...Rating Outlook Stable: Fitch Ratings is maintaining its stable rating outlook for the sector, as we expect the vast majority of rating actions and outlooks in 2016 to be affirmations and stable, respectively. The sector's improving liquidity and leverage positions provide a solid financial cushion to absorb potential operating volatility, thereby allowing for relative stability in overall 2016 rating actions. Sector Outlook Negative: Fitch is maintaining a negative sector outlook reflecting our longer-term view that the sector will be increasingly challenged by growing consumerism, meager rate increases and a shifting of risk from payors (particularly Medicare) to providers through the expansion of value- based/risk-based contracting. The slower than anticipated impacts of ACA have not diminished sector risks, only deferred them. We believe these effects will remain limited beyond 2016, these impacts have not been diminished over the longer term. Sustained Performance Expected in 2016:...
