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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                            WASHINGTON, D.C.  20549

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                                    FORM 8-K
                                 CURRENT REPORT

                        Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
                     of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report                                                   May 18, 2000
(Date of Earliest Event Reported)

                      COLUMBIA/HCA HEALTHCARE CORPORATION
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its Charter)

                                    DELAWARE
                            (State of Incorporation)


 001-11239                                                       75-2497104
(Commission                                                   (I.R.S. Employer
File Number)                                                 Identification No.)


One Park Plaza, Nashville, Tennessee                                37203
(Address of principal executive offices)                          (Zip Code)


                                 (615) 344-9551
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

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ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS

     On May 18, 2000, Columbia/HCA Healthcare Corporation (the "Company")
announced an understanding to settle certain government civil claims.

ITEM 7. EXHIBIT

        Exhibit 20     Copy of press release dated May 18, 2000 relating to
                       announcement of understanding to settle certain
                       government civil claims.


                                   SIGNATURE

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934,
the Registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

COLUMBIA/HCA HEALTHCARE CORPORATION

/s/ JOHN M. FRANCK II
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John M. Franck II
Corporate Secretary

DATED: May 18, 2000