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Public Health Department recommending Chairman be authorized to sign Declaration of Intent for Fiscal Year 2006-2007 authorizing said Department to contract back the administration of the County's Emergency Medical Services Appropriation (EMSA) for the Physicians Uncompensated Care Program.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Approve.
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Background: The EMSA Physician's Uncompensated Care Program was enacted for the purpose of reimbursing hospital physicians who provide emergency services to patients who cannot afford to pay for those services, and for whom payment will not be made through any private coverage or by any program funded in whole or in part by the federal government. This program differs from the current "EMS Fund", whereby physicians are able to bill for any emergency service provided to a qualifying patient anywhere in a hospital setting.
The County has contracted back its EMS allocation to the state for several years.
Reason for Recommendation: Due to the amount of effort involved in reporting and administering this funding, the Department recommends the continuation of contracting the EMS appropriation back to the State. Physicians who sign up for this program are reimbursed no more than 50% of their costs. Local providers support the contract back option.
This document is for the 06/07 fiscal year, but was only received recently from the State.
Fiscal Impact/Change to Net County Cost: Physicians will bill the State directly for compensation of emergency care to the indigent in FY 2006/07. There is no Net County Cost.
Action to be taken following Board approval: Board Clerk to forward two (2) signed copies of the Declaration to the Department; Department to forward one copy to the State.