12. Resolution 4633 - Ambulance Rate Increase4D City of Kalispell
Post Office Box 1997 - Kalispell, Montana 59903-1997 - Telephone (406)758-7700 Fax(406)758-7758
REPORT
FROM
SUBJECT
Honorable Mayor and City Council
Randy Brodehl, Fire Chief
Resolution 4633-Ambulance Fee Increase
MEETING DATE July 2, 2001
BACKGROUND: The Kalispell Fire Department provides ambulance service to the City of
Kalispell and the surrounding areas in the Flathead Valley. This is an enterprise fund and
operates without support of the tax base. To do this, the service must adjust its fees according to
costs.
In response to increases in fuel, utilities, paramedic training and salary adjustments, I am
recommending the following changes to the fee schedule:
Current: Recommended:
Basic Life Support
Base Rate $270.00 $305.00
Loaded mile rate
First 100 miles 7.00 8.00
Over 100 miles 4.44 5.44
Advanced Life Support
Base Rate $370.00 $405.00
Loaded mile rate
First 100 miles 7.00 8.00
Over100 miles 5.77 6.77
All other fees to remain the same.
RECOMMENDATIONS: Council adopt Resolution 4633 allowing for an increase in
ambulance rates.
FISCAL EFFECTS: These changes are as reflected in the proposed 2001/2002 budget.
ALTERNATIVES: As recommended by Council.
Respectfully submitted,
Chris A. Kukulski
City Manager
Report Compiled June 28, 2001
RESOLUTION NO. 4633
A RESOLUTION AMENDING RESOLUTION NO. 4554, BY REVISING AMBULANCE
RATES FOR THE USE OF THE KALISPELL AMBULANCE SERVICE AND DECLARING AN
EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, the City of Kalispell maintains an ambulance service
through its fire department;
WHEREAS, on May 1, 2000, the City Council established Resolution No.
4554, which set the rates for the Kalispell Ambulance
Service; and
WHEREAS, to support this service it is necessary to revise the rates
that are charged for its use.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
KALISPELL AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION I. That Resolution No
revising the rates
Service as follows:
Item
Base rate
Loaded mile rate
(First 100)
Over 100
Oxygen
Drugs
Disposables
B.L.S. Rate/
Disposables*
$305.00
8.00
4554 is hereby amended by
of the Kalispell Ambulance
Medicare allowed
30.00 First 1/2 hr.,
10.00 each add'1 hr.
Medicare allowed
Return Transfer Rate 150.00 plus mileage
A.L.S. Rate/
Disposables*
$405.00
8.00
Medicare allowed
30.00 First 1/2 hr.,
10.00 each add'1 hr.
Cost of Drugs
Medicare allowed
Stand-by Ambulance: $110.00 for the first hour and $85.00 per hour
thereafter. This rate will be figured on a quarter hour basis.
Anyone transported during stand-by will be billed per any normal run.
*B.L.S. = Basic Life Support A.L.S. = Advanced Life Support
SECTION II. This Resolution shall become effective
immediately upon its passage by the City
Council.
PASSED AND APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL AND SIGNED BY THE MAYOR OF
THE CITY OF KALISPELL, THIS 2ND DAY OF JULY, 2001.
Wm. E. Boharski
Mayor
ATTEST:
Theresa White
City Clerk
6/29/01
To: Chris Kukulski, City Manager
From: Randy Brodehl, Fire Chief
Re: Resolution 4633, Ambulance rate changes
Chris,
The following is a comparative study of ambulance rates in Montana. Although difficult to
compare because of differences of staffing, it does give an overall picture of current costs of
ambulance transfer. It is important to note that Kalispell is the only public service listed that
provides full paramedic service on each response. This is a crucial factor because of the
limitation of medical capabilities for EMTs in comparison to paramedics.
Note that even with the proposed rate increases, Kalispell is significantly below the average
shown. It should also be understood that an all career service is able to respond within the first
minute, allowing them to work within the important time constraints necessary for excellent
paramedic service.
While there are additional costs that have not been shown here (defibrillation, extrication,
immobilization, medications, etc), these tend to be a smaller part of an ambulance invoice. These
items are generally billed on a cost plus approach in most services, so tend to average out to a
similar impact in the invoice.
Let me know if you need further clarification.
Basic Life Support Advanced Life Support
City
Rate
EMT/Parmedics
per ambulance
Per
Loaded
Mile
Whitefish (Career/
Volunteer
$235
2/0
$6
Missoula Private
359
1/1
7
Hamilton (Career/
Volunteer
355
1/1
8
Polson Private/On call
375
2/0
7.93
Columbia Falls
Carcer/Volunteer
370
1/1
6
Havre Career
250
2/0
n/a
Great Falls Private
450
0/2
n/a
Livingston (Career/
Volunteer
290
2/0
8
Kalispell(Career)
305
0/2
8
Miles City(Volunteer)
288
2/0
7.5-
Average
$327.70
$7.30
Rate
EMT/Pannedics
per ambulance
Per
Loaded
Mile
$305
1/1
$6
483
1/1
9
801
1/1
8
650
2/0
8.83
405
1/1
8
350
2/0
n/a
450
0/2
n/a
525
2/0
8
405
0/2
8
414
2/0
7.5
$478.80
$7.92