Healthcare industry

Two weeks after El Paso Children’s Hospital filed for bankruptcy, the county hospital district that issued $120 million of bonds filed a voluntary disclosure of the filing on the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board’s EMMA Web site.

Moody's says that hospitals in Medicaid expansion states saw big drops in bad debt and that furthermore, providers across the entire sector saw improved financials in fiscal 2014.

St. Louis University is buying SLU Hospital from Tenet Healthcare and transferring it to SSM Health, one of the state’s largest providers.

The Florida Legislature will attempt to bridge an impasse over low income healthcare funding that has left the state without a fiscal 2016 budget and facing a government shutdown.

Standard & Poor's has revised its outlook to positive from stable on Illinois-based Blessing Hospital's A-minus rating in recognition its solid operations.

Moody's Investors Service downgraded WakeMed, N.C.'s bonds to A2 from A1 due to its weakened financial performance.

El Paso Children’s Hospital's bankruptcy filing led to board resignations and the threat of a rating downgrade, though $120 million of bonds appear well secured by a general obligation pledge.

The Puerto Rico government and a healthcare coalition are lobbying to prevent cuts in healthcare spending that they say would hurt the island's economy.

El Paso Children’s Hospital filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on May 19 after negotiations over a debt to county-owned University Medical Center fell apart, officials said.

Fitch Ratings downgraded Columbus Regional Healthcare System, Ga., bonds to BB-plus from BBB following unexpected deterioration in performance.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott has ordered state agencies to prepare lists of "critical state funding needs" in the event there is a government shutdown on July 1 amid an impasse over the state's fiscal 2016 budget.

Moody's Investors Service said it downgraded Westchester County Health Care Corporation, N.Y.'s (dba Westchester Medical Center) rating to Baa1 from A3, affecting approximately $447 million of bonds.

To finance a major expansion, the Texas Children’s Hospital will issue $354 million of debt, including fixed and variable rate bonds.

Standard & Poor's Rating Services said it lowered its long-term rating on the Massachusetts Development Finance Agency's series 2013F and 2009D bonds issued for the Southcoast Health System obligated group to A-minus from A.

Mercy Health, Ohio’s largest health care provider, prices $400 million of bonds this week, joining a handful of higher-rated hospitals that have started to return to the capital market after years of delaying deals.

Moody's Investors Service lowered its general obligation bond ratings for Clarendon Hospital District, S.C., to Baa2 because of its narrow cash position.

Texas Health Resources, the operator of a Dallas hospital that received international news coverage for its handling of an Ebola case, goes to market with $360 million of bonds after a Moody's upgrade.

Standard & Poor's upgraded Aspirus Inc. Obligated Group by one level to A-plus ahead of its $40 million fixed-rate issue.

Tax reform proposals to curb tax exemption for municipal securities would create uncertainty in the market, possibly lead to higher borrowing costs, and hurt infrastructure development, issuer and borrower groups warned a Senate Finance Committee working group this week.

Washington's Multicare Health System received AA-minus ratings with a stable outlook from two rating agencies ahead of plans to price $88 million of new money and a $274 million refunding bonds.