Gentiva Reports Strong Second Quarter led by Home Health Segment

Raises Full Year Financial Outlook

MELVILLE, N.Y., July 31 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Gentiva Health Services,
Inc. (Nasdaq: GTIV), the nation's leading provider of comprehensive home
health services, today reported strong second quarter results, led by
double-digit increases in Medicare revenues and admissions in the Company's
Home Health segment.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060323/NYTH117LOGO)
Performance highlights for the quarter ended June 29, 2008 included:
-- A 13% increase in net revenues to $346.2 million versus the second
quarter ended July 1, 2007.
-- A 34% rise in net income to $12.0 million, or $0.41 per diluted share,
versus $9.0 million, or $0.31 per diluted share, for the prior-year period.
Average diluted shares were 29.2 million versus 28.5 million in the second
quarter of 2007.
-- A 19% increase in earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and
amortization (EBITDA) to $31.5 million in the second quarter of 2008. EBITDA
as a percentage of net revenues was 9.1% in the second quarter of 2008 versus
8.6% in the prior-year period. EBITDA included restructuring and integration
costs of $0.4 million for the second quarter of 2008 as compared to
$0.6 million for the prior-year period.
"Gentiva has generated a strong first half that puts us well on track to
achieve our goals for the year," said Chairman and CEO Ron Malone. "We are
building our Home Health segment with a focus on growing Medicare admissions,
expanding our pioneering specialty programs, and increasing our capacity both
organically and through acquisitions, including two transactions completed so
far this year. We also saw sequential improvement at both CareCentrix and
within our Other Related Services segment.
"These achievements, along with the stable reimbursement outlook indicated
in the recently passed Medicare legislation, position Gentiva for continued
strength in performance through the balance of 2008 and lead us to increase
our financial outlook for the year."
Gentiva reported these segment highlights for the quarter:
-- Home Health segment revenues increased 16% versus the prior-year
period, while operating contribution rose 27%. Home Health's operating
contribution margin reached 16.6% versus 15.2% in the second quarter of 2007.
Strong Home Health Medicare revenue growth of 18% was driven by a double-digit
increase in episodic patient admissions, increases in revenue per episode, due
in part to the Company's expanding specialty programs, and the impact of
acquisitions completed in 2008.
-- CareCentrix revenues grew by 8% compared with the 2007 second quarter
and by $1.5 million over the 2008 first quarter. Operating contribution
declined 18% from the year-ago quarter, but increased by approximately
$200,000 sequentially as the Company began to see a reduction in the use of
capitated services.
-- Revenues in Gentiva's Other Related Services segment -- which includes
hospice, respiratory therapy and home medical equipment, infusion services and
consulting -- rose by 2% versus the prior-year period. Operating contribution
declined 6% compared to the prior-year period. Sequentially, revenue and
operating contribution increased $1.0 million and $0.4 million, respectively,
as this segment began to benefit from investments in infrastructure and
capacity to support accelerated growth and anticipated increases in demand.
Companywide performance highlights for the six months ended June 29, 2008
included:
-- A 10% increase in net revenues to approximately $670 million versus the
prior-year period.
-- A 25% rise in net income to $19.7 million, or $0.68 per diluted share,
versus $15.8 million, or $0.56 per diluted share, for the first half of 2007.
-- An 11% increase in EBITDA to $55.3 million versus $49.6 million in the
prior-year period. Excluding charges for restructuring and integration costs,
EBITDA for the period would have been $56.0 million, or $0.69 per diluted
share, compared to $51.2 million and $0.59 per diluted share in the prior-year
period.
Gentiva announced that it is raising its 2008 outlook for net revenues to
a range of $1.32 billion to $1.35 billion, as compared to $1.28 billion to
$1.32 billion, and now expects its diluted earnings per share to be between
$1.36 and $1.43, up from the $1.32 to $1.40 range announced earlier this year.
Projected earnings exclude special items and restructuring and integration
costs.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
The information provided in this press release includes certain non-GAAP
financial measures as defined under Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
rules. In accordance with SEC rules, the Company has provided, in the
supplemental information and the footnotes to the tables, a reconciliation of
those measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measures.
Conference Call and Web Cast Details
The Company will comment further on its second quarter results during its
conference call and live web cast to be held Thursday, July 31, 2008, at 10:00
a.m. Eastern Time. To participate in the call from the United States, Canada
or an international location, dial (973) 935-2408 and reference call
#56178391. The web cast is an audio-only, one-way event. Web cast listeners
who wish to ask questions must participate in the conference call. Log onto
http://investors.gentiva.com/events.cfm to hear the web cast. This press
release is accessible at http://investors.gentiva.com/releases.cfm and a
transcript of the conference call is expected to be available on the site
within 36 hours after the call.
About Gentiva Health Services, Inc.
Gentiva Health Services, Inc. is the nation's leading provider of
comprehensive home health services. The Company serves patients across the
United States, through its direct service delivery units or through
CareCentrix(R), which manages home health services for major managed care
organizations. Gentiva is a single source for skilled nursing; physical,
occupational, speech and neurorehabilitation services; hospice services;
social work; nutrition; disease management education; help with daily living
activities; respiratory therapy and home medical equipment; infusion therapy
services; and other therapies and services. Gentiva's revenues are generated
from federal and state government programs, commercial insurance and
individual consumers. For more information, visit Gentiva's web site,
http://www.gentiva.com, and its investor relations section at
http://investors.gentiva.com. GTIV-E

(tables and notes follow)

(in 000's, except per share data) 2nd Quarter Six Months
2008 2007 2008 2007
Statements of Income
Net revenues $346,225 $307,277 $669,947 $606,819
Cost of services and goods sold 194,745 176,276 381,944 346,397
Gross profit 151,480 131,001 288,003 260,422
Selling, general and
administrative expenses 125,569 109,431 243,449 220,496
Operating income 25,911 21,570 44,554 39,926
Interest expense (5,592) (6,946) (11,685) (14,085)
Interest income 273 809 940 1,626
Income before income taxes 20,592 15,433 33,809 27,467
Income tax expense 8,568 6,481 14,062 11,676
Net income $12,024 $8,952 $19,747 $15,791

Earnings per Share
Net income:
Basic $0.42 $0.32 $0.70 $0.57
Diluted $0.41 $0.31 $0.68 $0.56

Average shares outstanding:
Basic 28,497 27,703 28,389 27,616
Diluted 29,240 28,540 29,147 28,447

Condensed Balance Sheets
ASSETS Jun 29, 2008 Dec 30, 2007
Cash, cash equivalents and
restricted cash (A) $22,079 $36,181
Short-term investments (B) - 31,250
Accounts receivable, net (C) 233,478 207,801
Deferred tax assets 11,306 18,859
Prepaid expenses and other current
assets 14,455 14,415
Total current assets 281,318 308,506

Long-term investments (B) 12,641 -
Fixed assets, net 66,181 59,562
Intangible assets, net 240,158 211,602
Goodwill 316,069 276,100
Other assets 26,008 26,463
Total assets $942,375 $882,233

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current portion of long-term debt $ - $2,304
Accounts payable 22,207 20,093
Payroll and related taxes 19,094 17,163
Deferred revenue 33,624 29,015
Medicare liabilities 8,782 7,985
Cost of claims incurred but not
reported 22,089 24,321
Obligations under insurance
programs 38,805 36,816
Other accrued expenses 34,138 42,282
Total current liabilities 178,739 179,979

Long-term debt 331,000 307,696
Deferred tax liabilities, net 57,152 48,572
Other liabilities 22,109 22,557
Shareholders' equity 353,375 323,429
Total liabilities and
shareholders' equity $942,375 $882,233

Common shares outstanding 28,507 28,046

(A) Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash included restricted cash of
$0.3 million at June 29, 2008 and $22.0 million at December 30, 2007.
(B) Short-term and long-term investments at June 29, 2008 and December 30,
2007 consisted of AAA-rated auction rate securities. At June 29, 2008,
long-term investments were presented net of a $0.4 million valuation
allowance, the charge for which was recorded in shareholders' equity.
(C) Accounts receivable, net, included an allowance for doubtful accounts
of $10.5 million and $9.4 million at June 29, 2008 and December 30, 2007,
respectively.

(in 000's) Six Months
Condensed Statements of Cash Flows 2008 2007
OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income $19,747 $15,791
Adjustments to reconcile net income to
net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization 10,753 9,698
Amortization of debt issuance costs 593 509
Provision for doubtful accounts 6,124 3,886
Equity-based compensation expense 3,220 3,477
Windfall tax benefits associated
with equity-based compensation (1,306) (656)
Deferred income taxes 10,829 9,187
Changes in assets and liabilities,
net of acquired businesses:
Accounts receivable (24,960) (28,321)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets (1,508) (4,372)
Current liabilities (3,240) 11,112
Other, net 529 1,200
Net cash provided by operating
activities 20,781 21,511

INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchase of fixed assets (13,831) (12,486)
Acquisition of businesses, net of
cash acquired (59,217) -
Purchases of short-term investments
available-for-sale (28,000) (39,100)
Maturities of short-term investments
available-for-sale 46,250 43,150
Net cash used in investing activities (54,798) (8,436)

FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from issuance of common stock 6,211 6,462
Windfall tax benefits associated
with equity-based compensation 1,306 656
Borrowings under revolving credit facility 24,000 -
Home Health Care Affiliates debt repayments (7,420) -
Debt issuance costs (557) -
Other debt repayments (3,000) (18,000)
Repayment of capital lease obligations (625) (587)
Net cash provided by (used in)
financing activities 19,915 (11,469)

Net change in cash, cash equivalents
and restricted cash (14,102) 1,606
Cash, cash equivalents and
restricted cash at beginning of period 36,181 32,910
Cash, cash equivalents and
restricted cash at end of period $22,079 $34,516

SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH
FLOW INFORMATION:

Interest paid $11,355 $15,739
Income taxes paid, net of refunds $6,071 $1,107

(in 000's)
Supplemental Information 2nd Quarter Six Months
2008 2007 2008 2007
Segment Information (1)
Net revenues
Home Health $236,876 $204,894 $453,876 $409,925
CareCentrix 79,323 73,326 157,171 139,216
Other Related Services 30,839 30,332 60,657 60,895
Intersegment revenues (813) (1,275) (1,757) (3,217)
Total net revenues $346,225 $307,277 $669,947 $606,819

Operating contribution (3)
Home Health $39,423 $31,101 $70,625 $61,089
CareCentrix 6,523 7,987 12,849 14,941
Other Related Services 3,278 3,479 6,123 7,466
Total operating contribution 49,224 42,567 89,597 83,496
Corporate expenses (17,711) (16,082) (34,290) (33,872)
Depreciation and amortization (5,602) (4,915) (10,753) (9,698)
Interest expense, net (5,319) (6,137) (10,745) (12,459)
Income before income taxes $20,592 $15,433 $33,809 $27,467

2nd Quarter Six Months
2008 2007 2008 2007
Net Revenues by Major Payer
Source:
Medicare
Home Health $161,257 $136,829 $306,362 $272,083
Other 15,727 14,858 30,301 30,146
Total Medicare 176,984 151,687 336,663 302,229
Medicaid and local government 36,608 40,331 71,974 78,659
Commercial insurance
and other (4) 132,633 115,259 261,310 225,931
Total net revenues $346,225 $307,277 $669,947 $606,819

A reconciliation of EBITDA to Net
income - As Reported amounts
follows: (2) 2nd Quarter Six Months
2008 2007 2008 2007
EBITDA (3) $31,513 $26,485 $55,307 $49,624
Depreciation and amortization (5,602) (4,915) (10,753) (9,698)
Interest expense, net (5,319) (6,137) (10,745) (12,459)
Income before income taxes 20,592 15,433 33,809 27,467
Income tax expense (5) (8,568) (6,481) (14,062) (11,676)
Net income - As Reported $12,024 $8,952 $19,747 $15,791

Notes:
1) The Company's senior management evaluates performance and allocates
resources based on operating contributions of the reportable segments, which
exclude corporate expenses, depreciation, amortization, and interest expense
(net), but include revenues and all other costs directly attributable to the
specific segment.
2) EBITDA, a non-GAAP financial measure, is defined as income before
interest expense (net of interest income), income taxes, depreciation and
amortization. Management uses EBITDA to evaluate overall performance and
compare current operating results with other companies in the healthcare
industry. EBITDA should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for
net income, operating income or cash flow statement data determined in
accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.
Because EBITDA is not a measure of financial performance under accounting
principles generally accepted in the United States and is susceptible to
varying calculations, it may not be comparable to similarly titled measures in
other companies.
3) Operating contribution and EBITDA for the second quarter and first half
of 2008 included restructuring and integration costs of $0.4 million and $0.7
million, respectively. For the second quarter and first half of 2007,
operating contribution and EBITDA included restructuring and integration costs
of $0.6 million and $1.6 million, respectively. The restructuring and
integration costs were reflected as follows for segment reporting (dollars in
millions):

2nd Quarter Six Months
2008 2007 2008 2007
Home Health $0.1 $0.1 $0.2 $0.4
Other Related Services - 0.1 - 0.1
Corporate 0.3 0.4 0.5 1.1
Total $0.4 $0.6 $0.7 $1.6

4) Commercial insurance and other revenues included revenues from Medicare
Advantage business paid on an episodic basis of $13.4 million and $24.5
million for the second quarter and first half of 2008, respectively, and $7.2
million and $12.6 million for the second quarter and first half of 2007,
respectively.
5) The Company's effective tax rate was 41.6% for the second quarter and
first half of 2008, and 42.0% and 42.5% for the second quarter and first half
of 2007, respectively.
Forward-Looking Statement
Certain statements contained in this news release, including, without
limitation, statements containing the words "believes," "anticipates,"
"intends," "expects," "assumes," "trends" and similar expressions, constitute
"forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are based upon the
Company's current plans, expectations and projections about future events.
However, such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and
other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements
of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance
or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These
factors include, among others, the following: economic and business
conditions; demographic changes; changes in, or failure to comply with,
existing governmental regulations; legislative proposals for healthcare
reform; changes in Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement levels, including
changes to the Medicare home health Prospective Payment System effective
January 1, 2008; effects of competition in the markets in which the Company
operates; liability and other claims asserted against the Company; ability to
attract and retain qualified personnel; availability and terms of capital;
loss of significant contracts or reduction in revenues associated with major
payer sources; ability of customers to pay for services; business disruption
due to natural disasters or terrorist acts; ability to successfully integrate
the operations of acquisitions the Company may make and achieve expected
synergies and operational efficiencies within expected time-frames; effect on
liquidity of the Company's debt service requirements; a material shift in
utilization within capitated agreements; and changes in estimates and
judgments associated with critical accounting policies and estimates. For a
detailed discussion of certain of these and other factors that could cause
actual results to differ from those contained in this news release, please
refer to the Company's various filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (SEC), including the "Risk Factors" section contained in the
Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 30, 2007.
Financial and Investor Contact: John R. Potapchuk
631-501-7035
john.potapchuk@gentiva.com

Media Contacts: David Fluhrer
631-501-7102, 516-589-0778
david.fluhrer@gentiva.com

SOURCE Gentiva Health Services, Inc.

Financial and Investor Contacts, John R. Potapchuk, +1-631-501-7035,
john.potapchuk@gentiva.com, or Media Contacts, David Fluhrer, +1-631-501-7102
or +1-516-589-0778, david.fluhrer@gentiva.com, both of Gentiva Health
Services, Inc.