Jersey City Hospital Closure Saga Continues as Owner Seeks Reversal

State officials reject owner's last-minute attempt to withdraw closure application, setting up public meeting showdown

Apr. 15, 2026 at 7:19pm

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A translucent, ghostly X-ray photograph revealing the intricate internal structure of a hospital building, with glowing lines tracing the pipes, wires, and support beams that enable the facility to function, conveying a sense of the hospital's critical role in the community.An X-ray view of the inner workings of a community hospital, highlighting the complex infrastructure that sustains vital healthcare services for local residents.Jersey City Today

The sudden closure of Jersey City's Heights University Hospital has sparked a monthslong drama, with the owner, Hudson Regional Health, now attempting a regulatory do-over that state officials are blocking. The company had told the state it had to close the hospital, but is now saying it can keep it open in a different location. However, the state health department is rejecting the request, citing the company's violation of state regulations by shutting down the hospital without approval. A public meeting on the closure is still scheduled to go ahead, despite Hudson Regional Health's attempt to withdraw its application.

Why it matters

The closure of Heights University Hospital, which served as a safety-net hospital for low-income and uninsured patients in Jersey City, has left the state's second-largest city with only one remaining hospital. The sudden and controversial shutdown has sparked public backlash and accusations of deceptive practices by the owner, raising concerns about access to healthcare in the community.

The details

Hudson Regional Health took over Heights University Hospital last year after the previous operator, CarePoint Health, went bankrupt. The company told state officials the hospital could no longer function, having lost $74 million last year and projecting a $30 million loss this year. However, the company closed the hospital in March ahead of receiving state approval, violating regulations. Now, Hudson Regional Health is attempting to withdraw its application to close the hospital, saying it can keep it open in a different location, but state officials have rejected this request, citing the company's previous actions.

  • In November, Hudson Regional Health shuttered most of the hospital, with only the emergency room remaining open.
  • In March, the hospital fully closed ahead of state approval.
  • On April 15, 2026, Hudson Regional Health announced it was withdrawing its application to close the hospital.
  • A public meeting on the hospital's closure was scheduled for April 16, 2026.

The players

Hudson Regional Health

The owner of Heights University Hospital, which recently closed the facility ahead of state approval, citing financial troubles.

New Jersey Department of Health

The state agency that regulates hospital closures and has rejected Hudson Regional Health's last-minute attempt to withdraw its closure application.

James Solomon

The mayor of Jersey City, who has opposed the closure of Heights University Hospital and plans to testify at the upcoming public meeting.

Avery Eisenreich

The landlord of the Heights University Hospital building, who has sent a cease-and-desist letter to Hudson Regional Health over the closure.

Debbie White

The president of the Health Professionals and Allied Employees union, which represented staff at Heights University Hospital and continues to condemn Hudson Regional Health's handling of the facility.

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What they’re saying

“Hudson Regional Health has always intended to provide critical health care access in a manner that is financially sustainable in the Heights.”

— Vijay Chaudhuri, Spokesperson, Hudson Regional Health

“Allowing a withdrawal of the closure [certificate of need] application now would require accepting a fiction that the hospital, which has ceased operating as a general hospital, remains open for business and can still relocate to continue serving the community from a different location.”

— Michael Kennedy, Executive Director, New Jersey Department of Health Certificate of Need and Licensing Division

“The purpose of the New Jersey Department of Health hearing is for the public to have their say. We think with all that HRH has taken away from the community, they deserve to have their voices heard.”

— Debbie White, President, Health Professionals and Allied Employees union

What’s next

The public meeting on the closure of Heights University Hospital is still scheduled to go ahead on April 16, 2026, despite Hudson Regional Health's attempt to withdraw its application. State health department officials will use testimony from the meeting to make recommendations to the State Health Planning Board, which will then vote on whether to approve or deny the certificate of need for the hospital's closure.

The takeaway

The ongoing saga over the closure of Heights University Hospital highlights the complex challenges facing healthcare access in urban communities, as well as the need for greater transparency and accountability from hospital operators. The public meeting will be a crucial opportunity for Jersey City residents to have their voices heard and shape the future of healthcare in their city.