Fitch Ratings (New York) has maintained its negative outlook on not-for-profit hospitals and health systems, citing the recession and government cost-containment efforts, among other factors. Fitch also hits on a theme I explored after the recent setback in the push for healthcare reform , i.e., the need for reform isn’t going away, no matter who the junior Senator from Massachusetts is:
The underlying factors that have been driving reform efforts, despite the recent halt in the legislative process, remain. These factors include the broadly supported view that the uninsured problem must be addressed, that there is a need to rein in healthcare spending, and unabated calls for greater transparency, quality and value. The same characteristics that Fitch believes provide credit strength and credit weakness in a contemplated reform environment still apply, whether change is mandated by statute or by market and regulatory mechanisms.
Subscribe in RSS Reader
