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<br />M Martinsville <br /> <br />City Council <br />Agenda Summary <br /> <br />Meeting Date: <br />Item No: <br />Department: <br />Issue: <br /> <br />March 14,2006 <br /> <br />14. <br /> <br />Fire & EMS <br /> <br />Discussion concerning the need to increase EMS ambulance <br />transport fee rates to be more in line with recent changes in <br />Medicare reimbursement schedule and policies. <br /> <br />Summary: <br /> <br />Medicare adjusted their EMS ambulance fee reimbursement schedule on January <br />1, 2006. Since this change, the City's EMS ambulance transport fee rates are well <br />below Medicare's allowable charges. In addition, Medicare has established a new <br />policy in which they no longer want to reimburse EMS ambulance fees at a rate <br />higher than what private insurance companies reimburse. Medicare now looks <br />unfavorably on agencies that do not charge at least the minimum allowed by them. <br /> <br />Explanation: Most private insurance companies only reimburse 80% of what we <br />charge. So, if the City's EMS ambulance fee rates are at Medicare's minimum, <br />private insurance companies will be paying less than Medicare. <br /> <br />The City of Martinsville began charging for EMS ambulance transports September <br />1,2004. Since that time there has not been any adjustments made to our fee <br />rates. <br /> <br />We recommend an increase in the City's EMS ambulance transport fee rates (as <br />outlined below), effective April 1, 2006. <br /> <br />· BLS Emergency Transport <br />· ALS-l Emergency Transport <br />· ALS- 2 Emergency Transport <br />· Loaded Mileage Charge <br /> <br />$350.00 <br />$450.00 <br />$550.00 <br />$9.00 per loaded mile <br /> <br />Attachments: <br /> <br />Spreadsheet <br /> <br />Recommendations: Place on next agenda <br />