EXHIBIT 99.1

[HCA LOGO] NEWS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
INVESTOR CONTACT: MEDIA CONTACT:
Mark Kimbrough Jeff Prescott
615-344-2688 615-344-5708

HCA REPORTS 2005 FIRST QUARTER RESULTS OF $0.95 PER DILUTED SHARE
INCREASES 2005 EARNINGS GUIDANCE RANGE TO $3.05 TO $3.20 PER DILUTED SHARE

Nashville, Tenn., April 21, 2005 - HCA (NYSE: HCA) today announced results for
its first quarter ended March 31, 2005. Net income for the first quarter of
2005 was $414 million, or $0.95 per diluted share, compared to $345 million, or
$0.69 per diluted share, in the previous year's first quarter.

Also, HCA today announced revised earnings guidance for the full year 2005
within a range of $3.05 to $3.20 per diluted share. Previous guidance for 2005
was a range of $2.75 to $2.90 per diluted share.

"I am extremely pleased with the results of our first quarter. Solid inpatient
and outpatient volume growth, favorable patient mix, effective expense
management and improving bad debt trends, or more simply, a slowing rate of
increase associated with the uncollectability of uninsured receivables, all
contributed to the substantial improvement in our financial performance,"
stated Jack O. Bovender, Jr., HCA's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.

For the first quarter of 2005, revenues increased 4.1 percent to $6.2 billion
from $5.9 billion in the first quarter of 2004. First quarter 2005 results
benefited from same facility admission growth of 1.0 percent, same facility
equivalent admission growth of 2.1 percent and an increase in same facility
surgical procedures in the quarter of 1.1 percent over the prior year's first
quarter.

Outpatient surgical volumes improved in the first quarter as same facility
outpatient surgeries increased 1.5 percent. This statistic includes ambulatory
surgery center volumes, which increased 3.2 percent, and hospital based
outpatient surgeries, which increased 0.6 percent in the quarter.

Same facility emergency room visits increased 7.9 percent in the first quarter
of 2005, compared to the same period of 2004, partly due to higher flu or
pulmonary related volumes.

Same facility revenue per equivalent admission increased 2.5 percent in the
first quarter of 2005 compared to the prior year first quarter. HCA's revised
uninsured discount policy, which became effective January 1, 2005, resulted in
$109 million in discounts, $108 million on a same facility basis, being
provided to the uninsured during the first quarter of 2005. Adjusting for the
uninsured discounts, same facility revenue per equivalent admission growth was
4.3 percent in the first quarter of 2005 compared to the first quarter of 2004.
Revenues, the provision for doubtful accounts, certain operating expense
categories as a percentage of revenues and revenue per equivalent admission
have been adjusted to reflect the impact of the discounts to the uninsured in
the attached table entitled "Supplemental Non-GAAP Disclosures" and the related
footnotes describe how the Company uses the measures and why the Company
believes these measures are useful.

The provision for doubtful accounts for the first quarter of 2005 was $574
million, or 9.3 percent of revenues, compared to $694 million, or 11.7 percent
of revenues, in the first quarter of 2004. Adjusting for the effect of the
uninsured discounts, the provision for doubtful accounts for the first quarter
of 2005 was $683 million, or 10.9 percent of revenues. Charity care (excluding
the discounts to the uninsured) was $284 million in the first quarter of 2005
compared to $218 million in the first quarter of 2004. Both charity care and
the new uninsured discounts lower revenues and the provision for doubtful
accounts by generally corresponding amounts.

During the first quarter of 2005, the Company experienced a moderation in the
growth in its uninsured patient admissions and emergency room visits. Same
facility uninsured admissions, compared to the first quarter of 2004, increased
3.3 percent. Same facility uninsured emergency room visits increased 15.1
percent in the first quarter of 2005 compared to the first quarter of 2004.

CASH FLOW AND BALANCE SHEET

HCA's cash flow from operations increased by 6.6 percent to $823 million in the
first quarter of 2005 compared to $772 million in the first quarter of 2004.

As of March 31, 2005, the Company's balance sheet reflected total debt of $9.9
billion, stockholders' equity (including common and minority equity) of $6.1
billion and total assets of $21.7 billion. HCA's ratio of debt to debt plus
common and minority equity was 61.7 percent at March 31, 2005, compared to 66.9
percent at December 31, 2004.

OUTPATIENT ACQUISITIONS

HCA has completed the following outpatient facility acquisitions during 2005:

Center Name Location No. of Centers
- ------------------------------- ---------------- -----------------------

Cancer Hope Cancer Centers Tallahassee, FL 3
First Health Jacksonville, FL 1
Total I Tampa, FL 5
MDI- Medical Diagnostic Imaging South Florida 7 (60% ownership)

Cancer Hope Cancer Centers offer outpatient radiation therapy services and the
other 13 centers offer various diagnostic services such as MRI, CT, ultrasound,
mammography and bone density services. Also, during the first quarter of 2005,
the Company opened Denton Ambulatory Surgery Center, a multi-specialty surgery
center in Denton, TX.

STATUS OF ASSET SALES

On March 28, 2005, the Company announced its intention to divest ten hospitals
located primarily in rural and small urban markets. Significant interest in
purchasing these facilities has been received by the Company's financial
advisor, Merrill Lynch. The Company expects the disposition of the ten
hospitals to be substantially completed by the fourth quarter of 2005. Since
these hospitals are not material to the Company's financial position or results
of operations, they will continue to be included in the Company's consolidated
financial results until divested.

REVISED 2005 EARNINGS GUIDANCE

Based upon the better than expected first quarter results, the Company has
revised its full year 2005 earnings guidance to a range of $3.05 to $3.20 per
diluted share. The Company's previous earnings guidance for 2005 was a range of
$2.75 to $2.90 per diluted share.

FACILITIES AT QUARTER END

At March 31, 2005, the Company operated 190 hospitals and 92 freestanding
surgery centers (including seven hospitals and eight freestanding surgery
centers operated through equity method joint ventures) located in 23 states,
London, England and Geneva, Switzerland compared to 191 hospitals and 83
freestanding surgery centers (including seven hospitals and four freestanding
surgery centers operated through equity method joint ventures) at March 31,
2004.

ANNUAL SHAREHOLDERS' MEETING

The Company's annual shareholders' meeting will be held at the Company's
headquarters in Nashville, Tennessee on May 26, 2005 at 1:30 p.m. local time
for shareholders of record as of March 28, 2005.

ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS

HCA's 2004 Annual Report to shareholders, which is being sent to shareholders
in connection with the Company's annual meeting, focuses on the initiatives of
the Company in the areas of quality of care and patient safety. The report
describes HCA's Perinatal Safety Program, which seeks to improve clinical care
provided to mothers and their babies; a system for Electronic Medication
Administration and Barcoding that uses wireless barcoding technology to ensure
that the right dosage of the right medication is delivered to each patient; and
Electronic Physician Order Management to enable physicians to submit
computerized medical orders for patients. The Report also describes HCA's
Quality Review System, which helps maintain quality standards by measuring and
reporting clinical performance of HCA's hospitals.

EARNINGS CONFERENCE CALL

HCA will host a conference call for investors to discuss first quarter results
at 8:30 a.m. Central Daylight Time today. All interested investors are invited
to access a live audio broadcast of the call via webcast. The broadcast also
will be available on a replay basis beginning this afternoon and through the
next year. The webcast can be accessed via the following link:
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?p=irol-eventDetails&c=63489&eventID=
1042131 or on the Investor Relations page at www.hcahealthcare.com.

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains forward-looking statements based on current
management expectations. Those forward-looking statements include all
statements regarding our estimated results of operations in future periods and
all statements other than those made solely with respect to historical fact.
Numerous risks, uncertainties and other factors may cause actual results to
differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. These
factors include, but are not limited to (i) the increased leverage resulting
from the financing of our modified " Dutch " tender offer completed in 2004,
(ii) increases in the amount and risk of collectability of uninsured accounts
and deductibles and co-pay amounts for insured accounts, (iii) the ability to
achieve operating and financial targets, achieve expected levels of patient
volumes and control the costs of providing services, (iv) the highly
competitive nature of the health care business, (v) the efforts of insurers,
health care providers and others to contain health care costs, (vi) possible
changes in the Medicare, Medicaid and other state programs that may impact
reimbursements to health care providers and insurers, (vii) the ability to
attract and retain qualified management and other personnel, including
affiliated physicians, nurses and medical support personnel, (viii) potential
liabilities and other claims that may be asserted against the

Company, (ix) fluctuations in the market value of the Company's common stock,
(x) the impact of the Company's charity care and uninsured discounting policy
changes, (xi) changes in accounting practices, (xii) changes in general
economic conditions, (xiii) future divestitures which may result in charges,
(xiv) changes in revenue mix and the ability to enter into and renew managed
care provider arrangements on acceptable terms, (xv) the availability and terms
of capital to fund the expansion of the Company's business, (xvi) changes in
business strategy or development plans, (xvii) delays in receiving payments for
services provided, (xviii) the possible enactment of Federal or state health
care reform, (xix) the outcome of pending and any future tax audits, appeals
and litigation associated with the Company's tax positions, (xx) the outcome of
the Company's continuing efforts to monitor, maintain and comply with
appropriate laws, regulations, policies and procedures and the Company's
corporate integrity agreement with the government, (xxi) changes in Federal,
state or local regulations affecting the health care industry, (xxii) the
ability to successfully effect the planned divesture(s) of ten hospitals,
(xxiii) the ability to develop and implement the payroll and human resources
information systems within the expected time and cost projections and, upon
implementation, to realize the expected benefits and efficiencies, (xxiv)
maintaining the increased quarterly cash dividend rate for the entire fiscal
year, and (xxv) other risk factors detailed in the Company's filings with the
SEC. Many of the factors that will determine the Company's future results are
beyond the ability of the Company to control or predict. In light of the
significant uncertainties inherent in the forward-looking statements contained
herein, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements,
which reflect management's views only as of the date hereof. The Company
undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements, or
to make any other forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise.

All references to "Company" and "HCA" as used throughout this document refer to
HCA Inc. and its affiliates.

HCA INC.
CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENTS
FIRST QUARTER
(DOLLARS IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)

2005 2004
---------------------- ----------------------
AMOUNT RATIO Amount Ratio
-------- ----- -------- -----

Revenues ....................................................... $ 6,182 100.0% $ 5,937 100.0%

Salaries and benefits .......................................... 2,443 39.5 2,333 39.3
Supplies ....................................................... 1,051 17.0 980 16.5
Other operating expenses ....................................... 972 15.7 951 16.1
Provision for doubtful accounts ................................ 574 9.3 694 11.7
Gains on investments ........................................... (9) (0.1) (10) (0.2)
Equity in earnings of affiliates ............................... (53) (0.9) (46) (0.8)
Depreciation and amortization .................................. 337 5.4 303 5.0
Interest expense ............................................... 164 2.7 135 2.3
-------- ----- -------- -----
5,479 88.6 5,340 89.9
-------- ----- -------- -----
Income before minority interests and income taxes .............. 703 11.4 597 10.1

Minority interests in earnings of consolidated entities ........ 40 0.7 38 0.7
-------- ----- -------- -----

Income before income taxes ..................................... 663 10.7 559 9.4

Provision for income taxes ..................................... 249 4.0 214 3.6
-------- ----- -------- -----

Net income ................................................ $ 414 6.7 $ 345 5.8
======== ===== ======== =====

Diluted earnings per share ..................................... $ 0.95 $ 0.69

Shares used in computing diluted earnings per share (000) ...... 435,660 497,621

HCA INC.
SUPPLEMENTAL NON-GAAP DISCLOSURES
CONSOLIDATED OPERATING RESULTS SUMMARY
(Dollars in millions, except per share amounts)

FIRST QUARTER
----------------------
2005 2004
-------- --------

Revenues ....................................................... $ 6,182 $ 5,937

Net income:
Net income .................................................. $ 414 $ 345
Depreciation and amortization ............................... 337 303
Interest expense ............................................ 164 135
Minority interests in earnings of consolidated entities ..... 40 38
Provision for income taxes .................................. 249 214
-------- --------

Adjusted EBITDA (a) ......................................... $ 1,204 $ 1,035
======== ========

Diluted earnings per share:
Net income .................................................. $ 0.95 $ 0.69

Shares used in computing diluted earnings per share (000) ...... 435,660 497,621

- ---------
(a) Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure. The Company believes
that adjusted EBITDA is an important operating measure that
supplements discussions and analysis of the Company's results of
operations. The Company believes that it is useful to investors to
provide disclosures of its results of operations on the same basis as
that used by management. HCA's management relies upon adjusted EBITDA
as a primary measure to review and assess operating performance of its
hospital facilities and their management teams.

Management and investors review both the Company's overall performance
(including GAAP net income and GAAP EPS) and the operating performance
of the Company's health care facilities (adjusted EBITDA). Adjusted
EBITDA and the adjusted EBITDA margin (adjusted EBITDA divided by
revenues) are utilized by management and investors to compare the
Company's current operating results with the corresponding periods
during the previous year and to compare the Company's operating
results with other companies in the health care industry.

Adjusted EBITDA is not a measure of financial performance under
accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, and
should not be considered an alternative to net income as a measure of
operating performance or to cash flows from operating, investing and
financing activities as a measure of liquidity. Because adjusted
EBITDA is not a measure determined in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles and is susceptible to varying
calculations, adjusted EBITDA, as presented, may not be comparable to
other similarly titled measures presented by other companies.

HCA INC.
SUPPLEMENTAL NON-GAAP DISCLOSURES
OPERATING MEASURES ADJUSTED FOR THE IMPACT OF DISCOUNTS FOR THE UNINSURED
FIRST QUARTER 2005
(DOLLARS IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT REVENUE PER EQUIVALENT ADMISSION)

REPORTED UNINSURED NON-GAAP GAAP % NON-GAAP %
GAAP DISCOUNTS ADJUSTED OF ADJUSTED
AMOUNTS ADJUSTMENT (a) AMOUNTS (b) REVENUES REVENUES
-------- -------------- ----------- -------- ----------

REPORTED:
Revenues ................................. $ 6,182 $109 $ 6,291 100.0% 100.0%

Salaries and benefits .................... 2,443 -- 2,443 39.5% 38.8%
Supplies ................................. 1,051 -- 1,051 17.0% 16.7%
Other operating expenses ................. 972 -- 972 15.7% 15.4%
Provision for doubtful accounts .......... 574 109 683 9.3% 10.9%

Admissions ............................... 432,643 432,643
Equivalent admissions .................... 636,418 636,418
Revenue per equivalent admission ......... $ 9,714 $ 9,885
% change from prior year ................. 2.3% 4.1%

SAME FACILITY:
Revenues ................................. $ 6,139 $108 $ 6,247
Admissions ............................... 431,247 431,247
Equivalent admissions .................... 633,933 633,933
Revenue per equivalent admission ......... $ 9,683 $ 9,855
% change from prior year ................. 2.5% 4.3%

(a) Represents the impact of the discounts for the uninsured for the
quarter. On January 1, 2005, HCA modified its policies to provide
discounts to uninsured patients who do not qualify for Medicaid or
charity care. These discounts are similar to those provided to many
local managed care plans. In implementing the discount policy, HCA
first attempts to qualify uninsured patients for Medicaid, other
Federal or state assistance or charity care. If an uninsured patient
does not qualify for these programs, the uninsured discount is
applied.

(b) Revenues, the provision for doubtful accounts, certain operating
expense categories as a percentage of revenues and revenue per
equivalent admission have been adjusted to exclude the discounts under
HCA's uninsured discount policy (non-GAAP financial measures). The
Company believes that these non-GAAP financial measures are useful to
investors to provide disclosures of its results of operations on the
same basis as that used by management. Management uses this
information to compare revenues, the provision for doubtful accounts,
certain operating expense categories as a percentage of revenues and
revenue per equivalent admission for periods prior and subsequent to
the January 1, 2005 implementation of the uninsured discount policy.
Management finds this information to be useful to enable the
evaluation of revenue and certain expense category trends that are
influenced by patient volumes and are generally analyzed as a
percentage of net revenues. These non-GAAP financial measures should
not be considered an alternative to GAAP financial measures. The
Company believes this supplemental information provides it and the
users of its financial statements with useful information for
period-to-period comparisons. Investors are encouraged to use GAAP
measures when evaluating the Company's overall financial performance.

HCA INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(DOLLARS IN MILLIONS)

MARCH 31, DECEMBER 31,
2005 2004
--------- ------------

ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents ................................. $ 144 $ 129
Accounts receivable, net .................................. 3,254 3,083
Inventories ............................................... 577 577
Deferred income taxes ..................................... 458 467
Other ..................................................... 484 427
--------- ---------

Total current assets ................................. 4,917 4,683

Property and equipment, at cost ................................ 20,216 19,970
Accumulated depreciation ....................................... (8,888) (8,574)
--------- ---------
11,328 11,396

Investments of insurance subsidiary ............................ 1,953 2,047
Investments in and advances to affiliates ...................... 611 486
Goodwill ....................................................... 2,579 2,540
Deferred loan costs ............................................ 96 99
Other .......................................................... 205 214
--------- ---------

$ 21,689 $ 21,465
========= =========

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable .......................................... $ 842 $ 855
Accrued salaries .......................................... 581 579
Other accrued expenses .................................... 1,298 1,254
Long-term debt due within one year ........................ 486 486
--------- ---------

Total current liabilities ............................ 3,207 3,174

Long-term debt ................................................. 9,372 10,044
Professional liability risks ................................... 1,326 1,283
Deferred income taxes and other liabilities .................... 1,664 1,748
Minority interests in equity of consolidated entities .......... 789 809

Stockholders' equity ........................................... 5,331 4,407
--------- ---------

$ 21,689 $ 21,465
========= =========

Current ratio .................................................. 1.53 1.48
Ratio of debt to debt plus common and minority equity .......... 61.7% 66.9%
Shares outstanding (thousands) ................................. 441,167 422,642

HCA INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOW
FIRST QUARTER
(DOLLARS IN MILLIONS)

2005 2004
----- -----

Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income .............................................................................. $ 414 $ 345
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Provision for doubtful accounts ....................................................... 574 694
Depreciation and amortization ......................................................... 337 303
Income taxes .......................................................................... 334 354
Change in operating assets and liabilities ............................................ (872) (972)
Other ................................................................................. 36 48
----- -----

Net cash provided by operating activities ........................................... 823 772
----- -----

Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of property and equipment ...................................................... (288) (390)
Acquisitions of hospitals and health care entities ...................................... (36) (15)
Disposal of hospitals and health care entities .......................................... 7 25
Change in investments ................................................................... (86) (58)
Other ................................................................................... 17 (3)
----- -----

Net cash used in investing activities ............................................... (386) (441)
----- -----

Cash flows from financing activities:
Issuance of long-term debt .............................................................. -- 501
Net change in revolving bank credit ..................................................... (670) (130)
Repayment of long-term debt ............................................................. (6) (335)
Repurchases of common stock ............................................................. -- (375)
Issuances of common stock ............................................................... 377 58
Payment of cash dividends ............................................................... (56) (10)
Other ................................................................................... (67) (7)
----- -----

Net cash used in financing activities ............................................... (422) (298)
----- -----

Change in cash and cash equivalents ........................................................ 15 33
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period ........................................... 129 115
----- -----

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period ................................................. $ 144 $ 148
===== =====

Interest payments .......................................................................... $ 130 $ 103
Income tax payments, net of refunds ........................................................ $ (85) $(140)

HCA INC.
OPERATING STATISTICS

FIRST QUARTER
-------------------------------
2005 2004
---------- ----------

CONSOLIDATED HOSPITALS:

Number of Hospitals .......................... 183 184
Weighted Average Licensed Beds ............... 41,856 41,934
Licensed Beds at End of Period ............... 41,892 41,931

REPORTED:
Admissions ................................... 432,600 430,300
% Change .................................. 0.5%
Equivalent Admissions ........................ 636,400 625,200
% Change .................................. 1.8%
Revenue per Equivalent Admission ............. $ 9,714 $ 9,497
% Change .................................. 2.3%
Inpatient Revenue per Admission .............. $ 9,069 $ 8,692
% Change .................................. 4.3%

Patient Days ................................. 2,159,200 2,173,600
Equivalent Patient Days ...................... 3,176,200 3,158,200

Inpatient Surgery Cases ...................... 135,500 135,400
% Change .................................. 0.1%
Outpatient Surgery Cases ..................... 211,000 207,500
% Change .................................. 1.7%

Emergency Room Visits ........................ 1,391,800 1,296,900
% Change .................................. 7.3%

Outpatient Revenues as a
Percentage of Patient Revenues ........... 35.6% 36.1%

Average Length of Stay ....................... 5.0 5.1

Occupancy .................................... 57.3% 57.0%
Equivalent Occupancy ......................... 84.3% 82.8%

SAME FACILITY:
Admissions ................................... 431,200 427,200
% Change .................................. 1.0%
Equivalent Admissions ........................ 633,900 620,700
% Change .................................. 2.1%
Revenue per Equivalent Admission ............. $ 9,683 $ 9,447
% Change .................................. 2.5%
Inpatient Revenue per Admission .............. $ 9,063 $ 8,659
% Change .................................. 4.7%

Inpatient Surgery Cases ...................... 135,200 134,800
% Change .................................. 0.4%
Outpatient Surgery Cases ..................... 207,600 204,500
% Change .................................. 1.5%

Emergency Room Visits ........................ 1,385,200 1,283,900
% Change .................................. 7.9%

NUMBER OF CONSOLIDATED AND
NON-CONSOLIDATED (50/50 EQUITY
JOINT VENTURES) HOSPITALS:

Consolidated ................................. 183 184
Non-Consolidated (50/50 Equity
Joint Ventures) ............................ 7 7
---------- ----------

Total Number of Hospitals .................... 190 191
========== ==========