Form 11-K
Table of Contents

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM 11-K

 


 

(Mark One)

x ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004

 

or

 

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 [NO FEE REQUIRED]

 

For the transition period from              to             

 

Commission file number 0-29816

 


 

A. Full title of the plan and the address of the plan, if different from that of the issuer named below:

 

Triad Hospitals, Inc. Retirement Savings Plan

 

B. Name of issuer of the securities held pursuant to the plan and the address of its principal executive office:

 

Triad Hospitals, Inc.

5800 Tennyson Parkway

Plano, Texas 75024

(214) 473-7000

 



Table of Contents

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULE

Triad Hospitals, Inc. Retirement Savings Plan

As of December 31, 2004 and 2003, and for the Year ended December 31, 2004

 

 


Table of Contents

Triad Hospitals, Inc. Retirement Savings Plan

 

Financial Statements and Supplemental Schedule

 

As of December 31, 2004 and 2003,

and for the Year ended December 31, 2004

 

Contents

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

   1

Audited Financial Statements

    

Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits

   2

Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits

   3

Notes to Financial Statements

   4

Supplemental Schedule

    

Schedule H; Line 4i – Schedule of Assets (Held At End of Year)

   15


Table of Contents

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

Plan Administrator

Triad Hospitals, Inc. Retirement Savings Plan

 

We have audited the accompanying statements of net assets available for benefits of the Triad Hospitals, Inc. Retirement Savings Plan as of December 31, 2004 and 2003, and the related statement of changes in net assets available for benefits for the year ended December 31, 2004. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Plan’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

 

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. We were not engaged to perform an audit of the Plan’s internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Plan’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the net assets available for benefits of the Plan at December 31, 2004 and 2003, and the changes in its net assets available for benefits for the year ended December 31, 2004, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

 

Our audits were performed for the purpose of forming an opinion on the financial statements taken as a whole. The accompanying supplemental schedule of assets (held at end of year) as of December 31, 2004, is presented for purposes of additional analysis and is not a required part of the financial statements but is supplementary information required by the Department of Labor’s Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. This supplemental schedule is the responsibility of the Plan’s management. The supplemental schedule has been subjected to the auditing procedures applied in our audits of the financial statements and, in our opinion, is fairly stated in all material respects in relation to the financial statements taken as a whole.

 

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP


Ernst & Young LLP

 

Dallas, Texas

May 25, 2005

 

1


Table of Contents

Triad Hospitals, Inc. Retirement Savings Plan

 

Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits

 

     December 31

     2004

   2003

Assets

             

Investments:

             

Triad Hospitals, Inc. common stock

   $ 53,253,538    $ 46,904,479

Triad Hospitals, Inc. common stock (unallocated)

     55,815,000      59,886,000

Registered investment companies

     744,916,324      667,320,468

Collective short-term investment fund

     2,448,559      1,066,991

Participant loans

     12,627,867      10,954,590
    

  

Total investments

     869,061,288      786,132,528
    

  

Receivables:

             

Employer matching contribution

     885,174      558,161

Employer supplemental contribution

     25,702,818      23,765,286

Participants contributions

     1,214,185      —  

Interest and dividends

     860,011      708,875
    

  

Total receivables

     28,662,188      25,032,322
    

  

Total assets

     897,723,476      811,164,850
    

  

Liabilities

             

Note payable to Triad Hospitals, Inc.

     15,997,686      19,406,061

Other

     288,495      119,056
    

  

Total liabilities

     16,286,181      19,525,117
    

  

Net assets available for benefits

   $ 881,437,295    $ 791,639,733
    

  

 

See accompanying notes.

 

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Table of Contents

Triad Hospitals, Inc. Retirement Savings Plan

 

Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits

 

Year ended December 31, 2004

 

Investment income:

      

Net appreciation in fair value of investments

   $ 59,202,388

Interest and dividends

     9,847,622
    

       69,050,010
    

Contributions:

      

Participants

     65,867,471

Employer matching

     16,804,140

Employer retirement

     4,669,769

Employer supplemental

     25,702,818

Rollovers

     8,498,982
    

       121,543,180
    

Deductions:

      

Benefits paid to participants

     93,144,982

Interest expense

     1,261,394

Administrative expenses

     3,573,036

Transfer to other plan

     2,816,216
    

Total deductions

     100,795,628
    

Net increase

     89,797,562

Net assets available for benefits at beginning of year

     791,639,733
    

Net assets available for benefits at end of year

   $ 881,437,295
    

 

See accompanying notes.

 

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Table of Contents

Triad Hospitals, Inc. Retirement Savings Plan

 

Notes to Financial Statements

 

December 31, 2004

 

1. Description of the Plan

 

The following description of Triad Hospitals, Inc. Retirement Savings Plan (the Plan) provides only general information. Participants should refer to the Plan document for a more comprehensive description of the Plan’s provisions.

 

General

 

Triad Hospitals, Inc. (the Company or Triad) was formed May 11, 1999 (the closing date) upon completion of a spin-off by HCA Inc. (HCA). Triad established the Plan effective on the closing date.

 

The Plan replaced benefits previously provided by HCA through the Columbia/HCA Healthcare Corporation Money Purchase Pension Plan, Columbia/HCA Salary Deferral Plan, Columbia/HCA Healthcare Corporation Stock Bonus Plan, HealthTrust, Inc. 401(k) Retirement Program, and/or the EPIC Healthcare Group, Inc. Profit Sharing Plan (collectively referred to hereinafter as the Prior Plans).

 

On April 27, 2001, the Company acquired Quorum Health Group, Inc. (Quorum). Effective January 1, 2002, all participants of the Quorum 401(k) Plan, with the exception of the individuals employed under Abilene Physicians Group and Northwest Primary Care Physicians, P.A., became participants in the Plan.

 

Effective October 1, 2003, the Company acquired McKenzie-Willamette Hospital and all affected employees became participants in the Plan.

 

Effective December 1, 2003, the Company acquired Woodward Regional Hospital and all affected employees became participants in the Plan.

 

Effective December 1, 2003, the Company sold Cambio Health Solutions, LLC. Effective March 31, 2004, the affected employees’ assets of $2,816,216 were transferred out of the Plan.

 

Effective December 1, 2003, the Company completed the acquisitions of St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center, Central Arkansas Hospital, NEA Regional Medical Center, and National Park Medical Center. The employees of these four acquired facilities became participants in the Plan during March 2004.

 

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Table of Contents

Triad Hospitals, Inc. Retirement Savings Plan

 

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

1. Description of the Plan (continued)

 

Effective October 1, 2004, the Company completed the acquisition of Dukes Memorial Hospital and the employees of this facility became participants in the Plan.

 

During 2004, the Company sold El Dorado Hospital, Medical Center at Terrell, Alice Regional Hospital, and San Leandro Hospital. Upon the effective date of each of these sales, the affected employees were no longer eligible to contribute to the Plan; however, their account balances remain in the Plan.

 

The Plan is a defined contribution plan which provides retirement, disability, and death benefits for substantially all of the employees of the Company. The Plan covers employees of the Company who have at least two months of service. Employees whose employment is subject to a collective bargaining agreement (unless such agreement provides to the contrary) and leased employees are not entitled to participate in the Plan. All individuals who were employed by the Company on the closing date and who were active participants in one or more of the Prior Plans became participants of the Plan on the closing date. A component of the Plan operates as a leveraged employee stock ownership program (Employer Retirement) and is designed to comply with Section 4975(e)(7) and the regulations thereunder of the Internal Revenue Code (the Code). The Plan is subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (ERISA).

 

Contributions

 

Upon completion of two months of service, as defined by the Plan, non-highly compensated and highly compensated participants may voluntarily elect to defer salary and contribute the amount deferred to the Plan (participants’ contributions) in amounts up to 50% and 13% of their annual compensation, respectively. Additionally, participants may also rollover amounts representing distributions from other qualified plans.

 

The Company contributes, on behalf of each participant, an amount equal to 50% of a participant’s contribution (Employer Matching Contribution), not to exceed 1.5% of the participant’s compensation.

 

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Table of Contents

Triad Hospitals, Inc. Retirement Savings Plan

 

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

1. Description of the Plan (continued)

 

The Company makes an Annual Employer Contribution, which is allocated to eligible participants. For a participant to be eligible to receive their portion of the Annual Employer Contribution, the participant must have been employed by the Company on the first day of the Plan year, have completed at least one year of service, and, as of the last day of the Plan year, must have been actively employed.

 

The Annual Employer Contribution calculation is based on the following schedule:

 

Years of Service

on Last Day of Plan Year


 

Allocation as a Percent

of Participant’s

Compensation


Less than 5

  2

5 but less than 10

  3

10 or more

  5

 

The Annual Employer Contribution consists of an ESOP Contribution (Employer Retirement Contribution) equal to 300,000 shares of Triad Hospitals, Inc. common stock (Triad common stock) (see Note 3) at the present market value on December 31 relating to the Note Payable to Triad (see Note 4) and any remaining amount due, if necessary, is remitted to the Plan in the form of cash (Employer Supplemental Contribution).

 

Participants may direct all participant contributions, the Employer Matching Contribution and the Employer Supplemental Contribution to several different Plan investment options, except Triad common stock. The Employer Retirement Contribution is remitted in Triad common stock and are non-participant directed until a participant has obtained age 55.

 

Effective December 31, 2001, Barberton Union Employees were allowed to participate in the Plan. However, they are excluded from receiving Employer Matching Contributions and Annual Employer Contributions (consisting of the Employer Retirement Contribution and the Employer Supplemental Contribution).

 

6


Table of Contents

Triad Hospitals, Inc. Retirement Savings Plan

 

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

1. Description of the Plan (continued)

 

Participant Accounts

 

Each participant’s account is credited with the participant’s contribution and Employer Matching Contribution, and the participant’s allocation of any applicable Employer Retirement and Supplemental Contributions, and investment earnings, and charged with an allocation of administrative expenses. The benefit to which a participant is entitled is the benefit that can be provided from the participant’s vested account.

 

Vesting

 

Participants are immediately vested with respect to their participant’s contributions plus earnings (including the net appreciation (depreciation) in fair value) thereon. Vesting of the Employer Matching, Employer Retirement and Supplemental Contributions plus earnings thereon is as follows:

 

Years of Service


  

Vested

Percentage


 

<2

   0 %

2-3

   20 %

3-4

   40 %

4-5

   60 %

5+

   100 %

 

All balances transferred from the Prior Plans and associated earnings are 100% vested, with the exception of the Columbia/HCA Healthcare Corporation Money Purchase Pension Plan and the Columbia/HCA Healthcare Corporation Stock Bonus Plan. Vesting provisions for former participants of these plans is based on years of continuous service. These participants are vested 20% after three years of service. An additional 20% is vested with each additional year of service until the participant becomes fully vested after seven years of service.

 

7


Table of Contents

Triad Hospitals, Inc. Retirement Savings Plan

 

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

1. Description of the Plan (continued)

 

Participant Loans

 

Participants may borrow from their account subject to a minimum of $1,000, and up to a maximum of $50,000 less the highest outstanding loan balance in the preceding twelve months, or the lesser of 50% of vested balances in all accounts available for loans, as defined by the Plan. Loan terms range from one to five years, or up to ten years for the purchase of a primary residence. The loans are secured by the balance in the participant’s account. Principal and interest is paid ratably through payroll deductions. The interest rate is determined based on the prime rate charged by The Northern Trust Company (the Trustee).

 

Payment of Benefits

 

Upon termination of service due to death, disability, or retirement, a participant becomes 100% vested and may elect to receive an amount equal to the value of the participant’s interest in his or her account in either a lump-sum or annuity payments. For termination of service due to other reasons, a participant may receive the value of the vested interest in his or her account as a lump-sum distribution. In-service withdrawals are available for a participant upon attainment of age 59 1/2. Hardship withdrawals are available for a participant experiencing qualifying circumstances.

 

Forfeited Accounts

 

Forfeitures attributable to Employer Retirement Contributions are allocated to accounts of participants employed on the last day of the Plan year in which such forfeitures are created, pro rata based on participants Employer Retirement Contribution account balances. During the year ended December 31, 2004, $851,013 of forfeitures attributable to Employer Retirement Contributions were allocated to participants’ accounts. Any other forfeitures are utilized to reduce the Employer Matching Contribution and any Employer Supplemental Contribution. During the year ended December 31, 2004, these other forfeited amounts, totaling $2,632,422, were used to reduce the Employer Supplemental Contribution made to the Plan.

 

8


Table of Contents

Triad Hospitals, Inc. Retirement Savings Plan

 

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 

Basis of Accounting

 

The financial statements of the Plan are prepared under the accrual method of accounting. Benefits paid to participants are recorded when paid.

 

Use of Estimates

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

Valuation of Investments and Income Recognition

 

Shares of registered investment companies are valued at fair value based on published market prices, which represent the net asset value of shares held by the Plan at year-end. Common stock is valued at fair value based on its quoted market price. The collective short-term investment fund is valued at fair value as determined by the Trustee based on the quoted market price of the underlying assets of the fund. Participant loans are valued at their carrying value, which approximates fair value.

 

Purchases and sales of securities are recorded on a trade-date basis. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis. Dividends are recorded on the ex-dividend date.

 

Administrative Expenses

 

Certain administrative expenses are paid by the Plan.

 

3. Investments

 

During 1999, the Plan purchased 3,000,000 shares of Triad common stock for use in connection with the Employer Retirement component of the Plan (Employer Retirement stock). The Employer Retirement stock is held in a secondary trust which is administered by U.S. Trust Company, N.A. (the Secondary Trustee). The Employer Retirement stock is collateral for the Triad Note (see Note 4). As payments are made on the Triad Note, shares are released from collateral based upon the ratio of principal and interest paid during the period over the total principal and interest payments due under the Triad Note.

 

9


Table of Contents

Triad Hospitals, Inc. Retirement Savings Plan

 

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

3. Investments (continued)

 

Released shares are allocated to participant accounts in accordance with the Employer Retirement allocation. Participants do not have any investment discretion regarding the Employer Retirement stock allocated to their accounts. Participants can direct the voting of Employer Retirement stock allocated to their account. The Secondary Trustee votes any unallocated Employer Retirement stock and any allocated Employer Retirement stock for which the Secondary Trustee did not receive voting directions proportionately in accordance with the voting directions that were received. As of December 31, 2004, a total of 1,800,000 shares in total have been released from collateral.

 

The Plan provides for investments in various investment securities. Investment securities are exposed to various risks such as interest rate, market and credit risks. Due to the level of risk associated with certain investment securities, it is at least reasonably possible that changes in the values of investment securities will occur in the near term and that such changes could materially affect participants’ account balances and the amounts reported in the statements of net assets available for benefits.

 

During 2004, the Plan’s investments (including investments bought, sold, and held during the period) appreciated in value as follows:

 

Registered investment companies

   $ 47,341,959

Triad Hospitals, Inc. Common Stock

     11,860,429
    

     $ 59,202,388
    

 

The fair value of individual investments that represent 5% or more of the Plan’s net assets at December 31 are:

 

     2004

Triad Hospitals, Inc. Common Stock

   $ 109,068,538

Core Equity Fund

     146,006,952

PIMCO Total Return Fund

     142,231,011

Invesco Stable Value Fund

     224,416,462

Janus Small Cap Value Fund

     142,104,189

Julius Baer International Equity Fund

     56,233,228

 

 

10


Table of Contents

Triad Hospitals, Inc. Retirement Savings Plan

 

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

3. Investments (continued)

 

     2003

Triad Hospitals, Inc. Common Stock

   $ 106,790,479

Core Equity Fund

     136,706,585

PIMCO Total Return Fund

     127,602,136

Invesco Stable Value Fund

     208,347,163

Janus Small Cap Value Fund

     127,863,190

Putnam International Growth A Fund

     40,012,808

 

4. Note Payable to Triad

 

In June 1999, the Plan borrowed $34,500,000 from the Company and used the proceeds to purchase the Employer Retirement stock (see Note 3). The Note Payable to Triad (Triad Note) is to be repaid annually in equal annual installments of $4,669,769 (principal and interest) over a period of ten years at 6.5% interest. The Triad Note requires the Company to make Employer Retirement Contributions in amounts sufficient to cover the required principal and interest payments. The Triad Note is collateralized by the Employer Retirement stock. Making the payment under the Triad Note results in shares of Triad common stock being released from collateral under the Triad Note. The Company has no rights against the shares once the Employer Retirement stock is allocated to participant accounts. As of December 31, 2004, payments due under the Triad Note and the schedule for release of Employer Retirement stock from collateral was as follows:

 

     Principal

  

Shares of
Stock to Be

Released


2005

   $ 3,629,919    300,000

2006

     3,865,864    300,000

2007

     4,117,145    300,000

2008

     4,384,758    300,000
    

    
     $ 15,997,686     
    

    

 

 

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Triad Hospitals, Inc. Retirement Savings Plan

 

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

5. Non-Participant Directed Employer Retirement Investments

 

Information about the net assets and the significant components of the changes in net assets relating to the nonparticipant-directed Employer Retirement investments is as follows:

 

     December 31, 2004

 
     Allocated

    Unallocated

 

Net assets:

                

Triad Hospitals, Inc. common stock (1,431,161 shares allocated and 1,500,000 shares unallocated

   $ 41,903,967     $ 55,815,000  

Note payable to Triad

     —         (15,997,686 )
    


 


     $ 41,903,967     $ 39,817,314  
    


 


     December 31, 2003

 
     Allocated

    Unallocated

 

Net assets:

                

Triad Hospitals, Inc. common stock

   $ 33,316,811     $ 59,886,000  

Note payable to Triad

     —         (19,406,061 )
    


 


     $ 33,316,811     $ 40,479,939  
    


 


     Year ended December 31, 2004

 
     Allocated

    Unallocated

 

Net appreciation in fair value of investments

   $ 3,483,511     $ 7,092,000  

Interest

     8,911       —    

Employer retirement contribution

     —         4,669,769  

Benefits paid to participants

     (4,788,470 )     —    

Transfers

     11,550,007       (11,163,000 )

Interest expense

     —         (1,261,394 )

Administrative expenses

     (7,229 )     —    

Transfer to other plan

     (1,659,574 )     —    
    


 


     $ 8,587,156     $ (662,625 )
    


 


 

 

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Table of Contents

Triad Hospitals, Inc. Retirement Savings Plan

 

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

6. Related Party Transactions

 

Certain plan investments are managed by an affiliate of the Trustee. Certain other plan investments are shares of Triad Hospitals, Inc. common stock.

 

7. Plan Termination

 

Although it has not expressed any intent to do so, the Company has the right under the Plan to discontinue its contributions at any time and to terminate the Plan subject to the provisions of ERISA. In the event of Plan termination, participants would become 100% vested with regard to their Employer Matching Contribution, and Employer Retirement and Supplemental Contributions.

 

8. Income Tax Status

 

The Plan has received a determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) dated November 7, 2000, stating that the Plan is qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code and, therefore, the related trust is exempt from taxation. Subsequent to this determination by the IRS, the Plan was amended. Once qualified, the Plan is required to operate in conformity with the Code to maintain its qualification. The plan sponsor believes the Plan is being operated in compliance with the applicable requirements of the Code and, therefore, believes that the Plan, as amended, is qualified and the related trust is tax-exempt.

 

9. Reconciliation of Financial Statements to Form 5500

 

The following is a reconciliation of net assets available for benefits per the financial statements at December 31 to Form 5500:

 

     2004

    2003

 

Net assets available for benefits per the financial statements

   $ 881,437,295     $ 791,639,733  

Amounts allocated to withdrawing participants

     (194,056 )     (41,135 )

Deemed distributions

     (457,140 )     —    
    


 


Net assets available for benefits per the Form 5500

   $ 880,786,099     $ 791,598,598  
    


 


 

 

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Triad Hospitals, Inc. Retirement Savings Plan

 

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

9. Reconciliation of Financial Statements to Form 5500 (continued)

 

The following is a reconciliation of benefits paid to participants per the financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2004, to Form 5500:

 

Benefits paid to participants per the financial statements

   $ 93,144,982  

Add: Amounts allocated to withdrawing participants at December 3l, 2004

     194,056  

Less: Amounts allocated to withdrawing participants at December 3l, 2003

     (41,135 )
    


Benefits paid to participants per Form 5500

   $ 93,297,903  
    


 

Amounts allocated to withdrawing participants are recorded on the Form 5500 for benefit payments that have been processed and approved for payment prior to December 31, but not yet paid as of that date.

 

The following is a reconciliation of deemed distributions per the financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2004, to Form 5500:

 

Deemed distributions per the financial statements

   $ —  

Add: Deemed distributions at December 31, 2004

     457,140
    

Deemed distributions per the Form 5500

   $ 457,140
    

 

The financial statements differ from the Form 5500 due to the Form 5500 recording deemed distributions.

 

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Supplemental Schedule


Table of Contents

Triad Hospitals, Inc. Retirement Savings Plan

 

Schedule H; Line 4i – Schedule of Assets (Held At End of Year)

 

EIN: 75-2816101    Plan #: 001

 

December 31, 2004

 

(a)


  

(b)

Identity of Issue, Borrower,

or Similar Party


  

(c)

Description of Investment,

Including Maturity Date, Rate of

Interest, Par or Maturity Value


  

(d)

Cost


  

(e)

Current

Value


*

   Triad Hospitals, Inc.   

Common Stock (Employer Retirement stock/non-participant-directed)

   $ 30,200,702    $ 97,718,967

*

   Triad Hospitals, Inc.    Common Stock      **      11,349,571
     STI Classic Capital Appreciation Trust    Core Equity Fund      **      146,006,952
     Pacific Investment Management Company    PIMCO Total Return Fund      **      142,231,011
     Invesco    Invesco Stable Value Fund      **      224,416,462
     Janus Funds    Janus Small Cap Value Fund      **      142,104,189
     Julius Baer    Julius Baer International Equity Fund      **      56,233,228
     Barclays Global Investors    BGI Equity Index H Fund      **      33,924,482

*

   The Northern Trust Company   

Collective Short-Term Investment Fund

     **      2,448,559

*

   Participant Loans   

General purpose loans, interest rates ranging from 4% to 9.5%

     —        12,627,867
                     

                      $ 869,061,288
                     


* Party-in-interest
** Reporting not required because investment is participant-directed.

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the trustees have duly caused this Annual Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

     Triad Hospitals, Inc. Retirement Savings Plan
Date: June 28, 2005    By  

/s/ Ricky E. Thomason


         Ricky E. Thomason
         Vice President of Human Resources

 

 

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EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit
Number


 

Seq. Description


   Page No.

23.1   Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm    18

 

 

17