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Carmel committee debates ambulance fund changes, proposed fee for lift assists to care facilities
Summary
The Finance, Utilities and Rules Committee reviewed amendments to the ambulance capital fund ordinance to align billing with recent state law and considered a proposed $500 lift‑assist fee for calls to facilities when trained staff are present but unable to perform a lift.
The committee reviewed amendments to the ordinance governing the paramedic/ambulance capital fund and debated a proposed fee for so‑called “lift assists” to assisted‑living and extended‑care facilities.
Fire Chief Joel Thacker described the ordinance changes as language cleanups and statutory alignments. He said the amendments would (1) rename the fund the Paramedic Emergency Ambulance and Fire Service Capital Fund; (2) remove dated references (including a Hamilton County EMS tax that staff could not locate); (3) tie commercial insurer billing to the statutory maximum of 400% of current CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) rates established by recent state law; and (4) cap out‑of‑pocket charges for Carmel residents (the chief discussed an $800 limit as an example). Thacker also proposed giving the fire chief authority to adjust rates to remain compliant with changes in federal or state regulations.
On a separate item, Chief Thacker proposed a $500 lift‑assist fee…
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