UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

Form 10-K

 

COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 1-11151

 

U.S. PHYSICAL THERAPY, INC.

(EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)

 

 

REGISTRANT’S TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE:

(713) 297-7000

 

SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OF THE EXCHANGE ACT:

 

 

SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(g) OF THE EXCHANGE ACT: none

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.  Yes o     No þ

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Act.  Yes o     No þ

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes þ     No o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).  Yes o     No o

 

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.  o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).  Yes o     No þ

 

The aggregate market value of the shares of the registrant’s common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant at June 30, 2009 was $101,713,463 based on the closing sale price reported on the Nasdaq Global Select Market for the registrant’s common stock on June 30, 2009, the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter. For purposes of this computation, all executive officers, directors and 5% or greater beneficial owners of the registrant were deemed to be affiliates. Such determination should not be deemed an admission that such executive officers, directors and beneficial owners are, in fact, affiliates of the registrant.

 

As of March 11, 2010, the number of shares outstanding of the registrant’s common stock, par value $.01 per share, was: 11,614,133.

 

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

 

 

 

Form 10-K Table of Contents

 

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

We make statements in this report that are considered to be forward-looking statements within the meaning under Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements contain forward-looking information relating to the financial condition, results of operations, plans, objectives, future performance and business of our Company. These statements (often using words such as “believes”, “expects”, “intends”, “plans”, “appear”, “should” and similar words) involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those we project. Included among such statements are those relating to opening new clinics, availability of personnel and the reimbursement environment. The forward-looking statements are based on our current views and assumptions and actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of certain risks, uncertainties, and factors, which include, but are not limited to:

 

 

Many factors are beyond our control. Given these uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. Please see the other sections of this report and our other periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) for more information on these factors. Our forward-looking statements represent our estimates and assumptions only as of the date of this report. Except as required by law, we are under no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, regardless of the reason the statement is no longer accurate.

 

 

GENERAL

 

Our company, U.S. Physical Therapy, Inc. (the “Company”), through its subsidiaries, operates outpatient physical and occupational therapy clinics that provide pre- and post-operative care and treatment for orthopedic-related disorders, sports-related injuries, preventative care, rehabilitation of injured workers and neurological-related injuries. We also operate two clinics which specialize in the outpatient, non-surgical treatment of osteo arthritis degeneration joint disease and other musculoskeletal conditions. We primarily operate through subsidiary clinic partnerships in which we generally own a 1% general partnership interest and a 64% limited partnership interest and the managing therapist(s) of the clinics owns the remaining limited partnership interest in the majority of the clinics (hereinafter referred to as “Clinic Partnerships”). To a lesser extent, we operate some clinics through wholly-owned subsidiaries under profit sharing arrangements with therapists (hereinafter referred to as “Wholly-Owned Facilities”). Unless the context otherwise requires, references in this Annual Report on Form 10-K to “we”, “our” or “us” includes the Company and all of its subsidiaries.

 

At December 31, 2009, we operated 368 outpatient physical and occupational therapy clinics in 43 states. There were 266 clinics operated under Clinic Partnerships and 102 were operated as Wholly-Owned Facilities. Our strategy is to develop outpatient clinics on a national basis. The average age of the 368 clinics in operation at December 31, 2009 was 6.9 years. Of the 368 clinics, we developed 287 and acquired 81. During 2009, we opened 18 new clinics and closed 10. Our highest concentration of clinics are in the following states — Texas, Tennessee, Michigan, Oklahoma, Wisconsin, Florida, Virginia, Indiana, Maine, Maryland and Arizona. In addition to our 368 clinics, at December 31, 2009, we also managed 13 physical therapy practices for third parties, including physicians.

 

We continue to seek to attract physical and occupational therapists who have established relationships with physicians and other referral sources by offering therapists a competitive salary and a share of the profits or an ownership interest in the clinic operated by that therapist. In addition, we have developed satellite clinic facilities of existing clinics, with the result that many clinic groups operate more than one clinic location. Of the 18 clinics opened in 2009, seven were new Clinic Partnerships and 11 were satellites of existing partnerships. In 2010, we intend to continue to focus on developing new clinics and on opening satellite clinics where appropriate along with increasing our patient volume through marketing and new programs. In addition, we will evaluate acquisition opportunities.

 

Therapists at our clinics initially perform a comprehensive evaluation of each patient, which is then followed by a treatment plan specific to the injury as prescribed by the patient’s physician. The treatment plan may include a number of procedures, including therapeutic exercise, manual therapy techniques, ultrasound, electrical stimulation, hot packs, iontophoresis, education on management of daily life skills and home exercise programs. A clinic’s business primarily comes from referrals by local physicians. The principal sources of payment for the clinics’ services are managed care programs, commercial health insurance, Medicare/Medicaid and workers’ compensation insurance.

 

Our Company was re-incorporated in April 1992 under the laws of the State of Nevada and has operating subsidiaries organized in various states in the form of limited partnerships and wholly-owned corporations. This description of our business should be read in conjunction with our financial statements and the related notes contained elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Our principal executive offices are located at 1300 West Sam Houston Parkway South, Suite 300, Houston, Texas 77042. Our telephone number is (713) 297-7000. Our website is www.usph.com.

 

OUR CLINICS

 

Most of our clinics are Clinic Partnerships in which we own the general partnership interest and a majority of the limited partnership interests. The managing therapists of the clinics own a portion of the

limited partnership interests. Historically, the therapist partners have no interest in the net losses of Clinic Partnerships, except to the extent of their capital accounts. Since we also develop satellite clinic facilities of existing clinics, Clinic Partnerships may consist of more than one clinic location. As of December 31, 2009, through wholly-owned subsidiaries, we owned a 1% general partnership interest in all the Clinic Partnerships, except for one partnership in which we own a 6% general partnership interest. Our limited partnership interests range from 50% to 99% in the Clinic Partnerships, but with respect to the majority of our Clinic Partnerships, we own a limited partnership interest of 64%. For the great majority of the Clinic Partnerships, the managing therapist of each clinic owns the remaining limited partnership interest in the Clinic Partnerships.

 

In the majority of the Clinic Partnership agreements, the therapist partner begins with a 20% interest in their Clinic Partnership earnings which increases by 3% at the end of each year thereafter up to a maximum interest of 35%.

 

Typically each therapist partner or director enters into an employment agreement for a term ranging from one to three years with their Clinic Partnership. Each agreement typically provides for a covenant not to compete during the period of his or her employment and for one or two years thereafter. Under each employment agreement, the therapist partner receives a base salary and may receive a bonus based on the net revenues or profits generated by his or her Clinic Partnership. In the case of Clinic Partnerships, the therapist partner receives earnings distributions based upon his or her ownership interest. Upon termination of employment, the Company typically has the right, but is not obligated, to purchase the therapist’s partnership interest in Clinic Partnerships.

 

Each Clinic Partnership maintains an independent local identity, while at the same time enjoying the benefits of national purchasing, negotiated third-party payor contracts, centralized support services and management practices. Under a management agreement, one of our subsidiaries provides a variety of support services to each clinic, including supervision of site selection, construction, clinic design and equipment selection, establishment of accounting systems and billing procedures and training of office support personnel, processing of accounts payable, operational direction, auditing of regulatory compliance, payroll, benefits administration, accounting services, quality assurance and marketing support.

 

Our typical clinic occupies approximately 1,500 to 3,000 square feet of leased space in an office building or shopping center. We attempt to lease ground level space for patient ease of access to our clinics. We also attempt to make the decor in our clinics less institutional and more aesthetically pleasing than traditional hospital clinics. Typical minimum staff at a clinic consists of a licensed physical or occupational therapist and an office manager, as well as, if appropriate, a medical advisor. As patient visits grow, staffing may also include additional physical or occupational therapists, therapy assistants, aides, exercise physiologists, athletic trainers and office personnel. Therapy services are performed under the supervision of a licensed therapist.

 

We provide services at our clinics on an outpatient basis. Patients are usually treated for approximately one hour per day, two to three times a week, typically for two to six weeks. We generally charge for treatment on a per procedure basis. Medicare patients are charged based on prescribed time increments and Medicare billing standards. In addition, our clinics will develop, when appropriate, individual maintenance and self-management exercise programs to be continued after treatment. We continually assess the potential for developing new services and expanding the methods of providing our existing services in the most efficient manner.

 

FACTORS INFLUENCING DEMAND FOR THERAPY SERVICES

 

We believe that the following factors, among others, influence the growth of outpatient physical and occupational therapy services:

 

Economic Benefits of Therapy Services.  Purchasers and providers of healthcare services, such as insurance companies, health maintenance organizations, businesses and industries, continuously seek cost savings for traditional healthcare services. We believe that our therapy services provide a cost-effective way to prevent short-term disabilities from becoming chronic conditions and to speed recovery from surgery and musculoskeletal injuries.

Earlier Hospital Discharge.  Changes in health insurance reimbursement, both public and private, have encouraged the earlier discharge of patients to reduce costs. We believe that early hospital discharge practices foster greater demand for outpatient physical and occupational therapy services.

 

Aging Population.  In general, the elderly population has a greater incidence of disability compared to the population as a whole. As this segment of the population grows, we believe that demand for rehabilitation services will expand.

 

MARKETING

 

We focus our marketing efforts primarily on physicians, including orthopedic surgeons, neurosurgeons, physiatrists, internal medicine, podiatrists, occupational medicine physicians and general practitioners. In marketing to the physician community, we emphasize our commitment to quality patient care and regular communication with physicians regarding patient progress. We employ personnel to assist clinic directors in developing and implementing marketing plans for the physician community and to assist in establishing relationships with health maintenance organizations, preferred provider organizations, industry and case managers and insurance companies.

 

SOURCES OF REVENUE

 

Payor sources for clinic services are primarily managed care programs, commercial health insurance, Medicare/Medicaid and workers’ compensation insurance. Commercial health insurance, Medicare and managed care programs generally provide coverage to patients utilizing our clinics after payment by the patients of normal deductibles and co-insurance payments. Workers’ compensation laws generally require employers to provide, directly or indirectly through insurance, costs of medical rehabilitation for their employees from work-related injuries and disabilities and, in some jurisdictions, mandatory vocational rehabilitation, usually without any deductibles, co-payments or cost sharing. Treatments for patients who are parties to personal injury cases are generally paid from the proceeds of settlements with insurance companies or from favorable judgments. If an unfavorable judgment is received, collection efforts are generally not pursued against the patient and the patient’s account is written-off against established reserves. Bad debt reserves relating to all receivable types are regularly reviewed and adjusted as appropriate.

 

The following table shows our payor mix for the years ended:

 

 

Our business depends to a significant extent on our relationships with commercial health insurers, health maintenance organizations, preferred provider organizations and workers’ compensation insurers. In some geographical areas, our clinics must be approved as providers by key health maintenance organizations and preferred provider plans to obtain payments. Failure to obtain or maintain these approvals would adversely affect financial results.

 

During the year ended December 31, 2009, approximately 24% of our visits were from patients with Medicare program coverage. To receive Medicare reimbursement, a facility (Medicare Certified Rehabilitation Agency) or the individual therapist (Physical/Occupational Therapist in Private Practice) must meet applicable participation conditions set by the Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) relating to the type of facility, equipment, record keeping, personnel and standards of medical care, and also must comply with all

state and local laws. HHS, through Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) and designated agencies, periodically inspects or surveys clinics/providers for approval and/or compliance. We anticipate that newly developed clinics will generally become certified as Medicare providers. However, we cannot assure you that newly developed clinics will be successful in becoming certified as Medicare providers.

 

Since 1999, reimbursement for outpatient therapy services provided to Medicare beneficiaries has been made according to a fee schedule published by the HHS. Under the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, the total amount paid by Medicare in any one year for outpatient physical therapy or occupational therapy (including speech-language pathology) to any one patient is subjected to a stated dollar amount (the “Medicare Cap or Limit”), except for services provided in hospitals. Outpatient therapy services rendered to Medicare beneficiaries by the Company’s therapists are subject to the Medicare Cap, except to the extent these services are rendered pursuant to certain management and professional services agreements with inpatient facilities. In 2006, Congress passed the Deficit Reduction Act (“DRA”), which allowed the CMS to grant exceptions to the Medicare Cap for services provided during the year, as long as those services met certain qualifications. The exception process initially allowed for automatic and manual exceptions to the Medicare Cap for medically necessary services. CMS subsequently revised the exceptions procedures and eliminated the manual exceptions process. Beginning January 1, 2008, all services that required exceptions to the Medicare Cap were processed as automatic exceptions. While the basic procedure for obtaining an automatic exception remained the same, CMS expanded requirements for documentation related to the medical necessity of services provided above the cap. Under the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act (“MIPPA”) as passed July 16, 2008, the extension process remained through December 31, 2009. The Temporary Extension Act of 2010, enacted on March 2, 2010, extends the therapy cap exceptions process through March 31, 2010, retroactive to January 1, 2010. For physical therapy and speech language pathology service combined, and for occupational therapy services, the limit for 2010 is $1,860. Our clinics are among the therapy providers that have been holding claims for services furnished on or after January 1, 2010, for patients who exceeded the cap but qualified for an exception under previous law. We are in the process of submitting those claims.

 

Since the Medicare Cap was implemented, patients who have been impacted by the cap and those who do not qualify for an exception may choose to pay for services in excess of the cap themselves; however, the Medicare Cap may have resulted in some lost revenues to the Company.

 

Medicare regulations require that a physician or non-physician practitioner certify the need for skilled therapy services for each patient and that these services be provided under an established plan of treatment, which is periodically revised.

 

Medicaid has not been a material payor for us, constituting less than 1% of historical revenue.

 

REGULATION AND HEALTHCARE REFORM

 

Numerous federal, state and local regulations regulate healthcare services and those who provide them. Some states into which we may expand have laws requiring facilities employing health professionals and providing health-related services to be licensed and, in some cases, to obtain a certificate of need (that is, demonstrating to a state regulatory authority the need for, and financial feasibility of, new facilities or the commencement of new healthcare services). Only one of the states in which we currently operate requires a certificate of need for the operation of our physical therapy business functions. Our therapists and/or clinics, however, are required to be licensed, as determined by the state in which they provide services. Failure to obtain or maintain any required certificates, approvals or licenses could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

Regulations Controlling Fraud and Abuse.  Various federal and state laws regulate financial relationships involving providers of healthcare services. These laws include Section 1128B(b) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S. C. § 1320a-7b[b]) (the “Fraud and Abuse Law”), under which civil and criminal penalties can be imposed upon persons who, among other things, offer, solicit, pay or receive remuneration in return for (i) the referral of patients for the rendering of any item or service for which payment may be made, in whole or in part, by a Federal health care program (including Medicare and Medicaid); or (ii) purchasing, leasing, ordering, or arranging for or recommending purchasing, leasing, ordering any good, facility, service, or item for which

payment may be made, in whole or in part, by a Federal health care program (including Medicare and Medicaid). We believe that our business procedures and business arrangements are in compliance with these provisions. However, the provisions are broadly written and the full extent of their specific application to specific facts and arrangements to which the Company is a party is uncertain and difficult to predict. In addition, several states have enacted state laws similar to the Fraud and Abuse Law, which may be more restrictive than the federal Fraud and Abuse Law.

 

In 1991, the Office of the Inspector General (“OIG”) of the HHS issued the first of its regulations describing compensation financial arrangements that fall within a “Safe Harbor” and, therefore, are not viewed as illegal remuneration under the Fraud and Abuse Law. Failure to fall within a Safe Harbor does not mean that the Fraud and Abuse Law has been violated; however, the OIG has indicated that failure to fall within a Safe Harbor may subject an arrangement to increased scrutiny under a “facts and circumstances” test.

 

Our business of managing physician-owned physical therapy facilities is regulated by the Fraud and Abuse Law. However, the manner in which we contract with such facilities often falls outside the complete scope of available Safe Harbors. We believe our arrangements comply with the Fraud and Abuse Law, even though federal courts provide limited guidance as to the application of the Fraud and Abuse Law to these arrangements. If our management contracts are held to violate the Fraud and Abuse Law, it could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

In February 2000, the OIG issued a special fraud alert regarding the rental of space in physician offices by persons or entities to which the physicians refer patients. The OIG’s stated concern in these arrangements is that rental payments may be disguised kickbacks to the physician-landlords to induce referrals. We rent clinic space for a few of our clinics from referring physicians and have taken the steps that we believe are necessary to ensure that all leases comply to the extent possible and applicable with the space rental Safe Harbor to the Fraud and Abuse Law.

 

In April 2003, the OIG issued a special advisory bulletin addressing certain complex contractual arrangements for the provision of items and services that were previously identified as suspect in a 1989 special fraud alert. This special advisory bulletin identified several characteristics commonly exhibited by suspect arrangements, the existence of one or more of which could indicate a prohibited arrangement to the OIG. Generally, the indicia of a suspect contractual joint venture as identified by the special advisory bulletin and Opinion 04-17 include the following:

 

 

 

Due to the nature of our business operations, many of our management service arrangements exhibit one or more of these characteristics. However, the Company believes it has taken steps regarding the structure of such arrangements as necessary to sufficiently distinguish them from these suspect ventures, and to comply with the requirements of the Fraud and Abuse Law. However, if the OIG believes the Company has entered into a prohibited contractual joint venture, it could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

Stark Law.  Provisions of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 (42 U.S.C. § 1395nn) (the “Stark Law”) prohibit referrals by a physician of “designated health services” which are payable, in whole or in part, by Medicare or Medicaid, to an entity in which the physician or the physician’s immediate family member has an investment interest or other financial relationship, subject to several exceptions. Unlike the Fraud and Abuse Law, the Stark Law is a strict liability statute. Proof of intent to violate the Stark Law is not required. Physical and occupational therapy services are among the “designated health services”. Further, the Stark Law has application to the Company’s management contracts with individual physicians and physician groups, as well as, any other financial relationship between us and referring physicians, including any financial transaction resulting from a clinic acquisition. The Stark Law also prohibits billing for services rendered pursuant to a prohibited referral. Several states have enacted laws similar to the Stark Law. These state laws may cover all (not just Medicare and Medicaid) patients. Many federal healthcare reform proposals in the past few years have attempted to expand the Stark Law to cover all patients as well. As with the Fraud and Abuse Law, we consider the Stark Law in planning our clinics, marketing and other activities, and believe that our operations are in compliance with the Stark Law. If we violate the Stark Law, our financial results and operations could be adversely affected. Penalties for violations include denial of payment for the services, significant civil monetary penalties, and exclusion from the Medicare and Medicaid programs.

 

HIPAA.  In an effort to further combat healthcare fraud and protect patient confidentially, Congress included several anti-fraud measures in the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (“HIPAA”). HIPAA created a source of funding for fraud control to coordinate federal, state and local healthcare law enforcement programs, conduct investigations, provide guidance to the healthcare industry concerning fraudulent healthcare practices, and establish a national data bank to receive and report final adverse actions. HIPAA also criminalized certain forms of health fraud against all public and private payors. Additionally, HIPAA mandates the adoption of standards regarding the exchange of healthcare information in an effort to ensure the privacy and electronic security of patient information and standards relating to the privacy of health information. Sanctions for failing to comply with HIPAA include criminal penalties and civil sanctions. In February of 2009, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (“ARRA”) was signed into law. Title XIII of ARRA, the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (“HITECH”), provided for substantial Medicare and Medicaid incentives for providers to adopt electronic health records (“EHRs”) and grants for the development of health information exchange (“HIE”). Recognizing that HIT and HER systems will not be implemented unless the public can be assured that the privacy and security of patient information in such systems is protected, HITECH also significantly expanded the scope of the privacy and security requirements under HIPAA. Most notable are the new mandatory breach notification requirements and a heightened enforcement scheme that includes increased penalties, and which now apply to business associates as well as to covered entities. We believe that our operations fully comply with applicable standards for privacy and security of protected healthcare information. We cannot predict what negative effect, if any, HIPAA/HITECH will have on our business.

 

Other Regulatory Factors.  Political, economic and regulatory influences are fundamentally changing the healthcare industry in the United States. Congress, state legislatures and the private sector continue to review and assess alternative healthcare delivery and payment systems. Potential alternative approaches could include mandated basic healthcare benefits, controls on healthcare spending through limitations on the growth of private health insurance premiums and Medicare and Medicaid spending, the creation of large insurance purchasing groups, and price controls. Legislative debate is expected to continue in the future and market

forces are expected to demand only modest increases or reduced costs. For instance, managed care entities are demanding lower reimbursement rates from healthcare providers and, in some cases, are requiring or encouraging providers to accept capitated payments that may not allow providers to cover their full costs or realize traditional levels of profitability. We cannot reasonably predict what impact the adoption of any federal or state healthcare reform measures or future private sector reform may have on our business.

 

COMPETITION

 

The healthcare industry including the physical and occupational therapy businesses are highly competitive. The physical and occupational therapy businesses are highly fragmented with no company having as much as six percent of the market share nationally. We believe that our Company ranks third nationally in outpatient rehabilitation providers.

 

Competitive factors affecting our business include quality of care, cost, treatment outcomes, convenience of location, and relationships with, and ability to meet the needs of, referral and payor sources. Our clinics compete, directly or indirectly, with the physical and occupational therapy departments of hospitals, private therapy clinics, physician-owned therapy clinics, and chiropractors. We may face more intense competition as consolidation of the therapy industry continues.

 

We believe that our strategy of providing key therapists in a community with an opportunity to participate in ownership or clinic profitability provides us with a competitive advantage by helping to ensure the commitment of local management to the success of the clinic.

 

We also believe that our competitive position is enhanced by our strategy of locating our clinics, when possible, on the ground floor of buildings and shopping centers with nearby parking, thereby making the clinics more easily accessible to patients. We offer convenient hours. We also attempt to make the decor in our clinics less institutional and more aesthetically pleasing than traditional hospital clinics.

 

COMPLIANCE PROGRAM

 

Our Compliance Program.  The ongoing success of our Company depends upon our reputation for quality service and ethical business practices. Our Company operates in a highly regulated environment with many federal, state and local laws and regulations. We take a proactive interest in understanding and complying with the laws and regulations that apply to our business.

 

Our Board of Directors (the “Board”) has adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics to clarify the ethical standards under which the Board and management carry out their duties. In addition, the Board has created a Corporate Compliance Sub-Committee of the Board’s Audit Committee (“Compliance Committee”) whose purpose is to assist the Board and its Audit Committee (“Audit Committee”) in discharging their oversight responsibilities with respect to compliance with federal and state laws and regulations relating to healthcare.

 

We have issued an Ethics and Compliance Manual, created a compliance DVD/video, hand-outs and an on-line testing program. These tools were prepared to ensure that each clinic as well as every employee of our Company and subsidiaries has a clear understanding of our mutual commitment to high standards of professionalism, honesty, fairness and compliance with the law in conducting business. These standards are administered by our Compliance Officer (“CO”), who has the responsibility for the day-to-day oversight, administration and development of our compliance program. The CO, internal and external counsel, management and the Compliance Committee review our policies and procedures for our compliance program from time to time in an effort to improve operations and to ensure compliance with requirements of standards, laws and regulations and to reflect the on-going compliance focus areas which have been identified by the Compliance Committee. We also have established systems for reporting potential violations, educating our employees, monitoring and auditing compliance and handling enforcement and discipline.

 

Committees.  Our Compliance Committee, appointed by the Board, consists of four independent directors. The Compliance Committee has general oversight of our Company’s compliance with the legal and regulatory requirements regarding healthcare operations. The Compliance Committee relies on the expertise

and knowledge of management, especially the CO and other compliance and legal personnel. The CO regularly communicates with the Chairman of the Compliance Committee. The Compliance Committee meets at least four times a year or more frequently as necessary to carry out its responsibilities and reports regularly to the Board regarding its actions and recommendations.

 

In addition, management has appointed a team to address our Company’s compliance with HIPAA. The HIPAA team consists of a security officer and employees from our legal, information systems, finance, operations, compliance, business services and human resources departments. The team prepares assessments and makes recommendations regarding operational changes and/or new systems, if needed, to comply with HIPAA.

 

Each clinic certified as a Medicare Rehabilitation Agency has a formally appointed governing body composed of a member of management of the Company and the director/administrator of the clinic. The governing body retains legal responsibility for the overall conduct of the clinic. The members confer regularly and discuss, among other issues, clinic compliance with applicable laws and regulations. In addition, there are Professional Advisory Committees which serve as Infection Control Committees. These committees meet in the facilities and function as advisors.

 

During 2009, the Company has in place a Risk Management Committee consisting of the CO, the Corporate in-house Legal Counsel and the Corporate Vice President of Human Resources. This committee reviews and monitors all employee and patient incident reports and provides clinic personnel with actions to be taken in response to the reports.

 

Reporting Violations.  In order to facilitate our employees’ ability to report in confidence, anonymously and without retaliation any perceived improper work-related activities, accounting irregularities and other violations of our compliance program, we have set up an independent national compliance hotline. The compliance hotline is available to receive confidential reports of wrongdoing Monday through Friday (excluding holidays), 24 hours a day. The compliance hotline is staffed by experienced third party professionals trained to utilize utmost care and discretion in handling sensitive issues and confidential information. The information received is documented and forwarded timely to the CO, who, together with the Compliance Committee, has the power and resources to investigate and resolve matters of improper conduct.

 

Educating Our Employees.  We utilize numerous methods to train our employees in compliance related issues. The directors/administrators of each clinic are responsible to conduct the initial training sessions on compliance with existing employees. Training is based on our Ethics and Compliance Manual, inclusive of HIPAA information, and our compliance DVD/video. The directors/administrators also provide periodic “refresher” training for existing employees and one-on-one comprehensive training with new hires. The corporate compliance group responds to questions from clinic personnel and will conduct frequent teleconference meetings on topics as deemed necessary.

 

When a clinic opens, the CO sends a package of compliance materials containing manuals and detailed instructions for meeting Medicare Conditions of Participation Standards and other compliance requirements. During follow up telephone training with the director/administrator of the clinic, the CO explains various details regarding requirements and compliance standards. The CO and the compliance staff will remain in contact with the director/administrator while the clinic is implementing compliance standards and will provide any assistance required. All new office managers receive training (including Medicare, regulatory and corporate compliance, insurance billing, charge entry and transaction posting and coding, daily, weekly and monthly accounting reports) from the training staff at the corporate office. The corporate compliance group will assist in continued compliance, including guidance to the clinic staff with regard to Medicare certifications, state survey requirements and responses to any inquiries from regulatory agencies.

 

Monitoring and Auditing Clinic Operational Compliance.  Our Company has in place audit programs and other procedures to monitor and audit clinic operational compliance with applicable policies and procedures. We employ internal auditors who, as part of their job responsibilities, conduct periodic audits of each clinic. Each clinic is audited at least once every 18 months and additional focused audits are performed as deemed necessary. During these audits, particular attention is given to compliance with Medicare and

internal policies, Federal and state laws and regulations, third party payor requirements, and patient chart documentation, billing, reporting, record keeping, collections and contract procedures. The audits are conducted on site and include interviews with the employees involved in management, operations, billing and accounts receivable. Formal audit reports are prepared and reviewed with corporate management and the Compliance Committee. Each clinic director/administrator receives a letter instructing them of any corrective measures required. Each clinic director/administrator then works with the compliance team and operations to ensure such corrective measures are achieved.

 

Handling Enforcement and Discipline.  It is our policy that any employee who fails to comply with compliance program requirements or who negligently or deliberately fails to comply with known laws or regulations specifically addressed in our compliance program should be subject to disciplinary action up to and including discharge from employment. The Compliance Committee, compliance staff, human resources staff and management investigate violations of our compliance program and impose disciplinary action as considered appropriate.

 

EMPLOYEES

 

At December 31, 2009, we employed 2,132 people, of which 1,741were full-time employees. At that date, no Company employees were governed by collective bargaining agreements or were members of a union. We consider our relations with our employees to be good.

 

In the states in which our current clinics are located, persons performing designated physical and occupational therapy services are required to be licensed by the state. Based on standard employee screening systems in place, all persons currently employed by us who are required to be licensed are licensed. We are not aware of any federal licensing requirements applicable to our employees.

 

AVAILABLE INFORMATION

 

Our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act are made available free of charge on our internet website at www.usph.com as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the SEC.

 

 

Our business, operations and financial condition are subject to various risks. Some of these risks are described below, and readers of this Annual Report on Form 10-K should take such risks into account in evaluating our Company or making any decision to invest in us. This section does not describe all risks applicable to our Company, our industry or our business, and it is intended only as a summary of material factors affecting our business.

 

Risks related to our business and operations

 

The uncertain economic conditions and the historically high unemployment rate may have material adverse impacts on our business and financial condition that we currently cannot predict.

 

Unemployment in the United States has remained high while business and consumer confidence is relatively low. Although it is difficult to predict with any degree of certainty the impact on our business, these factors could materially and adversely affect our business and financial condition.

 

For example:

 

 

We depend upon reimbursement by third-party payors.

 

Substantially all of our revenues are derived from private and governmental third-party payors. In 2009, approximately 80% of our revenues were derived collectively from managed care plans, commercial health insurers, workers’ compensation payors, and other private pay revenue sources and approximately 20% of our revenues were derived from Medicare and Medicaid. Initiatives undertaken by industry and government to contain healthcare costs affect the profitability of our clinics. These payors attempt to control healthcare costs by contracting with healthcare providers to obtain services on a discounted basis. We believe that this trend will continue and may limit reimbursements for healthcare services. If insurers or managed care companies from whom we receive substantial payments were to reduce the amounts they pay for services, our profit margins may decline, or we may lose patients if we choose not to renew our contracts with these insurers at lower rates. In addition, in certain geographical areas, our clinics must be approved as providers by key health maintenance organizations and preferred provider plans. Failure to obtain or maintain these approvals would adversely affect our financial results.

 

Since 1999, reimbursement for outpatient therapy services provided to Medicare beneficiaries has been made according to a fee schedule published by the HHS. Under the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, the total amount paid by Medicare in any one year for outpatient physical therapy or occupational therapy (including speech-language pathology) to any one patient is subjected to a stated dollar amount, except for services provided in hospitals. Outpatient therapy services rendered to Medicare beneficiaries by the Company’s therapists are subject to the Medicare Cap, except to the extent these services are rendered pursuant to certain management and professional services agreements with inpatient facilities. In 2006, Congress passed the DRA, which allowed the CMS to grant exceptions to the Medicare Cap for services provided during the year, as long as those services met certain qualifications. The exception process initially allowed for automatic and manual exceptions to the Medicare Cap for medically necessary services. CMS subsequently revised the exceptions procedures and eliminated the manual exceptions process. Beginning January 1, 2008, all services that required exceptions to the Medicare Cap were processed as automatic exceptions. While the basic procedure for obtaining an automatic exception remained the same, CMS expanded requirements for documentation related to the medical necessity of services provided above the cap. . Under the MIPPA, the extension process remained through December 31, 2009. The Temporary Extension Act of 2010, enacted on March 2, 2010, extends the therapy cap exceptions process through March 31, 2010, retroactive to January 1, 2010. For physical therapy and speech language pathology service combined, and for occupational therapy services, the limit for 2010 is $1,860. Our clinics are among the therapy providers that have been holding claims for services furnished on or after January 1, 2010, for patients who exceeded the cap but qualified for an exception under previous law. We are in the process of submitting those claims.

 

Since the Medicare Cap was implemented, patients who have been impacted by the cap and those who do not qualify for an exception may choose to pay for services in excess of the cap themselves; however, it is assumed that the Medicare Cap will continue to result in some lost revenues to the Company.

 

For a further description of this and other laws and regulations involving governmental reimbursements, see “Business — Sources of Revenue” and “— Regulation and Healthcare Reform” in Item 1.

 

We depend upon the cultivation and maintenance of relationships with the physicians in our markets.

 

Our success is dependent upon referrals from physicians in the communities our clinics serve and our ability to maintain good relations with these physicians and other referral sources. Physicians referring patients to our clinics are free to refer their patients to other therapy providers or to their own physician owned therapy practice. If we are unable to successfully cultivate and maintain strong relationships with physicians and other referral sources, our business may decrease and our net operating revenues may decline.

 

We also depend upon our ability to recruit and retain experienced physical and occupational therapists.

 

Our revenue generation is dependent upon referrals from physicians in the communities our clinics serve, and our ability to maintain good relations with these physicians. Our therapists are the front line for generating these referrals and we are dependent on their talents and skills to successfully cultivate and maintain strong

relationships with these physicians. If we cannot recruit and retain our base of experienced and clinically skilled therapists, our business may decrease and our net operating revenues may decline. Periodically, we have clinics in isolated communities that are temporarily unable to operate due to the unavailability of a therapist who satisfies our standards.

 

Our revenues may fluctuate due to weather.

 

We have a significant number of clinics in states that normally experience snow and ice during the winter months. Also, a significant number of our clinics are located in states along the Gulf Coast and Atlantic Coast which are subject to periodic winter storms, hurricanes and other severe storm systems. Periods of severe weather may cause physical damage to our facilities or prevent our staff or patients from traveling to our clinics, which may cause a decrease in our net operating revenues.

 

Our operations are subject to extensive regulation.

 

The healthcare industry is subject to extensive federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to:

 

 

In recent years, there have been heightened coordinated civil and criminal enforcement efforts by both federal and state government agencies relating to the healthcare industry. We believe we are in substantial compliance with all laws, but differing interpretations or enforcement of these laws and regulations could subject our current practices to allegations of impropriety or illegality or could require us to make changes in our methods of operations, facilities, equipment, personnel, services and capital expenditure programs and increase our operating expenses. If we fail to comply with these extensive laws and government regulations, we could become ineligible to receive government program reimbursement, suffer civil or criminal penalties or be required to make significant changes to our operations. In addition, we could be forced to expend considerable resources responding to an investigation or other enforcement action under these laws or regulations. For a more complete description of certain of these laws and regulations, see “Business — Regulation and Healthcare Reform” in Item 1.

 

Healthcare reform legislation may affect our business.

 

In recent years, many legislative proposals have been introduced or proposed in Congress and in some state legislatures that would affect major changes in the healthcare system, either nationally or at the state level. At the federal level, Congress has continued to propose or consider healthcare budgets that substantially reduce payments under the Medicare programs. The ultimate content, timing or effect of any healthcare reform legislation and the impact of potential legislation on us is uncertain and difficult, if not impossible to predict. That impact may be material to our business, financial condition or results of operations.

 

We operate in a highly competitive industry.

 

We encounter competition from local, regional or national entities, some of which have superior resources or other competitive advantages. Intense competition may adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations. For a more complete description of this competitive environment, see “Business — Competition” in Item 1. An adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations may require us to write-down goodwill.

 

We may incur closure costs and losses.

 

The competitive, economic or reimbursement conditions in our markets in which we operate may require us to reorganize or to close certain clinics. In the event a clinic is reorganized or closed, we may incur losses

and closure costs. The closure costs and losses may include, but are not limited to, lease obligations, severance, and write-down or write-off of goodwill and other intangible assets.

 

Future acquisitions may use significant resources, may be unsuccessful and could expose us to unforeseen liabilities.

 

As part of our growth strategy, we intend to continue pursuing acquisitions of outpatient physical and occupational therapy clinics. Acquisitions may involve significant cash expenditures, potential debt incurrence and operational losses, dilutive issuances of equity securities and expenses that could have an adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. Acquisitions involve numerous risks, including:

 

 

We may not be successful in obtaining financing for acquisitions at a reasonable cost, or such financing may contain restrictive covenants that limit our operating flexibility. We also may be unable to acquire outpatient physical and occupational therapy clinics or successfully operate such clinics following the acquisition.

 

Certain of our internal controls, particularly as they relate to billings and cash collections, are largely decentralized at our clinic locations.

 

Our clinic operations are largely decentralized and certain of our internal controls, particularly the processing of billings and cash collections, occur at the clinic level. Taken as a whole, we believe our internal controls for these functions at our clinics are adequate. Our controls for billing and cash collections largely depend on compliance with our written policies and procedures and separation of functions among clinic personnel. We also maintain corporate level controls, including an audit compliance program, that are intended to mitigate and detect any potential deficiencies in internal controls at the clinic level. The effectiveness of these controls to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions or the level of compliance with our policies and procedures deteriorates.

 

Risks Relating to Our Outstanding Common Stock

 

Our stock price could be volatile, which could cause you to lose part or all of your investment.

 

The stock market has from time to time experienced significant price and volume fluctuations that may be unrelated to the operating performance of particular companies. In particular, the market price of our common stock has been and may continue to be highly volatile. During 2009, our stock price ranged from a low of $6.71 per share (on March 5, 2009) to a high of $17.42 per share (on July 31, 2009). Factors, such as announcements concerning changes in revenues and earnings expectations, regulatory conditions, including federal and state regulations, the availability of capital, and economic and other external factors, as well as period-to-period fluctuations and financial results, may have a significant effect on the market price of our common stock.

 

From time to time, there has been limited trading volume in our common stock. In addition, there can be no assurance that there will continue to be a trading market or that any securities research analysts will continue to provide research coverage with respect to our common stock. It is possible that such factors will adversely affect the market for our common stock.

Issuance of shares in connection with financing transactions or under stock incentive plans will dilute current stockholders.

 

Pursuant to our stock incentive plan, our management is authorized to grant stock awards to our employees, directors and consultants. You will incur dilution upon the exercise of any outstanding stock awards or the grant of any restricted stock. In addition, if we raise additional funds by issuing additional common stock, or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for common stock, further dilution to our existing stockholders will result, and new investors could have rights superior to existing stockholders.

 

The number of shares of our common stock eligible for future sale could adversely affect the market price of our stock.

 

At December 31, 2009, we had reserved approximately 900,000 shares of common stock for issuance under outstanding options. All of these shares of common stock are registered for sale or resale on currently effective registration statements. We may issue additional restricted securities or register additional shares of common stock under the Securities Act in the future. The issuance of a significant number of shares of common stock upon the exercise of stock options or the availability for sale, or sale, of a substantial number of the shares of common stock eligible for future sale under effective registration statements, under Rule 144 or otherwise, could adversely affect the market price of the common stock.

 

Provisions in our articles of incorporation and bylaws could delay or prevent a change in control of our company, even if that change would be beneficial to our stockholders.

 

Certain provisions of our articles of incorporation and bylaws may delay, discourage, prevent or render more difficult an attempt to obtain control of our company, whether through a tender offer, business combination, proxy contest or otherwise. These provisions include the charter authorization of “blank check” preferred stock and a restriction on the ability of stockholders to call a special meeting.

 

 

Not Applicable.

 

 

We lease the properties used for our clinics under non-cancelable operating leases with terms ranging from one to five years, with the exception of the property for one clinic which we own. We intend to lease the premises for any new clinics locations except in rare instances where leasing is not a cost-effective alternative. Our typical clinic occupies 1,500 to 3,000 square feet.

 

We also lease our executive offices located in Houston, Texas, under a non-cancelable operating lease expiring in June 2015. We currently occupy approximately 37,537 square feet of space (including allocations for common areas) at our executive offices.

 

 

We are involved in litigation and other proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business. While the ultimate outcome of lawsuits or other proceedings cannot be predicted with certainty, we do not believe the impact of existing lawsuits or other proceedings will have a material impact on our business, financial condition or results of operations.

 

 

 

PRICE QUOTATIONS

 

Our common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Global Select Market (“Nasdaq”) under the symbol “USPH.” As of March 11, 2010, there were 65 holders of record of our outstanding common stock. The table below indicates the high and low sales prices of our common stock reported for the periods presented.

 

 

Since inception, we have not declared or paid cash dividends or made distributions on our equity securities, and we do not presently anticipate that we will pay cash dividends or make distributions. We are currently restricted from paying dividends on our common stock by our bank credit facility.

FIVE YEAR PERFORMANCE GRAPH

 

The following performance graph compares the cumulative total stockholder return of our common stock to The Nasdaq Stock Market United States Index and The Nasdaq Stock Market Healthcare Index for the period from December 31, 2004 through December 31, 2009. The graph assumes that $100 was invested in our common stock and the common stock of the companies listed on The Nasdaq Stock Market United States Index and The Nasdaq Stock Market Healthcare Index on December 31, 2009 and that any dividends were reinvested.

 

Comparison of Five Years Cumulative Total Return
For the Year Ended December 31, 2009

 

 

 

The following selected financial data should be read in conjunction with the description of our critical accounting policies set forth in Item 7. Effective for 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued guidance which established new accounting and reporting standards for the noncontrolling interest (formerly referred to as “minority interests”) in a subsidiary and for the deconsolidation of a subsidiary. Specifically as it relates to the information below, this guidance requires the amount of net income attributable to a noncontrolling interest to be included in consolidated net income on the face of the income statement. The historical information presented has been classified to conform with the current guidance. During 2006, the Company closed 31 unprofitable clinics and sold one. In accordance with current accounting literature, for all periods presented, the results of operations and closure costs for these closed clinics and the results of operations for the clinic sold in the fourth quarter of 2006 are presented in the consolidated statements of net income, as “Discontinued Operations”, net of the tax benefit. The closure costs and operating results for clinics closed or sold in other years were deemed immaterial and therefore not reported as discontinued operations.

 

 

 

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

 

Our Business.  We operate outpatient physical and/or occupational therapy clinics that provide preventative and post-operative care for a variety of orthopedic-related disorders and sports-related injuries, treatment for neurologically-related injuries and rehabilitation of injured workers. The first OA Center opened in June 2008. In October 2008, we acquired a 65% interest in Rehab Management Group (“RMG”) which provides physicians and their patients with clinical services including electro-diagnostic analysis (“EDX”) as well as intra articular joint (“IAJP Direct”) and lumbar osteoarthritis (“LOP Direct”) programs.

 

Effective November 18, 2008, we acquired a 65% interest in an outpatient rehabilitation practice with four clinics in San Antonio, TX (“San Antonio Acquisition”), and effective June 11, 2008, we acquired a 65% interest in a multi-partner outpatient rehabilitation practice with nine clinics located in the Mid-Atlantic region (“Mid-Atlantic Acquisition”). In both cases, the existing partners retained a 35% interest. Effective January 1, 2008, we acquired a physical therapy practice located in Michigan. The results of operations of the acquired clinics have been included in our consolidated financial statements since the effective date of their acquisition.

 

At December 31, 2009, we operated 368 clinics in 43 states. The average age of our clinics at December 31, 2009, was 6.9 years. Of the 368 clinics, we developed 287 of the clinics and acquired 81. In 2009, we developed 18 clinics and closed 10.

 

In addition to our owned clinics, we also manage physical therapy facilities for third parties, primarily physicians, with 13 third-party facilities under management as of December 31, 2009.

 

In December 2007, the FASB issued guidance which established new accounting and reporting standards for the noncontrolling interest (formerly referred to as “minority interests”) in a subsidiary and for the deconsolidation of a subsidiary. Specifically, this guidance requires the recognition of a noncontrolling interest as equity in the consolidated financial statements and separate from the parent entity’s equity. The amount of net income attributable to a noncontrolling interest is included in consolidated net income on the face of the income statement. This guidance clarified that changes in a parent entity’s ownership interest in a subsidiary that do not result in deconsolidation are equity transactions if the parent entity retains its controlling financial interest. In addition, this guidance required that a parent entity recognize a gain or loss in net income when a subsidiary is deconsolidated. Such gain or loss is measured using the fair value of the noncontrolling equity investment on the deconsolidation date. This guidance also included expanded disclosure requirements regarding the interests of the parent entity and its noncontrolling interest. We adopted this guidance effective January 1, 2009. In accordance with this guidance, we no longer record an intangible asset when the purchase price of a noncontrolling interest exceeds the book value at the time of purchase. Any excess or shortfall will be recognized as an adjustment to additional-paid-in-capital. During the year ended December 31, 2009, additional-paid-in-capital was adjusted for $2.1 million, net, related to purchases of noncontrolling interests in excess of book value. Additionally, operating losses are allocated to noncontrolling interests even when such allocation creates a deficit balance for the noncontrolling interest partner. For 2009, the net operating losses allocated to noncontrolling interest had the effect of increasing net income attributable to our common shareholders by $137,000, net of taxes, and reducing the net income attributable to noncontrolling interest by $225,000.

 

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

Critical accounting policies are those that have a significant impact on our results of operations and financial position involving significant estimates requiring our judgment. Our critical accounting policies are:

 

Revenue Recognition.  Revenues are recognized in the period in which services are rendered. Net patient revenues (patient revenues less estimated contractual adjustments) are reported at the estimated net realizable amounts from insurance companies, third-party payors, patients and others for services rendered. The Company has agreements with third-party payors that provide for payments to the Company at contracted amounts

different from its established rates. The allowance for estimated contractual adjustments is based on terms of payor contracts and historical collection and write-off experience.

 

Contractual Allowances.  Contractual allowances result from the differences between the rates charged for services performed and expected reimbursements by both insurance companies and government sponsored healthcare programs for such services. Medicare regulations and the various third party payors and managed care contracts are often complex and may include multiple reimbursement mechanisms payable for the services provided in our clinics. We estimate contractual allowances based on our interpretation of the applicable regulations, payor contracts and historical calculations. Each month the Company estimates its contractual allowance for each clinic based on payor contracts and the historical collection experience of the clinic and applies an appropriate contractual allowance reserve percentage to the gross accounts receivable balances for each payor of the clinic. Based on our historical experience, calculating the contractual allowance reserve percentage at the payor level is sufficient to allow us to provide the necessary detail and accuracy with our collectibility estimates. However, the services authorized and provided and related reimbursement are subject to interpretation that could result in payments that differ from our estimates. Payor terms are periodically revised necessitating continual review and assessment of the estimates made by management. Our billing system may not capture the exact change in our contractual allowance reserve estimate from period to period. Therefore, in order to assess the accuracy of our revenues and hence our contractual allowance reserves, our management regularly compares its cash collections to corresponding net revenues measured both in the aggregate and on a clinic-by-clinic basis. In the aggregate, the historical difference between net revenues and corresponding cash collections has generally reflected a difference within approximately 1% of net revenues. Additionally, analysis of subsequent period’s contractual write-offs on a payor basis reflects a difference within approximately 1% between the actual aggregate contractual reserve percentage as compared to the estimated contractual allowance reserve percentage associated with the same period end balance. As a result, we believe that a reasonable likely change in the contractual allowance reserve estimate would not likely be more than 1% at December 31, 2009. For purposes of demonstrating the sensitivity of this estimate on the Company’s financial condition, a one percent increase or decrease in our aggregate contractual allowance reserve percentage would decrease or increase, respectively, net patient revenue by approximately $528,000 for the year ended December 31, 2009. Management believes the changes in the estimate of the contractual allowance reserve for the periods ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007 have not been material to the statement of operations.

 

The following table sets forth information regarding our patient accounts receivable as of the dates indicated (in thousands):

 

The following table presents our patient accounts receivable aging by payor class as of the dates indicated (in thousands):

 

 

 

 

Reimbursement for Medicare beneficiaries is based upon a fee schedule published by HHS. For a more complete description of our third party revenue sources, see “Business — Sources of Revenue” in Item 1.

 

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts.  We determine allowances for doubtful accounts based on the specific agings and payor classifications at each clinic. We review the accounts receivable aging and rely on prior experience with particular payors to determine an appropriate reserve for doubtful accounts. Historically, clinics that have a large number of aged accounts generally have less favorable collection experience, and thus, require a higher allowance. Accounts that are ultimately determined to be uncollectible are written off against our bad debt allowance. The amount of our aggregate allowance for doubtful accounts is regularly reviewed for adequacy in light of current and historical experience.

 

Accounting for Income Taxes.  We account for income taxes under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.

 

The Company recognizes the financial statement benefit of a tax position only after determining that the relevant tax authority would more likely than not sustain the position following an audit. For tax positions meeting the more-likely-than-not threshold, the amount to be recognized in the financial statements is the largest benefit that has a greater than 50 percent likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement with the relevant tax authority.

 

The Company does not believe that it has any significant uncertain tax positions at December 31, 2009, nor is this expected to change within the next twelve months due to the settlement and expiration of statutes of limitation.

 

The Company did not have any accrued interest or penalties associated with any unrecognized tax benefits nor was any interest expense recognized during the twelve months ended December 31, 2009 and 2008.

 

Carrying Value of Long-Lived Assets.  Our property and equipment, intangible assets and goodwill (collectively, our “long-lived assets”) comprise a significant portion of our total assets. The accounting standards require that we periodically, and upon the occurrence of certain events, assess the recoverability of our long-lived assets. If the carrying value of our property and equipment exceeds their undiscounted cash flows, we are required to write the carrying value down to estimated fair value.

Goodwill.  The fair value of goodwill and other intangible assets with indefinite lives are tested for impairment at least annually and upon the occurrence of certain events, and are written down to fair value if considered impaired. The Company evaluates goodwill and other intangible assets with indefinite lives for impairment on at least an annual basis (in its third quarter) by comparing the fair value of each reporting unit to the carrying value of the reporting unit including related goodwill and other intangible assets with indefinite lives. A reporting unit refers to the acquired interest of a single clinic or group of clinics. Local management typically continues to manage the acquired clinic or group of clinics. For each clinic or group of clinics, the Company maintains discrete financial information and both corporate and local management regularly review the operating results. For each purchase of the equity interest, goodwill and other intangible assets, if any, with indefinite lives are assigned to the respective clinic or group of clinics, if deemed appropriate. If the carrying value of our goodwill and other intangible assets with indefinite lives exceeds the estimated fair value, we are required to allocate the estimated fair value to our assets and liabilities, as if we had just acquired it in a business combination. We then write-down the carrying value of our goodwill and other intangible assets with indefinite lives to the implied fair value. Any such write-down is included as an impairment loss in our consolidated statement of net income. Judgment is required to estimate the fair value of our long-lived assets. We may use quoted market prices, prices for similar assets, present value techniques and other valuation techniques to prepare these estimates. In addition, we may obtain independent appraisals in certain circumstances. We may need to make estimates of future cash flows and discount rates as well as other assumptions in order to apply these valuation techniques. Irrespective of our valuation analysis, future market conditions may deteriorate. Accordingly, any value ultimately derived from our long-lived assets may differ from our estimate of fair value. In 2008, the evaluation of goodwill yielded an impairment charge of $49,000 on a clinic purchased in 1994. The evaluation of goodwill in 2009 did not result in any goodwill amounts that were deemed permanently impaired. See Note 2 — Significant Accounting Policies — Goodwill — of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8.

 

SELECTED OPERATING AND FINANCIAL DATA

 

The following table and discussion relates to continuing operations unless otherwise noted. The defined terms with their respective description used in the following discussion are listed below:

 

 

 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

FISCAL YEAR 2009 COMPARED TO FISCAL 2008

 

 

Net Patient Revenues

 

 

Net patient revenues are based on established billing rates less allowances and discounts for patients covered by contractual programs and workers’ compensation. Net patient revenues reflect contractual and other adjustments, which we evaluate monthly, relating to patient discounts from certain payors. Payments received under these programs are based on predetermined rates and are generally less than the established billing rates of the clinics.

Management Contract Revenues and Other Revenues

 

Revenues from management contracts and other revenues increased by approximately $1.3 million from 2008 to 2009 due to the inclusion of revenues for the complete year in 2009 from RMG.

 

Clinic Operating Costs

 

Clinic operating costs were 74.3% of net revenues for 2009 and 76.5% of net revenues for 2008. Each component of clinic operating costs is discussed below:

 

Clinic Operating Costs — Salaries and Related Costs

 

Salaries and related costs increased to $105.7 million for 2009 from $100.3 million for 2008, an increase of $5.5 million, or 5.5%. Approximately 27.9% of the increase, or $1.5 million, was attributable to the New Clinics. The remaining increase of $4.0 million was due to $4.8 million in higher costs at various 2008 New Clinics and a decrease of $0.8 million in costs at various 2008 Mature Clinics. Salaries and related costs as a percent of net revenues was 52.5% for 2009 and 53.4% for 2008.

 

Clinic Operating Costs — Rent, Clinic Supplies and Other

 

Rent, clinic supplies and other costs increased to $40.5 million for 2009 from $39.8 million for 2008, an increase of $0.7 million, or 1.7%. For 2009, New Clinics accounted for approximately $1.1 million of the increased costs and the 2008 New Clinics accounted for approximately $2.2 million of the increased costs due to a full year of activity for clinics acquired and developed in 2008. Rent, clinic supplies and other costs for 2008 Mature Clinics decreased $2.5 million in 2009 as compared to 2008 due to cost containment efforts. Rent, clinic supplies and other costs as a percent of net revenues was 20.1% for 2009 and 21.2% for 2008.

 

Clinic Operating Costs — Provision for Doubtful Accounts

 

The provision for doubtful accounts remained relatively stable as a percent of net revenues for 2009 and 2008. The provision for doubtful accounts for net patient receivables as a percent of net patient revenues was 1.7% for 2009 and 2008. Our allowance for bad debts as a percent of total patient accounts receivable was 7.6% at December 31, 2009 and 8.1% at December 31, 2008. The allowance for doubtful accounts at the end of each period is based on a detailed, clinic-by-clinic review of overdue accounts and is regularly reviewed in the aggregate in light of current and historical experience.

 

The accounts receivable days outstanding were 45 days at December 31, 2009 and 51 days December 31, 2008. This decrease in days outstanding is due to our increased collection efforts. Receivables in the amount of $3.8 million and $3.0 million were written-off in 2009 and 2008, respectively.

 

Closure Costs

 

In 2009, 10 clinics were closed with closure costs amounting to $91,000. For 2008, closure costs amounted to $432,000 primarily related to the closure of 18 clinics. 2008 closure costs include $342,000 related to lease obligations and facilities costs, $77,000 related to write-off of unamortized leasehold improvements and $13,000 in severance and salary costs.

 

Corporate Office Costs

 

Corporate office costs, consisting primarily of salaries, benefits and equity based compensation of corporate office personnel and directors, rent, insurance costs, depreciation and amortization, travel, legal, compliance, professional, marketing and recruiting fees, were $23.5 million for 2009 and $20.2 million for 2008, an increase of $3.3 million. This increase is primarily due to increased incentive compensation, including the long-term incentive plan, related to increased profits. Corporate office costs as a percent of net revenues was 11.7% for 2009 and 10.8% for 2008.

Interest and Other Income, net

 

Interest and other income for 2008 included a pre-tax gain of $193,000 from the sale of a 49.0% interest in two of our Texas partnerships.

 

Interest Expense

 

Interest expense decreased to $352,000 for 2009 from $542,000 for 2008 due to lower borrowing costs and lower average borrowings. At December 31, 2009, $0.4 million was outstanding under our revolving credit facility. See “Liquidity and Capital Resources” below for a discussion of the terms of our revolving credit facility.

 

Provision for Income Taxes

 

The provision for income taxes increased to $7.9 million for 2009 from $6.5 million for 2008, an increase of approximately $1.4 million primarily as a result of higher pre-tax income. During 2009 and 2008, we accrued state and federal income taxes at an effective tax rate (provision for taxes divided by the difference between income from operations and net income attributable to noncontrolling interest) of 40.3% for 2009 and 39.4% for 2008. This increase in the effective rate is due to the non-tax deductible portion of the expense related to the long-term incentive plan.

 

Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests

 

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests was $8.2 million in 2009 compared to $7.1 million in 2008. As a percent of operating income before corporate office costs, net income attributable to noncontrolling interests was 15.9% in 2009 compared to 16.1% in 2008.

 

FISCAL YEAR 2008 COMPARED TO FISCAL 2007

 

 

Net Patient Revenues

 

 

 

Net patient revenues are based on established billing rates less allowances and discounts for patients covered by contractual programs and workers’ compensation. Net patient revenues reflect contractual and other adjustments, which we evaluate monthly, relating to patient discounts from certain payors. Payments received under these programs are based on predetermined rates and are generally less than the established billing rates of the clinics.

 

Management Contract Revenues and Other Revenues

 

Revenues from management contracts and other revenues increased by approximately $2.5 million from 2007 to 2008 due to the inclusion of revenues for the complete year in 2008 from the STAR clinics derived primarily from managing seven clinics. For 2007, the results included only four months.

 

Clinic Operating Costs

 

Clinic operating costs were 76.5% of net revenues for 2008 and 75.4% of net revenues for 2007. Each component of clinic operating costs is discussed below:

 

Clinic Operating Costs — Salaries and Related Costs

 

Salaries and related costs increased to $100.3 million for 2008 from $79.2 million for 2007, an increase of $21.1 million, or 26.6%. Approximately 21.9% of the increase, or $4.6 million, was attributable to the 2008 New Clinics. The remaining increase of $16.5 million was due to $15.4 million in higher costs at various 2007 New Clinics and $1.1 million higher at various 2007 Mature Clinics. Salaries and related costs as a percent of net revenues was 53.4% for 2008 and 52.2% for 2007.

 

Clinic Operating Costs — Rent, Clinic Supplies and Other

 

Rent, clinic supplies and other costs increased to $39.8 million for 2008 from $32.6 million for 2007, an increase of $7.2 million, or 22.2%. Approximately 30.1% of the increase, or $2.2 million, was attributable to the 2008 New Clinics and $5.3 million was attributable to 2007 New Clinics offset by $0.3 million related to 2007 Mature Clinics. Rent, clinic supplies and other costs as a percent of net revenues was 21.2% for 2008 and 21.5% for 2007.

 

Clinic Operating Costs — Provision for Doubtful Accounts

 

The provision for doubtful accounts increased to $3.1 million for 2008 from $2.6 million for 2007, an increase of $0.5 million, or 20.4%. The provision for doubtful accounts as a percent of net patient revenues was 1.7% for 2008 and 2007. Our allowance for bad debts as a percent of total patient accounts receivable was 8.1% at December 31, 2008 and 7.9% at December 31, 2007. The allowance for doubtful accounts at the end of each period is based on a detailed, clinic-by-clinic review of overdue accounts and is regularly reviewed in the aggregate in light of current and historical experience.

 

The accounts receivable days outstanding were 51 days at December 31, 2008 and 55 days December 31, 2007. Receivables in the amount of $3.0 million and $2.0 million were written-off in 2008 and 2007, respectively.

Closure Costs

 

Closure costs primarily related to the closure of 18 clinics in 2008 and amounted to $432,000. Closure costs include $342,000 related to lease obligations and facilities costs, $77,000 related to write-off of unamortized leasehold improvements and $13,000 in severance and salary costs.

 

Corporate Office Costs

 

Corporate office costs, consisting primarily of salaries, benefits and equity based compensation of corporate office personnel and directors, rent, insurance costs, depreciation and amortization, travel, legal, compliance, professional, marketing and recruiting fees, were $20.2 million for 2008 and $17.3 million for 2007. Although corporate office costs increased by $2.9 million, primarily due to increased salary and benefits costs and professional services such as legal and accounting, corporate office costs as a percent of net revenues decreased to 10.8% for 2008 as compared to 11.4% for 2007.

 

Interest Expense

 

Interest expense increased to $542,000 for 2008 from $301,000 for 2007 primarily due to higher borrowings under our revolving credit facility to fund acquisitions. See Liquidity and Capital Resources below for a discussion of the terms of our revolving credit facility.

 

Provision for Income Taxes

 

The provision for income taxes increased to $6.5 million for 2008 from $5.5 million for 2007, an increase of approximately $1.0 million, or 19.0%, as a result of higher pre-tax income. During 2008 and 2007, we recognized state and federal income taxes at an effective tax rate of 39.4% and 38.3%, respectively.

 

Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests

 

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests was $7.1 million in 2008 compared to $5.7 million in 2007. As a percentage of operating income before corporate office costs, net income attributable to noncontrolling interests was 16.1% in 2008 compared to 15.3% in 2007. The increase was primarily related to profitable clinics acquired during 2007 and 2008 which have noncontrolling interests of 30.0% to 35.0%.

 

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

 

We believe that our business is generating sufficient cash flow from operating activities to allow us to meet our short-term and long-term cash requirements, other than those with respect to future acquisitions. At December 31, 2009, we had $6.4 million in cash and cash equivalents compared to $10.1 million at December 31, 2008. However ,the amount outstanding under our revolving credit facility was $400,000 at December 31, 2009 compared to $11,400,000 at December 31, 2008. Although the start-up costs associated with opening new clinics and our planned capital expenditures are significant, we believe that our cash and cash equivalents and availability under our revolving credit facility are sufficient to fund the working capital needs of our operating subsidiaries, clinic closure costs accrued, future clinic development and investments through at least December 2010. Significant acquisitions would likely require financing under our revolving credit facility. Included in cash and cash equivalents at December 31, 2008 were $0.8 million in a money market fund.

 

The decrease in cash and cash equivalents of $3.7 million from December 31, 2008 to December 31, 2009 was due primarily to $34.6 million used by investing and financing activities offset by funds provided by operations of $30.9 million. The major uses of cash for investing and financing activities included: payments net of proceeds on debt ($12.4 million), distributions to noncontrolling interests ($9.4 million), purchases of our common stock ($5.6 million), purchases of fixed assets ($3.9 million) and purchases of noncontrolling interests and earnout payments on a previously acquired business and a noncontrolling interest ($3.5 million).

 

Effective August 27, 2007, we entered into a credit agreement with a commitment for a $30.0 million revolving credit facility which was increased to $50.0 million effective June 4, 2008 (“Credit Agreement”).

Effective March 18, 2009, we amended the Credit Agreement to permit the Company to purchase up to $15,000,000 of its common stock subject to compliance with certain covenants, including the requirement that after giving effect to any stock purchase, our consolidated leverage ratio (as defined in the Credit Agreement) be less than 1.0 to 1.0 and that any stock repurchased be retired within seven days of purchase. In addition, the Credit Agreement was amended to adjust the pricing grid which is based on our consolidated leverage ratio with the applicable spread over LIBOR ranging from 1.5% to 2.5%. The Credit Agreement has a four year term maturing August 31, 2011, is unsecured and includes standard financial covenants. Proceeds from the Credit Agreement may be used for acquisitions, working capital, purchases of our common stock, capital expenditures and other corporate purposes. Fees under the Credit Agreement include a closing fee of .25% and an unused commitment fee ranging from .1% to .35% depending on our consolidated leverage ratio and the amount of funds outstanding under the Credit Agreement. On December 31, 2009, the outstanding balance on the revolving credit facility was $0.4 million leaving $49.6 million in availability and we were in compliance with all of the covenants thereunder.

 

Historically, we have generated sufficient cash from operations to fund our development activities and to cover operational needs. We generally develop new clinics rather than acquire them, which requires less capital. We plan to continue developing new clinics and making additional acquisitions in selected markets. We have from time to time purchased the noncontrolling interests of limited partners in our Clinic Partnerships. We may purchase additional noncontrolling interests in the future. Generally, any acquisition or purchase of noncontrolling interests is expected to be accomplished using a combination of cash and financing. Any large acquisition would likely require financing.

 

We make reasonable and appropriate efforts to collect accounts receivable, including applicable deductible and co-payment amounts, in a consistent manner for all payor types. Claims are submitted to payors daily, weekly or monthly in accordance with our policy or payor’s requirements. When possible, we submit our claims electronically. The collection process is time consuming and typically involves the submission of claims to multiple payors whose payment of claims may be dependent upon the payment of another payor. Claims under litigation and vehicular incidents can take a year or longer to collect. Medicare and other payor claims relating to new clinics awaiting Medicare Rehab Agency status approval initially may not be submitted for six months or more. When all reasonable internal collection efforts have been exhausted, accounts are written off prior to sending them to outside collection firms. With managed care, commercial health plans and self-pay payor type receivables, the write-off generally occurs after the account receivable has been outstanding for 120 days.

 

We have future obligations for debt repayments, employment agreements and future minimum rentals under operating leases. The obligations as of December 31, 2009 are summarized as follows (in thousands):

 

 

In connection with the San Antonio Acquisition, we incurred a note payable in the amount of $400,400 payable in equal annual installments totaling $200,200 which began November 18, 2009 plus any accrued and unpaid interest. Interest accrues at a fixed rate of 4.00% per annum. The final principal payment and any accrued and unpaid interest then outstanding is due and payable on November 18, 2010. In addition, we assumed leases with remaining terms ranging from nine months to three years for the operating facilities. At December 31, 2009, the amount outstanding related to this note was $200,000.

 

In connection with the acquisition of RMG, we incurred a note payable in the amount of $157,100 payable in equal annual installments totaling $78,550 which began October 8, 2009, plus any accrued and unpaid interest. Interest accrues at a fixed rate of 5.00% per annum. The final principal payment and any

accrued and unpaid interest then outstanding is due and payable on October 8, 2010. The purchase agreement also provides for possible contingent consideration of up to $3,781,000 based on the achievement of a designated level of operating results within a three-year period following the acquisition. In 2009, we paid $1.2 million of additional consideration related to this acquisition upon achievement of the predefined level of operating results for the first year. Such amount was recorded as goodwill. At December 31, 2009, the amount outstanding related to this note was $79,000.

 

In connection with the Mid-Atlantic Acquisition, we incurred notes payable in the aggregate totaling $950,625 payable in equal annual installments totaling $475,312 which began June 11, 2009, plus any accrued and unpaid interest. Interest accrues at a fixed rate of 5.00% per annum. The final principal payment and any accrued and unpaid interest then outstanding is due and payable on June 11, 2010. The purchase agreement also provides for possible contingent consideration of up to $1,500,000 based on the achievement of a designated level of operating results within a three-year period following the acquisition. In addition, we assumed leases with remaining terms ranging from one month to five years for the operating facilities. At December 31, 2009, the amount outstanding related to these notes was $475,000.

 

In connection with the STAR Acquisition, we incurred notes payable in the aggregate totaling $1,000,000 payable in equal annual installments totaling $333,333 which began September 6, 2008, plus any accrued and unpaid interest. Interest accrues at a fixed rate of 8.25% per annum. The remaining principal and any accrued and unpaid interest then outstanding is due and payable on September 6, 2010. In addition, we assumed leases with remaining terms ranging from two months to six years for the operating facilities. At December 31, 2009, the amount outstanding related to these notes was $259,000.

 

In conjunction with the acquisition of an eight-clinic practice in Arizona in November 2006, we entered into a note payable in the amount of $877,500 payable in equal quarterly principal installments of $73,125, which began March 1, 2007, plus any accrued and unpaid interest. Interest accrued at a fixed rate of 7.5% per annum. The remaining principal and any accrued and unpaid interest then outstanding was paid on the third anniversary of the note, November 17, 2009. The purchase agreement also provided for possible contingent consideration of up to $1,500,000 based on the achievement of a designated level of operating results within a three-year period following the acquisition. In addition, we assumed leases with remaining terms ranging from one to five years for six of the eight operating facilities. With respect to the two remaining leased facilities, one is being leased on a month-to-month basis and the other was renewed for three years effective February 1, 2007. In December 2007, we paid $557,000 additional consideration related to this acquisition upon achievement of the predefined operating results for the first year, and such amount was recorded as goodwill.

 

In conjunction with the acquisition of a two-clinic practice in Alaska in December 2005, we entered into a note payable in the amount of $309,710 payable in equal quarterly principal installments of $25,809, which began April 1, 2006, plus any accrued and unpaid interest. Interest accrued at a fixed rate of 5.75% per annum. The remaining principal and any accrued and unpaid interest was paid in December 2008. The purchase agreement provided for possible contingent consideration of up to $325,000 based on the achievement of a certain designated level of operating results within a three-year period following the acquisition. At December 31, 2008, we accrued $299,723 additional consideration related to this acquisition upon achievement of the predefined operating results for the year ended December 31, 2008 and such amount was recorded as goodwill. This amount was paid in March 2009.

 

Except for RMG, in conjunction with the above mentioned acquisitions, in the event that a limited minority partner’s employment ceases at any time after three years from the acquisition date, we have agreed to repurchase that individual’s noncontrolling interest at a predetermined multiple of earnings before interest and taxes.

 

From September 2001 through December 31, 2008, the Board authorized us to purchase, in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions, up to 2,250,000 shares of our common stock; however, the terms of our revolving credit facility had prohibited such purchases since August 2007. As of December 31, 2008, there were approximately 50,000 shares remaining that could be purchased under these programs. In March 2009, the Board authorized the repurchase of up to 10% or approximately 1,200,000 shares of our common stock (“March 2009 Authorization”). In connection with the March 2009 Authorization, we amended

our revolving credit facility to permit the share repurchases. We are required to retire shares purchased under the March 2009 Authorization. Since there is no expiration date for these share repurchase programs, additional shares may be purchased from time to time in the open market or private transactions depending on price, availability and our cash position. During 2009, we purchased 518,335 shares for an aggregate price of $5.6 million.

 

Off Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

With the exception of operating leases for its executive offices and clinic facilities discussed in Note 13 to our consolidated financial statements included in Item 8, we have no off-balance sheet debt or other off-balance sheet financing arrangements.

 

FACTORS AFFECTING FUTURE RESULTS

 

Clinic Development

 

As of December 31, 2009, we had 368 clinics in operation of which 18 were opened in 2009. During 2010, we expect to incur initial operating losses from new clinics opened in late 2009. Generally, we experience losses during the initial period of a new clinic’s operation. Operating margins for newly opened clinics tend to be lower than for more seasoned clinics because of start-up costs and lower patient visits and revenues. Generally, patient visits and revenues gradually increase in the first year of operation, as patients and referral sources become aware of the new clinic. Revenues typically continue to increase during the two to three years following the first anniversary of a clinic opening.

 

Current Economic Conditions

 

The current economic environment may have material adverse impacts on our business and financial condition that we cannot predict. Unemployment has remained high while business and consumer confidence is relatively low. The economic environment could materially adversely affect our business and financial condition.

 

For example:

 

 

See Risk Factors in Item 1A of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

 

We do not maintain any derivative instruments, interest rate swap arrangements, hedging contracts, futures contracts or the like. Our only indebtedness as of December 31, 2009 was seller notes of $1.0 million and an outstanding balance on our revolving credit facility of $0.4 million. The outstanding balance under our revolving credit facility is subject to fluctuating interest rates. A 1% change in the interest rate would yield an additional $4,000 of interest expense. See Note 7 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8.

 

U.S. PHYSICAL THERAPY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

 

Board of Directors and

Shareholders of U.S. Physical Therapy, Inc.

 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of U.S. Physical Therapy, Inc. (a Nevada corporation) and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2009 and 2008, and the related consolidated statements of net income, shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2009. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

 

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of U.S. Physical Therapy, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2009 and 2008, and the results of their consolidated operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2009 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

As discussed in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements, effective January 1, 2009, the Company adopted new accounting and reporting guidance related to noncontrolling interests.

 

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), U.S. Physical Therapy, Inc. and subsidiaries’ internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2009, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) and our report dated March 12, 2010, expressed an unqualified opinion.

 

/s/ GRANT THORNTON LLP

 

Houston, Texas

March 12, 2010

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

Board of Directors and

Shareholders of U.S. Physical Therapy, Inc.

 

We have audited U.S. Physical Therapy, Inc. (a Nevada Corporation) and subsidiaries’ internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2009, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Frame work issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). U.S. Physical Therapy, Inc. and subsidiaries’ management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Report appearing under Item 9A on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on U.S. Physical Therapy, Inc. and subsidiaries’ internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.

 

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

 

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

 

In our opinion, based on our audit, U.S. Physical Therapy, Inc. and subsidiaries maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2009, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by COSO.

 

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheets of U.S. Physical Therapy, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2009 and 2008, and the related consolidated statements of net income, shareholder’s equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2009, and our report dated March 12, 2010 expressed an unqualified opinion.

 

/s/ GRANT THORNTON LLP

 

Houston, Texas

March 12, 2010

 

 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.