Agenda No. 5.
CITY COUNCIL MEMORANDUM
| City Council Meeting: | May 26, 2020 |
| Department: | Emergency Medical Services |
| Subject: | Resolution No. 20-R-49 - Consideration and/or action approving a Resolution by the City Council of Schertz, Texas authorizing EMS Charity Care adjustments and other matters in connection therewith. (C. Kelm/J. Mabbitt) |
BACKGROUND
On August 27, 2019, City Council approved the Schertz EMS Charity Care Policy. Approving the Charity Care Policy benefits our citizens who do not have insurance and do not have the ability to pay for ambulance services. In the past, these accounts were sent to collections and written off throughout the year with little expectation to recover any revenue.
GOAL
The City has been participating in the Texas Ambulance Services Supplemental Payment Program (TASPP) since 2015. This program reimbursed the City for losses incurred when providing services to patients who have Medicaid and the uninsured. Beginning on October 1, 2019, this program moved away from reimbursing uninsured and Medicaid patients and is only reimbursing based on charity care.
The City will apply for reimbursement for a portion charity care write-offs in FY 20 beginning in FY 21.
The City will apply for reimbursement for a portion charity care write-offs in FY 20 beginning in FY 21.
COMMUNITY BENEFIT
Our charity care policy benefits those who cannot afford ambulance services and having a Charity Care Policy allows the City to apply for reimbursement for a portion of those funds that are written off.
SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDED ACTION
N/A
FISCAL IMPACT
119 accounts for a total of $143,539.00 will be written off based on the EMS Charity Care Policy. It is estimated that EMS will be eligible for reimbursements up to $100,000 in FY21 for all the predicted accounts written off.
| Call Originated In | Total Amount |
| Schertz (57 accounts) | $64,487 |
| San Antonio (1 accounts) | $1,738 |
| Cibolo (13 accounts) | $17,016 |
| Universal City (20 accounts) | $27,432 |
| New Braunfels (4 accounts) | $6,098 |
| Live Oak (11 accounts) | $12,406 |
| Converse (1 accounts) | $1,266 |
| Marion (2 accounts) | $3,684 |
| Selma (6 accounts) | $6,072 |
| UCC/Garden Ridge (4 accounts) | $3,340 |
| $143,539 |
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends City Council approve Resolution 20-R-49