August 31, 1999

To:Community Services Committee

From:Commissioner, Works & Emergency Services

Subject:Outstanding Reports to be submitted to Community Services Committee - Continuing Evaluation of the Ambulance Act of Ontario and Identified Potential Financial Implications.

Purpose:

To update the Committee and Council on the possibility of billing hospitals for the administration of the paperwork provided by Toronto Ambulance and the new Ambulance Act of Ontario and its Regulation as they relate to the issue of co-payments.

Background:

This is in reference to an outstanding report from January 12, 1999, Committee Minutes 1.2, Report No. 1, Clause No. 2.

Comments:

We are in receipt of correspondence from the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care reaffirming that currently the legislation restricts the charging of fees for ambulance service to hospitals that either send or receive a patient by ambulance in the form of a co-payment of $45.00 charged to the patient by the hospital; there is no initiative currently underway in the provincial government to make changes to either the Ambulance Act or the Health Insurance Act relating to land ambulance payments or fees.

Conclusion:

The Standing Committee and City Council make it known to the appropriate authorities within the provincial government of our desire to initiate the necessary changes to the Ambulance Act and the Health Insurance Act to permit the City of Toronto to collect a portion of the co-payment fee currently billed by hospitals for ambulance services.

The government of Ontario has agreed to share half the municipal costs for land ambulance and public health approved by the Ministry of Health effective January 1, 1999, and the City of Toronto should be in a position to share in the revenue generated by land ambulance within the municipality.

Contact Name:

Ronald L. Kelusky, General Manager

Phone: 397-9240

Fax: 392-2115

R.L. KeluskyBarry H. Gutteridge

General ManagerCommissioner

Toronto AmbulanceWorks & Emergency Services