08/23/1978 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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e Mr. Hamel moved, seconded by Mr. Bradley, that the bill be approved and given final passage. Roll call vote. Motion carried unani- mously and the bill was declared passed and numbered 18250. II. AMBULANCE RATE INCREASE REQUEST--Staff memo and recommendation and letter from Medical Services, Inc. have been distributed to Council members. Shirley Swenson, Finance Department, referred to the chart distributed to Council members that compares rates in Eugene with rates of other cities. She said Mr. Leonard of the ambulance service had originally requested that the increase be based on the Portland Consumer Price Index. She said she recommended against using the consumer price index because its increases are greater than in other medically-related costs. Instead, she said staff recommends that any rate increase be refused at this time, since the local ambulance service is without competition and is already charging more than the services in other cities which have single ambulance operators. Mr. Haws wondered what the reason is for regulating the rates at all. Ms. Swenson answered that it is because the ambulance service is a monop- oly. She said the ordinance, at pr.esent, provides that no other ambulance service can come in without a public hearing first showing a need for another such company. It was also noted that there had been no complaints about the service provided, simply complaints about the rates. ., . Mr. Bradley wondered what kind of services the Fire Department provides. Ev Hall, Fire Chief, said that the Fire Department works in conjunction by providing emergency medical treatment when requested. The Fire Depa rt- ment Emergency Medical Technicians I attempt to stabilize patients until the ambulance arrives. He stated that the ambulance service has some Emergency Medical Technicians III on their force. He said the Fire Depart- ment does not transport patients to the hospital or provide all of the stabilizing kinds of things that the ambulance service does. He sa i d occasionally they will assist with transportation. Mr. Bradley wondered if the City had plans to provide a full line of ambulance services. Manager sai~ the City does not have such plans. They would be at quite an additional cost if that were to happen. Additionally, that would not solve the metropolitan problem. If the government were to take over the ambulance service, it would be most appropriate that it be funded at the County level. Mr. Williams said that he does not think the consumer price index is a sound vehicle 'for setting ambulance rates. He said that, sooner or later, it will be necessary to set up a requirement for open audits on the operations, plus a desired service level standard. Mr. Bradley said he thinks it's necessary to have the highest standard possible, since the ambulance service is a life-sustaining kind of operation. Mr. Bill Leonard, Ambulance Service, Inc., said he feels the City should have its fingers on the rates and the kind of service that is provided because the ambulance service is a quasi-judicial public body. He sa i d ~ they do work closely with the Eugene Fi re Department. He also mentioned 8/23/78--3 515