CHAPTER 24
BASIC LIFE SUPPORT EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES TRANSPORT USER FEE1
SECTION:
5-24-1: BLS Transport User Fee Imposed
5-24-3: Policy And Financial Assistance
5-24-1 BLS TRANSPORT USER FEE IMPOSED:
A. Effective September 1, 2013, all persons receiving basic life support emergency medical services transport (“BLS transport”) by the City shall be charged and billed a BLS transport user fee (“the fee”). The initial fee is set at six hundred dollars ($600.00) per transport plus fourteen dollars ($14.00) per mile. The fee may be adjusted in the future as necessary by the City Council as set forth in the City of Renton’s Fee Schedule. The Finance Administrator or his/her designee shall establish a procedure to bill and collect BLS transport fees. The City may contract with a billing service and/or collection agency to bill and collect the same.
B. A resident of the City who supplies the City with the medical insurance information and documentation needed to bill his or her insurance provider(s) 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).
C. A nonresident who supplies the City with the medical insurance information and documentation needed to bill his or her insurance provider(s) 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).
D. A person, regardless of residence, who does not supply the City with the medical insurance information and documentation needed to bill his or her insurance provider(s) 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.
E. The fee herein imposed shall not apply to persons who reside in jurisdictions that impose a Fire Benefit Charge and contract with the City for Fire and Emergency Services.
F. The use of the term “insurance” or any variation thereof in this section shall include Medicare and Medicaid.
G. The use of the term “BLS 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, now or as hereafter amended). 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 non-invasive, basic emergency treatment.
H. The use of the term “resident” in this section shall mean: a person whose principal place of residence is, or who is an employee of a business, located within the boundaries of the City or within the extended City fire service area.
I. The use of the term “extended City fire service area” in this section shall include the contract communities of King County Fire Protection Districts 25 and 40. (Ord. 5677, 12-3-12, eff. 9-1-13)
5-24-2 MEDICARE AND MEDICAID:
Charges for the BLS transport user fee 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 collecting charges for BLS 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. 5677, 12-3-12, eff. 9-1-13)
5-24-3 POLICY AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE:
A. It is the City’s policy that ability to pay is not a condition of BLS transport service. All aspects of emergency medical services the City currently provides, including BLS transport, shall be provided to all patients without discrimination toward those with no ability or inadequate means to pay.
B. The Finance Administrator or his/her designee shall establish a program consistent with criteria and rules set forth in WAC 246-453-001 through 246-453-060, now or as hereafter amended, 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. 5677, 12-3-12, eff. 9-1-13)
Code reviser’s note: Ordinance 5677 provides that this chapter becomes effective September 1, 2013.