The New Jersey Department of Health’s (NJDOH) April 15th public hearing at Heights University Hospital in Jersey City will proceed next week despite Hudson Regional Health, the former operator, seeking a delay.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
HRH officials sent an email to the Jersey City Council Tuesday morning indicating that the public hearing for their certificate of need application would be postponed until a later date to be determined. However, that won’t be the case, according to a state official.
“We were made aware of the email through local elected officials. However, we clarified that despite the notice they received, the public hearing will proceed as scheduled. HRH reached out to the commissioner to request that the public hearing be postponed. The commissioner responded that it could not be postponed,” NJDOH spokeswoman Claudia Trani-Melgar told HCV following an inquiry.
“Under N.J.S.A. 26:2H-5.8, the State Health Planning Board must hold a public hearing within 30 days of an application being deemed complete and provide at least two weeks in advance public notice. Hudson Regional Hospital’s application was deemed complete on March 20, 2025, requiring the hearing to be held by April 19, 2025.”
She added that given that timeline, there wouldn’t be enough time to reschedule the hearing at the shuttered hospital at 176 Palisade Ave – where hearing will be held – and provide proper notice.
“I’m happy to see that the Department of Health will not entertain HRH in its delay tactic in postponing the meeting for public input. Our residents’ lives are at stake and they cannot wait,” Ward C Councilman Tom Zuppa said this afternoon.
“I will do everything I can to wake up state officials from whatever slumber has prevented them from acting to prevent the systematic dismantling of that hospital. I don’t know what more the state would need to hear, but I will be there with our residents to share the desperate need for a hospital in the Heights.”
The hospital, located in Ward C, shuttered on March 14th, with an emergency court injunction and a “die-in” – where two people were arrested – organized by activists failing to keep the doors open, all as HCV first reported.
HRH, which acquired the facility via CarePoint Health’s bankruptcy proceeding about a year ago, cited a total of $104 million in losses while operating the hospital.
“The Ward D City Council Office is going to be turning people out to the April 15th meeting and make sure the community’s voice is heard at that meeting,” added Ward D Councilman Jake Ephros, who also represents the Heights.
The Jersey City Council unanimously voted (9-0) for the planning board to explore the possibility of using eminent domain on the HUH property, which is owned by Alaris Health Founder Avery Eisenreich, at their March 25th meeting.
The NJDOH meeting at HUH will be held in their community room on Wednesday from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m., with all members of the public welcome to attend.
Additional information is available on the NJDOH website.
