EXHIBIT 10.4
TRANSITIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT
TRANSITIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT, dated as of May 11, 1999, by and
between COLUMBIA/HCA HEALTHCARE CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation
("Columbia/HCA"), and TRIAD HOSPITALS, INC., a Delaware corporation (together
with its successors and assigns, "Triad").
W I T N E S S E T H:
-------------------
WHEREAS, Columbia/HCA has determined to distribute to its
stockholders, on a pro rata basis, all of the issued and outstanding shares of
common stock of Triad owned by Columbia/HCA (the "Distribution"), all as set
forth in that certain Distribution Agreement by and among Columbia/HCA, Triad
and LifePoint Hospitals, Inc., a Delaware corporation, dated as of May 11, 1999
(the "Distribution Agreement"), the Distribution to be effective on the
Distribution Date (as defined in the Distribution Agreement); and
WHEREAS, Columbia/HCA currently furnishes certain services to the
hospitals and other healthcare facilities which, as of the Distribution Date,
will be owned by Triad (the "Triad Facilities"), such as services relating to
treasury, payroll, accounting, real estate project management, legal, human
resources, sales and marketing, and quality assurance and accreditation matters;
and
WHEREAS, Triad desires that Columbia/HCA shall continue to provide,
and Columbia/HCA is willing to continue to provide, such services for a
transitional period following the Distribution Date on the terms and conditions
set forth herein;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
agreements and covenants hereinafter set forth, Columbia/HCA and Triad hereby
agree as follows:
1. Services.
--------
(a) Basic Services. Columbia/HCA shall furnish, or cause to be
--------------
furnished, to Triad and to the Triad Facilities those services which are
currently furnished by Columbia/HCA to the Triad Facilities (the "Basic
Services"), upon the reasonable direction of Triad, including without limitation
those services that are described on Exhibit A hereto. The Basic Services shall
be performed throughout the Term of this Agreement (as hereinafter defined),
except to the extent that (i) Triad requests earlier discontinuation of all or a
portion of the Basic Services pursuant to Section 5 hereof or (ii) a different
time period for the performance of a particular basic service is set forth on
Exhibit A hereto.
(b) Additional Services. Columbia/HCA and Triad hereby agree
-------------------
that Columbia/HCA may also provide such other services to Triad and to the Triad
Facilities (the "Additional Services") as Columbia/HCA and Triad may agree.
(c) Excluded Services. This Agreement is not intended to
-----------------
address matters involving computer services, employee benefits, tax, aviation,
insurance, telecommunications,
Year 2000, intellectual property, purchasing or any other matters addressed in
the Distribution Agreement or in any of the Ancillary Agreements (as defined in
the Distribution Agreement), which matters shall be governed exclusively by the
provisions of the applicable agreement.
2. Term of Agreement. The term of this Agreement shall commence as
-----------------
of the Distribution Date and shall continue until December 31, 2000 (the
"Term").
3. Charges for Services.
--------------------
(a) Costs. Columbia/HCA's costs associated with performing the
-----
Basic Services (the "Costs") shall be comprised of (i) the portion of all
Columbia/HCA employee compensation and benefits (calculated at 20% of salary)
incurred in connection with or allocable directly to the performance of the
Basic Services hereunder ("Compensation Costs"); and (ii) all out-of-pocket
expenses incurred by Columbia/HCA, including without limitation expenses
resulting from travel, photocopying, delivery and long distance telephone
services, and professional fees and expenses of Columbia/HCA's outside
accountants, legal counsel and other consultants incurred by Columbia/HCA and
allocable to performance of the Basic Services hereunder (collectively, the
"Reimbursable Expenses"). Employees of Columbia/HCA and outside accountants and
legal counsel shall maintain specific timesheets to record time spent in
performing the Basic Services hereunder for purposes of calculating the
Compensation Costs and Reimbursable Expenses.
(b) Charges for Basic Services. Except where a different charge
--------------------------
is set forth on Exhibit A with regard to a particular Basic Service, Triad shall
pay all Costs incurred by Columbia/HCA in connection with Columbia/HCA's
performance of the Basic Services during the period that such Basic Services are
performed.
(c) Charges for Additional Services. In the event that Triad
-------------------------------
requests Columbia/HCA to perform, and Columbia/HCA agrees to perform, Additional
Services as provided in Section 1(b) hereof, the parties shall agree in writing
on reasonable charges to be paid by Triad to Columbia/HCA for any such
Additional Services, which charges shall include reimbursement of Columbia/HCA
for all out-of-pocket expenses incurred by Columbia/HCA, as described in clause
(ii) of Section 3(a) above, and allocable to performance of the Additional
Services.
4. Payment by Triad.
----------------
(a) Payment of Charges. Columbia/HCA shall invoice Triad on a
------------------
monthly basis for the charges relating to the Basic Services and Additional
Services which have been performed hereunder and for reimbursement of any
invoices paid by Columbia/HCA on Triad's behalf. Columbia/HCA's invoice shall
specifically identify charges for Basic Services and Additional Services and the
amounts of any such reimbursements. Triad shall pay to Columbia/HCA all amounts
invoiced by Columbia/HCA within thirty (30) days after delivery of such invoice.
Any amount remaining unpaid when due, including disputed amounts that are
ultimately determined to be payable, shall bear interest during the period that
such amount remains unpaid (computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve
30-day months) at a fluctuating rate per annum equal to the prime commercial
lending rate publicly announced by
2
The Chase Manhattan Bank or any successor thereto at its principal office (or
any alternative rate substituted therefor by such bank).
(b) Disputed Charges. In the event that Triad disputes any
----------------
charges invoiced by Columbia/HCA, Triad shall deliver a written statement
describing the dispute to Columbia/HCA within fifteen (15) days following
receipt of Columbia/HCA's invoice. The statement shall provide a sufficiently
detailed description of the disputed items to permit Columbia/HCA to research
and resolve the dispute. Charges not so disputed shall be deemed accepted. If
Columbia/HCA finds the disputed charge to be inconsistent with the terms of this
Agreement, the disputed amount shall be credited against any invoice issued by
Columbia/HCA following the resolution of such dispute, or, if no further invoice
is issued within sixty (60) days following such resolution, Columbia/HCA shall
refund the disputed amount to Triad.
5. Triad's Request to Discontinue Basic Services. At any time
---------------------------------------------
during the Term of this Agreement, Triad may request Columbia/HCA to discontinue
performing all or a portion of the Basic Services, provided that Triad shall
give Columbia/HCA at least thirty (30) days' prior written notice, and provided
further that the requested discontinuance of services is reasonably feasible and
shall not prevent Columbia/HCA from providing the remaining Basic Services.
6. Limited Warranty and Limitation of Liability.
--------------------------------------------
(a) Standard of Care. Columbia/HCA will provide the Basic
----------------
Services and the Additional Services hereunder (collectively, the "Services") in
good faith and with due care consistent with the care that it exercises in
performing such Services for itself. Triad acknowledges and agrees that
Columbia/HCA does not regularly provide Services to third parties as part of its
business, and, except as specifically stated elsewhere herein, Columbia/HCA does
not otherwise warrant or assume any responsibility for its performance of the
Services.
(b) Limitation of Liability. In addition to the obligations set
-----------------------
forth in Section 6(a) above, Columbia/HCA shall be responsible for any direct
compensatory damages suffered by Triad in the event of a breach by Columbia/HCA
of its obligations set forth herein which breach results from Columbia/HCA's
intentional misconduct or gross negligence. Except for the limited warranties
provided hereunder, Columbia/HCA shall have no liability to Triad under this
Agreement and Triad's remedies under this Section 6 shall constitute its sole
and exclusive remedies under this Agreement; provided that Triad shall be
entitled to preliminary and other injunctive relief against any willful breach
by Columbia/HCA of this Agreement. Under no circumstances shall Columbia/HCA be
liable for any indirect, consequential, incidental or punitive damages, whether
arising under contract, in tort, at law, or in equity, of Triad or any other
person. Triad hereby acknowledges that Columbia/HCA does not regularly provide
Services to third parties as part of its business and that Columbia/HCA has
agreed to provide the Services under this Agreement only to assist Triad in its
transition to operation as an independent public company.
(c) Warranty. The warranties stated in subsection (a) above are
--------
in lieu of any and exclusive of all other representations and warranties of any
kind whatsoever.
3
7. Indemnification. Triad shall, to the fullest extent permitted by
---------------
law, defend, indemnify and hold harmless Columbia/HCA and its directors,
officers, employees, agents and affiliates from and against any and all losses,
liabilities, claims and costs, including, but not limited to, attorneys' fees
and legal costs arising from any lawsuits, administrative agency or other
actions by third parties (collectively, "Losses") to which Columbia/HCA is
subjected arising out of or attributed, directly or indirectly, to the
performance or non-performance of any of the Services under this Agreement.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Triad shall not be required to defend, indemnify
and hold harmless Columbia/HCA and its directors, officers, employees, agents
and affiliates in respect of any such Losses that are determined by a judgment
of a court that is binding, final and not subject to review on appeal to have
resulted from Columbia/HCA's intentional misconduct or gross negligence.
8. Employees. Neither party hereto shall have authority to employ
---------
persons on behalf of the other party, and no employees of one party shall be
deemed to be employees or agents of the other party, except with the prior
written consent of the parties hereto. Each party hereto shall have the sole
and exclusive control over its labor and employee relations policy and policies
relating to wages, hours, working conditions and terms of employment.
9. Confidential Information.
------------------------
(a) In order for Columbia/HCA to perform the Services under this
Agreement, each party may make available to the other party certain information
and/or data in connection with its past, current or potential operations and/or
business strategies (hereinafter collectively referred to as "Confidential
Information"). Confidential Information may be oral, written, recorded or
otherwise captured in any medium.
(b) Each party shall hold, and shall cause its consultants and
advisors to hold, in strict confidence all Confidential Information of the other
party. Each party agrees not to make use of the Confidential Information of the
other party for its own benefit and to use the Confidential Information only in
connection with the Basic Services and the Additional Services to be performed
pursuant to this Agreement. Each party agrees that it will refrain from
releasing or disclosing any Confidential Information to any other person, except
that Confidential Information may be disclosed by each party to its consultants
and advisors. Each party agrees that all Confidential Information of the other
party shall at all times remain the sole property of the other party and shall
be returned to such other party immediately upon the termination of this
Agreement. The provisions of this Section 9 shall survive any termination of
this Agreement.
(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 9,
no party hereto shall be prohibited from using or permitting the use of, and no
party shall be required to hold in confidence, any Confidential Information to
the extent that the information constituting such Confidential Information (i)
has been or is in the public domain through no fault of such party, or (ii) is,
after the Distribution Date, lawfully acquired by such party from sources other
than a party hereto. To the extent that a party hereto (or, to the knowledge of
such party, any current or former employee of such party) is requested (by oral
questions, interrogatories, requests for information or documents, subpoena,
civil investigative demand or similar process) to disclose any information
required to be kept confidential pursuant to this Section 9, such party agrees
to (or in respect of a current or former employee, agrees to use its reasonable
efforts to
4
cause such employee to) maintain the confidentiality of such Confidential
Information and to provide prompt notice to the party to which such Confidential
Information pertains, so that such party may seek an appropriate protective
order or waive the notifying party's compliance with this Section 9. If, in the
absence of a protective order or the receipt of a waiver hereunder, the party
which has received such a request is, nonetheless, in the reasonable written
opinion of counsel, legally required to disclose such Confidential Information,
such person may disclose such Confidential Information and shall not be liable
pursuant to this Section 9; provided, that such person furnishes only that
portion of the Confidential Information which such person is advised by counsel
to disclose and exercises its reasonable efforts to obtain assurance that
confidential treatment will be accorded to the disclosed portion of the
Confidential Information. Notwithstanding the foregoing, each party will be
permitted to disclose Confidential Information in any proceeding in which such
party is in an adversarial position to any other party to this Agreement.
10. Termination for Cause. Either party may terminate this Agreement
---------------------
in the event the other party files a proceeding under any federal or state
bankruptcy laws now or hereafter in effect, or in the event that a proceeding is
instituted against the other party under any federal or state bankruptcy laws
now or hereafter in effect which proceeding is not dismissed within thirty (30)
days, by the giving of written notice, which termination shall be effective
immediately upon the giving of such notice. In addition, in the event of a
breach of any obligation or covenant under this Agreement by either party, the
party not in breach may give the party in breach written notice of the specifics
of the breach and the party in breach shall then have thirty (30) days (the
"Cure Period") in which to cure such breach or cause the breach to be cured. If
the breach is not cured, or waived by the non-breaching party, within the Cure
Period, then the non-breaching party shall be entitled to pursue any remedies it
may have by reason of such breach, including without limitation terminating this
Agreement with cause. Failure to terminate this Agreement shall not serve to
waive any breach hereof. If either party commences legal action alleging any
breach of this Agreement, the non-prevailing party shall pay all costs and
reasonable attorneys' fees incurred by the prevailing party in connection
therewith.
11. Force Majeure. Columbia/HCA shall not be liable to Triad for a
-------------
delay or failure to comply with the terms of this Agreement if such delay or
failure results from causes beyond its reasonable control. Such causes may
include, without limitation, acts of God, fires or other catastrophes,
telecommunications failures, equipment failures, power failures, labor disputes,
strikes, delays in transportation, riots, war, governmental regulations, non-
performance by Columbia/HCA suppliers and vendors, or problems experienced by
Columbia/HCA as a result of its own or any third party's computer software or
hardware not being Year 2000 compliant (an "Event of Force Majeure").
Columbia/HCA shall give Triad prompt notice of any Event of Force Majeure that
may cause delay or non-performance hereunder. For so long as such Event of
Force Majeure shall continue, Triad may elect to have such Services performed by
other means without such election being deemed to be a termination or breach of
this Agreement, provided that Triad provides prompt notice of such election to
Columbia/HCA after having received notice of the Event of Force Majeure.
12. Assignment. Neither this Agreement, nor any of the rights,
----------
licenses or duties set forth herein, may be assigned by Triad without the prior
written consent of Columbia/HCA.
5
This Agreement shall be binding upon, inure to the benefit of, and be
enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted
assigns.
13. Access to Books and Records. Upon written request of the
---------------------------
Secretary of Health and Human Services or the Comptroller General or any of
their duly authorized representatives, Columbia/HCA shall make available to the
requesting party those contracts, books, documents and records necessary to
verify the nature and extent of the cost of providing the Services hereunder.
Columbia/HCA shall cause such materials to be available for inspection for at
least four (4) years after the rendering of such Services. If Columbia/HCA
carries out any of the duties of this Agreement with a value of $10,000 or more
over a twelve (12) month period through a subcontract with a related individual
organization, Columbia/HCA shall include this requirement in all such
subcontracts. The parties agree that any attorney-client, accountant/client or
any other legal privilege shall not be deemed waived by virtue of the provisions
of this Section 13.
14. Taxes. The fees for Services specified to be payable by Triad
-----
hereunder do not include any sales, use, excise, value added, utility or other
similar tax or charge which may be or hereafter become applicable to the
Services provided hereunder. Consequently, in addition to such fees, the amount
of any such taxes or charges which may be or hereafter become applicable shall
also be payable by Triad to Columbia/HCA, except that Triad shall have no
responsibility for payment of taxes on Columbia/HCA's income or for payment of
franchise taxes related to authorization of Columbia/HCA to conduct business in
any state. In lieu of paying any such taxes that may otherwise be due, Triad
may provide Columbia/HCA with a tax exemption certificate acceptable to the
taxing authorities. Triad shall be given prompt written notice of any tax
assessment against Columbia/HCA for which Triad is liable hereunder, and Triad
shall have the right, at its own expense, to contest any such assessment prior
to its payment by Columbia/HCA. In the event Triad exercises such right, it
shall indemnify and hold harmless Columbia/HCA from liability for all interest
and penalties relating to such contest. Triad shall control any such contest
and Columbia/HCA shall provide information and assistance in connection with
such contest to the extent reasonably requested by and at the expense of Triad.
15. Relationship of Parties. In performing the Services under this
-----------------------
Agreement, Columbia/HCA is acting as an independent contractor and not as an
agent or employee of Triad.
16. Limitation on Solicitation of Employees. Neither party shall
---------------------------------------
directly or indirectly approach, counsel or induce any employee of the other
party to leave his or her employment during the term of this Agreement without
the prior written consent of such other party.
17. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be deemed to be made in and
-------------
in all respects shall be interpreted, construed and governed by and in
accordance with the laws of the State of Tennessee without regard to the
conflict of law principles thereof.
18. Consent to Jurisdiction. Columbia/HCA and Triad each hereby
-----------------------
expressly (a) submits and consents in advance to the jurisdiction of any
Tennessee State Court sitting in Nashville, Tennessee or the United States
District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee with respect to any legal
proceedings arising out of or relating to this Agreement, (b) waives any
6
objection which it may have based upon lack of personal jurisdiction, improper
venue or forum non conveniens, (c) agrees that all claims with respect to such
legal proceedings may be heard and determined in any Tennessee State Court
sitting in Nashville, Tennessee or the United States District Court for the
Middle District of Tennessee, (d) agrees not to commence any legal proceeding
relating to this Agreement other than in a Tennessee State Court sitting in
Nashville, Tennessee or the United States District Court for the Middle District
of Tennessee, and (e) agrees that a final judgment in any such legal proceeding
shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the
judgment or in any other manner provided by law.
19. Waiver of Jury Trial. COLUMBIA/HCA AND TRIAD EACH HEREBY
--------------------
ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER THIS
AGREEMENT IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES, AND THEREFORE
EACH SUCH PARTY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT SUCH PARTY MAY
HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY ACTION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING
OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS
AGREEMENT. EACH PARTY CERTIFIES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT (A) NO REPRESENTATIVE,
AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE,
THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE
FOREGOING WAIVER, (B) EACH PARTY UNDERSTANDS AND HAS CONSIDERED THE IMPLICATIONS
OF THIS WAIVER, (C) EACH PARTY MAKES THIS WAIVER VOLUNTARILY AND (D) EACH PARTY
HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL
WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 19.
20. Notices. All notices or other communications required or
-------
permitted under this Agreement shall be in writing and sufficient if sent by
registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, addressed as provided below; or
delivered personally, by private courier or fax, and followed by such mailing:
If to Columbia/HCA, to
Columbia/HCA Healthcare Corporation
Xxx Xxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx 00000
Telecopy: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, Esq.
Senior Vice President and General Counsel
If to Triad, to:
Triad Hospitals, Inc.
00000 Xxxx Xxxx
00/xx/ Xxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Telecopy: (000) 000-0000
7
Attention: Xx. Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
In each case, with a copy to:
Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx LLP
0000 Xxxxxx xx xxx Xxxxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000-0000
Telecopy: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Esq.
Any party may change the person and address to which notices or other
communications are to be sent to it by giving written notice of any such change
in the manner provided herein.
21. Entire Agreement; Amendment. This Agreement, together with the
---------------------------
exhibits hereto, sets forth the entire agreement and understanding of the
parties hereto in respect of the matters addressed herein, and supersedes all
prior agreements, arrangements and understandings relating to the subject matter
hereof. No party hereto has relied upon any oral or written statement,
representation, warranty, covenant, condition, understanding or agreement made
by any other party or any representative, agent or employee thereof, except for
those expressly set forth in this Agreement or in the exhibits or other
documents delivered pursuant hereto. This Agreement may be amended, modified,
superseded or supplemented only by an instrument in writing executed and
delivered by Columbia/HCA and Triad. Nothing herein is intended to diminish any
of the rights or obligations of either party pursuant to the Distribution
Agreement or pursuant to any of the Ancillary Agreements (as defined in the
Distribution Agreement).
22. No Third Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement is solely for the
----------------------------
benefit of the parties hereto, and should not be construed to confer upon any
other person any remedy, claim, liability, right of reimbursement, claim of
action or other right.
23. Headings. The section headings contained in this Agreement are
--------
inserted for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the meaning or
interpretation of this Agreement.
24. Waiver. No delay or omission by either party to exercise any
------
right or power under this Agreement or pursuant to applicable law shall impair
such right or power or be construed as a waiver thereof. A waiver by either
party of any of the covenants to be performed by the other or any breach shall
not be construed to be a waiver of any succeeding breach or of any other
covenant. All rights and remedies conferred under this Agreement or by any
other instrument or law shall be cumulative and may be exercised singularly or
concurrently. The failure by either party to enforce any term shall not be
deemed to be a waiver of future enforcement of that or any other term of this
Agreement.
25. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
------------
separate counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but
which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
8
26. Severability. In the event that any provision hereof is
------------
prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such provision shall, as to
such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or
unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof or
affecting the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other
jurisdiction.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Transitional Services
Agreement to be executed by their duly authorized representatives as of the day
and date first referenced above.
COLUMBIA/HCA HEALTHCARE
CORPORATION
By: /s/ Xxxxxx Xxx Xxxxxx, Xx.
-----------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx Xxx Xxxxxx, Xx.
Title: Vice President of Tax
TRIAD HOSPITALS, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxx
--------------------
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxx
Title: Executive Vice President, General
Counsel and Secretary
9
EXHIBIT A
TRANSITION SERVICES
-------------------
The Basic Services shall include, without limitation, the following:
(a) Treasury. Columbia/HCA will provide Triad with support in
--------
treasury management.
(b) Payroll. Columbia/HCA will provide Triad with historical
-------
information relating to payroll records, wage verification and miscellaneous tax
reporting for employees of the Triad Facilities and will provide such assistance
as Triad may request in connection with payroll processing.
(c) Accounting. Columbia/HCA will provide Triad with historical
----------
financial information and 1999 year-to-date information for each of the Triad
Facilities, including general ledger and operating reports, to the extent in the
possession of Columbia/HCA and not presently on file at the subject Triad
Facility. Columbia/HCA will provide Triad with support in accounting matters.
(d) Real Estate Project Management. Columbia/HCA will provide
------------------------------
Triad with support in construction design and management services, including
construction accounting. For a period not to extend past October 31,1999,
Columbia/HCA will pay invoices related to Triad construction projects which are
currently in progress on Triad's behalf, and Triad will reimburse Columbia/HCA
for any such amounts paid on Triad's behalf. Any such reimbursements will be
invoiced to Triad and paid by Triad in accordance with the provisions of Section
4 of the Agreement.
(e) Legal. Columbia/HCA will provide Triad with support in
-----
connection with legal matters, including pending and threatened litigation.
(f) Human Resources. Columbia/HCA will provide Triad with
---------------
support in connection with human resources matters.
(g) Sales and Marketing. Columbia/HCA will provide Triad with
-------------------
support in connection with sales and marketing matters.
(h) Quality Assurance and Accreditation Matters. Columbia/HCA
-------------------------------------------
will provide Triad with support in quality assurance and accreditation matters.
(i) Early Out Collection Services. For a period not to extend
-----------------------------
past July 15, 1999, Columbia Patient Account Services, Inc., a Texas corporation
("CPAS"), will provide Triad with "early-out" collection services for collection
of third party insurance accounts that, at the 45th day after the date of the
xxxx, have an unpaid balance between $10 and $5,000, and patient due accounts
that, at the 25th day after the date of the xxxx, have an unpaid balance greater
than $10. Triad will pay to CPAS a fee equal to 2.7% of all amounts received by
CPAS, Triad or any Triad facilities on all such accounts placed for collection
with CPAS.
D-2
