SAC MIN 1999-08-12 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Senior Affairs Commission Page 2 Minutes of Thursday, August 12, 1999 ITEM 2 — WORKPLAN UPDATES -Housing, Transportation and Employment • Rent Control, Borgens Commissioner Borgens stated she would like to get Commission approval to begin researching the topic of rent stabilization. She noted that the only city in the area which has adopted this by ordinance is the City of East Palo Alto. M/S Borgens/Carpe: To allow Commissioner Borgens to research and gather information on rent stabilization. Motion passed (1-absention L.Walsh) Commissioner M. Walsh said she would assist Commissioner Borgens on this topic. • Ambulance Costs, Borgens Commissioner Borgens explained a situation where a friend of hers had to call 911 due to a medical emergency for her husband. The man died before the ambulance service arrived and the ambulance company did not come to the house, but the woman still received a bill for $986.00 from the ambulance company. Commissioner Borgens is disputing the bill (which includes a base charge of $806.00) and has spoken with the ambulance company, Steve Cavallero of Redwood City Fire Department, Roberta Tracy of HICAP and Margaret Taylor of San Mateo County. Commissioner Borgens explained the base charge is negotiated by the County with the ambulance company. She noted that Margaret Taylor was going to research this matter further to determine if this bill was a one time problem or if this is something that the ambulance company is doing on a regular basis. Commissioner Borgens was concerned that people would be afraid to call 911 for medical emergencies because of the high cost of ambulance service. Commissioner Borgens noted she also spoke with a representative from Bayshore Ambulance who indicated that they have had many claims for payment denied by Medicare when transporting seniors from one medical facility to another medical facility. Bayshore Ambulance was advised that these were not medical emergencies even though the service was requested by a doctor; they will be appealing these claims. Commissioner Borgens said she was also concerned that people would transport ill patients themselves versus using medical trained personnel. Commissioner Carpe asked the audience what problems they have encountered with using 911 for medical emergencies and associated ambulance costs. Members of the audience noted that they have been encouraged to call 911 and others said they were advised not to due to the cost of ambulance services. Commissioner L.Walsh suggested obtaining an approved rate schedule from the County and finding out what insurance companies normally cover for ambulance services. He also suggested writing a letter to the County since they are the contracting agency for ambulance services and ask for their formal response to the situation. The letter should be sent to Margaret