Council committee asks administration to study fees for repeat 'lift assist' calls to nursing homes

Council member Jeffries asked the city administration to produce a report assessing whether the city should establish a fee for repeat nonemergency "lift assist" calls to nursing homes, saying the intent is to protect taxpayers without reducing resident safety. "So the intent of this, is we want to improve safety. We don't have a burden onto the fire department," Jeffries said.

The request grew out of testimony and council concern that some facilities repeatedly call the fire department for noninjury assistance. Jeffries told the committee that, for perspective, the fire department handles "about 1,600 runs" that are nonemergency lifts and that repeat calls can shift costs onto taxpayers. He asked the administration to study thresholds and practices other jurisdictions use (for example, repeat‑call thresholds described in other cities) and to return with a recommended approach.

Several council members urged caution about the practical effects of a fee. Vice Chair Scottie Johnson said the committee should avoid policies that make needed help prohibitively expensive: "We do not want seniors or disabled people in these facilities not attended to based on 800 to $1,000 being charged every time they do call," Johnson said, urging the administration's due diligence.

Other members pressed for data on the difference between private transports and medically billed transports, cautioned that state regulators supervise nursing homes, and proposed narrowing the committee's immediate action to a report rather than implementation. The solicitor recommended wording the request as "an assessment of the feasibility of establishing this fee" so the administration's response could address legal and operational constraints.

Fire department representative Mr. Riley described operational strain: "We're responding to these facilities 4 or 5 times a day," he said, characterizing many calls as lift assists where facility staff were present but the facility nonetheless requested emergency help. Riley told the committee that frequent calls can pull crews away from other emergencies.

With the sponsor's agreement, the committee accepted a friendly amendment to remove implementation bullets and to request a feasibility report; the amended motion was placed on the full council agenda for consideration. The motion asks the administration to report back (the motion language referenced a 90‑day timetable for a full implementation plan if pursued). The committee did not adopt a fee at this meeting.