[Ord. No. 07-04, 2-27-2007]
Reasonable fees shall be charged for emergency medical transport
services provided by all emergency medical services personnel, whether
provided by volunteer or City employees. The schedule of rates for
services shall be established by resolution of the City Council of
the City of Fredericksburg. The funds received from the payment of
this fee shall be paid into the general fund of the City to aid in
defraying the payment of this fee shall be paid into the general fund
of the City to aid in defraying the cost of providing such service.
[Ord. No. 07-04, 2-27-2007]
The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article,
shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where
the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
Services shall be medical treatment or procedures provided
to a patient beyond the scope of an EMT-Basic as defined by the Nation
EMS Education and Practice Blueprint as amended.
Services shall be defined as advanced life support services
provided to a patient including one or more of the following medical
procedures:
Services shall be medical treatment or procedures to a patient
as defined by the National Emergency Medicine Services (EMS) Education
and Practice Blueprint for the Emergency Medical Technician Basic
(EMT).
Mileage shall be assessed in statute miles from the location
of the incident to a hospital or other facility where a patient is
transported. Transportation fees shall be assessed per statute mile
from the location of the incident scene, or from the center point
of the emergency demand zone, if applicable, where an incident scene
or address is located, to a hospital or other facility where a patient
is transported. The City Manager is authorized to establish emergency
demand zones for the purpose of administering this article.
[Ord. No. 07-04, 2-27-2007]
A.
A bill will be generated for ambulance transports by all emergency
medical personnel whether volunteer or City employees.
B.
Patients will fall into one of the following categories for billing
purposes:
(1)
Insured, City resident or non-resident. The appropriate insurance
carrier will be billed.
(2)
Uninsured City residents. The City of Fredericksburg Compassionate
Billing Policy provides for waiver of emergency transport fees for
eligible uninsured City residents. A statement showing zero balance
will be sent to any patient qualifying for such waiver.
(3)
Uninsured non-resident. A bill will be sent to the patient transported.
If the individual has the ability to pay, then payment is expected
in full. If the patient can demonstrate financial hard ship in accordance
with the compassionate billing policy, they may qualify for waiver
of fees.
(4)
Bill generated/no collection. There are instances when a bill is
generated in which the City would be merely transferring funds from
one department budget to another to satisfy the bill. For example,
when an on-duty City employee is transported for a compensable workers'
compensation injury, the employee's department is responsible for
payment of those expenses. Generally, when an inmate of the regional
jail is transported, the sheriff's department is responsible for the
bill. The billing contractor will update its records to reflect such
adjustment. For accounting purposes, interdepartmental transfers (IDT's)
will not be required when an internal bill is generated. However,
designated personnel will notify the City's billing contractor that
the bill generated is internal to the City in those circumstances
to ensure proper record keeping.
(5)
If the workers' compensation claim is denied, the employee's health
insurance will be billed. The Commonwealth of Virginia will be billed
for transports of state inmates in the judicial system.
[Ord. No. 07-04, 2-27-2007]
A.
No one will ever be denied necessary medical transport service due
to either his or her inability to pay or a lack of insurance.
B.
All consumers of ambulance services will be asked, in writing, to
provide information regarding available insurance coverage. All consumers
of ambulance services will receive written notification of the value
of services received and notice of billing forwarded to their insurer(s).
C.
Compassionate billing is intended to eliminate or minimize out-of-pocket
expenses for ambulance services received by City residents. The City
regards taxes paid by our residents as inclusive of co-pays and/or
deductibles for ambulance service for all persons living in a taxpaying
household. Elderly or disabled residents qualifying for real estate
tax relief pursuant to City ordinance shall be deemed qualified for
relief from any deductible or co-pay for ambulance services received.
D.
Any resident lacking health insurance may submit a waiver request
form stating a financial hardship. No personal banking information
or tax form copies will be required as proof; the good-faith statement
made by the resident regarding household income level will suffice.
Residents showing household income below $100,000 shall qualify for
waiver of fees based on hardship.
E.
The City's billing company will not pursue payment recovery through
a debt collection agency without express authorization of the City
administrator or his designee.
F.
Nonresidents receiving City medical transport will receive a bill,
but these nonresidents may also apply for financial hardship waiver.
G.
If any insured party requires EMS transport within a given calendar
year that exceeds his or her policy limits and no additional insurance
coverage is available, the fees for service beyond coverage limits
will be waived.
H.
If the insurance company deems the transport is not medically necessary
the billing company will verify the information that was submitted
to the insurance company and resubmit the claim for reconsideration.
If the insurance carrier still deems the transport not medically necessary
the City administrator or his designee will review the individual
case for possible waiver of the fees.
[Ord. No. 07-04, 2-27-2007]
Billing and collection services will be provided by a billing
contractor. No City emergency medical personnel, whether volunteer
or City employee will accept or receive payment on behalf of a patient.
Any inquiries regarding billing or collection procedure will be referred
to the billing contractor, or to designated personnel of Fredericksburg
Fire Department.
