Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout103-0-23 Amending Title 9, Chapter 2, Section 3 “Fees Charged” to Increase Ambulance Fees10/12/2023 103-O-23 AN ORDINANCE Amending Title 9, Chapter 2, Section 3 “Fees Charged” to Increase Ambulance Fees WHEREAS, the current fee for ambulance transport service is $1500 dollars and $10 dollars per mile; and WHEREAS, the actual cost to the City of Evanston per ambulance transport service is in excess of $3000 dollars; and WHEREAS, due to the rising cost of equipment, vehicles and fuel used for emergency response, the City Council has determined it is the best interest of the City of Evanston to increase the ambulance fee to $2000 dollars and the mileage fee to $15 dollars; and WHEREAS, the increased ambulance transport fee is in line with similar municipalities fees. NOW BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EVANSTON, COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS, THAT: SECTION 1: Section 9-2-3 of the Evanston City Code of 2012, as amended (“City Code”), is hereby amended as follows: 9-2-3 FEES CHARGED (A) The Fire Chief may charge a reasonable fee for all salvage and overhaul work performed; and for standby use of fire equipment and personnel. Such fees shall not exceed actual costs plus ten percent (10%) and all fees collected shall be remitted to the City Collector. (B) Both nonresidents and residents of the City of Evanston who have been provided emergency ambulance transport service by the City shall be required to pay a fee Page 1 of 4 ~1~ Doc ID: 4f210a3dd36f5812d9a604b72db0aabaf6d4b9f8 103-O-23 ~2~ to the City, for each incident. All persons requiring transport to a hospital by the Evanston Fire Department (or its designees) and related services hereafter defined, shall be charged, per person, as follows: BLS Transport $1,500.00 $2,000.00 ALS Transport $1,500.00 $2,000.00 ALS2 Transport $1,500.00 $2,000.00 Mileage $10.00 $15.00 Definitions: BLS TRANSPORT: Transportation that requires basic life support service. ALS TRANSPORT: Transportation that requires advanced life support service. ALS2 TRANSPORT: Transportation that requires more extensive/invasive advanced life support services. MILEAGE: Charge per mile of transport in ambulance. (C) Each property owner or vehicle owner that receives any of the following emergency services from the City shall be charged the corresponding recovery fee for such services: 1. Fire Department response to a motor vehicle accident shall be charged a fee of five hundred twenty dollars ($520.00); 2. Fire Department response to a vehicle fire shall be charged six hundred five dollars ($605.00); 3. Fire Department response to a structure fire shall be charged five hundred dollars ($500.00); 4. Fire Department response to an incident requiring a special rescue, including but not limited to: industrial or vehicle extrication, above and below grade, confined space, structural and/or trench collapse incidents, shall be charged a fee of four hundred dollars ($400.00). (D) The City Manager or designee shall cause a bill to be issued and sent to the appropriate entity or person responsible for payment for said person having been transported by ambulance, having received emergency medical services, or Fire Department Response specified in this Section. The City Manager shall, with the consultation of the Fire Chief and the Director of Finance, establish a schedule of the applicable fees for all services received by a person with regard to ambulance transportation and emergency medical services. The City Manager is authorized to modify or change the fees that may be charged from time to time after consideration of certain factors. Such factors that may be considered by the City Manager include, but are not limited to, applicable Medicare rates, reimbursement Page 2 of 4 Doc ID: 4f210a3dd36f5812d9a604b72db0aabaf6d4b9f8 103-O-23 ~3~ rates, cost standards in the insurance or health care industry, and actual cost of services and supplies. The City Manager shall cause such schedule of fees to be printed and made available to the public. The City Manager way waive or reduce the fees charged in Section 9-2-3 if the individual demonstrates financial hardship. Waiver or reduction in fees shall not create a precedent and shall be performed at his/her sole discretion. (E) The City Manager or designee is hereby authorized to accept payment from Medicare, Medicaid, any Federal health care program, insurers, or other third party payers for any fee charged under this Section. The fees that are to be charged to persons shall differentiate between nonresidents and residents. 1. In relation to residents, the City will charge and collect only those amounts that are covered by Federal health care programs, including but not limited to Medicare and Medicaid, insurers, or any other third party payers. Such bills will be sent directly to the third parties, with a statement to the resident indicating that the City will accept the payment by the third party as payment in full. Any and all payments made by the aforesaid third parties for residents, will be accepted by the City as paid in full and the resident will have no obligation to make any additional payment as a co-payment, deductible, or otherwise. 2. In relation to nonresidents, the nonresident shall be liable and responsible for full payment of the transportation and services provided. 3. All fees collected in conformance with this Section shall be deposited in the general fund of the City. (F) The City Manager is hereby authorized to promulgate rules, regulations, and procedures for the implementation of this Section. (G) Nonemergency use of Fire and Life Safety Services Department personnel, vehicles, equipment or building shall not be permitted without written approval by the Fire Chief or his/her duly authorized representative. SECTION 2: All ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict herewith are hereby repealed. SECTION 3: If any provision of this ordinance or application thereof to any person or circumstance is held unconstitutional or otherwise invalid, such invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of this ordinance that can be given effect without the invalid application or provision, and each invalid provision or invalid application of this ordinance is severable. Page 3 of 4 Doc ID: 4f210a3dd36f5812d9a604b72db0aabaf6d4b9f8 103-O-23 ~4~ Introduced:_________________, 2023 Adopted:___________________, 2023 Approved: __________________________, 2023 _______________________________ Daniel Biss, Mayor Attest: _______________________________ Stephanie Mendoza, City Clerk Approved as to form: _______________________________ Alexandra B. Ruggie, Interim Corporation Counsel October 12 November 13 Page 4 of 4 Doc ID: 4f210a3dd36f5812d9a604b72db0aabaf6d4b9f8 November 21