HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/26/2018 Work Session City of Springfield
Work Session Meeting
MINUTES of THE WORK SESSION MEETING OF
THE SPRINGFIELD CITY COUNCIL HELD
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2018
The City of Springfield Council met in a work session in the Jesse Mame Meeting Room, 225 Fifth
Street, Springfield,Oregon, on Monday,February 26,2018 at 530 p in , with Mayor Lundberg
presiding.
ATTENDANCE
Present were Mayor Lundberg and Councilors Wylie, Moore. Stoehr, Woodrow,and Pishioneri. Also
present were City Manager Gino Grimaldi,City AttorneN Mary Bridget Smith, City Recorder AmN
Sown and members of the staff
Councilor V anGordon was absent(excused).
I Ground EmergencN Medical Transport(GLMT)Update
Joe Zaludek,Fire Chief,presented the staff report on this item. In March of 2016,Governor Kate
Brown signed IIB 4030 into law allowing first responders to receive pay ment for a percentage of their
work in preparation for transport of Medicaid patients.Negotiations are in process to adopt the rules
and processes for payment from the State in carly 2019
No additional charges will be experienced by community members that are transported by ambulance;
this payment is passed through the State for Medicaid patients.
Estimates for present Medicaid ambulance transports covered under GEMT are approximately
$150,000 annually.
This is a Medicaid supplement that allows the Fire Department to charge Medicaid patients only for
ground transport. He noted other states that have implemented or applied for this fee Ile noted that
there is a lot of work by the staff on the engine company prior to the person being placed in an
ambulance. This would allow the City to charge for that work being done The state is finalizing the
rules for this fee and they hope to have an answer this Spring that they are ready to go. The number of
patients that can be charged for this is minimal.Next y car, all Medicaid patients w ill be eligible to be
charged this fee. Last year, Springfield EMS providers transported approximately '_72 non-managed
Medicaid patients
Mr. Grimaldi confirmed that the Medicaid patient docs not see am'change on their end
Chief Zaludek said that is correct. It is sent directly through the state
Councilor Woodrow asked how many of the 272 patients from last year were from out of state Those
from out of state would not be aligned with an Oregon CCO(Coordinated Care Organization)
Chief Zaludek said he would need to find out that information He explained the difference between
in-state and out-of-state patients.
Cityof Springfield
Council Work Session Minutes
February 26,2018
Page '_
Councilor Woodrow asked how the billing would be administered.
Chief Zaludek said through the similar ambulance billing process
Councilor Wylie got clarification that this fee was in addition to the ambulance charge.
Chief Zaludek said that was correct. I hey should be able to bill this Spring, but do not anticipate
revenues from this charge until Janum r ;019.
Councilor Stoehr asked if this charge would still be charged for those treated, but not transferred bt
ambulance to the hospital.
Chief Zaludek said historically they have not been able to charge for that service. If the engine
responded,they would be eligible for this charge. if an ambulance responded, they would not he
eligible for this additional charge.
Councilor Stoehr asked if there were protocols to determine whether or not someone should be
transported
Chief Zaludek said there were very clear protocols He explained.
Councilor Moore said for Medicare patients,a hook and ladder goes out as well as the ambulance, and
provides those services. She asked it those services were reimbursed if billed to Medicare or private
insurance.
Chief Zaludek said not at this time. This is unly for the work done through Medicaid. It is in
recognition to the work being done to recover costs taken away when they capped pay ments.
Councilor Moore asked why we couldn't charge for the medical treatment we pros ided before
someone is transported for other patients.
Chief Zaludek said that was a good question and he would ask that to the firm representing the City in
establishing rules at the State legislature. He is not aware of am current program that allows Medicare
of private insurance to be billed for this work, w nh the exception of some minor fees allowed.
Councilor Moore asked about the use of Jaws-of-life and if that service is billable.
Chief Zaludek said it is not. It is a service provided as part of medical transportation.
Chief Zaludek said as soon as they have the rules, staff will come forward with some
recommendations and estimates
Councilor Wylie said she would like projections for the upcoming budget year for this revenue.
Councilor Moore noted that our fire department often responds to accidents for people that are not
local citizens
ADJOURNMENT
Cihof Springfield
Council Work Session MinuteS
February 26, 1018
Page 3
The meeting was adjourned at 5 49 p.m.
Minutes Recorder—Amy SoP'a
Christine L. Lundberg
Manor
Attest:
�fAmy Sora
City Recorder