EXHIBIT 99.1

(HCA LOGO) NEWS
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
INVESTOR CONTACT: MEDIA CONTACT:
Mark Kimbrough Jeff Prescott
615-344-2688 615-344-5708

HCA Reports First Quarter 2006 Results
Revised 2006 Guidance

Nashville, Tenn., April 25, 2006 --- HCA (NYSE: HCA) announced today financial
results for the quarter ended March 31, 2006. Net income for the first quarter
of 2006 totaled $379 million, or $0.92 per diluted share, compared to $414
million, or $0.95 per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2005. Financial
results for the first quarter of 2006 include gains on sales of investments
related to securities held by the Company's wholly-owned insurance subsidiary of
$75 million, or $0.11 per diluted share, compared to gains of $9 million, or
$0.01 per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2005. The first quarter 2006
results also include additional compensation costs of $8 million, or $0.02 per
diluted share, due to the expensing of stock options and employee stock purchase
plan shares associated with the January 1, 2006 adoption of FASB Statement 123
(R), "Share-Based Payment."

The Company generated revenues of $6.415 billion for the first quarter of 2006,
compared to $6.182 billion in the same period of 2005. Same facility revenues
increased 5.0 percent, and same facility revenue per equivalent admission
increased 5.1 percent in the first quarter of 2006 (7.4 percent increase when
adjusted for uninsured discounts) compared to the previous year's first quarter.

Same facility equivalent admissions decreased 0.1 percent and same facility
admissions decreased 0.7 percent compared to the prior year's first quarter.
Flu-related pulmonary admissions decreased by approximately 5,000 admissions, or
10.5 percent, compared to the prior year's first quarter. On a same facility
basis, inpatient surgeries grew 2.3 percent and outpatient surgeries increased
1.0 percent compared to the prior year's first quarter.

The provision for doubtful accounts in the first quarter of 2006 totaled $596
million, or 9.3 percent of revenues, compared to $574 million, or 9.3 percent of
revenues, in the first quarter of 2005. Adjusted to reflect uninsured discounts,
the provision for doubtful accounts totaled $852 million, or 12.8 percent of
revenues in the first quarter of 2006, compared with $683 million, or 10.9
percent of revenues in the first quarter of 2005. Uninsured discounts in the
first quarters of 2006 and 2005 were $256 million and $109 million,
respectively. The Company's uninsured discount policy, which became effective in
the first quarter of 2005, lowers revenues and the provision for doubtful

accounts by generally corresponding amounts. Charity care totaled $281 million
in the first quarter of 2006 compared to $284 million in the previous year's
period. Same facility uninsured admissions (including charity patients)
increased by 2,438 admissions, or 13.1 percent, in the first quarter of 2006
compared to the first quarter of 2005.

REVISED 2006 GUIDANCE

The Company's prior guidance for 2006 included an estimated pretax gain of
approximately $105 million, or $0.14 per diluted share, from the anticipated
completion of the sale of 5 hospitals to LifePoint Hospitals, Inc. As previously
reported, the sale was not completed by March 31, 2006 as planned, and the two
companies are currently working on a modification of the purchase agreement.
Accordingly, the anticipated gain has been excluded from the revised guidance.
The Company now anticipates 2006 earnings to be in a range of $3.10 to $3.30 per
diluted share.

CASH FLOW AND BALANCE SHEET

During the first quarter of 2006, the Company repurchased 13.0 million shares of
its common stock at a cost of $653 million. HCA has repurchased a total of 49.7
million shares, completing the $2.5 billion share repurchase authorization
approved by the Company's Board in October 2005. Common shares outstanding at
March 31, 2006 were 408.1 million, compared to 417.5 million at December 31,
2005.

HCA's cash flow from operations totaled $365 million in the first quarter
compared to $852 million in the same period of 2005. During the first quarter of
2006, HCA made net income tax payments of $275 million, compared to the receipt
of net income refunds of $85 million during the first quarter of 2005.

As of March 31, 2006, the Company's balance sheet reflected total debt of $11.3
billion, stockholders equity (including common and minority equity) of $5.4
billion and total assets of $22.4 billion. HCA's ratio of debt to debt plus
common and minority equity was 67.6 percent at March 31, 2006, compared to 64.8
percent at December 31, 2005.

ANNUAL SHAREHOLDERS MEETING

The Company's annual shareholder's meeting will be held at the HCA Corporate
Office located in Nashville, Tennessee on May 25, 2006 at 1:30 p.m., local time,
for shareholders of record as of March 31, 2006.

EARNINGS CONFERENCE CALL

HCA will host a conference call for investors 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
at: http://www.videonewswire.com/event.asp?id=33108 or through the Company's
Investor Relations web page, www.hcahealthcare.com.

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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
other than those made solely with respect to historical fact, including
statements with respect to our earnings guidance for 2006. 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, (1) increases in the amount and risk of collectibility
of uninsured accounts and deductibles and copayment amounts for insured
accounts, (2) the ability to achieve operating and financial targets and achieve
expected levels of patient volumes and control the costs of providing services,
(3) possible changes in the Medicare, Medicaid and other state programs that may
impact reimbursements to health care providers and insurers, (4) the highly
competitive nature of the health care business, (5) changes in revenue mix and
the ability to enter into and renew managed care provider agreements on
acceptable terms, (6) the efforts of insurers, health care providers and others
to contain health care costs, (7) the impact of our charity care and uninsured
discounting policies, (8) the outcome of our continuing efforts to monitor,
maintain and comply with appropriate laws, regulations, policies and procedures
and our corporate integrity agreement with the government, (9) changes in
federal, state or local regulations affecting the health care industry, (10)
delays in receiving payments for services provided, (11) the ability to attract
and retain qualified management and personnel, including affiliated physicians,
nurses and medical support personnel, (12) the outcome of governmental
investigations by the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New
York and the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), (13) the outcome of
certain class action and derivative litigation filed with respect to us, (14)
the possible enactment of federal or state health care reform, (15) the
increased leverage resulting from the financing of our $2.5 billion share
repurchase authorization, (16) the availability and terms of capital to fund the
expansion of our business, (17) the outcome of our negotiations with LifePoint
Hospitals Inc. in connection with the divestiture of certain hospitals and our
ability to successfully consummate the hospital divestitures on a timely basis,
(18) the continuing impact of hurricanes on our facilities, the ability to
obtain recoveries under our insurance policies and the ability to secure
adequate insurance coverage in the future, (19) fluctuations in the market value
of our common stock, (20) changes in accounting practices, (21) changes in
general economic conditions, (22) future divestitures which may result in
charges, (23) changes in business strategy or development plans, (24) the
outcome of pending and any future tax audits, appeals and litigation associated
with our tax positions, (25) potential liabilities and other claims that may be
asserted against us, (26) 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, and (27) other risk factors described in our Annual Report on Form
10-K and other filings with the SEC. Many of the factors that will determine our
future results are beyond our ability 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. We undertake 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)

2006 2005
----------------------- -----------------------
AMOUNT RATIO AMOUNT RATIO
--------- ------- --------- ------

Revenues.................................................. $ 6,415 100.0% $ 6,182 100.0%

Salaries and benefits..................................... 2,611 40.7 2,443 39.5
Supplies.................................................. 1,114 17.4 1,051 17.0
Other operating expenses.................................. 1,037 16.2 972 15.7
Provision for doubtful accounts........................... 596 9.3 574 9.3
Gains on investments...................................... (75) (1.2) (9) (0.1)
Equity in earnings of affiliates.......................... (61) (1.0) (53) (0.9)
Depreciation and amortization............................. 345 5.4 337 5.4
Interest expense.......................................... 186 2.9 164 2.7
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5,753 89.7 5,479 88.6
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Income before minority interests and income taxes......... 662 10.3 703 11.4

Minority interests in earnings of consolidated entities... 55 0.8 40 0.7
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Income before income taxes................................ 607 9.5 663 10.7

Provision for income taxes................................ 228 3.6 249 4.0
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Net income........................................... $ 379 5.9 $ 414 6.7
====================== ======================

Diluted earnings per share................................ $ 0.92 $ 0.95

Shares used in computing diluted earnings per
share (000)............................................ 411,274 435,660

HCA INC.
SUPPLEMENTAL OPERATING RESULTS SUMMARY
(DOLLARS IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)

FIRST QUARTER
----------------------
2006 2005
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Revenues.................................................................. $ 6,415 $ 6,182

Net income................................................................ $ 379 $ 414
Depreciation and amortization........................................ 345 337
Interest expense..................................................... 186 164
Minority interests in earnings of consolidated entities.............. 55 40
Provision for income taxes........................................... 228 249
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Adjusted EBITDA (a).................................................. $ 1,193 $ 1,204
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Diluted earnings per share:
Net income........................................................... $ 0.92 $ 0.95

Shares used in computing diluted earnings per share (000)............ 411,274 435,660

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

Management and investors review both the overall performance (including
GAAP net income and GAAP EPS) and operating performance of our 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 our current operating results with the corresponding
periods during the previous year and to compare our 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 as alternatives 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 2006
(DOLLARS IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT REVENUE PER EQUIVALENT ADMISSION)

NON-
UNINSURED NON-GAAP GAAP % GAAP %
GAAP DISCOUNTS ADJUSTED OF ADJUSTED
AMOUNTS ADJUSTMENT (a) AMOUNTS (b) REVENUES REVENUES
--------- -------------- ----------- ------------- ---------------
2006 2005 2006 2005
----- ----- ----- -----

CONSOLIDATED:
Revenues......................... $ 6,415 $ 256 $ 6,671 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

Salaries and benefits............ 2,611 -- 2,611 40.7% 39.5% 39.1% 38.8%
Supplies......................... 1,114 -- 1,114 17.4% 17.0% 16.7% 16.7%
Other operating expenses......... 1,037 -- 1,037 16.2% 15.7% 15.5% 15.4%
Provision for doubtful accounts.. 596 256 852 9.3% 9.3% 12.8% 10.9%

Admissions....................... 421,000 421,000
Equivalent admissions............ 626,000 626,000
Revenue per equivalent admission. $ 10,246 $ 10,655
% change from prior year......... 5.5% 7.8%

SAME FACILITY:
Revenues......................... $ 6,293 $ 255 $ 6,548
Admissions....................... 418,800 418,800
Equivalent admissions............ 619,400 619,400
Revenue per equivalent admission. $ 10,161 $ 10,572
% change from prior year......... 5.1% 7.4%

(a) Represents the impact of the discounts for the uninsured for the period.
On January 1, 2005, we modified our 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 we first attempt 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. On a consolidated basis, we recorded
$256 million and $109 million of uninsured discounts during the first
quarters of 2006 and 2005, respectively.

(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). We believe these non-GAAP financial
measures are useful to investors to provide disclosures of our 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. We believe this supplemental information provides
management and the users of its financial statements with useful
information for period-to-period comparisons. Investors are encouraged to
use GAAP measures when evaluating our overall financial performance.

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

MARCH 31, DECEMBER 31,
ASSETS 2006 2005
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Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents.................................................... $ 453 $ 336
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts.................... 3,491 3,332
Inventories.................................................................. 624 616
Deferred income taxes........................................................ 535 372
Other........................................................................ 567 559
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Total Current assets..................................................... 5,670 5,215

Property and equipment, at cost................................................. 21,105 20,818
Accumulated depreciation........................................................ (9,740) (9,439)
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11,365 11,379

Investments of insurance subsidiary............................................. 1,947 2,134
Investments in and advances to affiliates....................................... 649 627
Goodwill........................................................................ 2,622 2,626
Deferred loan costs............................................................. 76 85
Other........................................................................... 86 159
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$ 22,415 $ 22,225
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LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable............................................................. $ 1,244 $ 1,484
Accrued salaries............................................................. 619 561
Other accrued expenses....................................................... 1,379 1,264
Long-term debt due within one year........................................... 704 586
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Total Current liabilities................................................ 3,946 3,895

Long-term debt.................................................................. 10,608 9,889
Professional liability risks.................................................... 1,378 1,336
Deferred taxes and other liabilities............................................ 1,067 1,414
Minority interests in equity of consolidated entities........................... 861 828

Stockholders' equity............................................................ 4,555 4,863
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$ 22,415 $ 22,225
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Current ratio................................................................... 1.44 1.34
Ratio of debt to debt plus common and minority equity........................... 67.6% 64.8%
Shares outstanding (thousands).................................................. 408,062 417,513

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

2006 2005
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Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income................................................................ $ 379 $ 414
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating
activities:
Provision for doubtful accounts....................................... 596 574
Depreciation and amortization......................................... 345 337
Income taxes.......................................................... (52) 334
Change in operating assets and liabilities............................ (961) (843)
Other................................................................. 58 36
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Net cash provided by operating activities......................... 365 852
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Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of property and equipment........................................ (342) (288)
Acquisition of hospitals and health care entities......................... (27) (36)
Disposal of hospitals and health care entities............................ 27 7
Change in investments..................................................... (45) (86)
Other..................................................................... (4) 17
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Net cash used in investing activities................................. (391) (386)
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Cash flows from financing activities:
Issuance of long-term debt................................................ 1,000 -
Net change in revolving bank credit facility.............................. 485 (670)
Repayment of long-term debt............................................... (630) (6)
Repurchase of common stock................................................ (653) -
Issuance of common stock.................................................. 38 377
Payment of cash dividends................................................. (62) (56)
Other..................................................................... (35) (67)
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Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities................... 143 (422)
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Change in cash and cash equivalents.......................................... 117 44
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period............................. 336 258
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Cash and cash equivalents at end of period................................... $ 453 $ 302
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Interest payments............................................................ $ 161 $ 130
Income tax payments, net of refunds.......................................... $ 275 $ (85)

HCA INC.
OPERATING STATISTICS

FIRST QUARTER
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2006 2005
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CONSOLIDATED HOSPITALS:

Number of Hospitals........................................................ 176 183
Weighted Average Licensed Beds............................................. 41,255 41,856
Licensed Beds at End of Period............................................. 41,539 41,892

REPORTED:
Admissions................................................................. 421,000 432,600
% Change............................................................... -2.7%
Equivalent Admissions...................................................... 626,000 636,400
% Change............................................................... -1.6%
Revenue per Equivalent Admission........................................... $ 10,246 $ 9,714
% Change............................................................... 5.5%
Inpatient Revenue per Admission............................................ $ 9,595 $ 9,069
% Change............................................................... 5.8%

Patient Days............................................................... 2,090,500 2,159,200
Equivalent Patient Days.................................................... 3,108,600 3,176,200

Inpatient Surgery Cases.................................................... 135,300 135,500
% Change............................................................... -0.2%
Outpatient Surgery Cases................................................... 212,900 211,000
% Change............................................................... 0.9%

Emergency Room Visits...................................................... 1,332,500 1,391,800
% Change............................................................... -4.3%

Outpatient Revenues as a
Percentage of Patient Revenues......................................... 35.7% 35.6%

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

Occupancy.................................................................. 56.3% 57.3%
Equivalent Occupancy....................................................... 83.7% 84.3%

SAME FACILITY:
Admissions................................................................. 418,800 421,500
% Change............................................................... -0.7%
Equivalent Admissions...................................................... 619,400 620,100
% Change............................................................... -0.1%
Revenue per Equivalent Admission........................................... $ 10,161 $ 9,670
% Change............................................................... 5.1%
Inpatient Revenue per Admission............................................ $ 9,585 $ 9,013
% Change............................................................... 6.3%

Inpatient Surgery Cases.................................................... 134,300 131,400
% Change............................................................... 2.3%
Outpatient Surgery Cases................................................... 206,300 204,125
% Change............................................................... 1.0%

Emergency Room Visits...................................................... 1,324,500 1,350,200
% Change............................................................... -1.9%
NUMBER OF CONSOLIDATED AND NON-CONSOLIDATED
(50/50 EQUITY JOINT VENTURES) HOSPITALS:

Consolidated............................................................... 176 183
Non-Consoldiated (50/50 Equity Joint Ventures)............................. 7 7
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Total Number of Hospitals.................................................. 183 190
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