Resolution 15-045 Directing the Administration to Issue a Request for Proposals for Ambulance and Emergency Medical Billing Services

CITY OF HOMER

HOMER, ALASKA

                                                                                                                                     City Manager

RESOLUTION 15-045

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF HOMER, ALASKA, DIRECTING THE ADMINISTRATION TO ISSUE A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR AMBULANCE AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL BILLING SERVICES.

WHEREAS, Emergency medical services are an essential service the City of Homer provides, and

WHEREAS, The City of Homer Volunteer Fire Department went to 483 medic calls in 2014; and

WHEREAS, Whenever possible the City attempts to partially recover the cost of medic calls by billing Medicaid, Medicare, private insurance, and individuals for the service; and

               WHEREAS, Medical billing codes have become so specialized and cumbersome that it is no longer feasible or efficient to continue to bill for ambulance services in-house; and

               WHEREAS, Many fire departments in Alaska outsource ambulance billing to a specialized third party, and

               WHEREAS, A higher rate of recovery, turn around, and reliable cash flow from a specialized third party billing on behalf of the City of Homer will benefit the financial condition of the City.  

               NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Homer City Council directs the City Manager and the City Clerk to issue a Request for Proposals for ambulance and emergency medical billing services.

                PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Homer City Council this 15th day of June, 2015.

CITY OF HOMER

                                                                                                         _____________________
                                                                                                         MARY E. WYTHE, MAYOR

ATTEST:

___________________________
JO JOHNSON, MMC, CITY CLERK

Fiscal Note: Estimated advertising costs $600.