Bill > A5640

This bill establishes basic life support (BLS) as an essential service in New Jersey, requiring every municipality to provide basic pre-hospital emergency medical care to its residents. The bill defines basic life support service as a pre-hospital care level that includes ambulance service, patient stabilization, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, hemorrhage control, initial wound care, and fracture stabilization. Municipalities can arrange for these services through four methods: licensing a private company, contracting with a public or nonprofit entity, creating mutual aid agreements with other municipalities, or establishing an agreement with a hospital. The bill also amends existing laws to incorporate references to basic life support services and allows hospitals with Level 1 trauma centers certain rights in providing advanced and basic life support services. To support implementation, the bill appropriates funds from the General Fund to the Department of Health to reimburse municipalities for the costs of establishing these essential services. The legislation will take effect seven months after its enactment, giving municipalities time to develop and implement their basic life support service plans.

Health and Social Services

https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2024/A5640