The New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) has allocated $2 million to keep Jersey City’s Heights University Hospital open, which the Hudson Regional Health CEO Dr. Nizar Kifaieh referred to as a “two-week stopgap.”
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“I offer my thanks to our state leaders, and in particular Governor Murphy, Senator Mukherji, and County Executive Guy, for this partial funding commitment from the Department of Health,” Kifaieh said in a statement.
“Unfortunately, while this short-term, two-week stopgap funding is certainly appreciated, it will not meaningfully address the dire financial challenges facing the hospital, most of which we inherited from the previous operators. We look forward to continuing a collaboration with our elected officials, unions, essential workers, and community stakeholders that we hope will ensure a sustainable, long-term healthcare delivery system in the Heights.”
On Sunday, Heights hospital staff and supporters delivered over 1,500 signatures to Gov. Phil Murphy (D) urging him to keep the facility open.
At the end of September, state Senator Raj Mukherji (D-32) announced that he and state Senator Brian Stack (D-33) would introduce a bill seeking $25 million for Heights University Hospital, formerly Christ Hospital, as HCV first reported.
Since then, state Senator Angela McKnight has signed onto the bill, with outgoing Assemblyman John Allen (D-32) signing onto the complementary bill in the lower chamber.
“I’m extremely proud of our Heights employees for continuing to provide the highest quality care for our vulnerable communities, despite the circumstances of the past several weeks,” added HRH Board Chair Yan Moshe.
“Our goal has always been, and continues to be, to provide high-quality care at Heights Hospital, and I am hopeful that our elected officials will help us forge a path forward to sustain the hospital’s long-term operations.”
HRH further stated that there are only two paths forward at this point.
The first path is a plan to ensure the long-term stability of the hospital with a combination of funding from the State and other identified sources.
This includes a $25 million appropriation through the state legislative delegation that is anticipated to be voted on during the lame duck legislative session.
“Regrettably the second path, in the absence of additional funding from the State, would result in a transition to a suspension of services due to the hospital’s financial distress and, eventually, a complete closure of Heights University Hospital,” HRH also said.
Politicos and hospital staff held a rally at the Jersey City Heights hospital last week afternoon, with Hudson County Board of Commissioners Chair Anthony Romano (D-5) and Allen being the two elected officials from Hoboken.
Following union leadership expressing concerns about layoffs, the NJODH indicated on September 29th that “HRH cannot simply close a hospital overnight” since there is a comprehensive process, as HCV exclusively reported.
