Gov. Chris Christie has signed a bill that will overhaul who runs emergency paramedic services in the city of Camden.
The new rules signed into law on Monday could also benefit a frequent Christie ally: Democratic powerbroker George Norcross.
Currently, the Newark-based University Hospital provides ambulances in the city, while the Marlton-based Virtua provides paramedics, who provide care for patients but not transportation.
The new law will give the state's three Level 1 trauma centers exclusive rights to provide both kinds of emergency medical services in their cities.
The state's other two Level 1 trauma centers already operate the paramedic services in their cities.
The move is seen as a boon to Cooper University Hospital. Norcross is the chairman of the hospital's board.