EXHIBIT 99.1



HCA                                                                    NEWS

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                                                          FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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


                     HCA RESPONDS TO ZIMMER 8-K FORM FILING

NASHVILLE, TENN., FEBRUARY 7, 2006 - HCA (NYSE: HCA) On February 6, 2006, Zimmer
Holdings, Inc. filed a Form 8-K with the SEC placing in the public record a
letter sent to us regarding the administration of our orthopedic pricing
initiative and certain comments made during HCA's conference call with investors
on February 1, 2006. We have reviewed the Zimmer filing and the basis for
comments on this matter and want to provide the following information.

On the conference call, HCA's President and Chief Operating Officer Richard M.
Bracken referred to the status of the company's contracts with three orthopedic
device manufacturers saying:

         "Now, relative to the orthopedic program, please note that we are very
         pleased with our current position. As some of you might know, our
         program called for a committed compliance percentage with three
         national vendors, and included a gainsharing component which is
         currently under consideration by the OIG. In return, we received
         additional discounts. This compliance percent was to be achieved by
         December 31. However, at that point in time, we were several percentage
         points short."

Thus, Zimmer is correct to assert that it is no longer obligated to honor any
additional pricing discounts under HCA's orthopedic program.

Mr. Bracken further noted on the conference call:
         "...we have now met our target and are anticipating pricing discounts
         for the remainder of 2006."






 Mr. Bracken made his statement based upon information that he had at that
time. Our subsequent review indicates we were in error and did not meet that
target for any of the three vendors.

At the time of the conference call, HCA was in active negotiations with
representatives of Zimmer to reduce its compliance commitment from 95% to 90%,
and HCA believed it would be able to obtain that change. Having reviewed the
letter from Zimmer filed with the Form 8-K, we conclude we were wrong in this
belief.

"I regret any incorrect statements we have inadvertently made," said Jack O.
Bovender, Jr., HCA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "We will continue to
pursue our orthopedic program with our vendors, and I am hopeful we can resume
negotiations to revitalize the long and positive relationship between HCA and
Zimmer."



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