Title
To authorize the Director of Public Safety to modify the current contract with MED3000, Inc. for EMS billing, collection, and reporting services for the Division of Fire; to expend $720,000.00 from the General Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($720,000.00)
Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes the Director of Public Safety to modify the existing contract with MED3000, Inc. for EMS billing, collection, and reporting services. The City entered into a contract with MED3000, Inc. via ordinance 1508-2007 in October 2007. The term of the contract is for three years ending in October 2010. The contract may be renewed by mutual written agreement of the parties for up to two additional one year terms after October 2010. The Division of Fire's third party EMS reimbursement program was initiated via ordinance #1184-2002, passed in July 2002.
The City of Columbus contracts for the billing, collection, and reporting of those who are transported to hospitals by Columbus Fire Division EMS personnel for emergency medical care. These billing, collection, and reporting services commenced in 2003 and have since generated a multitude of patient care information used by Columbus Fire 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. To date, this program has generated in excess of $60M in revenue since its inception.
Contract Compliance: 251837785; expires 11/01/2010
Emergency Designation: Emergency action is requested so that EMS billing, collection and reporting services can continue without interruption.
FISCAL IMPACT: The Division of Fire originally budgeted $1,500,000.00 in the 2009 General Fund budget for EMS billing services. However, due to increases in revenue than were originally anticipated, this modification became necessary, and was projected in the third quarter financial review. The total amount of this year's contract, including this modification, is $2,220,000. The Division spent $1,428,699.00 in 2008 for these same services. EMS billing revenues under this contract amounted to $12.4 million in 2008, and is projected at $14.7 million in 2009.
Body
WHEREAS, the City contracts for EMS billing, collection and reporting services, as initiated via Ordinance #1184-2002, passed July 22, 2002; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to modify the current contract with MED3000, Inc., the City of Columbus' current contractor for EMS billing, collection and reporting services; 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 modify the current contract with MED3000, Inc. so that EMS billing, collection and reporting services can continue without interruption, thereby preserving the public health, peace, property, safety and welfare; Now, therefore
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS
SECTION 1. That the Director of Public Safety is hereby authorized to modify the existing contract between the City and MED3000, Inc. for the Division of Fire's EMS billing, collection and reporting services.
SECTION 2. That the expenditure of $720,000.00, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby authorized to be expended from the General Fund 010, Department of Public Safety 30, Division of Fire 30-04, OCA 301559, OL3 Code 3336 to pay the cost thereof.
SECTION 3. 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.