About Us

In 1998, a small group of pediatricians and allied health care professionals, affiliated with the New Jersey Pediatric Society, met together to discuss the formation of a Children's Emergency Medical Fund. The primary reason for setting up a foundation was to fill a void in meeting the needs of chronically and critically ill children throughout the state. Realizing that thousands of sick children were either uninsured or underinsured and unable to access quality medical care, the Society decided to incorporate and request a 501c(3) not-for-profit exemption as a medical foundation. Once the Children’s Emergency Medical Fund of New Jersey (CEMFNJ) was approved as an exempt organization, the Society reached out to its membership with a huge request. They asked members to volunteer their services and see the children referred to them regardless of ability to pay. Our New Jersey pediatricians responded with a resounding “yes”, and the Children’s Emergency Medical Fund of New Jersey became a reality.

In the beginning, nobody thought that CEMFNJ would grow to be an international organization. Who could have imagined that we would be joining other organizations on overseas missions or sending thousands of pounds of medications and supplies to Louisiana when Hurricane Katrina devastated Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida?

As the Children’s Emergency Medical Fund of New Jersey grew, so did the New Jersey Pediatric Society. CEMFNJ would often send children out of state for consultation and treatment. Lines of communication strengthened between participating pediatric professionals and the Pediatric Society increased its membership and outreach services. Approximately five years ago, the Society changed its name to the Mid-Atlantic Pediatric Society, giving direct access to their academic programs to pediatric healthcare professions throughout the region and the nation. Today CEMFNJ and the Mid-Atlantic Pediatric Society have become a unique partnership that continues to grow and encourage the exchange of ideas to promote better healthcare delivery to all children.

At the Children’s Emergency Medical Fund of New Jersey, we like to say that we are in the business of going out of business because we believe that someday all children will have equal access to quality health care and fundamental social services. Until that day, our pledge is to never turn down any child.

Services We Provide

Attorneys, social worker allied and health care professionals, volunteer time and expertise. Agency referrals to sister organizations.

Medical

Referrals and consultations at no cost to the families of critical and chronically ill children who have no medical insurance or are underinsured.

Scholarship Programs

To high school, college and graduate students

Supplies and Support

Medications, supplies and emergency financial aid as needed

International Programs

Supplies to pediatric general and cardio-thoracic teams traveling abroad to perform surgeries. Supplies and medications for the families and children these overseas missions serve

Out-reach Programs

Educational seminars, vaccine advocacy programs, and public awareness programs

How to access the Children's Emergency Medical Fund

It has been the policy of the Children’s Emergency Medical Fund to require membership in the Mid-Atlantic Pediatric Society. There are no dues required for membership. CEMFNJ is the official foundation of the Pediatric Society. We will accept cases from non affiliated physicians however, for information exchange purposes it is much easier for us to take cases directly from members. Most pediatricians in the state are members.

As a general rule, pediatricians, medical facilities and clinics contact the Fund on behalf of their patients when emergency assistance is required. The following are some examples of cases that we accept:

• The insurer has cut the patient off from benefits the physician deems necessary in spite of appeals. The Fund will advocate and seek state agency and legal assistance as required. Funds and services will be made available based on need.
• The physician has prescribed medication or durable medical equipment not covered by insurance but, medically necessary. Grants can be made available to cover these expenses.
• The family is in dire need of funds due to the cost of caring for the sick child outside the domain of the insurer.
• The child has no insurance or has limited insurance. In this instance, the Fund will purchase prescribed emergency medications for the child (as a bridge) and assist the family in securing insurance coverage or charity care either privately or through state assisted programs.
• The child must be referred out of state and the insurer has either denied the request or not made a decision and time is of the essence.
• The child requires home video monitoring.
• The physician, referring clinic or hospital is required to provide all necessary medical and case information to the Fund in order for a decision to be made. We rely, to an extent, on the discretion of the referring medical professionals as to the financial needs of the referred family.