EXHIBIT 99

- - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PROXY

                         NATIONAL SURGERY CENTERS, INC.

                 SPECIAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS - JULY 22, 1998
                      THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF
                             THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

     The undersigned  hereby appoints E. Timothy Geary and Bryan S. Fisher,  and
each of them, with several powers of substitution, proxies to vote the shares of
Common  Stock,  par value $0.01 per share,  of National  Surgery  Centers,  Inc.
("NSC") which the  undersigned  could vote if personally  present at the Special
Meeting of Stockholders of NSC to be held at The Midland Hotel,  172 West Adams,
Chicago,  Illinois,  60603, on July 22, 1998, at 10:00 a.m., local time, and any
adjournment thereof: 

                   (Continued and to be signed on other side)

- - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


       ------------
          Common

     1. Approval and adoption of the Plan and  Agreement of Merger,  dated as of
May 5, 1998, attached as Annex A to the Prospectus-Proxy Statement that has been
transmitted  in  connection  with the Special  Meeting,  pursuant to which Field
Acquisition  Corporation,  a wholly-owned subsidiary of HEALTHSOUTH Corporation,
will  merge  with  and  into  NSC,  all as  described  in said  Prospectus-Proxy
Statement.

                    FOR                 AGAINST             ABSTAIN
                    [ ]                   [ ]                 [ ]

     2. In their discretion to act upon any matters  incidental to the foregoing
and such other  business as may properly come before the Special  Meeting or any
adjournment thereof.

     THIS  PROXY,  WHEN  PROPERLY EXECUTED, WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED
HEREIN  BY THE UNDERSIGNED STOCKHOLDER. IF NO DIRECTION IS MADE, THIS PROXY WILL
BE VOTED FOR ITEM 1.

                                              Dated:
                                                    ----------------------------

                                               --------------------------------
                                               Signature(s)

                                               --------------------------------
                                               (Please sign exactly and as fully
                                               as  your  name  appears  on  your
                                               stock certificate.  If shares are
                                               held  jointly,  each  stockholder
                                               should sign.)
- - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------