NEW YORK (VINnews) – — Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn is moving closer to becoming part of New York City’s public hospital network, even as a lawsuit seeks to halt the transition.

Dr. Mitchell Katz, who leads NYC Health + Hospitals, told City Council members Monday that the integration could take effect as early as April 1. He said immediate priorities would include upgrading the hospital’s aging maternity facilities and improving its financial stability.

A legal challenge filed by several former board members argues that joining the city system could negatively affect patient care and weaken the hospital’s longstanding ties to the Orthodox Jewish community. However, Katz said there is no court order currently blocking the process.

Today, the Committee on Hospitals held an oversight hearing on the impacts of the proposed merger between @MaimoHealth & @NYCHealth, examining how it would protect access to care in Brooklyn, support safety-net services, and ensure long-term financial sustainability for… pic.twitter.com/FuSRtY8Wpi

— New York City Council (@NYCCouncil) March 2, 2026

Community leaders have expressed concern about whether religious and cultural practices at the century-old hospital would be maintained. Katz said the agreement includes provisions safeguarding those practices for decades and emphasized that the hospital’s name and much of its staff would remain in place.

The proposed merger still requires approval from state health regulators. Gov. Kathy Hochul has pledged billions of dollars in funding over five years if the deal proceeds.

If completed, the agreement would direct significant funding toward building a modern maternity ward. Hospital officials note that Maimonides handles roughly 6,000 births annually, making it one of the busiest maternity centers in the region.

Joining the public system would also increase Medicaid reimbursement rates, generating an estimated multimillion-dollar monthly revenue boost, Katz said. He added that the added funding would help hire additional support personnel and modernize outdated medical record systems, including expanding patient access to digital health tools.