The Jersey City Medical Center operates one of the best EMS systems in the country, and has won numerous awards for innovation, training and nationally recognized response times.  It has been featured in industry magazines, newspapers and on television as an industry leader.

Mayor Fulop has decided to take its chances with an unproven, untested EMS provider associated with a for-profit hospital system from outside of Jersey City. Jersey City residents will be reaping the consequences of such decision for years to come in terms of unreliable response times, an unproven level of healthcare services provided and the transportation fees associated with a for-profit EMS provider.   CarePoint and McCabe are for-profit organizations which are out of network with most insurance providers.  We know this will be a disservice to the public.   The out-of-network models allow hospitals to bill extremely high rates and patients must enter through the emergency department.  

It’s also important to note that the City’s press release inaccurately states that the JCMC’s bid to provide EMS services to the City at no cost included a provision where we would use “volunteer EMTs” as first responders. That suggestion is completely false and is indicative of a flawed and poorly managed municipal RFP process.

***Statement from Jersey City Medical Center Director of Public Affairs Mark Rabson