[Ord. #006-2007, § 1]
The Township of Upper provides emergency medical services (EMS)
to citizens and visitors to the Township of Upper to the extent that
services are available. EMS services are provided by employees of
the Township of Upper in the Upper Township Division of EMS, by volunteers
through the Upper Township Rescue Squad, Inc. and by other municipalities
through an interlocal services agreement where applicable.
[Ord. #006-2007, § 1]
In addition to the emergency medical services as provided in Subsection 25-1.1, the Township of Upper may provide secondary nonemergency transport based on criteria established by the Upper Township Division of EMS.
[Ord. #006-2007, § 1]
All persons needing EMS who are located within the Township
of Upper shall be serviced to the extent that services are available
without discrimination on any basis and without respect to residency,
ability to pay, or any other factor. No person located within the
Township of Upper at the time emergency services are needed shall
be denied available service, when such services are available. There
shall be no delay in providing available service due to EMS cost-recovery
procedures.
[Ord. #006-2007, § 1]
The costs of providing available service due to EMS shall be
paid by a combination of insurance payments for service to persons
who have insurance coverage; direct payments from persons served for
amounts not covered by insurance; revenues from service agreements
with persons, agencies, and jurisdictions that rely on EMS and local
residents who certify they do not have insurance coverage or other
resources to pay for service.
[Ord. #006-2007, § 1]
Personnel of the Upper Township Division of EMS shall maintain
accurate records of all EMS requests for service, service calls and
services provided. Said records shall include pertinent information
about the general nature of the call and shall identify the complete
name, mailing address, location and telephone numbers of all persons
requesting and receiving EMS services.
[Ord. #006-2007, § 1; Ord. #002-2011, § 1;
amended 3-25-2019 by Ord. No. 002-2019; 3-28-2022 by Ord. No. 006-2022]
a.
The Township
Committee shall, by resolution, set forth the amount to be charged
for EMS services or nonemergency transport.
b.
The Township
of Upper shall contract with a third-party billing agent who shall
issue a bill in each instance where EMS services or nonemergency transport
are provided. Said bill shall be issued to the insurance company providing
coverage for the person served, if any, or directly to the person
served if insurance coverage is not available.
[Ord. #006-2007, § 1]
Persons receiving bills for EMS services shall make payment
in full to the Chief Financial Officer of the Township of Upper, or
her designee, within 30 days, or provide proof that they have submitted
a claim to their insurance carrier for payment within 30 days of receipt
of the bill. These provisions shall be subject to the following:
a.
Persons receiving EMS service who have health insurance to cover
ambulance and emergency medical services are expected to cooperate
with the Chief Financial Officer, or her designee, and other personnel
as designated by the Township of Upper to secure full payment for
services rendered.
b.
In the event the health insurance company of a taxpayer or full-time
resident of the Township of Upper does not pay the bill in full, the
Township will accept such partial payment to the extent of the insured's
policy limits, including deductible and co-insurance requirements,
as payment in full.
c.
In the event a taxpayer or year-around resident of the Township of
Upper does not have health insurance, payment in full shall be required;
except that, upon submission of proof in accordance with the rules
and regulations established concerning the inability to pay the full
charge, a minimum payment in the amount not less than the current
and customary Medicare payment for emergency medical services shall
be accepted.
d.
Due to time requirements for the preparation and processing of insurance
claims, interest shall not be charged on EMS billings.
e.
The Chief Financial Officer, or her designee, shall be responsible
for receipt of all payments and the communication to the third-party
billing agent for payments received. The third-party billing agent
shall be responsible for accounting of payments and providing the
Township with a current billing and receivable ledger. The third-party
billing agent is responsible for the initial billing and two follow-up
billings. Costs associated with the third-party billing agent shall
be based solely on a percent of cash collections. After three attempts
to collect said claim, the third party billing agent shall notify
the Township and relinquish rights to that billing. The Township of
Upper shall turn said delinquent accounts to a collection agency who
will be compensated on a percent of cash collections of the delinquent
accounts. The Township of Upper reserves the right to determine that
a bill is uncollectible and written off.
[Ord. #006-2007, § 1]
For the purpose of emergency medical services charges, the following
definitions shall apply:
Shall mean:
Any individual who is the spouse or unmarried child (natural,
adopted or stepchild) under the age of 19 years of a taxpayer or year
round resident as defined in this subsection;
Any unmarried child under the age of 19 years for whom the taxpayer
or year-round resident has been appointed legal guardian;
Any individual who resides in the permanent domicile of the
taxpayer or year-round resident and is claimed as a dependent for
Federal income tax purposes; or
Any individual who resides in the permanent domicile of the
taxpayer or year-round resident and who is deemed to be a dependent
under the health insurance policy of the taxpayer or year-round resident.
Shall mean any individual listed on the deed of ownership
of any property located within the municipal boundaries of the Township
of Upper and their "dependents," as defined in this section. In the
case of a corporation or partnership, only those individuals retaining
a 25% or greater ownership shall be considered a taxpayer. For the
purpose of determining a 25% or greater ownership, adult married husband
and wife may combine their ownership.
Shall mean any individual residing within the municipal boundaries
of the Township of Upper for a period of at least six months during
the year prior to EMS service. Verification of residency shall be
based on voter registration, or a State of New Jersey driver's license,
or proof of filing a State of New Jersey income tax return from a
Township of Upper address. A "dependent," as defined in this section,
shall be considered a "taxpayer."
[Ord. #006-2007, § 1]
The Township of Upper is authorized to adopt, by resolution,
rules and regulations to implement the emergency medical services
provisions of this chapter, including but not limited to the criteria
by which eligibility to pay is determined. On matters not addressed
by provisions of this chapter or specific regulations and implementation
decisions by resolution of the Township of Upper, the Chief Financial
Officer of Upper Township (as to the billing and collection aspect)
is authorized to establish and follow administrative rules and regulations
for the effective administration of this chapter.
