Healthcare industry

Four bond-financed health care projects totaling more than $900 million won approval from the Illinois Finance Authority Tuesday, clearing the way for three of the issuers to head to market next month.

Minnesota's HealthEast Care System won back its investment grade rating last week from Standard & Poor's in recognition of its improving balance sheet.

To prevent further siphoning of revenues from bankrupt Jefferson County's general fund, commissioners will decide whether to close the county's indigent-care hospital.

Travis County, Texas, voters should vote in November to raise the hospital district's property tax rate by 5 cents to support construction of a new medical school in Austin, state Sen. Kirk Watson said Monday.

The judge in Stockton's bankruptcy case has denied an injunction that would have kept the city from cutting retiree medical benefits during the Chapter 9 process.

Moody's Investors Service calls a bill designed to rein in health care costs a credit negative for Massachusetts hospitals because it will limit revenue growth and reduce operating flexibility.

Outgoing Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels last week asked the state's three gubernatorial candidates for their input on steps to implementing the new federal health care law.

Louisiana must move quickly to avoid damage to its Medicaid program resulting from a sooner-than-expected end to federal assistance, state Treasurer John Kennedy said last week in outlining a 14-step plan.

Fitch Ratings has downgraded Elmhurst Memorial Healthcare's rating one level to BBB-plus and warned of impending further negative action by placing it on rating watch negative, due to the Illinois hospital's financial performance.

After being postponed a week, the NYU Hospitals Center's $250 million taxable bond sale will come to the market sometime this week — possibly as early as Tuesday.

Moody's Investors Service raised its rating one notch to A2 on $160 million of Alexian Brothers Health System's still outstanding after its acquisition by Ascension Health Alliance.

New York's State Department of Health made $32.9 million in Medicaid overpayments during a five-year period, according to audits released by Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli.

The Dormitory Authority of the State of New York board approved $1.1 billion of financings for higher education and health care institutions, including a $940 million personal income tax revenue bond program.

Inova Health System hopes to play on its strength as the largest nonprofit heath-care provider in northern Virginia next week when it sells $500 million of double-A rated bonds.

Conduit bond issuer Build NYC Resource Corp. has approved $75.6 million of tax-exempt financing to assist four New York City nonprofits.

Moody's Investors Service downgraded the bond rating on Davis Health System, W.Va., to Ba2 from Ba1.

Moody's Investors Service, which maintains a negative outlook on the non-profit health care industry, downgraded more hospitals than it upgraded during the second quarter of 2012, a trend analysts expect to continue throughout the year

Louisiana's chain of 10 state hospitals that serve 1.2 million low income and disabled Louisianians are imperiled by a sudden and severe cut in federal funds for the program.

New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli's office has begun an independent financial review of the financially troubled State University of New York Downstate Medical Center and its affiliates.

A new 3.8% tax on investment income that's part of the federal health care overhaul will boost demand for tax-free municipal bonds starting next year, say some market experts.