HomeMy WebLinkAboutR-2008-147 Transport Fees RESOLUTION NO. 2008-147
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF DANIA BEACH,FLORIDA,SETTING FEES
FOR THE TRANSPORT OF PATIENTS TO LOCAL HOSPITALS BY THE CITY
OF DANIA BEACH FIRE-RESCUE DEPARTMENT; PROVIDING FOR A
"COMPASSION POLICY"; PROVIDING FOR CONFLICTS; FURTHER,
PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) of the United States
Department of Health has implemented changes in the structure of transport fees with such changes
to become effective September 1, 2008; and
WHEREAS, it is recommended that the City adopt fees that are consistent with such
changes; and
WHEREAS,the City wishes to provide a"Compassion Policy"allowing for options for the
payment of such transport fees;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE
CITY OF DANIA BEACH, FLORIDA:
Section 1. That the following fees for the transport of patients to local hospitals by the
City of Dania Beach Fire-Rescue Department are approved:
ALL LEVELS OF TRANSPORT $650.00
COSTS PER MILE $12.00
Section 2. That with respect to increasing costs associated with transporting patients,an
automatic five percent(5%) per annum increase in the above stated fee is adopted.
Section 3. That the "Compassion Policy" allowing options for the payment of such
transport fees, a copy of which policy is attached to this Resolution, is approved for City use.
Section 4. That all resolutions or parts of resolutions in conflict with this Resolution are
repealed to the extent of such conflict.
Section 5. That this Resolution shall be in force and take effect immediately on October
1, 2008.
PASSED AND ADOPTED on August 26, 2008.
ALBERT C. JONES
MAYOR-COMMISSIONYR
ATTEST: 0
A no-,4-t leww
LOUISE STILSON, CMC
CITY CLERK
AtEO
APPROVED AS TO AND CORRECTNESS
BY:
TH6kl4 J. BRO
CITY ATTO EY
2 RESOLUTION #2008-147
ATTACHMENT "A"
CITY OF DANIA BEACH
COMPASSION POLICY
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services (CMS) of the United States Department of Health
Manual, Chapter 16, Section 50.3, provides that:
A [State or Local government] facility which reduces or waives its charges for patients
unable to pay, or charges patients only to the extent of their Medicare and other health
insurance coverage, is not viewed as furnishing free services and may therefore receive
program payment.
OVERVIEW
Dania Beach Fire Rescue has approved uniform policies and procedures for the determination of
"unsponsored charity care". These policies and procedures shall be applicable and effective
September 1,2008.Unless a patient has been rated financially indigent or a reduction consistent with
the financially indigent patient or an estate representative has been established,the patient or other
responsible party under applicable contracts,laws, or regulations, is fully expected to pay the entire
bill in a timely manner.
No patient account(s) will be considered for reduction without the proper written request,
documentation or both from the patient, legal representative, or family member.
All patient accounts must be reviewed uniformly by definition of the components of unsponsored
charity care. This shall be accomplished by the Dania Beach Fire Rescue Transport Reimbursement
Executive Board. This board shall consist of the city attorney, finance director, and the EMS
Coordinator.
DEFINITIONS AND POLICY
Unsponsored Charity Care
Financially Indigent. Unsponsored charity care shall include unreimbursed services to the
financially indigent. Financially indigent shall mean uninsured or underinsured patients with no
obligation or a discounted obligation to pay for services rendered based on Dania Beach's formal
eligibility which may include: (a) income levels; or (b) other criteria for determining a patient's
inability to pay that are consistent with the service's mission and established policy.The Department
of Health and Human Services Poverty Guidelines shall serve as an index for the threshold below
which patients receiving care from Dania Beach Fire Rescue are deemed financially indigent.
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Charity Care Determination
No patient shall be awarded any ATite-off financial or otherwise without the approval by the Dania
Beach Fire Rescue Transport Reimbursement Board.The determination may be made after review of
documentation of a hardship as submitted by the patient. In order to facilitate the review process,the
Transport Reimbursement Board may examine copies of recent Federal tax returns, itemization of
sources of revenue for the current year and anticipated expenses,and any other documentation which
may prove evidence of hardship. All information submitted will be kept confidential to the extent
provided by law.
Contractual Adjustments
Contractual Adjustments to commercial contracts, Medicare or both shall not be counted as
unsponsored charity care.
Bad Debt
Bad debts shall not be counted as unsponsored charity care.Bad debts shall include the uncollected
billed charges for services rendered to patients who do not qualify under the definition of
unsponsored charity care. Contractual adjustments shall not be considered bad debt.
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