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 60 days in advance, designate a licensed physician as the medical director, ensure that paramedics have completed an approved blood administration course, and maintain proper blood storage and warming equipment. The act also mandates that participating EMS providers conduct quarterly audits, submit annual reports on outcomes and compliance, and implement protocols for managing transfusion reactions.

Additionally, the act establishes reimbursement rates for pre-hospital blood transfusions 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 initiative is named in honor of Gary Letizia, whose life was saved by timely blood transfusions, highlighting the importance of this legislation in improving trauma care and saving lives in New Jersey.