For City Council Meeting [June 8, 2021]
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
APPROVAL: Sean Grayson, Acting City Manager
FROM: Brian Park, Interim Fire Chief
Title
Request City Council to Approve a Onetime Retro Payment to Inland Counties Emergency Medical Agencies (ICEMA) in the Amount of $19,200 for Accumulated Medical Control Fees and Medical Compliance Fees Associated with our Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Apparatus.
Body
BACKGROUND:
As part of the Rialto Fire Department’s (RFD) first responder and ambulance transport medical services, the Department recognizes ICEMA and ICEMA’s medical director as the EMS medical authority pursuant to the EMS Act.
ANALYSIS/DISCUSSION:
The California Health and Safety Code, Division 25, Chapter 2, Section 1798 states “The medical direction and management of an emergency medical services system shall be under the medical control of the medical director of the local EMS agency. This medical control shall be maintained in accordance with standards for medical control established by the authority”. ICEMA, as the local medical authority has asserted its right to invoice what it determines as a just and reasonable sum for its services. The Fire Department anticipates an annual medical control fee and medical compliance fees with sums determined by ICEMA.
The Fire Department in conjunction with the city attorney have agreed to ICEMA’s assertion of medical control along with its invoice request of $19,200 for past services retro back to 2017-18 pertaining to medial control and medical inspections of our Advanced Life Support (ALS) units. The local medical authority establishes medical control by instituting local EMS patient care policies and protocols. Local medial authority also establishes a certified drug and equipment list that must be maintained by any agency practicing EMS services within the Local Emergency Medical Services Agencies (LEMSA). In order to verify compliance, ICEMA has established annual medical inspections of EMS apparatus throughout the LEMSA. To accomplish its task of asserting medical control and authenticating recognized local EMS providers, ICEMA has established an annual fee system for their services.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT:
The request is not a Project as defined by Section 15378 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). A “Project” means the whole of an action, which has a potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment. By definition, a Project does not include: The creation of government funding mechanisms or other government fiscal activities which do not involve any commitment to any specific project which may result in a potentially significant physical impact on the environment according to Section 15378 (b)(4) of CEQA.
GENERAL PLAN CONSISTENCY:
Our City government will lead by example, and will operate in an open, transparent and responsive manner that meets the needs of the citizens and is a good place to do business. This action is also consistent with the following policy:
5-3.1: Provide for fire personnel, equipment and fire stations to have adequate and appropriate resources to meet the needs and serve all areas of Rialto.
LEGAL REVIEW:
The City Attorney has reviewed and approved this staff report.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Operating Budget Impact
Funds are budgeted and available in the General Fund Account No. 010-500-5175-2011 for the retroactive medical control & medical compliance fee payment and for annual payments with sums determined by ICEMA.
Capital Improvement Budget Impact
There will be no impact on the Capital Improvement Budget.
Licensing
The payment to ICEMA is being made outside the City of Rialto, therefore a Rialto Business License is not required.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council Approve a onetime retroactive payment of $19,200 for accumulated medical control fees and medical compliance fees associated with our Emergency Medical Services (EMS) apparatus.