Title
Chief Administrative Office recommending the Board:
1) Approve and authorize the Chair to sign Agreement 4432 with Wittman Enterprises, LLC to provide ambulance billing services on behalf of El Dorado County;
2) Approve the Treasurer/Tax Collector to establish a zero balance bank account to accept ambulance billing payments.
FUNDING: Ambulance Service Fees.
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
Effective July 1, 2019, the Emergency Medical Services and Emergency Preparedness & Response (EMS-EP) programs were transferred from the Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) to the Chief Administrative Office (CAO). At that time, the ambulance billing function remained with HHSA while staff evaluated the placement of this function. The staff evaluation determined that the aligning of the fiscal and programmatic needs and aspects of ambulance billings would create efficiencies. On August 27, 2019, the Board of Supervisors approved, in concept, the transfer of the ambulance billing function from HHSA to the CAO. On the same day, the Board of Supervisors authorized the Chief Administrative Officer, or designee, to negotiate a new contract for ambulance billing services with Wittman Enterprises.
Since that date, the Chief Administrative Office has worked with Wittman Enterprises to negotiate a contract for the County’s Ambulance Billing Services to be effective January 1, 2020. The proposed Agreement reflects a five year term with Wittman compensated at 4.25% of net collections.
The Chief Administrative Office met with HHSA to evaluate the current ambulance billing process. The County contracts for ambulance billing services to collect fees for its CSA subcontractor entities with whom the County contracts for the ambulance services. These CSA subcontractors submit electronic Pre-Hospital Care Reports (ePCR) which detail the services provided. The County reviews the ePCR and it is submitted to the ambulance billing provider for further review, billing and payment ...
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