Moody's Investors Service affirmed its "A2" rating on Portsmouth-based Southern Ohio Medical Center's series 2016 bonds.
The affirmation is a result of several factors, including the medical center's favorable balance sheet, historically healthy operating performance, limited debt structure risk and dominant market position. Moody's also acknowledged SOMC's modest size and unfavorable payer mix.
The outlook was revised to negative from stable, reflecting SOMC's weaker profitability through fiscal year 2017 and Moody's expectation that the operating performance will remain constrained.