January 9, 2025 Minutes
Fire District Commissioner Meeting
Opening Prayer: Mike called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM. The opening prayer was offered by Jim Deuel. Present were Commissioners Mike Miller, Jim Deuel, Dallin Gambles, and Roger Anderson. Gordon Ball was excused. Fire Chiefs Nic White, Jared Giannini and Joe Schimanski. BC’s Ben Doman, Mitch Bingham, Corey Albertson, and Kelsey Thornton. Nile Hall took minutes. Patrons present included Matt Brockbank, Amanda Albertson, Rachel Schimanski, Ben Schimanski, Ivan Schimanski, Cody Thornton, Hunter Jensen, Baylee Majors, Chris West, Brody Shaffer, Graham Whipple and his daughter.
Jim moved to amend the agenda to add the acceptance of the Resolution 2025-01 following the public hearing and changes made there. Roger seconded the motion, and voting was unanimously approved by Jim, Roger, Dallin and Mike.
Approval of Minutes: Dallin made a motion to approve the minutes of the December 12th Meeting. Roger seconded the motion, and voting was unanimously approved by Jim, Roger, Dallin and Mike.
Budget Review: Nile reported that to date, spending has been 10% less than budgeted to date.
Approval Of Expenditures: Dallin moved to accept the expenditures of $311,826.34 and $110,616340 for payroll for a total of $422,442.74. Roger seconded the motion, and voting was unanimously approved by Jim, Roger, Dallin and Mike.
Old Business:
1.Amanda Albertson was introduced as the new office manager effective Jan 2, 2025.
2. The Heater in the District Office has been repaired.
New Business:
- Resolution 2025-01 regarding the increase in charges for ambulance services. Dallin move to accept the resolution with the changes as posted and to make the necessary changes to the procedures as discussed in the public hearing. Roger seconded the motion, and voting was unanimously approved by Jim, Roger, Dallin and Mike. EMS Billing and Collections Procedures follows:
Central Fire District Ambulance Service
EMS Billing and Collections Procedures
PURPOSE
To establish procedures regarding ambulance service billing and collections. To include patient services fee, schedule, collections, address Central Fire District employees, and charity/assistance policies for patients of Central Fire District’s Ambulance Services.
DEFINITIONS
CENTRAL FIRE DISTRICT AMBULANCE SERVICE is designated as the “District.”
SYSTEMS DESIGN, INC. is designated at the “Billing Agency” with whom the District has a current contract to provide billing for emergency medical and ambulance services.
POLICY
It is the policy of the District that no person will be denied treatment or transport to a definitive care facility, regardless of the patient’s or patient’s family’s ability to pay for the services.
It is in the policy of the District to pursue payment for ambulance treatment and/or transport services provided according to the fee schedule approved by the District’s Commissioners. While claims for service will be processed based on the patient’s individual situation (I.E.: insurance, self-pay, etc.), the patent is ultimately responsible for the total balance due. Billing practices will be in compliance with State and Federal Laws, specifically Medicare, Medicaid, and HIPAA guidelines.
CHARITY/ASSISTANCE
Those individuals that are unable to make payments on the owed amount or are requesting a discount or payment schedule to pay the balance owed will be handled on a case-by-case basis.
To be eligible to receive the service at no charge or a reduced charge the patient, or designee, must contact the Billing Agency and request Financial Assistance from the District.
- An application for Financial Assistance shall be completed by the patient and returned to the Billing Agency. The Billing Agency shall notify the District of the request.
- Consideration of these requests will be given with regards to insurance available to the patient, circumstances of the call, financial resources available, and ability to arrange payment.
- If approved by the District, the Billing Agency shall resubmit an adjusted bill to the patient.
COLLECTIONS
In the event that payment for ambulance treatment/transport services in full or notice of a payment plan to System Design is not received within 120 days of initial billing, the patient’s account will be considered delinquent and uncollectible and referred to a designated collections firm, approved by the District, who will attempt to collect the balance due.
- With accounts that are at risk of being turned over to collections, the Billing Agency is authorized to negotiate up to a 20% reduction in the balance due.
- The negotiated amount must be paid in full otherwise the account will be re-adjusted to the previous balance and then sent to the designated collections firm.
TREATMENT AND TRANSPORT FEE SCHED
| Categories | Rates | |
Behavioral Health Transport | Resident and Non-Resident | Bill at current Medicare allowable base rate for BLS Non-Emergency. Bill mileage at current Medicare allowable for loaded mile. |
| BLS Non-Emergency | Resident | $737.00 |
| Non-Resident | $737.00 | |
| BLS Emergency | Resident | $1026.00 |
| Non-Resident | $1026.00 | |
| ALS1 Emergency | Resident | $1168.00 |
| Non-Resident | $1168.00 | |
| ALS2 Emergency | Resident | $1316.00 |
| Non-Resident | $1316.00 | |
| Mileage Charge | Resident | $20.50/loaded mile |
| Non-Resident | $20.50/loaded mile | |
| Treatment No Transport | Resident | $321.00 |
| Non-Resident | $321.00 | |
| Response Fee | Response and Evaluation | $0.00 |
| Bill separately for supplies | No | |
| Balance Bill | Yes | |
ALS Transport/Treatment costs could be subject to Idaho Falls Fire Department’s fee schedule. Individuals will be responsible for working with Idaho Falls Fire Department and their billing agency if you receive a bill from them.
- Jim was chosen to be the Chairman for 2025 and all voted affirmative to that action.
- Mike swore in Ben Schimanski as a new full-time firefighter EMT.
- Resin Architectural report: Graham Whipple presented the findings and recommendations for the rebuilding of the Ririe Fire Station.
- Recommend that we utilize the consultant to present findings to approach the consultant.
- Recommend that we don’t use the existing concrete as it will take lots of cutting and pasting and putting new cement up against old but just tear out the old concrete and put all new concrete as the foundation.
- Recommended that we rebuild to meet the flow and needs that are desired. In other words don’t put it back the way it was. Major changes are needed.
Jim moved that we take the recommendations from Resin Architecture and give the chief’s office the go ahead to meet with the insurance people to negotiate the funding requirements according to the estimates as presented by the consulting firm. Roger seconded and the voting was unanimously approved by Jim, Roger, Mike and Dallin.
- It was moved and seconded that we make the 2nd payment for the new pumper on order.
- New Turnouts: Jim moved to go forward with the purchase of an additional 8 turnouts at the cost of $27,178. Dallin seconded the motion, and voting was unanimously approved by Jim, Roger, Dallin and Mike.
- Extrication Equipment: Roger moved to go forward with the purchase of extrication equipment for Station 3 and for Engine 5 for $69,146. Dallin seconded the motion, and voting was unanimously approved by Jim, Roger, Dallin and Mike.
- Jim moved to replace the heater in Ririe Station with the same heater that is installed at the District Office. Roger seconded and the motion passed unanimously by Jim, Dallin, Roger and Dallin.
Fire Chief Report: Huge relief to have office manager in place again.
BC Report: None was given.
Assistant Chief Report: We had 62 transports last month. Got $49,000 receipts this past month and things are going well.
Deputy Chief Report: Things are busy with writing procedures and organizing the office with the new office manager when she can come full time.
Commissioner Report: Roger reported that resolutions have been made by all the cities, and we will just need to get the signatures to get the Ambulance District on the ballot in May.
Roger moved to close the meeting. Roger seconded and voting was unanimous by Jim, Mike, Dallin and Roger in the affirmative.
The meeting adjourned at 8:00PM.