New Jersey lawmakers are concerned about the strength and sharpness of the state’s toolset to regulate hospital operations following the closure of a Jersey City hospital that has landed in court.
Democratic and Republican members of the Assembly Budget Committee pressed state Health Commissioner Raynard Washington Wednesday on the state’s capacity to regulate and manage New Jersey’s 71 acute care facilities. They also said they worry about the impact of hospital closures on the communities they represent.
“If someone is having a heart attack in West New York, there is no way that Englewood [hospital] or Holy Name Hospital in Bergen County can be the closest hospital that they get to,” said Assemblyman Gabriel Rodriguez (D-Hudson), who represents the district just north of Jersey City that includes West New York…