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DATE: 12/16/02 |
SUBJECT: FINAL READING ORDINANCE NO. 2002-O-321 Amending the Laredo Code of Ordinances, Chapter 2,
Administration, Article I, In General, Section 2-3. Fees for City Services, Subsection (b) providing for charges
for the duplication of Medical Records (to include a fee for a notarized
affidavit); amending the City of Laredo Health Department budget for fiscal
year 2003 and appropriating revenues and expenditures in the amount of $3,360
which will be generated revenues from these fees to the Maternal and Child
Health Program to continue with the scope of services; and providing for
severability and providing for an effective date and publication. |
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INITIATED BY: STAFF
SOURCE: Cynthia
Collazo
Hector F. Gonzalez, M.D., M.P.H. Asst.
City Manager Health
Director |
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PREVIOUS
COUNCIL ACTION: On December 2, 2002,
Council held public hearing introducing ordinance and instructed staff to
proceed with final reading. |
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BACKGROUND: In accordance with the
Texas State Board of Medical Examiners, Chapter 165, Medical Records, 165.1 –
165.4, a reasonable fee shall be a charge of no more than $25 for the first
twenty pages and $0.15 per page for every copy thereafter. In addition, a reasonable fee may include actual
costs for mailing, shipping, or delivery.
If an affidavit is requested, certifying that the information is a
true and correct copy of the records, a reasonable fee of up to $15 may be
charged for executing the affidavit. Therefore, to align our
costs for copies of official medical records, the City of Laredo Health
Department would like to implement a fee of $25 for the duplication of
medical records (first twenty pages) and $0.15 per page of every copy
thereafter, and an additional $15 if
an affidavit is requested. The
requests for copies of such reports include subpoenas and affidavits that
must be notarized. In order to comply
with such requests, a staff member must research the specific medical report
that may include an itemized billing invoice which may take between 15-20
minutes for each search, and interrupts the routine billing activities for
the employee. The City of Laredo Health Department deems it reasonable and necessary to impose a fee of $25.00 for each copy of a requested medical record. The records are released after receiving a written request for a copy of the record together with a release certification (consent) form signed by the person that received services at the Health Department. This will align us with fees being paid by private insurances, Medicaid and Medicare. |
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FINANCIAL: The City of Laredo will receive an estimated $2,100 (based on 7
medical records per month) and an additional estimated amount of $1,260 for
affidavits per year in additional revenues as a result of these fees, and we
are requesting that they be appropriated by increasing revenue line item
226-0000-373-1013 and expenditure
account number 226-2921. |
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RECOMMENDATION: |
STAFF: Recommends that Council
approve ordinance. |
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ORDINANCE 2002-O-321
Amending the Laredo Code of Ordinances,
Chapter 2, Administration, Article I, In General, Section 2-3. Fees for City Services, Subsection (b)
providing for charges for the duplication of Medical Records (to include a fee
for a notarized affidavit); AMENDING
THE CITY OF LAREDO HEALTH DEPARTMENT BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2003 AND
appropriating revenues and expenditures in the amount of $3,360 which will be
generated revenues from these fees to the Maternal and Child Health Program to continue
with the scope of services; and providing for severability and providing for an
effective date and publication.
WHEREAS, in accordance with the Texas State Board of Medical
Examiners, Chapter 165, Medical Records, 165.1 – 165.4, a reasonable fee shall
be a charge of no more than $25 for the first twenty pages and $0.15 per page
for every copy thereafter. In addition,
a reasonable fee may include actual costs for mailing, shipping, or delivery. If an affidavit is requested, certifying
that the information is a true and correct copy of the records, a reasonable
fee of up to $15 may be charged for executing the affidavit; and
WHEREAS, therefore, to align our
costs for copies of official medical records, the City of Laredo Health
Department would like to implement a fee of $25 for the duplication of medical
records (first twenty pages) and $0.15 per page of every copy thereafter,
and an additional $15 if an affidavit
is requested. The requests for copies
of such reports include subpoenas and affidavits that must be notarized. In order to comply with such requests, a
staff member must research the specific medical report that may include an
itemized billing invoice which may take between 15-20 minutes for each search,
and interrupts the routine billing activities for the employee; and
WHEREAS, the City of Laredo Health Department deems it
reasonable and necessary to impose a fee of $25.00 for each copy of a requested
medical record. The records are
released after receiving a written request for a copy of the record together
with a release certification (consent) form signed by the person that received
services at the Health Department. This
will align us with fees being paid by private insurances, Medicaid and
Medicare.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT ORDAINED BY THE
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAREDO THAT:
Section 1: Amendment
The City of Laredo Code of
Ordinances is amended as follows:
0Chapter 2
ADMINISTRATION
ARTICLE 1. IN GENERAL
(b)
Health
Department.
(1) The Health Department is hereby
authorized to charge the following fees in relation to the Health Department’s
function as local registrar of births and deaths. In addition, the Health Department is authorized to charge
fees in relation to the department’s function as custodian of official medical
records for
the purpose of duplication.
DESCRIPTION CHARGE
(1) Certified copy of birth certificate, any
size $ 11.00
(2) Certified copy of death certificate,
first copy $
8.00
(3) Certified copy of death certificate,
additional copy $
2.00
(4) Search of birth or death records for
genealogy $ 1.00
(5) Search of birth or death records, where
copy
is not found $
9.00
(6) Laminations, letter or legal size, when
available $ 5.00
(7) Relaminations, wallet size documents $ 1.00
(8)
Postage, certified mail - return receipt
requested
– U.S. $
3.10
PREVAILING RATE
(9)
Postage, certified mail – return receipt
Requested
– Outside of the U.S.
Or
Priority and Express mail $ Prevailing
Rate
(10) Copy of
EMS Activity Report Record $ 25.00
(11) Duplication
of Medical Records $ 25.00
(first twenty pages)
(12) Additional
pages (copies) $
0.15
(per page)
(13) Notarization of Affidavit $ 15.00
The actual cost of postage and
shipping may be charges (if applicable) on
any amount of copies
requested.
If
any provision, section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase of this
ordinance, or the application of same to any person or set of circumstances is
for any reason held to be unconstitutional, void, invalid or for any reason
unenforceable, the validity of the remaining portion of this ordinance or its
application to other person or sets of circumstances shall not be affected
thereby, it being the intent of the City Council of the City of Laredo in
adopting this ordinance that no portion hereof or provision or regulation
contained herein shall become inoperative or fail by reason of any
unconstitutionality, voidness or invalidity, and all provisions are declared
severable for that purpose.
Section
3. Effective Date
This ordinance shall become effective upon its passage and following the date of publication required pursuant to Section 2.09 and as provided in Section 6.10 (B) of the City Charter.
Section 4. The City of Laredo will receive an estimated $2,100 (based on 7 medical
records per month) and an additional estimated amount of $1,260 for affidavits
per year in additional revenues as a result of these fees, and we are requesting
that they be appropriated by increasing revenue line item 226-0000-373-1013 and
expenditure account number 226-2921.
PASSED BY THE
CITY COUNCIL AND APPROVED BY THE MAYOR
ON THIS
_________________ DAY OF ________________________, 2002.
_______________________
ELIZABETH G. FLORES
MAYOR
ATTEST:
_______________________
GUSTAVO GUEVARA, JR.
CITY SECRETARY
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
______________________
JAIME FLORES
CITY ATTORNEY