NEW YORK (Standard&Poor's CreditWire) Sept. 10, 1999--Standard&Poor's today assigned its single-'A'-minus rating on Cuyahoga County, Ohio's--publicly owned health system--$56.875 million revenue bonds series 1999, issued for Metrohealth System. The rating reflects: -- A unique role as a sizable primary and tertiary provider providing essential safety net services through a comprehensive integrated delivery system, including fully salaried physician staff and high levels of service to the county's medically indigent population; -- A strong balance sheet highlighted by ample liquidity; -- A long history of county support through annual appropriations from both the county's general fund and proceeds of voted tax levies for health and human services; and -- A strong management team, which fully integrates senior physicians,
