04/08/1981 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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e VII. EUGENE/SPRINGFIELD EMS TASK FORCE RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING AMBULANCE RATE SETTING (memo distributed) e Mr. Gleason introduced Carol James, City Auditor, to give the staff report. She explained that the motion comes from the Eugene Emergency Medical Services Task Force in regard to the review processes for ambulance rate setting. She reviewed the history and explained the Emergency Medical Services Task Force was established over a year ago. One responsibility was to come up with some methodology for establishing rates for the ambulance service. The task force is a joint committee with members made up of council members, administrative staff of the two cities and County, emergency room doctors, and experts on the subject. The task force's first action was to hire a consulting firm, Touche Ross & Co., from Portland to provide recommendations as to what methodology should be used in ambulance rate setting. The Touche Ross recommendations included: first, required revenues equal the operating costs plus a fair rate of return on the business (assuming the business is privately owned); second, established guide- lines as to operating costs increase and other factors that would affect rates; third, produce a financial information package to be prepared by the ambulance provider and submitted with a rate proposal as backup. (Previously rates were increased on the word of the provider that they needed more money.) The Touche Ross methodology had been approved by the task force and by the City Council. However, it did not establish a review process for the information package. That is the subject of the motion before the council. The recommendation assumes that the EMS Task Force be continued since it provides expertise in the medical area and assumes the provider will continue on a metropolitan basis. It would set standards for care. The recommendation for the rate process is first; the committee will later determine what services and standards will be set (response time--level of care). The provider will submit the Touche Ross information package to the staff for review. Staff will determine whether the information is complete and provide any expertise in financial analysis that would be required to the committee. The committee would negotiate rate of return on investment and changes in carry-overs. They could adjust the required revenues. Once required revenues were determined, they would submit them to the council. Mr. Hamel praised the work of the task force. Ms. Miller and Mr. Obie represented council on the task force. Ms. Miller noted that there was no fixed rate of return. She felt that it was important to have an incentive for good management. They were working on quality of care standards, working with persons closely related to the ambulance service. These standards would be built into the franchise system and subject to review. Ms. Smith moved, seconded by Mr. Lindberg, to approve the procedures as outlined in the staff memo of February 4, 1981. Motion carried unanimously. VIII. EUGENE PRIME SPONSOR 60-DAY UPDATE (memo and additional information distributed) e City Manager introduced Gary Long, Staff Services Director. Mr. Long referred to the memoranda outlining the status of the CETA program and outlining a 50-day update. These changes, he said, have occurred or will be completed by April 15, MINUTES--Eugene City Council April 8, 1981 Page 12