Mountain States Health Alliance to have a total of $1.07 billion of rated debt outstanding
New York, August 15, 2012 -- Moody's Rating
Issue: Fixed Rate Bonds, Series 2012A; Rating:
Baa1; Sale Amount: $54,920,000; Expected
Sale Date: 8/28/12; Rating Description: Revenue:
Government Enterprise
Opinion
Moody's Investors Service has assigned a Baa1 unenhanced rating to Mountain
States Health Alliance's (MSHA) $54.9 million of Series
2012A fixed rate revenue bonds to be issued by The Health and Educational
Facilities Board of the City of Johnson City, TN The outlook remains
stable.
SUMMARY RATING RATIONALE
Leading market share for this multi-hospital system offering a
wide-array of high-end services is a key credit strength.
MSHA continues a long history of double digit operating cash flow margins
with a good cash balance that remains over 200 days despite decline in
market values at the end of calendar year 2011. Major capital spending
is nearly complete, enabling future growth in liquidity.
These strengths are tempered by a high debt load in comparison to the
rest of our portfolio, generating weak debt measures. One
other multi-facility health system provides competitive pressures.
STRENGTHS
*Multi-hospital system with strong and growing leading market
share in a large geographic region where the flagship facility serves
as a regional referral center offering a wide array of high-end
services for hospitals in Tennessee and Virginia
*Multi-year growth in volumes with acquisitions
*Strong and stable operating cash flow margins in the 11.4%
to16.7% range in each of the past thirteen audit years and
unaudited fiscal year (FY) 2012, with volume increases contributing
to cash flow growth; projected operating cash flow margins remain
in the double digits
*Good liquidity position with 212 days cash on hand at fiscal yearend
(FYE) 2012 (June 30)
*Tenured management team
CHALLENGES
*Very high debt burden evidenced by high 115% debt-to-operating
revenue, low 46% cash-to-debt ratio,
high 9.2 times debt-to-cash flow ratio, and
moderate Moody's-adjusted maximum annual debt service coverage
of 2.20 times in FY 2012 as compared with Moody's Baa1 medians
of 41.2%, 83.4%, 4.8 times
and 3.5 times, respectively
*Sizable and consistent competition from Wellmont Health System,
which holds a close but lesser market share (38% vs. 30%)
in the extended 29-county service area and a significantly smaller
market share (53% versus 37%) in MSHA's 13-county
core service area (market share on 2011 data and provided by management)
*High 22.6% TennCare/Medicaid and self-pay load
Outlook
The stable outlook reflects our belief that MSHA will continue to generate
strong and stable operating cash flow margins to support its high debt
load. We believe liquidity will improve barring any major negative
fair market value adjustments.
WHAT COULD MOVE THE RATING UP
Continued growth in operating cash flow to support the high debt load;
material improvement in debt measures; regrowth of liquidity;
increased diversification of cash flow
WHAT COULD MOVE THE RATING DOWN
Increase in debt load without commensurate increase in cash flow;
notable loss in market share; trend of decline in operating cash
flow; material decline or loss of supplemental payments for servicing
the Medicaid and indigent populations
PRINCIPAL METHODOLOGY USED
The principal methodology used in this rating was Not-For-Profit
Healthcare Rating Methodology published in March 2012. Please see
the Credit Policy page on www.moodys.com for a copy of this
methodology.
REGULATORY DISCLOSURES
The Global Scale Credit Ratings on this press release that are issued
by one of Moody's affiliates outside the EU are endorsed by Moody's
Investors Service Ltd., One Canada Square, Canary Wharf,
London E 14 5FA, UK, in accordance with Art.4 paragraph
3 of the Regulation (EC) No 1060/2009 on Credit Rating Agencies.
Further information on the EU endorsement status and on the Moody's
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Kay Sifferman
VP - Senior Credit Officer
Public Finance Group
Moody's Investors Service, Inc.
600 North Pearl Street, Suite 2165
Dallas, TX 75201
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Lisa Martin
Senior Vice President
Public Finance Group
JOURNALISTS: 212-553-0376
SUBSCRIBERS: 212-553-1653
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Moody's assigns Baa1 rating to Mountain States Health Alliance's (TN) $54.9 million of Series 2012A fixed rate revenue bonds; outlook remains stable