HCA (NYSE: HCA) today announced modification of its policies to provide
a discount to uninsured patients who do not qualify for Medicaid or
charity care. These discounts are similar to those provided to many
local managed care plans.
Guidance issued Dec. 29, 2004 by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid
Services (CMS) has enabled hospitals to provide discounts to any
uninsured patient without putting the hospital's Medicare payments at
risk. Based on this guidance, HCA has implemented the modifications to
its policies effective Jan. 1, 2005.
In addition to offering these discounts, HCA will continue efforts to
qualify patients for Medicaid and will provide charity care to patients
whose income is at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level.
"We have modified our policies based on CMS guidance and in response to
the growing problem of uninsured patients. There are now more than 45
million Americans without health insurance -- providing them some form
of discount is a step toward addressing this problem," noted Jack O.
Bovender, Jr. HCA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "While these
policy changes will help individual uninsured patients in many cases, it
will not solve the underlying issue of uninsured Americans. This country
needs a broad-based solution to this problem that will require
involvement from public and private sectors including government,
employers, the insurance industry and individuals."
In implementing the discount policy, hospitals will first attempt to
qualify uninsured patients for Medicaid, other federal or state
assistance or charity care. If an uninsured patient does not qualify for
these programs, the uninsured discount will be applied. Documentation
will be provided to patients regarding this policy and signs will be
placed in hospitals informing patients about the policy.
The company does not expect this change to materially impact earnings.
This press release contains forward-looking statements based on current
management expectations. Those forward-looking statements include all
statements regarding the implementation of the Company's charity care
and self-pay discounting policy changes and the impact of those policy
changes on the company's earnings and all statements other than those
made solely with respect to historical fact. Numerous risks,
uncertainties and other factors may cause actual results to differ
materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. Many
of the factors that will determine the Company's future results are
beyond the ability of the Company to control or predict. In light of the
significant uncertainties inherent in the forward- looking statements
contained herein, readers should not place undue reliance on
forward-looking statements, which reflect management's views only as of
the date hereof. The Company undertakes no obligation to revise or
update any forward-looking statements, or to make any other
forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise.
"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform
Act of 1995: Statements in this press release regarding HCA's business
which are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" that
involve risks and uncertainties. For a discussion of such risks and
uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those
contained in the forward-looking statements, see "Risk Factors" in the
Company's Annual Report or Form 10-K for the most recently ended fiscal
year.
Investors, Mark Kimbrough, +1-615-344-2688, or
Media, Jeff Prescott, +1-615-344-5708,
both of HCA