Healthcare industry

The Alabama Medicaid Agency will receive a $55 million federal performance bonus for implementing methods to enroll low-income children in the health insurance program in fiscal 2010, Gov. Bob Riley announced Monday.

Moody’s Investors Service last week downgraded $1.4 billion of Maine Health and Higher Educational Facilities Authority reserve fund bonds to A1 from Aa3 due to a new rating methodology for pooled debt programs.

Moody’s Investors Service downgraded the Jewish Hospital & St. Mary’s HealthCare to Baa1 from A3 with a negative outlook Friday.

Illinois nonprofit hospitals provided nearly $4.9 billion in community benefits through various programs and services during their 2008-2009 fiscal years, according to Illinois Hospital Association's fourth annual report.

Tennessee Governor-elect Bill Haslam has selected Mark Emkes as commissioner of the Department of Finance and Administration, which oversees the state budget and health care program.

The board overseeing the financing and construction of the new $1.2 billion public hospital in New Orleans to replace state-owned Charity Hospital has selected Kaufman, Hall & Associates as financial adviser for a proposed $400 million revenue bond issue.

BRADENTON, Fla. — Cullman ­Regional Medical Center in Alabama, has had its ratings dropped to below investment grade by Fitch Ratings and Moody’s Investors Service about a year after refinancing all its bonds.

State Senate President pro Tem Darrell Steinberg Tuesday announced the appointment of Ann Rice to the California Health Facilities Financing Authority board.

The Spartanburg Regional Health System was downgraded last week to A-plus from AA-minus by Fitch Ratings as a new facility has failed to fill beds as anticipated.

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal said last week that he will not use new taxes or fees to balance the fiscal 2012 budget despite a projected revenue shortfall of $1.6 billion.

With an upgrade in hand, the University of Missouri System will enter the market Wednesday with up to $265 million of Build America Bonds to fund improvements at various campuses and its health care facilities.

A report by two state agencies determined that if Texas withdrew from the Medicaid health care program, it would cost the state $15 billion a year in federal funds.

New Jersey’s largest health care provider, Saint Barnabas Health Care, was upgraded to investment grade last week, with both Standard & Poor’s and Fitch Ratings boosting the credit to BBB-minus from BB-plus.

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service is auditing $147.5 million of auction-rate securities issued by the New Mexico Hospital Equipment Loan Council on behalf of the nonprofit Presbyterian Healthcare Service in 2004 and refunded in 2008.

Standard & Poor’s changed its outlook on the Daughters of Charity Health System to negative due to ongoing losses.

Moody’s Investors Service placed the Baa3 rating it assigns to Citrus Memorial Hospital’s debt on watch for possible downgrade last week.

Moody’s Investors Service has downgraded its rating on North Memorial Health Care and Maple Grove Hospital to Baa1 from A3 and warned of further action by assigning a negative outlook due to the system’s fiscal struggles in fiscal 2010 and uncertainty over whether improvements can be achieved in fiscal 2011.

Standard & Poor’s Monday upgraded to BBB-minus from BB-plus $335 million of Saint Barnabas Health Care System debt.

CHICAGO — After years of planning and local front-page headlines, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, will hit the market next week with $346 million of tax-exempt and taxable debt that will tap two federal stimulus bond programs to help finance a new convention center and medical supply mart in downtown ­Cleveland.

Fitch Ratings downgraded to BBB-plus from A-minus roughly $219 million of revenue bonds issued on behalf of the Nebraska Methodist Health System.