Fitch: U.S. For-Profit Hospitals' 2Q08 Performance Not Affected By Weak Economy

�The U.S. for-profit hospital industry recorded another strong performance during the second quarter, with minimal encroachment from the economic lag observed in the sector, according to a reputation by Fitch. In fact, providers reported continued favorable trends in volumes, pricing and regretful debt expense. Although volume growth moderated from the first quarter when the flu time of year was in full effect, the manufacture still recorded positive admissions growth. Community Health Systems, Inc., Tenet Healthcare Corp., and Universal Health Services, Inc. had particularly potent performances during the quarter.


In addition to friendly volumes, uninsured admissions and bad-debt expense have remained steady across the industriousness. Although reported bad-debt expense can be affected by accounting conventions, the figure of uninsured patients that are admitted to the hospital is a undecomposed indicator of the fundamental trends drive bad-debt expense and collections. During the second quarter, every provider except one reported that uninsured admissions either declined or grew more tardily than boilers suit volume increases during the quarter. It appears that the economic environment has not up to now resulted in a significant increase in uncompensated attention for the for-profit hospital industry. Although bad-debt expense has been steady, Fitch notes that there has been growing pressure on select Medicaid programs. However, overall reimbursement remains prosperous in the industry and continues to drive EBITDA growth among providers.


Although the for-profit hospital industriousness had overconfident results during the second quarter, Fitch believes the industry could face a more thought-provoking second half of 2008, especially if the saving continues to weaken. The impact of the economy on the for-profit hospital industry is discussed in more contingent in the special reputation, 'Fitch's For-Profit Hospital Industry Quarterly Diagnosis: Second Quarter 2008.' Fitch too discusses francis Scott Key trends in volumes, bad debt expense and pricing in the news report, which is available on the Fitch Ratings web site at http://www.fitchratings.com.


Fitch's rating definitions and the terms of habit of such ratings ar available on the agency's public situation, http://www.fitchratings.com. Published ratings, criteria and methodologies are available from this land site, at all times. Fitch's code of conduct, confidentiality, conflicts of interest, affiliate firewall, submission and other relevant policies and procedures are also available from the 'Code of Conduct' section of this site.

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Spears: My new album is "urban"

Britney Spears has revealed that her new album will have an "urban" sound.

Speaking to OK!, Spears claimed that her approaching record testament contain some of her "best act upon ever".

She aforementioned: "I think it is more urban. I'm writing every day, right here at the piano in this surviving room. This is my best work ever."

British R&B producer Taoi Cruz, world Health Organization is reportedly collaborating with Spears on her sixth studio album, earlier stated that the record will be "huge".

Spears's new LP is expected to be released in the next six to nine months.

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MCR - The Black Parade Is Dead! CD/DVD

The Black Parade Is Dead! Is the second live album by the�sceamo sensationalist�band My Chemical Romance.

�Frontman Gerard Way and drummer Matt Pelissier formed the band back in 2001 in a response to witnessing the September 11th Attacks and consequently resulted in the September 11 inspired �Skylines and Turnstiles�.

Since then the band has released 3 studio albums, aswell as DVD�s and EP�s including �Live and Rare� and most lately �The Black Parade is Dead�.

No Strangers to live recordings MCR released �Live and Rare� featuring 7 live tracks most of which look on �The Black Parade is Dead�

One might trace the band�s sound as hard core, alt john Rock and through their albums and concerts (resulting in 2 live recordings, including The Black Parade is Dead) the group has developed quite a divers and dedicated following.

This