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Regular Council Meeting October 25, 2021 Page 7 A Motion to approve this item was made by Council Member Pankaj and seconded by Council Member Pilgrim. Motion carried, 5 ayes — 0 nays. 21. Received presentation on third party EMS billing, and provide direction to staff. Mr. Path explained this was a new and big project and explained the City of Paris was unique in that it does its own billing for ambulance services. Mr. Path said ten years with two EMS billing staff members was doable, but this year the City projects over 10,000 calls. After speaking with staff, it was decided that we needed to do something. He said there were several third party EMS Billing services but the identified leader and most qualified service they found was Emergicon, LLC. Mr. Path reviewed their experience and services. He said the next aspect was procurement and while doing research, they learned that communities in the Dallas metro had formed interlocal agreements with one another in order to gain access to already -bid pricing without having to go through the costly, time consuming and unpredictable process themselves. Mr. Path said they spoke with several cities and stated that the City of Coppell procured for EMS Billing Serivices and awarded it to Emergicon. Mr. Path also said city staff reached out to the City of Coppell who gave permission to pursue an Interlocal Agreement with them, which would give the City access to their Emericon, LLC proposal and agreement. Mr. Path said if the City of Paris wishes to enter into an Interlocal Agreement that a Resolution would need to be passed stating such. Mr. Path said the purpose of tonight was to introduce this topic and seek approval. He stated that staff could bring the documents back to City Council at their November Stn meeting. Mayor Portugal inquired if the rates would increase to Coppell rates, and Mr. Path answered in the affirmative. Mayor Portugal also inquired about Medicare rates. EMS Director Russell Thrasher said Medicare paid a fixed rate. Mayor Portugal asked about the number of calls related to billers. Mr. Thrasher reported the City had two primary billers that could handle the runs when they were about 5,000 a year but now they are running close to 10,000 a year and normally you would have five billers for that amount of calls. He explained the billers work on weekends and holidays in order to stay caught up. Mayor Portugal said she liked the idea of outsourcing and that the two ladies could work in other departments. Council Member Pilgrim said the EMS was cash deficient and to continue to have our own EMS that it needed to be able to at least pay for itself. Council Member Stone said you have to do what is necessary. It was a consensus of City Council to move toward third party EMS billing. 22. Convene into Executive Session pursuant to: A. Section 551.071 of the Texas Government Code, Consultation with Attorney, to receive legal advice from the City Attorney about (1) pending or contemplated litigation and/or (2) on matters in which the duty of an attorney to her client under the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct of the State Bar of Texas clearly conflict with this chapter, as follows: Ground Lease Hangar A-7.