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UNIVERSAL HEALTH SERVICES INC - Quarter Report: 2008 September (Form 10-Q)

Universal Health Services Inc--Form 10-Q
Table of Contents

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 10-Q

 

 

(MARK ONE)

x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2008

OR

 

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from              to             

Commission file number 1-10765

 

 

UNIVERSAL HEALTH SERVICES, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

DELAWARE   23-2077891

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

UNIVERSAL CORPORATE CENTER

367 SOUTH GULPH ROAD

KING OF PRUSSIA, PENNSYLVANIA 19406

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code (610) 768-3300

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer   x   Accelerated filer   ¨
Non-accelerated filer   ¨   Smaller reporting company   ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).  Yes  ¨    No  x

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date. Common shares outstanding, as of October 31, 2008:

 

Class A

   3,328,404

Class B

   46,974,725

Class C

   335,800

Class D

   22,269

 

 

 


Table of Contents

UNIVERSAL HEALTH SERVICES, INC.

INDEX

 

    PAGE NO.

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Financial Statements

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income – Three and Nine  Months Ended September 30, 2008 and 2007

  3

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets – September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007

  4

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows – Nine Months Ended September 30, 2008 and 2007

  5

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

  6

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition

  15

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

  29

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

  30

PART II. Other Information

 

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

  30

Item 1A. Risk Factors

  31

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

  31

Item 6. Exhibits

  32

Signatures

  33

EXHIBIT INDEX

  34

 

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PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

UNIVERSAL HEALTH SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(amounts in thousands, except per share amounts)

(unaudited)

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30,
    Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
     2008     2007     2008    2007  

Net revenues

   $ 1,244,462     $ 1,163,605     $ 3,785,015    $ 3,505,813  

Operating charges:

         

Salaries, wages and benefits

     530,858       502,361       1,600,514      1,494,553  

Other operating expenses

     269,299       261,637       777,257      737,240  

Supplies expense

     170,743       160,190       524,246      499,930  

Provision for doubtful accounts

     125,003       108,639       365,446      308,363  

Depreciation and amortization

     48,465       45,898       142,544      133,343  

Lease and rental expense

     17,600       17,838       53,021      50,405  

Hurricane related expenses

     —         82       —        707  
                               
     1,161,968       1,096,645       3,463,028      3,224,541  
                               

Income before interest expense, minority interests and income taxes

     82,494       66,960       321,987      281,272  

Interest expense, net

     13,419       12,881       40,147      38,643  

Minority interests in earnings of consolidated entities

     9,316       9,784       34,022      32,651  
                               

Income before income taxes

     59,759       44,295       247,818      209,978  

Provision for income taxes

     22,536       14,961       95,352      79,177  
                               

Income from continuing operations

     37,223       29,334       152,466      130,801  

(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes

     (226 )     (480 )     434      (368 )
                               

Net income

   $ 36,997     $ 28,854     $ 152,900    $ 130,433  
                               

Basic earnings per share:

         

From continuing operations

   $ 0.73     $ 0.55     $ 3.00    $ 2.45  

From discontinued operations

     —         (0.01 )     0.01      (0.01 )
                               

Total basic earnings per share

   $ 0.73     $ 0.54     $ 3.01    $ 2.44  
                               

Diluted earnings per share:

         

From continuing operations

   $ 0.73     $ 0.55     $ 2.99    $ 2.44  

From discontinued operations

     —         (0.01 )     0.01      (0.01 )
                               

Total diluted earnings per share

   $ 0.73     $ 0.54     $ 3.00    $ 2.43  
                               

Weighted average number of common shares – basic

     50,544       53,481       50,812      53,491  

Other share equivalents

     217       148       157      190  
                               

Weighted average number of common shares and equivalents – diluted

     50,761       53,629       50,969      53,681  
                               

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

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UNIVERSAL HEALTH SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(amounts in thousands, unaudited)

 

     September 30,
2008
    December 31,
2007
 

Assets

    

Current assets:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 7,805     $ 16,354  

Accounts receivable, net

     628,973       627,186  

Supplies

     72,636       72,399  

Other current assets

     25,300       35,755  

Deferred income taxes

     32,215       23,153  

Current assets held for sale

     10,871       —    
                

Total current assets

     777,800       774,847  
                

Property and equipment

     3,229,735       3,046,331  

Less: accumulated depreciation

     (1,214,445 )     (1,112,415 )
                
     2,015,290       1,933,916  
                

Other assets:

    

Goodwill

     749,839       750,395  

Deferred charges

     9,578       8,257  

Other

     115,242       141,242  

Other noncurrent assets held for sale

     30,587       —    
                
   $ 3,698,336     $ 3,608,657  
                

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

    

Current liabilities:

    

Current maturities of long-term debt

   $ 8,260     $ 3,116  

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

     553,762       484,595  

Current liabilities held for sale

     4,221       —    
                

Total current liabilities

     566,243       487,711  
                

Other noncurrent liabilities

     362,421       344,755  

Minority interests

     232,555       210,184  

Long-term debt

     935,461       1,008,786  

Deferred income taxes

     35,342       40,022  

Commitments and contingencies

    

Common stockholders’ equity

     1,566,314       1,517,199  
                
   $ 3,698,336     $ 3,608,657  
                

See accompanying notes to these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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UNIVERSAL HEALTH SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(amounts in thousands, unaudited)

 

     Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
     2008     2007  

Cash Flows from Operating Activities:

    

Net income

   $ 152,900     $ 130,433  

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

    

Depreciation & amortization

     144,711       135,417  

Changes in assets & liabilities, net of effects from acquisitions and dispositions:

    

Accounts receivable

     (9,470 )     (17,359 )

Accrued interest

     11,290       9,055  

Accrued and deferred income taxes

     (3,418 )     (6,374 )

Other working capital accounts

     35,941       47,558  

Other assets and deferred charges

     16,317       37  

Other

     12,347       2,723  

Minority interest in earnings of consolidated entities, net of distributions

     15,209       9,041  

Accrued insurance expense, net of commercial premiums paid

     58,127       45,275  

Payments made in settlement of self-insurance claims

     (38,011 )     (33,025 )
                

Net cash provided by operating activities

     395,943       322,781  
                

Cash Flows from Investing Activities:

    

Property and equipment additions, net of disposals

     (239,880 )     (263,366 )

Proceeds received from sales of assets

     32,634       5,268  

Settlement proceeds received related to prior year acquisition, net of expenses

     1,539       —    

Investment in joint-venture

     (1,270 )     —    

Acquisition of assets and businesses

     (14,775 )     (103,159 )

Purchase of minority ownership interest in majority owned business

     (1,058 )     (14,762 )
                

Net cash used in investing activities

     (222,810 )     (376,019 )
                

Cash Flows from Financing Activities:

    

Additional borrowings, net of financing costs

     150,155       169,852  

Reduction of long-term debt

     (219,311 )     (103,846 )

Issuance of common stock

     1,751       1,041  

Repurchase of common shares

     (104,436 )     (14,386 )

Dividends paid

     (12,147 )     (12,917 )

Capital contributions from minority member

     2,306       12,129  
                

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities

     (181,682 )     51,873  
                

Decrease in cash and cash equivalents

     (8,549 )     (1,365 )

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

     16,354       14,939  
                

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

   $ 7,805     $ 13,574  
                

Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information:

    

Interest paid

   $ 34,198     $ 35,991  
                

Income taxes paid, net of refunds

   $ 97,907     $ 83,894  
                

See accompanying notes to these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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UNIVERSAL HEALTH SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(1) General

This Report on Form 10-Q is for the Quarterly period ended September 30, 2008. In this Quarterly Report, “we,” “us,” “our” and the “Company” refer to Universal Health Services, Inc. and its subsidiaries.

You should carefully review the information contained in this Quarterly Report, and should particularly consider any risk factors that we set forth in this Quarterly Report and in other reports or documents that we file from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). In this Quarterly Report, we state our beliefs of future events and of our future financial performance. In some cases, you can identify those so-called “forward-looking statements” by words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expects,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “potential,” or “continue” or the negative of those words and other comparable words. You should be aware that those statements are only our predictions. Actual events or results may differ materially. In evaluating those statements, you should specifically consider various factors, including the risks related to healthcare industry trends and those detailed in our filings with the SEC including those set forth in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007 in Item 1A-Risk Factors and in Item 7 Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Operations and Financial Condition – Forward Looking Statements and Risk Factors. Those factors may cause our actual results to differ materially from any of our forward-looking statements.

The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of our majority-owned subsidiaries and partnerships and limited liability companies controlled by us, or our subsidiaries, as managing general partner or managing member. The condensed consolidated financial statements included herein have been prepared by us, without audit, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC and reflect all normal and recurring adjustments which, in our opinion, are necessary to fairly present results for the interim periods. The balance sheet at December 31, 2007 has been derived from the audited financial statements. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations, although we believe that the accompanying disclosures are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. It is suggested that these condensed consolidated financial statements be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements, significant accounting policies and the notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.

(2) Relationship with Universal Health Realty Income Trust and Related Party Transactions

Relationship with Universal Health Realty Income Trust:

At September 30, 2008, we held approximately 6.6% of the outstanding shares of Universal Health Realty Income Trust (the “Trust”). We serve as Advisor to the Trust under an annually renewable advisory agreement pursuant to the terms of which we conduct the Trust’s day-to-day affairs, provide administrative services and present investment opportunities. In addition, certain of our officers and directors are also officers and/or directors of the Trust. Management believes that it has the ability to exercise significant influence over the Trust, therefore we account for our investment in the Trust using the equity method of accounting. We earned an advisory fee from the Trust, which is included in net revenues in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of income, of $408,000 and $355,000 during the three month periods ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively, and $1.2 million and $1.1 million during the nine month periods ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively. Our pre-tax share of income from the Trust was $243,000 and $299,000 during the three month periods ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively, and $819,000 and $1.2 million during the nine month periods ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively. The carrying value of this investment was $9.3 million at September 30, 2008 and $9.9 million at December 31, 2007, and is included in other assets in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets. The market value of this investment, based on the closing price of the Trust’s stock on the respective dates, was $30.6 million at September 30, 2008 and $27.9 million at December 31, 2007.

Total rent expense under the operating leases on the hospital facilities with the Trust was $3.9 million during each of the three month periods ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, and $12.0 million during each of the nine month periods ended September 30, 2008 and 2007. In addition, certain of our subsidiaries are tenants in several medical office buildings owned by limited liability companies in which the Trust holds non-controlling ownership interests.

The table below details the renewal options and terms for each of our four hospital facilities leased from the Trust:

 

Hospital Name

   Type of Facility    Annual
Minimum
Rent
   End of Lease Term    Renewal
Term
(years)
 

McAllen Medical Center

   Acute Care    $ 5,485,000    December, 2011    20 (a)

Wellington Regional Medical Center

   Acute Care    $ 3,030,000    December, 2011    20 (b)

Southwest Healthcare System, Inland Valley Campus

   Acute Care    $ 2,648,000    December, 2011    20 (b)

The Bridgeway

   Behavioral Health    $ 930,000    December, 2014    10 (c)

 

(a) We have four 5-year renewal options at existing lease rates (through 2031).
(b) We have two 5-year renewal options at existing lease rates (through 2021) and two 5-year renewal options at fair market value lease rates (2022 through 2031).
(c) We have two 5-year renewal options at fair market value lease rates (2015 through 2024).

 

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Other Related Party Transactions:

A member of our Board of Directors and member of the Executive Committee is Of Counsel to the law firm used by us as our principal outside counsel. This Board member is also the trustee of certain trusts for the benefit of our CEO and his family. This law firm also provides personal legal services to our CEO.

We invested $3.3 million for a 25% ownership interest in an information technology company that provides laboratory information system and order management technology to many of our acute care hospitals. We also committed to pay this company a license fee which has a remaining commitment of $1.1 million as of September 30, 2008.

(3) Other Noncurrent and Minority Interest Liabilities

Other noncurrent liabilities include the long-term portion of our professional and general liability, workers’ compensation reserves, and pension liability.

As of September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, the minority interest liability of $232.6 million and $210.2 million, respectively, consists primarily of: (i) an outside ownership interest of approximately 28% in five acute care facilities located in Las Vegas, Nevada; (ii) a 20% outside ownership in an acute care facility located in Washington D.C. and; (iii) an outside ownership interest of approximately 11% in an acute care facility located in Laredo, Texas.

In connection with the five acute care facilities located in Las Vegas, Nevada, the outside owners have certain “put rights” that may require the respective limited liabilities companies (“LLCs”) to purchase the minority member’s interests upon the occurrence of: (i) certain specified financial conditions falling below established thresholds; (ii) breach of the management contract by the managing member (a subsidiary of ours), or; (iii) if the minority member’s ownership percentage is reduced to less than certain thresholds.

(4) Long-term debt

We have an $800 million, unsecured non-amortizing revolving credit agreement, as amended (“Credit Agreement”) which is scheduled to expire in July, 2011. The Credit Agreement includes a $100 million sub-limit for letters of credit. The interest rate on the borrowings is determined, at our option, as either: (i) the one, two, three or six month London Inter-Bank Offer Rate (“LIBOR”) plus a spread of 0.33% to 0.575%; (ii) at the higher of the Agent’s prime rate or the federal funds rate plus 0.50%, or; (iii) a competitive bid rate. A facility fee ranging from 0.07% to 0.175% is required on the total commitment. The applicable margins over LIBOR and the facility fee are based upon our credit ratings from Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services and Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. At September 30, 2008, the applicable margin over the LIBOR rate was 0.50% and the facility fee was 0.125%. There are no compensating balance requirements. As of September 30, 2008, we had $210 million of borrowings outstanding under our revolving credit agreement and $527 million of available borrowing capacity, net of $63 million of outstanding letters of credit.

In August, 2007, we entered into a $200 million accounts receivable securitization program (“Securitization”) with a group of conduit lenders and liquidity banks. The patient-related accounts receivable (“Receivables”) for substantially all of our acute care hospitals serve as collateral for the outstanding borrowings. The interest rate on the borrowings is based on the commercial paper rate plus a spread of .35%. The initial term of this Securitization was 364 days and the term can be extended for incremental 364 day periods upon mutual agreement of the parties. The facility was extended for a second 364-day term in August, 2008. The Securitization has a term-out feature that can be exercised by us if the banks do not extend the Securitization which would extend the maturity date to August, 2010. Under the terms of the term-out provision, the borrowing rate would be the same as our Credit Agreement rate. Outstanding borrowings which can be refinanced through available borrowings under the terms of our Credit Agreement are classified as long-term on our balance sheet. We have accounted for this Securitization as borrowings under SFAS No. 140, “Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments of Liabilities”. We maintain effective control over the Receivables since, pursuant to the terms of the Securitization, the Receivables are sold from certain of our subsidiaries to special purpose entities that are wholly-owned by us. The wholly-owned special purpose entities use the Receivables to collateralize the loans obtained from the group of third-party conduit lenders and liquidity banks. The group of third-party conduit lenders and liquidity banks do not have recourse to us beyond the assets of the wholly-owned special purpose entities that securitize the loans. As of September 30, 2008, we had $110 million of borrowings outstanding pursuant to this program and $90 million of available borrowing capacity.

In June, 2006, we issued $250 million of senior notes (the “Notes”) which have a 7.125% coupon rate and mature on June 30, 2016. Interest on the Notes is payable semiannually in arrears on June 30 and December 30 of each year. In June, 2008, we issued an additional $150 million of Notes which formed a single series with the original Notes issued in June, 2006. Other than their date of issuance and initial price to the public, the terms of the Notes issued in June, 2008 are identical to, and trade interchangeably with, the Notes which were originally issued in June, 2006.

During 2001, we issued $200 million of senior notes which have a 6.75% coupon rate and which mature on November 15, 2011. The interest on the senior notes is paid semiannually in arrears on May 15 and November 15 of each year. The senior notes can be redeemed in whole at any time and in part from time to time.

 

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(5) Commitments and Contingencies

Professional and General Liability Claims and Property Insurance

Effective January 1, 2008, most of our subsidiaries became self-insured for malpractice exposure up to $10 million per occurrence, as compared to $20 million per occurrence in the prior year. We purchased several excess policies through commercial insurance carriers which provide for coverage in excess of $10 million up to $195 million per occurrence and in the aggregate. However, we are liable for 10% of the claims paid pursuant to the commercially insured coverage in excess of $10 million up to $60 million per occurrence and in the aggregate.

As of September 30, 2008, the total accrual for our professional and general liability claims was $274 million ($272 million net of expected recoveries from state guaranty funds), of which $32 million is included in other current liabilities. As of December 31, 2007, the total accrual for our professional and general liability claims was $258 million ($256 million net of expected recoveries from state guaranty funds), of which $32 million was included in other current liabilities. As a result of a commercial insurer’s liquidation in 2002, we became liable for unpaid claims related to our facilities, some of which remain outstanding. The reserve for the estimated future claims payments for these outstanding liabilities is included in the accrual for our professional and general liability claims as of September 30, 2008. We may be entitled to receive reimbursement from state guaranty funds and/or the commercial carrier’s estate for certain claims paid by us. Included in other assets was $2 million as of September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, related to estimated expected recoveries from various state guaranty funds in connection with payment of these claims.

Effective April 1, 2008, we have commercial property insurance policies covering catastrophic losses resulting from windstorm damage up to a $1 billion policy limit per occurrence. Losses resulting from non-named windstorms are subject to a $250,000 deductible. Losses resulting from named windstorms are subject to a 5% deductible based upon the declared value of the property. In addition, we have commercial property insurance policies covering catastrophic losses resulting from earthquake and flood damage, each subject to aggregated loss limits (as opposed to per occurrence losses.). Our earthquake limit is $250 million, except for facilities in Alaska, California and the New Madrid (which includes certain counties located in Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri and Tennessee) and Pacific Northwest Seismic Zones which are subject to a $100 million limitation. The earthquake limit in Puerto Rico is $25 million. Earthquake losses are subject to a $250,000 deductible for our facilities located in all states except California, Alaska, Washington and Puerto Rico where earthquake losses are subject to a 5% deductible based upon the declared value of the property. Flood losses have a $250,000 deductible except in FEMA designated flood zones A and V (which are located in certain sections of Florida, Oklahoma and Texas) in which case the losses are subject to a $500,000 deductible. Due to an increase in property losses experienced nationwide in recent years, the cost of commercial property insurance has increased. As a result, catastrophic coverage for earthquake and flood has been limited to annual aggregate losses (as opposed to per occurrence losses). Given these insurance market conditions, there can be no assurance that a continuation of these unfavorable trends, or a sharp increase in uninsured property losses sustained by us, will not have a material adverse effect on our future results of operations.

Other

As of September 30, 2008, we were party to certain off balance sheet arrangements consisting of standby letters of credit and surety bonds. Our outstanding letters of credit and surety bonds as of September 30, 2008 totaled $77 million consisting of: (i) $73 million related to our self-insurance programs; (ii) $2 million consisting primarily of collateral for outstanding bonds of an unaffiliated third-party and public utility, and; (iii) $2 million of debt guarantees related to entities in which we own a minority interest.

Legal Proceedings

We are subject to claims and suits in the ordinary course of business, including those arising from care and treatment afforded by our hospitals and are party to litigation, as outlined below.

Investigation of South Texas Health System affiliates:

We and our South Texas Health System affiliates, which operate McAllen Medical Center, McAllen Heart Hospital, Edinburg Regional Medical Center and certain other affiliates, were served with a subpoena dated November 21, 2005, issued by the Office of Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services (“OIG”). At that time, the Civil Division of the U.S. Attorney’s office in Houston, Texas indicated that the subpoena was part of an investigation under the False Claims Act regarding compliance with Medicare and Medicaid rules and regulations pertaining to the employment of physicians and the solicitation of patient referrals from physicians from January 1, 1999 to the date of the subpoena, related to the South Texas Health System. Documents were produced on a rolling basis pursuant to this subpoena and several additional requests, including an additional March 9, 2007 subpoena, beginning in January of 2006. On February 16, 2007, our South Texas Health System affiliates were served with a search warrant in connection with what we were advised was a related criminal Grand Jury investigation concerning the production of documents. At that time, the government obtained various documents and other property related to the facilities. Follow-up Grand Jury subpoenas for documents and witnesses and other requests for information were subsequently served on South Texas Health System facilities and certain employees and former employees.

 

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We have received notification from the U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”) that, at this time, the DOJ will not be pursuing criminal prosecutive action against Universal Health Services, Inc. or our South Texas Health System affiliates. The DOJ is still investigating whether or not any individuals independently obstructed justice as it relates to the civil subpoena dated November 21, 2005. Our representatives have been advised that the Civil Division of the U.S. Attorney’s office in Houston, Texas is continuing its investigation in connection with the civil subpoena dated November 21, 2005 issued by the OIG. Our legal representatives continue to meet with representatives of the Civil Division to discuss the status of this matter. We understand that, based on those discussions and its investigations to date, the government is focused on certain arrangements entered into by the South Texas Health System affiliates which, the government believes, may have violated Medicare and Medicaid rules and regulations pertaining to payments to physicians and the solicitation of patient referrals from physicians and other matters relating to payments to various individuals which may have constituted improper payments. We are cooperating with the investigations and are responding to the matters raised with us. We have been negotiating a possible settlement of this matter with the government. We expect to continue our discussions with the government to attempt to resolve this matter in a manner satisfactory to us and the government. There is no assurance that we will be able to do so, and, at this time, we are unable to evaluate the extent of any potential financial or other exposure in connection with this matter.

Litigation and Administrative Appeal of CMS’s Attempt to Terminate Medicare Participation of Two Rivers Psychiatric Hospital:

In late September, 2008, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”) issued a decision to terminate the participation in the Medicare program of Two Rivers Psychiatric Hospital (“Two Rivers”), a behavioral health facility operated by one of our affiliates in Kansas City, Missouri. This decision was issued after state surveyors found Two Rivers to be allegedly out of compliance with the conditions of participation required for the Medicare program. Two Rivers has filed an administrative appeal with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Departmental Appeals Board, Civil Remedies Division, seeking review of that decision. In order to prevent CMS from terminating the facility from the program prior to a hearing in the administrative appeal, Two Rivers filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri against the Secretary, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, seeking a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction against CMS’s proceeding with the termination. The Court has issued a temporary restraining order in favor of Two Rivers, preventing CMS from terminating Two Rivers from the Medicare program and referring the case to a magistrate judge for a settlement conference prior to a hearing on the preliminary injunction motion. We expect to continue settlement discussions with CMS to attempt to resolve this matter in a manner satisfactory to us and CMS. If these discussions are not successful in settling the termination matter, we will continue to pursue our administrative appeal on an expedited basis and to seek the preliminary injunction from the court. There is no assurance that we will be able to prevent the termination of Two Rivers from participation in the Medicare program, which could have a material adverse effect on us.

Investigation of Virginia Behavioral Health Facilities

Late last year and again recently, the Office of Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services (“OIG”) issued subpoenas to two of our facilities, Marion Youth Center and Mountain Youth Academy, seeking documents related to the treatment of Medicaid beneficiaries at the facilities. We believe that the OIG is investigating whether claims for reimbursement submitted by those facilities to the Virginia Medicaid program were supported by adequate documentation of the services provided. There is no assurance that we will be able to satisfactorily negotiate a resolution to this issue. At this time we are unable to evaluate the extent of any potential financial or other exposure in connection with this matter.

On August 4, 2008, the Office of the Attorney General for the Commonwealth of Virginia issued a subpoena to Keystone Newport News, another of our facilities. We believe the Office of Attorney General is investigating whether Keystone Newport News complied with various Virginia laws and regulations, including documentation requirements.

In response to these subpoenas, we have been producing the requested documents on a rolling basis and we are cooperating with the investigations in all respects.

The healthcare industry is subject to numerous laws and regulations which include, among other things, matters such as government healthcare participation requirements, various licensure and accreditations, reimbursement for patient services, and Medicare and Medicaid fraud and abuse. Government action has increased with respect to investigations and/or allegations concerning possible violations of fraud and abuse and false claims statutes and/or regulations by healthcare providers. Providers that are found to have violated these laws and regulations may be excluded from participating in government healthcare programs, subjected to fines or penalties or required to repay amounts received from the government for previously billed patient services. We monitor all aspects of our business and have developed a comprehensive ethics and compliance program that is designed to meet or exceed applicable federal guidelines and industry standards. Because the law in this area is complex and constantly evolving, governmental investigation or litigation may result in interpretations that are inconsistent with industry practices, including ours. Although we believe our policies, procedures and practices comply with governmental regulations, from time to time, we are subjected to inquiries or actions with respect to our facilities. There is no assurance that we will not be faced with sanctions, fines or penalties in connection with such inquiries or actions, including with respect to the investigations and other matters discussed above. Even if we were to ultimately prevail, such inquiries and/or actions could have a material adverse effect on us.

In addition, various suits and claims arising against us in the ordinary course of business are pending. In the opinion of management, the outcome of such claims and litigation will not materially affect our consolidated financial position or results of operations.

(6) Segment Reporting

Our reportable operating segments consist of acute care hospital services and behavioral health care services. The “Other” segment column below includes centralized services including information services, purchasing, reimbursement, accounting, taxation, legal, advertising, design and construction and patient accounting as well as the operating results for our other operating entities including outpatient surgery and radiation centers. Also included in the Other segment column are assets of $41.5 million as of September 30, 2008 and $44.3 million as of September 30, 2007, related to an acute care facility reflected as discontinued operations on our Consolidated Statements of Income. The chief operating decision making group for our acute care hospital services and behavioral health care services is comprised of the President and Chief Executive Officer, and the co-lead/lead executive of each operating segment. The lead executives for each operating segment also manage the profitability of each respective segment’s various facilities. The operating segments are managed separately because each operating segment represents a business unit that offers different types of healthcare services or operates in different healthcare environments. The accounting policies of the operating segments are the same as those described in the summary of significant accounting policies included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.

 

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     Three months ended September 30, 2008
     Acute Care
Hospital
Services
   Behavioral
Health
Services
   Other     Total
Consolidated
     (Amounts in thousands)

Gross inpatient revenues

   $ 2,259,640    $ 488,986      —       $ 2,748,626

Gross outpatient revenues

   $ 917,982    $ 61,358    $ 19,539     $ 998,879

Total net revenues

   $ 899,330    $ 310,832    $ 34,300     $ 1,244,462

Income/(loss) before income taxes

   $ 44,664    $ 59,602    $ (44,507 )   $ 59,759

Total assets as of 9/30/08

   $ 2,473,983    $ 955,637    $ 268,716     $ 3,698,336
     Nine months ended September 30, 2008
     Acute Care
Hospital
Services
   Behavioral
Health
Services
   Other     Total
Consolidated
     (Amounts in thousands)

Gross inpatient revenues

   $ 6,999,680    $ 1,467,036      —       $ 8,466,716

Gross outpatient revenues

   $ 2,748,382    $ 193,281    $ 56,566     $ 2,998,229

Total net revenues

   $ 2,776,363    $ 941,006    $ 67,646     $ 3,785,015

Income/(loss) before income taxes

   $ 208,724    $ 185,742    $ (146,648 )   $ 247,818

Total assets as of 9/30/08

   $ 2,473,983    $ 955,637    $ 268,716     $ 3,698,336
     Three months ended September 30, 2007
     Acute Care
Hospital
Services
   Behavioral
Health
Services
   Other     Total
Consolidated
     (Amounts in thousands)

Gross inpatient revenues

   $ 2,044,147    $ 452,223      —       $ 2,496,370

Gross outpatient revenues

   $ 858,313    $ 54,470    $ 20,652     $ 933,435

Total net revenues

   $ 846,594    $ 285,013    $ 31,998     $ 1,163,605

Income/(loss) before income taxes

   $ 37,368    $ 50,670    $ (43,743 )   $ 44,295

Total assets as of 9/30/07

   $ 2,323,692    $ 927,644    $ 347,592     $ 3,598,928
     Nine months ended September 30, 2007
     Acute Care
Hospital
Services
   Behavioral
Health
Services
   Other     Total
Consolidated
     (Amounts in thousands)

Gross inpatient revenues

   $ 6,299,927    $ 1,339,098      —       $ 7,639,025

Gross outpatient revenues

   $ 2,532,815    $ 173,558    $ 60,969     $ 2,767,342

Total net revenues

   $ 2,558,762    $ 847,578    $ 99,473     $ 3,505,813

Income/(loss) before income taxes

   $ 177,865    $ 163,003    $ (130,890 )   $ 209,978

Total assets as of 9/30/07

   $ 2,323,692    $ 927,644    $ 347,592     $ 3,598,928

 

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(7) Earnings Per Share Data (“EPS”) and Stock Based Compensation

Basic earnings per share are based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share are based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period adjusted to give effect to common stock equivalents.

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share for the periods indicated (in thousands, except per share data):

 

     Three months ended
September 30,
    Nine months ended
September 30,
 
     (amounts in thousands)  
     2008     2007     2008     2007  

Basic:

        

Income from continuing operations

   $ 37,223     $ 29,334     $ 152,466     $ 130,801  

Less: Dividends on unvested restricted stock, net of taxes

     (10 )     (18 )     (39 )     (62 )
                                

Income from continuing operations – basic

   $ 37,213     $ 29,316     $ 152,427     $ 130,739  

(Loss) income from discontinued operations

     (226 )     (480 )     434       (368 )
                                

Net income – basic

   $ 36,987     $ 28,836     $ 152,861     $ 130,371  
                                

Diluted:

        

Income from continuing operations

   $ 37,223     $ 29,334     $ 152,466     $ 130,801  

Less: Dividends on unvested restricted stock, net of taxes

     (10 )     (18 )     (39 )     (62 )
                                

Income from continuing operations – diluted

   $ 37,213     $ 29,316     $ 152,427     $ 130,739  

Income (loss) from discontinued operations

     (226 )     (480 )     434       (368 )
                                

Net income – diluted

   $ 36,987     $ 28,836     $ 152,861     $ 130,371  
                                

Weighted average number of common shares

     50,544       53,481       50,812       53,491  

Net effect of dilutive stock options and grants based on the treasury stock method

     217       148       157       190  
                                

Weighted average number of common shares and equivalents

     50,761       53,629       50,969       53,681  
                                

Earnings (loss) Per Basic Share:

        

From continuing operations

   $ 0.73     $ 0.55     $ 3.00     $ 2.45  

From discontinued operations

     0.00       (0.01 )     0.01       (0.01 )
                                

Total earnings per basic share

   $ 0.73     $ 0.54     $ 3.01     $ 2.44  
                                

Earnings (loss) Per Diluted Share:

        

From continuing operations

   $ 0.73     $ 0.55     $ 2.99     $ 2.44  

From discontinued operations

     0.00       (0.01 )     0.01       (0.01 )
                                

Total earnings per diluted share

   $ 0.73     $ 0.54     $ 3.00     $ 2.43  
                                

Stock-Based Compensation: During the three months ending September 30, 2008 and 2007, compensation cost of $2.5 million ($1.6 million after-tax) and $2.1 million ($1.3 million after-tax), respectively, was recognized related to outstanding stock options. During the nine months ending September 30, 2008 and 2007, compensation cost of $7.7 million ($4.8 million after-tax) and $6.6 million ($4.1 million after-tax), respectively, was recognized related to outstanding stock options. In addition, during the three months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, compensation costs of $569,000 ($351,000 after-tax) and $1.8 million ($1.1 million after-tax), respectively, was recognized related to restricted stock and during the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, compensation costs of $2.8 million ($1.7 million after-tax) and $5.9 million ($3.6 million after-tax) was recognized related to restricted stock. As of September 30, 2008 there was $23.8 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested options and restricted stock which is expected to be recognized over the remaining weighted average vesting period of 2.4 years. During the first nine months of 2008, there were 34,000 stock options, net of cancellations, granted under this plan with a weighted-average grant-date fair value of $9.97 per option. Additionally, there were 32,095 restricted stock shares granted during the first nine months of 2008, with a weighted-average grant date fair value of $48.33 per share.

 

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(8) Comprehensive Income

Comprehensive income or loss is recorded in accordance with the provisions of SFAS No. 130, “Reporting Comprehensive Income”. SFAS No. 130 establishes standards for reporting comprehensive income and its components in financial statements. Comprehensive income (loss) is comprised of net income and changes in unrealized gains or losses on derivative financial instruments.

 

     Three months ended
September 30,
    Nine months ended
September 30,
 

(amounts in thousands)

   2008     2007     2008     2007  

Net income

   $ 36,997     $ 28,854     $ 152,900     $ 130,433  

Other comprehensive income (loss):

        

Amortization of terminated hedge, net of taxes

     (54 )     (84 )     (162 )     (252 )

Unrealized derivative losses on cash flow hedges, net of taxes

     (373 )     —         (704 )     —    
                                

Comprehensive income

   $ 36,570     $ 28,770     $ 152,034     $ 130,181  
                                

(9) Dispositions and Acquisitions of assets and businesses

Divestitures during the nine months ended September 30, 2008:

During the first nine months of 2008, we received $33 million of cash proceeds in connection with the sale of: (i) the real property of an outpatient behavioral health facility; (ii) our ownership interest in a third-party provider of supply chain services to various healthcare organizations, and; (iii) certain non-strategic real property located near an acute care hospital and a behavioral health facility. The net gain on the divestitures did not have a material impact on our results of operations.

Subsequent to the third quarter of 2008, we completed the sale of a 125-bed acute care hospital located in Lansdale, Pennsylvania. The gain on this divestiture will be recorded during the fourth quarter of 2008. The operating results of this facility are reflected as “Income/(loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes”, on the Consolidated Statements of Income for the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2008 and 2007. The assets and liabilities of this facility are reflected as “current/noncurrent assets held for sale” and “current liabilities held for sale” on the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of September 30, 2008.

Acquisitions during the nine months ended September 30, 2008:

During the third quarter of 2008, we paid $15 million to acquire a 76-bed behavioral health facility located in Lawrenceville, Georgia.

Acquisitions and divestitures during the nine months ended September 30, 2007:

During the first nine months of 2007, we paid $103 million to acquire:

 

   

certain assets of Texoma Healthcare System located in Texas, including a 153-bed acute-care hospital, a 60-bed behavioral health hospital, a 21-bed freestanding rehabilitation hospital and TexomaCare, a physician group practice structured as a 501A corporation (acquired during the first quarter of 2007);

 

   

a previously leased, real property assets of a behavioral health facility located in Ohio (acquired during the first quarter of 2007);

 

   

a 52-bed behavioral health facility located in Delaware (acquired during the second quarter of 2007);

 

   

a 97-bed behavioral health facility located in Pennsylvania (acquired during the third quarter of 2007), and;

 

   

a 78-bed behavioral health facility located in Utah (acquired during the third quarter of 2007).

Also, during the first quarter of 2007, we received $5 million in connection with the sale of vacant real property located in McAllen, Texas.

(10) Dividends

During the quarter ended September 30, 2008, we declared and paid dividends of $.08 per share.

(11) Pension Plan

The following table shows the components of net periodic pension cost for our defined benefit pension plan as of September 30, 2008 and 2007 (amounts in thousands):

 

     Three months ended
September 30,
    Nine months ended
September 30,
 
     2008     2007     2008     2007  

Service cost

   $ 298     $ 336     $ 894     $ 1,008  

Interest cost

     1,207       1,091       3,621       3,273  

Expected return on assets

     (1,224 )     (1,193 )     (3,672 )     (3,579 )

Recognized actuarial loss

     69       280       207       840  
                                

Net periodic pension cost

   $ 350     $ 514     $ 1,050     $ 1,542  
                                

 

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During the nine months ended September 30, 2008, we made contributions totaling $4.8 million to our pension plan.

(12) Income Taxes

We adopted the provisions of FASB Interpretation No. 48 “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes,” (“FIN 48”) effective January 1, 2007. As of January 1, 2008, our unrecognized tax benefits were approximately $2 million. The amount, if recognized, that would affect the effective tax rate is approximately $1 million. During the nine months ended September 30, 2008, the estimated liabilities for uncertain tax positions (including accrued interest) were: (i) reduced due to the lapse of the statute of limitations of various taxing authorities resulting in a net income tax benefit of less than $1 million, and; (ii) increased relating to tax positions taken during prior and current periods resulting in a net income tax expense of approximately $1 million.

We recognize accrued interest and penalties associated with uncertain tax positions as part of the tax provision. As of September 30, 2008, we have less than $1 million of accrued interest and penalties. The U.S. federal statute of limitations remains open for the 2005 and subsequent years. Foreign and U.S. state and local jurisdictions have statutes of limitations generally ranging from 3 to 4 years. The statute of limitations in certain jurisdictions could expire within the next twelve months.

We operate in multiple jurisdictions with varying tax laws. We are subject to audits by any of these taxing authorities. Our tax returns have been examined by the Internal Revenue Service through the year ended December 31, 2002. We believe that adequate accruals have been provided for federal, foreign and state taxes.

(13) Recent Accounting Pronouncements:

Fair Value Measurements: In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements” (“SFAS No. 157”). SFAS No. 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. SFAS No. 157 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007 and interim periods within those fiscal years. The provisions for SFAS No. 157 are to be applied prospectively as of the beginning of the fiscal year in which it is initially applied, except in limited circumstances including certain positions in financial instruments that trade in active markets as well as certain financial and hybrid financial instruments initially measured under SFAS No. 133 “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities” (“SFAS No. 133”) using the transaction price method. In these circumstances, the transition adjustment, measured as the difference between the carrying amounts and the fair values of those financial instruments at the date SFAS No. 157 is initially applied, shall be recognized as a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings for the fiscal year in which SFAS No. 157 is initially applied. In February, 2008, the FASB decided to issue final staff positions that will: (i) partially defer the effective date of SFAS No. 157 for one year for certain non-financial assets and non-financial liabilities, and; (ii) remove certain leasing transactions from the scope of SFAS No. 157. As permitted by FASB Staff Position No. FAS 157-2, “Effective Date of FASB Statement No. 157”, we elected to defer the adoption of SFAS No. 157 for all nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities, except those that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on a recurring basis. The partial adoption of SFAS No. 157 for financial assets and financial liabilities did not have a material impact on our results of operations or financial position.

SFAS No. 157 discusses valuation techniques, such as the market approach, the income approach and the cost approach. The statement utilizes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value into three broad levels as follows:

 

   

Level 1: Observable inputs such as quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities;

 

   

Level 2: Inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. These include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets and quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active;

 

   

Level 3: Unobservable inputs that reflect the reporting entity’s own assumptions.

We measure our interest rate swaps at fair value on a recurring basis. The fair value of our interest rate swaps is based primarily on quotes from banks. We consider those inputs to be Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy. The fair value of our interest rate swaps was a liability of $8 million at September 30, 2008.

The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities: In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities—Including an Amendment of FASB Statement No. 115 (“SFAS No. 159”). SFAS No. 159 permits a company to choose to measure many financial instruments and certain other items at fair value at

specified election dates. Most of the provisions in SFAS No. 159 are elective; however, it applies to all companies with available-for-sale and trading securities. A company will report unrealized gains and losses on items for which the fair value option has been elected in earnings at each subsequent reporting date. The fair value option: (a) may be applied instrument by instrument, with a few

 

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exceptions, such as investments otherwise accounted for by the equity method; (b) is irrevocable (unless a new election date occurs), and; (c) is applied only to entire instruments and not to portions of instruments. SFAS No. 159 is effective as of the beginning of a company’s first fiscal year beginning after November 15, 2007. We chose not to elect the fair value option for our financial assets and financial liabilities existing at January 1, 2008, and did not elect the fair value option on financial assets and financial liabilities transacted subsequent to that time. Therefore, the adoption of SFAS No. 159 had no impact on our results of operations or financial position.

Business Combinations: In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141 (revised 2007) Business Combinations (“SFAS No. 141R”). SFAS No. 141R establishes principles and requirements for how the acquirer of a business recognizes and measures in its financial statements the identifiable assets acquired, the liabilities assumed, and any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree. SFAS No. 141R also provides guidance for recognizing and measuring the goodwill acquired in the business combination and determines what information to disclose to enable users of the financial statements to evaluate the nature and financial effects of the business combination. SFAS No. 141R applies prospectively to business combinations for which the acquisition date is on or after the beginning of the first annual reporting period beginning on or after December 15, 2008. We are currently evaluating the potential impact, if any, of the adoption of SFAS No. 141R on our consolidated financial statements.

Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements: In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS 160, Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements—an amendment of ARB No. 51 (“SFAS No. 160”). SFAS No. 160 establishes accounting and reporting standards for the noncontrolling interest in a subsidiary and for the deconsolidation of a subsidiary. It clarifies that a noncontrolling interest in a subsidiary is an ownership interest in the consolidated entity that should be reported as equity in the consolidated financial statements. SFAS No. 160 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning on or after December 15, 2008. SFAS No. 160 requires retroactive adoption of the presentation and disclosure requirements for existing minority interests. All other requirements of SFAS No. 160 shall be applied prospectively. We are currently evaluating the potential impact of the adoption of SFAS No. 160 on our consolidated financial statements.

Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities: In March 2008, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 161, Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities, an amendment of FASB Statement No. 133 (“SFAS No. 161”). This statement is intended to improve transparency in financial reporting by requiring enhanced disclosures of an entity’s derivative instruments and hedging activities and their effects on the entity’s financial position, financial performance, and cash flows. SFAS No. 161 applies to all derivative instruments within the scope of SFAS No. 133 as well as related hedged items, bifurcated derivatives, and nonderivative instruments that are designated and qualify as hedging instruments. Entities with instruments subject to SFAS No. 161 must provide expanded qualitative and quantitative disclosures. SFAS No. 161 is effective prospectively for financial statements issued beginning after November 15, 2008, with early application permitted. Our adoption of this statement will result in changes related to presentation and disclosure of our interest rate swaps and will not affect our results of operations.

Determination of the Useful Life of Intangible Assets: In April 2008, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position 142-3 (“FSP 142-3”), Determination of the Useful Life of Intangible Assets. FSP 142-3 amends the factors that should be considered in developing renewal or extension assumptions used to determine the useful life of a recognized intangible asset under SFAS No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets. FSP 142-3 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008. We do not currently expect the adoption of FSP 142-3 to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

The Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles: In May 2008, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No. 162, The Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“SFAS 162”). SFAS 162 clarifies the sources of accounting principles and the framework to be followed in preparing financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States. We do not expect this standard to impact our consolidated financial statements.

 

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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition

Overview

Our principal business is owning and operating, through our subsidiaries, acute care hospitals, behavioral health centers, surgical hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers and radiation oncology centers. As of September 30, 2008, we owned and/or operated or had under construction, 27 acute care hospitals (including 1 new facility currently being constructed and 1 that was sold in October, 2008) and 105 behavioral health centers located in 32 states, Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico. As part of our ambulatory treatment centers division, we manage and/or own outright or in partnerships with physicians, 11 surgical hospitals and surgery and radiation oncology centers located in 6 states and Puerto Rico.

Net revenues from our acute care hospitals, surgical hospitals, surgery centers and radiation oncology centers accounted for 73% and 74% of our consolidated net revenues during the three months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively, and 74% during each of the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007. Net revenues from our behavioral health care facilities accounted for 25% of our consolidated net revenues during each of the three month periods ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, and 25% and 24% during the nine month periods ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively. Approximately 1% to 2% of our consolidated net revenues during each of the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2008 and 2007 were recorded in connection with two construction management contracts pursuant to the terms of which we: (i) built a newly constructed acute care hospital for an unrelated third party that was completed during the first quarter of 2008, and; (ii) are building a newly constructed acute care hospital for an unrelated party that is scheduled to be completed during the fourth quarter of 2009.

Services provided by our hospitals include general and specialty surgery, internal medicine, obstetrics, emergency room care, radiology, oncology, diagnostic care, coronary care, pediatric services, pharmacy services and behavioral health services. We provide capital resources as well as a variety of management services to our facilities, including central purchasing, information services, finance and control systems, facilities planning, physician recruitment services, administrative personnel management, marketing and public relations.

Forward-Looking Statements and Risk Factors

This Quarterly Report contains “forward-looking statements” that reflect our current estimates, expectations and projections about our future results, performance, prospects and opportunities. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, the information concerning our possible future results of operations, business and growth strategies, financing plans, expectations that regulatory developments or other matters will not have a material adverse effect on our business or financial condition, our competitive position and the effects of competition, the projected growth of the industry in which we operate, and the benefits and synergies to be obtained from our completed and any future acquisitions, and statements of our goals and objectives, and other similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. Words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “predicts,” “potential,” “continue,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “appears,” “projects” and similar expressions, as well as statements in future tense, identify forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of the times at, or by which, such performance or results will be achieved. Forward-looking information is based on information available at the time and/or our good faith belief with respect to future events, and is subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual performance or results to differ materially from those expressed in the statements. Such factors include, among other things, the following:

 

   

our ability to comply with existing laws and government regulations and/or changes in laws and government regulations;

 

   

possible unfavorable changes in the levels and terms of reimbursement for our charges by third party payors or government programs, including Medicare or Medicaid;

 

   

an increase in the number of uninsured and self-pay patients treated at our acute care facilities that unfavorably impacts our ability to satisfactorily and timely collect our self-pay patient accounts;

 

   

our ability to enter into managed care provider agreements on acceptable terms;

 

   

the outcome of known and unknown litigation, government investigations, and liabilities and other claims asserted against us, including the government’s ongoing investigations of our South Texas Health Systems affiliates and other matters as disclosed in Item 1. Legal Proceedings;

 

   

the potential unfavorable impact on our business of continued deterioration in national, regional and local economic and business conditions, including a continuation or worsening of unfavorable credit market conditions;

 

   

competition from other healthcare providers, including physician owned facilities in certain markets, including McAllen/Edinburg, Texas, the site of one of our largest acute care facilities;

 

   

technological and pharmaceutical improvements that increase the cost of providing, or reduce the demand for healthcare;

 

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our ability to attract and retain qualified personnel, nurses, physicians and other healthcare professionals and the impact on our labor expenses resulting from a shortage of nurses and other healthcare professionals;

 

   

demographic changes;

 

   

our ability to successfully integrate and improve our recent acquisitions and the availability of suitable acquisitions and divestiture opportunities;

 

   

a significant portion of our revenues is produced by a small number of our facilities;

 

   

our ability to continue to obtain capital on acceptable terms, including borrowed funds, to fund the future growth of our business;

 

   

some of our acute care facilities continue to experience decreasing inpatient admission trends;

 

   

our financial statements reflect large amounts due from various commercial and private payors and there can be no assurance that failure of the payors to remit amounts due to us will not have a material adverse effect on our future results of operations;

 

   

the ability to obtain adequate levels of general and professional liability insurance on current terms;

 

   

changes in our business strategies or development plans;

 

   

fluctuations in the value of our common stock, and;

 

   

other factors referenced herein or in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Given these uncertainties, risks and assumptions, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. Our actual results and financial condition could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, the forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date the statements are made. We assume no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting forward-looking information, except as may be required by law. All forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.

Accounting Policies and Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in our consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. We consider our critical accounting policies to be those that require us to make significant judgments and estimates when we prepare our consolidated financial statements. For a summary of our significant accounting policies, please see Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements as included in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.

Revenue recognition: We record revenues and related receivables for health care services at the time the services are provided. Medicare and Medicaid revenues represented 37% and 39% of our net patient revenues during the three month periods ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively, and 36% and 37% during the nine month periods ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively. Revenues from managed care entities, including health maintenance organizations and managed Medicare and Medicaid programs, accounted for 46% and 44% of our net patient revenues during the three month periods ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively, and 46% and 44% during the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

Provision for Doubtful Accounts: On a consolidated basis, we monitor our total self-pay receivables to ensure that the total allowance for doubtful accounts provides adequate coverage based on historical collection experience. Our accounts receivable are recorded net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $189 million at September 30, 2008 and $121 million at December 31, 2007.

Patients that express an inability to pay are reviewed for write-off as potential charity care. Our accounts receivable are recorded net of established charity care reserves of $82 million at September 30, 2008 and $81 million as of December 31, 2007.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements: For a summary of recent accounting pronouncements, please see Note 13 to the Consolidated Financial Statements as included in this Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2008.

 

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Results of Operations

The following table summarizes our results of operations and is used in the discussion below for the three months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007:

 

     Three months ended
September 30, 2008
    Three months ended
September 30, 2007
 
     Amount     % of
Revenues
    Amount     % of
Revenues
 

Net revenues

   $ 1,244,462     100.0 %   $ 1,163,605     100.0 %

Operating charges:

        

Salaries, wages and benefits

     530,858     42.7 %     502,361     43.2 %

Other operating expenses

     269,299     21.6 %     261,637     22.5 %

Supplies expense

     170,743     13.7 %     160,190     13.8 %

Provision for doubtful accounts

     125,003     10.0 %     108,639     9.3 %

Depreciation and amortization

     48,465     3.9 %     45,898     3.9 %

Lease and rental expense

     17,600     1.4 %     17,838     1.5 %

Hurricane related expenses, net

     —       —         82     0.0 %
                            

Subtotal operating expenses

     1,161,968     93.4 %     1,096,645     94.2 %
                            

Income before interest expense, minority interests and income taxes

     82,494     6.6 %     66,960     5.8 %

Interest expense, net

     13,419     1.1 %     12,881     1.1 %

Minority interests in earnings of consolidated entities

     9,316     0.7 %     9,784     0.8 %
                            

Income before income taxes

     59,759     4.8 %     44,295     3.8 %

Provision for income taxes

     22,536     1.8 %     14,961     1.3 %
                            

Income from continuing operations

     37,223     3.0 %     29,334     2.5 %

Loss from discontinued operations, net of income taxes

     (226 )   0.0 %     (480 )   0.0 %
                            

Net income

   $ 36,997     3.0 %   $ 28,854     2.5 %
                            

Net revenues increased 7% or $81 million to $1.24 billion during the three month period ended September 30, 2008 as compared to $1.16 billion during the comparable prior year quarter. The increase was attributable to:

 

   

a $48 million or 4% increase in net revenues generated at acute care hospitals and behavioral health care facilities owned during both periods (which we refer to as “same facility”), and;

 

   

$33 million of other combined net increases in revenues including revenues generated at Centennial Hills Hospital Medical Center (“Centennial Hills Hospital”) which opened during the first quarter of 2008 and behavioral health care facilities opened or acquired during 2007 and 2008.

Income before income taxes increased $15 million to $59 million during the three months ended September 30, 2008 as compared to $44 million during the comparable quarter of the prior year. Included in our income before income taxes during the third quarter of 2008, as compared to the comparable prior year quarter, was the following:

 

   

an increase of $7 million at our acute care facilities, as discussed below in Acute Care Hospital Services;

 

   

an increase of $9 million at our behavioral health care facilities, as discussed below in Behavioral Health Services, and;

 

   

a decrease of $1 million from other combined net unfavorable changes.

Net income increased $8 million to $37 million during the three month period ended September 30, 2008, as compared to $29 million during the comparable prior year quarter. The increase in net income during the third quarter of 2008, as compared to the comparable prior year quarter, consisted of the after-tax impact of the $15 million increase in income before income taxes, as discussed above.

The following table summarizes our results of operations, and is used in the discussion below, for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007:

 

     Nine months ended
September 30, 2008
    Nine months ended
September 30, 2007
 
     Amount    % of
Revenues
    Amount    % of
Revenues
 

Net revenues

   $ 3,785,015    100.0 %   $ 3,505,813    100.0 %

Operating charges:

          

Salaries, wages and benefits

     1,600,514    42.3 %     1,494,553    42.6 %

Other operating expenses

     777,257    20.5 %     737,240    21.0 %

Supplies expense

     524,246    13.9 %     499,930    14.3 %

Provision for doubtful accounts

     365,446    9.7 %     308,363    8.8 %

Depreciation and amortization

     142,544    3.8 %     133,343    3.8 %

 

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     Nine months ended
September 30, 2008
    Nine months ended
September 30, 2007
 
     Amount    % of
Revenues
    Amount     % of
Revenues
 

Lease and rental expense

     53,021    1.4 %     50,405     1.4 %

Hurricane related expenses, net

     —      —         707     0.0 %
                           

Subtotal operating expenses

     3,463,028    91.5 %     3,224,541     92.0 %
                           

Income before interest expense, minority interests and income taxes

     321,987    8.5 %     281,272     8.0 %

Interest expense, net

     40,147    1.1 %     38,643     1.1 %

Minority interests in earnings of consolidated entities

     34,022    0.9 %     32,651     0.9 %
                           

Income before income taxes

     247,818    6.5 %     209,978     6.0 %

Provision for income taxes

     95,352    2.5 %     79,177     2.3 %
                           

Income from continuing operations

     152,466    4.0 %     130,801     3.7 %

Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes

     434    0.0 %     (368 )   0.0 %
                           

Net income

   $ 152,900    4.0 %   $ 130,433     3.7 %
                           

Net revenues increased 8% or $279 million to $3.79 billion during the nine month period ended September 30, 2008 as compared to $3.51 billion during the comparable prior year period. The increase was attributable to:

 

   

an $219 million or 6% increase in net revenues generated at our acute care hospitals and behavioral health care facilities owned during both periods, and;

 

   

$60 million of other combined net increases in revenues including revenues generated at Centennial Hills Hospital and behavioral health care facilities opened or acquired during 2007 and 2008.

Income before income taxes increased $38 million to $248 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2008 as compared to $210 million during the comparable nine month period of the prior year. Included in our income before income taxes during the nine months ended September 30, 2008, as compared to the comparable prior year period, was the following:

 

   

an increase of $45 million at our acute care facilities, as discussed below in Acute Care Hospital Services (exclusive of the reduction to our prior year reserves for professional and general liability self-insured claims included in our results during the nine months ended September 30, 2007, as mentioned below);

 

   

an increase of $24 million at our behavioral health care facilities, as discussed below in Behavioral Health Services (exclusive of the reduction to our prior year reserves for professional and general liability self-insured claims included in our results during the nine months ended September 30, 2007, as mentioned below),

 

   

a decrease of $16 million resulting from a reduction to our prior year reserves for professional and general liability self-insured claims included in our results during the nine months ended September 30, 2007, as mentioned below, and;

 

   

a decrease of $15 million from other combined net unfavorable changes.

Net income increased $23 million to $153 million during the nine month period ended September 30, 2008, as compared to $130 million during the comparable prior year period. The increase in net income during the first nine months of 2008, as compared to the comparable prior year period, consisted of the after-tax impact of the $38 million increase in income before income taxes, as discussed above.

During the second quarter of 2007, based upon the results of a reserve analysis, we recorded a $16 million pre-tax reduction to our prior year reserves for professional and general liability self-insured claims ($18 million before minority interest), of which $14 million was attributable to our acute care hospitals and $2 million was attributable to our behavioral health facilities. This favorable change in our estimated future claims payments was partially due to the favorable impact of medical malpractice tort reform experienced in several states in which we operate as well as a decrease in obstetrical-related claims due to a company-wide patient safety initiative in this high-risk specialty.

 

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Acute Care Hospital Services

Same Facility – Acute Care

The following table summarizes the results of operations for our acute care facilities on a same facility basis, and is used in the discussion below for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007 (dollar amounts in thousands):

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30,
   Nine Months Ended
September 30,
     2008    %    2007    %    2008    %    2007    %

Net revenues

   $ 873,634    100.0    $ 852,109    100.0    $ 2,709,800    100.0    $ 2,565,138    100.0

Salaries, wages and benefits

     344,552    39.4      338,146    39.7      1,030,016    38.0      1,000,449    39.0

Other operating expenses

     170,742    19.5      164,854    19.3      505,617    18.7      482,855    18.8

Supplies expense

     145,951    16.7      140,931    16.5      451,461    16.7      443,572    17.3

Provision for doubtful accounts

     109,558    12.5      100,952    11.8      325,343    12.0      287,364    11.2

Depreciation and amortization

     36,307    4.2      37,984    4.5      108,106    4.0      109,776    4.3

Lease and rental

     11,798    1.4      12,563    1.5      35,584    1.3      35,164    1.4
                                               

Subtotal operating expenses

     818,908    93.7      795,430    93.3      2,456,127    90.6      2,359,180    92.0
                                               

Income before interest expense, minority interests and income taxes

     54,726    6.3      56,679    6.7      253,673    9.4      205,958    8.0

Interest expense, net

     967    0.1      1,056    0.2      2,870    0.1      2,583    0.1

Minority interests in earnings of consolidated entities

     9,335    1.1      9,348    1.1      34,880    1.3      29,671    1.1
                                               

Income before income taxes

   $ 44,424    5.1    $ 46,275    5.4    $ 215,923    8.0    $ 173,704    6.8
                                               

On a same facility basis during the three month period ended September 30, 2008, as compared to the comparable prior year quarter, net revenues at our acute care hospitals increased $22 million or 3%. Income before income taxes decreased $2 million or 4% to $44 million or 5.1% of net revenues during the third quarter of 2008 as compared to $46 million or 5.4% of net revenues during the comparable prior year quarter. The decrease in income before income taxes during the third quarter of 2008, as compared to the comparable quarter of the prior year, resulted primarily from an increase in uncompensated care expense.

On a same facility basis during the nine month period ended September 30, 2008, as compared to the comparable prior year period, net revenues at our acute care hospitals increased $145 million or 6%. Income before income taxes increased $42 million or 24% to $216 million or 8.0% of net revenues during the first nine months of 2008 as compared to $174 million or 6.8% of net revenues during the comparable prior year period. The increase in income before income taxes during the first nine months of 2008, as compared to the comparable period of the prior year, was due primarily to certain favorable operating trends experienced during the first half of the 2008 including the opening of several new projects and capacity additions to certain of our facilities located in Florida and California and increased operating efficiencies due to the reduction of certain operating expenses including registry and supplies expense.

On a same facility basis, inpatient admissions to our acute care facilities decreased 0.8% during the third quarter of 2008, as compared to the comparable 2007 quarter, while patient days decreased 1.9%. Inpatient admissions to these facilities increased 0.2% during the first nine months of 2008, as compared to the comparable 2007 period, while patient days increased 0.6%. The average length of patient stay at these facilities was 4.5 days during each of the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2008 and 2007. The occupancy rate, based on the average available beds at these facilities, was 61% and 62% during the three month periods ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively, and 64% during each of the nine month periods ended September 30, 2008 and 2007. Our same facility inpatient volumes were negatively impacted during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008, as compared to the comparable prior year periods, by the: (i) opening of the previously disclosed, newly constructed capacity at the physician-owned competitor hospital in McAllen, Texas, and; (ii) the opening of our newly constructed Centennial Hills Hospital. Since Centennial Hills Hospital is a newly opened facility, it is not included in our same facility basis results during the first nine months 2008. However, we believe a portion of the patient volume at Centennial Hills Hospital during the first nine months of 2008 would have been treated at our previously existing hospitals in the Las Vegas, Nevada market which are included in our same facility basis results.

Our same facility net revenues were favorably impacted by an increase in prices charged to private payors including health maintenance organizations and preferred provider organizations. On a same facility basis, during the third quarter of 2008, as compared to the comparable quarter of the prior year, net revenue per adjusted admission and per adjusted patient day (adjusted for outpatient activity) at these facilities increased 3.7% and 4.8%, respectively. Net revenue per adjusted admission and per adjusted patient day at these facilities increased 5.3% and 5.0%, respectively, during the nine month period ended September 30, 2008 as compared to the comparable period of the prior year.

We continue to experience an increase in uninsured patients throughout our portfolio of acute care hospitals which, in part, has resulted from an increase in the number of patients who are employed but do not have health insurance. We provide care to patients who meet certain financial or economic criteria without charge or at amounts substantially less than our established rates. Because we do not pursue collection of amounts that qualify as charity care, they are not reported in net revenues or in accounts receivable, net. Our acute care hospitals provided charity care and uninsured discounts, based on charges at established rates, amounting to $154

 

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million and $148 million during three month periods ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively, and $451 million and $422 million during the nine month periods ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively. An increase in the level of uninsured patients to our facilities and the resulting adverse trends in the provision for doubtful accounts and charity care provided, could have a material unfavorable impact on our future operating results.

The following table summarizes the results of operations for all our acute care operations during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007. Included in these results, in addition to the same facility results shown above, are: (i) the financial results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008 for Centennial Hills Hospital located in Las Vegas, Nevada which was opened during the first quarter of 2008; (ii) the favorable impact realized during the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2007 from the reduction to our prior year reserves for professional and general liability self-insured claims (as mentioned above in Results of Operations), and; (iii) the net hurricane related expenses recorded during the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2007 (amounts in thousands):

All Acute Care Facilities

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30,
   Nine Months Ended
September 30,
     2008    %    2007    %    2008    %    2007    %

Net revenues

   $ 899,330    100.0    $ 846,594    100.0    $ 2,776,363    100.0    $ 2,558,762    100.0

Salaries, wages and benefits

     354,239    39.4      338,526    40.0      1,058,477    38.1      1,001,233    39.1

Other operating expenses

     173,623    19.3      168,145    19.9      519,825    18.7      470,538    18.4

Supplies expense

     150,322    16.7      140,940    16.6      463,877    16.7      443,584    17.3

Provision for doubtful accounts

     116,039    12.9      100,952    11.9      339,657    12.2      287,364    11.2

Depreciation and amortization

     38,281    4.3      37,984    4.5      113,967    4.1      109,776    4.3

Lease and rental

     12,266    1.4      12,572    1.5      37,093    1.3      35,194    1.4

Hurricane related expenses

     —      —        —      —        —      —        161    0.0
                                               

Subtotal operating expenses

     844,770    93.9      799,119    94.4      2,532,896    91.2      2,347,850    91.8
                                               

Income before interest expense, minority interest and income taxes

     54,560    6.1      47,475    5.6      243,467    8.8      210,912    8.2

Interest expense, net

     967    0.1      1,056    0.1      2,870    0.1      2,583    0.1

Minority interests in earnings of consolidated entities

     8,929    1.0      9,051    1.1      31,873    1.2      30,464    1.1
                                               

Income before income taxes

   $ 44,664    5.0    $ 37,368    4.4    $ 208,724    7.5    $ 177,865    7.0
                                               

During the three months ended September 30, 2008, as compared to the comparable prior year quarter, net revenues at our acute care hospitals increased 6% or $53 million. The increase in net revenues was primarily attributable to:

 

   

a $22 million increase in same facility revenues, as discussed above, and;

 

   

$31 million of other combined net changes consisting primarily of the revenues generated at the newly constructed Centennial Hills Hospital which was completed and opened during the first quarter of 2008.

Income before income taxes increased $7 million during the third quarter of 2008 as compared to the comparable quarter of 2007. Included in income before income taxes at our acute care hospitals during the third quarter of 2008, as compared to the comparable prior year quarter, was the following:

 

   

a decrease of $2 million at our acute care facilities on a same facility basis, as discussed above;

 

   

a favorable change of $8 million due to the charges recorded during the third quarter of 2007 related to the reserving of prior period Medicaid supplemental payments and the write-down of the carrying value of an investment in a joint-venture, and;

 

   

$1 million of combined net favorable changes.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2008, as compared to the comparable prior year period, net revenues at our acute care hospitals increased 9% or $218 million. The increase in net revenues was primarily attributable to:

 

   

a $145 million increase in same facility revenues, as discussed above, and;

 

   

$73 million of other combined net changes consisting primarily of the revenues generated at Centennial Hills Hospital.

 

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Income before income taxes increased $31 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2008 as compared to the comparable period of 2007. Included in income before income taxes at our acute care hospitals during the first nine months of 2008, as compared to the comparable prior year period, was the following:

 

   

an increase of $42 million at our acute care facilities on a same facility basis, as discussed above;

 

   

a decrease of $14 million resulting from a reduction to our prior year reserves for professional and general liability self-insured claims attributable to our acute care facilities recorded during the nine months ended September 30, 2007, as mentioned above;

 

   

a favorable change of $9 million due to the charges recorded during the nine months ended September 30, 2007 related to the reserving of prior period Medicaid supplemental payments and the write-down of the carrying value of an investment in a joint-venture, and;

 

   

$6 million of combined unfavorable changes including the pre-tax loss incurred at Centennial Hills Hospital.

Behavioral Health Services

The following table summarizes the results of operations for our behavioral health care facilities, on a same facility basis, and is used in the discussion below for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007 (dollar amounts in thousands):

Same Facility – Behavioral Health

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30,
   Nine Months Ended
September 30,
     2008    %    2007    %    2008    %    2007    %

Net revenues

   $ 308,483    100.0    $ 281,800    100.0    $ 918,693    100.0    $ 844,329    100.0

Salaries, wages and benefits

     151,058    49.0      140,886    50.0      450,650    49.1      420,027    49.7

Other operating expenses

     57,391    18.6      53,860    19.1      169,158    18.4      158,415    18.8

Supplies expense

     18,140    5.9      16,852    6.0      53,013    5.8      49,616    5.9

Provision for doubtful accounts

     8,657    2.8      7,399    2.6      24,565    2.7      20,162    2.4

Depreciation and amortization

     7,456    2.4      7,288    2.6      21,135    2.3      20,234    2.4

Lease and rental

     4,143    1.3      4,000    1.4      12,677    1.4      12,109    1.4
                                               

Subtotal operating expenses

     246,845    80.0      230,285    81.7      731,198    79.6      680,563    80.6
                                               

Income before interest expense, minority interests and income taxes

     61,638    20.0      51,515    18.3      187,495    20.4      163,766    19.4

Interest expense, net

     54    0.0      60    0.0      225    0.0      277    0.0

Minority interests in earnings of consolidated entities

     17    0.0      11    0.0      10    0.0      332    0.1
                                               

Income before income taxes

   $ 61,567    20.0    $ 51,444    18.3    $ 187,260    20.4    $ 163,157    19.3
                                               

On a same facility basis during the third quarter of 2008, as compared to the third quarter of 2007, net revenues at our behavioral health care facilities increased 10% or $27 million. Income before income taxes increased $10 million or 20% to $62 million or 20.0% of net revenues during the three months ended September 30, 2008, as compared to $51 million or 18.3% of net revenues during the comparable prior year quarter.

On a same facility basis during the nine months ended September 30, 2008, as compared to the comparable period of the prior year, net revenues at our behavioral health care facilities increased 9% or $74 million. Income before income taxes increased $24 million or 15% to $187 million or 20.4% of net revenues during the first nine months of 2008, as compared to $163 million or 19.3% of net revenues during the comparable prior year period.

Inpatient admissions to these facilities increased 8.5% and 8.3% during the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2008, respectively, as compared to the comparable 2007 periods. Patient days increased 3.9% and 4.4% during the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2008, respectively, over the comparable 2007 periods. The average length of patient stay at these facilities was 15.6 days and 16.3 days during the quarters ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively, and 15.9 days and 16.5 days during the nine month periods ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively. The occupancy rate, based on the average available beds at these facilities, was 75% and 74% during the three months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively, and 76% and 75% during the nine month periods ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

On a same facility basis, net revenue per adjusted patient day at these facilities increased 5.3% and 4.5%, during the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2008, respectively, as compared to the comparable prior year periods. Net revenue per adjusted admission at these facilities increased 0.9% and 0.7% during the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2008, respectively, as compared to the comparable prior year periods.

 

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The following table summarizes the results of operations for our behavioral health care facilities, including newly acquired or recently opened facilities, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007 (dollar amounts in thousands):

All Behavioral Health Care Facilities

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30,
   Nine Months Ended
September 30,
     2008    %    2007     %    2008    %    2007     %

Net revenues

   $ 310,832    100.0    $ 285,013     100.0    $ 941,006    100.0    $ 847,578     100.0

Salaries, wages and benefits

     153,390    49.3      143,734     50.4      463,808    49.3      423,477     50.0

Other operating expenses

     58,781    18.9      55,920     19.6      176,465    18.8      159,100     18.8

Supplies expense

     18,472    5.9      17,053     6.0      54,655    5.8      49,891     5.9

Provision for doubtful accounts

     8,729    2.8      7,320     2.6      25,103    2.7      20,083     2.4

Depreciation and amortization

     7,494    2.4      7,314     2.6      21,892    2.3      20,372     2.4

Lease and rental

     4,277    1.4      4,160     1.5      13,090    1.4      12,272     1.4
                                                 

Subtotal operating expenses

     251,143    80.8      235,501     82.6      755,013    80.2      685,195     80.8
                                                 

Income before interest expense, minority interests and income taxes

     59,689    19.2      49,512     17.4      185,993    19.8      162,383     19.2

Interest expense, net

     70    0.0      98     0.0      241    0.1      315     0.1

Minority interests in earnings of consolidated entities

     17    0.0      (1,256 )   -0.4      10    0.0      (935 )   -0.1
                                                 

Income before income taxes

   $ 59,602    19.2    $ 50,670     17.8    $ 185,742    19.7    $ 163,003     19.2
                                                 

During the third quarter of 2008, as compared to the comparable prior year quarter, net revenues at our behavioral health care facilities (including newly acquired or recently opened facilities), increased 9% or $26 million. The increase in net revenues was attributable to

 

   

a $27 million increase in same facility revenues, as discussed above, and;

 

   

a $1 million net decrease in combined net revenues due primarily to the divestiture of certain non-strategic behavioral health related schools during the third quarter of 2008.

Income before income taxes increased $9 million or 18% to $60 million or 19.2% of net revenues during the third quarter of 2008, as compared to $51 million or 17.8% of net revenues during the third quarter of 2007. The increase in income before income taxes at our behavioral health facilities was attributable to:

 

   

a $10 million increase at our behavioral health facilities owned for more than a year, as discussed above, and;

 

   

$1 million of other combined net decreases.

During the first nine months of 2008, as compared to the comparable prior year period, net revenues at our behavioral health care facilities (including newly acquired or recently opened facilities), increased 11% or $93 million. The increase in net revenues was attributable to

 

   

a $74 million increase in same facility revenues, as discussed above, and;

 

   

$19 million of revenues generated at facilities recently acquired or opened.

Income before income taxes increased $23 million or 14% to $186 million or 19.7% of net revenues during the first nine months of 2008, as compared to $163 million or 19.2% of net revenues during the comparable period of 2007. The increase in income before income taxes at our behavioral health facilities was attributable to:

 

   

a $24 million increase at our behavioral health facilities owned for more than a year, as discussed above;

 

   

an unfavorable change of $2 million resulting from a reduction to our prior year reserves for professional and general liability self-insured claims attributable to our behavioral health facilities recorded during the nine months of 2007, as mentioned above, and;

 

   

an increase of $1 million resulting from the combined income, net of losses, generated at recently acquired or opened facilities.

 

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Sources of Revenue

Overview: We receive payments for services rendered from private insurers, including managed care plans, the federal government under the Medicare program, state governments under their respective Medicaid programs and directly from patients.

The following table shows the approximate percentages of net patient revenue for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2008 and 2007 presented on: (i) a combined basis for both our acute care and behavioral health facilities; (ii) for our acute care facilities only, and; (iii) for our behavioral health facilities only:

Acute Care and Behavioral Health Facilities Combined

 

     Percentage of Net
Patient Revenues
    Percentage of Net
Patient Revenues
 
     Three Months Ended
September 30,
    Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
     2008     2007     2008     2007  

Third Party Payors:

        

Medicare

   23 %   24 %   24 %   24 %

Medicaid

   14 %   15 %   12 %   13 %

Managed Care (HMO and PPOs)

   46 %   44 %   46 %   44 %

Other Sources

   17 %   17 %   18 %   19 %
                        

Total

   100 %   100 %   100 %   100 %
                        

Acute Care Facilities

 

     Percentage of Net
Patient Revenues
    Percentage of Net
Patient Revenues
 
     Three Months Ended
September 30,
    Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
     2008     2007     2008     2007  

Third Party Payors:

        

Medicare

   26 %   26 %   26 %   27 %

Medicaid

   11 %   12 %   8 %   9 %

Managed Care (HMO and PPOs)

   48 %   46 %   47 %   45 %

Other Sources

   15 %   16 %   19 %   19 %
                        

Total

   100 %   100 %   100 %   100 %
                        

Behavioral Health Facilities

 

     Percentage of Net
Patient Revenues
    Percentage of Net
Patient Revenues
 
     Three Months Ended
September 30,
    Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
     2008     2007     2008     2007  

Third Party Payors:

        

Medicare

   17 %   16 %   16 %   15 %

Medicaid

   23 %   26 %   23 %   25 %

Managed Care (HMO and PPOs)

   41 %   40 %   42 %   41 %

Other Sources

   19 %   18 %   19 %   19 %
                        

Total

   100 %   100 %   100 %   100 %
                        

 

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Medicare: Diagnosis Related Group rates (“DRG”) are adjusted by an update factor each federal fiscal year, which begins on October 1. The index used to adjust the DRG rates, known as the “hospital market basket index,” gives consideration to the inflation experienced by hospitals in purchasing goods and services. Generally, however, the percentage increases in the DRG payments have been lower than the projected increase in the cost of goods and services purchased by hospitals. For federal fiscal year 2008 the update factor is 3.3% and for 2007 it was 3.4%. Hospitals are allowed to receive the full basket update if they provide the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”) with specific data relating to the quality of services provided. We have complied fully with this requirement and intend to comply fully in future periods. Generally, CMS expects that payments to all hospitals will increase by approximately 3.5% for federal fiscal year 2008, primarily as a result of the 3.3% market basket increase. Payments to specific hospitals may increase more or less than this amount depending on the patients they serve. For example, urban hospitals that generally treat more severely ill patients are expected to receive a 3.8% increase in payments.

In September, 2007, the “TMA, Abstinence Education, and QI Programs Extension Act of 2007” legislation took effect and will scale back cuts in hospital reimbursement that CMS was set to impose under the final rule for the Inpatient Prospective Payment System (“IPPS”) for federal fiscal year 2008. CMS planned on reducing the standardized amount by 1.2% in 2008 and 1.8% in 2009 to account for expected changes in coding practices by hospitals in response to the CMS implementation of the new Medicare-Severity Diagnosis Related Group system for inpatient hospitals. The new law cuts these reductions by 0.6% in 2008 and 0.9% in 2009. In federal fiscal years 2010 to 2012, the new law also requires CMS to make an adjustment to the Medicare standardized amount in these years to reflect the removal of actual aggregate payment increases or decreases for documentation and coding adjustments that occurred during federal fiscal years 2008 and 2009 as compared to the initial CMS estimates of the MS-DRG coding and documentation change impact of 0.6% and 0.9%, respectively. We are unable to predict the impact of this CMS adjustment on the revenues and operating results of our acute care hospitals.

In July, 2008, CMS published the final IPPS 2009 payment rule which provides for a 3.6% market basket increase to the base Medicare DRG blended rate. When statutorily mandated budget neutrality factors and annual geographic wage index updates are considered, we estimate our overall increase from the final rule in federal fiscal year 2009 will approximate 3.7% to 4.2%.

Outpatient services were traditionally paid at the lower of customary charges or on a reasonable cost basis. The Balanced Budget Act of 1997 established the outpatient prospective payment system for outpatient hospital services provided on or after August 1, 2000 (“OPPS”). Under the OPPS, CMS pays for hospital outpatient services on a rate-per-service basis that varies according to the ambulatory payment classification (“APC”) group to which the service is assigned. The OPPS rate is an unadjusted national payment amount that includes the Medicare payment and the beneficiary co-payment. Special payments under the OPPS may be made for certain new technology items and services through transitional pass-through payments and special reimbursement rates. On November 1, 2007, CMS released a final rule with comment period updating the hospital OPPS. The rule is effective for those services furnished in calendar year 2008, by general acute care hospitals, inpatient rehabilitation facilities, inpatient psychiatric facilities and long-term acute care hospitals. CMS estimates that hospitals will receive an overall average increase of 3.8% in Medicare payments for outpatient services in 2008, after accounting for the annual market basket update and other factors that typically affect the level of payments. Changes in the final rule including providing larger payment bundles for certain OPPS services which will, in CMS’s estimation, provide hospitals with more flexibility in managing their resources. The rule also updates the payment rates for the revised ambulatory surgical center payment system, beginning in 2008. In October 2008, CMS published the proposed OPPS annual payment update for 2009 which will be 3.6%.

We operate inpatient rehabilitation hospital units that treat Medicare patients with specific medical conditions which are excluded from the Medicare IPPS DRG payment methodology. Inpatient rehabilitation facilities (“IRFs”) must meet a certain volume threshold each year for the number patients with these specific medical conditions, often referred to as the “75 Percent Rule.” The Medicare, Medicaid and SCHIP Extension Act of 2007 (“MMSEA”) included a favorable permanent decrease of the IRF “75 Percent Rule” qualifying threshold to 60% from the current threshold of 65%. Medicare payment for IRF patients is based on a prospective case rate based on a CMS determined Case-Mix Group classification and is updated annually by CMS. The MMSEA includes provisions that provide IRF’s with a zero percent increase in Medicare rates for federal fiscal year 2009.

Psychiatric hospitals have also traditionally been excluded from the IPPS. However, on January 1, 2005, CMS implemented a new PPS (“Psych PPS”) for inpatient services furnished by psychiatric hospitals under the Medicare program. This system replaced the cost-based reimbursement guidelines with a per diem Psych PPS with adjustments to account for certain facility and patient characteristics. The Psych PPS also contains provisions for outlier payments and an adjustment to a psychiatric hospital’s base payment if it maintains a full-service emergency department. The new system was phased-in over a three-year period and was fully implemented for our behavioral health facilities by June 30, 2008. Also, CMS has included a stop-loss provision to ensure that hospitals avoid significant losses during the transition. According to the May, 2007 CMS notice, the market basket increase was 3.2% for the period of July 1, 2007 through June 30, 2008. In addition, according to the May, 2008 CMS notice, the market basket increase is 3.2% for the period of July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009.

Medicaid: Medicaid is a joint federal-state funded health care benefit program that is administered by the states to provide benefits to qualifying individuals who are unable to afford care. Most state Medicaid payments are made under a PPS-like system, or under programs that negotiate payment levels with individual hospitals. Amounts received under the Medicaid program are generally significantly less than a hospital’s customary charges for services provided. In addition to revenues received pursuant to the Medicare

 

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program, we receive a large portion of our revenues either directly from Medicaid programs or from managed care companies managing Medicaid. All of our acute care hospitals and most of our behavioral health centers are certified as providers of Medicaid services by the appropriate governmental authorities.

We receive a large concentration of our Medicaid revenues from Texas and significant amounts from Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C. and Illinois. We can provide no assurance that reductions to Medicaid revenues, particularly in the above-mentioned states, will not have a material adverse effect on our future results of operations. Furthermore, the federal government and many states are currently working to effectuate significant reductions in the level of Medicaid funding, which could adversely affect future levels of Medicaid reimbursement received by our hospitals.

In February, 2005, a Texas Medicaid State Plan Amendment went into effect for Potter County that expands the supplemental inpatient reimbursement methodology for the state’s Medicaid program. In connection with this program, we earned revenues of $4 million during each of the three month periods ended September 30, 2008 and 2007 and $13 million during each of the nine month periods ended September 30, 2008 and 2007. At this time, we believe we will be entitled to revenues of approximately $6 million during the remaining three months of 2008 in connection with this program.

In July, 2006, CMS retroactively approved to June, 2005, an amendment to the Texas Medicaid State Plan which permits the state of Texas to make supplemental payments to certain hospitals located in Hidalgo, Maverick and Webb counties. Our four acute care hospital facilities located in these counties are eligible to receive these supplemental Medicaid payments. This program was subject to final state rule making procedures and the local governmental agencies providing the necessary funds on an ongoing basis through Inter-Governmental Transfers (“IGT”) to the state of Texas. In connection with this program, we earned revenues of $2 million and $7 million during the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2008, respectively. At this time, we believe we will be entitled to revenues of approximately $2 million during the remaining three months of 2008 in connection with this program.

As part of the CMS routine retroactive review of a new Texas Medicaid state plan amendment (“SPA”) that pertains to the Medicaid supplemental payment programs for Hidalgo and Webb counties, CMS previously indicated that certain IGTs related to this retroactive SPA approval may have been ineligible for federal matching dollars which were used to fund the programs. In the anticipation of a possible CMS retroactive IGT ineligibility determination, we recorded a charge of $9 million during 2007 to establish a reserve for potential CMS action related to these Medicaid supplemental payments applicable to state fiscal years 2005 and 2006. In April, 2008, we received notification that the $9 million of retroactive Medicaid supplemental payment were deemed ineligible for federal matching dollars. These funds will be recouped by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (“THHSC”) as an offset to future IGTs during state fiscal year 2009.

In October, 2007, we were notified by the THHSC that CMS deferred approximately 25% of the federal financial participation (“FFP”) on Medicaid supplemental payments made to private hospitals during the second calendar quarter of 2007 pursuant to two SPAs approved by CMS in July and September of 2006. This deferral applies to our acute care hospitals that operate in Hildalgo, Maverick and Webb counties. In April, 2008, we received notification from THHSC that a settlement agreement has been reached with CMS and that both CMS and THHSC intend to remove the supplemental payment deferral status. THHSC has resumed its distribution of supplemental payments in August, 2008 at levels consistent with pre-deferral amounts. We estimate that our hospitals in these counties will be entitled to supplemental payment reimbursements of approximately $7 million annually.

As directed by Texas Senate Bill 10, the THHSC is drafted as a Medicaid Reform Waiver (“Waiver”) proposal that would create a newly established Healthcare Opportunity Pool that would become effective upon CMS’s approval which is uncertain. The overall Waiver program design will be budget neutral on a statewide basis but individual hospitals, including those owned and operated by us, could be either favorably or adversely impacted. Although, at this time, we are unable to estimate the impact of the Waiver program on our future operating results, we can give no assurance that this Waiver program will not have a material adverse effect on our future results of operations.

Managed Care: A significant portion of our net patient revenues are generated from managed care companies, which include health maintenance organizations, preferred provider organizations and managed Medicare (referred to as Medicare Part C or Medicare Advantage) and Medicaid programs. In general, we expect the percentage of our acute care business generated from managed care programs to continue to grow. The consequent growth in managed care networks and the resulting impact of these networks on the operating results of our facilities vary among the markets in which we operate.

Tricare: In April, 2008, the Department of Defense (“DoD”) issued a proposed rule that would change the payment methodology for outpatient services that, if enacted, could significantly decrease payment for these services. The new payment methodology would basically adopt the current Medicare payment Outpatient Prospective Payment System for services provided to Tricare outpatients. Based upon our estimates, payments to us for these services could be reduced by as much as $6 million annually if the rule was enacted as proposed. We are unable to predict the effective date of the rule or whether the rule will be implemented as proposed.

Commercial Insurance: Our hospitals also provide services to individuals covered by private health care insurance. Private insurance carriers typically make direct payments to hospitals or, in some cases, reimburse their policy holders, based upon the particular hospital’s established charges and the particular coverage provided in the insurance policy. Private insurance reimbursement varies among payors and states and is generally based on contracts negotiated between the hospital and the payor.

 

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Commercial insurers are continuing efforts to limit the payments for hospital services by adopting discounted payment mechanisms, including predetermined payment or DRG-based payment systems, for more inpatient and outpatient services. To the extent that such efforts are successful and reduce the insurers’ reimbursement to hospitals and the costs of providing services to their beneficiaries, such reduced levels of reimbursement may have a negative impact on the operating results of our hospitals.

Other Sources: Our hospitals provide services to individuals that do not have any form of health care coverage. Such patients are evaluated, at the time of service or shortly thereafter, for their ability to pay based upon federal and state poverty guidelines, qualifications for Medicaid or other state assistance programs, as well as our local hospital’s indigent and charity care policy. Patients without health care coverage who do not qualify for Medicaid or indigent care write-offs are offered substantial discounts in an effort to settle their outstanding account balances.

State Medicaid Disproportionate Share Hospital Payments: Hospitals that have an unusually large number of low-income patients (i.e., those with a Medicaid utilization rate of at least one standard deviation above the mean Medicaid utilization, or having a low income patient utilization rate exceeding 25%) are eligible to receive a disproportionate share hospital (“DSH”) adjustment. Congress established a national limit on DSH adjustments. Although this legislation and the resulting state broad-based provider taxes have affected the payments we receive under the Medicaid program, to date the net impact has not been materially adverse.

Upon meeting certain conditions and serving a disproportionately high share of Texas’ and South Carolina’s low income patients, five of our facilities located in Texas and one facility located in South Carolina received additional reimbursement from each state’s DSH fund. The Texas and South Carolina programs have been renewed for each state’s 2009 fiscal years (covering the period of September 1, 2008 through August 31, 2009 for Texas and October 1, 2008 through September 30, 2009 for South Carolina). Included in our financial results was an aggregate of $9 million and $13 million during the three month periods ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively, and $30 million and $35 million during the nine month periods ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively. Failure to renew these DSH programs beyond their scheduled termination dates, failure of our hospitals that currently receive DSH payments to qualify for future DSH funds under these programs, or reductions in reimbursements, could have a material adverse effect on our future results of operations.

Sources of Revenues and Health Care Reform: Given increasing budget deficits, the federal government and many states are currently considering additional ways to limit increases in levels of Medicare and Medicaid funding, which could also adversely affect future payments received by our hospitals. In addition, the uncertainty and fiscal pressures placed upon the federal government as a result of, among other things, the ongoing military engagement in Iraq, the War on Terrorism, economic recovery stimulus packages, responses to natural disasters, such as Hurricane Katrina, the continuing expansion of a Medicare drug benefit and the federal budget deficit in general may affect the availability of federal funds to provide additional relief in the future. We are unable to predict the effect of future policy changes on our operations.

In addition to statutory and regulatory changes to the Medicare and each of the state Medicaid programs, our operations and reimbursement may be affected by administrative rulings, new or novel interpretations and determinations of existing laws and regulations, post-payment audits, requirements for utilization review and new governmental funding restrictions, all of which may materially increase or decrease program payments as well as affect the cost of providing services and the timing of payments to our facilities. The final determination of amounts we receive under the Medicare and Medicaid programs often takes many years, because of audits by the program representatives, providers’ rights of appeal and the application of numerous technical reimbursement provisions. We believe that we have made adequate provisions for such potential adjustments. Nevertheless, until final adjustments are made, certain issues remain unresolved and previously determined allowances could become either inadequate or more than ultimately required.

Finally, we expect continued third-party efforts to aggressively manage reimbursement levels and cost controls. Reductions in reimbursement amounts received from third-party payors could have a material adverse effect on our financial position and our results of operations.

Other Operating Results

Combined net revenues from our surgical hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers and radiation oncology centers were $8 million and $9 million during the three month periods ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively, and $22 million and $26 million during the nine month periods ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively. In connection with construction management contracts pursuant to the terms of which we are building/have built newly constructed acute care hospitals for an unrelated third party, we earned revenues of $25 million and $21 million during the three month periods ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively, and $40 million and $66 million during the nine month periods ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively. Combined income before income taxes earned in connection with the revenues mentioned above was not material to our results of operations during each of the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2008 and 2007.

 

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Interest expense was $13 million during each of the three month periods ended September 30, 2008 and 2007 and $40 million and $39 million during the nine month periods ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively. In June, 2008, we issued an additional $150 million of senior notes (the “Notes”) which formed a single series with the original Notes issued in June, 2006 (see Note 4 – Long Term Debt). Other than their date of issuance and initial price to the public, the terms of the Notes issued in June, 2008 are identical to, and trade interchangeably with, the Notes which were originally issued in June, 2006. The proceeds from this issuance were used to repay outstanding borrowings pursuant to our revolving credit agreement and accounts receivable securitization program. As compared to the comparable periods of the prior year, the combined average outstanding borrowings on the above-mentioned debt instruments increased $71 million and $110 million during the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2008, respectively. The increases in the combined average outstanding borrowings were offset by decreases in the combined average annual interest rate of 1.2% and 1.4% during the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2008, respectively, as compared to the comparable prior year periods.

The effective tax rate was 37.7% and 33.8% during the three month periods ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively, and 38.5% and 37.7% during the nine month periods ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively. The effective tax rates during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007 were: (i) favorably impacted by a $2 million favorable adjustment resulting from the reductions to reserves due to the expiration of statute of limitations in various tax jurisdictions, and; (ii) unfavorably impacted by an increase in the effective state income tax rate.

Liquidity

Net cash provided by operating activities

Net cash provided by operating activities was $396 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and $323 million during the nine month period of the prior year. The net increase of $73 million, or 23%, was primarily attributable to the following:

 

   

a favorable change of $32 million due to an increase in net income plus depreciation and amortization expense;

 

   

a favorable change of $8 million in accounts receivable;

 

   

a favorable change of $16 million in other assets and deferred charges partially due to the receipt during the second quarter of 2008 of a previously outstanding $9 million deposit held by our pharmacy supply distributor;

 

   

a favorable change of $8 million in our accrued insurance expense for self-insured professional and general liability and workers’ compensation claims, net of payments made;

 

   

$9 million of other combined net favorable changes.

Our days sales outstanding (“DSO”) are calculated by dividing our net revenue by the number of days in the nine month period. The result is divided into the accounts receivable balance at September 30th of each year to obtain the DSO. Our DSO were 46 days at September 30, 2008 and 49 days at September 30, 2007.

Net cash used in investing activities

During the nine month period ended September 30, 2008, we used $223 million of net cash in investing activities as compared to $376 million of net cash used in investing activities during the nine months ended September 30, 2007.

During the first nine months of 2008, we used $223 million of net cash in investing activities as follows:

 

   

spent $240 million to finance capital expenditures at our facilities, including construction costs related to Centennial Hills Hospital in Las Vegas, Nevada which was completed and opened during the first quarter of 2008, a new 171-bed acute care hospital located in Palmdale, California that is scheduled to be completed and opened in 2009, and a major expansion to our Southwest Healthcare System hospitals located in Wildomar and Murrieta, California;

 

   

received $33 million of proceeds from the sale of assets including the sale of our ownership interest in a third-party provider of supply chain services to various healthcare organizations and the sale of certain real property assets;

 

   

spent $15 million on the acquisition of a behavioral health care facility, and;

 

   

spent $1 million on other combined net investing activities.

During the first nine months of 2007, we used $376 million of net cash in investing activities as follows:

 

   

spent $263 million to finance capital expenditures at our facilities, including construction costs related to Centennial Hills Hospital, the new 171-bed acute care hospital located in Palmdale, California, a newly constructed replacement behavioral health care facility located in Chicago, Illinois that was completed and opened during the third quarter of 2007 and a major renovation to our 319-bed acute care facility located in Bradenton, Florida that was completed and opened during the second quarter of 2007;

 

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spent $103 million to acquire: (i) certain assets of Texoma Healthcare System located in Texas, including a 153-bed acute-care hospital, a 60-bed behavioral health hospital, a 21-bed freestanding rehabilitation hospital and TexomaCare, a physician group practice structured as a 501A corporation; (ii) the previously leased, real property assets of a behavioral health facility located in Ohio; (iii) a 52-bed behavioral health facility located in Dover, Delaware; (iv) a 97-bed behavioral health facility located in Pennsylvania, and; (v) a 78-bed behavioral health facility located in Utah;

 

   

spent $15 million to acquire the remaining 10% minority ownership interest in a limited liability company (“LLC”) that owns Methodist Hospital and Lakeland Medical Pavilion located in Louisiana that were severely damaged and closed as a result of Hurricane Katrina, and;

 

   

received $5 million in connection with the sale of vacant real property located in McAllen, Texas.

Net cash provided by/used in financing activities

During the nine month period ended September 30, 2008, we used $182 million of net cash in financing activities as compared to $52 million of net cash provided by financing activities during the comparable nine month period of 2007.

During the first nine months of 2008, we used $182 million of net cash provided by financing activities as follows:

 

   

generated $150 million of proceeds from the issuance of additional senior notes which have a 7.25% coupon rate and are scheduled to mature on June 30, 2016;

 

   

spent $219 million on net of repayments of debt primarily pursuant to our $800 million revolving credit facility and our $200 million accounts receivable securitization program;

 

   

spent $104 million to repurchase 2.05 million shares of our Class B Common Stock;

 

   

spent $12 million to pay quarterly cash dividends of $.08 per share, and;

 

   

generated $3 million from other combined sources.

During the first nine months of 2007, we generated $52 million of net cash provided by financing activities as follows:

 

   

generated $170 million of proceeds generated from borrowings pursuant to our $200 million accounts receivable securitization program;

 

   

spent $104 million for net debt repayments consisting primarily of repayments pursuant to our $800 million revolving credit facility;

 

   

spent approximately $14 million to repurchase 279,611 shares of our Class B Common Stock;

 

   

spent $13 million to pay quarterly cash dividends of $.08 per share;

 

   

received $12 million of capital contributions from minority members consisting primarily of capital contributions received from a third-party for their share of costs related to the construction of Centennial Hills Hospital, and;

 

   

generated $1 million from the issuance of shares of our Class B Common Stock pursuant to the terms of employee stock purchase plans.

2008 Expected Capital Expenditures:

During the remaining three months of 2008, we expect to spend approximately $80 million to $90 million on capital expenditures, including expenditures for capital equipment, renovations, new projects at existing hospitals and completion of major construction projects in progress at September 30, 2008. We believe that our capital expenditure program is adequate to expand, improve and equip our existing hospitals. We expect to finance all capital expenditures and acquisitions with internally generated funds and/or additional funds, as discussed below.

Capital Resources

Credit Facilities and Outstanding Debt Securities

We have an $800 million, unsecured non-amortizing revolving credit agreement, as amended (“Credit Agreement”) which is scheduled to expire in July, 2011. The Credit Agreement includes a $100 million sub-limit for letters of credit. The interest rate on the borrowings is determined, at our option, as either: (i) the one, two, three or six month London Inter-Bank Offer Rate (“LIBOR”) plus a spread of 0.33% to 0.575%; (ii) at the higher of the Agent’s prime rate or the federal funds rate plus 0.50%, or; (iii) a competitive bid rate. A facility fee ranging from 0.07% to 0.175% is required on the total commitment. The applicable margins over LIBOR and the facility fee are based upon our credit ratings from Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services and Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. At September 30, 2008, the applicable margin over the LIBOR rate was 0.50% and the facility fee was 0.125%. There are no compensating balance requirements. As of September 30, 2008, we had $210 million of borrowings outstanding under our revolving credit agreement and $527 million of available borrowing capacity, net of $63 million of outstanding letters of credit.

 

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In August, 2007, we entered into a $200 million accounts receivable securitization program (“Securitization”) with a group of conduit lenders and liquidity banks. The patient-related accounts receivable (“Receivables”) for substantially all of our acute care hospitals serve as collateral for the outstanding borrowings. The interest rate on the borrowings is based on the commercial paper rate plus a spread of .35%. The initial term of this Securitization was 364 days and the term can be extended for incremental 364 day periods upon mutual agreement of the parties. The facility was extended for a second 364-day term in August, 2008. The Securitization has a term-out feature that can be exercised by us if the banks do not extend the Securitization which would extend the maturity date to August, 2010. Under the terms of the term-out provision, the borrowing rate would be the same as our Credit Agreement rate. Outstanding borrowings which can be refinanced through available borrowings under the terms of our Credit Agreement are classified as long-term on our balance sheet. We have accounted for this Securitization as borrowings under SFAS No. 140, “Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments of Liabilities”. We maintain effective control over the Receivables since, pursuant to the terms of the Securitization, the Receivables are sold from certain of our subsidiaries to special purpose entities that are wholly-owned by us. The wholly-owned special purpose entities use the Receivables to collateralize the loans obtained from the group of third-party conduit lenders and liquidity banks. The group of third-party conduit lenders and liquidity banks do not have recourse to us beyond the assets of the wholly-owned special purpose entities that securitize the loans. As of September 30, 2008, we had $110 million of borrowings outstanding pursuant to this program and $90 million of available borrowing capacity.

In June, 2006, we issued $250 million of senior notes (the “Notes”) which have a 7.125% coupon rate and mature on June 30, 2016. Interest on the Notes is payable semiannually in arrears on June 30 and December 30 of each year. In June, 2008, we issued an additional $150 million of Notes which formed a single series with the original Notes issued in June, 2006. Other than their date of issuance and initial price to the public, the terms of the Notes issued in June, 2008 are identical to, and trade interchangeably with, the Notes which were originally issued in June, 2006.

During 2001, we issued $200 million of senior notes which have a 6.75% coupon rate and which mature on November 15, 2011. The interest on the senior notes is paid semiannually in arrears on May 15 and November 15 of each year. The senior notes can be redeemed in whole at any time and in part from time to time.

Our total debt as a percentage of total capitalization was 38% at September 30, 2008 and 40% at December 31, 2007. Covenants relating to long-term debt require maintenance of a minimum net worth, specified debt to total capital and fixed charge coverage ratios. We are in compliance with all required covenants as of September 30, 2008.

We expect to finance all capital expenditures and acquisitions, pay dividends and potentially repurchase shares of our common stock utilizing internally generated and additional funds. Additional funds may be obtained through: (i) the issuance of equity; (ii) borrowings under our existing revolving credit facility or through refinancing the existing revolving credit agreement, and/or; (iii) the issuance of other long-term debt. There can be no assurance that such additional funds will be available in the preferred amounts or from the preferred sources.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

During the three months ended September 30, 2008, there have been no material changes in the off-balance sheet arrangements consisting of operating leases and standby letters of credit and surety bonds. Reference is made to Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Operations and Financial Condition – Contractual Obligations and Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements, in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.

We have various obligations under operating leases or master leases for real property and under operating leases for equipment. The real property master leases are leases for buildings on or near hospital property for which we guarantee a certain level of rental income. We sublease space in these buildings and any amounts received from these subleases are offset against the expense. In addition, we lease four hospital facilities from the Trust with terms scheduled to expire in 2011 and 2014. These leases contain up to four, 5-year renewal options.

As of September 30, 2008, we were party to certain off balance sheet arrangements consisting of standby letters of credit and surety bonds. Our outstanding letters of credit and surety bonds as of September 30, 2008 totaled $77 million consisting of: (i) $73 million related to our self-insurance programs; (ii) $2 million consisting primarily of collateral for outstanding bonds of an unaffiliated third-party and public utility, and; (iii) $2 million of debt guarantees related to entities in which we own a minority interest.

 

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

There have been no material changes in the quantitative and qualitative disclosures during the nine months ended September 30, 2008. Reference is made to Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.

 

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Item 4. Controls and Procedures

As of September 30, 2008, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), we performed an evaluation of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) or Rule 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”). Based on this evaluation, the CEO and CFO have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that material information is recorded, processed, summarized and reported by management on a timely basis in order to comply with our disclosure obligations under the 1934 Act and the SEC rules thereunder.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting or in other factors during the third quarter of 2008 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

We are subject to claims and suits in the ordinary course of business, including those arising from care and treatment afforded by our hospitals and are party to litigation, as outlined below.

Investigation of South Texas Health System affiliates:

We and our South Texas Health System affiliates, which operate McAllen Medical Center, McAllen Heart Hospital, Edinburg Regional Medical Center and certain other affiliates, were served with a subpoena dated November 21, 2005, issued by the Office of Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services (“OIG”). At that time, the Civil Division of the U.S. Attorney’s office in Houston, Texas indicated that the subpoena was part of an investigation under the False Claims Act regarding compliance with Medicare and Medicaid rules and regulations pertaining to the employment of physicians and the solicitation of patient referrals from physicians from January 1, 1999 to the date of the subpoena, related to the South Texas Health System. Documents were produced on a rolling basis pursuant to this subpoena and several additional requests, including an additional March 9, 2007 subpoena, beginning in January of 2006. On February 16, 2007, our South Texas Health System affiliates were served with a search warrant in connection with what we were advised was a related criminal Grand Jury investigation concerning the production of documents. At that time, the government obtained various documents and other property related to the facilities. Follow-up Grand Jury subpoenas for documents and witnesses and other requests for information were subsequently served on South Texas Health System facilities and certain employees and former employees.

We have received notification from the U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”) that, at this time, the DOJ will not be pursuing criminal prosecutive action against Universal Health Services, Inc. or our South Texas Health System affiliates. The DOJ is still investigating whether or not any individuals independently obstructed justice as it relates to the civil subpoena dated November 21, 2005. Our representatives have been advised that the Civil Division of the U.S. Attorney’s office in Houston, Texas is continuing its investigation in connection with the civil subpoena dated November 21, 2005 issued by the OIG. Our legal representatives continue to meet with representatives of the Civil Division to discuss the status of this matter. We understand that, based on those discussions and its investigations to date, the government is focused on certain arrangements entered into by the South Texas Health System affiliates which, the government believes, may have violated Medicare and Medicaid rules and regulations pertaining to payments to physicians and the solicitation of patient referrals from physicians and other matters relating to payments to various individuals which may have constituted improper payments. We are cooperating with the investigations and are responding to the matters raised with us. We have been negotiating a possible settlement of this matter with the government. We expect to continue our discussions with the government to attempt to resolve this matter in a manner satisfactory to us and the government. There is no assurance that we will be able to do so, and, at this time, we are unable to evaluate the extent of any potential financial or other exposure in connection with this matter.

Litigation and Administrative Appeal of CMS’s Attempt to Terminate Medicare Participation of Two Rivers Psychiatric Hospital:

In late September, 2008, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”) issued a decision to terminate the participation in the Medicare program of Two Rivers Psychiatric Hospital (“Two Rivers”), a behavioral health facility operated by one of our affiliates in Kansas City. This decision was issued after state surveyors found Two Rivers to be allegedly out of compliance with the conditions of participation required for the Medicare program. Two Rivers has filed an administrative appeal with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Departmental Appeals Board, Civil Remedies Division, seeking review of that decision. In order to prevent CMS from terminating the facility from the program prior to a hearing in the administrative appeal, Two Rivers filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri against the Secretary, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, seeking a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction against CMS’s proceeding with the termination. The Court has issued a temporary restraining order in favor of Two Rivers, preventing CMS from terminating Two Rivers from the Medicare program and referring the case to a magistrate judge for a settlement conference prior to a hearing on the preliminary injunction motion. We expect to continue settlement discussions with CMS to attempt to resolve this matter in a manner satisfactory

 

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to us and CMS. If these discussions are not successful in settling the termination matter, we will continue to pursue our administrative appeal on an expedited basis and to seek the preliminary injunction from the court. There is no assurance that we will be able to prevent the termination of Two Rivers from participation in the Medicare program, which could have a material adverse effect on us.

Investigation of Virginia Behavioral Health Facilities

Late last year and again recently, the Office of Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services (“OIG”) issued subpoenas to two of our facilities, Marion Youth Center and Mountain Youth Academy, seeking documents related to the treatment of Medicaid beneficiaries at the facilities. We believe that the OIG is investigating whether claims for reimbursement submitted by those facilities to the Virginia Medicaid program were supported by adequate documentation of the services provided. There is no assurance that we will be able to satisfactorily negotiate a resolution to this issue. At this time we are unable to evaluate the extent of any potential financial or other exposure in connection with this matter.

On August 4, 2008, the Office of the Attorney General for the Commonwealth of Virginia issued a subpoena to Keystone Newport News, another of our facilities. We believe the Office of Attorney General is investigating whether Keystone Newport News complied with various Virginia laws and regulations, including documentation requirements.

In response to these subpoenas, we have been producing the requested documents on a rolling basis and we are cooperating with the investigations in all respects.

The healthcare industry is subject to numerous laws and regulations which include, among other things, matters such as government healthcare participation requirements, various licensure and accreditations, reimbursement for patient services, and Medicare and Medicaid fraud and abuse. Government action has increased with respect to investigations and/or allegations concerning possible violations of fraud and abuse and false claims statutes and/or regulations by healthcare providers. Providers that are found to have violated these laws and regulations may be excluded from participating in government healthcare programs, subjected to fines or penalties or required to repay amounts received from the government for previously billed patient services. We monitor all aspects of our business and have developed a comprehensive ethics and compliance program that is designed to meet or exceed applicable federal guidelines and industry standards. Because the law in this area is complex and constantly evolving, governmental investigation or litigation may result in interpretations that are inconsistent with industry practices, including ours. Although we believe our policies, procedures and practices comply with governmental regulations, from time to time, we are subjected to inquiries or actions with respect to our facilities. There is no assurance that we will not be faced with sanctions, fines or penalties in connection with such inquiries or actions, including with respect to the investigations and other matters discussed above. Even if we were to ultimately prevail, such inquiries and/or actions could have a material adverse effect on us.

In addition, various suits and claims arising against us in the ordinary course of business are pending. In the opinion of management, the outcome of such claims and litigation will not materially affect our consolidated financial position or results of operations.

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors

General economic and credit market conditions—The deterioration in the general economic conditions has not yet had a material unfavorable impact on our results of operations. However, our future patient volumes, our ability to collect our outstanding accounts receivable and our overall future results of operations could be materially unfavorably impacted by continued deterioration in general economic conditions which could result in increases to the number of people unemployed and/or uninsured as well as potential reductions to our revenues due to decreased funding related to Medicaid and other healthcare programs in certain states. The ongoing tightening in the credit markets and the instability in the banking and financial institutions has not had a material impact on us. However, there can be no assurance that continued deterioration in credit market conditions will not have a material unfavorable impact on our ability to finance our future growth through borrowed funds.

There have been no other material changes in our risk factors from those set forth in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.

 

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

During 2006 and 2007, our Board of Directors authorized us to repurchase additional shares on the open market under our stock repurchase program. Pursuant to the terms of our program, we purchased 240,010 shares at an average price of $60.91 per share or $14.6 million in the aggregate during the third quarter of 2008 and 2,053,994 shares at an average price of $50.85 per share or $104.4 million in the aggregate during the first nine months of 2008. As of September 30, 2008, the number of shares available for purchase was 3,571,098 shares. There is no expiration date for our stock repurchase program.

 

2008 period

   Total
number
of shares
purchased
    Average
price paid
per share
for forfeited
restricted
shares
   Total
number of
shares
purchased
as part of
publicly
announced
programs
   Average
price paid
per share
for shares
purchased
as part of
publicly
announced
program
   Aggregate
purchase
price paid
(in thousands)
   Maximum
number of
shares that
may yet be
purchased
under the
program

July, 2008

   1,000 (a)   $ 0.01    N/A      N/A      N/A    3,811,108

August, 2008

   242,459 (a)   $ 0.01    239,959    $ 60.91    $ 14,617    3,571,149

September, 2008

   1,051 (a)   $ 0.01    51      60.82      3    3,571,098
                                  

Total July through September

   244,510 (a)   $ 0.01    240,010    $ 60.91    $ 14,620    3,571,098
                                  

 

(a) Includes 1,000, 2,500 and 1,000 restricted shares that were forfeited by former employees pursuant to the terms of the restricted stock purchase plan in July, August and September, 2008, respectively.

Dividends

During the quarter ended September 30, 2008, we declared and paid dividends of $.08 per share.

 

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Item 6. Exhibits

(a) Exhibits:

 

11.   Statement re computation of per share earnings is set forth in Note 7 of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
31.1   Certification of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
31.2   Certification of the Company’s Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
32.1   Certification of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.2   Certification of the Company’s Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

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UNIVERSAL HEALTH SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Signatures

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

  Universal Health Services, Inc.
            (Registrant)
Date: November 7, 2008  

/s/ Alan B. Miller

  Alan B. Miller, Chairman of the Board,
  President and Chief Executive Officer
  (Principal Executive Officer)
 

/s/ Steve Filton

  Steve Filton, Senior Vice President,
  Chief Financial Officer
  (Principal Financial Officer)

 

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EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit No.

 

Description

11   Statement re computation of per share earnings is set forth in Note 7 of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
31.1   Certification of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15(d)-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
31.2   Certification of the Company’s Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15(d)-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
32.1   Certification of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.2   Certification of the Company’s Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

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