Moody's Investors Service has downgraded the ratings of Premier Health Partners and Miami Valley Hospital, both based in Dayton, Ohio, from "A3" to "Baa1," affecting $623 million of rated debt.
The downgrades reflect Moody's concern that Premier Health Partners, which owns Miami Valley Hospital, will face greater uncertainty from declining volume trends and weak operating performance in 2017 and 2018.
Operating challenges for the system will include the July 2018 closure of Good Samaritan Hospital and its eight-month exclusion from UnitedHealth's network in 2017.
The rating outlook remains negative.