New Jersey Hospital Association — News Brief
Tuesday, June 9, 2009

The State Health Planning Board heard testimony last night on the transfer of ownership of Pascack Valley Hospital to Hackensack University Medical Center, which hopes to reopen the closed facility as a 127-bed acute care facility. The marathon meeting was dominated by local residents with strong opinions on the hospital’s reopening. State and local elected officials also expressed their varied positions.

NJHA’s Valerie Sellers also testified. While not commenting specifically on the reopening of Pascack Valley, Sellers asked the planning board to consider several points when making its determination, including the finding by Gov. Corzine’s Commission on Rationalizing Health Care Resources that there is a surplus of hospital beds in the state, particularly in the northeast region.

Sellers further explained NJHA’s position stating that, “NJHA opposes the opening or reopening of any general acute care hospital within a defined region where a determination has been made, through a formal analysis by, or at the request of, the state of New Jersey, that there is excess bed capacity or excess hospitals within that region that can adequately provide access to care.”

Following the public hearing, the SHPB will hold a meeting to review the Certificate of Need application and take a formal vote. No final date has been scheduled, although the Board is expected to meet in late July.

Valerie Sellers, 609-275-4261, vsellers@njha.com