Moody's Investors Service affirmed its "Baa3" rating on The MetroHealth System, which is based in Cleveland. The rating action affects about $1 billion of debt.
The affirmation is a result of MetroHealth's improved operating performance and growing liquidity metrics. In addition, Moody's favorably viewed the health system's ongoing construction project, which is on time and on budget. Offsetting those credit strengths is the health system's competitive market and unfavorable leverage metrics during the construction process.
The outlook is stable, reflecting Moody's expectation that the health system will meet its operating budget by executing effective cost reduction strategies.