Last week members of the Plymouth Common Council suspended the rules and passed ordinance 2021-2189, an ordinance regarding the response to a medical call, medical treatment and or transport of a person confined by the Marshall County Jail.
City Attorney Sean Surrisi said the ordinance will also direct billing to the patient while they are not in the jail. He said it gives the billing company, AccuMed, other avenues to seek reimbursement.
Mayor Senter said he had read the ordinance and thought the jail had made the recommendation. Former Clerk-Treasurer Jeanine Xaver said the billing company had recommended the ordinance.
The Plymouth City Council suspended the rules and passed the ordinance on all three-readings.
On third reading Councilman Duane Culp questioned the ordinance which includes individuals on Home Detention which isn’t through the jail but through Community Corrections.
Councilman Jeff Houin, who is also a lawyer said, “The way I understand it, this authorizes the billing company, if any individual falls into one of these categories: under arrest, escape from confinement, under supervised release, medical furlough, residing in a medical health facility, halfway house, or living under home detention, that authorizes the billing company to send a bill directly to that individual. It has no effect on the jail or sheriff’s responsibility whether they are or are not responsible. It simply authorizes the billing company to send a bill directly. They might send a bill to both the individual and to the jail.”
City Attorney Sean Surrisi said the Sheriff can decide if it’s his responsibility or not. He said the billing company won’t bill the patient directly unless we have a policy that authorizes it.
After additional clarification, the ordinance unanimously passed on all three readings.
