Standard&Poor's Ratings Services assigned its 'AA-' long-term rating to the $650 million series 2005 A and B subordinated revenue bonds issued on behalf of Ascension Health by Indiana Health Facility Financing Authority, Michigan State Hospital Finance Authority, and the Alabama Special Care Facilities Financing Authority of Birmingham. In addition, Standard&Poor's affirmed its 'AA' long-term rating and its 'AA' underlying rating (SPUR) on the outstanding health facility revenue bonds issued by a variety of issuers on behalf of Ascension Health. Standard&Poor's also affirmed its 'A-1+' CP rating on Ascension Health's CP program and its 'A-1+' short-term rating on the system's various variable-rate demand bonds (VRDBs). The outlook is stable. The new series 2005 A and
