DATE:
April 8, 2025
CATEGORY:
Consent
DEPT.:
Fire
TITLE: Ambulance Billing and User Fees
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Mountain View to A dopt Ambulance Billing and User Fees to B e Used by the Mountain View Fire Department for Advanced Life Support Emergency Ambulance Transportation Services , to be read in title only, further reading wai ved (Attachment 1 to the Council report).
BACKGROUND
The Santa Clara County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) 9 -1-1 System for emergency ambulance transport includes advanced life support (ALS) first responder services provided by fire agencies ( including Mountain View F irefighters in fire apparatus), and ALS ambulance transport services by a private ambulance provider. In recent years, there have been challenges with the availability and timeliness of the private ambulance response. There have also been instances in which ambulances are dispatched without paramedics, thus requiring the City of Mountain View (City)’s Firefighter Paramedics to staff the private ambulances.
To enhance patient transport service to Mountain View residents, the City Council approved the purchase of a Fire ambulance in Fiscal Year 2022-23 at a cost of $390,000. The ambulance arrived in October 2024, and the intent is to place it in service in Mountain View some time before April 30, 2025.
Ambulance Billing and User Fees
April 8, 2025
Figure 1: New City of Mountain View Ambulance
ANALYSIS
The Mountain View Fire Department (MVFD) will provide ALS Emergency Ambulance Transportation Services under a contract with the Santa Clara County EMS Agency . Per this contract, the City must bill patients for ambulance transport based on the established Santa Clara County-approved Ambulance Billing and User F ees as shown in Exhibit A to the Resolution (Attachment 1). These are considered the standard fees charged for ALS Ambulance Services across Santa Clara County and are the same fees that the private ambulance company currently charges to City residents that they transport.
NEXT STEPS
If Council approves the fees, the City’s ambulance will be placed in service in April 2025. While this emergency transport resource will be primarily committed to serving the City of Mountain View, it is possible that in the rare event of a multi- casualty incident in the County, or in surrounding counties under the local and state mutual aid plans, the MVFD could be required to respond and render aid utilizing the City’s ambulance.
Ambulance Billing and User Fees
April 8, 2025
FISCAL IMPACT
Based on payer trends for patients who have received ALS Emergency Ambulance Transportation Services throughout Santa Clara County, along with the projected number of Ambulance transports provided by the MVFD, it is estimated that ambulance billing and user fees will generate between $252,000 and $294,000 in annual revenue. This will be in addition to the County EMS reimbursement for MVFD- provided ALS services ($363,100) and will provide additional recovery of the City’s cost to operate ALS-level EMS services (which was approximately $5.9 million in Fiscal Year 2023-24).
ALTERNATIVES
1. Do not adopt the Resolution.
2. Direct staff to provide additional information.
3. Provide other direction.
LEVINE ACT
California Government Code Section 84308 (also known as the Levine Act) prohibits city officials from participating in any proceeding involving a “license, permit, or other entitlement for use” if the official has received a campaign contribution exceeding $500 from a party, participant, or agent of a party or participant within the last 12 months. The Levine Act is intended to prevent financial influence on decisions that affect specific, identifiable persons or participants. For more information see the Fair Political Practices Commission website:
www.fppc.ca.gov/learn/pay-to-
play-limits-and-prohibitions.html.
Please see below for information about whether the recommended action for this agenda item is subject to or exempt from the Levine Act.
EXEMPT FROM THE LEVINE ACT
☒ General policy and legislative actions
Ambulance Billing and User Fees
April 8, 2025
PUBLIC NOTICING—Agenda posting.
Prepared by:
Amanda Slovick
Senior Management Analyst
Approved by:
Juan F. Diaz
Fire Chief
Audrey Seymour Ramberg
Assistant City Manager
AS/4/CAM
141-04-08-25CR-1
204976
Attachment: 1. Resolution