LHC Group announces fourth quarter 2019 financial results

Strong organic growth and M&A activity drive favorable outlook for 2020


LAFAYETTE, La., Feb. 26, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- LHC Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: LHCG) announced its financial results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2019. Unless otherwise noted, all results are compared with the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2018.

Fourth Quarter of 2019 Financial Results – Strong Organic Growth by LHC Group Legacy Home Health and Hospice and Continued Sequential Improvement at Almost Family Locations

  • Net service revenue increased 4.2% to $531.3 million.
  • Net income attributable to LHC Group’s common stockholders increased 5.8% to $21.8 million. Earnings per diluted share attributable to LHC Group’s common stockholders increased 6.1% to $0.70, which includes the effect of costs and expenses described within the adjusted results below.
  • Adjusted net income attributable to LHC Group’s common stockholders increased 12.0% to $35.9 million. Adjusted earnings per diluted share attributable to LHC Group’s common stockholders increased 11.7% to $1.15.
  • Adjusted EBITDA increased 2.9% to $53.3 million.
  • Adjusted results for the fourth quarter of 2019 exclude transaction and other transition related costs and expenses as well as charges and expenses related to certain closures and relocations, PDGM preparedness, departure of our former President and Chief Operating Officer and certain dispute settlements in the aggregate amount of $14.1 million after tax, or $0.45 per diluted share.
  • Organic growth in home health admissions was 10.3%, excluding Almost Family locations.
  • Organic growth in home health revenue was 4.2%, excluding Almost Family locations.
  • Organic growth in hospice admissions was 4.6%, excluding Almost Family locations.
  • Organic growth in hospice revenue was 5.0%, excluding Almost Family locations.

Full Year 2019 Financial Results – Another solid year of organic growth, margin expansion and M&A growth setting the stage for a strong 2020

  • Net service revenue increased 14.9% to $2.08 billion.
  • Net income attributable to LHC Group’s common stockholders increased 50.5% to $95.7 million. Earnings per diluted share attributable to LHC Group’s common stockholders increased 34.1% to $3.07 per diluted share.
  • Adjusted net income attributable to LHC Group’s common stockholders increased 41.3% to $139.4 million. Adjusted net income attributable to LHC Group’s common stockholders per diluted share increased 25.9% to $4.47.
  • Adjusted EBITDA increased 30.9% to $212.1 million.
  • Organic growth in home health admissions was 9.1%, excluding Almost Family locations.
  • Organic growth in home health revenue was 6.5%, excluding Almost Family locations.
  • Organic growth in hospice admissions was 5.6%, excluding Almost Family locations.
  • Organic growth in hospice revenue was 6.5%, excluding Almost Family locations.

 A reconciliation of all non-GAAP financial results in this release appears on page 13.

Operational and Strategic Highlights

  • Across all of the operations of LHC Group, quality and patient satisfaction scores continue to exceed the national average and outpace industry peers.
  • 97% of LHC Group’s same store locations have CMS Quality Star ratings of four stars or greater when excluding Almost Family locations and other recent acquisitions.
  • The conversion of all Almost Family locations to LHC Group’s version of Homecare Homebase was completed as scheduled during the fourth quarter.
  • Combined LHC Group and Almost Family home health same store admission growth was 5.5% in the fourth quarter of 2019 as compared to the same period in 2018, and is on pace for combined home health same store admission growth nearly double that rate in the first quarter of 2020.
  • During 2019 and to date in 2020, LHC Group acquired 27 home health, 11 hospice, three home and community based services locations and one LTAC hospital in 13 states and the District of Columbia, the majority of which are hospital joint ventures. These acquisitions represent approximately $114.3 million in annualized revenue.

Commenting on the results, Keith G. Myers, LHC Group’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said, “We maintained a high level of discipline and preparedness throughout 2019 as we readied LHC Group and our 32,000 employees to thrive under PDGM with extensive design, development, piloting, testing and training. With Almost Family, we executed a similar approach and a healthy dose of strategic patience to ensure those locations were operationally sound, quality scores were improved and overall on a solid footing in order to drive more aggressive growth in 2020. While these preparation head winds were heavier in the fourth quarter, we are confident that we are well positioned for success in 2020. We saw the early results from this strategy with over 5% combined organic growth in the fourth quarter and a combined organic growth rate nearly double that amount to date in the first quarter of 2020.”      

M&A Strategy – Historic Consolidation Opportunity Expected in 2020 and Beyond Will Expand Current Pipeline of Joint Ventures and Acquisitions
On December 1, 2019, LHC Group and LifePoint Health finalized the expansion of their existing joint venture partnership with the purchase of one home health provider with a location in Wilmington, Ohio and two hospice providers with a location in Sierra Vista, Arizona and Lewiston, Idaho. LHC Group expects annualized revenue from the expansion of this joint venture of approximately $3.6 million.

On December 1, 2019, LHC Group completed the acquisition of a single freestanding home health provider – Life Wellness Home Health – in Las Vegas, Nevada. LHC Group expects annualized revenue from this acquisition of approximately $2.1 million.

On January 1, 2020, LHC Group finalized joint venture purchase and expansion agreements with DFW Home Health (a separate legal entity jointly owned by LHC Group, Texas Health Resources and a subsidiary of Methodist Health System) in Arlington, Texas; with LifePoint Health in Bryant, Arkansas; and with Ochsner Health System in South Louisiana. LHC Group expects annualized revenue from these transactions of approximately $23.8 million.

Myers noted, “We are entering the most significant period of change and consolidation opportunity for the in-home healthcare industry in nearly two decades. Early disruptions from the implementation of PDGM and the elimination of the RAP payment are already evident among the smaller home health agencies, and we expect this highly fragmented market to consolidate among the top providers in 2020 and beyond. Having completed approximately $114 million in acquisitions and joint ventures during 2019 and to date in 2020, the size and quality of our current pipeline and the volume of inbound requests from potential partners indicates we have the potential to deliver on record M&A activity. At the same time, we expect to capture additional market share through organic growth and accelerate our plans for expanding our hospice and home and community-based services across our national footprint.”  

Full Year 2020 and First Quarter 2020 Guidance - Earnings Growth at the Midpoint Reflects Strong Organic Growth, Margin Improvement on Recent Acquisitions and the Timing of the New PDGM Care Model Rollout
Full year 2020 net service revenue is expected to be in a range of $2.13 billion to $2.18 billion, earnings per diluted share is expected to be in a range of $4.60 to $4.80, and EBITDA, less non-controlling interest, is expected to be in a range of $230 million to $240 million. This guidance assumes an estimated effective tax rate of approximately 27%, which includes the impact of an excess tax benefit in March 2020 related to the vesting of restricted stock awards.  

For the first quarter ending March 31, 2020, net service revenue is expected to be $500 million to $510 million, earnings per diluted share is expected to be in a range of $0.70 to $0.80, and EBITDA, less non-controlling interest, is expected to be in a range of $33 million to $40 million. This guidance assumes an estimated effective tax rate of approximately 21%, which reflects the impact of an excess tax benefit in March 2020 related to the vesting of restricted stock awards.

The Company’s guidance ranges do not take into account the impact of future reimbursement changes, if any, future acquisitions, if made, de novo locations, if opened, location closures, if any, or future legal expenses, if necessary.

Joshua L. Proffitt, LHC Group’s Chief Financial Officer, added, “LHC Group enters 2020 with a number of industry and company-specific tailwinds that complement our competitive differentiators and drive our organic and inorganic growth expectations. Our intense focus on a unique employee and patient-first culture as well as superior clinical quality was at the heart of our preparations for operating under a new model in PDGM, but also enabled us to better pursue the organic and M&A opportunities this new environment is already presenting. As our first quarter and full year guidance suggests, there will be a ramp up throughout the year associated with strong organic growth, margin improvements across the former Almost Family locations and other recent acquisitions and the timing of the new PDGM care model rollout. Our differentiated approach through our joint venture strategy, ACO management business, use of data analytics and payment and clinical innovation have likewise positioned us to deploy our unique assets to benefit from the continued transition to value-based care.”

Conference Call
LHC Group will host a conference call on Thursday, February 27, 2020, at 9:00 a.m. Eastern time to discuss its fourth quarter 2019 results. The toll-free number to call for this interactive teleconference is (866) 393‑1608 (international callers: (973) 890-8327). A telephonic replay of the conference call will be available through midnight on March 5, 2020, by dialing (855) 859‑2056 (international callers: (404) 537-3406) and entering confirmation number 6183077.

The Company has posted supplemental financial information on the fourth quarter results that it will reference during the conference call. The supplemental information can be found under Quarterly Results on the Company’s Investor Relations page. A live webcast of LHC Group’s conference call will be available under the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website, www.LHCGroup.com. A one-year online replay will be available approximately one hour following the conclusion of the live broadcast.

About LHC Group, Inc.
LHC Group, Inc. is a national provider of in-home healthcare services and innovations, providing high-quality and affordable healthcare services to patients in the privacy and comfort of the home or place of residence. LHC Group’s services cover a wide range of healthcare needs for patients and families dealing with illness, injury, or chronic conditions. The company’s 32,000 employees deliver home health, hospice, home and community based services, and facility-based care in 35 states and the District of Columbia – reaching 60 percent of the U.S. population aged 65 and older. LHC Group is the preferred in-home healthcare partner for 350 leading hospitals around the country. In 2019, the company was named to the inaugural Forbes list of “America’s Best-in-State Employers.”

Forward-looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” (as defined in the Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) regarding, among other things, future events or the future financial performance of the Company, or anticipated benefits of the transaction. Words such as “anticipate,” “expect,” “project,” “intend,” “believe,” “will,” “estimates,” “may,” “could,” “should” and words and terms of similar substance used in connection with any discussion of future plans, actions or events identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release include, but are not limited to: our 2020 revenue and earnings guidance, statements about the benefits of the acquisition, including anticipated earnings accretion, synergies and cost savings and the timing thereof; the Company’s plans, objectives, expectations, projections and intentions; and other statements relating to the transaction that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are based on information currently available to the Company and involve estimates, expectations and projections. Investors are cautioned that all such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, and important factors could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements. With respect to the acquisition, these risks, uncertainties and factors include, but are not limited to: the risk that the businesses will not be integrated successfully; the risk that the cost savings, synergies and growth from the transaction may not be fully realized or may take longer to realize than expected; the diversion of management time on integration-related issues; and the risk that costs associated with the integration of the businesses are higher than anticipated. With respect to the Company’s  businesses, these risks, uncertainties and factors include, but are not limited to: changes in, or failure to comply with, existing government regulations that impact the Company’s businesses; legislative proposals for healthcare reform; the impact of changes in future interpretations of fraud, anti-kickback, or other laws; changes in Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement levels; changes in laws and regulations with respect to Accountable Care Organizations; changes in the marketplace and regulatory environment for Health Risk Assessments; decrease in demand for the Company’s services; the potential impact of the transaction on relationships with customers, joint venture and other partners, competitors, management and other employees, including the loss of significant contracts or reduction in revenues associated with major payor sources; ability of customers to pay for services; risks related to any current or future litigation proceedings; potential audits and investigations by government and regulatory agencies, including the impact of any negative publicity or litigation; the ability to attract new customers and retain existing customers in the manner anticipated; the ability to hire and retain key personnel; increased competition from other entities offering similar services as offered by the  Company; reliance on and integration of information technology systems; ability to protect intellectual property rights; impact of security breaches, cyber-attacks or fraudulent activity on the Company’s reputation; the risks associated with assumptions the parties make in connection with the parties’ critical accounting estimates and legal proceedings; the risks associated with the Company’s expansion strategy, the successful integration of recent acquisitions, and if necessary, the ability to relocate or restructure current facilities; and the potential impact of an economic downturn or effects of tax assessments or tax positions taken, risks related to goodwill and other intangible asset impairment, tax adjustments, anticipated tax rates, benefit or retirement plan costs, or other regulatory compliance costs.

Many of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions are beyond the Company’s ability to control or predict. Because of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Furthermore, forward-looking statements speak only as of the information currently available to the Company on the date they are made, and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this press release. The Company does not give any assurance (1) that the Company will achieve its guidance or expectations, or (2) concerning any result or the timing thereof. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements concerning the transaction or other matters and attributable to the Company or any person acting on their behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements above.

LHC GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Amounts in thousands, except share data)

  As of December 31,
  2019 2018
ASSETS    
Current assets:    
Cash $31,672  $49,363 
Receivables:    
Patient accounts receivable 284,962  252,592 
Other receivables 10,832  6,658 
Amounts due from governmental entities   830 
Total receivables, net 295,794  260,080 
Prepaid income taxes 9,652  11,788 
Prepaid expenses 21,304  24,775 
Other current assets 21,852  20,899 
Total current assets 380,274  366,905 
Property, building and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $69,441 and $55,253, respectively 97,908  79,563 
Goodwill 1,219,972  1,161,717 
Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $16,431 and $15,176, respectively 305,556  297,379 
Assets held for sale 2,500  2,850 
Operating lease right of use asset 95,452   
Other assets 38,633  20,301 
Total assets $2,140,295  $1,928,715 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY    
Current liabilities:    
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities $83,572  $77,135 
Salaries, wages and benefits payable 85,631  84,254 
Self insurance reserves 31,188  32,776 
Current operating lease liabilities 28,701   
Current portion of long-term notes payable   7,773 
Amounts due to governmental entities 1,880  4,174 
Total current liabilities 230,972  206,112 
Deferred income taxes 60,498  43,306 
Income taxes payable 3,867  4,297 
Revolving credit facility 253,000  235,000 
Long-term notes payable   930 
Operating lease payable 69,556   
Total liabilities 617,893  489,645 
Noncontrolling interest-redeemable 15,151  14,596 
Commitments and contingencies    
Stockholders’ equity:    
LHC Group, Inc. stockholders’ equity:    
Preferred stock – $0.01 par value: 5,000,000 shares authorized; none issued or outstanding    
Common stock – $0.01 par value: 60,000,000 shares authorized; 36,129,280 and 35,835,348 shares issued, and 30,992,390 and 30,805,919 shares outstanding, respectively 361  358 
Treasury stock – 5,136,890 and 5,029,429 shares at cost, respectively (60,060) (49,373)
Additional paid-in capital 949,321  937,965 
Retained earnings 523,701  427,975 
Total LHC Group, Inc. stockholders’ equity 1,413,323  1,316,925 
Noncontrolling interest – non-redeemable 93,928  107,549 
Total stockholders’ equity 1,507,251  1,424,474 
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $2,140,295  $1,928,715 
         

LHC GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(Amounts in thousands)

 (Unaudited)
Three Months Ended
December 31, 
 Twelve Months Ended
 December 31,
 2019 2018 2019 2018
Net service revenue$531,315  $509,841  $2,080,241  $1,809,963 
Cost of service revenue343,267  324,539  1,324,887  1,156,357 
Gross margin188,048  185,302  755,354  653,606 
General and administrative expenses155,372  145,609  596,006  537,916 
Other intangible impairment charge200  3,562  7,734  4,689 
Operating income32,476  36,131  151,614  111,001 
Interest expense(2,622) (3,255) (11,155) (9,679)
Income before income taxes and noncontrolling interest29,854  32,876  140,459  101,322 
Income tax expense3,942  7,568  26,607  22,399 
Net income25,912  25,308  113,852  78,923 
Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interests4,109  4,756  18,126  15,349 
Net income attributable to LHC Group, Inc.’s common stockholders$21,803  $20,552  $95,726  $63,574 
        
Earnings per share:       
Basic$0.70  $0.67  $3.09  $2.31 
Diluted$0.70  $0.66  $3.07  $2.29 
Weighted average shares outstanding:       
Basic30,978  30,778  30,933  27,498 
Diluted31,270  31,142  31,210  27,773 
            

LHC GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Amounts in thousands)

  For the Year Ended December 31,
  2019 2018
Operating activities:    
     
Net income $113,852  $78,923 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:    
Depreciation and amortization expense 18,254  16,362 
Amortization and impairment of operating lease right of use asset 33,368   
Stock-based compensation expense 9,646  9,358 
Deferred income taxes 18,400  19,453 
Loss on disposal of assets 802  319 
Impairment of goodwill and other 7,734  4,370 
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:    
Receivables (38,907) (362)
Prepaid expenses and other assets 607  (10,257)
Prepaid income taxes (78) (2,519)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses (3,082) (6,577)
Operating lease payable (28,062)  
Income tax payable (431) 511 
Net amounts due to/from governmental entities (1,641) (996)
Net cash provided by operating activities 130,462  108,585 
Investing activities:    
Cash paid for acquisitions, net of cash acquired (74,293) 7,702 
Purchases of property, building and equipment (33,609) (32,993)
Net cash used in investing activities (107,902) (25,291)
Financing activities:    
Proceeds from line of credit 267,000  303,943 
Payments on line of credit (249,000) (319,743)
Proceeds from employee stock purchase plan 2,066  1,342 
Payments on debt (7,650) (4,975)
Payments on deferred financing fees   (1,884)
Noncontrolling interest distributions (24,082) (12,134)
Purchase of additional controlling interest (19,663) (412)
Sale of noncontrolling interest 756  4,208 
Withholding taxes paid on stock-based compensation (10,687) (7,125)
Exercise of options 1,009   
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities (40,251) (36,780)
Change in cash (17,691) 46,514 
Cash at beginning of period 49,363  2,849 
Cash at end of period $31,672  $49,363 
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information    
Interest paid $11,015  $9,067 
Income taxes paid $10,109  $5,703 
Non-Cash Operating activity:         
Operating right of use assets in exchange for lease obligations  $129,290    
Non-Cash Investing activity:         
Accrued capital expenditures   2,729   3,449 
Consideration transferred for a business combination      795,412 
Non-Cash Financing activity:         
Purchase of additional controlling interest      7,705 


LHC GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

SEGMENT INFORMATION
(Amounts in thousands)
(Unaudited)

 Three Months Ended December 31, 2019
 Home health  Hospice  Home and
community-
based
 Facility-
based
 HCI Total
Net service revenue$389,506  $58,101  $  50,845  $27,418  $5,445  $531,315 
Cost of service revenue244,953  36,324   38,763  19,462  3,765  343,267 
Gross margin144,553  21,777   12,082  7,956  1,680  188,048 
General and administrative expenses115,161  16,023   11,021  10,348  2,819  155,372 
Impairment of intangibles and other180  20         200 
Operating income (loss)29,212  5,734   1,061  (2,392) (1,139) 32,476 
Interest expense(1,843) (293)  (255) (154) (77) (2,622)
Income (loss) before income taxes and noncontrolling interest27,369  5,441   806  (2,546) (1,216) 29,854 
Income tax expense (benefit)3,969  637   115  (501) (278) 3,942 
Net income (loss)23,400  4,804   691  (2,045) (938) 25,912 
Less net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests3,346  1,267   (149) (344) (11) 4,109 
Net income (loss) attributable to LHC Group, Inc.’s common stockholders$20,054  $3,537  $840  $(1,701) $(927) $21,803 
Total assets$1,486,012  $244,105  $249,524  $91,337  $69,317  $2,140,295 
                        


 Three Months Ended December 31, 2018
 Home health  Hospice  Home and
community-
based
 Facility-
based
 HCI Total
Net service revenue$367,107  $52,976  $  52,885  $27,439  $9,434  $509,841 
Cost of service revenue225,999  35,435   40,329  17,797  4,979  324,539 
Gross margin141,108  17,541   12,556  9,642  4,455  185,302 
General and administrative expenses100,358  17,798   11,407  9,903  6,143  145,609 
Impairment of intangibles and other1,073  162   (10) 200  2,137  3,562 
Operating income (loss)39,677  (419)  1,159  (461) (3,825) 36,131 
Interest expense(2,427) (415)  (82) (181) (150) (3,255)
Income (loss) before income taxes and noncontrolling interest37,250  (834)  1,077  (642) (3,975) 32,876 
Income tax expense (benefit)8,688  (141)  370  (439) (910) 7,568 
Net income (loss)28,562  (693)  707  (203) (3,065) 25,308 
Less net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests3,873  548   (119) 461  (7) 4,756 
Net income (loss) attributable to LHC Group, Inc.’s common stockholders$24,689  $(1,241) $826  $(664) $(3,058) $20,552 
Total assets$1,336,537  $209,680  $236,523  $70,261  $75,714  $1,928,715 
                        

LHC GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
SEGMENT INFORMATION
(Amounts in thousands)

  Year Ended December 31, 2019
  Home health Hospice Home and
community-
based
 Facility-
based
 HCI Total
Net service revenue $1,503,393  $226,922  $208,455  $111,809  $29,662  $2,080,241 
Cost of service revenue 939,035  140,177  157,817  73,274  14,584  1,324,887 
Gross margin 564,358  86,745  50,638  38,535  15,078  755,354 
General and administrative expenses 437,276  61,190  44,025  38,358  15,157  596,006 
Impairment of intangibles and other 7,443  291        7,734 
Operating income (loss) 119,639  25,264  6,613  177  (79) 151,614 
Interest expense (7,762) (1,269) (1,112) (678) (334) (11,155)
Income (loss) before income taxes and noncontrolling interests 111,877  23,995  5,501  (501) (413) 140,459 
Income tax expense (benefit) 21,147  4,353  1,394  (204) (83) 26,607 
Net income (loss) 90,730  19,642  4,107  (297) (330) 113,852 
Less net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests 14,651  3,979  (906) 435  (33) 18,126 
Net income (loss) attributable to LHC Group, Inc.’s common stockholders $76,079  $15,663  $5,013  $(732) $(297) $95,726 
Total assets $1,487,031  $244,265  $249,670  $91,424  $69,361  $2,141,751 
                         


  Year Ended December 31, 2018
  Home health Hospice Home and
community-
based
 Facility-
based
 HCI Total
Net service revenue $1,291,457  $199,118  $172,501  $113,784  $33,103  $1,809,963 
Cost of service revenue 802,006  130,991  130,660  76,899  15,801  1,156,357 
Gross margin 489,451  68,127  41,841  36,885  17,302  653,606 
General and administrative expenses 378,124  60,933  40,467  39,638  18,754  537,916 
Impairment of intangibles and other 1,816  186  (6) 554  2,139  4,689 
Operating income (loss) 109,511  7,008  1,380  (3,307) (3,591) 111,001 
Interest expense (7,060) (1,529) (76) (545) (469) (9,679)
Income (loss) before income taxes and noncontrolling interests 102,451  5,479  1,304  (3,852) (4,060) 101,322 
Income tax expense (benefit) 22,711  1,227  420  (1,136) (823) 22,399 
Net income (loss) 79,740  4,252  884  (2,716) (3,237) 78,923 
Less net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests 13,361  1,764  (275) 589  (90) 15,349 
Net income (loss) attributable to LHC Group, Inc.’s common stockholders $66,379  $2,488  $1,159  $(3,305) $(3,147) $63,574 
Total assets $1,336,988  $209,680  $236,072  $70,261  $75,714  $1,928,715 
                         


LHC GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
SELECT CONSOLIDATED KEY STATIISTICAL AND FINANCIAL DATA
(Unaudited)

  Three Months Ended
December 31,
 Twelve Months Ended
December 31,
Key Data: 2019 2018 2019 2018
         
Home Health Services:        
Locations 553   555  553  555  
Acquired 2   4  16  278  
De novo      4    
Divested/consolidated (4)  (18) (22) (38) 
Total new admissions 102,940   92,168  389,459  331,839  
Medicare new admissions 59,664   56,919  232,007  206,077  
Average daily census 78,380   75,869  77,025  75,946  
Average Medicare daily census 49,108   49,858  49,341  50,491  
Medicare completed and billed episodes 96,065   93,950  372,816  338,247  
Average Medicare case mix for completed and billed Medicare episodes 1.08   1.11  1.09  1.10  
Average reimbursement per completed and billed Medicare episodes $3,058   $2,991  $3,046  $2,934  
Total visits 2,581,022   2,485,083  10,283,251  8,957,390  
Total Medicare visits 1,640,023   1,659,256  6,688,321  6,034,664  
Average visits per completed and billed Medicare episodes 17.1   17.7  17.9  17.8  
Organic growth excluding Almost Family (1)(2)        
Net revenue 4.2 % 6.6% 6.5% 8.5 %
Net Medicare revenue 3.2 % 1.4% 3.4% 4.0 %
Total new admissions 10.3 % 7.8% 9.1% 8.2 %
Medicare new admissions 4.2 % 3.5% 2.9% 4.8 %
Average daily census 5.2 % 2.9% 5.1% 2.9 %
Average Medicare daily census 0.1 % (1.1)% 0.0 % (0.9)%
Medicare completed and billed episodes 2.3 % 1.0% 1.3% 1.1 %
         
Hospice Services:        
Locations 110   108  110  108  
Acquired 3   2  8  22  
De novo        1  
Divested/Consolidated (1)  (3) (6) (6) 
Admissions 4,768   4,558  18,515  17,697  
Average daily census 4,213   3,995  4,062  3,603  
Patient days 389,926   351,742  1,483,146  1,314,581  
Average revenue per patient day $151.82   $152.56  $152.87  $153.64  
Organic growth excluding Almost Family: (1)(2)        
Total new admissions 4.6 % 9.2% 5.6% 7.2 %
         
Home and Community-Based Services:        
Locations (3) 107   81  107  81  
Acquired 2   1  2  65  
De novo      24  4  
Divested/Consolidated          
Average daily census 13,896   14,642  13,910  14,392  
Billable hours 2,111,816   2,257,127  8,907,461  7,259,191  
Revenue per billable hour $24.96   $23.87  $24.06  $24.17  
         
Facility-Based Services:        
Long-term Acute Care        
Locations 13   12  13  12  
Acquired 1     1    
Divested/Consolidated    (1)   (2) 
Patient days 20,313   18,409  78,837  83,889  
Average revenue per patient day $1,287   $1,359  $1,304  $1,269  
Occupancy rate 64.7 % 64.5% 67.0% 74.1 %

(1) Organic growth is calculated as the sum of same store plus de novo for the period divided by total from the same period in the prior year.
(2) Almost Family locations remain counted as acquired locations due to continued system integrations, which were completed by the end of 2019.
(3) The number of locations for HCBS has been updated to not only include the physical standalone locations but also the locations that are part of a home health provider.


LHC GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
RECONCILIATION OF REVENUE AFTER ADOPTION OF ASU 2014-09
(Amounts in thousands)
(Unaudited)

  Three Months Ended
 December 31,
Twelve Months Ended
 December 31,
  2019 2018 2019 2018
Revenue $533,824  $515,638  $2,101,908  $1,835,478 
Less:  Implicit price concession (1) 2,509  5,796  21,667  25,515 
Net service revenue $531,315  $509,842  $2,080,241  $1,809,963 
                 

RECONCILIATION OF ADJUSTED NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO LHC GROUP, INC.
(Amounts in thousands)
(Unaudited)

  Three Months Ended
 December 31,
Twelve Months Ended
 December 31,
  2019 2018 2019 2018
Net income attributable to LHC Group, Inc.’s common stockholders $21,803  $20,552  $95,726  $63,574 
Add (net of tax):        
AFAM and other acquisition expenses (2) 5,303  4,235  25,766  23,524 
Closures/relocations/consolidations (3) 1,108  7,271  5,830  12,070 
Operation realignment and PDGM implementation cost  (4) 5,032    5,302   
Dispute settlements (5) 2,671    2,671   
Provider moratorium impairment (6)     4,332   
Net tax benefit related to Almost Family acquisition       (511)
Adjusted net income attributable to LHC Group, Inc.’s common stockholders $35,917  $32,058  $139,357  $98,657 
                 

RECONCILIATION OF ADJUSTED NET INCOME
ATTRIBUTABLE TO LHC GROUP, INC. PER DILUTED SHARE
(Amounts in thousands)
(Unaudited)  

  Three Months Ended
December 31,
Twelve Months Ended
 December 31,
  2019 2018 2019 2018
Net income attributable to LHC Group, Inc.’s common stockholders $0.70  $0.66  $3.07  $2.29 
Add (net of tax):        
AFAM and other acquisition expenses (2) 0.17  0.14  0.83  0.85 
Closures/relocations/consolidations (3) 0.04  0.23  0.19  0.43 
Operation realignment and PDGM implementation cost  (4) 0.16    0.16   
Dispute settlements (5) 0.08    0.08   
Provider moratorium impairment (6)     0.14   
Net tax benefit related to Almost Family acquisition       (0.02)
Adjusted net income attributable to LHC Group, Inc.’s common stockholders $1.15  $1.03  $4.47  $3.55 
                 
  1. Provision for bad debts are classified as implicit price concessions in determining the transaction price of the Company's net service revenue.
  2. Transition, integration and Homecare Homebase conversion expenses and other costs associated with the acquisition of Almost Family and other recently announced or completed acquisitions ($7.3 million pre-tax in the three months ended December 31, 2019 and $35.6 million in the twelve months ended December 31, 2019).
  3. Expenses and impairments associated with the closure or consolidation of 5 locations in the fourth quarter of 2019 along with residual costs and expenses in connection with closures in prior periods ($1.5 million pre-tax in the three months ended December 31, 2019 and $8.1 million in the twelve months ended December 31, 2019).
  4. Expenses, severance payments and other benefits associated with the separation agreement from the resignation of our former Chief Operating Officer effective December 31, 2019, along with expenses and costs associated with a realignment of our home health divisions and PDGM preparedness, software implementation and training cost ($6.9 million pre-tax in the three months ended December 31, 2019 and in the twelve months ended December 31, 2019).
  5. In the fourth quarter of 2019, the Company settled disputed contractual payments ($3.7 million pre-tax in the three months ended December 31, 2019 and in the twelve months ended December 31, 2019).
  6. During the twelve months ended December 31, 2019, the Company recorded $6.0 million of moratoria impairment as a result of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”) action to remove all federal moratoria with regard to Medicare provider enrollment.


RECONCILIATION OF ADJUSTED EBITDA
(Amounts in thousands)

(Unaudited)

  Three Months Ended
December 31,
Twelve Months Ended
December 31,
  2019 2018 2019 2018
Net income attributable to LHC Group, Inc.’s common stockholders $21,803  $20,552  $95,726  $63,574 
Add:        
Income tax expense 3,942  7,568  26,607  22,399 
Interest expense, net 2,622  3,255  11,156  9,679 
Depreciation and amortization 5,442  4,376  18,254  16,362 
Adjustment items (7) 19,522  16,092  60,363  49,972 
Adjusted EBITDA $53,331  $51,843  $212,106  $161,986 
                 


7. Adjustment items (pre-tax):        
Almost Family merger and other acquisition expenses 7,335  5,922  35,640  33,037 
Closures/relocation/consolidations 1,532  10,170  8,068  16,935 
Operation realignment and PDGM implementation cost 6,960    6,960   
Dispute settlements 3,695    3,695   
Provider moratorium impairment     6,000   
Total adjustments $19,522  $16,092  $60,363  $49,972 
                 

Contact:
Eric Elliott

Senior Vice President of Finance
(337) 233-1307
eric.elliott@lhcgroup.com