The following hospital and health system credit rating and outlook changes and affirmations occurred in the last week, beginning with the most recent.
1. S&P downgrades Westchester County Health Care to 'BBB-'
S&P Global Ratings downgraded Valhalla, N.Y.-based Westchester County Health Care's revenue and refunding bonds to "BBB-" from "BBB."
2. S&P revises UAB Medicine's outlook to negative over weaker operations
S&P Global Ratings revised Birmingham, Ala.-based UAB Medicine's outlook to negative from stable.
3. S&P upgrades Torrance Memorial Medical Center's rating to 'A'
S&P Global Ratings upgraded its long-term and underlying rating on Torrance (Calif.) Memorial Medical Center's outstanding debt to "A" from "BBB."
4. Moody's affirms 'A1' rating on ProHealth Care
Moody's Investors Service affirmed its "A1" rating on Waukesha, Wis.-based ProHealth Care, affecting $181 million of outstanding debt.
5. Moody's assigns 'Baa1' to Baptist Healthcare System's bonds
Moody's Investors Service assigned its "Baa1" rating to Louisville-based Baptist Healthcare System's proposed $130 million series 2018A revenue refunding bonds. At the same time, Moody's upgraded the health system's parity debt to "Baa1" from "Baa2," affecting $442 million of debt.
6. S&P assigns 'BBB+' rating to CHI's bonds
S&P Global Ratings assigned its "BBB+" long-term rating on Englewood, Colo.-based Catholic Health Initiatives' proposed $275 million series 2018A bonds.
7. S&P places Essentia Health on credit watch negative
S&P Global Ratings placed its "A" underlying rating on Duluth, Minn.-based Essentia Health on credit watch with negative implications.
8. S&P revises Halifax Hospital Medical Center's outlook to negative over litigation risks
S&P Global Ratings affirmed its "A-" long-term rating on Daytona Beach, Fla.-based Halifax Hospital Medical Center's revenue bonds and revised the outlook to negative from stable.
9. Fitch assigns 'AA' IDR to Advocate Aurora Health
Fitch Ratings assigned an issuer default rating of "AA" to Advocate Aurora Health — the entity formed by the recent merger of Downers Grove, Ill.-based Advocate Health Care and Milwaukee-based Aurora Health.
10. Fitch affirms Nebraska Medicine's 'AA-' rating
Fitch Ratings affirmed its "AA-" rating on Omaha-based Nebraska Medicine's outstanding bonds. Concurrently, Fitch assigned its "AA-" issuer default rating to the academic healthcare provider.
11. Fitch affirms 'AA' rating on Presbyterian Healthcare
Fitch Ratings affirmed its "AA" rating of Albuquerque, N.M.-based Presbyterian Healthcare Services' outstanding bonds, affecting $850 billion of debt. At the same time, Fitch assigned its "AA" issuer default rating to the health system.
12. Moody's affirms 'Aa3' rating on Main Line Health
Moody's Investors Service affirmed its "Aa3" rating on Philadelphia-based Main Line Health's outstanding bonds, affecting $219.5 million of debt.
13. Moody's downgrades Lafayette General Medical Center
Moody's Investors Service downgraded its rating on Lafayette (La.) General Medical Center to "Baa2" from "Baa1," affecting $147 million of rated debt.
14. Moody's affirms SCL Health's 'Aa3' rating
Moody's Investors Service affirmed its "Aa3" long-term rating on Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth (Kan.) Health System, which does business as SCL Health. The rating affects about $1.2 billion of debt.
15. S&P ratings on ProMedica debt unchanged after HCR ManorCare acquisition
ProMedica's acquisition of Toledo-based nursing home chain HCR ManorCare will not immediately affect its "A+" long-term ratings on the Ohio-based health system's debt, according to S&P Global Ratings.