Title
Consider and take action on an ordinance amending Chapter 38, Article III, Section 38-101 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of League City, Texas entitled "Fee for City Emergency Medical Service" (Assistant City Manager, Public Safety)
Staff Recommends Approval.
Summary
The current EMS billing rates were adopted by ordinance 28-101 in FY 2005. The adopted rates are as follows:
Basic Life Support $550
Advanced Life Support 1 $650
Advanced Life Support 2 $750
First Party no Transport Fee $100
In FY 2010 EMS ran 4,008 calls. EMS transported 2,107 of these with an average gross collection rate of 49%. EMS collected $788,689 using the current rates.
In April 2010 EMS performed an ambulance rate survey using the following area agencies:
Clear Lake Emergency Medical Corp
La Porte EMS
Pearland EMS
Angleton Area Emergency Medical Corp
Dickinson EMS
Baytown EMS
Galveston EMS
Upon completion of the survey, it was determined that League City EMS was approximately $200 to $250 per transport below the other area agencies, with a few exceptions. League City EMS was also $50 lower for the first person non-transport fee.
EMS Proposes increasing the billing rates as follows:
Basic Life Support $700
Advanced Life Support 1 $800
Advanced Life Support 2 $900
First Party no Transport Fee $150
There are many factors that affect EMS and medical billing, such as the economy, changes in state and federal medical billing regulations and call volume. If these rates are approved, this may result in an additional $150,000 to $200,000 increase in revenue.
Fiscal Impact
Staff Recommendation
Staff recommends approval
Drafter
PLW