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HealthSouth Reports Second Quarter Earnings
Improved Results from Prior Year
Strong 75% Rule Compliant Case Growth
Development Initiatives Ahead of Schedule
PRNewswire-FirstCall
BIRMINGHAM, Ala.

HealthSouth Corporation (BULLETIN BOARD: HLSH) today filed its quarterly financial statements on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2006 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). The filing can be found on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. The information below is summarized and should be read in conjunction with the Form 10-Q filed today.

"Overall, I'm encouraged by the progress we made in the second quarter," said HealthSouth President and CEO Jay Grinney. "We saw improved results from the prior year and our development pipeline indicates there are excellent growth opportunities in the post-acute, surgery and outpatient segments. Additionally, our Diagnostic Division is stabilizing and we believe there will be strong interest in these assets when we begin marketing them later this year."

Consolidated Results

The Company reported a pretax loss from continuing operations in the second quarter of $28.9 million, an improvement of $17.0 million over the second quarter 2005 pretax loss from continuing operations of $45.9 million.

Revenues for the second quarter were $787.5 million, a 3.8 percent decline from the same quarter a year ago. The revenue decline is a result of (i) the continued negative impact of the 75% Rule and negative pricing in the Inpatient Division; (ii) facility closures (which do not qualify as discontinued operations) primarily in the Outpatient, Surgery, and Diagnostic Divisions; and (iii) three surgery center facilities that became equity method investments rather than consolidated entities.

Segment Highlights

Operating Earnings are a key performance measure used by management to assess the results of each operating segment. Operating earnings include divisional overhead, but exclude corporate overhead. Operating earnings include the effect of minority interests in earnings of consolidated affiliates and equity in the net income of nonconsolidated affiliates.

Inpatient Division

Revenue in the Inpatient Division was lower by 1.7 percent or $7.8 million from declining volumes as a result of the continued implementation of the 75% Rule and negative Medicare pricing pressure. However, the strategic focus on growing compliant cases continues to yield excellent results. Compliant case growth was 4.8 percent in the second quarter.

Operating earnings margin declined to 21.2 percent in the second quarter from 23.9 percent in the same quarter a year ago. The operating earnings margin decline is the result of lower volumes, the negative effect of Medicare reimbursement changes and the higher costs of salaries and benefits (including inflationary increases needed to retain qualified personnel) and supplies related to treating more acute patients without a corresponding price increase. The second quarter included a $4.1 million loss on disposal of assets, which represented 0.9 percent of net operating revenues in the quarter.

In August 2006, the division signed a letter of intent to partner with TMC Healthcare in Tucson, Arizona to provide rehabilitation services and concluded its non-U.S. operations with the sale of its Australian facility, Cedar Court Rehabilitation Hospital.

Surgery Centers Division

The Surgery Centers Division revenue decline in the second quarter is an improvement over the first quarter 2006 performance where this division experienced a 6.7 percent decline. The decline in the quarter was 3.4 percent or $6.7 million with the majority of the decrease the result of three surgery centers that became equity method investments rather than consolidated entities after the second quarter of 2005 and the closure of seven facilities that did not qualify as discontinued operations.

Operating earnings margin declined to 10.5 percent in the second quarter from 11.1 percent in the same quarter a year ago. Operating earnings for the second quarter include a $1.6 million impairment charge, which is 0.8 percent of net operating revenues.

Outpatient Division

The Outpatient Division experienced a decline in revenues of $12.8 million in the second quarter as a result of continued competition, closures of underperforming facilities and the annual per-beneficiary limitation on Medicare outpatient therapy services (effective January 1, 2006).

Operating earnings margin increased to 8.8 percent from 5.8 percent in the same quarter a year ago, as the division continued to reduce expenses through headcount reductions and closure of underperforming facilities.

In July 2006, the division completed a transaction to acquire the assets of Hurrle Orthopaedic Physical Therapy, P.C. in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Diagnostic Division

The Diagnostic Division, which is not considered part of the Company's core business, experienced a decline in revenues of $5.6 million or 9.8 percent less than the second quarter a year ago due to competitive pressures and the closure of underperforming facilities that did not qualify as discontinued operations.

The division has a negative operating margin of (23.5) percent in the quarter compared to 1.8 percent in the second quarter of 2005. The second quarter includes an impairment charge of $2.0 million, 3.9 percent of net operating revenues, and a loss on disposal of assets of $2.0 million, 3.9 percent of net operating revenues. The balance of the decline is primarily related to added expenses from the installation of a new billing and collection system and reduced profitability as a result of a negative case mix change in scanning activity.

Corporate and Other

Corporate and other operating loss improved $22.1 million from the same quarter a year ago. The second quarter of 2005 included an impairment of $13.0 million, primarily related to the Digital Hospital. The second quarter of 2006 includes a $6.9 million gain from the recovery of amounts previously reserved related to Source Medical. The remaining improvement relates, primarily, to lower professional fees and lower insurance costs.

Cash Flow and Balance Sheet

Cash and cash equivalents were $53.9 million at June 30, 2006. Total debt was $3,334.0 million. Payments on government and litigation were $56.2 million and capital expenditures were $43.2 million in six months ended June 30, 2006.

                 HealthSouth Corporation and Subsidiaries
             Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
                               (Unaudited)
                  (In Thousands, Except Per Share Data)

                                                Three Months Ended June 30,
                                                     2006           2005

  Net operating revenues                          $787,513       $818,277
  Operating expenses:
  Salaries and benefits                            354,870        360,371
  Professional and medical director fees            19,978         23,073
  Supplies                                          73,631         79,485
  Other operating expenses                         168,442        194,292
  Provision for doubtful accounts                   29,592         22,836
  Depreciation and amortization                     38,917         40,199
  Loss (gain) on disposal of assets                  2,954         (2,247)
  Impairments                                        3,860         12,978
  Government, class action,
   and related settlements expense                  17,186              -
  Professional fees - accounting, tax, and legal    27,996         28,981
  Total operating expenses                         737,426        759,968
  Loss on early extinguishment of debt               4,565             33
  Interest expense and amortization
   of debt discounts and fees, net                  78,657         80,917
  (Gain) loss on sale of investments                (1,049)         4,592
  Gain on interest rate swap                       (18,604)             -
  Minority interests in earnings of
   consolidated affiliates, net of equity
   income of nonconsolidated affiliates             15,459         18,691
  Loss from continuing operations
   before income tax expense                       (28,941)       (45,924)
  Provision for income tax expense                   9,086          9,540
  Loss from continuing operations                  (38,027)       (55,464)
  Loss from discontinued operations,
   net of income tax expense                        (4,409)        (6,949)
  Net Loss                                        $(42,436)      $(62,413)
  Convertible perpetual preferred dividends         (9,244)             -
  Net loss available to common shareholders       $(51,680)      $(62,413)

  Weighted average common shares outstanding:
  Basic                                            398,165        397,047
  Diluted                                          464,511        398,827

  Basic and diluted loss per share:
  Net loss per share available
   to common shareholders                           $(0.13)        $(0.16)



                         HealthSouth Corporation
                    Supplemental Non-GAAP Disclosures
                              (In Thousands)

                                                 Three Months Ended June 30,
                                                     2006           2005

  Loss from continuing operations                 $(38,027)      $(55,464)
  Income tax expense                                 9,086          9,540
  Depreciation and amortization                     38,917         40,199
  Interest expense, net                             78,657         80,917
  Other debt related (income) expense              (14,039)            33

  Other adjustments under Debt Agreements (a):
  Professional Fees                                 27,996         28,981
  Impairments                                        3,860         12,978
  Government, class action,
   and related settlements expense                  17,186              -
  All other (b)                                     12,309         16,780

  Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA (1)                $135,945       $133,964

  (1) Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure. We
      believe Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA is an important measure that
      supplements discussion and analysis of our results of operation. We
      believe that it is useful to investors.

      Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA is not a measure of financial performance
      under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States
      and should not be considered as an alternative to net income as an
      operating performance measure or to cash flows from operating,
      investing, or financing activities as a measure of liquidity. Because
      Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA is not a measure determined in accordance
      with generally accepted accounting principles and is susceptible to
      varying calculations, Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA, as presented, may
      not be comparable to other similarly titled measures presented by
      other companies.

  (a) Our Senior Credit Facility and Senior Notes allow certain items to be
      added to arrive at Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA that are viewed as not
      being ongoing costs once the Company has completed its restructuring.

  (b) All other.


                                                 Three Months Ended June 30,
                                                      2006          2005
                                                        (In Thousands)
  Non-cash losses on asset disposals                $6,159         $3,503
  Compensation expense under FASB No. 123(R)         3,757              -
  Restructuring charges under
   FASB Statement No. 146                            2,077          5,584
  Other                                                316          7,693
  All Other                                        $12,309        $16,780



                         HealthSouth Corporation
                     Supplemental Segment Information
                              (In Thousands)

                                   Three Months Ended June 30, 2006
                                Surgery                            Corporate
                     Inpatient  Centers   Outpatient   Diagnostic  and Other

  Net operating
   revenues:
    2Q 2006          $451,345  $191,261     $85,682      $51,268    $20,424
    2Q 2005          $459,098  $197,985     $98,479      $56,831    $24,272

  Operating
   earnings (loss):
    2Q 2006           $95,517   $20,113      $7,535     $(12,059)  $(76,478)
    2Q 2005          $109,603   $21,920      $5,687       $1,024   $(98,616)

  Depreciation and
   amortization:
    2Q 2006           $17,612    $7,093      $3,023       $5,954     $5,236
    2Q 2005           $15,496    $8,217      $3,310       $4,806     $8,369

  Number of facilities
   as of 6/30/2006        202(a)    153         606           76          5

  (a) Includes 98 Outpatient Satellites



                 HealthSouth Corporation and Subsidiaries
                  Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
                               (Unaudited)
                              (In Thousands)

                                                   Three Months Ended
                                           June 30, 2006   December 31, 2005

  Assets
  Current Assets:
  Cash and cash equivalents and
   marketable securities                        $53,856         $199,456
  Current portion of restricted cash            161,643          156,412
  Accounts receivable, net of allowance
   for doubtful accounts                        404,669          403,887
  Other current assets                          103,661          114,500
    Total current assets                        723,859          874,255
  Property and equipment, net                 1,153,879        1,197,944
  Goodwill                                      913,820          911,403
  Intangible assets, net                         50,408           54,247
  Investment in and advances to
   nonconsolidated affiliates                    55,721           46,388
  Other long-term assets                        412,862          507,976
    Total assets                             $3,310,549       $3,592,213

  Liabilities and Shareholders' Deficit
  Current liabilities:
  Current portion of long-term debt             $60,164         $33,866
  Accounts payable                              100,206         123,899
  Accrued expenses and other
   current liabilities                          394,318         476,616
  Refunds due patients and other
   third-party payors                           122,008         142,319
  Current portion of government, class action,
   and related settlements                      361,020         333,124
  Total current liabilities                   1,037,716       1,109,824
  Long-term debt, net of current portion      3,273,843       3,368,071
  Other long-term liabilities                   338,467         381,297
                                              4,650,026       4,859,192

  Minority interest in equity of
   consolidated affiliates                      292,909         273,742
  Convertible perpetual preferred stock         387,403               -

  Shareholders' deficit:
  Total shareholders' deficit                (2,019,789)     (1,540,721)
    Total liabilities and
     shareholders' deficit                   $3,310,549      $3,592,213



                 HealthSouth Corporation and Subsidiaries
             Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
                               (Unaudited)
                              (In Thousands)

                                                 Six Months Ended June 30,
                                                    2006           2005

  Net cash used in operating activities          $(50,564)      $(20,361)
  Net cash provided by (used in)
   investing activities                            33,587        (24,725)
  Net cash used in financing activities          (105,575)      (131,973)
  Effect of exchange rate on cash
   and cash equivalents                              (123)          (314)
  Decrease in cash and cash equivalents          (122,675)      (177,373)
  Cash and cash equivalents at
   beginning of period                            175,617        449,097
  Cash and cash equivalents of discontinued
   operations at beginning of period                1,977          6,314
  Less: Cash and cash equivalents of discontinued
   operations at end of period                     (1,063)        (5,152)
  Cash and cash equivalents at end of period      $53,856       $272,886

  Earnings Conference Call/Meeting

The Company will hold a meeting for investors in New York City on August 14, 2006 at 8 a.m. ET to review the second quarter earnings and provide an update of its current operations and strategic plan. The meeting will be held in the Penthouse Ballroom of the St. Regis Hotel at 2 East 55 Street, New York City. Individuals attending the meeting in person do not need to make a reservation.

Individuals will also be able to access the meeting via teleconference or a live Internet broadcast. To access the meeting by phone, please dial 800- 369-1733 and enter pass code 9314005. International callers should dial 517- 319-9288 and use the same pass code. A digital recording will be available, beginning approximately two hours after the completion of the meeting, from August 14, 2006 to August 28, 2006. To access the recording, please dial 866- 424-4003. International callers should dial 203-369-0853.

The Internet broadcast will be available at www.healthsouth.com by clicking on an available link. The Webcast will be archived for replay purposes for two weeks after the live broadcast on the same Web site.

About HealthSouth

HealthSouth is one of the nation's largest providers of outpatient surgery, diagnostic imaging and rehabilitative healthcare services, operating facilities nationwide. HealthSouth can be found on the Web at www.healthsouth.com.

Statements contained in this press release which are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. In addition, HealthSouth, through its senior management, may from time to time make forward-looking public statements concerning the matters described herein. Such forward-looking statements are necessarily estimates based upon current information and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. HealthSouth's actual results may differ materially from the results anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of factors. While it is impossible to identify all such factors, factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those estimated by HealthSouth include, but are not limited to the consummation of the proposed settlement of pending litigation relating to HealthSouth's prior reporting and financial practices; significant changes in HealthSouth's management team; HealthSouth's ability to continue to operate in the ordinary course and manage its relationships with its creditors, including its lenders, bondholders, vendors and suppliers, employees and customers; HealthSouth's ability to successfully remediate its internal control weaknesses; changes, delays in or suspension of reimbursement for HealthSouth's services by governmental or private payors; changes in the regulation of the healthcare industry at either or both of the federal and state levels; competitive pressures in the healthcare industry and HealthSouth's response thereto; HealthSouth's ability to obtain and retain favorable arrangements with third- party payors; HealthSouth's ability to attract and retain nurses, therapists, and other healthcare professionals in a highly competitive environment with often severe staffing shortages; general conditions in the economy and capital markets; and other factors which may be identified from time to time in the company's SEC filings and other public announcements, including HealthSouth's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005; Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2006; and Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2006.

Media Contact

Andy Brimmer, 205-410-2777

SOURCE: HealthSouth Corporation

CONTACT: Andy Brimmer for HealthSouth Corporation, +1-205-410-2777