The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About _ 9.8(b)--Redding Fire Department Recommendation for Medical Response Fee GI �" Y C� F � � �- ' � ° � � i � CITY OF REDDING �� REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: August 19, 2025 FROM: Jerrod Vanlandingham, Fire ITEM NO. 9.8(b) Chief ***APPROVED BY*** # �� ' � � ""� �'��<<�,�"�+��,� , ��,_.. � � ,��,. J,�rr i" in�*�iaa��,Fire Cl� f �(141242� t�s�a a �, ss � er 8,�14l202� jvanlandingham@cityofredding.org btippin@cityofredding.org SUBJECT: 9.8(b)--Consider update to Redding Municipal Code Title 6 Chapter 6.18 - Emer enc Medical Service First Res onder Fee and rovide direction. Recommendation Accept report regarding Redding Municipal Code Title 6, Chapter 6.18 (Emergency Medical Service First Responder Fee); and provide direction regarding the following: (1) Should the ordinance be modified; (2) Should the ordinance be repealed; (3) Should the fee be revisited; (4) If the ordinance is modified, should the fee be temporarily suspended until the new ordinance is adopted; and/or (5) If the fee is suspended, should the current billings be rescinded. Fiscal Impact As of August 18, 2025 the City of Redding (City) has billed out $105,780 and collected $9,890 in First Responder fees. Changes to the program may alter the fiscal impact. Background/Analysis The Redding Fire Department (RFD) responds to approximately 16,000 service calls annually. Of these service calls, approximately 65 percent are emergency medical responses. On emergency medical calls, RFD responds with a fire engine or truck with three firefighters who are trained as emergency medical technicians (E1VIT's) or first responders. As fire stations are located throughout the City, a fire engine or a truck responds to medical calls to provide faster care and treatment and additional personnel to assist with the emergency. Often, firefighters ride in the back of the ambulance to assist with patient care while in route to the hospital. RFD's average response time within the City is 6.1 minutes from time of dispatch, while the average response time for an ambulance is 9.64 minutes. It is not uneommon for all Redding-area ambulances to be committed to other ca11s for service and are not available to respond, leaving RFD to maintain patient care for longer durations. The community benefits from the RFD's response to emergency medical care ca11s. Report to Redding City Council August 14,2025 Re: 9.8(b)--Redding Fire Department Recommendation for Medical Response Fee Page 2 The enacted First Responder Fee is billed to a patient who is medically assessed or treated by RFD's first responders on elnergency medical calls, including auto accidents or other traumatic injuries. First Responder Fees can be fully or partially covered by commercial medical and auto insurance carriers. The ordinance allows for individuals determined to have a financial hardship, may have the fee waived by submitting a hardship waiver to the RFD's Fire Chief for consideration. Envir�onmental Review This is not a project defined under the California Environmental Quality Act, and no further action is required. Council PNio�^ity/City Manager Goals • Public Safety — "Work to improve all aspects of public safety to help people feel secure and safe where they live, work, and play in the City of Redding." Attachments ^RMC Chapter 6.18 Emergency Medical Service First Responder Fee Title 6-BUSINESS TAXES, LICENSES AND REGULATIONS Chapter 6.18 EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE FIRST RESPONDER FEE Chapter 6.18 EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE FIRST RESPONDER FEE 6.18.010 Definitions. For purposes of this chapter,the following definitions apply: A. "Emergency medical services" means special services designed to provide definitive prehospital emergency medical care including, but not limited to,cardiopulmonary resuscitation,cardiac defibrillation,airway management,administration of specified drugs,and other techniques and procedures administered by authorized personnel. B. "Emergency medical services first responder fee" means the fee established pursuant to this chapter and charged to each recipient to whom the fire department provides emergency medical services. C. "Insurer" means the recipient's medical insurance provider. D. "Recipient" means the person to whom the city provides emergency medical services. (Ord. No.2642,§ 1,8-3-2021) 6.18.020 Emergency medical service first responder fee. A. The city council shall, by resolution,adopt an emergency medical services first responder fee to recover the reasonable costs incurred by the fire department in providing emergency medical services and the reasonable costs to administer the fee. B. The emergency medical service first responder fee shall be charged to each recipient and/or a recipient's insurer,whether a city resident or nonresident,who receives emergency medical services from the fire department during a single incident. (Ord. No. 2642,§ 1,8-3-2021) 6.18.030 Fee collection. A. Policies for Discharging Accountability. 1. The fire chief,or designee,will develop policies and procedures for invoicing, billing,and receiving payments for each fee charged under this cnapter and will coordinate the administration of said fee with any contracted third party service provider, if applicable.The policies and procedures will include a process to discharge from accountability accounts that are not collectible. 2. The fire chief,or designee, may establish a compassionate billing policy.Such policy may include waiver of the emergency medical services first responder fee for recipients who qualify under the compassionate billing policy. 3. The city shall accept the payment from the insurer as the full payment for the recipient's emergency medical services first responder fee obligation. B. The fire chief,or designee, may delegate all or some of the tasks required for the administration of the emergency medical services first responder fee.Administration of the emergency medical services first responder fee will consist of tasks including, but not limited to,tracking of emergency medical services Redding,California,Code of Ordinances Created: 2025-05-13 16:14:26 [EST] (Supp. No.46) Page 1 of 2 provided by the fire department, identification of financially responsible parties,calculation of total fees to be charged, invoicing and payment collection,and the processing of waiver requests and appeals, if permitted. C. When the fire department provides emergency medical services to a person,the finance department,or a contracted third party service provider,shall bill the recipient and the insurer, if any,for payment of the emergency medical services first responder fee. In the case of a minor,the finance department shall invoice the parent or guardian of the recipient who received the services and the insurer if the person,or his or her representative, has identified to the finance department the insurer to which the invoice should be sent. (Ord. No.2642,§ 1,8-3-2021) 6.18.040 No effect on emergency medical first responder services. This chapter neither expands nor limits services.These services will continue to be provided without regard to whether a person is insured by an insurer, has the ability to pay the emergency medical services first responder fee,or has or has not paid the emergency medical services first responder fee in the past. (Ord. No.2642,§ 1,8-3-2021) 6.18.050 Non-exclusive remedy. Notwithstanding the provisions of this chapter,the city shall not be prevented from taking any other civil or criminal action to abate the acts constituting a violation of this chapter,and all remedies at law and in equity remain reserved to the city. (Ord. No.2642,§ 1,8-3-2021) 6.18.060 Appeal. A. Any recipient wishing to contest an invoice regarding the emergency medical services first responder fee imposed under this chapter must submit a written request for reconsideration to the fire chief explaining the reasons for requesting a reconsideration within thirty calendar days of the date of receiving the invoice for the emergency medical services first responder fee.The fire chief will review the written request, make a final decision on the request,and notify the party in writing within thirty calendar days of receiving the request to reconsider. B. If the aggrieved party is unhappy with the fire chief's decision,the party may appeal to the city manager,or his or her designee, by filing a written notice witn the city clerk within fourteen calendar days of the fire chief's written notice of decision. (Ord. No. 2642,§ 1,8-3-2021) Created: 2025-05-13 16:14:26 [EST] (Supp. No.46) Page 2 of 2