For-profit hospital chains entered April with a mostly quiet performance, a stark difference from March's roller coaster ride.
Three of the five largest acute-care hospital operators essentially stayed flat last week. Nashville, Tenn.-based Hospital Corporation of America was the extreme on the low end, as its shares dropped almost 2 percent to $50.17. King of Prussia, Pa.-based Universal Health Services represented the high end, with its shares rising a little more than 2 percent to $81.33.
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act's health insurance exchanges reached more than 7 million enrollees, as of the March 31 deadline, and another 3 million have enrolled in expanded Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program through March 1. The insurance provisions are expected to be a boon for the investor-owned hospital operators.
• Community Health Systems (Franklin, Tenn.): $38.54 per share (down 0.26 percent)
• Hospital Corporation of America (Nashville, Tenn.): $50.17 per share (down 1.90 percent)
• LifePoint Hospitals (Brentwood, Tenn.): $53.99 per share (up 0.17 percent)
• Tenet Healthcare Corp. (Dallas): $41.88 per share (up 0.05 percent)
• Universal Health Services (King of Prussia, Pa.): $81.33 per share (up 2.05 percent)
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