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Minutes 09/03/1997 EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE ADVISORY COUNCIL (EMSAC) INFORMAL MINUTES September 3, 1997 2:00 P.M. EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES HEADQUARTERS 3301 East Tamiami Trail Council Bob Laird Excused Members: Rhona Saunders Members: Gary Young Tim Smith Bob Schank Fay Biles Roger Evans J. P. Gunther-Mohr Sheldon Reed Palma Fuson Mike Davis Others: Leo Ochs '7 Diane B. Flagg✓ Paul Wilson John Yonkosky Theresa Riesen George Leamon Barbara Brown The regular monthly meeting of the Collier County EMSAC committee was called to order at 2:00 P.M. on Wednesday September 3, 1996, by Bob Laird Chairman. Due to the Labor Day holiday, several members did not receive their minutes before the meeting. Minutes were passed out to members in attendance. OLD BUSINESS: Sharon Hanlon, Mike Davis, and Bob Laird's term of office expired on the 31st of August. Bob Laird Chairman, spoke with Sue Filson of the Board of Commissioners Office to see if he could continue in his position. Sue spoke with the County Attorney and he should continue in his position until he is re-appointed or re-placed on the committee. NEW BUSINESS: Leo Ochs stated the Board has a Resolution that has adopted our ambulance fee schedule and it is required that it be revisited by county staff every year and make recommendations to the Board to maintain existing rates, or charge current rates. John Yonkosky handed out a spreadsheet entitled "Ambulance Fees". The spreadsheet showed the current rate of $302 as option to increase the fee the to $302.00 + $4.00 a mile with a 7 mile cap increase, an option to increase the fee to $310.00, an option to increase the fee to $310.00 + $4.00 a mile with a 7 mile cap increase, a $264.00, and a $264.00 + $4.00 mile with 7 mile cap increase. A discussion followed concerning the proposed increases. Diane Flagg, stated the current budget is based on the current fee of $302.00 based on a historic collection fee of 73%. Fay Biles felt the committee stated at the last meeting they recommended no rate increase. We are already higher than Medicare charges now. Leo felt since there was no quorum no recommendations were made. John also did talk about the effort to keep up with the inflationary index changes with the Medicare reimbursement each year. He felt John would be remiss if he didn't remind the committee to keep up with the index rates. If we stay at $302 for next year and the $292 is the reimbursed rate for Medicare when they index that up 3% next year we will be behind the curve again. Leo stated the Board funds the EMS operations with a combination of fees, and ad valoreum taxes. The Board struggles to hold the line on both, but typically they struggle harder to hold the line on ad valoreum, and have the collection fees to off set where they want to be with ad valoreum transfer and the balance of cost to run the operations. The national average for collection is 69 '/2%. DOR ended up collecting 73% this year. Leo recommended the Advisory Board not to take any action on the rate options until after they receive the confirmation from Medicare as to whether or not Collier County's reimbursement rate will increase. They just wanted to get the information to the Advisory Board so they would have enough time to look at and ask questions. He also pointed out 80% of our billable runs are insurance related; 43% are Medicare, commercial insurance is 34%, and hospital's are 3%. Medicare will reimburse $4.11 a mile. John Yonkosky stated Collier is one of the few counties that do not charge mileage. He also wanted the committee to remember; the rate must be in place for a twelve month . period, back from July 1, through June 30, and then your new rate starts on January 1. The Board has approved the FY 98 budget figure for DOR to collect $3,465,000 based upon the current rate of$302 and a collection rate of 73%. Fay Biles wanted to know if John Yonkosky was recommending the $310. rate increase? John said he was not recommending anything. Leo stated he would like for the Advisory Board to have a recommendation to take to the Board by the first of December, or earlier if possible. Mike Davis wanted to know if user fee income increases, does the ad valoreum contribution decrease? Leo answered yes. If the budget stays between 40 to 60% is ad valoreum. The only position the Board has taken on this is they want the fee set at what Medicare will reimburse. Roger Evans suggested to compare county to county with a population in comparative to Collier. Jeff Page wanted to know if we couldn't keep the base fee and add mileage at anytime. John Yonkosky answered yes, we are already approved for the mileage. Bob Laird stated when he was on the Productivity Committee, 80% of the complaints were in reference to the ambulance fees. Fay Biles made a motion to table the fee schedule until the December meeting. This was 2nd by Mike Davis and approved by the members. At this time the minutes of the September meeting were approved. NEW BUSINESS Bob Laird introduced Battalion Commander Paul Wilson. Paul is putting the Web Page for the Internet together. Paul went over the progra m and invited the committee members to come to the computer room to view when the meeting is over. Bob invited the members to take the time to ride with one of the Battalion Commanders to see what is involved in a call. Bob wanted the members to know he had a discussion with Sue Filson, and it has been approved for him to chair the meeting and election of new positions, until which time he is either re-appointed or replaced. Bob Laird announced we have three vacant positions. One is District 3 and two at large positions. Fay Biles moved that Mike Davis be re-appointed to District 3. Paul Gunther Mohr seconded. Bob Laird, Daniel Malinowski, Ed Maguire, John Read Jr., & George Leamon have all submitted resumes for the at large vacancy. Bob made a motion George - • Leamon fill a vacancy, Fay Biles seconded the motion. Mike Davis recommended Bob Laird, seconded by Fay Biles. Motion for both positions were unanimous. Mike Davis stated he thought Advisory Boards ran through September and expired October 1. Mike felt the Ordinance reflected that. Bob wanted to know if the by-laws could be changed. Diane stated yes, with Board approval. She will check with Sue Filson, to make sure. A discussion followed on the date of the meetings. It was decided the 3`d Wednesday would be a better date. The date of the meetings will now be the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 2:00 P.M. Diane Flagg informed the committee Medic #16 will be moving into the North Naples Fire Station #43 on Vanderbilt Drive Bonita in Bonita on October 1, 1997. Meeting adjourned.