Chapter 5.08
AMBULANCES*
Sections:
I. Definitions
5.08.025 City fire based emergency medical services.
II. Ambulance Business
5.08.040 License – Application.
III. City Fire Based Emergency Medical Services
5.08.350 Fire-EMS transport fee imposed.
5.08.360 Medicare and Medicaid.
5.08.370 Policy and financial assistance.
*For the statutory provisions regarding the state first aid and equipment minimum requirements for ambulances and ambulance drivers, see RCW 70.54.060.
I. Definitions
5.08.010 Ambulance.
As used in this chapter, “ambulance” means and includes any motor vehicle acting as a common carrier for hire for the transportation or conveyance of sick or injured persons. (Ord. 3214 § 1, 2012; Ord. 1354 § 1, 1967).
5.08.020 Ambulance business.
As used in this chapter, “ambulance business” is any person, firm or corporation engaged in the business of carrying or transporting for hire by use of an ambulance so designed for that purpose, or an automobile so adapted to that purpose, any sick or injured person from the scene of any accident, disaster, building, home or other place. (Ord. 3214 § 1, 2012; Ord. 1354 § 2, 1967).
5.08.025 City fire based emergency medical services.
“City fire based emergency medical services” or “fire-EMS” means medical treatment and care that may be rendered by city fire department personnel at the scene of any medical emergency or while transporting any patient in a fire department transport unit to an appropriate medical facility. (Ord. 3214 § 1, 2012).
II. Ambulance Business
5.08.030 License – Required.
No person, firm or corporation shall engage in the business of operating any ambulance or ambulances to carry or transport any sick or injured person or persons from the scene of any accident, disaster, home, building or other place within the city for hire, without having first obtained an ambulance business license in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 5.05 LMC. (Ord. 3214 § 1, 2012; Ord. 2078 § 1, 1982; Ord. 1354 § 3, 1967).
5.08.040 License – Application.
Any person, firm or corporation desiring to obtain an ambulance business license shall file with the city clerk an application therefor, containing the following information:
(1) Name and address of the person, firm or corporation desiring an ambulance business license;
(2) A list of vehicles to be used in connection with such business, including the make and model of each vehicle;
(3) The distinguishing color scheme, design or address, including any monogram or insignia to be used on each vehicle. In addition thereto, such application shall be accompanied with a copy of the ambulance license issued to the applicant by the Secretary of the Department of Social and Health Services of the state of Washington. (Ord. 3214 § 1, 2012; Ord. 2078 § 1, 1982; Ord. 1354 § 4, 1967).
5.08.060 License – Grant.
Upon receipt of a properly executed application for ambulance business license as required by LMC 5.08.040, the city clerk shall grant to such applicant a license to engage in the ambulance business. (Ord. 3214 § 1, 2012; Ord. 2078 § 1, 1982; Ord. 1354 § 6, 1967).
5.08.340 Ambulance rates.
Each holder of an ambulance business license shall file with the city clerk a schedule of rates charged for ambulance services. In the event of any changes in rates, the revised rate schedule shall be filed with the city clerk not less than 30 days prior to the effective date of such change. (Ord. 3214 § 1, 2012; Ord. 2078 § 1, 1982; Ord. 1354 § 29, 1967).
III. City Fire Based Emergency Medical Services
5.08.350 Fire-EMS transport fee imposed.
(1) All persons receiving emergency medical services transport (“EMS transport”) by the city’s fire department shall be charged and billed an EMS transport fee (“the fee”). The initial fee is set at $1,439 per ALS transport and $885.00 per BLS transport plus $22.00 per mile. The fee shall be adjusted in the future as necessary by resolution of the city council. The city manager or his/her designee shall establish a procedure to bill and collect fees.
(2) A resident of the city, or an employee transported from his or her place of employment within the city, who supplies the city with the medical insurance information and documentation needed to bill his or her insurance provider for the fee, and who assigns his or her insurance benefits for the same to the city, shall not be billed for that portion of the fee that is in excess of amounts paid by his or her insurer(s).
(3) A person who does not meet the criteria set forth in subsection (2) of this section, who supplies the city with the medical insurance information and documentation needed to bill his or her insurance provider for the fee, and who assigns his or her insurance benefits for the same to the city, shall be billed for that portion of the fee that is in excess of amounts paid by his or her insurer(s).
(4) A person, regardless of residence or status as an employee within Longview, who does not supply the city with the medical insurance information and documentation needed to bill his or her insurance provider or who fails to assign such benefits to the city because he or she is unwilling, or because he or she does not have any type of insurance coverage for such charges, shall be billed for the entire fee.
(5) The fee herein imposed shall not apply to persons transported by the city’s fire department from jurisdictions outside the city’s boundaries so long as those jurisdictions do not charge an EMS transport fee.
(6) The use of the term “insurance” or any variation thereof in this section shall include Medicare and Medicaid.
(7) The use of the term “EMS transport” in this section shall mean: transportation by ground ambulance vehicle and the provision of medically necessary supplies and services, including BLS ambulance services as defined by the state (Chapter 18.73 RCW). The ambulance must be staffed by an individual who is qualified in accordance with state and local laws as an emergency medical technician basic (EMT basic). Basic emergency medical technicians perform noninvasive, basic emergency treatment. (Ord. 3214 § 1, 2012).
5.08.360 Medicare and Medicaid.
Charges for the EMS transport authorized by this chapter shall be construed and implemented in a manner consistent with Medicare and Medicaid requirements, when applicable. If any method or procedures authorized by this chapter for the purpose of establishing, implementing, imposing or collection of charges for EMS transport is found to conflict with Medicare and/or Medicaid requirements, the conflicting part of this chapter shall be inoperative to the extent the same conflicts with Medicare and/or Medicaid requirements. The operation of the remainder of this chapter shall remain unaffected. (Ord. 3214 § 1, 2012).
5.08.370 Policy and financial assistance.
(1) The city’s policy is that ability to pay is not a condition of service. All aspects of emergency medical services the city currently provides, including EMS transport, shall be provided to all patients without discrimination toward those with no ability or inadequate means to pay.
(2) The city manager or his/her designee shall establish a program consistent with criteria and rules set forth in WAC 246-453-001 through 246-453-060 to provide financial assistance and debt forgiveness to persons that do not have the ability to pay for some or all of the fee. (Ord. 3214 § 1, 2012).