ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (Continued)
Results of Operations (continued)
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018 and 2017
Net income attributable to HCA Healthcare, Inc. totaled $2.723 billion, or $7.65 per diluted share, in the nine months ended September 30, 2018, compared to $1.742 billion, or $4.64 per diluted share, in the nine months ended September 30, 2017. The first nine months of 2018 results included net gains on sales of facilities of $420 million, or $0.89 per diluted share, and losses on retirement of debt of $9 million, or $0.02 per diluted share. The first nine months of 2017 results include net gains on sales of facilities of $10 million, or $0.02 per diluted share, and losses on retirement of debt of $39 million, or $0.07 per diluted share. The first nine months of 2018 results also included a reduction to the provision for income taxes of $316 million, or $0.89 per diluted share, on net income attributable to HCA Healthcare, Inc., excluding gains on sales of facilities and losses on retirement of debt, related to the estimated impact of tax rate changes under the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The first nine months of 2017 results also include additional expenses and losses of revenues of approximately $140 million, or $0.24 per diluted share, associated with the impact of hurricanes Harvey and Irma, and a negative impact to operating results related to the Texas Medicaid waiver program of $50 million, or $0.08 per diluted share, related to final settlement amounts for the program year ended September 30, 2017. The amount associated with the hurricanes is prior to any insurance recoveries. During the nine months ended September 30, 2018, we recorded a reduction to the provision for income taxes of $28 million, or $0.08 per diluted share, for tax credits related to certain 2017 hurricane-related expenses. Our provisions for income taxes for the first nine months of 2018 and 2017 also included tax benefits of $119 million, or $0.33 per diluted share, and $80 million, or $0.21 per diluted share, respectively, related to employee equity award settlements. All “per diluted share” disclosures are based upon amounts net of the applicable income taxes. Shares used for diluted earnings per share were 356.124 million shares for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 375.013 million shares for the nine months ended September 30, 2017. During 2017 and the first nine months of 2018, we repurchased 25.092 million shares and 11.558 million shares of our common stock, respectively.
Revenues increased 7.3% due to the combined impact of revenue per equivalent admission growth of 2.5% and a 4.7% increase in equivalent admissions for the first nine months of 2018 compared to the first nine months of 2017. Same facility revenues increased 6.6% due to the combined impact of a 3.8% increase in same facility revenue per equivalent admission and a 2.7% increase in same facility equivalent admissions for the first nine months of 2018 compared to the first nine months of 2017.
Salaries and benefits, as a percentage of revenues, were 46.3% in the first nine months of 2018 and 46.4% in the first nine months of 2017. Salaries and benefits per equivalent admission increased 2.3% in the first nine months of 2018 compared to the first nine months of 2017. Same facility labor rate increases averaged 3.3% for the first nine months of 2018 compared to the first nine months of 2017.
Supplies, as a percentage of revenues, were 16.6% in the first nine months of 2018 and 16.8% in the first nine months of 2017. Supply costs per equivalent admission increased 1.8% in the first nine months of 2018 compared to the first nine months of 2017. Supply costs per equivalent admission increased 4.0% for medical devices and 1.6% for general medical and surgical items, and declined 0.8% for pharmacy supplies in the first nine months of 2018 compared to the first nine months of 2017.
Other operating expenses, as a percentage of revenues, were 18.5% in the first nine months of 2018 and 18.6% in the first nine months of 2017. Other operating expenses is primarily comprised of contract services, professional fees, repairs and maintenance, rents and leases, utilities, insurance (including professional liability insurance) and nonincome taxes. Provisions for losses related to professional liability risks were $312 million and $353 million for the first nine months of 2018 and 2017, respectively. During the first nine months of 2018, we recorded a reduction of $70 million, or $0.15 per diluted share, to our provision for professional liability risks related to the receipt of updated actuarial information.
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