NY -- Standard&Poor's CreditWire 3/9/98 – Standard&Poor's today affirmed its triple-`B'-plus rating on California Health Facility Finance Authority's $101.97 million revenue bonds, issued for The Hospital of the Good Samaritan. The outlook remains negative. The rating reflects: -- Significant progress towards operating profitability, -- Strong liquidity, -- Recent stabilization of the management team after several years of turnover, -- Growing business volumes, and -- A good reputation in tertiary care and medical research. Offsetting rating factors include a very competitive service area in the heart of the Los Angeles market, a considerable residual need for operational improvement despite good progress made in 1997, and a restrictive payor mix with 52% from governmental payors and 45% managed
