The State Health Planning Board this week voted to support Hudson County’s CarePoint Health System‘s plan to maintain the nonprofit status of its three hospitals.
“Today’s decision by the state Health Planning Board will have a transformative impact not just on CarePoint Health, but on Hudson County and the surrounding region as a whole,” CEO and President of CarePoint Health Dr. Achintya Moulick said. “With our nonprofit structure now fully in place, CarePoint Health will have access to critical financial support from the state and federal governments, as well as reduced costs and access to charitable fundraising contributions — all of which will make our hospitals stronger and more financially solvent.”
The Board now is recommending the approval to the New Jersey Department of Health. The Commissioner now considers the application and the Board’s recommendation and has 120 days to make a decision.
Many local leaders supported the plan, including Hudson County elected officials, medical professionals and community leaders — the mayors of Bayonne and Hoboken and Jersey City offered their strong support at the Health Planning Board meeting in Trenton earlier this week.
CarePoint’s three safety-net hospitals care for a population that is 80% African American and Hispanic, with a high percentage of uninsured and Medicaid patients, especially at Christ Hospital and Hoboken University Medical Center, where they make up approximately 60% of the current patient mix. The transition to nonprofit control opens up a wide array of funding and grant opportunities to support Hudson County’s underserved patients moving forward that are also not otherwise available under for-profit status.
