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Home News and Events UMass Memorial Health Care Refinancing Saves $6 Million
UMass Memorial Health Care Refinancing Saves $6 Million

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 15, 2010
CONTACT: Laura Schroeder
MS&L Public Relations
617-369-8784
laura.schroeder@mslworldwide.com

Worcester, MA - UMass Memorial Health Care completed a $60.5 million tax-exempt bond issue through the Massachusetts Health and Education Facilities Authority (HEFA), to refinance nearly $60 million of UMass Memorial Health Care's existing debt. The refinancing will lead to approximately $6 million in savings for the hospital system, or 9.7 percent.

"As a leading nonprofit health care provider in Massachusetts, we understand how important these savings are to UMass Memorial in helping them reinvest these savings back into their health care mission," said Benson T. Caswell, HEFA executive director. "We are pleased to give UMass Memorial Health Care the opportunity to save by refinancing two bonds originally issued in 1992 and 1993."

The refinanced bonds were originally issued in the early 1990's, and helped build the Memorial Campus at UMass Memorial. Additional funds were issued to HealthAlliance Hospital, then Central New England Health Alliance.

"At UMass Memorial Health Care, we are trying to control the cost of healthcare in every possible way that we can," said John G. O'Brien, president and CEO at UMass Memorial Health Care. "This refinancing is a testament to the hard work and unwavering commitment to improving the health of our community we all share at UMass Memorial Health Care."

"By working with HEFA to refinance outstanding bonds, we now have the opportunity to use this savings to help reduce the cost of healthcare and to combat the medical inflation in cost structures," said Todd Keating, senior vice president and chief financial officer at UMass Memorial Health Care.

The money HEFA saves its nonprofit partners allows them to reinvest in their facilities, expand important services and employ more citizens of Massachusetts. Last year alone, HEFA financed 63 projects for hospitals, colleges and other nonprofit institutions across the state that totaled more than $3.2 billion and saved them more than $600 million in debt service cost.

UMass Memorial Healthcare is the largest health care system in central and western Massachusetts, and is the clinical partner of University of Massachusetts Medical School. This nonprofit system includes a complete health care continuum, with a multi-campus academic medical center, member and affiliated community hospitals, community-based physician practices, ambulatory clinics, home health agencies, hospice programs and rehabilitation and behavior health services. Hospital members include Clinton Hospital, Marlborough Hospital, HealthAlliance Hospital and Wing Memorial Hospital.

"UMass Memorial Health Care provides world class health care to the people of Worcester and is an essential part of the community," said Senator Harriette Chandler (D-Worcester). "Thanks to HEFA, the considerable savings realized by this financing can be focused on renewing additional community programs and the funds will go a long way in improving UMass Memorial Health Care's infrastructure."

"HEFA is providing UMass Memorial Health Care with the necessary savings to help them continue serving the people of Worcester with the highest level of health care possible," said Representative Vincent Pedone (D-Worcester). "I am delighted HEFA has provided UMass Memorial Health Care with this refinancing to help them continue to go the extra mile and maintain their commitment to the community and the region."

UMass Memorial Health Care is Central Massachusetts' largest not-for-profit health care delivery system, covering the complete health care continuum with UMass Memorial Medical Center, its academic medical center, member and affiliated community hospitals, freestanding primary care practices, ambulatory outpatient clinics, home health agencies, hospice programs, a rehabilitation group and mental heath services. UMass Memorial is the clinical partner of the University of Massachusetts Medical School. Visit www.umassmemorial.org or follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/umassmemorial for additional information.

HEFA is fully self-funded, receiving no taxpayer dollars. HEFA provides funding for hospitals, colleges and universities, cultural institutions, research centers and human service providers. In the last  five years, HEFA provided more than $12 billion in low-cost financing to Massachusetts nonprofits, saving them more than $2.5 billion in debt service costs-savings which go back into their operating budgets to help them further their missions and enrich the lives of everyone in the Commonwealth.

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