§ 34-365. Powers and duties of the fire department to provide ambulance services.

(a)

Generally. The fire department shall serve as the primary response and transport ambulance service for all emergency medical services and ground ambulance transport within the city as set forth in regulations as approved by the city manager. No other ambulance service shall operate within the city except for exemptions as set forth in regulations approved by the city manager. It shall be the duty of the fire department to oversee, manage and operate the ambulance/transport component and special events coverage of the pre-hospital emergency medical services system to provide quality advanced life support single tier ambulance service to all inhabitants of the city.

(b)

Determination of rates; billing and collections. The fire department shall have charge of all billing and collection functions, including the determination of reasonable rates. However, nothing in this subsection shall be construed to limit the city manager from reassigning this function to a different city department or prohibit the fire department from contracting with an entity created by ordinance to conduct billing and collection functions.

(c)

Recommendations to the EMSCC and the city manager. The fire chief shall provide recommendations to the EMSCC and city manager for the elements of the prehospital emergency medical services system.

(d)

Contracts for mutual aid and shared services. The fire department may contract for advanced life support ambulance services from neighboring providers. Such contractors shall be subject to medical review by the medical director. Consideration for such services may be financial or in kind. Nothing in this article shall be construed as prohibiting the fire department from receiving or rendering emergency mutual aid without formal agreement.

(Ord. No. 071380, § 1, 12-13-07; Ord. No. 100122, § 1, 2-25-10)