Employee benefits

"The upgrade reflects an expected continuation of very strong and consistent operating performance and revenue growth," Moody's said.

A U.S. Bankruptcy Court hearing Monday will take up the university's winning bid for Mercy Hospital at last week's reopened auction.

Escalating operating losses led to bond rating downgrades for Wise Health System ahead of its potential acquisition this quarter.

Labor costs and inflation weigh on hospitals, but improvement may be on the horizon.

The 17 struggling hospitals awarded loans through the program serve low-income and elderly patients or are located in underserved areas.

Eskaton, a northern California-based not-for-profit, is spinning off the trio of healthcare facilities to stem fiscal bleeding, and focus on its strengths in the senior-living sector.

Trinity Regional Hospital Sachse filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy after problems left it unable to pay municipal bond debt service or cover operating expenses.

The upgrade to "reflects the durability of margins and liquidity, which will be supported by higher property tax receipts under the authorized levy and NBHD's efforts to grow and diversify revenue," Moody's said.

For the three-month period ending June 30, the fund's investments returned about 3.08%.

"Weaker performance is in part driven by higher permanent labor costs," Moody's said. "These elements highlight rising human capital and financial strategy risks under Moody's ESG classification and are key drivers of this rating action."

Mercy Hospital plans to sell facilities and other assets to the University of Iowa, which approved $20 million for the acquisition.

American Advanced Management signed a letter of intent for a lease-to-buy agreement for Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital in Hollister.

The Senate proclamation says Shields left behind "an indelible mark on the public finance industry."

"We believe pensions have an elevated probability of stressing the state and local governments' budgets even as Illinois has made supplemental contributions above the statutorily required amounts," S&P Global Ratings analyst Joseph Vodziak said.

Houston is one of the largest U.S. cities to set up a trust to help fund non-pension retiree benefits such as healthcare.

Attorney General Rob Bonta faces criticism for restrictions that caused the collapse of a proposed buyout of a troubled Central Valley hospital.

A total of 26 Republican-led states have sued over the new retirement investing rule, saying it would diminish their tax revenue and hurt states that have a significant fossil fuel industry presence.

The demographics of the public-sector workforce are likely to change, even as many state and local governments consider increasing wages and improving other benefits to attract and retain employees.

Strong 2021 contribution levels continue a trend that began with pension reforms made in the wake of the Great Recession.

The hospitals are facing higher costs amid dwindling pandemic-related federal aid, although urban facilities are faring better than those in rural areas.