New Jersey would create a hotline for medical transport complaints

The Commissioner of Health would establish and maintain a hotline for complaints about mobility assistance vehicle services. These are nonemergency medical rides for people under a doctor's care whose condition does not require an ambulance, but makes other travel a serious risk to their life or health. Operators would try to identify people needing immediate medical transportation and refer them to an appropriate service; a referral is not guaranteed. The act would take effect immediately if enacted.

The Department of Health would investigate certain complaints and take appropriate action. The complaints must concern mobility assistance vehicle services covered by the department's regulation. The department would investigate complaints that, if true, would violate laws or rules specifically governing its regulation of these services. The act would take effect immediately if enacted.

The Department of Health would train hotline operators and adopt rules for service providers to protect patients and consumers. The rules would apply to mobility assistance vehicle service providers. As far as possible, hotline operators would have experience or education about these services and the department's regulation of them. The act would take effect immediately if enacted.