By 5 Towns Central Staff

NEW YORK, N.Y. (Aug. 28, 2026)

New York state health regulators have advanced the proposed takeover of Brooklyn’s Maimonides Medical Center by NYC Health + Hospitals, despite significant opposition from residents and community leaders.

The move is another step toward bringing the financially troubled 711-bed hospital into the city’s public health system. The proposal has been under intense scrutiny, including at City Council hearings, where lawmakers and community members raised concerns about the hospital’s future and its role in the surrounding community.

Supporters argue that joining NYC Health + Hospitals could strengthen Maimonides financially, particularly through improved reimbursement from government programs such as Medicare and Medicaid, while allowing the hospital to maintain its specialty services. The city has also pledged to preserve kosher food and Jewish religious accommodations.

Opponents, however, remain deeply concerned about the long-term impact of the deal and whether commitments made today will be maintained by future administrations.

The merger has already faced legal challenges. In May, an Albany County judge ruled that the state had not properly completed the required review process and sent the matter back for further proceedings.

The latest regulatory action moves the transaction forward, but it does not end the legal and political fight. Community opponents say they intend to continue challenging the merger and fighting over the future of one of Brooklyn’s most prominent hospitals.

Earlier Today @AMLesterChangNY and I, along with over a dozen local community activists, testified on behalf of our communities at the Public Health and Health Planning Council’s hearing on the proposal to give away Maimonides Medical Center, our neighborhood non-profit hospital,… pic.twitter.com/Q1JziZx4hP

— Simcha Eichenstein (@SEichenstein) August 28, 2026