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The basics:

• Hudson Regional Health plans to suspend Heights Hospital ER Feb. 28
• Hospital cites $74M annual loss, cuts to Medicaid and charity care
• Jersey City Mayor, officials push to maintain ER access
• Labor leaders urge state intervention to prevent closure

Months after pledging to keep a standalone emergency department open at Heights University Hospital, Hudson Regional Health will move to suspend those services. The decision for the former Christ Hospital in Jersey City has sparked urgent intervention efforts from officials, advocates and community stakeholders.

Hudson Regional Health acquired Heights University Hospital out of bankruptcy last year. HRH ended other acute care services at the 153-year-old facility in November 2025. However, it committed at the time to maintaining a 24/7 ER at the site.

Now, the system has notified the New Jersey Department of Health it intends to suspend services effective Feb. 28. HRH cited mounting financial losses and funding cuts.

“Since taking over Heights University Hospital, HRH and its Chairman Yan Moshe have invested over $100 million in an aggressive effort to stabilize operations, including rebuilding service lines, enacting labor agreements, recruiting physicians and strengthening clinical programs,” Hudson Regional Health told NJBIZ in a statement.

“Despite these historic investments, the hospital sustained a $74 million loss last year, with the Emergency Department projected to lose $30 million this year alone.”

Saving health care in the Heights

Leadership attributed the losses to drastic Medicaid reductions tied to the federal One Big Beautiful Bill. They also cited a roughly 50% cut in state Charity Care funding, rising numbers of uninsured patients and persistently low ER utilization. The challenges, HRH says, have created an unsustainable financial situation.

The system said the move will prevent “further multimillion-dollar losses from jeopardizing patient care at its other hospitals. HRH also includes Hudson Regional Hospital at Secaucus University Hospital, Bayonne University Hospital and Hoboken University Medical Center.

“This morning, Mayor Solomon and Jersey City elected officials requested that we make every effort to keep the Heights Emergency Department open for the immediate future, understanding the financial impact to the system,” HRH said. “We are currently evaluating the feasibility of that request with the NJDOH and all relevant stakeholders.”

Jersey City Mayor James Solomon sharpy criticized the move.

“This is unacceptable, especially since just a year ago, their CEO said that the future is bright for patients in the Heights,” Solomon said. “I will use all my power to reverse this decision.

“We are in active conversations with Gov. [Mikie] Sherrill, the NJ Department of Health, our state legislative delegation, and HRH regarding options to save access to health care in the Heights. Every option, from emergency injunctions to transferring the license, must be on the table.”

The New Jersey Department of Health did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

‘Devastating’ decision

“The decision by Hudson Regional Health leadership to suspend Emergency Department operations is devastating for the residents of Jersey City and the surrounding area,” said Sen. Angela McKnight, D-31st District. “Eliminating these crucial services will leave thousands of residents with fewer options for life-saving care when they need it most.

“While I sympathize with the financial struggles the hospital faces, it is deeply troubling that Hudson Regional Health chose to shut community members out of the decision-making process and announce the closure just three days before Emergency Department operations are set to cease.

Eliminating these crucial services will leave thousands of residents with fewer options for life-saving care when they need it most.
– Sen. Angela McKnight, D-31st District

“Our community was given virtually no time to prepare—patients, families, and healthcare workers received no notice, so they could not make advance arrangements to mitigate the impact of this service suspension on their lives.”

The labor lens

Labor leaders and advocates also called for immediate state intervention.

“We strongly urge the Department of Health, the Governor and the Attorney General to step in to save Christ Hospital from being shut down,” said Health Professionals & Allied Employees President Debbie White. “This employer has repeatedly violated laws and any penalty has failed to dissuade them from taking further illegal action.

“It seems that their business ventures come first even if it may put patients’ lives at risk. Our union members and the patients they care for need Governor Sherrill to intervene immediately and take action to stop the closure.”

Jersey City Ward D Councilman Jake Ephros said, “HRH’s actions are unacceptable. Health care in our community is non-negotiable, and I’m committed to fighting for a Christ Hospital that serves our neighbors and provides dignified jobs for our health care workers.

“Let’s use every tool in our disposal as a city, county, and state to take over Christ Hospital and run it for working class people. As we get there, HPAE and 1199J have my full support in their struggle to make their members whole.”

Please stay with NJBIZ for the very latest on this developing story.