What impacted HCA's Q3 2023 operating profit drop?

HCA's Q3 2023 operating profit drop can be attributed to several factors:

1. **Salaries and Benefits Costs**: Escalating salaries and benefits expenses offset the gains from expanding patient volumes and increased surgeries. This indicates that while the company is seeing increased patient activity, the cost of employing staff is rising, impacting profitability.
2. **Payer Mix and Acuity**: The payer mix and acuity levels also affect HCA's financial results. A shift in payer mix or acuity levels can impact revenue and profitability. For instance, a higher proportion of commercial payers or patients with higher acuity levels can lead to higher revenues, while a higher proportion of Medicare or patients with lower acuity levels can lead to lower revenues.
3. **Inflationary Pressures**: Inflationary pressures, including increased contract labor costs and other input costs, can also impact HCA's profitability. These costs can erode profit margins if they cannot be fully offset by revenue growth.

In summary, HCA's Q3 2023 operating profit drop is likely a result of a combination of factors including increasing salaries and benefits costs, inflationary pressures and payer mix and acuity levels.