HomeMy WebLinkAboutReso 155-2015 RESOLUTION NO. 155-2015
CITY COUNCIL, CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, STATE OF CALIFORNIA
A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING THE AMBULANCE SERVICE
FINANCIAL REPORT AND AUTHORIZING THE WRITING
OFF OF $2,692,969 OF THE AMBULANCE BILLING
ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE BALANCE THAT IS
UNCOLLECTIBLE DUE TO THE STATUTE OF
LIMITATIONS.
WHEREAS, the South San Francisco Fire Department (SSFFD) has been operating its
own ambulance service since the early 1970's, and first employed paramedics in 1975; and
WHEREAS, beginning in 1995, the SSFFD added a second advanced life support (ALS)
ambulance in order to serve the community's growing Emergency Medical Services (EMS) call
volume; and
WHEREAS, in 2005, a basic life support (BLS) ambulance was added, staffed by two
contract emergency medical technicians (EMT), which serves as the back-up to the ALS
ambulances when they are both committed to other incidents and also performs non-emergency
transports as part of the EMS program operated by the City of South San Francisco (City); and
WHEREAS, guidelines established by Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services
(CMS)have been widely accepted to define an EMS transport as either ALS or BLS; and
WHEREAS, those guidelines include the training level of personnel responding; level of
medical intervention provided to the patient; medical complaint of the patient; how the
emergency response is dispatched; and other factors; and
WHEREAS, ALS ambulance can respond to an EMS call but may only be reimbursed at
the BLS level; and
WHEREAS, a BLS ambulance can transport an ALS patient under certain circumstances
and be reimbursed at the ALS level; and
WHEREAS, the City's Budget Subcommittee reviewed the current EMS financial report
on December 9, 2015; and
WHEREAS, the City's Budget Subcommittee recommended that the City direct the
existing billing provider to pursue payment for $3,082,018 in aged accounts, while also bring
before the City Council on a quarterly basis all accounts 24 months or older for consideration for
write offs; and
WHEREAS, the City's Budget Subcommittee also recommended that the City Council
write-off accounts four years or older totaling $2,692,969 (2004-2011) due to an inability to
successfully collect on those amounts because of statute of limitations.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of South San
Francisco that the City Council hereby approves the write-off accounts four years or older
totaling $2,692,969 (2004-2011) due to an inability to successfully collect on those amounts, as
detailed in Exhibit A, attached to this resolution and incorporated herein.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT, by the City Council of the City of South San
Francisco that the City Council hereby authorizes the City Manager, or his designee, to take any
action consistent with the intent of this resolution.
I hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution was regularly introduced and adopted by
the City Council of the City of South San Francisco at a special meeting held on the 16 day of
December, 2015 by the following vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Karyl Matsumoto, Richard A. Garbarino, and Liza Normandy
Vice Mayor Pradeep Gupta and Mayor Mark N. Addiego
NOES: None
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT: None
ATTEST: A
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EXHIBIT A
WRITE OFF ACCOUNTS