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TO: Mayor Richard C. Irvin
FROM: Martin S. Lyons, Chief Financial Officer/City Treasurer
Gary Krientz, Fire Chief
DATE: March 27, 2020
SUBJECT:
An intergovernmental agreement between the City and the Department of Healthcare and Family Services with respect to ambulance rates for persons participating in certain programs run by the Department.
PURPOSE:
As a part of the 2020 Budget the City included additional funding for ambulance services through Medicare/Medicaid. In order to obtain this funding the City must adopt the attached Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA).
BACKGROUND:
The City has budgeted $3.0 million funding from Ambulance user fees to be paid through a new Medicare/Medicaid funding mechanism which is coordinated by the State of Illinois but funded through the Federal Government. Previously, the state has informed all cities that they need to sign a revised IGA, which is attached.
DISCUSSION:
The City bills ambulance fees and accepts Medicare payment levels as a minimum payment amount without balance billing the customer. In the fall of 2019 the City signed up for additional funding through a new program. This new program is a critical part of the 2020 budgeted revenues and given our decreases in other revenue sources, it is imperative that the City complete the agreement and return it to the State immediately. The previous agreement and council report is attached for your review.
IMPACT STATEMENT:
This ordinance will allow the City to enter into the IGA with the State of Illinois and receive funding for Medicaid/Medicare ambulance transportation fees.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
We recommend the City Council approve this Ordinance authorizing the Mayor to execute the intergovernmental agreement in substantially the form as attached.
CITY OF AURORA, ILLINOIS
ORDINANCE NO. _________
DATE OF PASSAGE ________________
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An Ordinance authorizing the approval of an intergovernmental agreement between the City of Aurora and the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services in connection with supplemental ambulance rates.
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WHEREAS, the City of Aurora has a population of more than 25,000 persons and is, therefore, a home rule unit under subsection (a) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution of 1970; and
WHEREAS, subject to said Section, a home rule unit may exercise any power and perform any function pertaining to its government and affairs for the protection of the public health, safety, morals, and welfare; and
WHEREAS, the Constitution and laws of the State of Illinois permit public agencies to obtain or share services and to exercise, combine, or transfer any power or function, in any manner not prohibited by law or by ordinance; and
WHEREAS, the City of Aurora ("City") and the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services ("Department") are public agencies within the meaning of the Intergovernmental Cooperation Act; and
WHEREAS, the City and the Department desire to enter into an agreement with respect to supplemental ambulance rates charged by the City for persons eligible for benefits under certain medical programs administered by the Department as more fully set forth in the agreement;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the City Council of the City of Aurora, Illinois, as follows: the attached intergovernmental agreement between the City and the Department is approved; and further
BE IT ORDAINED, that the Mayor shall be and hereby is directed to execute the aforementioned intergovernmental agreement in substantially the form attached to this Ordinance; and further
BE IT ORDAINED, that the Mayor shall be and hereby is authorized to enter into subsequent agreements with the Department on behalf of the City for the purposes set forth in the agreement as may be required or convenient from time-to-time.