[Ord. No. 13-49-OAB]
There is hereby established a Berkeley Township Emergency Medical
Services Division (hereinafter Berkeley Township EMS) within the Police
Department of the Township of Berkeley to administer and coordinate
the emergency medical transport services provided by the Township
as a supplement to the services provided by the Township's volunteer
rescue squads.
[Ord. No. 13-49-OAB]
The Berkeley Township EMS Division shall be in compliance with
N.J.A.C. 8:40-1.1 et seq.
[Ord. No. 13-49-OAB]
The Business Administrator shall serve as head of the Berkeley
Township EMS Division. EMS Division functions shall be administered
and staff supervised by the Chief of Police and/or his/her designee.
[Ord. No. 13-49-OAB]
The Berkeley Township EMS Division is governed by all of the
policies and procedures of the Police Department. The Chief of Police
and/or his/her designee shall develop supplemental policies and procedures
tailored to the specific protocols governing the Division.
[Ord. No. 13-49-OAB]
The Berkeley Township EMS Division shall be staffed by certified
Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) employees, who shall be considered
employees of the Township, subject to all policies, procedures and
regulations applicable to Township employees and the Berkeley Police
Department.
[Ord. No. 13-49-OAB]
Each certified Emergency Medical Technician must maintain current
Emergency Medical Technician certifications to continue employment
with the Township. The employee is responsible for any expenses incurred
in maintaining their certifications. After every recertification,
the employee must provide proof of certifications and recertifications
to the Office of the Chief of Police.
[Ord. No. 13-49-OAB]
Berkeley Township EMS is to provide efficient, professional
and expedient emergency medical care and transportation.
[Ord. No. 13-49-OAB]
The Chief of Police or designee shall be responsible for the
overall operation of the Division, including, but is not limited to,
administration of the State licensing, creation and maintenance of
standard operating procedures and third party billing issues.
[Ord. No. 13-49-OAB]
The staff of the Berkeley Township EMS Division will receive
such compensation as is provided for by salary ordinance covering
their titles adopted by the Township of Berkeley.
[Ord. No. 13-49-OAB; amended 7-25-2022 by Ord. No. 22-23-OAB]
The fee schedule for emergency medical services transport by
the Township of Berkeley is as follows:
a. Base rate. The base rate is $850 per transport. This rate includes
the dispatch of two EMTs; services of basic life support; and emergency
ambulance transportation to the following health care facilities:
3. Community Medical Center.
4. Centrastate Medical Center.
5. Jersey Shore University Medical Center (in the event that a Level
1 trauma center is needed).
b. Mileage charge. A mileage charge of $25 per mile shall be added to
the base rate.
c. Additional charges.
7. Aspirin (per administration): $5;
10.
Extra attendant/bariatric: $25;
12.
Non-emergency stretcher transport: $500;
13.
Refusal (treatment without transport): $250; and
14.
Standby assignment outside local: $25 per crew member/per hour.
d. Third-party plan for emergency medical services.
1. The New Jersey State Department of Health has issued licensure for
the Berkeley Township Police Department Emergency Medical Services
(the "EMS program") administered by the Township of Berkeley; and
2. The Township has a "provider number" with Federal and State Medicare/Medicaid
programs, that enables the municipality to engage in a third-party
payment plan ("payment plan"); and
3. Most residents have a health insurance plan or Medicare/Medicaid
which provides payment to relieve their payment obligations; and
4. The Township shall not balance-bill the deductibles and co-pays for
Berkeley Township residents, including those covered by Medicare/Medicaid,
or bill Berkeley Township residents for payment obligations without
insurance coverage.
5. It is in the best interest of the taxpayers of the Township to fully
utilize its payment plan in accordance with Health Care Finance Administration
Guidelines (HCFA) so that taxpayers will not be responsible for any
out-of-pocket expenses.
e. Billing responsibility. The Township Administrator, Chief Financial
Officer and Chief of Police or his/her designee will be responsible
for the plan's billing.