Dive Brief:
- New Jersey is considering legislation that would give the state's Level 1 trauma centers the exclusive rights to operate emergency medical services in their cities.
- Two of the state's Level 1 trauma centers already do have the EMS contracts with their cities: University Hospital in Newark and Robert Wood Johnson Hospital in New Brunswick.
- However, Cooper University Hospital in Camden does not have its city's contract, leaving it in a battle with Virtua Health System.
Dive Insight:
Cooper University Hospital argues that it could improve EMS in Camden if allowed to operate both paramedic and ambulance services. Currently, it provides ambulances while Virtua Health System, based in Marlton, provides paramedics.
Virtua, meanwhile, is arguing against making a sudden change in policy. The legislature is expected to vote on the issue as early as late June.