The New Jersey State Health Planning Board voted unanimously on Thursday to approve Monmouth Medical Center’s Certificate of Need (CN) application, a pivotal step in RWJBarnabas Health’s ambitious plan to relocate the hospital’s acute care license and build a state-of-the-art facility in Tinton Falls.
The board’s recommendation comes after months of intense public debate and a marathon eight-hour hearing earlier this month that saw local leaders, residents, and rival health systems clash over the future of health care in Monmouth County. While the board had previously deferred its vote on Dec. 4 to seek further clarity on health care equity and transportation for Long Branch residents, this unanimous decision signals that those concerns have been addressed sufficiently.
In a statement released following the vote, a spokesperson for RWJBarnabas Health praised the decision and the collaborative process:
“We are very pleased the State Health Planning Board unanimously voted to approve Monmouth Medical Center’s Certificate of Need application today. We now look forward to the next phase of the process in which Acting Health Commissioner Brown will have the opportunity to review the application and make the final determination.
“We thank the dedicated, expert staff at the New Jersey Department of Health for their thorough review and approval of the application, and also thank the members of our team along with our patients and families for their participation in the public hearing phase. We remain steadfast in our commitment to transforming health care and bringing world-class care, advanced technologies and innovative academic medicine to all residents of Monmouth County and beyond.”
While this vote is a significant victory for RWJBarnabas Health, the relocation is not yet finalized. The State Health Planning Board’s role is advisory; their positive recommendation now moves to Acting New Jersey Health Commissioner Jeff Brown who will conduct a final review of the application and the board’s recommendation before issuing a final agency decision.
If given the green light, construction on the new $857 million acute care hospital in Tinton Falls is expected to begin in 2027, with the Specialty and Cancer Care Center on the same campus slated to open as early as late 2026.
