State Fines Lanoka Harbor EMS $617K For Vehicle, Staff Violations

LACEY, NJ — State officials issued a $617,000 fine Friday to Lanoka Harbor Emergency Medical Services for violations LHEMS has denied. The organization used unauthorized ambulances and insufficiently staffed vehicles many times throughout one year year, according to the New Jersey Department of Health.

LHEMS operated several unlicensed vehicles in the one-year window the state reviewed, according to the health department. Four unlicensed vehicles were used 102 times in a 76-day period, according to state officials. The audit covered one year starting June 1, 2018.

State law required LHEMS to have two certified emergency medical technicians in its ambulances. Officials said they found 541 instances where they had zero or one.

LHEMS had no certified personnel in its ambulances 264 times, according to the health department. The organization staffed ambulances with only one EMT on 329 days that the audit covered, officials said.

The state department received an anonymous complaint that LHEMS operated unlicensed vehicles when providing emergency medical care. The complaint prompted an investigation.

The Department of Health sent LHEMS Chief Justin Meehan a letter Friday announcing the fine. The department gave LHEMS 30 days to pay to fine or appeal.

Meehan denied the state's allegations.

"This will be the only statement I have," Meehan said in an email to Patch, "their (sic) are several inaccuracies in this letter issued by the State of NJ and we are appealing."

The state charged LHEMS $1,000 for each instance of insufficient staffing and for each of the 76 days of unlicensed vehicle use. Further violations could result in doubling fines or suspending or revoking LHEMS's provider license.

LHEMS is a volunteer organization, funded primarily from donations, according to its website.

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