HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-09-1999 Meeting
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PUBLIC SAFETY
COMNIITTEE
COl\i!MITTEE ROOM - August 9, 1999
3:30 P.M.
PRESENT: F. Handy, Chairman, B. Kuhlke, W. Mays, S. Shepard members; R. Oliver.
Administrator; J. Wall, Attorney; L. Bonner, Clerk of Commission.
ABSENT: B. Young, Mayor.
ALSO PRESENT: A. DeMao, Augusta Chronicle, S. Eidson, Metro Spirit.
Communication from Thomas F. Allgood, Jr. regarding a proposed ordinance
requiring emergency ambulance services to provide Advanced Life Support level of
service.
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Mr. Wall: Mr. Allgood and I talked about this proposed ordinance. Rural Metro
has a contract with University Hospital and effective July 1,1999, they suffered a loss of
funding because the county is no longer subsidizing that ambulance service, as was
agreed to in the agreement. They have cut back, however they have also looked at trying
to increase the billing for Medicare patients and this would only effect the reimbursement
of, as I understand it of Medicare. Ifit's mandated that they have advance life support
equipment, then Medicare would reimburse at the higher rate, rather than the rate for
basic life support. This as explained to me by Mr. Allgood is to put in place a mechanism
where they can bill Medicare at the higher rate.
Mr. Kuhlke: What if I had to use it?
Mr. Wall: I was hoping Mr. Allgood would be here to answer any questions. My
understanding is that a private pay patient will pay whatever rate they charge private pay,
[ don't think this affects that, but I don't know that.
Mr. Oliver: The other question [ have is if Gold Cross, as [ understand it Rural
Metro, all their units are advanced life support certified and whether all of Gold Cross
units are because if they aren't it puts Gold Cross out of business by default. I'm sure
there are some answers we have got to get.
Mr. Wall: He was coming to speak to the Committee but apparently he did not
do. This got on the agenda I think before he had touched all the bases.
Mr. Kuhlke: I move that we defer any action on this until Mr. Oliver and
Mr. Wall have got some detinitive information for us.
Mr. Shepard: Second.
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Mr. Kuhlke: Other than to say what Mr. Oliver just brought up. the other carrier
that we have in the area needs to be notified.
Mr. Wall: I asked that question and I think we'll get the information to you in a
written form. I was concerned it would lock out other people. I'm told that half of Gold
Cross ambulances are already equipped for advanced life support.
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Mr. Mays: I agree with Bill's motion. But I think too in bringing back something
definitive, Randy and Jim, that if this is something we're going to have to make a
decision on, particularly on something that we don't know anything about, but falls into
policy making setting, then maybe we should allow enough time before this comes back
to go head on and deal not only with both carriers, maybe a representative from the
Council as well as probably things that we've got existing complaints on within
ambulance service in our own parameters and maybe discuss everything at that time. If
we're going to discuss how we're going to regulate something in one area in ambulance
service, then equipment and personnel also should be handled at the same time along
with time responses and everything else.
Mr. Oliver: I suggest if you like we'll set it up for about a month from now and I
can invite all of the people that are involved to address the Committee.
Motion carried unanimously.
With no furth~r business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned.
Lena J. Bonner
Clerk of Commission
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PUBLIC SAFETY
AGENDA
COl\i!MITTEE ROOM - August 9,1999
3:30 P M.
1. Communication from Thomas F. Allgood, Jr. regarding a proposed ordinance
requiring emergency ambulance services to provide Advanced Life Support level
of service.
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