When one major ratings agency last week released data that found rosier 2009 finances among not-for-profit stand-alone hospitals or single-state systems, analysts did not hesitate to reiterate their concerns for the sector:
“Looking forward, future margins will be pressured by continued low governmental, commercial and managed-care rate increases, rising uncompensated care that will hamper revenue growth, a rise in wage levels to retain personnel, and increased pension expense due to the recently increased number of underfunded defined-benefit plans,” according to Moody's Investors Service.
Read more at Melanie Evans' Of Interest blog. »
