UPDATE 1-Lincare sees 2009 results hurt by Medicare changes

* Sees 2009 results hit by Medicare payment reductions

* Q4 EPS $0.79 vs est. $0.76

* Q4 rev rose 1 pct to $415.1 mln

* Shares down 17 pct

Feb 9 (Reuters) - Oxygen supplier Lincare Holdings Inc (LNCR.O) posted a better-than-expected quarterly profit, but said it expects 2009 results to be hit by Medicare payment reductions, sending its shares down 17 percent.

The provider of home-based respiratory therapy services expects revenue and operating income in 2009 to be hurt by about $240 million to $255 million by reductions in Medicare reimbursement.

Lincare said the new Medicare oxygen regulations are complex, and it was still evaluating the potential impact of these changes to its business.

For the fourth quarter, the company earned $58.2 million, or 79 cents a share, compared with $57.6 million, or 70 cents a share, a year earlier.

Shares of Lincare closed at $25.41 Monday on Nasdaq. They were trading at $21 after the bell.

For the alerts, double-click [ID:nWNAB0415] . (Reporting by Jennifer Robin Raj in Bangalore; Editing by Pratish Narayanan)