Sec Form 4 Filing - Sowell Joseph A III @ HCA Healthcare, Inc. - 2018-01-26

FORM 4 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person Sowell Joseph A III 2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol HCA Healthcare, Inc. [ HCA] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) _____ Director _____ 10% Owner X __ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) SVP; Chief Development Officer (Last) (First) (Middle) ONE PARK PLAZA 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (MM/DD/YY) 01/26/2018 (Street) NASHVILLE, TN37203 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed (MM/DD/YY) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line) __ X __ Form filed by One Reporting Person _____ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip)

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned 1.Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (MM/DD/YY) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (MM/DD/YY) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price Common Stock 01/26/2018 M( 1 ) 35,150 A $ 7.7 40,536 D Common Stock 01/26/2018 M( 1 ) 23,025 A $ 13.2542 63,561 D Common Stock 01/26/2018 S( 1 ) 58,175 D $ 95 5,386 D Common Stock 8,000 I By Trust (Reporting Person, Trustee)

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned ( e.g. , puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities) 1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3) 2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (MM/DD/YY) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (MM/DD/YY) 4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4, and 5) 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (MM/DD/YY) 7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities (Instr. 3 and 4) 8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5) 9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4) 10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy) $ 7.7 ( 2 ) 01/26/2018 M( 1 ) 35,150 ( 3 ) 02/10/2020 Common Stock 35,150 ( 4 ) $ 0 0 D Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy) $ 13.2542 ( 2 ) 01/26/2018 M( 1 ) 23,025 02/10/2012 02/10/2020 Common Stock 23,025 ( 4 ) $ 0 22,025 D

Reporting Owners Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships Director 10% Owner Officer Other Sowell Joseph A III ONE PARK PLAZA NASHVILLE, TN37203 SVP; Chief Development Officer Signatures /s/ Natalie Harrison Cline, Attorney-in-Fact 01/30/2018 Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

( 1 )The option exercises and sales reported in this Form 4 were effected pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan adopted by the reporting person. ( 2 )Exercise Price was adjusted to reflect a 4.505 to 1 stock split that occurred with respect to the Issuer's common stock effective March 9, 2011. ( 3 )One-third of the option vested on February 10, 2013 and the remainder vested upon a change in control (as defined in the 2006 Stock Incentive Plan for Key Employees of HCA Holdings, Inc. and its Affiliates as Amended and Restated) of the Issuer which occurred effective November 1, 2013. ( 4 )Shares have been adjusted to reflect a 4.505 to 1 stock split that occurred with respect to the Issuer's common stock effective March 9, 2011.

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).

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