CarePoint Health says they will need $130 million in state funding to continue to operate “at an optimal pace,” starting a Change.org petition in hopes of attaining additional financial support.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“We urge our state leadership to recognize the urgent need that exists at our hospitals and allocate appropriate funding from the state budget and any available discretionary funds towards CarePoint’s community health initiatives,” CarePoint Health President and CEO Dr. Achintya Moulick said in a statement.
“We are encouraging all Hudson County residents to join this effort by signing our petition and supporting a truly noble cause by advocating for continued access to essential health care services in Hudson County.”
Last week, the New Jersey Department of Health, who noted in October that the Hoboken University Medical Center has “high concern with respect to financial distress,” disbursed $10 million that was allocated to CarePoint Health in the 2023 budget.
Still, CarePoint is in need of at least $100 million in state appropriations and a $30 million Governor’s Grant “in order to continue operating at an optimal pace that fulfills their mission to treat every patient that comes to a CarePoint facility,” a spokeswoman said today.
Beginning with the landlord of a Hoboken doctor’s office, CarePoint, who also owns the Bayonne Medical Center and Christ Hospital in Jersey City, has been sued for approximately $4.7 million by vendors alleging nonpayment (though they said they have settled their rent issues at the 14th Street property).
The organization cites the effects of rising healthcare costs, escalating homelessness, and uncompensated care demands as reasons for their financial struggles.
CarePoint also notes that while the total American Rescue Plan Act distribution to New Jersey hospitals reached nearly $700 million by the end of 2023.
The situation is becoming increasingly dire, with CarePoint’s emergency departments overwhelmed by the growing number of local homeless patients, totaling 4,300, and a staggering 17,500 charity care patients to date, surpassing last year’s numbers.
To that end, since the beginning of COVID-19, CarePoint’s emergency rooms and hospitals have seen around 60,000 charity patients, 200,000 Medicaid patients, and accepted 12,000 homeless patients.
Similarly, charity-based Neighborhood Health Centers have seen close to 42,000 patients.
This is a heist on the taxpayers, a scam that should never have been allowed to happen. Political contributions to every politician in the County and beyond made sure that a careful review by the Dept of Health experts did not take place, and
Carepoint, a for-profit company, was allowed to operate. Now, even after pocketing millions, the owners want relief from taxpayers. The owners have pushed the maintenance costs down and it shows. Now they are putting together four weak hospitals and calling it a system. Both the State and the Joint Commission on the accreditation of Hospitals should launch investigations .