HOSPITAL MEGA-MERGER

Friday, Apr. 21, 1995
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The largest for-profit health services company in the world just got bigger. The Federal Trade Commission today approved a merger between the nation's two largest hospital chains, first-ranked Columbia/HCA and second-ranked HealthTrust Inc., taking the rapid consolidation of American health services to a new level. The new $15 billion behemoth will have 320 hospitals and more than 100 outpatient surgery centers in 36 states, England and Switzerland. HealthTrust becomes a wholly-owned subsidiary of Columbia/HCA, which was founded just 8 years ago by chief executive Richard Scott. The companies claim that by combining, they will be better positioned to control costs.