Ordinance 37060006.90000
BFP /WSS /gjz
10/21/08
ORDINANCE NO. 3706
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF EDMONDS,
WASHINGTON, ADOPTING A NEW CHAPTER 5.60 ECC
EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE TRANSPORT CHARGES.
TO RECOVER FROM USERS CERTAIN COSTS OF
PROVIDING EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES
TRANSPORT, PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY AND
FIXING A TIME WHEN THE SAME SHALL BECOME
EFFECTIVE.
WHEREAS, the City of Edmonds, through its Fire Department, provides
emergency medical service (EMS) as authorized by the State of Washington; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to 35A.11.020 as an exercise of the power granted by RCW
35.27.370(15), the City Council of the City of Edmonds has discretion to charge fees to those
receiving EMS transportation from the City's Fire Department; and
WHEREAS, the City does not currently charge EMS transportation fees to those
receiving the same from the City's Fire Department even though the fees are generally covered
by most medical insurance policies, including but not limited to Medicare and Medicaid; and
WHEREAS, funds derived from the City's voter approved EMS levy, even at its
maximum rate, are insufficient to fully fund EMS; and
WHEREAS, as a result, EMS must be subsidized by funds from the City's
General Fund; and
WHEREAS, the City Council finds that those benefiting from the City's EMS
transportation should be charged a fee to reimburse the City, at least partially, for the cost of
providing the same; and
- 1 -
WHEREAS, the City Council finds that fees charged for EMS transportation
should vary depending on services received; NOW, THEREFORE,
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EDMONDS, WASHINGTON, DO
Section 1. Adopted. A new Chapter 5.60 ECC, Emergency Medical Service
Transport Charges is hereby adopted to read as follows:
Chapter 5.60
EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE
TRANSPORT CHARGES
Sections:
5.60.010
EMS Transport Charges Imposed
5.60.020
Categories of EMS Transport Charge
5.60.030
Medicare and Medicaid
5.60.040
EMS Transport Fund
5.60.050
Policy and Financial Assistance
5.60.010 EMS Transport Charges Imposed.
A. All persons transported for emergency medical service
(EMS) by the City's Fire Department emergency aid and
paramedic units after December 31, 2008 shall be charged and
billed by the City at rates set and adjusted as necessary by
Resolution of the City Council. The Mayor or designee shall
establish a procedure to bill and collect EMS transport charges.
The City may contract with a billing service and /or collection
agency to bill and collect the same.
B. A resident of the City, or a resident of a jurisdiction that
contracts with the City for EMS, or an employee at, and
transported from, a business within the City or a jurisdiction that
contracts with the City for EMS, who supplies the City with
information and documentation of his medical insurance policy
necessary to bill his insurance provider for EMS transport charges,
and who assigns his insurance benefits for the same to the City
shall not be billed for that portion of the EMS transport charges
that is in excess of amounts paid by his insurer(s).
-2-
C. A person who does not meet the criteria set forth above in
subsection B, who supplies the City with information and
documentation of his medical insurance policy necessary to bill his
insurance provider for EMS transport charges, and who assigns his
insurance benefits for the same to the City, shall be billed for that
portion of the EMS transport charges that is in excess of amounts
paid by his insurer(s).
D. A person, regardless of residence, who does not supply the
City with information and documentation of his medical insurance
policy necessary to bill his insurance provider for EMS transport
charges because he is unable or unwilling, or because he does not
have any type of insurance coverage that for such charges, or who
fails to assign his insurance benefits for the same to the City, shall
be billed for the entire EMS transport charges.
E. The EMS transport charges herein imposed shall not apply
to persons transported by the City's Fire Department emergency
aid and paramedic units from geographical boundaries of the cities
of Lynnwood, Mountlake Terrace, Brier and Shoreline or the
unincorporated areas of Snohomish County other than Esperance
served by Fire District #l, unless specifically authorized by
interlocal agreement.
F. The use of the term "insurance" or any variation thereof in
this section shall include Medicare and Medicaid.
5.60.020 Categories of EMS Transport Charge.
EMS transport charges shall consist of one of the following, in
addition to a charge for each mile, or fraction thereof, that the
patient is transported: Basic Life Support, Advanced Life Support
Level 1, or Advanced Life Support Level 2. Such additional
charges shall be established by resolution (see 5.60.010(A)).
5.60.030 Medicare and Medicaid.
Charges for the EMS transport authorized by this Chapter shall be
construed and implemented in a manner consistent with applicable
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 applies to Medicare and or
-3-
Medicaid. The operation of the remainder of this Chapter shall
remain unaffected.
5.60.040 Policy and Financial Assistance.
A. It is City of Edmonds' policy that ability to pay is never a
condition of service. All aspects of pre - hospital service shall be
provided to all patients without discrimination toward those with
no ability or inadequate means to pay.
B. The Mayor or 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 in full for EMS transport
charges imposed in this Chapter.
Section 2. Severability. If any section, sentence, clause or phrase of this
ordinance should be held to be invalid or unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction,
such invalidity or unconstitutionality shall not affect the validity or constitutionality of any other
section, sentence, clause or phrase of this ordinance.
Section 3. Effective Date. This ordinance, being an exercise of a power specifi-
cally delegated to the City legislative body, is not subject to referendum, and shall take effect
five (5) days after passage and publication of an approved summary thereof consisting of the
title.
ATTEST /AUTHENTICATED :
"-A", Al 6&A4Z
ITY CLERK, SANDRA S. CHASE
APPROVED:
— /A -d�
MA-/OIZ–GA&k HAAKENSON
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
OFFICE OF T E CI ATT EY:
BY
W. SCOTT SNYDER
FILED WITH THE CITY CLERK: 11/14/2008
PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL: 11/18/2008
PUBLISHED: 11/23/2008
EFFECTIVE DATE: 11/28/2008
ORDINANCE NO. 3706
-5-
SUMMARY OF ORDINANCE NO. 3706
of the City of Edmonds, Washington
On the 18th day of November, 2008, the City Council of the City of
Edmonds, passed Ordinance No. 3706. A summary of the content of said ordinance,
consisting of the title, provides as follows:
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF EDMONDS, WASHINGTON, ADOPTING A
NEW CHAPTER 5.60 ECC EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE TRANSPORT
CHARGES. TO RECOVER FROM USERS CERTAIN COSTS OF PROVIDING
EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES TRANSPORT, PROVIDING FOR
SEVERABILITY AND FIXING A TIME WHEN THE SAME SHALL BECOME
EFFECTIVE.
The full text of this Ordinance will be mailed upon request.
DATED this 19th day of November, 2008.
,J�'
CITY CLERK, SANDRA S. CHASE
11011
STATE OF WASHINGTON,
COUNTY OF SNOHOMISH
EDP
Affidavit of Publication
S.S.
The undersigned, being first duly sworn on oath deposes and says that she is Principal Clerk of
TtIE HERALD, a daily newspaper printed and published in the City of Everett, County of
Snohomish, and State of Washington; that said newspaper is a newspaper of general
circulation in said County and State; that said newspaper has been approved as a legal
newspaper by order of the Superior Court of Snohomish County and that the notice
Summary of Ordinance No. 3706
Adopting a New Chapter 5.60 ECC re:
SUMMARY OF ORDINANCE NO. 3706
and that said newspaper was regularly distributed to its subscribers during all of said period.
.
o the Ci offdmonds; Washington ,
On the 18th day of November; 2008; the City Council of
Emergency Medical Service Transport Charges
the City-,of Edmonds, passed Ordinance No, 3706 A sum <
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 24th
.mary of the content of said ordinance consisting of the title_,`
clay of November, 2008 '
provides as follows:
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF EDMONDS, WASHING-
a printed copy of which is hereunto attached, was published in said newspaper proper and not
TON, ADOPTING;A NEW CHAPTE.R`5:60 ECC;EMERGEN
CY7MEDICAL SERVICE TRANSPORT CHARGES.
in supplement form, in the regular and entire edition of said paper on the following days and
CQVER,F.ROM USERS CERTAIN COSTS OF:P,ROVIDING
times, Hamel y
EMERGENCY MEDICAL` §ERVICE$ TRANSPORT, i -;
HIDING'FOR SEVERABILITY AND, FIXING A,TIME'WHEN
THE'SAISIESHALLBEOOME EFFECTIVE.
November 23, 2008
The full,textfof this Ordinance will tie mailed upon request::
Account Number: 1014161 U 04ki fiber: 000162459
DATED this:l9t6day of,November,2008. '
CITY;GLERK, SANDRA S. CHASE.
Published: November 23, 2008.
,fB�IFO
and that said newspaper was regularly distributed to its subscribers during all of said period.
Principal Clerk
RECEIVED,
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 24th
clay of November, 2008 '
DEC 0 $ 2008
(jAa&�IL
EDMDNU CIN CLERK
Notary Public in and r the State of %V al>t at veret nnhomish
County. <t '�• Atp III
Account Name: City of Edmonds
Account Number: 1014161 U 04ki fiber: 000162459
,fB�IFO
„W\NcX�r