New Jersey adopts first statewide rules for Mobile Integrated Health programs under updated EMS law
TRENTON, N.J. — The New Jersey Department of Health has adopted new rules setting statewide standards for the creation, licensure and operation of Mobile Integrated Health programs, the first rules of their kind in the state, officials said.
The rules implement provisions of a 2022 law that revised New Jersey’s Emergency Medical Services Act, redesigning the state’s Advanced Life Support system and authorizing Mobile Integrated Health programs. The department said the changes draw on lessons from the COVID-19 response and emerging best practices, aiming to allow approved paramedics, hospitals and mobile intensive care agencies to provide certain non-emergency health care services outside traditional hospital settings, including chronic disease management and preventive care.
“Mobile Integrated Health programs represent a transformative step in how we deliver care in New Jersey. By bringing health services directly to patients where they live, we can close gaps in care, reduce unnecessary hospital visits, and improve health outcomes for our most vulnerable residents,” said Acting Health Commissioner Jeff Brown. “These programs strengthen our health care system and reflect our commitment to building healthier, more resilient communities.”
The rules, adopted under N.J.A.C. 8:49, establish requirements for program operations, including administrative and operational policies, recordkeeping, event reporting, quality management, personnel and safety, officials said.
They also outline enforcement authority and procedures for addressing violations, including monetary penalties and the suspension, revocation or nonrenewal of an MIH license, along with appeal processes, the department said.
Officials said the rules were submitted to the Office of Administrative Law and take effect immediately.
Mobile Integrated Health programs are designed to improve access to care and patient outcomes by delivering services in homes and community settings and by integrating emergency medical services with preventive and primary care, the department said. Officials said programs can support chronic disease management, advance public health initiatives and address social determinants of health.
The department listed potential benefits including reducing avoidable emergency department visits and hospital readmissions, easing strain on emergency departments, lowering health care costs, and expanding services such as mental and behavioral health care, medication management and post-discharge follow-up. Officials also cited addressing social isolation among vulnerable populations, creating employment opportunities for paramedics and nurses, and encouraging partnerships among hospitals, community organizations and local health agencies.
Officials said the rules build on earlier steps under the EMS Act, including a 2019 move authorizing paramedics to use buprenorphine to treat acute withdrawal symptoms after patients were revived from opioid overdoses with naloxone. In February 2025, the department expanded paramedics’ authority by broadening the scope of buprenorphine administration in the field, officials said.
