UNIVERSAL HEALTH SERVICES, INC.--FORM 8-K

FORM 8-K

 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


 

CURRENT REPORT

 

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): March 1, 2004

 


 

UNIVERSAL HEALTH SERVICES, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 


 

DELAWARE   1-10765   23-2077891

(State or other jurisdiction of

Incorporation or Organization)

  (Commission File Number)  

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

UNIVERSAL CORPORATE CENTER

367 SOUTH GULPH ROAD

KING OF PRUSSIA, PENNSYLVANIA 19406

(Address of principal executive office) (Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code (610) 768-3300

 

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 



Item 5. Other Events and Required FD Disclosure.

 

On March 1, 2004, Universal Health Services, Inc. issued a press release announcing an expected earnings decline during the three month period ended March 31, 2004, to what could be as much as 25% lower than the $.84 per diluted share recorded during the quarterly period ended March 31, 2003.

 

Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(c) Exhibits. 99.1 Universal Health Services, Inc. Press Release dated March 1, 2004


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.

 

Universal Health Services, Inc.

By:

 

/s/ Alan B. Miller


Name:

 

Alan B. Miller

Title:

 

President and Chief Executive Officer

By:

 

/s/ Steve Filton


Name:

 

Steve Filton

Title:

  Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

Date: March 1, 2004

 

Exhibit Index

 

Exhibit No.

 

Exhibit


99.1   Press release, dated March 1, 2004
PRESS RELEASE

Exhibit 99.1

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE     
CONTACT:   Steve Filton    March 1, 2004
    Chief Financial Officer     
    610-768-3300     

 

UNIVERSAL HEALTH SERVICES, INC. ANNOUNCES

EXPECTED FIRST QUARTER EARNINGS DECLINE

 

KING OF PRUSSIA, PA – Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE: UHS) announced today that its earnings per diluted share for the three-month period ending March 31, 2004, could be as much as 25% lower than the $.84 per diluted share recorded in the same period in the prior year. On a same facility basis, the Company’s acute care hospitals have continued, in the first two months of 2004, to experience a decline in inpatient admissions. Moreover, during this period, certain of the Company’s acute care facilities have been impacted by a negative shift in payor mix, a decline in intensity and an increase in length of stay. In addition, the rising level of uninsured and self-pay patients continues to unfavorably impact our bad debt expense. The Company is vigorously addressing each of these areas.

 

We will hold a conference call for investors and analysts today at 10:30AM Eastern Time. The dial-in number is 1-877-648-7971. A digital recording of the conference call will be available two hours after the completion of the conference call and will continue through midnight on March 8, 2004. To access the recording, call 1-800-642-1687 and enter the conference ID number 5898400.

 

In addition, Alan B. Miller, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, will give a presentation on the Company followed by a question and answer session on Tuesday, March 2, 2004 at 9:50AM ET at the Raymond James Institutional Investors Conference in Orlando, Florida and at 11:15AM ET on Wednesday, March 3, 2004 at the Lehman Brothers Healthcare Conference in Miami, Florida. A webcast of today’s conference call and both investor conference presentations will be available on the Company’s website, www.uhsinc.com.

 

Universal Health Services, Inc. is one of the nation’s largest hospital companies, operating acute care and behavioral health hospitals, ambulatory and radiation centers nationwide, in Puerto Rico and in France. It acts as the advisor to Universal Health Realty Income Trust, a real estate investment trust (NYSE: UHT).

 

Certain statements in this release may constitute forward-looking statements that are subject to various risks and uncertainties as discussed in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company is not obligated to update these forward-looking statements even if the Company’s assessment of these risks and uncertainties changes.

 

For additional information on the Company, visit our web site: http://www.uhsinc.com.

 

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