Senator Phil Haines, Assemblywoman Dawn Marie Addiego and Assemblyman Scott Rudder today sent a letter exhorting Governor Corzine to consider the economic impact of a decision by Health and Senior Services Commissioner Heather Howard. The letter is attched.
Community Medical Center in Toms River has applied for inclusion in the Atlantic C-Port Trial Elective Angioplasty Study, and Commissioner Howard is expected to announce her decision on the application in the coming days.
A decision to include Community Medical Center in the angioplasty study could have a deleterious effect on Deborah Heart and Lung Center in Browns Mills, a highly respected specialty hospital and one of the top-rated medical facilities in the Northeast.
“This is a health issue, first and foremost, and Deborah’s level of care, its development of
new and better treatment protocols, and its ability to treat patients from Burlington and Ocean counties is well documented,” said Assemblywoman Addiego. “But today we have reminded the Governor that the state’s financial health is one more reason to deny Community Medical Center’s application.”
In 2005, Ocean Medical Center filed a similar application that was denied by then-commissioner Fred Jacobs, due mainly to the negative impact on Deborah and uninsured patients.
“This decision could have grave economic consequences at a time when the state can ill afford it,” said Senator Haines. “New Jersey is already reeling from rising unemployment and more than $2 billion in new debt. I think it is imperative the Governor thinks long and hard about a decision that would only add to the state’s problems.”
Deborah, one of the Top 5 employers in Burlington County, is a specialty hospital dedicated to providing top-shelf care in the extremely critical cardiac and pulmonary niches. Including Community in the angioplasty study would stress Deborah’s financial footing.
“We are losing too many jobs in New Jersey. In September alone, 3, 900 jobs left the state, and in nine months, almost 19, 000 people lost their jobs,” Assemblyman Rudder said. “Almost 1, 400 people make their living at Deborah, and we want to keep every one of them working.”
November 7, 2008
The Honorable Jon Corzine
Governor
Office of the Governor
P.O. Box 001
Trenton, NJ 08625-0001
Dear Governor Corzine:
As the deadline approaches for Commissioner Heather Howard’s decision on Community Medical Center’s Certificate of Need Application for participation in the Atlantic C-Port Trial Elective Angioplasty Study, we are writing to urge you to consider the potentially devastating financial impact of this decision.
Deborah Heart and Lung Center, a highly respected award-winning facility located in Browns Mills in the 8th Legislative District, is a crucial contributor to the economy in an already depressed portion of the state.
If Commissioner Howard rules in favor of Community Medical Center, however, this thriving hospital will face a severe challenge to its survival, and the almost 1, 500 people who work there could have their livelihoods threatened.
The state and its residents are currently facing an economic perfect storm – slumping home values, the credit crisis, the Wall Street debacle, rapidly rising unemployment numbers, plunging consumer confidence, and rising property taxes.
In the nine-month period from December 2007 to September 2008, New Jersey lost almost 19, 000 private sector jobs. In September alone, 3, 900 jobs evaporated as the economic landslide began to build momentum, and the state’s unemployment rate is pushing 6 percent.
This is terrible timing for a decision that potentially could crumble one of the top cardiac research and treatment facilities in the northeast, one of the highest rated hospitals in the state, and a Top 5 employer in Burlington County.
We respectfully request your action to protect the tenuous financial balance in eastern Burlington County that would be jeopardized by a decision putting Deborah Heart and Lung Center in peril.
Thank you for your consideration of this request.
We would be happy to discuss this matter with you, and can be reached through the 8th District office at 654-1498.
Sincerely,
PHILIP E. HAINES
Senator
DAWN MARIE ADDIEGO SCOTT RUDDER
Assemblywoman Assemblyman
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