HCA Holdings reports higher revenue from Affordable Care Act

With the Affordable Care Act in full swing, HCA Holdings Inc., a national hospital operator, reported admissions to its hospitals recovered in second quarter 2014 with greater-than-expected benefits, The Wall Street Journal reported.

The massive hospital operator had once been quiet on the effects of the ACA health care law, but now it has seen early success from the new plan, the source reported.

"Results for the second quarter of 2014 exceeded our internal expectations, both in terms of our core operations and health-care reform," said R. Milton Johnson, chief executive officer of HCA Holdings, according to the source.

Johnson added that it was very evident the effects of the ACA were a "positive contributor on the margins," but that it wasn't the only reason, the source reported.

Gary Lieberman, an analyst for Wells Fargo, said the health care reform was likely the reason for the benefits it saw, but that the new health care law could continue to improve benefits for the company, Equities reported.

According to the source, in the last three years, HCA Holdings has increased its freestanding emergency rooms, urgent care centers and surgery centers by investing more than $5 billion.