Statement of Debbie White, RN, HPAE President at NJ Department of Health State Health Planning Board Public Hearing April 15, 2026 Regarding the Certificate of Need Application to Close Heights University Hospital/Christ Hospital

Good evening. My name is Debbie White, and I am the President of HPAE. I represent more than 15,000 healthcare workers across New Jersey, including the 300 nurses who once walked the halls of Christ Hospital—caring for this community every single day.

From the very beginning, Hudson Regional’s intentions were clear. This was never about preserving care as they alleged in bankruptcy. It was about making money. The plan was to close this hospital, tear it down, and replace healthcare with luxury housing.

Tonight, I am here to say that healthcare should never be sacrificed for profit.
We are recommending denial of the CN application

Jersey City is a large—some would say the largest—city in our state, and its people deserve access to hospital care. At a time when federal policies have already reduced access to healthcare, New Jersey should be doing better.

Jersey City Medical Center has been inundated since the closure of Christ Hospital because this city needs more than 1 hospital and certainly more than 350 hospital beds.

HRH has shown, through their actions, that they are not an operator this community can trust. Christ Hospital serves not only Jersey City, but surrounding communities like Union City as well.

Christ Hospital once provided nearly 300 medical surgical beds, ICU care, psychiatric services, detox beds, and operating rooms. Across seven to eight nearby towns—home to roughly 700,000 people—we are already hundreds of hospital beds short. Jersey City alone, with a population of 300,000, should have more than 700 hospital beds to meet the needs of its residents.

Healthcare is not a luxury. It is a public good. The people of Jersey City deserve a hospital—not another luxury development.

For the sake of patients, families, and this community, we strongly urge denial of this Certificate of Need application. Thank you.