High-deductible health plans are associated with a significant decrease in preventative care and office visits, leading to a reduction in healthcare costs, according to a study published in Health Affairs.  By Morgan Haefner - 10/16/17

Maine voters will determine whether to expand Medicaid to uninsured residents earning no higher than 138 percent of the federal poverty level next month, Portland Press Herald reports.  By Morgan Haefner - 10/16/17

Chinese hospitals and healthcare companies represent a great investment opportunity, as their profitability is likely to improve due to several factors, including inevitable consolidation and healthcare reform, said Sarah Ketterer, CEO and fund manager at Causeway Capital Management, in a recent Bloomberg article.  By Ayla Ellison - 10/16/17

Baptist Health Foundation Paducah (Ky.) raised $12.1 million during its first capital campaign, surpassing a $10 million benchmark.  By Morgan Haefner - 10/16/17

S&P Global Ratings downgraded Lawrence (Mass.) General Hospital's revenue debt to "BB+" from "BBB-."  By Alia Paavola - 10/16/17

S&P Global Ratings affirmed its "AA-" issuer credit rating and long-term revenue bond rating on Springfield, Mo.-based Mercy Health.  By Alia Paavola - 10/16/17

Fitch Ratings maintained the Rating Watch Negative on Danbury-based Western Connecticut Health Network's series M and series N revenue bonds, affecting a total of $81.5 million of debt.  By Alia Paavola - 10/16/17

Moody's Investors Service downgraded Philadelphia- based Albert Einstein Health Network's bond and issuer rating to "Baa3" from "Baa2," affecting $447 million of outstanding debt.  By Alia Paavola - 10/16/17

Here are four healthcare industry CFOs who were recently in the news.  By Ayla Ellison - 10/16/17

State Medicaid Director Jason Helgerson said New York City Health + Hospitals will receive $360 million in funding previously withheld.  By Kelly Gooch - 10/16/17

The 2017 Nationwide Children's Hospital Columbus Marathon and Half Marathon, which took place Oct. 15, raised $1.2 million for Columbus, Ohio-based Nationwide Children's Hospital, according to WCMH.  By Alia Paavola - 10/16/17

Though Congress has yet to push through legislation officially repealing the ACA, the future of the health law remains uncertain, as does the future of healthcare payment reform. However, there is still reason to believe bundled payments will be an essential component in the evolution of healthcare reimbursement.  By Brian Zimmerman - 10/16/17

Madison, Ga.-based Morgan Memorial Hospital, a 25-bed critical access hospital, obtained a $35 million, tax-exempt, U.S. Department of Agriculture loan to finance a new facility.  By Alia Paavola - 10/16/17

Bronx (N.Y.)-Lebanon Hospital Center is the least expensive Leapfrog-graded hospital in the New York City region, according to an analysis from Amino.  By Kelly Gooch - 10/16/17

Many patients with high-deductible health plans are struggling to pay their hospital bills. The traditional "pay-and-chase" collection model no longer is effective for most healthcare providers.  By Julie Spitzer - 10/16/17

All five major for-profit hospital operators saw their stock prices fall last week.  By Kelly Gooch - 10/16/17

CMS cut off Medicare funding and imposed an approximately $63,000 penalty to Hollywood, Fla.-based Rehabilitation Center at Hollywood Hills where 14 residents died after the facility lost power when Hurricane Irma made landfall in the state, according to the Miami Herald.  By Alia Paavola - 10/13/17

The following hospital and health system credit rating and outlook changes and affirmations took place in the last week, beginning with the most recent.    By Alia Paavola - 10/13/17

Dolly Parton donated $1 million to Nashville, Tenn.-based Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt on Friday, according to WZTV.  By Alia Paavola - 10/13/17

Fitch Ratings upgraded Prescott, Ariz.-based Yavapai Regional Medical Center's series 2016 and 2013A revenue bonds to "A" from "BBB+," affecting $73 million of debt.  By Alia Paavola - 10/13/17