Standard&Poor's Ratings services assigned its 'A' long-term rating, with a stable outlook, to Washington Health Care Facilities Authority's series 2001B and 2002 bonds, issued on behalf of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (FHCRC). The bonds were originally issued as Ambac-insured selection auction variable-rate securities. They are on parity with the center's other debt and are expected to be refunded to fixed-rate debt in the near future. For additional information on the center, please see the article, "Washington Health Care Facilities Authority; Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center; Non-Profit Organizations," published Oct. 2, 2008, on RatingsDirect. The stable outlook reflects our expectation of FHCRC's continued strong operational performance, growth in endowment and financial resources, maintenance of grant/contract funding, and
