City of Oak Creek

Common Council Report

Meeting Date:  12/16/03

Item No.:         13

Recommendation:  That the Common Council authorize the Mayor and City Clerk to enter into a contract with CPR, Inc. for BLS ambulance billing for the year 2004.

Background:  In 2000 the City entered into a contract with CPR to do BLS billing.  Prior to that City staff had done the billing.  The contract has been a success, our billing revenue increased (in part due to rate changes) and the staff has been able to use the time saved for other tasks.

The contract with CPR was a part of the paramedic contract with Milwaukee County.  The rate was 7.5% of which 6.5% went to CPR and 1% to Milwaukee County.  The rate has not changed since the start of the contract.  With the expiration of the paramedic contract with Milwaukee County the current contract with CPR ends on December 31.  The new paramedic contract does not include BLS billing.  In order to continue this service a new contract for BLS billing is necessary.

CPR has proposed a one-year contract for 2004, (renewable at the option of the parties), at an 8.5% rate.  This is one percent above the current contract.  This figure appears to be in line with rates quoted to other municipalities in this area from other vendors.  The 2004 Fire Department budget took a conservative approach to revenues for BLS billing, which should mean that the expected increase of 3,000 to 3,200 dollars should be able to be met without changes to the approved budget.

Fiscal Impact:  The budgeted revenue from BLS billing should provide adequate funds for this contract.

Prepared and approved by: Gerard R. Hammernik Fire Chief	Respectfully submitted, Robert L. Kufrin City Administrator
Fiscal Review by: Beverly A. Buretta, CMC City Clerk

File name: streets(T)/shared/word/003/2004saltcontractforstreets