New Jersey hospital to end ‘non-essential services’ without state funding
Taken from Becker’s Hospital Review
By Madeline Ashley
September 26, 2025
Secaucus, N.J.-based Hudson Regional Health will suspend non-essential services at Heights University Hospital in Jersey City, N.J. should the state and other government entities not provide it “substantial financial support,” according to a Sept. 26 news release shared with Becker’s.
Hudson Regional Health was formed in late May as part of Bayonne, N.J.-based CarePoint Health System’s bankruptcy exit. It comprises four hospitals, which were rebranded in mid-September: Heights University Hospital, Bayonne University Hospital, Hoboken (N.J.) University Hospital and Secaucus University Hospital.
Nizar Kifaieh, MD, CEO of Hudson Regional Health, said in the release that despite investing more than $300 million in 10 months, with many of the funds dedicated to Heights University, the hospital is “unable to avoid continued financial distress.” The hospital’s anticipated losses are more than $60 million annually without public support.
“Nonetheless, if we are not able to receive support from the state and other partners in government, the board of directors has authorized a restructuring of the system that will pave the way for healthcare to be maintained to the community, following the anticipated suspension of services at Heights, in a way that is financially and structurally sound,” Dr. Kifaieh said. “We look forward to continuing to work with the Department of Health and our partners in government to finalize a long-term solution.”
Health Professionals and Allied Employees, New Jersey’s largest union for registered nurses and healthcare professionals, said in a Sept. 26 news release shared with Becker’s that union leaders were not given a future plan for Heights University but encouraged to tell both New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and the state department of health that money is needed to keep the facility afloat.
“According to the Hudson Regional administrators, if they don’t get state funding, they will be forced to either lay off staff, reduce services or close the hospital,” the release said. “However, they gave the union no specifics.”