N.J. Democrats' budget includes $2.5M for Cooper EMS takeover

TRENTON - The budget introduced and advanced by New Jersey Democrats on Tuesday includes $2.5 million for Cooper University Hospital to take over emergency medical services in Camden.

As reported last week, it also includes $2.5 million for Newark to help that city establish its own EMS operations.

The Democrats' spending plan totals $35.3 billion and is expected to head to the floor of each house for a full vote Thursday.

Paramedic services in Camden are currently provided by Virtua Health, which operates in every town in Camden and Burlington Counties.

Basic life services in Camden are provided by the state-owned University Hospital in Newark. Legislation advancing in Trenton would enable Cooper to take over both services.

Cooper's backers say the Level 1 trauma center would provide more efficient EMS services in Camden than the current two-tiered structure. Cooper plans to use the money to replace old emergency vehicles.

Virtua says it would also be interested in operating both services, and argues it has more experience in providing them.

Camden County GOP Chairman Tom Booth criticized the legislation as being "fast-tracked" through the legislature by the South Jersey Democratic "machine."

"Everything about this bill stinks to high heaven," Booth said.

Cooper's chairman, George E. Norcross III, is the South Jersey Democratic leader. Dan Fee, a consultant to the Camden County Democratic Committee, said the GOP was "wrong on the facts and the merits."

"This is in line with almost every other state in the country," he said of the legislation.

"The question should be, 'Why are they sticking up for someone who left Camden a decade and a half ago?' " he added. Virtua scaled back its Camden operations at that time.

Virtua and Lourdes Health System have planned a news conference at the Statehouse Wednesday.