Intervene to Save Christ Hospital

Mayor Fulop Requests Governor Murphy Intervene to Save Christ Hospital and Avoid Devastating Impacts

Impasse over Weekend Will Cause Imminent Closure, Loss of Jobs and Critical Access to Healthcare at Stake

JERSEY CITY – Mayor Steven M. Fulop has sent an urgent request to New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy imploring the state to use its authority over the hospital healthcare systems to act quickly and engage Christ Hospital and RWJ Barnabas to help all involved parties work towards a peaceful resolution amid acquisitions and accusations that threaten the hospital’s future. Mayor Fulop is asking for the state’s involvement to avoid a tragic situation where an impasse leads to the hospital’s closing, resulting in thousands of employees and their families with the prospect of losing employment, as well as compromising residents’ access to healthcare when needed most.

“Accessibility to quality health care is paramount for our residents, their families, and the overall health of our community now and in the future, which is why I strongly urge all involved parties not to let an impasse jeopardize the lifesaving healthcare they have provided to our community for generations,” said Mayor Fulop. “I’m convinced a resolution that saves the hospital and avoids the damaging impacts of closure are possible with the state’s leadership and engagement.”

Ward D Councilman Michael Yun joins the Mayor to denounce any path that leads to the closing of Christ Hospital in The Heights section of Jersey City, where a conflict between the hospital and RWJ Barnabas ultimately has the most impact on the thousands of local residents who rely on the neighborhood hospital for quality care.

“The closing of Christ Hospital would be a devastating blow not only to the Jersey City Heights community, but its impact would also ripple throughout Central Hudson,” said Ward D Councilman Michael Yun. “From those serviced by the medical institution, to those who work there and make Hudson County their home, no one would be spared from its negative impact.”

“There is simply no substitute for your direct involvement and no time to waste,” Mayor Fulop concludes, offering the state any assistance that can be provided on this matter.

Insider NJ

Sale update

Judge Velazquez signed the order proposed by Christ Hospital, incorporating all the Attorney General's recommended conditions, but without requiring a health care monitor, expanded community participation, or recovery of charitable assets from subsequent sales.

We are, of course, happy that Christ Hospital will continue to operate, and will do so with some significant protections that were not part of the initial proposals.

Save Christ Hospital is disappointed that neither the state nor the court imposed stronger conditions to protect the public interest. We are concerned about how the hospital will consolidate services and access to care for area residents. When the new owners sell hospital assets, the windfall profits will fund their next acquisition instead of furthering the charitable mission of community health care.

No decision today

Thanks to the Honorable Judge Velazquez for hearing our case. He did not give a summary ruling or sign the Hospital's draft order. His decision will likely be announced Monday. Our attorney, Renee Steinhagen of New Jersey Appleseed, presented a strong case and represented us well.

See Terrence McDonald's article on the hearing in The Jersey Journal: "Jersey City community group seeks conditions on Christ Hospital sale".

Sale to be finalized this Friday?

Christ Hospital petitioned the Superior Court to finalize its sale to the Hudson Holdco corporations, seeking an expedited judgment. In response, Save Christ Hospital has asked the Court to impose additional conditions on the sale, especially:

• Expanded public participation in restructuring the Hospital and County Hospital service consolidation
• Increased monitoring of charity care and health care performance
• Recovery of proceeds from subsequent asset sales for charitable purposes

See Save Christ Hospital's and NJ Appleseed's Letter to the Court.

The hearing is scheduled for this Friday 6/29 1:30pm at the Brennan Court House, 583 Newark Ave, 2nd floor (Judge Hector Velazquez). All are welcome to attend.

Urgent - sale to be finalized

BREAKING NEWS - Expedited approval to be heard Friday 6/29.

The deal is done? The Attorney General completed its review, the attorneys went straight to court, and the court wants to finalize the sale within a week, and with only two business days notice to respond.

Read documents for this proceding:
Show Cause order
Attorney General's CHAPA report (18 MB)
Christ Hospital's Attorney Certification
Christ Hospital's Brief (9 MB)

What do you think? Is this a good deal for Jersey City? Are the conditions of the sale truly in the public interest?

Stay tuned for further details.

Public Hearing Thu 5/24 - CHAPA

Flyer for May 23 & 24 Hearings.

Public Notice of Hearing

Assistant Attorney General Susan K. Fischer, on behalf of the Attorney General and Acting Deputy Commissioner William Conroy, on behalf of the Commissioner of Health and Senior Services will conduct a joint Public Hearing on the proposed acquisition of Christ Hospital by Hudson Hospital Opco, LLC and Hudson Hospital Propco, LLC in accordance with the Community Health Care Assets Protection Act (“CHAPA”), N.J.S.A. 26:2H-7.10, et seq.

The Public Hearing will be held on:
May 24, 2012
Culinary Conference Center at
Hudson County Community College
Scott Ring Room, 2nd Floor
161 Newkirk Street at Sip Avenue
Jersey City, New Jersey 07306
Phone: 201.360.5300
6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
(or close of testimony, whichever is later)

Members of the public are invited to file written comments and exhibits or appear at the hearing and speak.

Members of the public wanting to submit written comments or other materials may provide them to representatives of the Department of Law and Public Safety or the Department of Health and Senior Services at the hearing, or may send them anytime before the time of the hearing or until the close of the record on May 31, 2012 by mail or electronic mail to:

Dept. of Law & Public Safety Division of Law
P.O. Box 106
Trenton, NJ 08625-0106
Attention: DAG Jay A. Ganzman
CHAPA@lps.state.nj.us

Department of Health and Senior Services
Office of Legal and Regulatory Compliance
P.O. Box 360
Trenton, NJ 08625-0360
Attention: Devon Graf, Director, Office of Legal and Regulatory Compliance

For more information, please contact Jay A. Ganzman, Deputy Attorney General at (609) 292-8564.

Public Hearing Wed 5/23 - Certificate of Need

Public Hearing Notice for the Certificate of Need Application

The State Health Planning Board (the Board) will be holding a public hearing concerning the certificate of need application submitted to the Department of Health and Senior Services for the Transfer of Ownership of Christ Hospital located in Jersey City, New Jersey. Copies of the application are available for review at the Jersey City Public Library, the New Jersey State Library, and at the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services.

The Board invites the public to comment on the application. All those wishing to make oral comments to the Board are invited to attend the public hearing on this application on Wednesday, May 23, 2012. Comments will be limited to three minutes per person, although written comments may also be submitted at the same time. The Board will take comments from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The hearing will be held at the Culinary Institute of Hudson Community College, 161 Newkirk St., Jersey City, NJ 07306.

Comments may also be submitted in writing after the hearing. People wishing to submit comments are urged to make their comments concise. Comments must be received by the State Health Planning Board no later than Friday, May 30, 2012 at the following address:

New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services
Office of Legal and Regulatory Compliance
Market & Warren Streets
P.O. Box 360
Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0360

The Board intends to review the application at an upcoming meeting. Notice will be published as to the meeting date during which the application will be reviewed.

For further information, you may call the Department at 609.292.7874.