News Details

HCA to Provide Discounts to Uninsured Patients

January 6, 2005

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