NEW YORK (Standard&Poor's) Feb. 5, 2013--Standard&Poor's Ratings Services lowered its long-term rating and underlying rating (SPUR) to 'A-' from 'A' on various series of the Maryland Health&Higher Educational Facilities Authority 's health care revenue bonds, issued for University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) At the same time, Standard&Poor's assigned it 'A-' long-term rating to the authority's $240.765 million series 2013A and $19.45 million series 2013B tax-exempt fixed-rate bonds and $93.94 million series 2013C taxable fixed-rate bonds, issued for UMMS. Standard&Poor's also affirmed the 'AAA/A-1+' rating on the authority's series 2008D and 2008E variable-rate bonds issued for UMMS. "The lower rating reflects our view of UMMS' weaker pro forma financial metrics
