SYSTEM WILL HAVE A TOTAL OF $383 MILLION OF RATED DEBT OUTSTANDING
New York, October 25, 2011 -- Moody's Rating
Issue: Revenue bonds, Series 2011; Rating: A3;
Sale Amount: $188,850,000; Expected Sale
Date: 11/01/01; Rating Description: Revenue
Issue: Revenue bonds, Series 2011; Rating: A3;
Sale Amount: $62,410,000; Expected Sale
Date: 11/01/01; Rating Description: Revenue
Opinion
Moody's Investors Service has assigned an A3 rating to Catholic Health
Services of Long Island's ("CHS") $188.6 million of Series
2011 fixed rate bonds to be issued by Suffolk County Economic Development
Corporation and $62.4 million of Series 2011 fixed rate
bonds to be issued by Nassau County Local Economic Assistance and Financing
Corporation. The rating outlook remains stable. At this
time we are affirming the A3 rating assigned to CHS's outstanding bonds
(see RATED DEBT list below).
CHS is a large, multi-hospital system located in Nassau and
Suffolk Counties. The system is composed of six acute care hospitals
and numerous ancillary and long-term care operations.
SUMMARY RATING RATIONALE
The A3 rating and stable outlook reflect CHS's large size and scale ($1.99
billion in revenues with six acute care hospitals in FY 2010) providing
broad geographic coverage and depth of services in Long Island,
NY. The rating also reflects the organization's improving financial
performance, increased liquidity position and expectations of greater
debt service coverage following the upcoming refinancing. These
attributes are offset by the competitive Long Island market with the presence
of another sizable system serving largely the same service area;
an increase in leverage this November with a $90 million DASNY
TELP borrowing as well as plans to borrow a total of approximately $350
million in FY 2013 and FY 2014 to fund a new patient tower at Good Samaritan
and various capital needs at St. Catherine. Capital expenditures
through FY 2016 represent a material increase in spending compared to
the past five years, requiring CHS to maintain the recent improvement
in financial performance to fund the projects and absorb the upcoming
increase in leverage.
STRENGTHS
*Large size and scale for this $1.99 billion system
comprised of six acute care hospitals and numerous ancillary and long-term
care facilities located in Nassau and Suffolk Counties
*Continued improvement in financial performance with 3.9%
operating margin and 9.0% operating cash flow margin reported
in fiscal year (FY) 2010, up from 2.8% and 8.0%,
respectively, in FY 2009
*Growth in liquidity to $707 million (142 days cash on hand)
at the end of FY 2010, up from $636 million (138 days) at
the end of FY 2009.
*Nearly all fixed rate debt structure with no demand debt; material
smoothing of maximum annual debt service (MADS) payments for a more level
amortization scheduled is viewed favorably as MADS declines to $49.6
million from $74.9 million, including $90 million
of TELP financing.
*Stable number two inpatient market share holding at 22-23%,
behind market leader at 33% and ahead of number three provider
at 13%; CHS enjoys favorable commercial rate increases,
partially resulting from membership in the Long Island Health Network
(combined market share is 47%)
*Good demographics and payer mix in Nassau and Suffolk Counties,
NY; Medicaid is below average at 8% of gross patient revenues,
although increasing in recent years
CHALLENGES
*Expectations of increased capital spending through FY 2016 ($994
million in total), expected to be partially funded with a planned
but not finalized material debt issuance in FY 2013 and FY 2014 (combined
amount of $350 million) mainly for a new patient tower at Good
Samaritan Hospital, the largest provider in the system as measured
by revenue and volumes
*Beginning stages of large information technology installation throughout
the system, to be completed in FY 2014, with estimated cost
of $144 million
*Some dependency on St. Francis still remains given its historically
strong financial performance; efforts are continuing to defray the
reliance on cardiology at St. Francis with increased orthopedic
services recently added
*Presence of a larger healthcare system serving the same Long Island
market with each CHS facility operating in competitive local markets
*Transition period for senior leadership as CHS is currently involved
in an executive search for a new system CEO
Outlook
The stable outlook reflects the improved financial performance in FY 2010
and our belief that near term performance should continue to show improvement,
allowing management to fund an increased capital plan over the next six
years. The debt refinancing will lower the MADS level, also
contributing to better debt service coverage going forward.
WHAT WOULD MAKE THE RATING GO UP
Continued improved financial performance; maintenance of market share;
growth in liquidity; ability to absorb future debt in FY 2013 and
FY 2014
WHAT COULD MAKE THE RATING GO DOWN
Departure from current financial performance and liquidity; material
decline in market share
The principal methodology used in this rating Not-for-Profit
Hospitals and Health Systems published in January 2008. Please
see the Credit Policy page on www.moodys.com for a copy
of this methodology.
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this announcement provides relevant regulatory disclosures in relation
to the provisional rating assigned, and in relation to a definitive
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Lisa Goldstein
Senior Vice President
Public Finance Group
Moody's Investors Service, Inc.
250 Greenwich Street
New York, NY 10007
U.S.A.
JOURNALISTS: 212-553-0376
SUBSCRIBERS: 212-553-1653
Beth I. Wexler
VP - Senior Credit Officer
Public Finance Group
JOURNALISTS: 212-553-0376
SUBSCRIBERS: 212-553-1653
Releasing Office:
Moody's Investors Service, Inc.
250 Greenwich Street
New York, NY 10007
U.S.A.
JOURNALISTS: 212-553-0376
SUBSCRIBERS: 212-553-1653
MOODY'S ASSIGNS A3 RATING TO CATHOLIC HEALTH SERVICES OF LONG ISLAND'S (NY) SERIES 2011 BONDS ($250.9 MILLION IN TOTAL); OUTLOOK REMAINS STABLE