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Hearing to consider adoption of Resolutions 241-2008 and 242-2008 establishing the ambulance rate schedule for County Service Areas 3 and 7 to provide advanced life support ambulance services within the legal boundaries of said County Service Areas, noting Resolution 241-2008 for CSA No. 3 supersedes Resolution 315-2007 and Resolution 242-2008 for CSA No. 7 supersedes Resolution 316-2007.
FUNDING: Fee for service.
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Fiscal Impact/Change to Net County Cost: Adoption and implementation of these proposed rates will generate additional revenues. There is no net County cost and no impact on the General Fund.
Background: The County of El Dorado has provided ambulance services since the early 1980s. A full cost of service analysis for county ambulance services was performed in 2004. In October 2004, with the concurrence of both JPA, the Board approved a new rate schedule effective November 8, 2004. Subsequent rate adjustments were approved by the Board of Supervisors effective July 1, 2006 and August 21, 2007, respectively.
At the meeting April 1, 2008, the Board of Supervisors directed the Public Health Department to review and bring back recommendations for an annual adjustment to the County’s ambulance rate schedule. The Board concurred with the Public Health Director’s recommendation to include in the review the annual change in consumer price index for medical care (i.e., Medical CPI) and ambulance transportation rates for the surrounding region in the analysis. After careful consideration, Public Health identified four comparative methodologies for establishing ambulance rates:
1. Full cost of service model - Determine rates based on a complete analysis of ambulance service costs (estimated to cost $30K).
2. Medical CPI only - Adjust rates based on published Department of Labor data for change in Medical CPI (U.S. City average) increase. The 12-month change in Medical CPI for the period April 2007-April 2008 was 4.3%.
3. Medical CP...
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