Standard&Poor's Ratings Services has affirmed its 'AA+' long-term ratings and 'AA+/A-1+' dual ratings on various issuers' revenue bonds, issued for IHC Health Services Inc., Utah, the obligated group of Intermountain Health Care (Intermountain). The outlook is stable. The 'AA+' ratings reflect our opinion of Intermountain's strong business position in economically robust Utah, consistently strong financial performance, considerable financial flexibility especially in its rates, and a balance sheet that we believe is sound but not stellar for the rating. Intermountain continued to perform extraordinarily well on operations in 2010 and in the first quarter of 2011, generating strong operating cash flow, with more flowing to balance sheet accretion than in the recent past because capital spending has been slower
