PLANO, Tex., May 15 /PRNewswire/ -- LifeCare Holdings, Inc. (the "Company") today announced its operating results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2009.

Net Revenues

Our net patient service revenue increased by $6.2 million, or 7.1%, for the three months ended March 31, 2009, to $95.0 million from $88.8 million for the comparable period in 2008. Patient days in the 2009 period were 2,574, or 4.2%, less than the same period in 2008, while admissions were 2,165, or 4.5%, less than the same period in 2008.

The increase in our net patient service revenue was comprised of a favorable benefit of $9.9 million as the result of higher rates on a per patient day basis offset by an unfavorable variance of $3.7 million from the decrease in patient days. During the three months ended March 31, 2009, our net patient service revenue per patient day was $1,607, which represented an increase of 11.8% compared to the same period in 2008. The increase in net patient service revenue on a per patient day basis during the 2009 period was primarily the result of annual inflationary increases in our standard charge rates and certain of our contracts with commercial payors, an increase in the percentage of our revenues generated from commercial payors, a higher acuity level of the patients treated in the 2009 period, and the marginal increases contained in recent annual regulatory updates implemented by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services during 2008.

Expenses

Total expenses increased by $0.9 million to $92.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009 as compared to $91.5 million for the same period in 2008. This increase of $0.9 million was primarily due to a $2.1 million increase in salaries, wages and benefits, partially offset by a $1.5 million decrease in net interest expense. The increase in salaries, wages and benefits was primarily attributable to increases in operating capacity, the higher acuity of the patients during the 2009 period, and annual inflationary increases. The decrease in net interest expense was the result of lower interest rates on outstanding borrowings during the 2009 period and the decrease of $16.5 million in outstanding principal of our senior subordinated notes as a result of the repurchase of these notes during the quarter ended December 31, 2008.

Credit Agreement EBITDA

For the quarter ended March 31, 2009, adjusted EBITDA as defined in our senior credit facility, which we refer to as Credit Agreement EBITDA, was $16.5 million, an increase of $2.8 million, or 20.5% from the prior year period. Credit Agreement EBITDA reflects the elimination of start-up costs and certain other non-recurring/operational expenditures as defined in our credit agreement. This increase in Credit Agreement EBITDA is principally the result of the increase in net patient service revenue per patient day as previously discussed. As of March 31, 2009, we believe we were in compliance with all covenants contained in our senior secured credit facility, as amended.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

At March 31, 2009, our outstanding indebtedness consisted of $130.4 million aggregate principal amount of senior subordinated notes due 2013, a $246.7 million term loan facility that matures in 2012, and $35.0 million outstanding on our revolving credit facility which matures in 2011. At March 31, 2009, the interest rate applicable to the $246.7 million under our term loan facility was 5.43%, and the weighted average rate on the $35.0 million outstanding balance of the revolving credit facility was 5.95%.

The senior secured credit facility requires us to comply on a quarterly basis with certain financial covenants, including an interest coverage ratio test and a maximum leverage ratio test, which will become more restrictive over time. In addition, the senior secured credit facility includes various negative covenants, including limitations on indebtedness, liens, investments, permitted businesses, restricted payments, transactions with affiliates and other matters, as well as certain customary representations and warranties, affirmative covenants and events of default including payment defaults.

We may not able to continue to satisfy the covenant requirements in subsequent periods. If we are unable to maintain compliance with the covenants contained in our senior secured credit facility, an event of default would occur. During the continuation of an event of default, the lenders under the senior secured credit facility are entitled to take various actions, including accelerating amounts due under the senior secured credit facility, terminating our access to our revolving credit facility and all other actions generally available to a secured creditor. An uncured event of default would have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations and cash flow.

We believe that our cash on hand, expected cash flows from operations, potential availability of borrowings under the revolving portion of our senior secured credit facility, and funds available under a master lease agreement will be sufficient to finance our operations, and meet our scheduled debt service requirements for at least the next twelve months.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes forward-looking statements regarding, among other items, operations, proposed regulations and their possible effect on the Company's results. Such statements are subject to a number of uncertainties and risks that could significantly affect current plans. Furthermore, actual results may differ materially from those experienced or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, risks relating to operating in a regulated environment, implementing our business plan, maintaining relationships with physicians in our markets, availability of sufficient nurses and therapists, competition, retaining key management, ability to service our debt requirements, litigation matters and availability of insurance. Further information about factors that could affect the Company's financial and other results is included in our Form 10-K as filed on March 31, 2009, as amended, which can be viewed on the SEC's website. Many of the factors that will determine the Company's future results are beyond the ability of management to control or predict. As a result, you should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which reflect management's views only as the date hereof. The Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statement, or to make any other forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Credit Agreement EBITDA is used in the calculations of the interest coverage and leverage ratios that are included in the covenants contained in our existing senior secured credit agreement. Credit Agreement EBITDA is not a measure of financial performance computed in accordance with GAAP and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for operating income, net income, cash flows from operations or other statement of operations or cash flow data prepared in conformity with GAAP, or as measures of profitability or liquidity. In addition the calculation of Credit Agreement EBITDA is susceptible to varying interpretations and calculation, and the amounts presented may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies. Credit Agreement EBITDA may not be indicative of historical operating results, and we do not mean for it to be predictive of future results of operations or cash flows. For the trailing 12-month period ended March 31, 2009, Credit Agreement EBITDA was $50.4 million.

LifeCare, based in Plano, Texas, operates 20 long-term acute care hospitals located in ten states. Long-term acute care hospitals specialize in the treatment of medically complex patients who typically require extended hospitalization. For more information on LifeCare, visit our website at www.lifecare-hospitals.com.

    Schedule 1
    Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
    For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2008 and 2009
    (In thousands)
    (Unaudited)

                                                                        %
                                                 2008     2009       Change
    Net patient service revenue                $88,761  $95,024        7.1%

    Expenses:
     Salaries, wages and benefits               41,088   43,182        5.1%
     Supplies                                    9,051    8,754       -3.3%
     Rent                                        6,170    6,503        5.4%
     Other operating expense                    20,735   21,764        5.0%
     Provision for doubtful accounts             1,847    1,358      -26.5%
     Gain on early extinguishment of debt            -      (84)        NM
     Depreciation and amortization               2,753    2,635       -4.3%
     Interest expense, net                       9,834    8,327      -15.3%
                                                91,478   92,439        1.1%
       Operating income                         (2,717)   2,585      195.1%
     Equity in loss of joint venture                 -     (537)        NM
     Income (loss) before income taxes          (2,717)   2,048      175.4%
     Provision for income taxes                    200      225       12.5%
     Net income (loss)                         $(2,917)  $1,823      162.5%



    Reconciliation to Credit Agreement EBITDA:
     Operating Income - per above              $(2,717)  $2,585      195.1%
       Adjusted for:
         Depreciation and amortization           2,753    2,635       -4.3%
         Interest expense, net                   9,834    8,327      -15.3%
         Gain on early extinguishment of debt        -      (84)        NM
         Loss attributable to unrestricted
          subsidiary                               667    1,032       54.7%
         Hospital closure/relocation/start-up
          losses                                 1,457    1,083      -25.7%
         Stock compensation expense                102       85      -16.7%
         Severance                                 451        -         NM
         Cost saving initiatives                   461      100      -78.3%
         Sarbanes Oxley implementation             406        -         NM
         Other credit agreement add-back items     242      697      188.0%

         Credit Agreement EBITDA               $13,656  $16,460       20.5%




    Schedule 2
    Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
    (In thousands)
    (Unaudited)

                                                December 31,   March 31,
                       Assets                      2008          2009

    Current assets:
          Cash and cash equivalents              $25,262       $43,324
          Accounts receivable, net                66,803        73,336
          Income taxes receivable                  1,279         1,088
          Other current assets                     7,735         7,938
              Total current assets               101,079       125,686
          Property and equipment, net             86,479        85,361
          Goodwill and other identifiable
           intangibles, net                      262,675       262,390
          Other assets                            12,597        11,361
                                                $462,830      $484,798

        Liabilities and Stockholder's Deficit
    Current liabilities:
          Payables and accruals                  $52,868       $53,977
          Current installments of long-term debt   2,550         3,188
          Current installments of obligations
           under capital leases                    1,252         1,216
          Current installments of lease financing
           obligation                                292           418
          Estimated third party payor settlements  6,231           883
              Total current liabilities           63,193        59,682
          Long-term debt, excluding current
           installments                          384,694       408,906
          Obligations under capital leases,
           excluding current installments          1,836         1,566
          Lease financing obligation, excluding
           current installments                   20,645        20,374
          Accrued insurance                        3,592         3,605
          Other noncurrent liabilities             9,419         9,308
              Total liabilities                  483,379       503,441

          Stockholder's deficit                  (20,549)      (18,643)
                                                $462,830      $484,798



    Schedule 3
    Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
    For the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2009
    (In thousands)
    (Unaudited)

                                                         2008     2009
       Cash flows from operating activities:
          Net income (loss)                           $(2,917)  $1,823
          Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss)
           to net cash used in operating activities:
                Depreciation and amortization           3,276    3,177
                Provision for doubtful accounts         1,847    1,358
                Equity compensation amortization           99       83
                Gain on early extinguishment of debt        -      (84)
                Equity in loss of joint venture             -      537
                Changes in operating assets and
                 liabilities:
                   Patient accounts receivable        (11,516)  (7,891)
                   Current income taxes                   200      190
                   Prepaid expenses and other current
                    assets                               (788)    (203)
                   Other assets                            61      155
                   Estimated third party payer
                    settlements                        (2,119)  (5,347)
                   Accounts payable and accrued
                    expenses                            3,838    1,109
                   Other liabilities                      352      (98)
                      Net cash used in operating
                       activities                      (7,667)  (5,191)
       Cash from investing activities:
          Purchases of property and equipment          (8,542)  (1,231)
          Sales-leaseback proceeds                      2,893        -
                      Net cash used in investing
                       activities                      (5,649)  (1,231)
       Cash flows from financing activities:
          Borrowings under the line of credit               -   25,000
          Payments of notes payable and long-term debt   (638)     (63)
          Proceeds from capital lease financing         1,802        -
          Payments on obligations under capital leases   (797)    (307)
          Proceeds from lease financing obligation      1,800        -
          Payments on lease financing obligation            -     (146)
                      Net cash provided by financing
                       activities                       2,167   24,484
                      Net increase (decrease) in cash
                       and cash equivalents           (11,149)  18,062
       Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of
        period                                         17,816   25,262
       Cash and cash equivalents, end of period        $6,667  $43,324
       Supplemental disclosure of cash flow
        information:
          Cash:
             Interest paid                            $13,380  $11,786
             Net income taxes paid                          -       34
          Noncash:
             Equipment purchased through capital
              lease financing                             824        -



    Schedule 4
    Selected Operating Statistics

                                              Three months     Three months
                                             ended March 31,  ended March 31,
                                                  2008             2009
    Number of hospitals within hospitals
     (end of period)                                9                9
    Number of freestanding hospitals
     (end of period)                               10               11
    Number of total hospitals (end of period)      19               20
    Licensed beds (end of period) (1)           1,009            1,079
    Average licensed beds (1)                   1,009            1,079
    Admissions                                  2,266            2,165
    Patient days                               61,719           59,145
    Occupancy rate                               67.2%            60.9%
    Percent net patient service revenue
     from Medicare                               62.4%            61.3%
    Percent net patient service revenue from
     commercial payors and Medicaid (2)          37.6%            38.7%
    Net patient service revenue per
     patient day                               $1,438           $1,607

    (1)  The licensed beds are only calculated on the beds at locations that
    were open for operations during the applicable periods.

    (2)  The percentage of net patient service revenue from Medicaid is less
    than one percent for each of the periods presented.

SOURCE LifeCare Holdings, Inc.

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http://www.lifecare-hospitals.com