Kindred Healthcare Reports Third Quarter 2017 Results

Kindred Healthcare, Inc. (“Kindred” or the “Company”) (NYSE:KND) today announced its operating results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2017.

Benjamin A. Breier, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, commented, “We are pleased to report third quarter results ahead of expectations. We made good progress during the quarter on each of our ongoing key initiatives, including our plan to fully exit the skilled nursing facility business and our continuing efforts to mitigate the impact of long-term acute care (“LTAC”) patient criteria. The third quarter also presented unexpected challenges for our business, including two major hurricanes that impacted Florida and Houston, Texas. Thanks to the talented and dedicated teammates across our organization, Kindred delivered solid operating results, when adjusted for the one-time impact of Hurricanes Irma and Harvey (the “Hurricanes”) and LTAC closure costs incurred during the quarter. The GAAP and Core pretax earnings impact of the Hurricanes for the quarter was $16 million, which primarily affected both Segment adjusted operating income and Core EBITDAR of the Hospital and Kindred at Home Divisions by approximately $10 million and $5 million, respectively.”

In addressing recent Home Health regulatory activity, Mr. Breier commented, “We are pleased the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”) decided last week not to finalize the proposed Home Health Groupings Model in order to further engage stakeholders in developing a system that shifts the focus from volume of services to a more patient-centered model. We commend CMS for considering the unanimous voice of patient advocates, the home health provider community, and bipartisan Congressional leaders and for continuing an open dialogue with stakeholders regarding system design. Kindred looks forward to ongoing engagement and collaboration with CMS and Congress to develop a reformed model that strikes the right balance in promoting high quality home healthcare in a fiscally responsible manner.”

Mr. Breier continued, “Regarding the skilled nursing facility business, we have completed the sale and transition of operations to new operators for 68 of the 89 skilled nursing facilities and four of the seven assisted living facilities. We expect that nearly all of the remaining facilities and operations will be divested by the end of 2017. Importantly, our RehabCare business has executed agreements with many of the new operators, resulting in the continuation of services to 45 sites of service; this is in line with expectations for our 2018 Outlook, and we anticipate signing additional contracts for a portion of the facilities yet to transition. We continue to believe that the sale of our skilled nursing facility business will significantly enhance shareholder value, enable us to sharpen our focus on higher margin and faster growing businesses, and further advance our efforts to transform Kindred.”

Mr. Breier added, “The success of our ongoing LTAC patient criteria mitigation strategy resulted in our Hospital Division delivering operating results that were largely in line with expectations. LTAC compliant revenue increased to 89% from 88% in the second quarter. Managed care and commercial volumes increased 5.1% for the third quarter of 2017 on a same-hospital basis as compared to the prior year period.”

Mr. Breier concluded, “Kindred’s Hospital Division continued to execute on its portfolio optimization initiative by closing five LTAC hospitals since the end of last quarter, including one that will be converted to an inpatient rehabilitation facility (“IRF”) joint venture. We expect to further optimize our LTAC portfolio with additional closures, consolidations and IRF conversions over the coming quarters.”

All financial and statistical information included in this earnings release reflects the continuing operations of the Company’s businesses for all periods presented unless otherwise indicated. As previously disclosed, while the operating results, direct overhead, losses associated with the skilled nursing facility business divestiture and elimination of intercompany profits for certain applicable RehabCare contracts are classified as discontinued operations, they do not include any allocations of indirect overhead related to the skilled nursing facility business. In the third quarter of 2017, the Company reclassified from discontinued operations to continuing operations for all periods presented historical intercompany profits from certain RehabCare contracts that were retained with new operators of divested skilled nursing facilities. The impact of the retained contracts to third quarter 2017 loss from continuing operations before income taxes, Core EBITDAR and Core EBITDA was $2.0 million.

Based on recent discussions with the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), and consistent with similar actions by other companies, the Company will discontinue the use of consolidated EBITDAR as a performance measure and replace it with consolidated EBITDA when reporting its historical results and 2018 Outlook beginning in the fourth quarter of 2017. In order to assist investors with the transition, the Company is presenting in this earnings release both historical consolidated EBITDAR and EBITDA as well as its 2018 Outlook for these measures. The Company will not provide consolidated EBITDAR in future earnings releases. The Company will continue to report Segment adjusted operating income (loss), which is the performance measure used by the Company’s chief operating decision makers in accordance with “Accounting Standard Codification 280 – Segment Reporting,” and Core EBITDAR by segment.(1)

Third Quarter Consolidated Results(1):

• Consolidated revenues were $1.48 billion, a 5.5% year-over-year decrease, primarily attributable to the impact of the transition to LTAC patient criteria and the sale or closure of 21 LTAC hospitals since the third quarter of 2016. GAAP loss from continuing operations was $18.4 million compared to a loss of $649.2 million in the same period a year ago. The reduction in the loss was primarily due to a $359.1 million decrease in the deferred tax asset valuation allowance, a $243.8 million decrease in impairment charges and a $39.1 million decrease related to restructuring charges, all partially offset by the impact of the Hurricanes, LTAC patient criteria and the sale or closure of the 21 LTAC hospitals noted above. Core EBITDAR declined to $156.9 million compared to $185.6 million and Core EBITDA declined to $83.9 million compared to $109.0 million in the same period of 2016, both primarily due to the impact of the Hurricanes, LTAC patient criteria and the sale or closure of the 21 LTAC hospitals noted above.
• GAAP operating cash flows were $8.5 million compared to $36.4 million for the same period a year ago. Core operating cash flows were $29.8 million compared to $29.5 million for the same period a year ago. Core free cash flows were $3.3 million compared to $2.9 million in the same period a year ago. GAAP operating cash flows declined

Third Quarter Consolidated Results(1)(Continued):

compared to the prior year period due to severance, retention and transactions costs associated with the skilled nursing facility business divestiture, approximately $20 million from temporary billing delays and $16 million decline in operating results both associated with the Hurricanes. Core operating cash flows and Core free cash flows increased slightly compared to the prior year period despite the temporary billing delays and operating declines from the Hurricanes.

• GAAP diluted loss per share from continuing operations was $0.33 as compared to GAAP diluted loss per share from continuing operations of $7.58 a year ago. Both GAAP and Core diluted loss per share include a $0.11 per diluted share negative impact from the Hurricanes. The reduction in the GAAP diluted loss per share was primarily due to a decrease in deferred tax asset valuation allowance, impairment charges and restructuring charges, partially offset by the impact of the Hurricanes, LTAC patient criteria and the sale or closure of the 21 LTAC hospitals noted above. Core diluted loss per share from continuing operations was $0.11, as compared to Core diluted earnings per share (“EPS”) of $0.05 for the same period last year. Besides the impact of the Hurricanes, the decline in Core diluted EPS was primarily attributable to LTAC patient criteria.

Third Quarter Segment Results(1)(2)(3):

Our Kindred at Home Division recorded third quarter revenues that increased 0.6% over the prior year period to $642.1 million. The Hurricanes negatively impacted division revenue by $4.7 million and Segment adjusted operating income by $4.8 million. On a same-store basis, home health admissions increased 0.9% while same-store hospice admissions declined 4.3% over the prior year period. Segment adjusted operating income and Core EBITDAR both decreased 4.9% to $101.2 million for the third quarter of 2017 as compared to the prior year period as a result of the Hurricanes and patient mix shift in home health from Medicare to managed care and commercial patients. Home health direct labor costs per visit declined 3.7% and hospice direct labor costs per patient day declined 0.6% in the third quarter of 2017 both as compared to the third quarter of 2016.

Kindred’s Hospital Division third quarter revenues declined 14.6% to $503.1 million from $588.9 million in the prior year period primarily due to the elimination of approximately $70 million of revenue related to the sale or closure of 21 LTAC hospitals since the third quarter of 2016, the impact of LTAC patient criteria and a 5.2% decline in same-hospital admissions compared to last year. The Hurricanes negatively impacted division revenue by $2.8 million and Segment adjusted operating income by $9.9 million. For the third quarter of 2017, approximately 89% (92% excluding Texas LTAC hospitals) of same- hospital revenue came from LTAC compliant patients, which include all patients except Medicare site neutral patients, an increase from approximately 88% (92% excluding Texas LTAC hospitals) in the second quarter of 2017. Same-hospital managed care and commercial volumes increased 5.1% in the third quarter of 2017 compared to the prior year period. Segment adjusted operating income and Core EBITDAR for the third quarter both declined to $61.5 million compared to $83.9 million for both Segment adjusted operating income and Core EBITDAR a year ago. The declines were primarily due to the impact of LTAC patient criteria, the Hurricanes, increases in labor and other costs and the elimination of approximately $4 million of Segment adjusted operating income and Core EBITDAR related to the sale or closure of the 21 LTAC hospitals noted above.

Kindred Rehabilitation Services third quarter revenues declined by 2.1% to $352.7 million as compared to $360.3 million in the prior year period, primarily due to operating fewer sites of service in RehabCare. The Hurricanes negatively impacted division revenue by $0.6 million and Segment adjusted operating income by $1.1 million. Segment adjusted operating income increased to $56.8 million as compared to $56.5 million in the prior year period. Core EBITDAR decreased to $54.5 million as compared to $56.5 million in the prior year period. The Kindred Hospital Rehabilitation Services (“KHRS”) segment achieved revenue growth of 2.0% to $173.6 million from $170.3 million a year ago due primarily to IRF revenues increasing 6.2% to $96.7 million as compared to $91.0 million in the prior year primarily due to IRF development and a 3.7% increase in revenue per discharge. KHRS Segment adjusted operating income and Core EBITDAR both declined to $49.2 million, a decrease of 1.2% compared to the same period a year ago, primarily as a result of contract losses from closed affiliated LTAC hospitals and the Hurricanes. The IRFs contributed $32.8 million to KHRS Segment adjusted operating income, a 3.6% increase over prior year, including a $0.4 million impact from the Hurricanes. RehabCare revenues declined 5.7% to $179.1 million for the third quarter of 2017, primarily due to operating fewer sites of service. RehabCare Segment adjusted operating income increased to $7.6 million

Third Quarter Segment Results(1)(Continued):

compared to $6.7 million in the prior year period, primarily due to the favorable settlement of collection litigation. RehabCare Core EBITDAR declined 20.2% to $5.4 million, primarily due to operating fewer sites of service and wage rate pressure.

Discontinued Operations – Loss on Divestiture of Skilled Nursing Facility Business

During the third quarter of 2017, the Company recorded $51.3 million of pretax charges related to the planned divestiture of its skilled nursing facility business, including a loss of $17.9 million related to certain skilled nursing facilities subject to sale- leaseback accounting provisions, $2.7 million of lease termination costs, $23.8 million of transaction costs and $6.9 million of retention costs.

Insurance Program Distributions and Restructuring

In the third quarter of 2017, as a result of improved underwriting results from the Company’s wholly owned captive insurance subsidiary, Cornerstone Insurance Company (“Cornerstone”), the Company received a distribution of $30 million (the “September Distribution”). The September Distribution was used to repay a portion of the Company’s outstanding $900 million asset-based loan revolving credit facility (“ABL”), which had $156 million outstanding as of September 30, 2017, and did not have any impact on earnings or operating cash flows in the third quarter of 2017.

In October, in connection with the review of its insurance programs as part of the skilled nursing facility business exit, the Company restructured the funding mechanisms and certain other elements of its insurance programs. With respect to its workers compensation program, approximately $115 million of restricted cash collateral deposits were replaced with letters of credit and approximately $21 million of other cash deposits were released. In addition, certain funding mechanisms associated with the Company’s professional liability insurance and reinsurance agreements were modified such that approximately $106 million of cash deposits maintained at Cornerstone and $4 million of other cash deposits were released to the parent company. In both cases, no changes were made to the financial risk transfer aspects of the Company’s insurance arrangements with third parties. Also in October, as a result of further improvement in Cornerstone’s underwriting results, the Company received an additional distribution of $5 million from Cornerstone (the “October Distribution”). In aggregate, the approximately $281 million generated from the October insurance restructuring, the September Distribution and the October Distribution was used to repay in its entirety the Company’s ABL balance and to increase cash reserves. The Company expects that there will be additional cash savings from these activities over the duration of the fourth quarter that will offset approximately $11 million of estimated costs in the same period associated with the insurance restructuring.

Mr. Breier commented, “The successful restructuring of our insurance program allowed us to deliver in a significant and immediate way on our commitment to reduce our leverage. The $281 million of liberated funds represents more than half of our 2018 Outlook for EBITDA and nearly two years of projected core free cash flows. We intend to continue to explore other initiatives to delever by reducing our funded debt and growing EBITDA.”

2018 Outlook(2)

All forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures used to provide the “2018 Outlook” are provided only on a non- GAAP basis. This is due to the inherent difficulty of forecasting the timing or amount of items that would be included in the most directly comparable forward-looking GAAP financial measures. As a result, reconciliation of the forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures to GAAP financial measures is not available without unreasonable effort and the Company is unable to assess the probable significance of the unavailable information.

The Company’s 2018 Outlook does not take into account the effect of any reimbursement changes, any further acquisitions or divestitures, and any further issuances or repurchases of common stock.

2018 Outlook(1)(Continued):

Stephen D. Farber, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Kindred, commented, “As we have previously discussed, given the complexity and uncertain timing of several items over the remainder of the year, the Company is not providing a 2017 outlook but is instead focusing investors on its 2018 Outlook, which reflects the Company’s successful restructuring and repositioning activities in 2017. We are also expanding our 2018 Outlook to incorporate ranges for key items with this release.”

For the 2018 Outlook, Kindred anticipates:

• Annual revenues of $6.2 billion, with a range of $6.1 billion to $6.3 billion;
• Core EBITDAR of $815 million, with a range of $800 million to $830 million(2);
• Core EBITDA of $515 million, with a range of $500 million to $530 million; and
• Core diluted EPS from continuing operations of $0.75, with a range of $0.65 to $0.85.

In determining these items, Kindred utilized the following 2018 estimates:

• Total rent expense of approximately $295 million to $300 million;
• Depreciation and amortization expense of approximately $100 million;
• Interest expense of approximately $235 million to $240 million, including $17 million of amortization of deferred financing fees;
• Noncontrolling interest expense of approximately $45 million to $50 million;
• An effective book tax rate of approximately 35%;
• Weighted average shares outstanding of approximately 90.0 million;
• Routine capital expenditures of approximately $60 million; and
• Available tax net operating loss (“NOLs”) as of January 1, 2018 of $550 million to $600 million.

Cash Flow(1)

Mr. Farber commented, “We expect the fourth quarter of 2017 to be our strongest core operating cash flow quarter of the year, and expect to end the year with excellent liquidity, leaving no outstanding borrowings under our $900 million ABL and a large unrestricted cash balance. In addition to the previously discussed successful efforts this year to restructure the Company’s funding of its insurance programs, we expect 2018 Core free cash flows from continuing operations plus tax-related cash flows from utilizing Kindred’s NOL carry forwards to approximate $175 million at the midpoint of an estimated range. We intend to apply this cash flow primarily to repay debt and expect our adjusted debt(3) to EBITDAR(4) leverage to approximate 5.5x by the end of 2018.”

Conference Call

As previously announced, investors and the general public may access a live webcast of the third quarter 2017 conference call through a link on the Company’s website at http://investors.kindredhealthcare.com. The conference call will be held on November 7 at 9:00 a.m. (Eastern Time).

A telephone replay of the conference call will become available at approximately 12:00 p.m. on November 7 by dialing (719) 457-0820, access code: 2677758. The phone replay will be available through November 17 and the online replay will be available through December 7.

Forward-Looking Statements and Non-GAAP Reconciliations

See page 15 for important disclosures regarding the Company’s forward-looking statements and the non-GAAP financial reconciliations that follow.

About Kindred Healthcare

Kindred Healthcare, Inc., a top-105 private employer in the United States, is a FORTUNE 500 healthcare services company based in Louisville, Kentucky with annual revenues of approximately $6.1 billion(1). At September 30, 2017, Kindred’s continuing operations, through its subsidiaries, had approximately 86,400 employees providing healthcare services in 2,475 locations in 45 states, including 77 LTAC hospitals, 19 inpatient rehabilitation hospitals, 16 sub-acute units, 609 Kindred at Home home health, hospice and non-medical home care sites of service, 101 inpatient rehabilitation units (hospital-based) and contract rehabilitation service businesses which served 1,653 non-affiliated sites of service. Ranked as one of Fortune magazine’s Most Admired Healthcare Companies for eight years, Kindred’s mission is to promote healing, provide hope, preserve dignity and produce value for each patient, resident, family member, customer, employee and shareholder we serve. For more information, go to www.kindredhealthcare.com. You can also follow us on Twitter and Facebook.