In a move poised to significantly alter New Jersey’s healthcare landscape, RWJBarnabas Health has announced the signing of a definitive agreement to acquire Englewood Health, absorbing one of the state’s few remaining independent hospitals. The transaction, which was confirmed on January 5, 2026, is now subject to the critical approval of both state and federal regulators, with the final decision directly impacting the delivery of healthcare services for residents across the populous regions of Bergen, Hudson, and Passaic counties. This landmark agreement is being framed not as a financial rescue but as a strategic consolidation designed to build operational efficiencies and enhance patient care in an increasingly complex medical environment. The integration promises to combine the strengths of both organizations to create a more resilient and comprehensive healthcare system capable of addressing the evolving needs of the communities they serve while preserving Englewood’s legacy of high-quality local care.
A Strategic Move for a New Era
The primary motivation behind this major acquisition is a strategic consolidation aimed at achieving greater operational efficiency and long-term sustainability, rather than a response to financial distress. Mark Manigan, President and CEO of RWJBarnabas Health, explained that the sheer complexity of the modern healthcare business necessitates such proactive measures. The merger is designed to combine the balance sheets of both entities, creating a more robust financial foundation. This increased scale is expected to provide substantial leverage in areas such as purchasing medical equipment and supplies, investing in advanced technology, and negotiating with vendors. Moreover, the integration will allow for the more effective distribution of administrative and operational costs across a larger network, reducing redundancies and optimizing resources. The fact that this is a strategic, not a remedial, action is underscored by Englewood Health’s strong financial performance. In 2024, the hospital reported revenues of $1.19 billion against expenses of $1.16 billion, demonstrating its solid financial health and affirming that it enters this partnership from a position of strength and stability.
Enhancing Patient Care and Regional Access
For Englewood Health and the communities it serves, the acquisition promised to elevate its position as a key regional tertiary care provider by expanding access to highly specialized medical services. As part of the agreement, RWJBarnabas Health committed to making significant capital investments aimed at expanding Englewood’s extensive network of outpatient services and bolstering its community health initiatives. A major benefit highlighted for patients was gaining direct access to the world-renowned care offered through the Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, the state’s only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, and its new, state-of-the-art freestanding facility, the Jack & Sheryl Morris Cancer Center. This development continued a clear trend of healthcare consolidation, as the addition of Englewood’s hospital and its more than 100 care locations would expand RWJBarnabas Health into a 15-hospital system. This acquisition attempt followed a previously failed merger in 2019 between Englewood Health and Hackensack Meridian Health, which was ultimately dropped after encountering significant opposition from the Federal Trade Commission.
