Chemed Reports First-Quarter 2022 Results

CINCINNATI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Chemed Corporation (Chemed) (NYSE: CHE), which operates VITAS Healthcare Corporation (VITAS), one of the nation’s largest providers of end-of-life care, and Roto-Rooter, the nation’s largest commercial and residential plumbing and drain cleaning services provider, reported financial results for its first quarter ended March 31, 2022, versus the comparable prior-year period, as follows:

Consolidated operating results:

• Revenue increased 0.6% to $531 million
• GAAP Diluted Earnings-per-Share (EPS) of $4.22, an increase of 5.2%
• Adjusted Diluted EPS of $4.79, an increase of 7.9%

VITAS segment operating results:

• Net Patient Revenue of $299 million, a decline of 5.3%
• Average Daily Census (ADC) of 17,313, a decline of 4.1%
• Admissions of 16,530, a decline of 8.9%
• Net Income, excluding certain discrete items, of $36.8 million, a decline of 12.6%
• Adjusted EBITDA, excluding Medicare Cap, of $52.5 million, a decline of 9.8%
• Adjusted EBITDA margin, excluding Medicare Cap, of 17.4%, a decrease of 95-basis points

Roto-Rooter segment operating results:

• Revenue of $231 million, an increase of 9.4%
• Net Income, excluding certain discrete items, of $46.4 million, an increase of 18.0%
• Adjusted EBITDA of $65.9 million, an increase of 15.9%
• Adjusted EBITDA margin of 28.5%, an increase of 160-basis points

VITAS

VITAS net revenue was $299 million in the first quarter of 2022, which is a decline of 5.3%, when compared to the prior-year period. This revenue decline is comprised primarily of a 4.1% decline in days-of-care partially offset by a geographically weighted average Medicare reimbursement rate increase of approximately 1.3%. Acuity mix shift had a net impact of reducing revenue approximately $7.1 million, or 2.2%, in the quarter when compared to the prior-year revenue and level-of-care mix. The combination of Medicare Cap and other contra revenue changes increased this revenue decline by approximately 30-basis points.

In the first quarter of 2022, VITAS accrued $2.5 million in Medicare Cap billing limitations. This compares to $1.5 million in Medicare Cap billing limitation in the first quarter of 2021.

Of VITAS’ 30 Medicare provider numbers, 28 provider numbers have a Medicare Cap cushion of 10% or greater and two provider numbers have an estimated fiscal 2022 Medicare Cap billing limitation liability.

Average revenue per patient per day in the first quarter of 2022 was $196.89, which, including acuity mix shift, is 104-basis points below the prior-year period. Reimbursement for routine home care and high acuity care averaged $172.33 and $1,010.49, respectively. During the quarter, high acuity days-of-care were 2.9% of total days of care, 58-basis points less than the prior-year quarter.

The first quarter 2022 gross margin, excluding Medicare Cap and increased costs directly related to operating during the pandemic, was 24.8%. This is a 50-basis point margin decline when compared to the first quarter of 2021.

Selling, general and administrative expense, excluding increased costs directly related to operating during the pandemic, was $22.5 million in the first quarter of 2022 and compares to $22.0 million incurred in the prior-year quarter. Adjusted EBITDA, excluding Medicare Cap, totaled $52.5 million in the quarter, a decrease of 9.8%. Adjusted EBITDA margin in the quarter, excluding Medicare Cap, was 17.4%, which is 95-basis points below the prior-year period.

Roto-Rooter

Roto-Rooter generated quarterly revenue of $231 million in the first quarter of 2022, an increase of $19.8 million, or 9.4%, when compared to the prior-year quarter.

Roto-Rooter branch commercial revenue in the quarter totaled $54.4 million, an increase of $6.9 million, or 14.4%, over the prior year. This aggregate commercial revenue growth consisted of drain cleaning revenue increasing 17.0%, plumbing increasing 17.1%, water restoration increasing 8.6%, and excavation increasing 7.1%.

Roto-Rooter branch residential revenue in the quarter totaled $157 million, an increase of $10.5 million, or 7.2%, over the prior-year period. This aggregate residential revenue growth consisted of drain cleaning increasing 3.1%, plumbing expanding 14.6%, excavation increasing 5.9%, and water restoration increasing 7.7%.

Roto-Rooter’s gross margin in the quarter, excluding the impact from COVID, was 52.8%, an 87-basis point increase when compared to the first quarter of 2021. Adjusted EBITDA in the first quarter of 2022 totaled $65.9 million, an increase of 15.9%. The Adjusted EBITDA margin in the quarter was 28.5%, which is a 160-basis point improvement when compared to the prior year.

Chemed Consolidated

As of March 31, 2022, Chemed had total cash and cash equivalents of $18.2 million and $120 million of long-term debt.

In June 2018, Chemed entered into a five-year Amended and Restated Credit Agreement that consists of a $450 million revolving credit facility. The interest rate on this facility has a floating rate that is currently LIBOR plus 100-basis points. At March 31, 2022, the Company had approximately $284 million of undrawn borrowing capacity under this credit agreement.

During the quarter, the Company repurchased 57,500 shares of Chemed stock for $27.4 million which equates to a cost per share of $475.71. As of March 31, 2022, there was approximately $175 million of remaining share repurchase authorization under this plan.

Chemed restarted its share repurchase program in 2007. Since that time, Chemed has repurchased approximately 15.8 million shares, aggregating approximately $2.0 billion at an average share cost of $126.42. Including dividends over this period, Chemed has returned approximately $2.2 billion to shareholders.

Guidance for 2022

Management anticipates providing updated 2022 earnings guidance as part of the June 30, 2022, earnings press release.

Conference Call

Chemed will host a conference call and webcast at 10 a.m., ET, on Wednesday, April 27, 2022, to discuss the Company's quarterly results and to provide an update on its business. The dial-in number for the conference call is [phone] for U.S. and Canadian participants and [phone] for international participants. The Conference ID is 1869526. A live webcast of the call can be accessed on Chemed's website at www.chemed.com by clicking on Investor Relations Home.

A taped replay of the conference call will be available beginning approximately 24 hours after the call's conclusion. It can be accessed by dialing [phone] for U.S. and Canadian callers and [phone] for international callers and will be available for one week following the live call. The replay Conference ID is 1869526. An archived webcast will also be available at www.chemed.com.

Chemed Corporation operates in the healthcare field through its VITAS Healthcare Corporation subsidiary. VITAS provides daily hospice services to approximately 17,300 patients with severe, life-limiting illnesses. This type of care is focused on making the terminally ill patient's final days as comfortable and pain-free as possible.

Chemed operates in the residential and commercial plumbing and drain cleaning industry under the brand name Roto-Rooter. Roto-Rooter provides plumbing, drain cleaning, and water cleanup services through company-owned branches, independent contractors and franchisees in the United States and Canada. Roto-Rooter also has licensed master franchisees in the republics of Indonesia and Singapore, and the Philippines.

This press release contains information about Chemed’s EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Diluted EPS, which are not measures derived in accordance with GAAP and which exclude components that are important to understanding Chemed’s financial performance. In reporting its operating results, Chemed provides EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Diluted EPS measures to help investors and others evaluate the Company’s operating results, compare its operating performance with that of similar companies that have different capital structures and evaluate its ability to meet its future debt service, capital expenditures and working capital requirements. Chemed’s management similarly uses EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Diluted EPS to assist it in evaluating the performance of the Company across fiscal periods and in assessing how its performance compares to its peer companies. These measures also help Chemed’s management to estimate the resources required to meet Chemed’s future financial obligations and expenditures. Chemed’s EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Diluted EPS should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for comparable measures calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP. We calculated Adjusted EBITDA Margin by dividing Adjusted EBITDA by service revenue and sales. A reconciliation of Chemed’s net income to its EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Diluted EPS is presented in the tables following the text of this press release.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this press release and the accompanying tables are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words "believe," "expect," "hope," "anticipate," "plan" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date the statement was made. Chemed does not undertake and specifically disclaims any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. These statements are based on current expectations and assumptions and involve various risks and uncertainties, which could cause Chemed's actual results to differ from those expressed in such forward-looking statements.

These risks and uncertainties arise from, among other things, possible changes in regulations governing the hospice care or plumbing and drain cleaning industries; periodic changes in reimbursement levels and procedures under Medicare and Medicaid programs; difficulties predicting patient length of stay and estimating potential Medicare reimbursement obligations; challenges inherent in Chemed's growth strategy; the current shortage of qualified nurses, other healthcare professionals and licensed plumbing and drain cleaning technicians; Chemed’s dependence on patient referral sources; and other factors detailed under the caption "Description of Business by Segment" or "Risk Factors" in Chemed’s most recent report on form 10-Q or 10-K and its other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements and there are no assurances that the matters contained in such statements will be achieved.

CHEMED CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(in thousands, except per share data)(unaudited)
	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2022			2021
Service revenues and sales	$	530,549		$	527,360
Cost of services provided and goods sold		336,552			340,473
Selling, general and administrative expenses (aa)		89,954			91,599
Depreciation		12,138			11,715
Amortization		2,518			2,510
Other operating expense		13			622
Total costs and expenses		441,175			446,919
Income from operations		89,374			80,441
Interest expense		(810	)		(381	)
Other (expense)/income--net (bb)		(3,862	)		3,602
Income before income taxes		84,702			83,662
Income taxes		(20,533	)		(18,262	)
Net income	$	64,169		$	65,400
Earnings Per Share
Net income	$	4.28		$	4.08
Average number of shares outstanding		14,986			16,010
Diluted Earnings Per Share
Net income	$	4.22		$	4.01
Average number of shares outstanding		15,192			16,310
(aa) Selling, general and administrative ("SG&A") expenses comprise (in thousands):
	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2022			2021
SG&A expenses before long-term incentive compensation
and the impact of market value adjustments related to
deferred compensation plans	$	92,578		$	86,668
Market value adjustments related to deferred
compensation trusts		(3,934	)		3,038
Long-term incentive compensation		1,310			1,893
Total SG&A expenses	$	89,954		$	91,599
(bb) Other (expense)/income--net comprises (in thousands):
	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2022			2021
Market value adjustments related to deferred
compensation trusts	$	(3,934	)	$	3,038
Interest income		73			92
Other		(1	)		472
Total other (expense)/income--net	$	(3,862	)	$	3,602

CHEMED CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except per share data)(unaudited)
	March 31,
	2022			2021
Assets
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$	18,160		$	210,156
Accounts receivable less allowances		117,319			104,748
Inventories		10,540			6,777
Prepaid income taxes		9,143			3,518
Prepaid expenses		29,589			21,775
Total current assets		184,751			346,974
Investments of deferred compensation plans held in trust		100,139			93,705
Properties and equipment, at cost less accumulated depreciation		192,405			190,154
Lease right of use asset		134,169			124,104
Identifiable intangible assets less accumulated amortization		106,367			115,517
Goodwill		579,704			578,618
Other assets		8,222			9,061
Total Assets	$	1,305,757		$	1,458,133
Liabilities
Current liabilities
Accounts payable	$	64,710		$	55,447
Income taxes		15,390			24,774
Accrued insurance		58,952			57,533
Accrued compensation		62,205			73,907
Accrued legal		871			2,102
Short-term lease liability		38,856			37,897
Other current liabilities		38,667			38,555
Total current liabilities		279,651			290,215
Deferred income taxes		19,136			19,733
Long-term debt		120,000			-
Deferred compensation liabilities		100,812			93,755
Long-term lease liability		109,121			98,813
Other liabilities		10,332			26,733
Total Liabilities		639,052			529,249
Stockholders' Equity
Capital stock		36,579			36,345
Paid-in capital		1,064,448			982,739
Retained earnings		2,029,158			1,783,740
Treasury stock, at cost		(2,465,716	)		(1,876,315	)
Deferred compensation payable in Company stock		2,236			2,375
Total Stockholders' Equity		666,705			928,884
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity	$	1,305,757		$	1,458,133

CHEMED CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)(unaudited)
	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2022			2021
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
Net income	$	64,169		$	65,400
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided
by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		14,656			14,225
Stock option expense		7,451			6,106
Benefit for deferred payroll taxes		(4,047	)		(930	)
Noncash long-term incentive compensation		1,185			1,642
Amortization of debt issuance costs		76			76
Payments on previously accrued litigation settlements		-			(8,490	)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, excluding
amounts acquired in business combinations:
Decrease in accounts receivable		19,610			22,773
(Increase)/decrease in inventories		(431	)		318
Decrease in prepaid expenses		3,099			4,402
Decrease in accounts payable and
other current liabilities		(30,332	)		(18,369	)
Change in current income taxes		23,530			18,395
Net change in lease assets and liabilities		743			(24	)
Increase in other assets		(1,562	)		(5,274	)
Increase in other liabilities		2,958			5,759
Other (uses)/sources		(15	)		710
Net cash provided by operating activities		101,090			106,719
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
Capital expenditures		(12,649	)		(17,697	)
Business combinations, net of cash acquired		(1,650	)		-
Other sources		351			274
Net cash used by investing activities		(13,948	)		(17,423	)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
Payments on revolving line of credit		(86,500	)		-
Proceeds from revolving line of credit		21,500			-
Purchases of treasury stock		(27,794	)		(41,107	)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options		7,692			11,026
Change in cash overdrafts payable		(7,051	)		-
Dividends paid		(5,322	)		(5,437	)
Capital stock surrendered to pay taxes on stock-based compensation		(4,893	)		(6,613	)
Other sources		491			316
Net cash used by financing activities		(101,877	)		(41,815	)
(Decrease)/Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents		(14,735	)		47,481
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year		32,895			162,675
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	$	18,160		$	210,156

CHEMED CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF INCOME
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2022 AND 2021
(in thousands)(unaudited)
										Chemed
	VITAS			Roto-Rooter			Corporate			Consolidated
2022 (a)
Service revenues and sales	$	299,189		$	231,360		$	-		$	530,549
Cost of services provided and goods sold		227,240			109,312			-			336,552
Selling, general and administrative expenses		22,453			56,954			10,547			89,954
Depreciation		5,551			6,569			18			12,138
Amortization		24			2,494			-			2,518
Other operating expense/(income)		(148	)		161			-			13
Total costs and expenses		255,120			175,490			10,565			441,175
Income/(loss) from operations		44,069			55,870			(10,565	)		89,374
Interest expense		(52	)		(115	)		(643	)		(810	)
Intercompany interest income/(expense)		4,656			2,176			(6,832	)		-
Other income—net		37			35			(3,934	)		(3,862	)
Income/(loss) before income taxes		48,710			57,966			(21,974	)		84,702
Income taxes		(12,229	)		(14,029	)		5,725			(20,533	)
Net income/(loss)	$	36,481		$	43,937		$	(16,249	)	$	64,169
2021 (b)
Service revenues and sales	$	315,788		$	211,572		$	-		$	527,360
Cost of services provided and goods sold		238,667			101,806			-			340,473
Selling, general and administrative expenses		22,090			53,322			16,187			91,599
Depreciation		5,338			6,353			24			11,715
Amortization		18			2,492			-			2,510
Other operating expense		502			120			-			622
Total costs and expenses		266,615			164,093			16,211			446,919
Income/(loss) from operations		49,173			47,479			(16,211	)		80,441
Interest expense		(42	)		(89	)		(250	)		(381	)
Intercompany interest income/(expense)		4,525			1,620			(6,145	)		-
Other income—net		533			31			3,038			3,602
Income/(loss) before income taxes		54,189			49,041			(19,568	)		83,662
Income taxes		(13,419	)		(11,864	)		7,021			(18,262	)
Net income/(loss)	$	40,770		$	37,177		$	(12,547	)	$	65,400
The "Footnotes to Financial Statements" are integral parts of this financial information.

CHEMED CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
CONSOLIDATING SUMMARIES OF EBITDA
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2022 AND 2021
(in thousands)(unaudited)
										Chemed
	VITAS			Roto-Rooter			Corporate			Consolidated
2022
Net income/(loss)	$	36,481		$	43,937		$	(16,249	)	$	64,169
Add/(deduct):
Interest expense		52			115			643			810
Income taxes		12,229			14,029			(5,725	)		20,533
Depreciation		5,551			6,569			18			12,138
Amortization		24			2,494			-			2,518
EBITDA		54,337			67,144			(21,313	)		100,168
Add/(deduct):
Intercompany interest expense/(income)		(4,656	)		(2,176	)		6,832			-
Interest income		(37	)		(36	)		-			(73	)
Stock option expense		-			-			7,451			7,451
Direct costs related to COVID-19		391			961			-			1,352
Long-term incentive compensation		-			-			1,310			1,310
Adjusted EBITDA	$	50,035		$	65,893		$	(5,720	)	$	110,208
2021
Net income/(loss)	$	40,770		$	37,177		$	(12,547	)	$	65,400
Add/(deduct):
Interest expense		42			89			250			381
Income taxes		13,419			11,864			(7,021	)		18,262
Depreciation		5,338			6,353			24			11,715
Amortization		18			2,492			-			2,510
EBITDA		59,587			57,975			(19,294	)		98,268
Add/(deduct):
Intercompany interest expense/(income)		(4,525	)		(1,620	)		6,145			-
Interest income		(61	)		(31	)		-			(92	)
Stock option expense		-			-			6,106			6,106
Direct costs related to COVID-19		1,753			553			38			2,344
Long-term incentive compensation		-			-			1,893			1,893
Adjusted EBITDA	$	56,754		$	56,877		$	(5,112	)	$	108,519
The "Footnotes to Financial Statements" are integral parts of this financial information.

CHEMED CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
RECONCILIATION OF ADJUSTED NET INCOME
(in thousands, except per share data)(unaudited)
	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2022			2021
Net income as reported	$	64,169		$	65,400
Add/(deduct) pre-tax cost of:
Stock option expense		7,451			6,106
Amortization of reacquired franchise agreements		2,352			2,352
Direct costs related to COVID-19		1,352			2,344
Long-term incentive compensation		1,310			1,893
Add/(deduct) tax impacts:
Tax impact of the above pre-tax adjustments (1)		(2,413	)		(2,487	)
Excess tax benefits on stock compensation		(1,441	)		(3,238	)
Adjusted net income	$	72,780		$	72,370
Diluted Earnings Per Share As Reported
Net income	$	4.22		$	4.01
Average number of shares outstanding		15,192			16,310
Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share
Adjusted net income	$	4.79		$	4.44
Average number of shares outstanding		15,192			16,310

(1) The tax impact of pre-tax adjustments was calculated using the effective tax rate of the operating unit for which each adjustment is associated.

The "Footnotes to Financial Statements" are integral parts of this financial information.

CHEMED CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
OPERATING STATISTICS FOR VITAS SEGMENT
(unaudited)
	Three Months Ended March 31,
OPERATING STATISTICS	2022				2021
Net revenue ($000) (c)
Homecare	$	257,636			$	263,754
Inpatient		26,570				29,156
Continuous care		19,578				27,349
Other		3,007				2,938
Subtotal	$	306,791			$	323,197
Room and board, net		(2,117	)			(2,665	)
Contractual allowances		(2,985	)			(3,244	)
Medicare cap allowance		(2,500	)			(1,500	)
Net Revenue	$	299,189			$	315,788
Net revenue as a percent of total before Medicare cap allowance
Homecare		84.0		%		81.6		%
Inpatient		8.7				9.0
Continuous care		6.4				8.5
Other		0.9				0.9
Subtotal		100.0				100.0
Room and board, net		(0.7	)			(0.8	)
Contractual allowances		(1.0	)			(1.0	)
Medicare cap allowance		(0.8	)			(0.5	)
Net Revenue		97.5		%		97.7		%
Days of care
Homecare		1,258,672				1,329,892
Nursing home		248,468				232,783
Respite		5,368				4,840
Subtotal routine homecare and respite		1,512,508				1,567,515
Inpatient		24,587				27,674
Continuous care		21,082				29,300
Total		1,558,177				1,624,489
Number of days in relevant time period		90				90
Average daily census ("ADC") (days)
Homecare		13,985				14,777
Nursing home		2,761				2,586
Respite		60				54
Subtotal routine homecare and respite		16,806				17,417
Inpatient		273				307
Continuous care		234				326
Total		17,313				18,050
Total Admissions		16,530				18,135
Total Discharges		16,862				18,516
Average length of stay (days)		104.8				94.4
Median length of stay (days)		14.0				12.0
ADC by major diagnosis
Cerebro		36.7		%		35.9		%
Neurological		22.9				22.1
Cancer		11.1				12.2
Cardio		15.9				15.8
Respiratory		7.4				7.8
Other		6.0				6.2
Total		100.0		%		100.0		%
Admissions by major diagnosis
Cerebro		22.9		%		21.4		%
Neurological		12.9				12.3
Cancer		24.9				25.0
Cardio		14.1				14.2
Respiratory		11.1				11.0
Other		14.1				16.1
Total		100.0		%		100.0		%
Estimated uncollectible accounts as a percent of revenues		1.0		%		1.0		%
Accounts receivable --
Days of revenue outstanding-excluding unapplied Medicare payments		33.6				37.8
Days of revenue outstanding-including unapplied Medicare payments		23.9				26.9
The "Footnotes to Financial Statements" are integral parts of this financial information.

CHEMED CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
FOOTNOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2022 AND 2021
(unaudited)
(a)	Included in the results of operations for 2022 are the following significant credits/(charges) which may not be indicative of ongoing operations
	(in thousands):
		Three Months Ended March 31, 2022
		VITAS			Roto-Rooter			Corporate			Consolidated
	Stock option expense	$	-		$	-		$	(7,451	)	$	(7,451	)
	Amortization of reacquired franchise agreements		-			(2,352	)		-			(2,352	)
	Direct costs related to COVID-19		(391	)		(961	)		-			(1,352	)
	Long-term incentive compensation		-			-			(1,310	)		(1,310	)
	Pretax impact on earnings		(391	)		(3,313	)		(8,761	)		(12,465	)
	Excess tax benefits on stock compensation		-			-			1,441			1,441
	Income tax benefit on the above		99			878			1,436			2,413
	After-tax impact on earnings	$	(292	)	$	(2,435	)	$	(5,884	)	$	(8,611	)
(b)	Included in the results of operations for 2021 are the following significant credits/(charges) which may not be indicative of ongoing operations
	(in thousands):
		Three Months Ended March 31, 2021
		VITAS			Roto-Rooter			Corporate			Consolidated
	Stock option expense	$	-		$	-		$	(6,106	)	$	(6,106	)
	Amortization of reacquired franchise agreements		-			(2,352	)		-			(2,352	)
	Direct costs related to COVID-19		(1,753	)		(553	)		(38	)		(2,344	)
	Long-term incentive compensation		-			-			(1,893	)		(1,893	)
	Pretax impact on earnings		(1,753	)		(2,905	)		(8,037	)		(12,695	)
	Excess tax benefits on stock compensation		-			-			3,238			3,238
	Income tax benefit on the above		445			769			1,273			2,487
	After-tax impact on earnings	$	(1,308	)	$	(2,136	)	$	(3,526	)	$	(6,970	)
(c)	VITAS has 8 large (greater than 450 ADC), 20 medium (greater than 200 but less than 450 ADC) and 24 small (less than 200 ADC) hospice programs. Of Vitas' 30 Medicare provider numbers, for the current cap year, 28 provider numbers have a Medicare cap cushion of greater than 10% and two provider numbers have a Medicare cap liability.