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HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution No. 2020-23)(? Sponsored by : Legal Kl;NAI CITY OF KENAI RESOLUTION NO. 2020-23 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF KENAI, ALASKA, APPROVING AN EXCEPTION TO THE COLLECTIONS POLICY FOR DELINQUENT AMBULANCE BILLS TO ELIMINATE OUT OF POCKET COLLECTION FOR COVID-19 TREATMENT/TRANSPORT TO COMPLY WITH FEDERAL FUNDING REQUIREMENTS. WHEREAS , the City of Kenai Fire Department provides emergency healthcare and ambulance services with certain associated fees; and , WHEREAS , Resolution No . 2011-06 approved a Collection Policy for Delinquent City Ambulance Bills; and , WHEREAS , $15 ,000 has been deposited in City accounts from the CARES Act Provider Relief Fund ; and, WHEREAS, these funds are federal payments to healthcare providers , such as the City's Fire Department, conditioned on providers agreeing not to seek out-of-pocket payments from COVID- 19 patients ; and , WHEREAS , it is in the best interest of the City of Kenai to amend its Collection Policy for Delinquent City Ambulance Bills to eliminate out-of-pocket collection for COVID -19 treatment and transport. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF KENAI, ALASKA: Section 1. That the City's Collection Policy for Delinquent City Ambulance Bills is amended by adding a new Section 4 to read as follows: Patients who have an unpaid balance after receiving a minimum of two invoices, and after receiving notification of the City's Charity Care Policy, shall be subject to the following collection procedures: 1. The City shall issue a demand for payment indicating the balance owed and providing documentation of the City's Charity Care Policy . The demand shall include a date by which the City must be paid in full or by which the patient must make written repayment arrangements with the City. 2 . Patients may enter into a payment plan with the City for payment of their past-due balance . A payment plan may include a signed confession of judgement, a written repayment agreement, a n assignment of their Alaska Permanent Fund dividend, or any combination thereof. Resolution No . 2020-23 Page 2 of 2 3. Patients failing to satisfy their account by payment, by approval for charity care, and/or by entering into a repayment plan by the due date may be turned over to the City's third-party collection agent for further co llection action. 4. As an exception to this Poli cy and any other billing policies or practices of the City of Kenai, patients treated or transported for COVID-19 symptoms by the City of Kenai Fire Department shall not be billed for out-of-pocket expenses. Section 2. That this resolution takes effect immediately upon passage . PASSED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF KENAI , ALASKA, this 6th day of May, 2020. BRIAN GABRIEL, SR., MAYOR ATIEST: City of Kenai I 2 10 ~i d a lgo Ave, Kenai, AK 99611 -7794 1907.28 3.7535 I www.kenai.ci!y MEMORANDUM TO : FROM: DATE: SUBJECT: Mayor B rian Gabriel and Kenai City Council Scott Bloom , City Attorney April 28, 2020 Resolution 2020-23 The City received $15,000 from the CARES Act Provider Relief Fund for healthcare services provided by the Fire Department. As a condition of acceptance of the funds, the City must agree to forego out-of-pocket payments from patients treated and transported for COVID-19 . Amending the City's current Collection Policy for Delinquent City Ambulance Bills to exclude out-of-pocket collection from patients treated and transported for COVID-19 will assure compliance with the CARES Act Provider Relief Fund. The proposed amendment is provided below in underline: Patients who have an unpaid balance after receiving a minimum of two invoices , and after receiving notification of the City's Charity Care Policy, shall be subject to the following collection procedures : 1. The City shall issue a demand for payment indicating the balance owed and providing documentation of the City's Charity Care Policy. The demand shall include a date by which the City must be paid in full or by which the patent must make written repayment arrangements with the City. 2 . Patients may enter into a payment plan with the City for payment of their past-due balance. A payment plan may include a signed confession of judgement, a written repayment agreement, an assignment of their Ala ska Permanent Fund dividend, or any combination thereof. 3 . Patients failing to satisfy their account by payment, by approval for charity care, and/or by entering into a repayment plan by the due date may be turned over to the City 's third-party collection agent for further collection action . 4 . A s an exception to this Policy and any other billing policies or pra ctices of the C ity of Ken a i, patients treated or transported for COVI D-19 symptoms by the City of Kenai Fire Department shall not be billed for out-of-pocket expenses. Your consideration is appreciated .