S&P Global Ratings affirmed its "A+" long-term and underlying rating on St. Louis-based SSM Health. Concurrently, the outlook was revised to stable from negative.
The affirmation is a result of several factors, including the health system's strong market position, generally stable balance sheet and improved operating results.
"The revision to a stable outlook reflects SSM Health's increasingly predictable and steady year-to-date financial results, which have meaningfully outperformed the comparable period in fiscal 2017 and budget expectations," said S&P credit analyst Cynthia Keller.