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Council weighs TVAC stipend increase and EMS soft‑billing; staff to prepare resolution for Dec. 17
Summary
Tenafly officials discussed a TVAC request to raise performance stipends to $7,000 per eligible member and the prospect of EMS soft‑billing (billing insurers but not residents for unpaid balances); staff will prepare a resolution and cost figures for Dec. 17 while noting tradeoffs including potential loss of state volunteer training funds.
Council members discussed funding and administration of the volunteer Tenafly Volunteer Ambulance Corps (TVAC) on Dec. 3, focusing on two related items: a request to bring TVAC’s performance stipend on par with the fire department and a proposal to implement EMS soft‑billing.
David told the council the FY2024 budget included $150,000 for performance stipends and that current submissions of participation would consume about $137,000 of that budget. TVAC has requested a stipend of up to $7,000 for certain members (the fire department’s combined incentive and clothing allowance was described in discussion as up to $6,600). The municipality’s ordinance sets a base stipend (noted in the ordinance language read aloud) at $2,000, and the council can authorize higher amounts by resolution so long as the budget permits.
On EMS soft‑billing, staff described a model in which TVAC would collect insurance information at point of service and bill insurers (Medicare, Medicaid, private carriers). Under proposed "soft" billing, if insurers do not fully pay, the borough would not pursue residents for unpaid balances or send bills to collections; any revenue collected would be used for TVAC equipment and program needs. David and council members raised operational questions, including whether billing would require additional staff (staff suggested it might require up to about 0.5 full‑time equivalent) and whether moving to billing could make a purely volunteer organization ineligible for state‑funded EMT training (an estimated $3,000 per trainee).
JP, joining by Zoom and identified as TVAC captain, described the administrative burden the volunteer corps already absorbs—after elimination of a prior part‑time admin position—and said adding a staff person for TVAC administration and billing could be appropriate. Council members expressed consensus to ask staff to prepare a resolution and specific numbers for the Dec. 17 meeting; no final decisions were made on Dec. 3.
