HCA Reports First Quarter 2009 Results(first quarter of 2009 include losses on ...),Health

"We are pleased with the results of our first quarter. We believe these results reflect effective cost management, focused growth strategies, and a continued emphasis on our outcomes-driven patient care initiatives," said Richard M. Bracken, HCA's president and chief executive officer.

The provision for doubtful accounts decreased to $807 million, or 10.9 percent of revenues, in the first quarter of 2009 from $888 million, or 12.5 percent of revenues, in the first quarter of 2008, primarily due to a small decline in uninsured admissions and increased levels of charity care and uninsured discounts which reduces the Company's reported revenues. Same facility uninsured admissions declined 0.1 percent in the first quarter of 2009 compared to the prior year's first quarter. Same facility charity care and uninsured discounts totaled $1.082 billion in the first quarter of 2009 compared to $780 million in the first quarter of 2008.

During the first quarter of 2009, salaries and benefits, supply expense and other operating expenses totaled $5.235 billion compared to $5.126 billion in the first quarter of 2008, a decline of 1.4 percent, as a percent of revenues.

Interest expense decreased to $471 million in the first quarter of 2009, compared to $530 million in the same period of 2008, due primarily to a reduction in the average interest rate on our outstanding debt.

Same facility admissions declined 0.9 percent and same facility equivalent admissions increased 1.9 percent in the first quarter of 2009 compared to the prior year's first quarter. Same facility inpatient surgeries declined 0.5 percent and outpatient surgeries declined 0.7 percent in the first q
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