OREANDA-NEWS. Fitch Ratings maintains its Rating Watch Negative on the following revenue bonds issued by the New Mexico Hospital Equipment Loan Council on behalf of Rehoboth McKinley Christian Health Care Services, Inc. (Rehoboth), which are currently rated 'B'.

--$5.6 million hospital facility improvement and refunding revenue bonds, series 2007A.

SECURITY
The bonds are secured by a pledge of revenues and equipment and a debt service reserve fund.

KEY RATING DRIVERS

OUTSTANDING EVENT OF DEFAULT: Maintenance of the Rating Watch Negative reflects the lack of resolution to Rehoboth's violation of its rate covenant in fiscal 2014, which triggered an Event of Default under the Master Trust Indenture. Management, through the Trustee, is working to secure a Forbearance Agreement with bondholders. At this time, Rehoboth is current with all loan and lease payments and has not drawn on the debt service reserve fund.

IMPROVED 2015 RESULTS: Twelve month unaudited results for the year ended Dec. 31, 2015, shows much stronger operating performance and profitability. Excluding approximately $2.5 million of tax revenues that are not available for debt service, RRMCHS generated a 1.3% operating margin and a 5.7% operating EBITDA margin. Debt service coverage by EBITDA through the interim period is a solid 3.7x.

SMALL REVENUE BASE: Fitch believes RMCHS's small revenue base remains a key credit concern as the hospital has limited flexibility to handle adverse events.

RATING SENSITIVITIES

EXECUTION OF A FOREBEARANCE AGREEMENT: The maintenance of the Negative Watch reflects the uncertainty surrounding successful negotiation by Rehoboth McKinley Christian Health System of a forbearance agreement with its bondholders. While the improved interim results would indicate a favorable outcome with no acceleration of the outstanding debt, future rating action, including the removal from Rating Watch, is contingent on negotiations between Rehoboth and bondholders.

CREDIT PROFILE
Rehoboth McKinley Health Care Services, Inc. is a 69-bed general acute care hospital located in Gallup, NM (138 miles west of Albuquerque, NM and 180 miles east of Flagstaff, AZ). Total operating revenue in fiscal 2014 was $48.2 million.

DISCLOSURE
Rehoboth covenants to provide annual financial statements within 30 days after the approval of the report by the state auditor, which has usually resulted in fairly late receipt of audits. Rehoboth has also been posting monthly financial statements on EMMA.