Money Talk

Who's up and who's down

Up
Appalachian Regional Healthcare, Hazard, KY
Rating: BB-
Outlook: Stable
Affected debt: $71.5 million
Agency: Standard & Poor's
Remarks: Outlook revised from negative due to improved operating results following negative impact of two employee strikes.

Up
Moses Taylor Hospital, Scranton, PA
Rating: B-
Outlook: Stable
Affected debt: $33.7 million
Agency: Standard & Poor's
Remarks: Outlook revised from negative because of revenue initiatives and charge increases that should yield positive results.

Down
Catholic Health East, Newtown Square, PA
Rating: A1
Outlook: Negative
Affected debt: $1.2 billion
Agency: Moody's Investors Service
Remarks: Outlook revised from stable to reflect a downturn in financial performance in the 2008 fiscal year and a decline in liquidity.

Down
HealthEast Care System, St. Paul, MN
Rating: BB+; BB
Outlook: Stable
Affected debt: $300 million
Agency: Moody's Investors Service
Remarks: Outlook revised from positive because of modest operating stress on current-year financial operations.

—Philip Betbeze