S&P Global Ratings has raised its rating to "A" from "A-" on Keene, N.H.-based Cheshire Medical Center's series 2012 revenue bonds.
CMC is a member of Lebanon, N.H.-based Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health.
"The higher rating is based on our view that CMC is core to the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health group credit profile, given CMC's entree into the Dartmouth-Hitchcock obligated group effective July 1, 2016," said S&P analyst Jennifer Soule.
The outlook is stable, reflecting S&P's view of Dartmouth-Hitchcock's enterprise strengths and the expectation that its financial performance will improve well into fiscal year 2017.