The Gary Letizia Pre-Hospital Blood Transfusion Act authorizes emergency medical services (EMS) providers in New Jersey to establish blood transfusion programs, allowing paramedics to administer blood products to patients in pre-hospital settings under medical oversight. To initiate such a program, EMS providers must notify the Department of Health at least 60 days in advance, designate a licensed physician as the medical director, ensure that only trained paramedics administer blood products, and maintain proper storage and warming equipment. The act also mandates quarterly audits of transfusions, annual reporting to the Department of Health, and the implementation of protocols for managing transfusion reactions.

Additionally, the act establishes reimbursement rates for pre-hospital blood transfusion services equivalent to those for hospital-based transfusions, and it creates a grant program to assist EMS agencies with implementation costs. The Department of Health is tasked with ensuring an adequate supply of low-titer O whole blood for EMS use and developing a statewide blood rotation system to minimize waste and ensure the availability of blood products. This legislation is named in honor of Gary Letizia, whose life was saved by timely blood transfusions, highlighting the importance of this initiative in improving trauma care and saving lives in New Jersey.