TITLE
Recommendation to receive supporting documentation into the record, conclude the public hearing, and adopt resolution amending the Master Fee and Charges Schedule by adopting the Fire First Responder Fee. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
The Long Beach Fire Department (LBFD) proposes to implement a First Responder Fee to partially offset the costs of providing emergency medical services. In Fiscal Year 15, the Department has budgeted $11.3 million in ambulance transport revenue, which includes $400,000 in budgeted Ground Emergency Medical Transportation (GEMT) revenue. The annual budgeted cost of providing paramedic services totals $22.1 million annually, far exceeding budgeted revenue.
Additionally, there is a significant cost associated with providing fire engine responses to medical incidents, which comprise approximately 85% of all responses. A fire engine is staffed with four personnel -- three Emergency Medical Technicians and one Paramedic. The fire engine is typically the first apparatus to respond to an incident and there is currently no mechanism by which the Department can recover the costs of services provided by fire engine personnel. Similarly, when ambulances respond to a medical emergency and the patient is not transported, there are no fees charged to offset these costs.
The Department proposes to charge a $250 Fire First Responder Fee to patients that are medically evaluated and treated by Fire staff on a first responder unit. This would be separate, and in addition to, the current ambulance fees that are charged when there is a transport. The amount of the fee is consistent with what other California agencies charge and assumes full recovery of personnel, apparatus, emergency medical supplies and equipment, and administrative costs.
As noted above, there are significant costs associated with an emergency medical response, which includes a fire engine and an ambulance, and the six Fire staff members associated with the apparatus. A p...
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