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Home My WebLink AboutAgenda - 04-16-1997 - 9b i 1 Orange County Board of Commissioners Date: April 16, 1997 Action Agenda Item No LL Subject: EMS Franchise Applications Department: Emergency Management Public Hearing Yes E] No (Division) Emergency Medical Services Attachment(s): Information Contact: Nick Waters 1. Franchise Application- Mid-South Extension Number: 3030 2. Franchise Application-American Telephone Number: Medical Response of North Carolina, Inc. 3. Letter- Johnston Ambulance Service Hillsborough 732-8181 4. EMS Franchise Ordinance Chapel Hill 968-4501 (under separate cover) Mebane 910-227-2031 Durham 688-7331 Purpose : To consider franchise requests from Mid-South Medical Transport, L.L.C. and American Medical Response of North Carolina, Inc., for the provision of convalescent only transports, within Orange County, in accordance with the provisions of the EMS franchise ordinance. Background: In April, 1993,the Board of Commissioners adopted an"Ordinance Regulating Emergency Medical, First Responder, and Rescue Service and Granting of Franchises and Contracts to the Operators in the County of Orange". This ordinance updated and modernized the County's ambulance and EMS regulations, and superseded the County's 1981 EMS franchise ordinance. In May, 1994,the County granted a franchise to Johnston Ambulance Service,Inc.,to provide convalescent only transports within Orange County. Johnston has been operating satisfactorily since they began business. Staff have periodically audited the performance of Johnston Ambulance Service, and have discovered no performance deficiencies in their operation. The applications for franchise from Mid-South Medical Transport,L.L.C. and American Medical Response of North Carolina,Inc.,have been reviewed by staff, and are found to be in compliance with all the stipulations of the County's Franchise Ordinance. Staff and Bob Lockwood, Chair of the EMS Advisory Council,met with both applicants for the purpose of clarifying exactly what the scope of their business in Orange County would be, and then invited both applicants to the February 26, 1997 EMS Advisory Council 2 meeting, along with representatives from Johnston Ambulance Service. Johnston Ambulance Service made a short presentation to the Council of the services they have been providing; and Mid-South Ambulance gave a short presentation on the service that company desires to provide in Orange County. American Medical Response of North Carolina, Inc. did not attend the meeting due to scheduling conflicts. Mid-South Medical Transport's franchise requests to do business with UNC Hospitals in transporting patients home that have been discharged. The company will not engage in other convalescent transports in Orange County, and understands a new franchise would be required to expand their scope of work. American Medical Response of North Carolina, Inc. has applied to do business throughout Orange County, including nursing homes, rest homes and private residences. Section 6.4 of the franchise ordinance sets forth the conditions under which the Board may grant a franchise - namely, if it finds that: • the applicant meets county/state standards and standards outlined in the franchise ordinance • the proposed service will fit within the existing service so as not to adversely affect the level of the service or operations of other franchisees to render service • a need exists for the rendered service in order to improve the level of service available to residents of the County helping to assure the provision of adequate and continuing service which preserves,protects, and promotes the public health, safety, and welfare and that granting the franchise is a reasonable and cost effective manner of meeting the need The EMS Advisory Council reviewed the applications in the context of these requirements. There was discussion that the granting of additional franchises would promote competition and be helpful to consumers in that they would be afforded different service provider options. Neither the current provider,Johnston Ambulance, nor EMS Council members, expressed concern that granting the two new franchises would adversely impact Johnston Ambulance's service provision. Section 13.1 of the County's ordinance requires each franchisee to submit a schedule of rates to the County for approval, and to charge no more and no less than the approved rates without specific approval from the County. Johnston Ambulance Service's existing charge for convalescent service is $85.00 (eighty five dollars)base, plus $3.50 (three dollars and fifty cents)per loaded mile(with the patient actually riding on the ambulance). Johnston Ambulance Service indicates that they do not expect a rate increase for the remainder of 1997. Staff recommends that the same rates charged by Johnston Ambulance Service be approved for Mid-South and American Medical Response as well. That would ensure that customers who might not be aware that they have options in service providers do not end up paying a substantially higher fee to American Medical Response than they would to either Johnston or Mid-South. Representatives of Mid-South have indicated that they are willing to abide by these rates in order to obtain the franchise in Orange County. American Medical Response 3 representatives have indicated that they would like to charge a base rate of$125 plus $3.25 per loaded mile, and to charge for oxygen and supplies, where applicable. Recommendation: The Manager recommends that the Board approve the franchises for Mid-South Medical Transport and American Medical Response, and that the Board approve a rate for the service provided at$85.00 (eighty five dollars) base and$3.50 (three dollars and fifty cents)per loaded mile. ATTACHMENT 1 4 ` APPLICATION FOR AMBULANCE RESCUE OR MEDICAL FIRST RESPONDER FRANCHISE ORANGE COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA Date of Application: Auqust 12, 1996 I. APPLICANT: A. Name of Applicant: Mid-South Medical Transport, L.L.C. B. Address:street: 804 Brightleaf Boulevard, Post Office Box 1162 City/State: Smithfield, North Carolina zip 27577 C. Telephone No. at Base of Operations: (919) 934-4206 D. Name of Owner / Contact Person: Terry W. Heuser E. Address:street: 886-D Short Journey Road City/State: Smithfield, North Carolina zip 27577 F. Telephone No. : (919) 934-4206 G. *Trade Name: Mid-South Medical Transport, L.L.C. H. Category of Franchise Applied For (A seperate application must be completed for each category of service applied for) : BLS: ALS: RESCUE SERVICES: [ ] First Responder [ ] D-level [ ] Extrication Emergency Med. Techn. [ ] I-level [ ] High/Low Angle Convalescent Transport [ ] P-level [ ] Confined Space [ ] Trench [ ] Water I. ATTACHMENTS REQUIRED: 1. Certified copy of Article of Incorporation Charter or *Assumed Name Certificate. 2. Resume' of training and experience of the applicant in rescue and transportation and care of patients. 3. A financial statement as it pertains to operations in Orange County. 4. A copy of Organization's By-Laws (if applicable) . 5. A copy of Organization's Standard Operating Procedures. 6. A current roster of members to include name, address, and social security number. f . I ATTACHMENT 2 5 APPLICATION FOR AMBULANCE RESCUE OR MEDICAL FIRST RESPONDER FRANCHISE ORANGE COUNTY,NORTH CAROLINA Date of Application: October 7. 1996 I. APPLICANT: A. Name of Applicant: AMERICAN MEDICAL RESPONSE OF NORTH CAROLINA,INC- B. Address : Street : 1625 NAVAHO DRIVE City/State : RALEIGH,NORTH CAROLINA Zip :27609 C. Telephone No. at Base of Operations : 1-919-872-6682 or 1-800-366-8292 D. Name of Owner/Contact Person : KAREN WALLEY, CAPTAIN E. Address : Street : 1625 NAVAHO DRIVE City/State: RALEIGH.NORTH CAROLINA Zip :27609 F. Telephone No.: 1-919-872-6682 or 1-800-366-8292 G. *Trade Name : AMR H. Category of Franchise Applied For (A separate application must be completed for each category of service applied for) : BLS: ALS: RESCUE SERVICE ( ) First Responder ( ) D-Level ( ) Extrication ( ) Emergency Med. Techn. ( ) I-Level ( ) High/Low Angle (X) Convalescent Transport ( ) P-Level ( ) Confined Space ( ) Trench ( ) Water I. ATTACHMENTS REQUIRED 1. Certified copy of Articles of Incorporation Charter or*Assumed Name Certificate. SEE ATTACHMENT#1 2. Resume' of training and experience of the applicant in rescue and transportation and care of patients. SEE ATTACHMENT#2 ATTACHMENT 3 f _ Johnston Ambulance Service, Inc. 6 24-Hour Service P.O. Box 283 • Selma, NC 27576 (919) 965-2249 - Selma (919) 736-2735 - Goldsbo: (919) 839-1125 - Raleigh (919) 237-5976 -Wils- March 17, 1997 Ms. Jennette Smith Orange County EMS Hillsborough, NC RE: JAS MEDICARE BILLING Dear Ms. Smith: As requested, I am faxing you information concerning Johnston Ambulance Service, Inc.'s Medicare billing process. JAS bills Medicare under METHOD 2 at a BASE of$85.00 and$3.50 PER LOADED MILE. Medicare no longer allows us to bill for Oxygen,they have included that service in the Base rate. If you require additional information, Please feel free to call me at(919)965-2202. Sincerely, Fr 'e Cannad anlu y Business Manager /fmc