulations which may be adopted or approved by the Mayor and Council. The constitution and bylaws shall not become effective until they have been submitted to and approved by the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Edgewater.
All apparatus and equipment of the Volunteer First-Aid Squad shall be and remain the property of the Borough of Edgewater, and the costs of operation, maintenance, repair and replacement shall be as provided for in the local municipal budget. No one other than a member of the corps, duly licensed under the laws of the State of New Jersey to operate a motor vehicle, shall operate any of the ambulance apparatus of the Borough. Except in the case of an emergency call, no apparatus belonging to the Borough utilized by the Volunteer First-Aid Squad shall be removed from the Borough limits by any member of the Squad without the approval of the Mayor and Council. In the event that any such approval is given, any equipment so removed from the Borough limits shall be returned immediately in the case of an alarm within the Borough and, in all other cases, immediately after the occasion for its absence shall have ended.
[Amended 4-15-2002 by Ord. No. 1234-2002; 12-17-2018 by Ord. No. 2018-018; 4-15-2024 by Ord. No. 2024-008]
A New Jersey Licensed Emergency Medical Technician will qualify for a monthly stipend to be paid quarterly subject to the following requirements:
A. 
A New Jersey Licensed Emergency Medical Technician member can qualify for a maximum $1,200 per month stipend by being scheduled for one twelve-hour shift at a minimum of four times per month 6:00 pm to 6:00 am Monday through Thursday and one full weekend commencing at 6:00 pm Friday and ending at 6:00 am Monday.
B. 
In the event a New Jersey Licensed Emergency Medical Technician is unable to fulfill the above referenced minimum scheduled hours to receive the maximum allowable stipend of $1,200 per month, a $10 deduction for every six hours not scheduled will be deducted from the full $1,200 monthly stipend. All deductions will be based on increments of six hours only.
C. 
A certified driver member can qualify for a maximum of $1,000 per month stipend by being scheduled for one twelve-hour shift at a maximum of four times per month 6:00 pm to 6:00 am Monday through Thursday and one full weekend commencing at 6:00 pm Friday and ending at 6:00 am Monday.
D. 
In the event a certified driver is unable to fulfill the above referenced minimum scheduled hours to receive the maximum allowable stipend of $1,000 per month, a $5 deduction for every six hours not scheduled will be deducted from the full $1,000 monthly stipend. All deductions will be based on increments of six hours only.
E. 
A New Jersey Licensed Emergency Medical Technician is eligible to receive additional stipend payments for being scheduled for additional weekly and weekend hours according to the following stipend schedule using six hour increments of time: For weekly hours Monday 6:00 pm to Friday 6:00 am, and weekend hours from 6:00 pm Friday to 6:00 am Monday, $25 for every additional six hours scheduled for a monthly additional maximum stipend payment of $150.
F. 
A certified driver is eligible to receive additional stipend payments for being scheduled for additional weekly and weekend hours according to the following stipend schedule using six-hour increments of time: For weekly hours Monday 6:00 pm to Friday 6:00 a.m. and weekend hours from 6:00 pm Friday to 6:00 am Monday, $20 for every additional six hours scheduled for a monthly additional maximum stipend payment of $140.
G. 
Nothing in this program is intended to change the status of the Edgewater Volunteer First-Aid Squad, it being the intent and purpose herein that this organization remain as a volunteer organization.
H. 
Nothing in this program is intended to create an employer-employee relationship between the volunteer first-aid squad member and the Borough. No person receiving a stipend under these regulations shall be considered an employee of the Borough.
I. 
The payment of any stipend does not change the status of any volunteer. Volunteers are not employees of the Borough of Edgewater. Stipend payments shall conform to the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (FLSA)[1] requirements as set forth be interpretative guidance promulgated by the United States Department of Labor (DOL) and the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (NJDOL).
[1]
Editor's Note: See 29 U.S.C. section 201 et seq.
J. 
Nothing in this program will entitle any volunteer first-aid member to health and prescription benefits, pension or other like benefits provided by the Borough to its full-time employees.
K. 
Any person who is a member of the Edgewater Volunteer Fire Department and the Edgewater Volunteer First-Aid Squad will be eligible to earn stipends from both organizations.
L. 
Employees of the Borough who are also a volunteer firefighter or first-aid squad member are entitled to earn a stipend while performing such volunteer services during regular work hours with the exception of police officers.
[Added 12-1-1992 by Ord. No. 998-92]
Upon the completion of six months of service as a member of the Volunteer First-Aid Squad, a member shall receive reimbursement for the expense associated with course work necessary to obtain the requisite certification as a member of the First-Aid Squad. No member shall be entitled to receive such reimbursement unless he or she shall have been a member in good standing for at least six months prior to the time of such reimbursement.
[Adopted 9-20-2010 by Ord. No. 1445-2010[1]]
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance provided an effective date of 1-1-2011.
A. 
The provision of EMS services by EMS providers in the Borough of Edgewater is funded primarily by local taxes, and the Borough of Edgewater recognizes the need to bill for the provision of EMS services in order to aid in the provision of those services.
B. 
It is in the best interest of the residents of Edgewater to establish billing and payment procedures in order to minimize any out-of-pocket expenses for Borough residents.
C. 
No person requiring EMS services shall be denied services due to a lack of insurance or an inability to pay.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
DEPENDENT
A. 
Any individual who is the spouse or an unemancipated child (natural, adopted or stepchild) of a taxpayer or resident as defined below;
B. 
Any unemancipated child for whom the taxpayer or resident has been appointed legal guardian;
C. 
Any individual who resides in a permanent domicile of the taxpayer or resident and is claimed as a dependent for federal income tax purposes; or
D. 
Any individual who resides in the permanent domicile of the taxpayer or resident and who is deemed to be a dependent under the health insurance policy of the taxpayer or resident.
EMS PROVIDER
The Borough of Edgewater Volunteer First-Aid Squad, Borough of Edgewater paid EMTs, and any public or private provider of EMS services authorized to operate within the Borough of Edgewater.
EMS SERVICES
Ambulance services and emergency medical services, performed by any EMS provider in the Borough of Edgewater, whether paid or volunteer, public or private.
RESIDENT
Any individual whose legal domicile is within the Borough of Edgewater. Verification of domicile shall be based on voter registration, a State of New Jersey driver's license, proof of filing a State of New Jersey income tax return from a Borough of Edgewater address or other proofs accepted under federal guidelines.
TAXPAYER
Any individual listed on the deed of ownership of any property located within the municipal boundaries of the Borough of Edgewater and their dependents as defined above. In the case of a corporation or partnership, only those individuals retaining a twenty-five-percent-or-greater ownership shall be considered a taxpayer. For the purpose of determining a twenty-five-percent-or-greater ownership, adult married or civil union partners may combine their ownership. A taxpayer's dependent, as defined above, shall be considered a taxpayer.
A. 
All patients, whether or not residents of the Borough of Edgewater, and/or their financially responsible parties, insurers or carriers will be billed for EMS services provided by an EMS provider according to the fee schedule established herein or at rates established by the Borough of Edgewater from time to time.
B. 
A patient who receives EMS services is obligated, at the time of service or as soon as practicable thereafter, to provide the EMS provider with all pertinent insurance and payment information to facilitate the billing of third-party payment sources for services rendered. The Borough or EMS provider may, at its option, and shall, where required by law, bill insurers or carriers on a patient's behalf, or accept payment on an assignment basis.
C. 
All patients who are not residents or taxpayers of the Borough of Edgewater shall be liable for any copayment or deductible amounts not satisfied by public or private insurance, and the Borough or EMS provider shall make reasonable collection efforts for all such balances. The Borough may bill any applicable coinsurance carriers for such amounts. Exceptions include only those instances where the Borough or EMS provider has knowledge of a particular patient's indigence or where the Borough has made a determination that the cost of billing and collecting such copayments or deductibles exceeds or is disproportionate to the amounts to be collected.
[Amended 5-16-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-008; 2-10-2025 by Ord. No. 2025-001]
The Borough of Edgewater may contract with a professional medical billing service for the collection of payment for services rendered by the Borough of Edgewater First Aid Squad or Borough of Edgewater paid EMTs. Said bill shall be issued to the insurance company for the person served, if any, or directly to the person served if insurance coverage is not available. Fees to be charged for EMS services shall be as follows:
A. 
For ambulance transportation: $1,000.
B. 
Per loaded mile for basic life support (BLS) mileage: $25.
The Borough of Edgewater and, if applicable, its professional medical billing service shall maintain accurate records of all Borough of Edgewater EMS requests for service, service calls, and EMS services approved and/or rendered by the Borough of Edgewater First-Aid Squad or other Edgewater EMS provider. All other EMS providers shall maintain accurate records of same for all requests for service, service calls, and services approved and/or rendered by the EMS provider while on duty, as well as all other records required by the Borough. Said records shall include pertinent information about the general nature of the call and shall identify the complete name, mailing address, place of domicile, location and telephone numbers of all persons requesting and receiving EMS services, as well as all pertinent and available insurance information.
Persons receiving a bill for EMS services shall make payment to the Borough, its professional medical billing service or the EMS provider who rendered EMS services, as appropriate, within 30 days, or provide proof that they have submitted a claim to their insurance carrier for payment within 30 days of receipt of request of a bill. These provisions shall be subject to the following:
A. 
Persons receiving EMS services who have health insurance to cover ambulance and emergency medical services are expected to cooperate with the appropriate billing entity to secure full payment for services rendered.
B. 
In the event the health insurance company of a taxpayer or resident does not pay the bill in full, the EMS provider will accept such partial payment to the extent on the insured's policy limits, including deductible and coinsurance requirements, as payment in full.
C. 
In the event a taxpayer or resident of the Borough of Edgewater does not have health insurance, payment shall not be required.
D. 
Due to the time requirements for the preparation and processing of insurance claims, interest shall not be charged on Borough of Edgewater EMS billings.
E. 
After providing EMS services, the Borough shall transmit all pertinent billing information to the Borough's professional medical billing service for collection as set forth in Subsection F below. The professional medical billing service shall be responsible for receipt of payment and proper recordkeeping of its collections as provided in its contract with the Borough of Edgewater. Payments received by the professional medical billing service shall, thereafter, be transmitted electronically to a designated account of the Borough of Edgewater to be administered by the Borough of Edgewater Chief Financial Officer (CFO). In addition, the professional medical billing service shall simultaneously transmit a transport report to the Borough of Edgewater First-Aid Squad or its designee for its review and approval and transmit a copy to the Borough CFO or his or her designee. The Squad shall prepare a reconciliation report and shall monitor the operations of the professional medical billing service, including billing activities and receipt of funds.
F. 
The professional medical billing service shall be responsible for the initial billing and two follow-up billings. Costs associated with the professional medical billing service shall be as provided in its contract with the Borough of Edgewater. After three attempts to collect said claim, the professional medical billing service shall notify the Borough of Edgewater and relinquish rights to that billing, unless otherwise directed by the Borough Administrator. The Borough of Edgewater may turn said delinquent accounts over to a collection agency that will be compensated on a percent of cash collections of the delinquent accounts. The Borough of Edgewater reserves the right to determine that a bill is uncollectible and should be written off.
G. 
The Borough of Edgewater may, either directly or through any third-party billing agency with which it has contracted for billing and/or collections for emergency medical services, make arrangements with patients and/or their financially responsible party for installment payments of bills or forgive any bill or portion thereof so long as the Borough determines that the financial condition of the patient requires such an arrangement and the patient and/or financially responsible party has demonstrated a willingness to make good-faith efforts towards payment of the bill.
H. 
A patient, including a Borough resident, for whom the Borough of Edgewater has not received payment from a third-party payer on assignment and who receives payment directly from a third-party payer for EMS services rendered by the Borough of Edgewater First-Aid Squad or other Edgewater EMS provider is obligated to remit such monies to the Borough in the event the Borough has not been paid for services rendered. Patients who do not remit such monies may be held liable for costs of collection in addition to the charges for emergency medical services rendered. Any person who shall violate the terms and provisions of this section shall also, upon conviction, be subject to the penalties provided in the general penalty provision of this Code.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II, General Penalty.
I. 
Payment procedures for all other EMS providers shall be as set forth in the contract between the Borough and said EMS provider.