Tenet Healthcare Corporation (NYSE:THC) Q4 2022 Earnings Call Transcript

Dan Cancelmi: Hey, Steve, we were having a hard time hearing you and you were cutting out. I think you were asking about the margins on a normalized basis. When we look at the margins in 2022 versus 2023 projections on a normalized basis in 2022 15.9% call it 16%. And for 2023, it would be roughly 16.3% on a consolidated basis, after you normalize for those various items. So there is some margin expansion and that’s obviously will continue to be a focus of ours to continue to expand our margins as we move through the year and into 2024 and beyond. I’m not sure I heard exactly on contract labor. But as I mentioned, we exited the year at 6.4% saw nice improvement. The operators did a really good job managing those costs down and we have assumed some moderation as we move through this year in contract labor that has been reflected in our guidance. So hopefully, that addressed your questions that we were having a hard time hearing you.

Steven Valiquette: Yeah, better now. But that was really just

Saum Sutaria: Steve, you’re breaking up entirely for us probably better to follow-up with Will off-line. We really can’t hear you. We’re kind of catching every other word.

Operator: Our next question is from Whit Mayo with SVB Securities. Please proceed with your question.

Whit Mayo: Hey, thanks. Maybe to ask one more on USPI sorry about this. But what actually did SCD contribute in 2022? That might be helpful. And what do you have in your plan for this year? Do you think you get back to that $140 million target, the $175 million? And then maybe just a quick follow-up. Looking at the bridge, it does strike me as odd that you expect USPI to generate the lowest organic growth of all the segments this year. And the prepared comments sound a lot more bullish and encouraging than maybe the percent that you’re guiding to. So maybe just to challenge you a little bit on the 5% number like why that is the right number?

Dan Cancelmi: Hey, Whit, it’s Dan. In terms of SCD, as Saum mentioned in his prepared remarks, we’re basically a year behind. And what we said for 2022 for SCD was we would anticipate generating approximately $140 million of EBITDA in 2022. So you should think of it as that in terms of — for 2023. We’re essentially a year behind in terms of that. In terms of the organic growth, USPI’s organic growth we’re projecting that to be 5% on a normalized basis. And the hospital growth is — there’s — as Saum again mentioned in his script that growth is a little bit higher than what we historically project for the hospitals. But it’s also being supported by further improvement in our Massachusetts Hospital, as well as our new facility outside of Charlotte.

Whit Mayo: Okay. Thank you guys.

Operator: Our next question is from Andrew Mok with UBS. Please proceed with your question.

Andrew Mok: Hi, good morning. Hoping you could provide an update on the buy up activity in the second SCD transaction? How many SCD II buy-ups did you complete in 2022 versus your expectation I think of 30 plus to start the year? And what are you assuming in your guide for 2023? Thanks.

Dan Cancelmi: Hey, Andrew, it’s Dan. In terms of — we have assumed some buy-ups in 2023. I would say we have very good visibility into them and we feel very comfortable with the assumptions that we have built into our guidance for this year for those anticipated buy-ups.

Andrew Mok: And do you have the number that you did in 2022?

Dan Cancelmi: The entire — 35 — roughly 35.

Andrew Mok: Okay, great. Thanks.

Operator: Our next question comes from Pito Chickering with Deutsche Bank. Please proceed with your question.