8-K

                SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION 


                      WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 

            __________________________________________


                             FORM 8-K 
                          CURRENT REPORT 


                 Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)  
              of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 



Date of Report                             September 16, 1994
(Date of Earliest Event Reported) 



                COLUMBIA/HCA HEALTHCARE CORPORATION
      (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its Charter) 


                             DELAWARE
                     (State of Incorporation)




 001-11239                                         75-2497104
(Commission                                        (I.R.S. Employer
File Number)                                       Identification






201 West Main Street, Louisville, Kentucky           40202 
(Address of principal executive offices)           (Zip Code)





                          (502) 572-2000 
       (Registrant's telephone number, including area code) 




ITEM 5.       Other Events

     On September 16, 1994, Columbia/HCA Healthcare Corporation
("Columbia") consummated the acquisition of Medical Care America, Inc.
("MCA"), by means of a merger (the "Merger") of a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Columbia with and into MCA.  As a result of the Merger,
the holders of the outstanding shares of MCA Common Stock, $.01 par
value, will receive 0.7042 of a share of the Common Stock, $.01 par
value, of Columbia for each share of MCA Common Stock.  Columbia is
currently preparing pro forma financial statements to reflect the
transaction.

     Columbia incorporates by reference into this Current Report on
Form 8-K the additional information about the Merger set forth in the
joint press release of Columbia and MCA, dated September 16, 1994, a
copy of which is attached as Exhibit 99 hereto.

                            SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                               COLUMBIA/HCA HEALTHCARE CORPORATION



                               By:   Stephen T. Braun
                                     Senior Vice President
                                     and General Counsel

DATE:  September 30, 1994

EX-99

EXHIBIT-99

INVESTOR CONTACT:                             MEDIA CONTACT:

Victor L. Campbell                            Eve Hutcherson
615/320-2053                                  502/580-1517

Lee A. Wood                                   Lindy B. Richardson
502/572-2115                                  502/572-2153


               COLUMBIA/HCA HEALTHCARE CORPORATION AND
                 MEDICAL CARE AMERICA COMPLETE MERGER

      Louisville, KY and Dallas, TX, September 16, 1994 -- Columbia/HCA
Healthcare Corporation (NYSE:COL) and Medical Care America, Inc.
(NYSE:MRX) today announced that they have completed their previously
announced merger transaction.

      Under terms of the merger, Medical Care shareholders will receive
0.7042 of a share of Columbia/HCA common stock for each share of Medical
Care common stock held.  First Union National Bank of North Carolina has
been selected as exchange agent for the transfer.  First Union expects to
promptly send to Medical Care shareholders the documents required for
exchanging their Medical Care stock certificates for Columbia/HCA
certificates.  Medical Care shareholders should not submit their
certificates for transfer until they receive a letter of transmittal.

      "Completing this merger enhances our position in many of the
communities we serve," said David T. Vandewater, Chief Operating Officer
of Columbia/HCA.  "Medical Care's surgery centers offer an efficient
setting for the growing number of surgical procedures which can be
provided on an outpatient basis.  This merger also improves the geographic
coverage and range of services offered by Columbia/HCA networks."

      Columbia/HCA Healthcare Corporation is the nation's largest
healthcare services provider, with 195 acute-care and specialty hospitals,
and over 100 complementary outpatient healthcare facilities in 31 states,
England and Switzerland.  With its comprehensive delivery networks,
Columbia/HCA meets the healthcare needs of its communities in a cost-
effective, quality manner.








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