Explanation
BACKGROUND:
Ordinance 0427-2025 authorized the Department of Public Safety to enter into a new contract with Change Healthcare Technology Enabled Services, LLC for EMS billing, collection, and reporting services for the Division of Fire. The current contract with Change
Healthcare Technology Enabled Services, LLC for EMS billing, collection, and reporting services, as authorized by Ordinance 0427-2025, is effective April 1, 2025, through March 31, 2026.
However, it is necessary to modify and extend the existing contract term to authorize Change Healthcare Technology Enabled Services, LLC to continue collection activities on outstanding EMS receivables, ensuring continuity of revenue collection and proper closeout of accounts. This modification will allow Change Healthcare Technology Enabled Services, LLC to perform only those services necessary to collect outstanding receivables while the new vendor assumes responsibility for all EMS billing services beginning April 1, 2026. The extension of the proposed Change Healthcare Technology Enabled Services, LLC Contract shall be from April 1, 2026, to May 31, 2026.
This ordinance also encumbers $200,000.00 from the Department of Public Safety's 2026 General Fund Budget to fund the continuation of these services during the extension period.
Bid Waiver: A waiver of competitive bidding is requested because Change Healthcare Technology Enabled Services, LLC is the current EMS billing provider and is uniquely positioned to complete the collection of outstanding receivables. This extension is limited to a one-year period to close out existing accounts during the transition to a new vendor, and use of another provider for this purpose would be impracticable and could disrupt revenue collection.
Emergency Designation:
Emergency action is necessary to modify and extend the existing contract with Change Healthcare Technology Enabled Services, LLC in order to limit the scope of services to the collection of outstanding EMS receivables through the transition period to a new vendor that will assume responsibility of the EMS billing services beginning April 1, 2026. Immediate action is required to allow Change Healthcare Technology Enabled Services, LLC to perform only those services necessary to collect outstanding receivables.
Contractor:
Change Healthcare Technology Enabled Services, LLC ~ FID 921410925/ Vendor #048125
FISCAL IMPACT: The $1,500,000.00 previously authorized for the current EMS billing, collection, and reporting contract remains available within the Department of Public Safety’s operating budget. This ordinance will modify and extend the existing contract with Change Healthcare Technology Enabled Services, LLC to limit services to the collection of outstanding receivables only and encumber $200,000.00 to support these services from April 1, 2026, to May 31, 2026. Any remaining budgeted funds will be released and made available for future reallocation, as appropriate.
Title
To authorize and direct the Director of the Department of Public Safety to modify and extend the contract with Change Healthcare Technology Enabled Services, LLC, for EMS billing collection and reporting services from April 1, 2026, to May 31, 2026; To authorize the expenditure of $200,000.00 from the General Fund; to waive the competitive bidding provisions of Columbus City Code; and to declare an emergency. ($200,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the City previously authorized the Director of the Department of Public Safety to enter into a contract with Change Healthcare Technology Enabled Services, LLC, for EMS billing, collection, and reporting services for the Division of Fire; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to modify and extend the existing contract with Change Healthcare Technology Enabled Services, LLC to allow for the continued collection of outstanding EMS receivables during the transition period, ensuring continuity of revenue collection and proper closeout of accounts; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operations of the Department of Public Safety in that it is immediately necessary to modify the contract to ensure continuity of EMS revenue collection and to support the Division of Fire’s transition to a new billing vendor without interruption, for the immediate preservation of the public health, peace, property, safety and welfare; now, therefore,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That Director of the Department of Public Safety be and is hereby authorized to modify the contract with Change Healthcare Technology Enabled Services, LLC, in order to limit the scope of services to the collection of outstanding EMS receivables generated during the current contract term and through closeout period and to extend the term of the contract through May 31, 2026.
SECTION 2. That the expenditure of $200,000.00, or so much thereof as may be necessary for said purpose, is hereby authorized from the General Fund 1000-100010 in object class 03, Contractual Services per the accounting codes in the spreadsheet attached to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That any remaining funds previously authorized for full-service EMS billing under the current Change Healthcare Technology Enabled Services, LLC contract shall be released from encumbrance and returned to the appropriate balance within the Department of Public Safety’s budget for future reallocation, as deemed necessary by the City Auditor.
SECTION 4. That all expenditure authority previously granted for EMS billing, collection, and reporting services beyond the scope of outstanding receivable collection under Fund 1000 (General Fund), Department/Division 2501 (Public Safety), is hereby rescinded to the extent that such expenditures are no longer necessary under the modified contract.
SECTION 5. That the City Auditor is authorized to make such accounting adjustments as may be necessary to effectuate the contract modification, including the release of funds, realignment of appropriations, and correction of encumbrances consistent with the intended limitation of services under this ordinance.
SECTION 6. That the funds necessary to carry out the purpose of this ordinance are hereby deemed appropriated, and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
SECTION 7. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is declared to be an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage and approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.