University of Iowa Health Care leaders announced today they have received notification that two national bond rating agencies have favorably affirmed the bond ratings of Iowa’s only comprehensive academic medical center.

UI Health Care received an AA/stable rating from Standard & Poor's and an Aa2 (the equivalent rating) from Moody's. The firms said that the financial outlook for UI Health Care remains stable and pointed to the enterprise's steady growth over the past decade as a key factor in the ratings.

UI Health Care leaders sought an updated rating in advance of a planned issuance of $190 million in new debt for the construction of the new University of Iowa Children's Hospital. Continuing to have a high ratings means that the interest rate the hospital will pay on the debt will be lower, which will contribute to the enterprise's continued strong financial performance.