8-KRegulation FDExhibits & Filings

HCA Healthcare, Inc. 8-K Report, Regulation FD Disclosure (Nov 8, 2011)

Filed November 8, 2011For Securities:HCA

Summary

HCA Holdings, Inc. (HCA) filed an 8-K on November 8, 2011, to announce a significant change in its accounting treatment for HITECH incentive payments related to the meaningful use of certified electronic health record technology. This revision directly impacts the company's financial guidance for the full year 2011, necessitating an update to previously issued projections. The company also scheduled a conference call for November 8, 2011, to provide further details and discuss the implications of this accounting change and revised guidance with investors.

Key Highlights

  • 1HCA Holdings, Inc. revised its accounting treatment for HITECH incentive payments.
  • 2The change pertains to the recognition of payments for meaningful use of electronic health record (EHR) technology.
  • 3The company is revising its full-year 2011 financial guidance as a result of this accounting change.
  • 4A press release dated November 8, 2011, was issued to announce these developments.
  • 5HCA scheduled a conference call on November 8, 2011, to discuss the accounting change and revised guidance.
  • 6The filing incorporates the press release as Exhibit 99.1.

Frequently Asked Questions

The 8-K filing is primarily to announce a change in HCA's accounting treatment for HITECH incentive payments related to electronic health record (EHR) technology and a subsequent revision to the company's full-year 2011 financial guidance.

HITECH incentive payments are part of the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act, which provides financial incentives to healthcare providers who adopt and demonstrate the 'meaningful use' of certified EHR technology.

The revision to the accounting treatment for these incentive payments has led HCA to revise its financial guidance for the full year 2011. The specific details of this revision would have been discussed on the November 8, 2011 conference call.

More details are available in the press release dated November 8, 2011, which is included as Exhibit 99.1 in this 8-K filing. The company also hosted a conference call on the same day to discuss these matters further.