2019/11/27 Council Agenda Packet

II Y year increase of 1;081 total transports. Prior to the current CBA,these transports would have been managed by NW Ambulance. Given Everett Fire's current base rate per BLS transport of$538.51,these additional transports represented an increase in billable transport fees of$582,129.31. Because arewe note only oeable taccuratelt they classify which transports happened as a result of the change in deployment, g base transport fees and does not include the•mileage rate of$17.00 per transport mile.This increase in transports by Everett Fire represented a decrease in billable fees for NW Ambulance of$967,495 (calculated as 1,081 transports x NW Ambulance's BLS base rate of$895/transport).Again,this figure does not reflect NW Ambulance's mileage rate of$19.00 per transport mile. In the spring of 2019,NW Ambulance management approached Everett Fire with a request for two modifications to the existing contract that would help offset the impact of Everett Fire's increase in BLS transports.The first of these proposed modifications was that NW Ambulance's allowable base rate for BLS transport and Critical Care(Nurse)transports be increased in an amount consistent with the experienced CPI since the implementation of the contract...An annual increase based on CPI is allowed in the existing contract,but NW Ambulance had not previously requested an increase. The second proposed modification to the BLS Ambulance Services contract is a reduction in NW Ambulance's monthly payment to the City of Everett.As stated in the contract,this current payment of $13,180.59 ($158,167.04 annually)is intended to offset the costs associated with dispatch of and communication with EMS providers",the"City's incremental cost associated with monitoring Contractor's compliance with the Contract",and the"City's incremental cost with medical control and quality assurance". Internally, Everett Fire intended for this payment to offset the creation of a new position,the Assistant Chief Of Emergency Medical Services(EMS).This position was eliminated by Everett Fire's reorganization in 2019 which shifted those EMS responsibilities to the Assistant Chief of Administration,a position for which half the funding is provided by the,EMS budget. NW Ambulance has requested that the amount.of the monthly payment be reduced to$3,295.14 ($39,541.76 annually).This proposed amount represents twenty-five percent of the original figure and is based on the following factors: — There is little, if any,marginal expense to the City of Everett for dispatch and communication with NW Ambulance resources. NW Ambulance maintains its own 24-hour dispatch center and works directly With Sno911 as an Everett Fire partner agency; — The incremental work associated with monitoring contract compliance is not the equivalent of an FTE at an Assistant Chief salary range; and, — NW Ambulance maintains its own medical control and quality assurance processes. The presence and consistent availability of NW Ambulance resources in the City of Everett is a key component of Everett Fire's ability to deliver effective and efficient EMS care to our residents,workers, and visitors.As we anticipate the earliest ending date of this contract in mid-2021; it is important that Everett maintain an economically viable environment for private BLS transport providers. Please don't hesitate to reach out with any questions. Page 2 of 2 1112 IMO 43