NYC Health+Hospitals to take over ailing Maimonides Hospital, Mayor Adams says

New York City is taking over Maimonides Hospital, the financially ailing medical system headquartered in Brooklyn, Mayor Eric Adams and hospital officials announced Monday.

The merger with the city’s public hospital system — Health+Hospitals — has the blessing of Gov. Kathy Hochul, who’s willing to put up $2.2 billion over five years to preserve medical services in Borough Park and surrounding areas.

“By bringing two storied health care systems together under one umbrella, we will ensure that Brooklynites, and all New Yorkers, can continue to receive the high-quality care that they deserve,” Adams said.

Maimonides’ financial distress is at the root of the merger, as it treats a substantial number of patients who receive health coverage through Medicaid, the government health insurance program for the needy.

Albany has already forked over hundreds of millions of dollars over the years to keep the hospital afloat.

By merging with Health+Hospitals, Maimonides will be reimbursed at a higher rate for patient services by Medicaid, bolstering its financial position, a release put out by the Adams’ office said.

Health+Hospitals currently runs 11 hospitals, 29 medical clinics and five long-term care facilities across the Big Apple.

Maimonides Health has three inpatient campuses and more than 80 medical clinics in the heart of Orthodox Jewish Brooklyn. It employs 7,000 individuals and works with 1,800 doctors.

“I thank Gov. Hochul, Dr. [Mitchell] Katz, and Maimonides for joining in this shared vision to serve all patients and deliver the trusted care they deserve,” Adams said.

The merger is expected to be completed by April.

Not everyone is happy, however, that the 80-year-old private hospital with deep Jewish roots — named after 12th-century Rabbi Moshe Ben Maimon, an advocate for medical training — is joining the city’s health system.

“This merger will be one of Gov. Hochul’s many outrageous mistakes — forcing Maimonides to merge. It will hopefully lead to her losing” reelection next year, fumed Brooklyn Councilman Simcha Felder.

But Health+Hospitals president and CEO Dr. Mitchell Katz — who Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani announced Monday that he renominated to stay on as the city’s hospital boss — insisted that Maimonides’ unique attributes will not be lost.

“All of our 11 hospitals have their own identity and culture, and Maimonides will retain its unique character and commitment to the communities it serves,” Katz, who helped negotiate the merger, said.

“As we move forward, we will work with its amazing, dedicated clinicians and staff to ensure a smooth transition for everyone, especially its patients.”

A source familiar with the merger talks — which have been ongoing for months — said joining forces with the city’s public hospitals was the last and only alternative for Maimonides.

Other private hospital systems shied away from taking over the facility, given the enormous red ink.

A handful of Maimonides trustees filed a lawsuit in May, hoping to block the merger, but the case was thrown out.

“We have had no other suitors over the last decade as we have been searching for a partner, and we are excited by this opportunity with NYC H+H,” a Maimonides spokesman said.