The city manager is authorized and directed to promulgate and effect such reasonable rules and regulations not inconsistent herewith, including, but not excluding, additional charges desired and necessary and not herein covered as well as any other rule or regulation desired or necessary to implement the provisions of this article.
(Ordinance 5437 adopted 12/18/06)
The business of providing ambulance service, both emergency and transfer, is declared to be a business affecting the public interest and public utility. No person shall operate a private business within the corporate or extraterritorial limits of the city without a valid permit. Permit fees and process shall be established by the city manager. Political subdivisions of the state shall be exempt from the permit requirement.
(Ordinance 5929 adopted 1/18/16)
It shall be unlawful for any person to willfully request emergency ambulance service when such person knows that the need for emergency ambulance service does not exist at the reported place and time.
(Ordinance 5808 adopted 1/20/14)
[1]
Editor’s note–Former section 4.03.026 pertaining to ambulance fees and deriving from Ordinance 5437 adopted 12/18/06, was deleted in its entirety by Ordinance 5808 adopted 1/20/14.
The ambulance service created by this division shall be available to the citizens of the city in accordance with the terms of this article and to the citizens of the county, provided a suitable contract for service in the county is approved by the city council and the county commissioner’s court.
(Ordinance 5437 adopted 12/18/06)
In this article, these terms shall have the following meaning:
(a) 
Certificate of medical necessity.
An original order, signed by a physician, indicating that the patient to be transferred cannot sit, stand, or walk and requires transportation by ambulance.
(b) 
Emergency department.
The department where emergency medical services are provided in a hospital licensed by the state.
(c) 
Emergency medical services.
Has the same meaning as that term is defined in chapter 773, Texas Health and Safety Code, as amended.
(d) 
Emergency medical services personnel.
Has the same meaning as that term is defined in chapter 773, Texas Health and Safety Code, as amended.
(e) 
Emergency patient.
Patients requiring priority emergency medical services.
(f) 
Emergency transfer.
Any immediate transfer of an emergent or unstable patient, ordered by a licensed physician, from a medical facility to an emergency department, which has the capability of providing a higher level of care or of providing a specialized type of care not available at the transferring facility.
(g) 
Health care provider.
The same meaning as that term is defined in chapter 74, Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code, as amended.
(h) 
Medical control.
The process by which a physician or, occasionally, a group of physicians, advise and direct patient care provided by emergency medical services personnel.
(i) 
Medical facility.
A nursing home, long-term care facility, assisted living center, any medical establishment devoted to the diagnosis and care of outpatients, or a hospice.
(Ordinance 5808 adopted 1/20/14)
(a) 
Emergency patients shall be transported to the nearest emergency department capable of caring for the emergency patient.
(b) 
The determination of which emergency department to transport the emergency patient will be by the emergency services personnel, with direction from medical control.
(c) 
Emergency patients will only be transported to emergency departments.
(Ordinance 5437 adopted 12/18/06)
Emergency transfers shall be done from medical facilities within the city limits to emergency departments and medical facilities within the city and Denison.
(Ordinance 5808 adopted 1/20/14)
(a) 
Any person who uses the ambulance service of the city, whether such person requested the same or not by reason of emergencies then existing, shall pay for such service; provided, however, that health-care providers requesting ambulance service on behalf of their patients shall be billed directly and shall be responsible for such charges established by ordinance.
(b) 
The fees and charges for the use of the city ambulance service along with specified collection standards shall be established by the city manager.