Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes the Director of the Department of Public Safety to modify the existing contract with Change Healthcare Practice Management Solutions, Inc. for EMS billing, collection, and reporting services. The Public Safety Department entered into a contract with Change Healthcare Practice Management Solutions, Inc. via ordinance 1163-2023, passed May 22, 2023. The purpose of the contract is for EMS billing, collection, patient care reporting, hardware devices, accompanying extra equipment, third party auditing, training, and onsite personnel as needed for the Division of Fire's Third Party EMS Reimbursement Program. The reimbursement program originated via Ordinance #1184-02, passed July 22, 2002. Public Safety contracts the services of Change Healthcare for the billing, collection, and reporting of those who are transported to hospitals by EMS personnel for emergency medical care. These billing, collection, and reporting services have generated a multitude of patient care information used by the Fire Division to better prepare EMS response protocols and, in turn, respond to citizens in a more effective manner. The division also generates reports for various fire organizations that are catalogued nationwide. Revenue generated since inception of the program in 2002 amounted to over $270 million at the end of December 2022 and is deposited in the city's General Fund.
The need for additional funds was a known possibility at the time of the initial contract as costs fluctuate with, and are driven directly by EMS revenue collection. Other procurement processes are not being utilized due to the fact that work under this renewal is a continuation of services included in the scope of the original contract.
Contract Compliance: Change Healthcare Practice Management Solutions, Inc. FID 23-2939847 / vendor #025233
Emergency Designation: Emergency action is requested so that EMS billing, collection, and reporting services can continue without interruption.
FISCAL IMPACT: This legislation seeks to modify the current contract with Change Healthcare Practice Management Solutions, Inc. for billing and collection services. It also authorizes a $600,000.00 transfer within and expenditure from Public Safety’s general operating fund in order to fund the aforementioned services. Of $1,500,000.00 that was budgeted for this expense in 2023, approximately $1,000,000.00 has been expended thus far.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Public Safety to modify the existing contract with Change Healthcare Practice Management Solutions, Inc. for EMS billing, collection, and reporting services for the Division of Fire; to authorize the City Auditor to transfer of $600,000.00 within the General Fund; to authorize the expenditure of $600,000.00 from the General Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($600,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the City contracts for EMS billing, collection, and reporting services, as initiated via Ordinance #1184-02, passed July 22, 2002; and
WHEREAS, the City entered into a contract with Change Healthcare Practice Management Solutions, Inc. via Ordinance 1163-2023 passed May 22, 2023, to continue an agreement to provide EMS billing services; and
WHEREAS, the City Auditor is hereby authorized to transfer funds within the General Fund to fund this purchase; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Division of Fire, Department of Public Safety, in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director of the Department of Public Safety to modify the existing contract with Change Healthcare Practice Management Solutions, Inc., so that EMS billing, collection, and reporting services can continue without interruption for the immediate preservation of the public health, peace, property, and safety; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized to transfer $600,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, within the General Fund per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 2. That the Director of the Department of Public Safety is hereby authorized to modify the existing contract with Change Healthcare Practice Management Solutions, Inc. for the Division of Fire's EMS billing, collection, and reporting services originally initiated via Ordinance 1163-2023, passed May 22, 2023.
SECTION 3. 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 4. That the City Auditor is authorized to make any accounting changes to revise the funding source for all contracts or contract modifications associated with this ordinance.
SECTION 5. That the expenditure of $600,000.00, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby authorized from the General Fund 1000-100010, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 6. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is hereby 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.