Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ Article XVIII Department of Emergency Medical Services

[Added 3-7-2017 by Ord. No. 2017:02[1]]

[1] Editor's Note: Section 1 of this ordinance stated that it is not intended to and shall not govern or affect any of the currently existing Township volunteer ambulance or rescue squads, including the Parsippany Volunteer Ambulance Squad, the Rockaway Neck Volunteer First Aid Squad, and Parsippany Rescue and Recovery.

§ 4-78 Department established.

There shall be a Department of Emergency Medical Services, the head of which shall be the Director.

§ 4-79 Qualifications and duties of Director.

A. Upon his appointment and at all times during his tenure, the Director shall hold and maintain a valid unexpired New Jersey Emergency Medical Technician Paramedic (EMT-P) license, along with such other and further licenses and certifications required to hold and maintain the EMT-P license.

B. The Director shall:

(1) Have, exercise, and discharge the functions, powers, and duties of the Department and each of its divisions;

(2) Prescribe the duties and assignments of all subordinates and other Department personnel;

(3) Delegate such of his authority as he may deem necessary for the efficient operation of the Department and each of its divisions, to be exercised under his direction and supervision; and

(4) Report at least monthly to the Business Administrator on the operation of the Department during the preceding month and make such other reports as may be required.

§ 4-80 Division of Par-Troy EMS.

A. Within the Department there shall be a Division of Par-Troy EMS, the head of which shall be the Director who shall also hold the title Chief of Par-Troy EMS.

B. The powers and duties of the Division of Par-Troy EMS are to:

(1) Exercise the functions, powers and duties of a New Jersey Department of Health, Office of Emergency Medical Services licensed ambulance provider;

(2) Provide 9-1-1 and on-demand emergency medical response throughout the Township and surrounding communities as required and in coordination with Township volunteer ambulance and rescue squads;

(3) Plan and administer emergency medical response protocols, procedures, guidelines, and standards;

(4) Coordinate and update mutual aid response plans;

(5) Provide training and competencies to Department personnel and Township employees;

(6) Maintain Department vehicles and equipment for maximum operational readiness;

(7) Administer the Township's third-party payment plan for emergency medical services, as well as billing and partnership agreements with participating hospitals and health care systems;

(8) Provide clinical oversight of emergency medical operations;

(9) Provide programs designed to promote the awareness of child passenger safety and educate the public regarding the same;

(10) Liaison with Township volunteer ambulance and rescue squads to coordinate on issues including, but not limited to, operations, training and safety, and to maintain a current Township emergency medical response plan; and

(11) Provide special programs and initiatives promoting community health and safety, which special programs and initiatives may be in conjunction with other Township departments or agencies.

C. All personnel assigned to the Division of Par-Troy EMS shall hold, at a minimum, an emergency medical technician license, basic level (EMT-B), along with such other and further licenses and certifications required to hold and maintain the EMT-B license, as well as a valid unexpired New Jersey driver's license.

D. Organization. The Division of Par-Troy EMS table of organization shall be as follows:

(1) Not more than one Chief;

(2) Not more than one Deputy Chief;

(3) Not more than four Supervisors; and

(4) A sufficient number of full-time and part-time emergency medical technicians to ensure adequate staffing of Division ambulances in accordance with the current Township emergency medical response plan.

§ 4-81 Third-party payment plan for emergency medical services provided by Par-Troy EMS.

[Amended 2-15-2022 by Ord. No. 2022:03]

A. Fees for emergency medical services. The fee for emergency medical services shall be $900, plus $18 per mile per trip. If the ambulance responds but does not transport the patient to a hospital emergency department or other medical facility, the fee shall be $250.

(1) Fees for equipment and medications. When any of the following equipment or medications is used or administered in conjunction with the care of any patient, an additional fee shall be billed according to the tier of said equipment or medication, as follows:

(a) Tier I equipment, $125 per use:

[1] Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device.

[2] Automated external defibrillator.

(b) Tier II equipment, $65 per use:

[1] Oxygen delivery supplies, including bag valve mask (BVM), nonrebreather mask, nasal cannula.

[2] Spinal immobilization devices, including long backboard, cervical immobilization collar and/or device, kendrick extrication device (KED).

(c) Tier I medication, $195 per dose:

[1] Epinephrine auto injector (Epi-Pen).

[2] Naloxone (Narcan).

[3] Albuterol sulfate (inhaler or nebulizer).

(d) Tier II medication, $45 per dose:

[1] Oxygen.

[2] Glucose.

[3] Aspirin.

B. Insurance-only billing for transport. The fees for emergency medical services set forth in § 4-81A of this article notwithstanding, when a resident of the Township is transported to a hospital emergency department or other medical facility, the Township shall engage in insurance-only billing, whereby the Township will accept as payment only what is paid by the resident's health insurance plan, applicable automobile insurance policy, or Medicare/Medicaid, and shall not bill for any deductibles, copays or other balance due.

C. Insurance-only billing for nontransport. The fees for emergency medical services set forth in § 4-81A of this article notwithstanding, when a Par-Troy EMS ambulance responds to an emergency call, but does not transport the patient, the Township shall engage in insurance-only billing, whereby the Township will accept as payment only what is paid by the patient's health insurance plan, applicable automobile insurance policy, or Medicare/Medicaid, and shall not bill for any deductibles, copays or other balance due.

D. The Township shall seek a contractor to administer the billing and collection of the third-party ambulance transportation fees authorized hereunder.

E. The Director shall annually review the fees for emergency medical services set forth in this article.

F. A certified copy of this article shall be filed and maintained with all applicable federal and/or state agencies.