New Jersey Acting Health Commissioner Raynard E. Washington is blistering Hudson Regional Hospital for flouting the rules around the closure of Heights University Hospital in Jersey City.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“After announcing plans to abruptly close Heights University Hospital’s emergency department in Jersey City with just a couple days’ notice to the New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH), hospital system Hudson Regional Health (HRH) has informed NJDOH of its intention to delay the closure by two weeks,” Washington began in lengthy statement.
He continued that the hospital filed a Certificate of Need for Closure in fall of 2025, which is still pending review and the latest set of completeness questions remains unanswered, though HRH has pledged to do so since application approval is required prior to closure.
Back in September, the NJDOH warned “HRH cannot simply close a hospital overnight,” with then-Ward E Councilman James Solomon warning the following month that HRH would tear down the hospital in favor of luxury development.
“Despite receiving millions in state financial assistance and other supportive interventions, HRH has failed to continue operating Heights University Hospital in compliance with state law, shuttering all but the emergency department without obtaining legally required approval,” Washington continued.
“While the anticipated closure date has been extended, this action does not change the fact that HRH remains out of compliance with regulatory and statutory requirements. The state will continue to exercise all available options to enforce regulatory authority while safeguarding public resources and trust.”
The New Jersey Department of Health did not initially weight in on HRH’s expected closure of Heights University Hospital this weekend, which just came to light yesterday.
Instead, Jersey City electeds teed off on the announcement, with some noting they were violating state guidelines, as did the Health Professional and Allied Employees (HPAE), the union that represents hundreds of hospital workers in the county.
“The Department’s Survey team has been onsite at Heights University Hospital to ensure the health and safety of patients at the facility during this tumultuous period. Additionally, a financial monitor continues to be onsite to report back any financial or operational concerns,” Washington added.
“NJDOH is committed to safeguarding residents’ access to essential health care services and that any changes affecting this access are made in accordance with the law.”
His remarks come about an hour after HRH announced that they would be staying open an additional two weeks after the intense aforementioned backlash, though Solomon, along with Councilmen Tom Zuppa and Jake Ephros, remain disappointed, as HCV first reported.
In November, one week after announcing Heights hospital would be closing, HRH owner Yan Moshe received approval from the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority (NJSEA) to operate a cannabis grow facility at the former M9NJ building in Secaucus, though it did not come to light until recently.
