Ambulance Billing Vendor- Selection RecommendationCity of Dubuque
City Council Meeting
Consent Items # 16.
Copyrighted
November 15, 2021
ITEM TITLE: Ambulance Billing Vendor- Selection Recommendation
SUMMARY: City Manager recommending approval of the selection of Digitech
Computer, LLC as the new Ambulance Billing Vendor effective January
1, 2022, and requests City Council approval to negotiate with Digitech for
a contract.
SUGGESTED Suggested Disposition: Receive and File; Approve
DISPOSITION:
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Type
Ambulance Billing Vendor Recommendation-MVM City Manager Memo
Memo
Ambulance Billing Vendor Recommendation Memo Staff Memo
THE CITY
DUOF
B TEE
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Ambulance Billing Vendor - Selection Recommendation
DATE: November 3, 2021
Dubuque
All -America City
IN
2007.2012.2013
2017*2019
Nine responses were received to a Request for Proposal for an Ambulance Billing
Vendor. The RFP selection committee reviewed the proposals and invited the top two
vendors to demonstrate their products and services.
After careful review and vetting of all vendors, Fire Chief Rick Steines recommends City
Council approval of the selection of Digitech Computer, LLC as the new Ambulance
Billing Vendor effective January 1, 2022, and requests City Council approval to
negotiate with Digitech for a contract.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
v
Mic ael C. Van Milligen
MCVM:jh
Attachment
cc: Crenna Brumwell, City Attorney
Cori Burbach, Assistant City Manager
Rick Steines, Fire Chief
THE CU�gkE
DUB
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
TO: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: Rick Steines, Fire Chief
DATE: November 1, 2021
RE: Ambulance Billing Vendor — Selection Recommendation
INTRODUCTION
Dubuque
All•America City
1 I:..,
2007.2012.2013
2017*2019
The purpose of this memorandum is to seek concurrence in the selection of
Digitech Computer, LLC from Chappaqua, New York, and to request authorization for
the City to negotiate and enter into an Ambulance Billing Services Contract.
BACKGROUND
Over the past six months, EMS Supervisor Sam Janecke has been reviewing the
contract for the service of ambulance billing with Life Quest, our longtime provider. Sam
has been in conference with Finance and Budget Director Jennifer Larson, and other
finance department personnel on the benefits of continuing the contract, which dates to
1999. Recent concerns over collections of unpaid ambulance billing have been
discussed. A certified letter was sent to LifeQuest informing them of the non -renewal of
the contract they currently have with the City. An RFP was posted requesting bids for
ambulance billing to begin under a new billing contract on January 1, 2022. An
ambulance billing vendor proposal review and selection committee was formed, made
up of Fire Chief Rick Steines, Fire Marshal Kevin Esser, Assistant Chief Josh Knepper,
EMS Supervisor Sam Janecke, Assistant Director of Finance and Budget Cassie Ross,
and Cindy Schroeder of the Finance Department.
VENDOR SELECTION
The City issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) by posting on the City's website.
On October 8th, 2021, nine (9) medical billing vendors submitted Proposals:
• Change Healthcare. (Nashville, TN)
• Cornerstone Adminsytems. (New Cumberland, PA)
• Digitech Computer (Chappaqua, NY)
• Fire Recovery EMS (Arlington Heights, IL)
• EMS Management & Consultants (Winston-Salem, NC)
• LifeQuest Services (Wautoma, WI)
• Professional Billing Services (Orion, IL)
• PCC Ambulance Billing Service (Castlewood, SD)
• Thorne Ambulance Billing Service (Greenville, SC)
All of the proposals were independently reviewed and scored by each member of
the selection committee. The group then met to narrow the list of vendors to the top two
(2) based on the overall score. Each of the top two vendors was given an opportunity to
demonstrate their products and services. Although each of the vendors was
experienced and uniquely qualified, staff selected Digitech Computer, LLC of
Chappaqua, NY, as the first -ranked vendor to provide the ambulance billing services to
the City of Dubuque.
DISCUSSION
The City is looking for an ambulance billing service provider with a high level of
professional competence and a proven track record in revenue generation, reporting
capabilities, and customer service.
The hallmark of Digitech Computer, LLC, is the ability to provide not only all of
the requested reports in multiple formats but the ability to produce them in real-time with
endless customization readily available for the City Staff -user. Digitech Computer, LLC,
was highly recommended by Waterloo Fire, IA, Des Moines Fire, IA, and Lincoln Fire,
NE, for their ongoing customer service, responsiveness, and professionalism.
RECOMMENDATION
After careful review and vetting of all vendors I recommend that Digitech
Computer LLC be contracted for services. The rate bid is one of the lowest among
vendors while service delivery and the ability to use data within our department is
among the best.
ACTION REQUESTED
I respectfully request your concurrence in the selection of Digitech Computer,
LLC from Chappaqua, NY, and to request approval to negotiate and enter into an
Ambulance Billing Services Contract. As we anticipate change -over on January 1,
2022, the expedient finalization of a contract is needed to allow for implementation of
service set up.
Cc: Jennifer Larson, Director of Finance and Budget
Cassie Ross, Assistant Director of Finance and Budget
Tony Breitbach, Purchasing Coordinator
Sam Janecke, EMS Supervisor
2