SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

OR

Commission file number: I-7293

TENET HEALTHCARE CORPORATION
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

Area Code (805) 563-7000
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

     Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes [x]   No [_]

     Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of the Registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K. o

     As of July 31, 2002, there were 488,139,358 shares of Common Stock outstanding. The aggregate market value of the shares of Common Stock held by non-affiliates of the Registrant, based on the closing price of these shares on the New York Stock Exchange, was $23,168,229,852. For the purposes of the foregoing calculation only, all directors and executive officers of the Registrant have been deemed affiliates.

     Portions of the Registrant’s Annual Report to Shareholders for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2002, have been incorporated by reference into Parts I, II and IV of this Report. Portions of the definitive Proxy Statement for the Registrant’s 2002 Annual Meeting of Shareholders have been incorporated by reference into Part III of this Report.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
FORM 10-K ANNUAL REPORT—2002
TENET HEALTHCARE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

PART I

Item 1. Business

GENERAL

     Tenet Healthcare Corporation (together with its subsidiaries, “Tenet”, the “Registrant” or the “Company”) is the second-largest investor-owned health care services company in the United States. At May 31, 2002, Tenet’s subsidiaries and affiliates (collectively “subsidiaries”) owned or operated 116 domestic general hospitals with 28,667 licensed beds and related health care facilities serving urban and rural communities in 17 states, owned one general hospital and related health care facilities in Barcelona, Spain, and held investments in other health care companies. The related health care facilities included a small number of rehabilitation hospitals, specialty hospitals, long-term-care facilities, a psychiatric facility and medical office buildings located on the same campus as, or nearby, its general hospitals, physician practices and various ancillary health care businesses, including outpatient surgery centers, home health care agencies, occupational and rural health care clinics and health maintenance organizations.

     Several years ago Tenet adopted a “back to basics” approach to improving its operations and financial performance. Various initiatives developed as part of that back to basics approach helped Tenet to significantly improve its operations and financial performance in fiscal year 2002. Among those initiatives, which are discussed in more detail below, are initiatives to (i) improve patient, physician and employee satisfaction, (ii) acquire new, or expand and enhance existing, integrated health care delivery systems, (iii) reduce bad debts and improve cash flow, (iv) focus on core services such as cardiology, orthopedics and neurology designed to meet the health care needs of the aging baby boomer generation, (v) improve recruitment and retention of nurses and other employees, (vi) improve the quality of care provided at its hospitals by identifying best practices and exporting those best practices to all of its hospitals; and (vii) improve operating efficiencies and reduce costs while maintaining the quality of care provided.

     Tenet regularly reviews its portfolio of facilities to assess performance and allocate resources. Tenet intends to continue its strategic acquisitions of, and partnerships or affiliations with, additional general hospitals and related health care businesses in order to expand and enhance its integrated health care delivery systems. From time to time, Tenet also may close or sell facilities or convert them to alternate uses.

     As discussed in more detail under Health Care on page 2, Tenet’s subsidiaries acquired five general hospitals and sold one general hospital during fiscal 2002. During fiscal 2002, a partnership between a Tenet subsidiary and The Cleveland Clinic Foundation opened the Cleveland Clinic Florida Hospital.

     On March 1, 2001, the Company entered into a senior unsecured $500 million 364-day credit agreement and a senior unsecured $1.5 billion five-year revolving credit agreement. On February 28, 2002, the Company renewed the 364-day agreement for another 364 days. The credit agreements allow the Company to borrow, repay and reborrow up to $500 million prior to March 1, 2003 and $1.5 billion prior to March 1, 2006. The Company had approximately $931 million available under its credit agreements at May 31, 2002.

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     Under segment reporting criteria, Tenet’s business of providing health care is a single reportable operating segment. See the discussion of Tenet’s revenues and operations in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” contained in Tenet’s Annual Report to Shareholders for the year ended May 31, 2002.

OPERATIONS

A. Health Care

     All of Tenet’s operations are conducted through its subsidiaries. At May 31, 2002, Tenet’s subsidiaries operated 116 domestic general hospitals with 28,667 licensed beds serving urban and rural communities in 17 states. Of those general hospitals, 96 are owned by Tenet’s subsidiaries and 20 are owned by third parties and leased by Tenet subsidiaries (including one Tenet-owned facility that is on land leased from a third party). A Tenet subsidiary also owns one general hospital and ancillary health care operations in Barcelona, Spain.

     During fiscal 2002, Tenet’s subsidiaries acquired five general hospitals: Good Samaritan Medical Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, with a total of 341 beds, St. Mary’s Medical Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, with a total of 460 beds, St. Alexius Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri, with a total of 203 beds, Daniel Freeman Memorial Hospital in Inglewood, California, with a total of 358 beds, and Daniel Freeman Marina Hospital in Marina Del Rey, California, with a total of 166 beds (which is in the process of being closed). During fiscal 2002, Tenet sold one general hospital. On June 1, 2002, Tenet closed St. Luke Medical Center in Pasadena, California.

     During fiscal 2002, a partnership formed between a subsidiary of the Company and The Cleveland Clinic Foundation (the “Foundation”) opened the Cleveland Clinic Florida Hospital (the “Hospital”) in Weston, Florida. The Company’s subsidiary provides operational and management expertise to the Hospital. Under a medical services agreement between the partnership and The Cleveland Clinic Florida (the “Clinic”) – a subsidiary of the Foundation, the Clinic provides to the Hospital clinical and medical administration and is the exclusive provider of all specialty medical staff.

     Each of Tenet’s general hospitals offers acute care services, operating and recovery rooms, radiology services, respiratory therapy services, pharmacies and clinical laboratories, and most offer intensive care, critical care and/or coronary care units, and physical therapy, orthopedic, oncology and outpatient services. A number of the hospitals also offer tertiary care services such as open-heart surgery, neonatal intensive care and neuroscience. Eight of the Company’s hospitals-Memorial Medical Center, USC University Hospital, St. Louis University Hospital, Hahnemann University Hospital, Sierra Medical Center, Western Medical Center, St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children and the Cleveland Clinic Florida Hospital-offer quaternary care in such areas as heart, lung, liver and kidney transplants. USC University Hospital, Sierra Medical Center and Good Samaritan Medical Center also offer gamma-knife brain surgery and St. Louis University Hospital, Hahneman University Hospital and Memorial Medical Center offer bone marrow transplants. Except for one small hospital that has not sought to be accredited, each of the Company’s facilities that is eligible for accreditation is fully accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (“JCAHO”), the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (“CARF”) (in the case of rehabilitation hospitals), The American Osteopathic Association (“AOA”) (in the case of two hospitals) or another appropriate accreditation agency. With such accreditation, the Company’s hospitals are eligible to participate in the

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Medicare and Medicaid programs. The one hospital that is not accredited participates in the Medicare program through a special waiver that must be renewed each year.

     For many years, significant unused capacity at U.S. hospitals, payor-required preadmission authorization and payor pressure to maximize outpatient and alternative health care delivery services for less acutely ill patients created an environment where hospital admissions and length of stay declined significantly. More recently, admissions have begun to increase as the baby boomer generation enters the stage of life where hospital utilization increases.

     Among various initiatives the Company has implemented to address this trend is focusing on core services, such as cardiology, orthopedics and neurology, to meet the health care needs of the baby boomer generation. The Company’s facilities also will continue to emphasize those outpatient services that can be provided on a quality, cost-effective basis and that the Company believes will meet the needs of the communities the facilities serve. The patient volumes and net operating revenues at both the Company’s general hospitals and its outpatient surgery centers are subject to seasonal variations caused by a number of factors, including, but not necessarily limited to, seasonal cycles of illness, climate and weather conditions, vacation patterns of both patients and physicians and other factors relating to the timing of elective procedures.

     The following table lists, by state, the general hospitals owned or leased by Tenet’s subsidiaries and operated domestically as of May 31, 2002:

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     The largest concentrations of the Company’s hospital beds are in California (29.7 percent), Florida (16.3 percent) and Texas (12.2 percent). While having concentrations of hospital beds within geographic areas helps the Company to contract more successfully with managed care payors, reduce management, marketing and other expenses and more efficiently utilize resources, such concentrations increase the risk that any adverse economic, regulatory or other developments that may occur within such areas may adversely affect the Company’s business, financial position or results of operations.

     Tenet believes that its hospitals are well-positioned to compete effectively in the rapidly evolving health care environment. Tenet continually analyzes whether each of its hospitals fits within its strategic plans and has and will continue to analyze ways in which such assets may best be used to maximize shareholder value. To that end, the Company occasionally may close, sell or convert to alternate uses certain of the Company’s facilities and services in order to eliminate non-strategic assets, duplicate services or excess capacity or because of changing market conditions.

     The following table shows certain information about the general hospitals owned or leased domestically by Tenet’s subsidiaries for the fiscal years ended May 31:

The above tables do not include Tenet’s general hospital in Barcelona, Spain, or Tenet’s rehabilitation hospitals, long-term-care facilities, psychiatric facility, outpatient surgery centers or other ancillary facilities.

B. Business Strategy

     The Company’s objective is to provide quality health care services responsive to the needs of each community or area within the current regulatory and managed care environment. Tenet believes that competition among health care providers occurs primarily at the local level. Accordingly, the Company tailors its local strategies to address the specific competitive characteristics of each area in which it operates, including the number and size of facilities operated by Tenet’s subsidiaries and their competitors, the nature and structure of physician practices and physician groups and the demographic characteristics of the area. To achieve its objective, the Company pursues the following strategies:

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     Tenet’s general hospitals serve as hubs for integrated health care delivery systems. Those systems are designed to provide quality medical care throughout a community or area. For a further discussion of how Tenet’s business strategy enhances its competitive position, see Competition on page 10.

     To continue to enhance its integrated health care delivery systems, Tenet intends to make strategic acquisitions of hospitals, build new hospitals and expand its existing hospitals. The Company recently has seen an increase in the number of not-for-profit hospitals available for purchase and expects to make more strategic acquisitions as a result of that trend. The fact that the governing boards of not-for-profit hospitals now typically engage investment bankers or other third parties to assist with the process of selling their hospitals results in a more competitive process, which may result in higher prices for those hospitals. Furthermore, legislative requirements concerning the procedures that a for-profit hospital company must follow when acquiring a not-for-profit hospital in many states, as well as other factors, have increased the amount of time it takes the Company to acquire a not-for-profit hospital. In order to meet market-driven demands, such as the demand for hospital services in a wider geographic area or for outpatient services, and to expand its hospitals’ market share in certain geographic areas, the Company also is pursuing opportunities to build new hospitals or comprehensive outpatient centers that typically do not provide overnight inpatient care.

     Several years ago many of the Company’s subsidiaries entered into employment or at-risk management agreements with physicians. A large percentage of those physician practices were acquired as part of large hospital acquisitions or through the formation of integrated health care delivery systems. During the latter part of fiscal year 1999, the Company undertook the process of evaluating its physician strategy and began to develop plans to divest, terminate or allow to expire a significant number of its existing unprofitable agreements with physicians. During fiscal years 2000 and 2001, the Company’s subsidiaries exited 77 percent of the unprofitable physician agreements that management had authorized be terminated or allowed to expire. Substantially all of the remaining unprofitable physician agreements were terminated by July 31, 2002. The Company’s subsidiaries continue to employ or manage a number of more profitable or strategic physician practices, which are managed at the local level.

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PROPERTIES

     Tenet’s principal executive offices are located at 3820 State Street, Santa Barbara, California 93105. That building is leased by a Tenet subsidiary under a lease that expires in 2006. The telephone number of Tenet’s Santa Barbara headquarters is (805) 563-7000. Hospital support services for Tenet’s subsidiaries are located in a service center in Dallas, Texas, in space leased by a Tenet subsidiary under a lease that terminates in 2010 unless the Company exercises one or both of its two five-year renewal options. At May 31, 2002, Tenet and its subsidiaries also were leasing space for regional offices in California, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Missouri, Pennsylvania and Texas. In addition, Tenet’s subsidiaries operated domestically 163 medical office buildings, most of which are adjacent to Tenet’s general hospitals.

     The number of licensed beds and locations of the Company’s general hospitals are described on pages 3 through 5. As of May 31, 2002, Tenet had approximately $51 million of outstanding loans secured by property and equipment and approximately $49 million of capitalized lease obligations. The Company believes that all of these properties, as well as the administrative and medical office buildings described above, are suitable for their intended purposes.

MEDICAL STAFF AND EMPLOYEES

     Tenet’s hospitals are staffed by licensed physicians who have been admitted to the medical staff of individual hospitals. Members of the medical staffs of Tenet’s hospitals also often serve on the medical staffs of hospitals not owned by the Company and may terminate their affiliation with the Tenet hospital or shift some or all of their admissions to competing hospitals at any time. Although Tenet owns some physician practices and, where permitted by law, employs some physicians, the majority of the physicians who practice at the Company’s hospitals are not employees of the Company. Nurses, therapists, lab technicians, facility maintenance staff and the administrative staff of hospitals normally are employees of the Company.

     Tenet’s operations are dependent on the efforts, ability and experience of its employees and physicians. Tenet’s continued growth depends on (i) its ability to attract and retain skilled employees, (ii) the ability of its key employees to manage growth successfully and (iii) Tenet’s ability to attract and retain physicians and other health care professionals at its hospitals. In addition, the success of Tenet is, in part, dependent upon the quality, number and specialties of physicians on its hospitals’ medical staffs, most of whom have no long-term contractual relationship with Tenet and may terminate their association with Tenet’s hospitals at any time. Although Tenet currently believes it will continue to successfully attract and retain key employees, qualified physicians and other health care professionals, the loss of some or all of its key employees or inability to attract or retain sufficient numbers of qualified physicians and other health care professionals could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial position or results of operations.

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     The number of Tenet’s employees (of which approximately 30 percent were part-time employees) at May 31, 2002, was approximately as follows:

     Tenet is subject to the federal minimum wage and hour laws and maintains various employee benefit plans. Labor relations at Tenet’s facilities have been satisfactory and approximately eight percent of Tenet’s employees are represented by labor unions. The hospital industry in general, including the Company’s hospitals, are seeing an increase in the amount of union activity, particularly in California. The Company does not expect the increase in union activity to significantly impact the Company’s business, financial position or results of operations.

     The hospital industry in general is experiencing a nationwide nursing shortage. This shortage is more serious in certain areas than others, including several areas in which the Company operates hospitals, such as South Florida, Southern California and Texas, and in certain specialties. The nursing shortage has become a significant operating issue to health care providers, including the Company, and has resulted in increased costs to the Company for nursing personnel. The Company cannot predict the degree to which it will be affected by the future availability and cost of nursing personnel, but it expects the nursing shortage to continue, which may require the Company to enhance wages and benefits to recruit and retain nurses and also may require an increase in the utilization of more expensive temporary personnel. Among the steps Tenet is taking to attract and retain employees generally, and nurses in particular, is its “employer of choice” program, which is described on page 7 above.

COMPETITION

     Tenet’s general hospitals and other health care businesses operate in competitive environments. A facility’s competitive position within the geographic area in which it operates is affected by a number of competitive factors, including: the scope, breadth and quality of services a hospital offers to its patients and physicians; the number, quality and specialties of the physicians who refer patients to the hospital; nurses and other health care professionals employed by the hospital or on its staff; its reputation; its managed care contracting relationships; the extent to which it is part of an integrated health care delivery system; its location; the location and number of competitive facilities and other health care alternatives; the physical condition of its buildings and improvements; the quality, age and state of the art of its medical equipment; its parking or proximity to public transportation; the length of time it has been a part of the community; and its charges for services. Tax-exempt competitors may have certain financial advantages not available to Tenet’s facilities, such as endowments, charitable contributions, tax-exempt financing and exemptions from sales, property and income taxes. Tenet believes that competition among health care providers occurs primarily at the local level. Accordingly, the Company tailors its hospitals’ local strategies to address the specific competitive characteristics of the region in which they operate.

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     The importance of Tenet’s facilities obtaining managed care contracts has increased over the years as employers, private and government payors and others have tried to control rising health care costs. The revenues and operating results of most of the Company’s hospitals are significantly affected by the hospitals’ ability to negotiate favorable contracts with managed care payors.

     A health care provider’s ability to compete for favorable managed care contracts is affected by many factors, including the competitive factors referred to above. Among the most important of those factors is whether the hospital is part of an integrated health care delivery system and, if so, the scope, breadth and quality of services offered by such system and by competing systems. A hospital that is part of a system with many hospitals throughout a geographic area is more likely to obtain managed care contracts, and to obtain more favorable terms in those contracts, than a hospital that is not.

     Tenet evaluates changing circumstances in each geographic area on an ongoing basis and positions itself to compete in the managed care market by forming its own, or joining with others to form, integrated health care delivery systems. Most of Tenet’s hospitals are located in geographic areas where they have the number one or number two market share. In those areas, Tenet negotiates with managed care providers with the goal of including all of its hospitals within the region in each managed care contract. In addition to negotiating managed care contracts for its networks of hospitals, Tenet: (i) encourages physicians practicing at its hospitals to form independent physician associations (“IPAs”) and (ii) joins with those IPAs as well as other physicians and physician group practices to form physician hospital organizations (“PHOs”) to enter into managed care and other contracts both on behalf of those groups and, in certain circumstances, on behalf of the PHOs.

     Tenet’s networks in Southern California, South Florida, the greater New Orleans area, St. Louis, Philadelphia and, more recently, Atlanta are models of how Tenet has developed networks of its own hospitals and related health care facilities to meet the health care needs of these communities throughout those geographic areas. In geographic areas where Tenet has fewer hospitals, those hospitals may join with other hospitals and health care providers to create integrated health care delivery systems in order to better compete for managed care contracts.

     Another important factor in Tenet’s future success is the ability of its hospitals to continue to attract and retain staff physicians. The Company attracts physicians to its hospitals by equipping its hospitals with technologically advanced equipment and physical plant, properly maintaining the equipment and physical plant, sponsoring training programs to educate physicians on advanced medical procedures and otherwise creating an environment within which physicians prefer to practice. The Company also attracts physicians to its hospitals by using local governing boards, consisting primarily of physicians and community members, to develop short-and long-term plans for the hospital and review and approve, as appropriate, actions of the medical staff, including staff appointments, credentialing, peer review and quality assurance. While physicians may terminate their association with a hospital at any time, Tenet believes that by striving to maintain and improve the level of care at its hospitals and by maintaining ethical and professional standards, it will attract and retain qualified physicians with a variety of specialties.

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     “Target 100” and “Partnership for Change” are two important programs that Tenet has adopted to enhance physician satisfaction and make the Company’s hospitals more attractive to physicians. As noted in the Business Strategy discussion on page 6, the “Target 100” program targets 100 percent satisfaction rates among patients, physicians and employees at Tenet’s facilities. Under the program, employees at every hospital are trained to focus on the following five pillars in every aspect of their jobs: Service, Quality, Cost, People and Growth. Tenet’s Partnership for Change program, which also is described in the Business Strategy discussion on page 7, is designed to create a quality monitoring culture among Tenet’s employees, physicians and other health care professionals who practice at Tenet’s hospitals. The program employs a computerized outcomes management system that contains clinical and demographic information from the Company’s hospitals and physicians and allows users to identify “best practices” for treating specific diagnostic-related groups. The Company’s goal is to improve the quality of care provided at its hospitals by maximizing the most effective clinical practices and eliminating those that have proven not to be effective.

     The health care industry continues to contend with a nursing shortage and increased competition for nurses and other health care professionals. The steps the Company is taking to address that competition are described in the discussion concerning Medical Staff and Employees on page 9.

     The health care industry has undergone a tremendous amount of change over the past several years. In the late 1990’s, national and state efforts to reform the health care system in the United States adversely impacted reimbursement rates under government programs such as Medicare and Medicaid. More recently, however, hospitals have been granted relief in the form of higher reimbursement rates. The earlier cutback in reimbursement rates and the more recent relief in the form of higher reimbursement rates are described in more detail under Medicare, Medicaid and Other Revenues on page 13.

     Similarly, for many years general hospitals faced efforts by managed care payors to reduce inpatient admissions and average lengths of stay, and to reduce the amounts hospitals were paid for providing care to their patients. Among the methods used by managed care payors to accomplish those goals have been payor-required pre-admission authorization and utilization review and payor pressure to maximize outpatient and alternative health care delivery services for less acutely ill patients. Because of the Company’s strategies, however, its hospitals achieved strong admissions growth in fiscal year 2002 and expect their admissions growth to continue. Furthermore, the Company successfully negotiated higher payment rates under many of its managed care contracts in fiscal year 2002 and expects to continue to negotiate higher payment rates from managed care payors.

     The health care industry has seen a significant rise in malpractice expense due to unfavorable pricing and availability trends in the professional and general liability insurance markets and increases in the magnitude of claim settlements. The Company expects this trend may continue unless meaningful tort reform legislation is enacted.

     Changes in medical technology, existing and future legislation, regulations, interpretations of those regulations, competitive contracting for provider services by payors and other competitive factors may require changes in the Company’s facilities, equipment, personnel, procedures, rates and/or services in the future. The Company believes it has the capital available to respond to those challenges.

     To meet the foregoing challenges, the Company (i) has implemented the business strategies described on pages 6 through 8, (ii) has expanded or converted many of its general hospitals’ facilities to include distinct outpatient centers, (iii) offers discounts to private payor groups, (iv) upgrades facilities and equipment, (v) offers new programs and services and (vi) is entering into additional managed care contracts.

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MEDICARE, MEDICAID AND OTHER REVENUES

     Tenet receives payments for patient care from private insurance carriers, federal Medicare programs for elderly patients and patients with disabilities, health maintenance organizations, preferred provider organizations, state Medicaid programs for indigent and cash grant patients, the TriCare Program (“TriCare”), employers and patients. The approximate percentages of Tenet’s net patient revenue by payment sources for Tenet’s domestic general hospitals owned or operated by its subsidiaries are as follows:

     Payments from government programs, such as Medicare and Medicaid, account for a significant portion of Tenet’s operating revenues. From time to time, legislative changes have resulted in limitations on, and in some cases significant reductions in levels of, payments to health care providers under government programs. One example of that is the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (the “BBA”), which changed the method of paying health care providers under the Medicare and Medicaid programs, and resulted in significant reductions in payments to health care providers for their inpatient, outpatient, home health, capital and skilled nursing facilities costs. All significant BBA reductions have been phased in.

     The savings to the federal government that resulted from the BBA was much greater than anticipated. In November 1999, the Balanced Budget Refinement Act (the “BBRA”) was signed into law to provide hospitals some relief from the impact of the BBA. In December 2000, the Medicare and Medicaid and SCHIP Benefits Improvement and Protection Act of 2000 (the “BIPA”) became law. This act further amended the BBA and provides additional relief to hospitals from some of the key provisions of the BBA. The effects of the BBA, the BBRA and the BIPA are discussed in more detail below.

     Private payors, including managed care payors, are continuing to demand discounted fee structures and to place significant limits on the scope of services covered. Inpatient utilization, average lengths of stay and occupancy rates continue to be negatively affected by payor-required preadmission authorization and utilization review and by payor pressure to maximize outpatient and alternative health care delivery services for less acutely ill patients. Although the Company recently has negotiated increases in payment rates under managed care contracts, the Company expects efforts by government and other payors to impose reduced allowances, greater discounts and more stringent cost controls to continue.

     Tenet is unable to predict the effect that the changes and trends discussed above will have on its operations. If the relief under the BBRA and the BIPA continues, rates paid under managed care contracts continue to increase and the scope of services covered by government and private payors is not further curtailed, the Company’s business, financial position or results of operations will continue to improve. If the rates paid by government or private payors are reduced or the scope of services covered by such payors is reduced, such actions could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial position or results of operations.

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Description of Government Programs

     Medicare payments for general hospital inpatient services are based on a prospective payment system (“PPS”) referred to herein as the “DRG-PPS.” Under the DRG-PPS, a general hospital receives for each Medicare inpatient discharged from the hospital a fixed amount based on the Medicare patient’s assigned diagnostic related group (“DRG”). DRG payments are adjusted for area-wage differentials but otherwise do not consider a specific hospital’s operating costs. As discussed below, DRG payments exclude the reimbursement of capital costs, including depreciation, interest relating to capital expenditures, property taxes and lease expenses. Payments from state Medicaid programs are based on fixed rates or reasonable costs with certain limits. Substantially all Medicare and Medicaid payments are below the rates charged by Tenet’s facilities. Payments from other sources usually are based on the hospital’s established charges, a percentage discount from such charges or all-inclusive per diem rates.

     DRG-PPS rates are typically updated each year to give consideration to increased cost of goods and services purchased by hospitals and non-hospitals (the “Market Basket”). The BBA limited the rate of increase in DRG rates to the annual Market Basket for such year minus 1.1 percent from October 1, 2000 through September 30, 2003. The BIPA amended the BBA to provide that the Market Basket would be reduced by only .55 percent for periods beginning October 1, 2001 and ending September 30, 2003. Pending legislation may revise the BIPA to provide that the Market Basket would be reduced by only .25 percent for federal fiscal year beginning October 1, 2002 (“Federal Fiscal Year 2003”). The DRG rate increase for Federal Fiscal Year 2003 has been set at 2.95 percent (a 3.5 percent Market Basket increase minus .55 percent). Increases in payments to be received by general hospitals under the DRG-PPS continue to be below the increases in the cost of goods and services purchased by hospitals.

     Medicare pays general hospitals’ capital costs separately from DRG payments. Beginning in 1992, a PPS for Medicare reimbursement of general hospitals’ inpatient capital costs (“PPS-CC”) generally became effective with respect to the Company’s general hospitals. After September 30, 2002, all of the Company’s hospitals will be paid based on a PPS-CC rate that will increase annually by a capital Market Basket update factor. The Company expects that those increases will be below the increases in the cost of capital assets purchased by hospitals.

     As part of the DRG-PPS, Congress established additional payments to hospitals that treat patients who are costlier to treat than the average patient. These additional payments are referred to as “Outlier Payments.” Congress has mandated The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”) to reduce Outlier Payments such that they account for between five and six percent of total DRG payments. In order to bring expected Outlier Payments within this mandate, CMS has proposed substantially raising the cost threshold used to determine the cases for which a hospital will receive Outlier Payments. The proposed change in the cost threshold will substantially reduce total Outlier Payments by reducing (a) the number of cases that qualify for Outlier Payments and (b) the amount of Outlier Payments for cases that continue to qualify. The Company does not expect the implementation of CMS’ proposed change to significantly impact the Company’s business, financial position or results of operations.

     The BBA authorized CMS to establish an outpatient prospective payment system (“OPPS”) that was implemented August 1, 2000. The OPPS established groups called Ambulatory Payment Classifications (“APC”) for outpatient procedures. Providers are paid for services rendered based on the APCs for those services. The OPPS established a transitional period that limits each hospital’s losses during the first three and one half years of the program. If a hospital’s costs of providing the services are lower than the payment, the hospital will be able to keep the difference. If a hospital’s costs are higher than the payment, it will be subsidized for part of the loss during the transition period. The OPPS has not had a material impact on the Company’s business, financial position or results of operations.

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     The implementation of a PPS for rehabilitation hospitals becomes effective for cost reporting periods on or after October 1, 2002. The Company does not expect the implementation of the PPS for rehabilitation hospitals to significantly impact the Company’s business, financial position or results of operations.

     Home health services historically were exempt from the DRG-PPS and were paid by Medicare at cost, subject to certain limits. The BBA required that CMS develop a PPS for home health services. The new system has been implemented for cost-reporting periods beginning on or after October 1, 2000. Under the BIPA, a 15 percent reduction in payments for home health services required by the BBA has been delayed and pending legislation may eliminate this proposed reduction altogether. The implementation of a PPS for home health services has not significantly impacted the Company’s business, financial position or results of operations.

     Hospitals that treat a disproportionately large number of low-income patients (Medicaid and Medicare patients eligible to receive supplemental Social Security income) currently receive additional payments from the federal government in the form of Disproportionate Share Payments. The BBA required such payments to be reduced from what they otherwise would be by one percent in federal fiscal year 1998, two percent in federal fiscal year 1999 and so forth up to a reduction of five percent in federal fiscal year 2002. The BBRA froze the reduction for federal fiscal year 2001 at the federal fiscal year 2000 levels, and the BIPA further limited the reduction to two percent in 2001 and three percent in 2002. The Company’s hospitals currently expect to receive full Disproportionate Share Payments, without reduction, in 2003.

     Under current law, if a hospital is unable to collect a Medicare beneficiary’s deductible or co-payment (a “Bad Debt”), the hospital may be paid by the federal government for a portion of the Bad Debt provided certain conditions are met. The BBA provided that the amount of Bad Debt for which the Company otherwise would be paid will be reduced by: 25 percent beginning October 1, 1997, 40 percent beginning October 1, 1998, and 45 percent beginning October 1, 1999. The BIPA amended the BBA to provide that the Company’s hospitals will receive 70 percent, rather than only 55 percent, of the amount they otherwise would be paid for their Bad Debts for cost reporting periods beginning on or after October 1, 2000.

     As discussed above, the BBA significantly changed the manner in which the Company is paid for services provided to Medicare beneficiaries. While both the BBRA and the BIPA have restored a portion of the reductions made by the BBA, all of the BBA changes taken as a whole have significantly reduced the amount of payments received by the Company from the federal government.

     The Medicare, Medicaid and TriCare programs are subject to statutory and regulatory changes, administrative rulings, interpretations and determinations, requirements for utilization review and new governmental funding restrictions, all of which may materially increase or decrease program payments as well as affect the cost of providing services and the timing of payments to facilities. The final determination of amounts earned under the programs often requires many years because of audits by the program representatives, providers’ rights of appeal and the application of numerous technical reimbursement provisions. Management believes that adequate provision has been made in the Company’s consolidated financial statements for such adjustments. Until final adjustment, however, significant issues remain unresolved and previously determined allowances could be more or less than ultimately required.

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HEALTH CARE REFORM, REGULATION AND LICENSING

Certain Background Information

     Health care, as one of the largest industries in the United States, continues to attract much legislative interest and public attention. Changes in Medicare, Medicaid and other programs, hospital cost-containment initiatives by public and private payors, proposals to limit payments and health care spending and industry-wide competitive factors are highly significant to the health care industry. In addition, the health care industry is governed by a framework of federal and state laws, rules and regulations that are extremely complex and for which the industry has the benefit of little or no regulatory or judicial interpretation. Although the Company believes it is in compliance in all material respects with such laws, rules and regulations, if a determination is made that the Company was in material violation of such laws, rules or regulations, its business, financial position or results of operations could be materially adversely affected.

     As discussed under Medicare, Medicaid and Other Revenues starting on page 13, the BBA has had the effect of reducing payments to hospitals and other health care providers under Medicare programs. The reductions in payments and other changes mandated by the BBA, have had a significant impact on the Company’s revenues under Medicare programs. In addition, there continue to be federal and state proposals that would, and actions that do, impose more limitations on payments to providers such as Tenet and proposals to increase copayments and deductibles from patients.

     Tenet’s facilities also are affected by controls imposed by government and private payors designed to reduce admissions and lengths of stay. For all providers, such controls, including what is commonly referred to as “utilization review,” have resulted in fewer treatments and procedures being performed. Utilization review entails the review of the admission and course of treatment of a patient by a third party. Utilization review by third-party peer review organizations (“PROs”) is required in connection with the provision of care paid for by Medicare and Medicaid. Utilization review by third parties also is a requirement of many managed care arrangements.

     Many states have enacted or are considering enacting measures that are designed to reduce their Medicaid expenditures and to make certain changes to private health care insurance. Various states have applied, or are considering applying, for a federal waiver from current Medicaid regulations to allow them to serve some of their Medicaid participants through managed care providers. Texas was denied a waiver under Section 1115 of the BBA but has implemented regional managed care programs under a more limited waiver. Texas also has applied for federal funds for children’s health programs under the BBA. Louisiana is considering wider use of managed care for its Medicaid population. California has created a voluntary health insurance purchasing cooperative that seeks to make health care coverage more affordable for businesses with five to 50 employees, and changed the payment system for participants in its Medicaid program in certain counties from fee-for-service arrangements to managed care plans. Florida also has legislation, and other states are considering adopting legislation, imposing a tax on net revenues of hospitals to help finance or expand the provision of health care to uninsured and underinsured persons. A number of other states are considering the enactment of managed care initiatives designed to provide universal low-cost coverage. These proposals also may attempt to include coverage for some people who currently are uninsured.

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Certificate of Need Requirements

     Some states require state approval for construction and expansion of health care facilities, including findings of need for additional or expanded health care facilities or services. Certificates of Need, which are issued by governmental agencies with jurisdiction over health care facilities, are at times required for capital expenditures exceeding a prescribed amount, changes in bed capacity or services and certain other matters. Following a number of years of decline, the number of states requiring Certificates of Need is once again on the rise as state legislators once again are looking at the Certificate of Need process as a way to contain rising health care costs. At May 31, 2002, Tenet operated hospitals in 12 states that require state approval under Certificate of Need programs. Tenet is unable to predict whether it will be able to obtain any Certificates of Need in any jurisdiction where such Certificates of Need are required.

Antikickback and Self-Referral Regulations

     The health care industry is subject to extensive federal, state and local regulation relating to licensure, conduct of operations, ownership of facilities, addition of facilities and services and prices for services. In particular, Medicare and Medicaid antikickback and antifraud and abuse amendments codified under Section 1128B(b) of the Social Security Act (the “Antikickback Amendments”) prohibit certain business practices and relationships that might affect the provision and cost of health care services payable under the Medicare, Medicaid and other government programs, including the payment or receipt of remuneration for the referral of patients whose care will be paid for by such programs. Sanctions for violating the Antikickback Amendments include criminal penalties and civil sanctions, including fines and possible exclusion from government programs such as Medicare and Medicaid. Many states have statutes similar to the federal Anitikickback Amendments, except that the state statutes usually apply to referrals for services reimbursed by all third-party payors, not just federal programs.

     In addition, it is a violation of the Federal Civil Monetary Penalties Law to offer or transfer anything of value to Medicare or Medicaid beneficiaries that is likely to influence their decision to obtain covered goods or services from one provider or service over another.

     In addition to addressing other matters, as discussed below, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (“HIPAA”) amends Title XI (42 U.S.C. 1301 et seq.) to broaden the scope of current fraud and abuse laws to include all health plans, whether or not payments under such health plans are made pursuant to a federal program.

     Section 1877 of the Social Security Act (commonly referred to as the “Stark” laws) restricts referrals by physicians of Medicare or Medicaid patients to providers of a broad range of designated health services with which they or an immediate family member have ownership or certain other financial arrangements, unless one of several exceptions applies. These exceptions cover a broad range of common financial relationships. These statutory and regulatory exceptions are available to protect certain employment relationships, leases, group practice arrangements, medical directorships, and other common relationships between physicians and providers of designated health services. A violation of the Stark laws may result in a denial of payment, required refunds to patients and to the Medicare program, civil monetary penalties of up to $15,000 for each violation, civil monetary penalties of up to $100,000 for “sham” arrangements, civil monetary penalties of up to $10,000 for each day in which an entity fails to report required information and exclusion from participation in the Medicare, Medicaid and other federal programs. Many states have adopted or are considering similar legislative proposals, some of which extend beyond the Medicaid program to prohibit the payment or receipt of remuneration for the referral of patients and physician self-referrals regardless of the source of the payment for the care. Tenet’s participation in and development of joint ventures and other financial relationships with physicians could be adversely affected by these amendments and similar state enactments.

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     On January 4, 2001, the Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) issued final regulations, subject to comment, intended to clarify parts of the Stark laws and some of the exceptions to them. These regulations are considered the first phase of a two-phase process, with the remaining regulations to be published at an unknown future date. While HHS may add new exceptions to the final regulations, the current statutory exceptions, discussed above, will continue to be available. The Company cannot predict the final form that these regulations will take or the effect that the final regulations will have on its operations.

     The federal government has issued regulations that describe some of the conduct and business relationships that are permissible under the Antikickback Amendments (“Safe Harbors”). The fact that certain conduct or a given business arrangement does not fall within a Safe Harbor does not render the conduct or business arrangement per se illegal under the Antikickback Amendments. Such conduct and business arrangements, however, do risk increased scrutiny by government enforcement authorities. Tenet may be less willing than some of its competitors to enter into conduct or business arrangements that do not clearly satisfy the Safe Harbors. Passing up certain of those opportunities of which its competitors are willing to take advantage may put Tenet at a competitive disadvantage. Tenet has a voluntary regulatory compliance program and systematically reviews all of its operations to ensure that they comply with federal and state laws related to health care, such as the Antikickback Amendments, the Stark laws and similar state statutes.

     Both federal and state government agencies continue heightened and coordinated civil and criminal enforcement efforts against the health care industry. As part of an announced work plan, which is implemented through the use of national initiatives against health care providers, including the Company, the government is scrutinizing, among other things, the terms of acquisitions of physician practices and the coding practices related to certain clinical laboratory procedures and inpatient procedures. The Company believes that the health care industry will continue to be subject to increased government scrutiny and investigations such as this.

     Another trend impacting health care providers, including the Company, is the increased use of the False Claims Act, particularly by individuals who bring actions. Such qui tam or “whistleblower” actions allow private individuals to bring actions on behalf of the government alleging that a hospital has defrauded the federal government. If the government intervenes in the action and prevails the defendant may be required to pay three times the actual damages sustained by the government, plus mandatory civil penalties of between $5,500 and $11,000 for each false claim submitted to the government. As part of the resolution of a qui tam case, the party filing the initial complaint may share in a portion of any settlement or judgment. If the government does not intervene in the action, the qui tam plaintiff may pursue the action independently. Although companies in the health care industry in general, and the Company in particular, have been and may continue to be subject to qui tam actions, the Company is unable to predict the impact of such actions on its business, financial position or results of operations.

     The Company is unable to predict the future course of federal, state and local regulation or legislation, including Medicare and Medicaid statutes and regulations. Further changes in the regulatory framework could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial position or results of operations.

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HIPAA

     HIPAA mandates the adoption of standards for the exchange of electronic health information in an effort to encourage overall administrative simplification and enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of the health care industry. Ensuring privacy and security of patient information — “accountability” — is one of the key factors driving the legislation. The other major factor — “portability” — refers to Congress’ intention to ensure that individuals may take their medical and insurance records with them when they change employers.

     In August 2000, HHS issued final regulations establishing electronic data transmission standards that health care providers must use when submitting or receiving certain health care data electronically. All affected entities, including Tenet, are required to comply with these regulations by October 16, 2002.

     On December 27, 2001, President Bush signed into law H.R. 3323, the Administrative Simplification Compliance Act (the “ASCA”). The ASCA requires that, by October 16, 2002, hospitals and other covered entities must either: (1) be in compliance with the electronic data transmission standards under HIPAA, or (2) submit a summary plan to the Secretary of HHS describing how the entity will come into full compliance with the standards by October 16, 2003. Tenet continues to work toward compliance with the electronic data transmission standards. Tenet will submit a summary plan to the Secretary of HHS and will be in compliance with the standards by October 16, 2003.

     In December 2000, HHS issued final regulations concerning the privacy of health care information. These regulations regulate the use and disclosure of individuals’ health care information, whether communicated electronically, on paper or verbally. All affected entities, including Tenet, are required to comply with these regulations by April 2003. The regulations also provide patients with significant new rights related to understanding and controlling how their health information is used or disclosed.

     Proposed security standards designed to ensure privacy and security of patient information were published by HHS in August 1998, but they have not been finalized. The proposed security standards would require health care providers to implement organizational and technical practices to protect the security of patient information. Once the security regulations are finalized, the Company will have approximately two years to comply with such regulations.

     Although the enforcement provisions of HIPAA have not yet been finalized, sanctions are expected to include criminal penalties and civil sanctions. The Company has established a plan and engaged the resources necessary to comply with HIPAA. At this time, the Company anticipates that it will be able to fully comply with those HIPAA regulations that have been issued and with the proposed regulations. Based on the existing and proposed HIPAA regulations, the Company believes that the cost of its compliance with HIPAA will not have a material adverse effect on its business, financial position or results of operations.

Environmental Regulations

     The Company’s health care operations generate medical waste that must be disposed of in compliance with federal, state and local environmental laws, rules and regulations. The Company’s operations, as well as the Company’s purchases and sales of facilities, also are subject to compliance with various other environmental laws, rules and regulations. The Company believes that the cost of such compliance will not have a material adverse effect on its business, financial position or results of operations.

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Health Care Facility Licensing Requirements

     Tenet’s health care facilities are subject to extensive federal, state and local legislation and regulation. In order to maintain their operating licenses, health care facilities must comply with strict standards concerning medical care, equipment and hygiene. Various licenses and permits also are required in order to dispense narcotics, operate pharmacies, handle radioactive materials and operate certain equipment. Tenet’s health care facilities hold all required governmental approvals, licenses and permits. Except for one small hospital that has not sought to be accredited, each of Tenet’s facilities that is eligible for accreditation is fully accredited by the JCAHO, CARF (in the case of rehabilitation hospitals), AOA (in the case of two hospitals) or another appropriate accreditation agency. With such accreditation, the Company’s hospitals are eligible to participate in government-sponsored provider programs such as the Medicare and Medicaid programs. The one hospital that is not accredited participates in the Medicare program through a special waiver that must be renewed each year.

Utilization Review Compliance and Hospital Governance

     Tenet’s health care facilities are subject to and comply with various forms of utilization review. In addition, under the Medicare PPS, each state must have a PRO to carry out a federally mandated system of review of Medicare patient admissions, treatments and discharges in general hospitals. Medical and surgical services and practices are extensively supervised by committees of staff doctors at each health care facility, are overseen by each health care facility’s local governing board, the members of which primarily are physicians and community members, and are reviewed by Tenet’s quality assurance personnel. The local governing boards also help maintain standards for quality care, develop long-range plans, establish, review and enforce practices and procedures and approve the credentials and disciplining of medical staff members.

COMPLIANCE PROGRAM

     The Company voluntarily maintains a multifaceted corporate compliance and ethics program that meets or exceeds all applicable federal guidelines and industry standards. The program is designed to monitor and raise awareness of various regulatory issues among employees, to stress the importance of complying with all governmental laws and regulations and to promote the Company’s Standards of Conduct. As part of the program, the Company provides annual ethics and compliance training to every employee. The Company also provides additional compliance training in specialized areas to the employees responsible for these areas. The program encourages all employees to report any potential or perceived violations to a toll-free telephone hotline.

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MANAGEMENT

     The executive officers of the Company who are not also directors as of July 31, 2002 are:

     Mr. Dennis was elected to the position of Vice Chairman, Chief Corporate Officer and Chief Financial Officer in the Office of the President, effective March 1, 2000. Mr. Dennis held various positions with Donaldson, Lufkin and Jenrette (“DLJ”) from 1989 to 2000, including serving as the co-head of the Los Angeles office from 1996 through February 2000. Before joining DLJ in 1989, Mr. Dennis spent nine years in a number of positions with the investment banking division of Merrill Lynch Capital Markets. Mr. Dennis serves as a director of Westwood One. He holds a bachelor’s degree in economics and finance from San Diego State University and a M.B.A. in finance and corporate strategy from UCLA.

     Mr. Mackey was elected Chief Operating Officer in the Office of the President on January 13, 1999. Mr. Mackey has 25 years experience in the health care industry. He has held a variety of senior regional and divisional management positions with Tenet since 1985, most recently serving as Executive Vice President, Western Division from March 1995 to January 1999. Before joining Tenet, Mr. Mackey was vice president, operations, for Greatwest Hospitals in California. He began his health care career at the University of California, San Diego University Hospital. Mr. Mackey is a member of the board of directors of the Federation of American Hospitals. Mr. Mackey holds a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from Northeastern University and a M.B.A. from Cornell University.

     Mr. Mathiasen was elected Executive Vice President on March 22, 1999. Since March 1996, Mr. Mathiasen has been Chief Accounting Officer of the Company. From February 1994 to March 1996, Mr. Mathiasen served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company and from September 1993 to February 1994, Mr. Mathiasen served as Senior Vice President and acting Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Mathiasen was elected to the position of Senior Vice President in 1990 and Chief Operating Financial Officer in 1991. Prior to joining Tenet as a Vice President in 1985, he was a partner with Ernst & Young. Mr. Mathiasen holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from California State University, Long Beach.

     Ms. Sulzbach was elected Executive Vice President and General Counsel on February 22, 1999. Prior to that appointment, Ms. Sulzbach served as Associate General Counsel in charge of compliance and litigation and as Senior Vice President, Public Affairs. She joined Tenet in 1983 and has held a variety of positions in the law department since that time. She serves on the boards of directors of the Federation of American Hospitals, the Los Angeles Chapter of the Federal Bar Association and Laguna Blanca School. Ms. Sulzbach holds bachelor degrees in political science and psychology from the University of Southern California and a J.D. from Loyola University in Los Angeles.

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PROFESSIONAL AND GENERAL LIABILITY INSURANCE

     For years, through May 31, 2002, the Company insured substantially all of its professional and comprehensive general liability risks in excess of self-insured retentions through a majority-owned insurance subsidiary under a mature claims-made policy with a 10-year discovery period. These self-insured retentions were $1 million per occurrence for the three years ended May 31, 2002, and in prior years varied by hospital and by policy period from $500,000 to $5 million per occurrence. Risks in excess of $3 million per occurrence were, in turn, reinsured with major independent insurance companies. Effective June 1, 2002, the Company, along with another unrelated health care company, formed a new insurance subsidiary. This subsidiary insures professional and general liability risks, in excess of a $2 million self-insured retention, under a first-year only claims-made policy, and, in turn, reinsures its risks in excess of $5 million per occurrence with major independent insurance companies.

     In addition to the reserves recorded by the above insurance subsidiaries, the Company maintains reserves based on actuarial estimates for the portion of its professional liability risks, including incurred but not reported claims, for which it does not have insurance coverage. Reserves for losses and related expenses are estimated using expected loss-reporting patterns and have been discounted to their present value using a discount rate of 7.5 percent. If actual payments of claims materially exceed projected estimates of claims, Tenet’s financial position could be materially adversely affected.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

     Certain statements contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, and the documents incorporated herein by reference, including, without limitation, statements containing the words “believes”, “anticipates”, “expects”, “will”, “may”, “might”, “should”, “surmises”, “estimates”, “intends”, “appears“and words of similar import, and statements regarding the Company’s business strategy and plans, constitute “forward-looking statements“within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which the Company is unable to predict or control, that may cause the Company’s or the health care industry’s actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, the following: general economic and business conditions, both nationally and regionally; industry capacity; demographic changes; changes in, or the failure to comply with, laws and governmental regulations; the ability to enter into managed care provider arrangements on acceptable terms; changes in Medicare and Medicaid payments or reimbursement, including those resulting from a shift from traditional reimbursement to managed care plans; liability and other claims asserted against the Company; competition, including the Company’s failure to attract patients to its hospitals; the loss of any significant customers; technological and pharmaceutical improvements that increase the cost of providing, or reduce the demand for, health care; a shortage of raw materials; a breakdown in the distribution process or other factors that may increase the Company’s cost of supplies; changes in business strategy or development plans; the ability to attract and retain qualified personnel, including physicians, nurses and other health care professionals, including the impact on the Company’s labor expenses resulting from a shortage of nurses and/or other health care professionals; the significant indebtedness of the Company; the availability of professional liability insurance coverage at current levels; the availability of suitable acquisition opportunities and the length of time it takes to accomplish acquisitions; the Company’s ability to integrate new businesses with its existing operations; the availability and terms of capital to fund the expansion of the Company’s business, including the acquisition of additional facilities and certain additional factors, risks and uncertainties discussed in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and the documents incorporated herein by reference. Given these

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uncertainties, investors and prospective investors are cautioned not to rely on such forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any obligation, and makes no promise, to update any such factors or forward-looking statements or to publicly announce the results of any revisions to any such factors or forward-looking statements, whether as a result of changes in underlying factors, to reflect new information as a result of the occurrence of events or developments or otherwise.

Item 2. Properties.

     The response to this item is included in Item 1.

Item 3. Legal Proceedings.

     The Company is subject to claims and lawsuits in its normal course of business. The Company believes that its liability for damages resulting from such claims and lawsuits is adequately covered by insurance or is adequately provided for in its consolidated financial statements. Although the results of these claims and lawsuits cannot be predicted with certainty, the Company believes that the ultimate resolution of these claims and lawsuits will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial position or results of operations.

Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

     None.

PART II

Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters.

     The response to this item is included on page 53 of the Registrant’s Annual Report to Shareholders for the year ended May 31, 2002. The required information hereby is incorporated by reference.

Item 6. Selected Financial Data.

     The response to this item is included on page 9 of the Registrant’s Annual Report to Shareholders for the year ended May 31, 2002. The required information hereby is incorporated by reference.

Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

     The response to this item is included on pages 10 through 23 of the Registrant’s Annual Report to Shareholders for the year ended May 31, 2002. The required information hereby is incorporated by reference.

Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

     The response to this item is included on pages 21 and 22 of the Registrant’s Annual Report to Shareholders for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2002. The required information hereby is incorporated by reference.

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Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

     The response to this item is included on pages 25 through 53 of the Registrant’s Annual Report to Shareholders for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2002. The required information hereby is incorporated by reference.

Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.

     None.

PART III

Items 10 and 11. Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant; Executive Compensation.

     Information concerning the directors of the Registrant, including executive officers of the Registrant who also are directors, compensation and other information required by Item 10 is included on pages 2 through 16 and 35 of the definitive Proxy Statement for the Registrant’s 2002 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and hereby is incorporated by reference. Similar information required by Item 10 regarding executive officers of the Registrant who are not directors is set forth on page 21 above. Information regarding compensation of executive officers of the Registrant and other information required by Item 11 is included on pages 17 through 23 and pages 28 through 32 of the definitive Proxy Statement for the Registrant’s 2002 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and hereby is incorporated by reference.

Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management.

     Information concerning security ownership of certain beneficial owners and management required by Item 12 is included on pages 7 and 8 and pages 33 and 34 of the definitive Proxy Statement for the Registrant’s 2002 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and hereby is incorporated by reference.

     In fiscal years 2000 and 2001, the Company granted options to its employees under its 1999 Broad-Based Stock Incentive Plan (the “Broad-Based Plan”), which was adopted by the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) on July 28, 1999 and amended and restated by the Board on May 24, 2000. The Broad-Based Plan was not submitted to the Company’s shareholders for approval. With the approval by the Company’s shareholders of its 2001 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2001 Plan”) at the 2001 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, the Company discontinued the grant of any additional options under the Broad-Based Plan. The Company currently grants stock options only under the 2001 Plan. Awards granted under the Broad-Based Plan vest and may be exercised as determined by the Compensation Committee of the Board. In the event of a change of control, the Compensation Committee may, in its sole discretion, without obtaining shareholder approval, accelerate the vesting or performance periods of the awards. Although the Broad-Based Plan authorized, in addition to options, the grant of appreciation rights, performance units, restricted units and cash bonus awards, only nonqualified stock options were granted under the Broad-Based Plan. All options were granted with an exercise price equal to the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. Options normally are exercisable at the rate of one-third per year beginning one year from the date of grant and generally expire 10 years from the date of grant.

     The following table summarizes certain information with respect to the Company’s equity compensation plans pursuant to which options remain outstanding as of May 31, 2002. The share amounts have been adjusted to reflect the 3-for-2 split of Tenet’s common stock that became effective after the close of trading on June 28, 2002.

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Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions.

     The response to this item is included on pages 32 and 33 of the definitive Proxy Statement for the Registrant’s 2002 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. The required information hereby is incorporated by reference.

PART IV

Item 14. Exhibits, Financial Statements, Schedules and Reports on Form 8-K.

(a)    1. Financial Statements.

     The consolidated financial statements to be included in Part II, Item 8, are incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s 2002 Annual Report to Shareholders for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2002. (See Exhibit (13))

        2. Financial Statement Schedules.

     Schedule II-Valuation and Qualifying Accounts (included on page 31).

     All other schedules and Condensed Financial Statements of Registrant are omitted because they are not applicable or not required or because the required information is included in the consolidated financial statements or notes thereto.

        3. Exhibits.

     (3) Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws

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(b)  Reports on Form 8-K

     The Company filed two reports on Form 8-K during the last quarter of fiscal year 2002. An 8-K, dated March 7, 2002, reported the Company’s completion of an offering of $600,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 6 1/2% Senior Notes due 2012 pursuant to its existing $2,000,000,000 shelf registration statement. An 8-K, dated May 22, 2002, reported the Company’s approval of a 3-for-2 split of its common stock and corresponding reduction in the par value of the common stock from $.075 per share to $.050 per share, effective as of the close of trading on June 28, 2002.

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SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, on August 13, 2002.

Tenet Healthcare Corporation

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below on August 14, 2002, by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities indicated:

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TENET HEALTHCARE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
SCHEDULE II—VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS
Years Ended May 31, 2000, 2001 and 2002
(in millions)

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

Additions Charged to:

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