Moody's reports question health of healthcare industry

The healthcare industry, often deemed recession-proof, may not be so immune to the economic downturn, according to a parade of recent reports from Moody's Investors Service. The financial ratings firm has issued reports in the past two weeks on various sectors, from hospitals and medical devices to insurance companies, revising the healthcare industry's 12- to 18-month outlook to "negative" from "stable." Moody's sees fewer patients seeking medical care, particularly elective surgeries, while more people could lose their healthcare coverage altogether. Such trends will lead people to delay getting medical care or avoiding treatment.