Acquisitions, Dispositions and Impairments of Long-Lived Assets

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2011

Acquisitions, Dispositions and Impairments of Long-Lived Assets [Abstract]

ACQUISITIONS, DISPOSITIONS AND IMPAIRMENTS OF LONG-LIVED ASSETS

NOTE 11 — ACQUISITIONS, DISPOSITIONS AND IMPAIRMENTS OF LONG-LIVED ASSETS

During the nine months ended September 30, 2011, we paid $136 million to acquire a hospital in the National Group and $73 million to acquire other nonhospital health care entities. During the nine months ended September 30, 2010, we paid $35 million to acquire nonhospital health care entities.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2011, we received proceeds of $55 million and recognized a net pretax loss of $3 million related to the sales of a hospital facility and our investment in a hospital joint venture. During the nine months ended September 30, 2010, we received proceeds of $26 million and recognized a net pretax loss of $2 million related to sales of real estate investments.

During the quarter ended September 30, 2010, we recorded impairments of long-lived assets of $10 million, primarily related to a hospital facility in our Southwest Group, to adjust the carrying values to estimated fair value. During the nine months ended September 30, 2010, we recorded impairments of long-lived assets of $119 million, primarily comprised of the third quarter 2010 charges of $10 million and the impairment charges of $56 million related to revised, reduced projections of future expected cash flows for a hospital facility in our Central Group and $35 million for capitalized engineering and design costs in our Corporate and other group related to certain building safety requirements (California earthquake standards) that have been revised, to adjust the carrying values to estimated fair value. There were no impairments of long-lived assets for the quarter or nine months ended September 30, 2011.