Healthcare industry

Local opposition to Gov. Rick Perry's refusal to expand Medicaid surfaces, as the state's 254 counties cope with the nation's highest rate of uninsured residents.

Ascension Health Alliance will make its first foray into the long-term taxable market this week when it sells $1 billion of refunding bonds in a mix of tax-exempt and taxable paper.

A New York law gives the state's government until June 15 to consider a four-year plan that would cost at least $457 million to sustain Brooklyn hospitals.

Standard & Poor's upgraded Palisades Medical Center to the investment grade BBB-minus from the speculative grade BB-plus on Wednesday, citing its improved balance sheet.

Judith Frank, 71, of Los Angeles, has been re-appointed to the California Health Facilities Financing Authority.

Standard & Poor's dropped the rating on Rutgers University's general obligation debt to AA-minus from AA, citing risks associated with the planned merger with University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey.

Cincinnati-based Catholic Health Partners, Ohio's largest health care system, announced last week it is acquiring Kaiser Permanente Ohio, a northeast Ohio health plan.

Moody's Investors Service Monday affirmed its A2 rating on Bronson Healthcare Group and revised the outlook to stable from positive, saying the system has had softer operating margins following a 2011 merger and faces higher capital demands in 2013.

Moody's Investors Service said a court ruling that allows California to cut its Medi-Cal program is a negative for the credit ratings of hospitals, and positive for the state's fiscal flexibility.

The California Health Facilities Financing Authority, a conduit issuer, last week approved an $850 million bond issuance for St. Joseph Health System, according to a spokesman.

The highly-regarded Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago received a first time rating of A-minus from Fitch Ratings that banks on a successful fundraising campaign to help repay debt being issued to finance a $550 million replacement facility.

KidsPeace Children's Hospital of Schnecksville, Pa., looking to pare bond debt from $51.3 million to $24 million, filed a voluntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy petition.

Fitch Ratings downgraded Temple University Health System to the speculative grade BB-plus from the investment grade BBB-minus on Tuesday afternoon.

The Tuomey Healthcare System in South Carolina Tuesday notified investors that S&P downgraded its bonds to BB because of a federal court ruling that could render it insolvent.

Moody's Investors Service has lowered Mercy Hospital's rating one level to A3 due to declines in its operating performance.

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder and GOP leaders have reached an agreement on spending targets for 2014, but Snyder said the $50 billion plan fails to address some long-term issues, including Medicaid and road funding.

A proposed merger between Beaumont Health System and Henry Ford Health System was cancelled Tuesday.

The Illinois Health Facilities and Services Board last week signed off on two planned hospital mergers in the Chicago area.

Chicago began notifying its retirees this week that most will lose their healthcare subsidies over the next few years as Mayor Rahm Emanuel's administration seeks to shed a rising cost.

The Dormitory Authority of the State of New York has approved the sale of $2.4 billion in bonds.