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:
Emergency.
Any circumstance that calls for immediate action and in which the element of time in transporting the sick, wounded or injured for medical treatment is essential to the health or life of the person. Such circumstances include, but are not limited to, accidents generally, traffic accidents and acts of violence resulting in personal injury and sudden illness.
Emergency ambulance.
Any motor vehicle especially designed, constructed, equipped and used for transporting the injured or sick in answer to an emergency call.
Emergency call.
Any request for ambulance service that is made by telephone or other means of communication in circumstances which are, or have been represented to be, an emergency and requiring immediate ambulance service.
Emergency run.
The emergency ambulance trip to the place where the emergency exists, or from the place of such emergency to a hospital, medical clinic or office or other appropriate destination for the patient.
Fire chief.
The chief of the fire department of the city or his duly authorized representative.
(1999 Code, sec. 34-22)
(a) 
Emergency ambulance service shall be under the immediate supervision of the fire chief.
(b) 
The emergency ambulance service equipment held by the city shall be utilized as an emergency ambulance service for persons requesting or utilizing such service. Subject to the approval of the city manager, the emergency ambulance equipment shall be maintained at locations under the direction of the fire chief.
(1999 Code, sec. 34-21)
(a) 
It shall be unlawful for any person to drive or operate an ambulance on the streets of the city in response to an emergency call without first notifying the police department of the city of such emergency call and the address to where the ambulance is going in response to such emergency call.
(b) 
It shall be unlawful for any person to inform the city dispatcher, fire chief, or other fire, police or city employee or official that an ambulance, or more than one ambulance, is needed at a location or address when such person knows that such statement is false.
(1999 Code, sec. 34-23)
(a) 
Service provided.
The fire department shall provide, to the extent of its available personnel and equipment, emergency ambulance service within the city.
(b) 
Fee schedule.
Fees shall be assessed to residents and nonresidents of the city for the provision of the following emergency medical services furnished by the city's fire department to residents and nonresidents in amounts adopted by resolution of the city council and published in the city's master fee schedule maintained in the office of the city secretary:
(1) 
Provision of basic life support (BLS) treatment and transportation by emergency ambulance to a full-service hospital facility to be charged on a per trip, per person basis;
(2) 
Provision of advanced life support I (ALS-I) treatment and transportation by emergency ambulance to a full-service hospital facility charged on a per trip, per person basis;
(3) 
Provision of advanced life support II (ALS-II) treatment and transportation by emergency ambulance to a full-service hospital facility to be charged on a per trip, per person basis;
(4) 
In addition to the other fees charged in this subsection (b), a fee shall be charged per loaded mile traveled by ambulance from the location where the person is loaded to the hospital facility where the person is unloaded;
(5) 
In addition to the other fees charged in this subsection (b), a fee shall be charged on a per trip, per person basis for single-usage disposable items used during the provision of basic life support (BLS) treatment;
(6) 
In addition to the other fees charged in this subsection (b), a fee of shall be charged on a per trip, per person basis for single-usage disposable items used in the provision of ALS-I or ALS-II treatment; and
(7) 
In addition to the other fees charged in this subsection (b), a fee shall be charged on a per trip, per person basis for single-usage disposable items utilized in conjunction with the provision and use of oxygen.
(c) 
Destination of transport.
The fire department of the city shall transport the injured or sick to the nearest hospital or health care facility providing emergency medical treatment, in accordance with the injury/sickness and/or location.
(1999 Code, sec. 34-24; Ordinance 2018-1256 adopted 11/13/18)
The city manager or his designee is hereby authorized to assign any fees or charges assessed under this article to any responsible insurance provider, including Medicare or Medicaid providers, in exchange for cash payment in an amount sufficient to reasonably offset the costs of service. No fees or charges shall be assigned to a Medicare or Medicaid provider if the person treated has private insurance which covers such charges.
(1999 Code, sec. 34-25)
A city resident shall not be billed by the city for the remaining unpaid balance of fees charged pursuant to section 10.02.004 for the provision of emergency medical services provided to said city resident after receipt by the city of final payment from the provider of said city resident's medical insurance benefits, with such remaining unpaid balance to be written off. The foregoing shall also apply to a nonresident of the city where the city resident is a beneficiary under such nonresident's medical insurance or other medical benefits plan and the city resident was the recipient of the emergency medical services. This section shall not apply to the billing of nonresidents at the city resident rates for the provision of emergency medical services under a mutual aid agreement pursuant to section 10.02.007.
(Ordinance 2018-1256 adopted 11/13/18)
A nonresident of the city who receives emergency medical services from the city's fire department during an emergency run made to such person's city of residence in accordance with a mutual aid or similar agreement between the city and such person's city of residence shall be charged the fees charged to the city's residents pursuant to section 10.02.004 for the provision of emergency medical services if such person's city of residence has adopted an ordinance or resolution, or has entered into an interlocal agreement with the city, providing that such other city will charge city's residents the rate such other city charges its own residents for emergency medical services if such other city provides emergency medical services to a city resident pursuant to the mutual aid or similar agreement with the city.
(Ordinance 2018-1256 adopted 11/13/18)