NEW YORK (Standard&Poor's) May 22, 2002--Standard&Poor's said today it assigned its double-'A'-plus rating to Utah County, Utah's $32 million in hospital refunding revenue bonds, series 2002A, issued for IHC Health Services Inc. Standard&Poor's also said it affirmed its double-'A'-plus and 'A-1'-plus ratings and its double-'A'-plus Standard&Poor's underlying rating (SPUR) on the outstanding debt issued for IHC. The ratings reflect (1) the excellent, stable, and deep management team's proven ability to build on the system's strengths and prudently shepherd the system's resources; (2) an impressive market position, with dominance of a large, economically robust area in Utah; (3) a longstanding history of healthy and improving operating profitability, which has always met or exceeded
