For-profit entity strikes deal to buy Christ Hospital; state says 3 hospitals should combine services
Christ Hospital in Jersey City has announced that Prime Healthcare Services, a California-based for-profit healthcare company, has struck a deal to buy the medical facility.
The deal must still be approved by the office of the State Attorney General, the Department of Health and Senior Services, and the state Health Planning Board, a process that could take months to be completed.
If it is approved by the state, the nonprofit Christ Hospital will follow in the footsteps of three other Hudson County medical facilities that have been sold to for-profit companies.
Last year, the for-profit MHA, LLC purchased Meadowlands Hospital Medical Center in Secaucus after months-long scrutiny by the state. And HUMC Holdco, LLC is currently in the process of purchasing Hoboken University Medical Center. The group of investors behind HUMC Holdco previously purchased Bayonne Medical Center.
There are six hospitals in Hudson County. The only two Hudson County hospitals not being sold (or already sold) to non-profit owners are Palisades Medical Center in North Bergen and Jersey City Medical Center.
Meanwhile, a recent report from the state’s Health Care Facilities Financing Authority said that three of the county’s hospitals should combine services.
The state report was referring to Jersey City Medical Center, Christ Hospital, and Hoboken University Medical Center. However, that report was done when all of the hospitals were receiving millions of dollars in state aid. With two of them going private, the state’s feeling may change.
The report states that many of the patients’ beds in the hospitals are empty, and the hospitals aren’t performing well.
In the case of Christ Hospital, the facility is reportedly losing as much as $4 million annually.
Consumers have wondered whether the for-profits will sever ties with health insurance companies or discontinue acute care medical services. In fact, earlier this year, MHA cut ties with Empire BlueCross BlueShield. Bayonne Medical dropped its contracts with some insurance carriers, forcing patients to go elsewhere for medical service.
The companies have attempted to renegotiate rates with the insurance companies in order to improve the financial situations of the hospitals. But the situation often left consumers confused about whether they would be reimbursed by their insurance companies.
For more on this story, see hudsonreporter.com.
Richardson to run for citywide council seat
Ward F City Councilwoman Viola Richardson has announced plans to run for one of two at-large council seats in the upcoming November special election.
Voters will go to the polls on Nov. 8 to fill two seats vacated by former council members Willie Flood and Mariano Vega, whose terms expire in 2013.
“I think I’ve proven that I’m a hard, dedicated worker who has worked diligently for Ward F,” Richardson said last week. “I’d like to be able to share my service with a wider constituency for the betterment of the City of Jersey City.”
Richardson, who is currently serving her third four-year term on the council, said she will be running independently for the at-large seat.
Earlier this month, community activist and former mayoral candidate Dan Levin announced his candidacy for one of two at-large council seats up for election this fall.
In February, Willie Flood resigned from the City Council due to health reasons. Vega – one of 46 public and religious officials arrested in the infamous 2009 FBI corruption sting – resigned last September after pleading guilty to federal charges.
Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy appointed Ray Velasquez to fill Vega’s seat. Attorney Kalimah Ahmad was selected by the mayor to fill the seat vacated by Flood.
Ahmad and Velasquez have announced their intention to run for full terms.
The field of candidates also includes former 2009 council candidate Roland Lavarro and Jamie Vazquez.
Two Jersey City post offices targeted for closure
In a sign of the times, the U.S. Postal Service has recommended the closure of two Jersey City post office branches.
The move is part of a government effort to save money at a time when many U.S. residents pay bills and send correspondence online. The U.S. Postal Service loses billions of dollars annually.
Locally, the Five Corners Post Office and another branch on West Side Avenue were on the list of potential closures.
Several other Hudson County post office branches will be affected by the decision. Nationally, about 3,653 post offices have been targeted for possible closure.
The postal service has already cut hours and staff at some offices, and has removed some mailboxes from streets.
While some younger residents in Jersey City may be unfazed by the decision, such cutbacks have been criticized by senior citizens who may lack home computers and the online skills necessary to replace the Postal Service’s human touch.
The post office closures are expected to go into effect after Jan. 1, 2012.
Assemblyman Ruben J. Ramos Jr. (D – 33rd Dist.) sent a letter to the Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe detailing the impact the closures will have local residents.
“Not only will this reduction prove to be unmanageable for the people of Hudson County, but also for those post offices which remain open,” wrote Ramos. “These remaining facilities will not be able to efficiently and effectively handle the exponential increase in business resulting from the impending closures.”
City lawyer to remain on Embankment case
A Hudson County Superior Court Judge has ruled that attorney Charles Montange can continue to represent Jersey City in its long legal battle with Steve Hyman and his wife, who own the Embankment at Sixth Street and Marin Blvd.
The Embankment is the site of a former train line, an area that activists would like to be used for open space. But Hyman wants to develop housing there.
The Hymans tried unsuccessfully to have Montange tossed from the case, arguing that he had a conflict of interest because he also represents the Jersey City Landmarks Conservancy and the Embankment Preservation Coalition. Hudson Superior Court Judge Maurice Gallipoli rejected the Hyman’s conflict of interest argument.
The Embankment has been tied up for years in legal wrangling between the city and the Hymans, residents of New York. Last year the city thought it had an agreement with the Hymans to buy the property for $7.7 million and the City Council passed a resolution last summer to issue bonds to buy the land. However, the couple later filed a lawsuit to have the elevated rail line torn down.
The Jersey City Landmarks Conservancy and the Embankment Preservation Coalition hope to prevail in the matter and still plan to preserve the historic site for open space land use.
JC to celebrate National Night Out
On Tuesday, Aug. 2, the Jersey City Police Department, City Council, and Mayor Jerramiah Healy will celebrate the 28th Annual National Night Out, a crime prevention event sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch organizations.
Events will take place simultaneously in Pershing Field and Audubon Park from 6:30 until 9:30 p.m.
Each year, National Night Out encourages neighbors to come together, get acquainted, and have a fun-filled safe night to foster neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships. There will be balloons, refreshments, plenty of entertainment and activities, games, and giveaways in each park. Various community service organizations will be on hand to provide information to the public.
National Night Out is celebrated by citizens, law enforcement agencies, community groups, businesses, and local officials in more than 1,000 communities nationwide.
Sponsored by Target, the event’s 2011 national sponsor, and locally by city departments and agencies, as well as the Jersey City Police Foundation, New Jersey Parole, and the POBA, the event promises to bring fun-filled entertainment including music, face painting, temporary tattoos, a moon bounce, dunk tanks, demonstrations by the Harlem Wizards basketball team, and much more.
Spectra donates to kids
Next month, Spectra Energy will make a $50,000 donation to the Scholarship Fund for Inner-city Children, an organization that provides partial tuition scholarships to economically disadvantaged children attending private and parochial schools in Hudson, Bergen, Essex, and Union counties.
When the $50,000 donation is presented Aug. 2, students and staff will be on hand from Hudson Catholic Regional High School; St. Anthony High School; St. Dominic Academy; St. Peter’s Prep.; Benedictine Academy; Don Bosco Prep.; Holy Family Academy; Marist High School; Mother Seton Regional High School; Roselle Catholic High School; St. Benedict’s Prep.; St. Mary of the Assumption High School; and Union Catholic Regional High School.