Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes the Director of Public Safety to modify the existing contract with MED 3000, Inc. for EMS billing, collection, and reporting services. The City entered into a contract with MED 3000, Inc. via ordinance 2505-2012 in December 2012; the term of this contract is November 1, 2012 to December 31, 2018. This ordinance will provide $1,600,000.00 to MED 3000 for EMS billing services and $50,000.00 blanket for MED 3000 to process refunds to insurance companies or patients that are inadvertently billed for services. The Division of Fire's third party EMS billing program was initiated via ordinance #1184-2002 passed in July 2002.
Public Safety contracts the services of MED 3000 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 amounted to approximately $119.9 million at the end of December 2013.
Contract Compliance: 251837785 exp 4/2/14
Emergency Designation: Emergency action is requested so that EMS billing, collection and reporting services can continue without interruption.
FISCAL IMPACT: This legislation is to contract with MED 3000 for billing and collection services for $1.6 million and to set up a blanket of $50,000.00 to pay refunds for inadvertent billing. The Division of Fire budgeted $1.7 million in the 2014 General Fund operating budget for billing and collection services and for computer upgrades. In 2013, the cost of EMS billing and collection services amounted to $1.6 million, and in 2012 $1.505 million was spent for these services. EMS billing revenues under this contract exceeded $14.7 million for 2013 and $15 million in 2012. This ordinance is contingent upon the passage of the 2014 General Fund Budget Appropriation, Ordinance 2730-2013.
Title
To authorize the Director of Public Safety to modify the current contract with MED 3000, Inc. for EMS billing, collection, and reporting services for the Division of Fire; to authorize the expenditure of $1,600,000.00 for collection services and $50,000.00 for refunds from the General Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($1,650,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the City contracts for EMS billing, collection and reporting services, as initiated via Ordinance #1184-2002, passed July 22, 2002; and
WHEREAS, the City entered into a contract with MED 3000 via Ordinance 2505-2012 passed December 3, 2012 to continue to provide EMS billing services; and
WHEREAS, this ordinance is contingent upon the passage of the 2014 General Fund Appropriation Budget, ordinance 2730-2013; 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 MED 3000, 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 MED 3000, Inc. for the Division of Fire's EMS billing, collection and reporting services.
SECTION 2. That the expenditure of $1,650,000.00, 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:
* Vendor Number 251837785-001, OCA 301559, OL3 Code 3336 $1,600,000.00
* Vendor Number 251837785-002, OCA 301481, OL3 Code 5512 $50,000.00
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.