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ORDINANCE Page 3 of 8 <br /> <br />for the fire department EMS and patient transport services shall be made in accordance with the <br />city’s budget as the same now exists or as it may hereafter be amended. <br />F. Additions, Purchases, Financing. The cost of making additions, or purchases to and for the <br />fire department EMS and patient transport services, shall be paid from such sources and by such <br />means as the city from time to time may direct, in accordance with state law and applicable <br />regulations of the State Auditor. <br />G. Emergency Medical Services Fund. There shall be created and established in the city’s <br />budget a special fund, to be known and designated as the emergency medical services fund. <br />There shall be deposited in the emergency medical services fund: (1) all revenues collected <br />pursuant to the fire department transport service fees established and set forth in subsection N <br />of this section; (2) all revenues collected pursuant to any contract and/or agreement to provide <br />all or a portion of the fire department transport service; (3) appropriations from the city, the <br />county, state and federal government; and (4) such other funds as may be received for the use <br />for fire department transport service. The emergency medical services fund shall be <br />administered in accordance with the state laws and applicable regulations of the State Auditor. <br />H. Assistance from Other Funds. Assistance for fire department EMS and transport services <br />from other funds shall be accounted for in accordance with state law, applicable regulations of <br />the State Auditor, and in accordance with RCW 36.32.470. <br />I. Fire Department Transport Service Fees and Rates. Fees for users of the city fire department <br />transport service shall be fixed from time to time at the rates as set by ordinance of the city as <br />amended from time to time; provided, that the fire department may adjust the charges fixed by <br />ordinance yearly for any cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) increase as measured by the <br />Consumer Price Index Pacific Cities and U.S. Cities average for the Seattle-Tacoma-Everett areas; <br />and provided, that the fire chief is authorized to administratively set rates for medical supplies. <br />Rates for services and medical supplies shall be set to provide for recovery of actual costs based <br />upon an average charge, which will be reviewed annually. <br />J. Use of Emergency Medical Services Fees. All proceeds derived from the fire department <br />transport service fees authorized under this section shall be used solely for the operation, <br />maintenance, and capital needs of fire department transport service. <br />K. Billing of Emergency Medical Services Fees. Each patient who utilizes the fire department <br />transport service shall be billed by the city in accordance with the fee schedule adopted in <br />subsection N of this section. The department of finance shall establish a procedure to bill and <br />collect fire department transport service fees for the services rendered. Under the procedure, <br />the city may elect to bill the patient directly or bill the patient’s insurance company. If the <br />patient’s insurance does not cover all of the cost of the ambulance service, the city will bill the <br />remaining balance to the patient directly. The city may contract with a public or private entity to <br />bill and collect the fire department transport service fees.