Dive Brief:
- According to a report by HFA Partners, more acute care hospitals and health systems received a credit upgrade than those receiving a downgrade for the first time in more than six months.
- Three acute care hospitals received credit downgrades, including one Connecticut hospital which has been locked in a labor dispute for several months. Meanwhile, seven acute care hospitals and health systems were awarded credit upgrades the past month.
- Also, three hospitals and health systems and positive outlook changes, while six hospitals and health systems had negative outlook changes, Becker's Hospital Review reports.
Dive Insight:
If I were working at a hospital that got upgraded, I'd certainly be happy about it. But given the degree of change afoot in the healthcare industry, it would be foolhardy to rest on your laurels. Hospitals are going into a year which should prove as challenging as any in recent memory, and that includes falling admissions, EMR complexities, ICD-10 implementation, new reimbursement structures and more. This year should test the mettle of everyone in the hospital industry, regardless of where their credit rating sits.