Money Talk

Who's up and who's down

Up
Scripps Health, San Diego
Rating: A1
Outlook: Stable
Affected debt: $389 million
Agency: Moody's Investors Service
Remarks: Upgraded from A2 thanks in part to fourth consecutive year of strong operating income, including a 5.6% margin.

Down
Southwest Mississippi Regional Medical Center, McComb, MS
Rating: BBB-
Outlook: Stable
Affected debt: $18.51 million
Agency: Standard & Poor's
Remarks: Days cash on hand approaches speculative credit levels after further deterioration in operating performance in the 2007 fiscal year.

Up
Jackson-Madison County General Hospital, Jackson, TN
Rating: A1
Outlook: Positive
Affected debt: $298.9 million
Agency: Moody's Investors Service
Remarks: Outlook upgraded from stable thanks to strong historical operating performance and favorable market share characteristics.

Down
Banner Health, Phoenix
Rating: AA-
Outlook: Negative
Affected debt: $913.4 million
Agency: Standard & Poor's
Remarks: Although Banner is the clear market leader in Phoenix and in its Colorado markets, increased debt and balance sheet stress led to outlook revision from stable.

—Philip Betbeze