Loading...
Ordinance 91-046 ORDINANCE NO. 91-~6 AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING A BILLING AND COLLECTION PROCEDURE FOR COLLIER COUNTY PROVIDED HEALTH RELATED SERVICES; PROVIDING ~ =~ -r~ FOR FINDINGS AND PURPOSE; PROVIDING FOR AND CHARGES; PROVIDING FOR BILLINGS AND ~' ~%~~ COLLECTION PROCEDURES; PROVIDING FOR MEDICAID AND MEDICARE BILLINGS; PROVIDING FOR INDIGENT BILLINGS; PROVIDING FOR ALTERNATIVE METHODS OF PAYMENT; PROVIDING - ~/ ADMINISTP. ATORS/DIRECTORS AND THEIR .,~%~// DESIGNEES TO FILE CIVIL ACTIONS IN SMALL ~6~%[~/ CLAIMS COURT; REPEALING PREVIOUSLY ADOPTED RESOLUTIONS; PROVIDING FOR CONFLICT AND SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. ~{EREAS, the Collier County Board of County Commissioners (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "the Board") provides ambulance and emergency medical services to the citizens and visitors of Collier County; and WHEREAS, the Collier County Board of County Commissinners provides ambulatory health services to citizens and visitors of Collier County through the HRS-Collier County Public Health Unit; and WHEREAS, the Board has resolved that it is appropriate that the users of such services pay for the services provided in accordance with an established rate schedule; and WHEREAS, it is necessary to establish a billing and collection procedure to assure payment of service charges; and WHEREAS, it is in the interest of the citizens of Collier County that governmental resources be maximized, duplication avoided, and that there be consistency in the application of these procedures to the public. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF COLLIER COUNTY, FLORIDA, that: ~C2~~: FINDIN~ AND pURpOSE Pursuant to section 125.01(1) (e), Florida Statutes, the Board of County Commissioners of Collier County, Florida finds that it is empowered to provide ambulance services and health and welfare programs and, pursuant to Section 154.001, Florida ~age 1 of~ Statutes, the Board of County Commissioners of Collier County finds that the Legislature recognizes the unique partnership which necessarily exists between the State and its counties in meeting the public health needs of the State. In recognition of said findings, it is the purpose of this Ordinance to create a common billing and collection procedure for health service charges. SECTION TWO: TITLE AND CITATIO~ This Ordinance shall be known and may be cited as the "Billing and Collection Procedure for Collier County Provided Health Related Services Ordinance." This ordinance shall apply for services provided in the incorporated and unincorporated areas of Collier County. SECTION FOUR: RATES. FEES AND CHARGES The Board of County Commissioners shall establish, by Resolution, the rates, fees and charges for services and related materials provided by Collier County Emergency Medical Services and HRS-Collier County Public Health Unit. Collier County Resolution Nos. 90-500 and 90-501 are hereby adopted as the rates, fees and charges resolutions to apply from the effective date of this Ordinance. SECTION FIVE: BILLING AND COLLECTION PROCEDURE The following shall be the procedure for billing and collection of health related service fees and charges. This procedure may be revised and/or amended by the Board by resolution. a. Initial fees and charges for health care shall be assessed either prior to or following service provision, as service dynamics reasonably permit. Unpaid fees and charges, at the time of service, shall be reflected in an accounts receivable ledger system. b. An initial bill for previously assessed but unpaid fees and charges or previously unassessed fees and g . of 6 charges shall be sent to the patient within thirty (30) days after service is provided, said bill shall disclose that an administrative delinquent fee shall be assessed in accordance with the approved rate schedule. c. If the initial bill is not paid within thirty (30) days from the initial billing date, then a "past due" bill will be sent to the patient. An administrative delinquent fee shall be added to the account balance of the 30 day "past due" bill in accordance with the approved rate schedule. A payment plan will be avail- able for past due bill recipients. Each provider agency shall establish and administer a payment plan. d. If the initial bill is delinquent and not paid within 60 days from the initial billing date or a payment plan is not e~tablished and active, a notice of delinquency shall be sent to the service recipient or responsible party. An administrative delinquent fee shall be added to the account balance in accordance with the approved rate schedules. e. If the initial bill for EMS services is delinquent and not paid within 75 days from the initial billing date or a payment plan is not established %nd active, anotker notice of delinquency shall be sent to the service recipient or responsible party. An adminis- trative delinquent fee shall be added to the account balance in accordance with the approved rate schedules. f. If the initial bill is delinquent and not paid within 90 days from the initial billing date, a final notice of delinquency shall be sent to the service recipient or responsible party specifying that the account may be pursued through civil action, collection agency or other collection methods. An administrative delin- Page 3 of 6 quent fee shall be added to the account balance in accordance with the approved rate schedules. g. When billings, at any stage in this billing and collection procedure, are returned because the Postal Service cannot effectuate delivery, the providing agency shall make a reasonable effort to ascertain the correct mailing address. If reasonable efforts to ascertain a correct address fail, the account(s) may' be turned over to a collection agency. h. Nothing contained in this section shall preclude reasonable telephone or other contact for billing or collection purposes, in accordance with all applicable laws. i. At the end of each fiscal year, the provider agency shall review all past due accounts and report to the Board of County Commissioners all past' due accounts which the agency believes are uncollectable. The Board of County Commissioners may, after reviewing these accounts and after finding that diligent efforts at collection have proven unsuccessful, remove past due accounts from active accounts receivable in accordance with Chapter 17, Florida Statutes, and report, by resolution, these accounts to the state Department of Banking and Finance to adjust and settle or cause to be adjusted and settled. SECTION SIX: MEDICAID BILLINGS Collier County Emergency Medical Services and HRS-Collier County Public Health Unit shall bill the State of Florida Medicaid program for those Medicaid eligible patients who receive health related services in accordance with Medicaid rules. Page 4 of 6 SECTION SEVEN: MEDICARE BILLINGS AND OTHER THIRD PARTY BILLINGS Collier County Emergency Medical Services and HRS-Collier County Public Health Unit may accept Medicare and Medicaid assignments. Other third party billing assignments may be accepted with the difference between assignment and total charges remaining as the responsibility of the recipient of the services. Any uncollected accounts receivable shall be administered in accordance with Section Five, "i" of this Ordinance. ~: ALTERNATIVE METHODS OF PAYMEN~ Collier County Emergency Medical Services and HRS-Collier County Public Health Unit may accept credit card payment for health related services. Specific credit cards accepted shall be limited to those for which service contracts exist. ~: CIVIL ACTION PROCEDURES Collier County shall file civil actions in Collier County Small Claims Court, when appropriate, in order to pursue payment of charges and fees previously assessed by Collier County Emergency Medical Services and HRS-Collier County Public Health Unit but uncollected. Such suits shall be filed in the name of Collier County Emergency Medical Services or HRS-Collier County Public Health Unit, on behalf of the Board of County Commissioners of Collier County, Florida. SECTION TEN: SUPERSEDED COLLIER COUNTy RESQ%UTION$ Collier County Resolution Nos. 81-202, 82-33, 83-24 and 88-248 are hereby superseded in their e~tirety. ~CTION ELEVEN: CONFLICT AND SEVERABILITY In the event this Ordinance conflicts with any other ordinance of Collier County or other applicable law, the more restrictive shall apply. If any phrase or portion of the Ordinance is held invalid or unconstitutional by any court of competent jurisdiction, such portion shall be deemed a Page 5 of 6 separate, distinct and independent provision and such holding shall not affect the validity of the remaining portion. SECTION TWELVE: ~7~FECTIVE DAT~ This Ordinance shall take effect upon receipt of notice from the Secretary of State that this Ordinance has been filed with the Secretary of State. PASSED AND DULY ADOPTED by the Board of County Commissioners of Collier County, Florida, this llshday of June .... , 1991. ATTEST,:. BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS JAMES C./GILES, Clerk OF COLLIER COUNTY, FLORIDA ~".. ~' .!: ~'/ ~ Ohs Patricia Anne Goodnight irman · Approved%ms to form and ~'e~a ~'. ']s~f ficiency: Tl~ls c~der~e flied wJ~h ~ro Mafialic ~ ~~.~ Assistant County Attorney f~ ~ei~ m~ 044 144 Page 6 of 6 STATE OF FLORIDA COUNTY OF COLLIER I, JAMES C. GILES, Clerk of ~:ourts in and for the Twentieth Judicial Clzcuit, Collier County, Fl~='i,2a, do hereby certify that the foregoing ts a true copy of: Ordinance No. 91-46 which was adopted by the Board of County Commi~sioners on the llth day of June, 1991, during Regular Session. WITNESS my hand and the official seal of the Board of County Commissioners of Collier County, Florida, this 18th day of June, 1991. JAMES C. GILES ' :'''~'~ $ /' Clerk of Courts and Ex-officio to Board of , ' County Commisstone r.s , Deputy Clerk -' ~...