Chemed Reports First-Quarter 2023 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, 2023, versus the comparable prior-year period, as follows:

Consolidated operating results:

• Revenue increased 5.6% to $560 million
• GAAP Diluted Earnings-per-Share (EPS) of $3.58
• Adjusted Diluted EPS of $4.82, an increase of 0.6%

VITAS segment operating results:

• Net Patient Revenue of $310 million, an increase of 3.8%
• Average Daily Census (ADC) of 17,830, an increase of 3.0%
• Admissions of 16,179, a decline of 2.1%
• Net Income, excluding certain discrete items, of $32.9 million, a decline of 10.5%
• Adjusted EBITDA, excluding Medicare Cap, of $47.2 million, a decline of 10.1%
• Adjusted EBITDA margin, excluding Medicare Cap, of 15.1%, a decrease of 234-basis points

Roto-Rooter segment operating results:

• Revenue of $250 million, an increase of 7.9%
• Net Income, excluding certain discrete items, of $50.7 million, an increase of 9.3%
• Adjusted EBITDA of $71.8 million, an increase of 9.0%
• Adjusted EBITDA margin of 28.8%, an increase of 29-basis points

VITAS

VITAS net revenue was $310 million in the first quarter of 2023, which is an increase of 3.8% when compared to the prior year period. This revenue increase is comprised primarily of a 3.0% increase in days-of-care and a geographically weighted average Medicare reimbursement rate increase of approximately 2.9%, partially offset by 200-basis points as a result of CMS reimplementing the 2% sequestration cut that was suspended at the start of the pandemic in 2020. Acuity mix shift had minimal impact 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 negatively impacted revenue growth by 10-basis points.

In the first quarter of 2023, VITAS accrued $2.75 million in Medicare Cap billing limitations. This compares to a $2.5 million Medicare Cap billing limitation in the first quarter of 2022.

Of VITAS’ 30 Medicare provider numbers, 25 provider numbers have a trailing six-month Medicare Cap cushion of 10% or greater, one provider number has a cushion between 5% and 10%, one provider number has a cushion between 0% and 5% and three provider numbers have a trailing six-month billing limitation liability.

Average revenue per patient per day in the first quarter of 2023 was $198.86 which is 100-basis points above the prior-year period. Reimbursement for routine home care and high acuity care averaged $173.39 and $1,042.06 respectively. During the quarter, high acuity days-of-care were 2.9% of total days of care, essentially equal to the prior-year quarter.

The first quarter 2023 gross margin, excluding Medicare Cap and the hiring and retention bonus program, was 22.5%. This is a 220-basis point margin decline when compared to the first quarter of 2022. The majority of this margin decline is the result of CMS reimplementing sequestration which reduced gross margins 200-basis points. During the quarter, VITAS increased the licensed healthcare staff by 200 professionals. This results in total licensed staff increasing by 475 professionals since the inception of the retention program on July 1, 2022. The increase of 200 professionals hired during the first quarter of 2023 is estimated to have negatively impacted margins in the quarter by approximately 50-basis points.

Selling, general and administrative expenses were $23.3 million in the first quarter of 2023 and compares to $22.5 million incurred in the prior-year quarter. Adjusted EBITDA, excluding Medicare Cap, totaled $47.2 million in the quarter, a decrease of 10.1%. Adjusted EBITDA margin in the quarter, excluding Medicare Cap, was 15.1%, which is 234-basis points below the prior-year period. This Adjusted EBITDA margin was negatively impacted by 200-basis points for the reimplementation of sequestration and approximately 50-basis points due to the addition of 200 licensed professionals during the first quarter of 2023.

Roto-Rooter

Roto-Rooter generated quarterly revenue of $250 million in the first quarter of 2023, an increase of 7.9%, when compared to the prior-year quarter.

Roto-Rooter branch commercial revenue in the quarter totaled $59.9 million, an increase of 10.1%, over the prior year. This aggregate commercial revenue growth consisted of drain cleaning revenue increasing 4.0%, plumbing increasing 10.7%, excavation increasing 26.2%, and water restoration increasing 7.4%.

Roto-Rooter branch residential revenue in the quarter totaled $169 million, an increase of 7.5%, over the prior-year period. This aggregate residential revenue growth consisted of drain cleaning decreasing 2.9%, plumbing expanding 3.6%, excavation expanding 3.9%, and water restoration increasing 27.4%.

Roto-Rooter’s gross margin in the quarter was 53.1%, a 37-basis point increase when compared to the first quarter of 2022. Adjusted EBITDA in the first quarter of 2023 totaled $71.8 million, an increase of 9.0%. The Adjusted EBITDA margin in the quarter was 28.8%, which is a 29-basis point improvement when compared to the prior year.

Chemed Consolidated

As of March 31, 2023, Chemed had total cash and cash equivalents of $58.1 million and $21.3 million of current and long-term debt.

In June 2022, Chemed entered into a five-year $550 million Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (Credit Agreement). This Credit Agreement consisted of a $100 million amortizable term loan and a $450 million revolving credit facility. The interest rate on this Credit Agreement has a floating rate that is currently SOFR plus 100-basis points. During the quarter, the Company paid off the majority of the term loan, with $21.3 million remaining as of March 31, 2023. The Company has approximately $405 million of undrawn borrowing capacity under the revolving portion of the credit agreement.

Guidance for 2023

Management anticipates providing updated 2023 earnings guidance as part of the June 30, 2023, earnings press release.

Conference Call

Chemed will host a conference call and webcast at 10 a.m., ET, on Thursday April 27, 2023, to discuss the company's quarterly results and to provide an update on its business. Participants may access a live webcast of the conference call through the investor relations section of Chemed’s website, Investor Relations Home | Chemed Corporation or the hosting website https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/j92nc5np.

Participants may also register via teleconference at:
https://register.vevent.com/register/BI022164faf96b4f54a3fa9a29dc1a2511. Once registration is completed, participants will be provided with a dial-in number containing a personalized conference code to access the call. All participants are instructed to dial-in 15 minutes prior to the start time.

A taped replay of the conference call will be available beginning approximately two hours after the call's conclusion. You may access the replay via webcast through the investor relations section of Chemed’s website.

Chemed Corporation operates in the healthcare field through its VITAS Healthcare Corporation subsidiary. VITAS provides daily hospice services to approximately 17,800 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,
	2023			2022
Service revenues and sales	$	560,157		$	530,549
Cost of services provided and goods sold		370,705			336,552
Selling, general and administrative expenses (aa)		100,095			89,954
Depreciation		12,286			12,138
Amortization		2,513			2,518
Other operating expense		1,739			13
Total costs and expenses		487,338			441,175
Income from operations		72,819			89,374
Interest expense		(1,551	)		(810	)
Other expense--net (bb)		(103	)		(3,862	)
Income before income taxes		71,165			84,702
Income taxes		(17,044	)		(20,533	)
Net income	$	54,121		$	64,169
Earnings Per Share
Net income	$	3.62		$	4.28
Average number of shares outstanding		14,966			14,986
Diluted Earnings Per Share
Net income	$	3.58		$	4.22
Average number of shares outstanding		15,110			15,192
(aa) Selling, general and administrative ("SG&A") expenses comprise (in thousands):
	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2023			2022
SG&A expenses before long-term incentive compensation
and the impact of market value adjustments related to
deferred compensation plans	$	97,902		$	92,578
Long-term incentive compensation		2,514			1,310
Market value adjustments related to deferred
compensation trusts		(321	)		(3,934	)
Total SG&A expenses	$	100,095		$	89,954
(bb) Other expense--net comprises (in thousands):
	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2023			2022
Market value adjustments related to deferred
compensation trusts	$	(321	)	$	(3,934	)
Interest income		150			73
Other		68			(1	)
Total other expense--net	$	(103	)	$	(3,862	)

CHEMED CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except per share data)(unaudited)
	March 31,
	2023			2022
Assets
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$	58,054		$	18,160
Accounts receivable less allowances		153,816			117,319
Inventories		10,663			10,540
Prepaid income taxes		10,633			9,143
Prepaid expenses		29,055			29,589
Total current assets		262,221			184,751
Investments of deferred compensation plans held in trust		97,436			100,139
Properties and equipment, at cost less accumulated depreciation		204,164			192,405
Lease right of use asset		131,219			134,169
Identifiable intangible assets less accumulated amortization		97,348			106,367
Goodwill		581,286			579,704
Other assets		57,511			8,222
Total Assets	$	1,431,185		$	1,305,757
Liabilities
Current liabilities
Accounts payable	$	40,279		$	64,710
Current portion of long-term debt		5,000			-
Income taxes		11,223			15,390
Accrued insurance		63,150			58,952
Accrued compensation		50,152			62,205
Accrued legal		6,061			871
Short-term lease liability		38,291			38,856
Other current liabilities		69,304			38,667
Total current liabilities		283,460			279,651
Deferred income taxes		35,418			19,136
Long-term debt		16,250			120,000
Deferred compensation liabilities		97,285			100,812
Long-term lease liability		106,212			109,121
Other liabilities		12,507			10,332
Total Liabilities		551,132			639,052
Stockholders' Equity
Capital stock		36,884			36,579
Paid-in capital		1,186,119			1,064,448
Retained earnings		2,246,354			2,029,158
Treasury stock, at cost		(2,591,588	)		(2,465,716	)
Deferred compensation payable in Company stock		2,284			2,236
Total Stockholders' Equity		880,053			666,705
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity	$	1,431,185		$	1,305,757

CHEMED CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)(unaudited)
	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2023			2022
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
Net income	$	54,121		$	64,169
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided
by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		14,799			14,656
Stock option expense		8,482			7,451
Benefit for deferred income taxes		(3,195	)		(4,047	)
Noncash long-term incentive compensation		2,024			1,185
Amortization of debt issuance costs		95			76
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, excluding
amounts acquired in business combinations:
(Increase)/decrease in accounts receivable		(14,318	)		19,610
Increase in inventories		(391	)		(431	)
Decrease in prepaid expenses		1,236			3,099
Decrease in accounts payable and
other current liabilities		(24,109	)		(30,332	)
Change in current income taxes		19,118			23,530
Net change in lease assets and liabilities		(632	)		743
Increase in other assets		(2,173	)		(1,562	)
Increase in other liabilities		5,313			2,958
Other sources/(uses)		122			(15	)
Net cash provided by operating activities		60,492			101,090
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
Capital expenditures		(17,020	)		(12,649	)
Business combinations, net of cash acquired		-			(1,650	)
Proceeds from sale of fixed assets		146			485
Other uses		(139	)		(134	)
Net cash used by investing activities		(17,013	)		(13,948	)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
Payments on long-term debt		(76,250	)		-
Proceeds from exercise of stock options		25,680			7,692
Dividends paid		(5,685	)		(5,322	)
Capital stock surrendered to pay taxes on stock-based compensation		(3,166	)		(4,893	)
Payments on revolving line of credit		-			(86,500	)
Proceeds from revolving line of credit		-			21,500
Purchases of treasury stock		-			(27,794	)
Change in cash overdrafts payable		-			(7,051	)
Other (uses)/sources		(130	)		491
Net cash used by financing activities		(59,551	)		(101,877	)
Decrease in Cash and Cash Equivalents		(16,072	)		(14,735	)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year		74,126			32,895
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	$	58,054		$	18,160

CHEMED CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF INCOME
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2023 AND 2022
(in thousands)(unaudited)
										Chemed
	VITAS			Roto-Rooter			Corporate			Consolidated
2023 (a)
Service revenues and sales	$	310,478		$	249,679		$	-		$	560,157
Cost of services provided and goods sold		253,654			117,051			-			370,705
Selling, general and administrative expenses		23,336			60,813			15,946			100,095
Depreciation		4,958			7,312			16			12,286
Amortization		26			2,487			-			2,513
Other operating expense		12			1,727			-			1,739
Total costs and expenses		281,986			189,390			15,962			487,338
Income/(loss) from operations		28,492			60,289			(15,962	)		72,819
Interest expense		(50	)		(133	)		(1,368	)		(1,551	)
Intercompany interest income/(expense)		4,648			2,743			(7,391	)		-
Other income/(expense)—net		189			29			(321	)		(103	)
Income/(loss) before income taxes		33,279			62,928			(25,042	)		71,165
Income taxes		(8,515	)		(15,275	)		6,746			(17,044	)
Net income/(loss)	$	24,764		$	47,653		$	(18,296	)	$	54,121
2022 (b)
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/(expense)—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
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, 2023 AND 2022
(in thousands)(unaudited)
										Chemed
	VITAS			Roto-Rooter			Corporate			Consolidated
2023
Net income/(loss)	$	24,764		$	47,653		$	(18,296	)	$	54,121
Add/(deduct):
Interest expense		50			133			1,368			1,551
Income taxes		8,515			15,275			(6,746	)		17,044
Depreciation		4,958			7,312			16			12,286
Amortization		26			2,487			-			2,513
EBITDA		38,313			72,860			(23,658	)		87,515
Add/(deduct):
Intercompany interest expense/(income)		(4,648	)		(2,743	)		7,391			-
Interest (income)/expense		(121	)		(29	)		-			(150	)
Licensed healthcare retention bonus		10,916			-			-			10,916
Stock option expense		-			-			8,482			8,482
Long-term incentive compensation		-			-			2,514			2,514
Litigation settlements		-			1,756			-			1,756
Adjusted EBITDA	$	44,460		$	71,844		$	(5,271	)	$	111,033
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
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,
	2023			2022
Net income as reported	$	54,121		$	64,169
Add/(deduct) pre-tax cost of:
Licensed healthcare worker retention bonus		10,916			-
Stock option expense		8,482			7,451
Long-term incentive compensation		2,514			1,310
Amortization of reacquired franchise agreements		2,352			2,352
Litigation settlements		1,756			-
Direct costs related to COVID-19		-			1,352
Add/(deduct) tax impacts:
Tax impact of the above pre-tax adjustments (1)		(5,624	)		(2,413	)
Excess tax benefits on stock compensation		(1,650	)		(1,441	)
Adjusted net income	$	72,867		$	72,780
Diluted Earnings Per Share As Reported
Net income	$	3.58		$	4.22
Average number of shares outstanding		15,110			15,192
Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share
Adjusted net income	$	4.82		$	4.79
Average number of shares outstanding		15,110			15,192
(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	2023				2022
Net revenue ($000) (c)
Homecare	$	267,050			$	257,636
Inpatient		29,093				26,570
Continuous care		19,941				19,578
Other		3,021				3,007
Subtotal	$	319,105			$	306,791
Room and board, net		(2,769	)			(2,117	)
Contractual allowances		(3,108	)			(2,985	)
Medicare cap allowance		(2,750	)			(2,500	)
Net Revenue	$	310,478			$	299,189
Net revenue as a percent of total before Medicare cap allowance
Homecare		83.7		%		84.0		%
Inpatient		9.1				8.7
Continuous care		6.2				6.4
Other		1.0				0.9
Subtotal		100.0				100.0
Room and board, net		(0.8	)			(0.7	)
Contractual allowances		(1.0	)			(1.0	)
Medicare cap allowance		(0.9	)			(0.8	)
Net Revenue		97.3		%		97.5		%
Days of care
Homecare		1,286,437				1,258,672
Nursing home		265,429				248,468
Respite		5,760				5,368
Subtotal routine homecare and respite		1,557,626				1,512,508
Inpatient		26,369				24,587
Continuous care		20,686				21,082
Total		1,604,681				1,558,177
Number of days in relevant time period		90				90
Average daily census ("ADC") (days)
Homecare		14,294				13,985
Nursing home		2,949				2,761
Respite		64				60
Subtotal routine homecare and respite		17,307				16,806
Inpatient		293				273
Continuous care		230				234
Total		17,830				17,313
Total Admissions		16,179				16,530
Total Discharges		15,405				16,862
Average length of stay (days)		99.9				104.8
Median length of stay (days)		15.0				14.0
ADC by major diagnosis
Cerebro		41.8		%		36.7		%
Neurological		19.3				22.9
Cancer		10.5				11.1
Cardio		16.0				15.9
Respiratory		7.3				7.4
Other		5.1				6.0
Total		100.0		%		100.0		%
Admissions by major diagnosis
Cerebro		26.4		%		22.9		%
Neurological		10.7				12.9
Cancer		24.7				24.9
Cardio		16.2				14.1
Respiratory		10.9				11.1
Other		11.1				14.1
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		34.7				33.6
Days of revenue outstanding-including unapplied Medicare payments		29.2				23.9
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, 2023 AND 2022
(unaudited)
(a)	Included in the results of operations for 2023 are the following significant credits/(charges) which may not be indicative of ongoing operations
	(in thousands):
		Three Months Ended March 31, 2023
		VITAS			Roto-Rooter			Corporate			Consolidated
	Licensed healthcare worker retention bonus	$	(10,916	)	$	-		$	-		$	(10,916	)
	Stock option expense		-			-			(8,482	)		(8,482	)
	Long-term incentive compensation		-			-			(2,514	)		(2,514	)
	Amortization of reacquired franchise agreements		-			(2,352	)		-			(2,352	)
	Litigation settlements		-			(1,756	)		-			(1,756	)
	Pretax impact on earnings		(10,916	)		(4,108	)		(10,996	)		(26,020	)
	Excess tax benefits on stock compensation		-			-			1,650			1,650
	Income tax benefit on the above		2,772			1,089			1,763			5,624
	After-tax impact on earnings	$	(8,144	)	$	(3,019	)	$	(7,583	)	$	(18,746	)
(b)	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	)
	Long-term incentive compensation		-			-			(1,310	)		(1,310	)
	Amortization of reacquired franchise agreements		-			(2,352	)		-			(2,352	)
	Direct costs related to COVID-19		(391	)		(961	)		-			(1,352	)
	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	)
(c)	VITAS has 9 large (greater than 450 ADC), 17 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, 25 provider numbers have a Medicare cap cushion of greater than 10%, two provider numbers have a Medicare cap cushion between zero and 10% and three provider numbers have a Medicare cap liability.