Gov. Murphy Calls Monmouth Medical Center Relocating To Tinton Falls A 'Win-Win,' Supports The Move

LONG BRANCH, NJ — In the past two months, Congressman Frank Pallone criticized Gov. Phil Murphy for supporting RWJBarnabas' application to relocate Monmouth Medical Center to Tinton Falls, and dramatically reduce the hospital's footprint in Long Branch.

But what exactly has the outgoing governor, wrapping up his final month after eight years at the helm of New Jersey, said about the extremely controversial possible relocation?

"Listen, this is inevitable, and I think it's a win-win for both places," said the governor in this "Ask the Governor" segment on News 12. He noted that his wife, First Lady Tammy Murphy, used to sit on the Monmouth Medical Center board, and also that it's "our home hospital; it's where we go. If I need a procedure, more often than not I go to Monmouth Medical Center."

(The Murphys live in Middletown.)

"I think this is a win-win," continued Gov. Murphy. "It turns out you can't split a license, so there has to be a real sober assessment of the facts. I think what you're gonna get is still a presence in Long Branch — not as big a presence as they have today. They are absolutely not closing, but it's a full-service hospital right now and it won't be a full-service hospital. But Tinton Falls will be. It will be a state-of-the-art hospital. And our Department of Health looked at this and concluded: This is the only way. We went back to our lawyers, I dunno, a half dozen times, and this is where it ends up."

Murphy continued:

"Long Branch is an incredibly important community in this state. I am completely confident that the Barnabas folks get that and will behave as such. I love Frank, but I don't appreciate the premise that we are hoping for an empty room. That's just not true. We want everybody on all sides of this to show up and express their support or their displeasure. There's an open comment period; we take that very, very seriously."

Murphy is referring to comments Congressman Pallone said in October, where he criticized RWJBarnabas for holding one of the public hearings on this topic in a small room, saying "RWJBarnabas and the Murphy administration are hoping people don’t show up."

"The bottom line is I am confident the community in Long Branch will continue to be well served as it relates to healthcare," said Murphy.

The State Health Planning Board scheduled a last and final hearing on Monmouth Medical Center's application to move the hospital license to Tinton Falls for this Thursday, starting at 9:30 a.m. The hearing will be virtual; anyone can watch here: https://bit.ly/4oNgOIM

The Board plans to vote and make a final decision Thursday. The Board will then make a recommendation to acting New Jersey Health Commissioner Jeffrey Brown, who will make the final decision based on what the Board decides.

The public will not be allowed to speak at this final hearing on the matter, which has caused red-hot divisions throughout Monmouth County. Public comments were heard at the Dec. 4 hearing, which lasted for more than eight hours as hundreds of people spoke — dozens of people are against the hospital move, but still many others support it, saying Monmouth Medical Center has become outdated. RWJBarnabas' archrival Hackensack Meridian opposes the move, saying it will inundate Jersey Shore University Medical Center with patients.

State Of NJ Will Decide Thursday If Monmouth Medical Center Can Relocate To Tinton Falls