Healthcare industry

Proceeds will refund bonds and finance capital projects at the health system's three campuses near Philadelphia.

Louisiana Health Secretary Bruce Greenstein will outline the reasons behind his order cutting $550 million from the state's Medicaid program Thursday at a special joint legislative committee hearing.

Fitch Ratings raised the Rush University Medical Center Obligated Group one notch to A in recognition of its consistently strong profitability and the completion of its new patient tower, eliminating construction risks on the credit.

Baylor College of Medicine, the largest private medical school in the Southwest, plans to issue $320 million of bonds next month to refinance fixed and variable rate debt and stabilize its financial structure, officials said.

As states decide whether to participate in the now-voluntary Medicaid expansion program under federal health care reform, analysts and other muni market experts say the decision will likely have little impact on states' bottom line.

Illinois-based Hospital Sisters Services, Inc. is gearing up to sell more than $400 million of new-money and refunding bonds this fall as it undertakes various upgrades to existing facilities and opens a replacement critical access hospital.

A retired state judge has filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of a new Illinois law that overhauls the state's retiree healthcare program and shifting more of the funding burden for premiums to beneficiaries.

The head of the non profit health care group at Standard & Poor's says the full impact of the federal reform law won't be known until after it is implemented in 2014.

The IRS is auditing $245.7 million of hospital revenue bonds issued by The Board of Trustees of the University of Alabama in Birmingham in September 2006.

Moody's Investors Service upgraded to A2 from A3 its rating on Blanchard Valley Regional Health Center, located in Findlay, Ohio.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry on Monday said he would reject an estimated $62 billion in federal funding to expand Medicaid in the state, citing states' rights.

The wave of mergers sweeping across the non profit health care sector the past two years is a positive trend for hospitals as well as for investors who like to buy hospital bonds, Fitch Ratings said in a new comment.

Moody's Investors Service has revised the outlook to negative from stable on Deborah Heart and Lung Center's outstanding bonds, issued by New Jersey Health Care Facilities Financing Authority.

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn signs a $33.7 billion general fund budget for new fiscal year that includes $2.7 billion Medicaid restructuring, makes $1.3 billion dent in overdue bills, and cuts discretionary spending. Quinn is pushing lawmakers to act on pension reforms to stabilize state fiscal house.

Abington Health and Holy Redeemer Health System have announced their intent to merge into a new regional Pennsylvania health system.

Thursday's historic Supreme Court ruling was the best of the likely rulings for the non profit health care sector. But the decision upholds a law that features a host of challenges for the already-challenged sector.

Moody's calls Illinois legislation setting charity care guidelines for not-for-profit hospitals positive for the sector's credit health

Moody's Investors Service has revised its outlook on Meriter Hospital's A1 rating to negative from stable ahead of a private placement of debt.

Both Moody's Investors Service and Standard & Poor's have revised their outlooks on New Jersey's junk-rated Palisades Medical Center to positive from stable.

Moody's Investors Service has downgraded the Washington Township Health Care District's long-term revenue bonds to Baa1 from A3, affecting $232 million of debt.