§ 4-26-1. Service charge for transport by county emergency medical services vehicle.

A.

Except as otherwise provided by subsection D of this Section, there shall be service charges imposed at the rates established annually by resolution of the Board of Supervisors for Basic Life Support transport (BLS), for Advanced Life Support, level 1 transport (ALS1), for Advanced Life Support, level 2 transport (ALS2), and for ground transport mileage is imposed on each person being transported by any emergency medical services vehicle that is operated or maintained by the County or for which a permit has been issued to the County by the Virginia Office of Emergency Medical Services. The term "emergency medical services vehicle" has the definition specified in Va. Code § 32.1-111.1. The funds received from the payment of this fee shall be paid into the general fund of the County to aid in defraying the cost of providing such service.

B.

Definitions. The following definitions shall apply to ambulance fees:

(1)

Basic Life Support (BLS): Services means medical treatment or procedures to a patient as defined by the National Emergency Medicine Services (EMS) Education and Practice Blueprint for the Emergency Medical Technician- Basic (EMT).

(2)

Advanced life support, level 1 (ALS1): Services means medical treatment or procedures provided to a patient beyond the scope of an EMT-Basic as defined by the National EMS Education and Practice Blueprint.

(3)

Advanced life support, level 2 (ALS2): Services means advanced life support (ALS) services provided to a patient including one or more of the following medical procedures: (i) defibrillation/cardioversion, (ii) endotracheal intubation, (iii) cardiac pacing, (iv) chest decompression, (v) intraosseous line, and/or (vi) the administration of three or more medications.

(4)

Ground transport mileage (GTM): Mileage means the distance in statute miles from the location of the incident to a hospital or other facility where a patient is transported.

C.

The County Executive is hereby authorized and directed to establish rules and regulations for the administration of the charges imposed by this section, including, but not limited to payment standards for those persons who demonstrate economic hardship.

D.

No such service charge shall be imposed on persons in the following instances:

(1)

Persons determined to be indigent by the County in accordance with administrative policies established by the County Executive;

(2)

Persons in the custody of the Sheriff of Fairfax County;

(3)

Persons confined in a police department lockup or any other detention facility operated by the County; or

(4)

Persons affected by fire, flood, storm, natural or man-made calamity or disaster, or by widespread public disturbance or disorder when an emergency medical services vehicle responds as a matter of County policy without call. (18-04-4; 30-08-4.)