Healthcare industry

The University of Colorado Hospital Authority will issue $290 million of bonds this week to add Memorial Health System of Colorado Springs to its new statewide network in a deal nearly sidelined by a lawsuit over pension programs.

The Illinois Finance Authority advanced more than $345 million in new-money and refunding issues for healthcare, higher education, and cultural institutions.

More than a third of Massachusetts hospitals lost money in fiscal 2011, according to a state report that comes as providers brace for a cost-containment law.

The State Iowa Board of Regents will take competitive bids Wednesday on $190 million of bonds that will more than double its healthcare system's debt load as it raises financing for a new children's hospital.

Moody's Investors Service has upgraded Allina Health System's rating by one notch to Aa3 in recognition of its favorable fiscal performance.

Moody's Investors Service raised its rating by one notch to A1 on CentraCare Health System's debt due to the Minnesota-based system's strong financial performance.

Standard & Poor's dropped its rating two notches to B-plus from BB on revenue bonds issued for the Oconee Regional Medical Center in Georgia.

St. Louis-based Ascension Health Alliance is advancing plans to acquire Oklahoma-based Marian Health System, the parent of three regional not-for-profit healthcare organizations in the mid and central states.

The merger of HealthPartners Inc. with Park Nicollet Health Services won't have an immediate impact on the ratings of either system, Standard & Poor's said in a report.

Massachusetts' new health care cost-containment law could pressure the credit quality of providers by compressing margins, according to Standard & Poor's.

The University of Michigan Health System last week announced it has signed an agreement to acquire a piece of MidMichigan Health, a nonprofit system that serves a 14-county region in the center of the state.

Moody's Investors Service cut its rating to Baa2 from Baa1 on Crittenton Hospital, a stand-alone provider that operates in an affluent Detroit suburb.

Moody’s Investors Service has revised its outlook on Gundersen Lutheran’s A1 rating to stable from negative in recognition of the hospital system’s strengths and favorable operating performance.

Standard & Poor's has raised its rating on the Saratoga County Industrial Development Agency's bonds issued for Saratoga Hospital in New York to A-minus from BBB-plus.

Gov. Chris Christie signed legislation on Wednesday to integrate all but two units of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey into Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey.

Moody's Investors Service has placed Saint Peter's University Hospital's Baa3 bond rating on review for downgrade, affecting $165.7 million of outstanding rated debt.

Moody's Investors Service downgraded Lowell General Hospital's debt to Baa2 from Baa1 and removed the rating from under review.

Moody’s Investors Service has revised its outlook on the OSF Healthcare System’s A3 rating to positive from stable in recognition of improved operating performance and market share.

Lured by attractive Treasury rates and the absence of tax-exempt compliance, the Mayo Clinic is accelerating its new-money borrowing plans and opting to go with taxable paper in a $300 million issue pricing as soon as this week.

A new push is on in California to readdress whether some nonprofit hospitals deserve their tax-exempt status.