News Details

HCA and LifePoint Negotiating Modification of Purchase Agreement

April 3, 2006

HCA (NYSE: HCA) announced today that HCA and LifePoint Hospitals, Inc. have entered into discussions to modify a purchase agreement under which LifePoint would have acquired four hospitals in West Virginia and one in Virginia from HCA on March 31, 2006.

HCA will continue to operate the hospitals until further notice.

This press release contains forward-looking statements based on current management expectations. Those forward-looking statements include all statements other than those made solely with respect to historical fact, including those relating to the modification of the purchase agreement. Numerous risks, uncertainties and other factors may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to (i) the outcome of the negotiations between HCA and LifePoint, (ii) the eventual successful divestiture of the hospitals, (iii) the anticipated impact of the divestitures on HCA's financial statements and results of operations, and (iv) other risk factors detailed in the Company's filings with the SEC. Many of the factors that will determine the Company's future results are beyond the ability of the Company to control or predict. 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.

All references to "Company" and "HCA" as used throughout this document refer to HCA Inc. and its affiliates.

"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