State senators Raj Mukherji (D-32) and Brian Stack (D-33) announced that they were cosponsoring a supplemental appropriation of $15 million to $25 million in the lame duck session to keep Heights University Hospital open through the remainder of 2025. Mukherji made the announcement on Instagram.
“Heights University Hospital (formerly Christ) is on the brink of closure…again,” said Mukherji on Instagram. “That cannot happen without a process and DOH (Department of Health) approval, but we are fighting to give this safety net hospital a lifeline and a path to a sustainable future to preserve acute hospital care in Hudson County.”
The hospital is part of the Hudson Regional Health system and serves many low-income residents of Jersey City. Mukherji’s district includes Jersey City and Hoboken. Stack’s district covers the Hudson County municipalities of Guttenberg, North Bergen, Secaucus, Union City, Weehawken, and West New York.
“I’m extremely encouraged that our local Senate delegation will introduce a budget amendment to provide critical, much-needed funding to save Heights University Medical Center,” Hudson Regional Health Chief Executive Officer Dr. Nazir Kifaieh said.
“Despite the unprecedented, nearly $300 million investment into our hospitals since taking over the system last fall, the reality is that state funding has become necessary to support the operations of our Jersey City hospital, given the $60 million in financial losses from this year alone. We are optimistic this $25 million investment will be part of a full government injection needed to stabilize the hospital, support our health-care workers, and reinvest in critical service lines. We strongly urge the Governor and Legislature to adopt this resolution to help us keep the Heights hospital open.”
Hudson Regional Health announced on Sept. 26 that unless it received financial support from the state and other public entities, it will suspend non-essential services at Heights University Hospital, formerly known as Christ Hospital.
The Jersey City institution was one of four Hudson County hospitals officially taken over by Hudson Regional Health earlier this month. Hudson Regional Health said the decision was made in consultation with the state Department of Health.
The Secaucus-based health care group said in a statement of Sept. 26 that “without substantial financial support from the State of New Jersey and other government entities, it will pursue an anticipated plan to suspend non-essential services at Heights University Hospital, formerly known as Christ Hospital.”
Kifaieh said on Sept. 26 that after an analysis, Heights University Hospital was unable to avoid continued financial distress. He called the anticipated losses of over $60 million per year at Heights University Hospital “simply unsustainable to maintain.”
