1. BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Business. Community Health Systems, Inc. is a holding company and operates no business in its own name. On a consolidated basis, Community Health Systems, Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively the “Company”) own, lease and operate general acute care hospitals in communities across the country. As of December 31, 2018, the Company owned or leased 113 hospitals, included in continuing operations, including two stand-alone rehabilitation or psychiatric hospitals, licensed for 18,227 beds in 20 states. Throughout these notes to the consolidated financial statements, Community Health Systems, Inc. (the “Parent”) and its consolidated subsidiaries are referred to on a collective basis as the “Company.” This drafting style is not meant to indicate that the publicly-traded Parent or any particular subsidiary of the Parent owns or operates any asset, business, or property. The hospitals, operations and businesses described in this filing are owned and operated, and management services provided, by distinct and indirect subsidiaries of Community Health Systems, Inc.

As of December 31, 2018, Florida, Texas and Indiana represent the only areas of significant geographic concentration. Net operating revenues generated by the Company’s hospitals in Florida, as a percentage of consolidated operating revenues, were 14.3% in 2018, 14.0% in 2017 and 13.6% in 2016. Net operating revenues generated by the Company’s hospitals in Texas, as a percentage of consolidated operating revenues, were 11.7% in 2018, 10.9% in 2017 and 10.4% in 2016. Net operating revenues generated by the Company’s hospitals in Indiana, as a percentage of consolidated operating revenues, were 12.5% in 2018, 11.6% in 2017 and 9.4% in 2016.

Use of Estimates. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements. Actual results could differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

Principles of Consolidation. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Parent, its subsidiaries, all of which are controlled by the Parent through majority voting control, and variable interest entities for which the Company is the primary beneficiary. All intercompany accounts, profits and transactions have been eliminated. Noncontrolling interests in less-than-wholly-owned consolidated subsidiaries of the Parent are presented as a component of total equity to distinguish between the interests of the Parent and the interests of the noncontrolling owners. Revenues, expenses and income from continuing operations from these subsidiaries are included in the consolidated amounts as presented on the consolidated statements of loss, along with a net income measure that separately presents the amounts attributable to the controlling interests and the amounts attributable to the noncontrolling interests for each of the periods presented. Noncontrolling interests that are redeemable or may become redeemable at a fixed or determinable price at the option of the holder or upon the occurrence of an event outside of the control of the Company are presented in mezzanine equity on the consolidated balance sheets.

Cost of Revenue. Substantially all of the Company’s operating costs and expenses are “cost of revenue” items. Operating costs that could be classified as general and administrative by the Company would include the Company’s corporate office costs at its Franklin, Tennessee office which were collectively $181 million, $189 million and $197 million for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Included in these corporate office costs is stock-based compensation of $13 million, $24 million and $46 million for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Cash Equivalents. The Company considers highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents.

Supplies. Supplies, principally medical supplies, are stated at the lower of cost (first-in, first-out basis) or market.

Marketable Securities. Prior to adoption of Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-01 on January 1, 2018, the Company’s marketable securities were classified as trading or available-for-sale. Trading securities were reported at fair value with unrealized gains and losses included in earnings. Available-for-sale securities were carried at fair value as determined by quoted market prices, with unrealized gains and losses reported as a separate component of stockholders’ (deficit) equity. After adoption of ASU 2016-01 on January 1, 2018, the Company’s marketable securities consist of debt securities that are classified as trading or available-for-sale and equity securities. Equity securities are reported at fair value with changes in fair value included in earnings. Available-for-sale securities are carried at fair value as determined by quoted market prices, with unrealized gains and losses reported as a separate component of stockholders’ (deficit) equity. Trading securities are reported at fair value with unrealized gains and losses included in earnings. Other comprehensive loss, net of tax, included an unrealized loss of $2 million and $11 million during the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2016, respectively, and an unrealized gain of $8 million during the year ended December 31, 2017, related to these available-for-sale securities.

Property and Equipment. Property and equipment are recorded at cost. Depreciation is recognized using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the land and improvements (3 to 20 years), buildings and improvements (5 to 40 years) and equipment and fixtures (3 to 18 years). Costs capitalized as construction in progress were $219 million and $222 million at December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Expenditures for renovations and other significant improvements are capitalized; however, maintenance and repairs which do not improve or extend the useful lives of the respective assets are charged to operations as incurred. Interest capitalized related to construction in progress was $15 million, $11 million and $9 million for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Purchases of property and equipment and internal-use software accrued in accounts payable and not yet paid were $115 million and $166 million at December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

The Company also leases certain facilities and equipment under capital leases (see Note 10). Such assets are amortized on a straight-line basis over the lesser of the term of the lease or the remaining useful lives of the applicable assets. During the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company had non-cash investing activity of $6 million related to certain facility and equipment additions that were financed through capital leases and other debt.

Goodwill. Goodwill represents the excess of the fair value of the consideration conveyed in the acquisition over the fair value of net assets acquired. Goodwill arising from business combinations is not amortized. Goodwill is required to be evaluated for impairment at the same time every year and when an event occurs or circumstances change such that it is more likely than not that impairment may exist. The Company performs its annual testing of impairment for goodwill in the fourth quarter of each year. As further discussed in Note 5, the Company recorded impairment charge of $1.419 billion during the year ended December 31, 2017 and an impairment charge of $1.395 billion during the year ended December 31, 2016. There was no goodwill impairment charge during the year ended December 31, 2018 as a result of the Company’s annual impairment evaluation.

Other Assets. Other assets consist of the insurance recovery receivable from excess insurance carriers related to the Company’s self-insured malpractice general liability and workers’ compensation insurance liability; costs to recruit physicians to the Company’s markets, which are deferred and expensed over the term of the respective physician recruitment contract, generally three years, and included in amortization expense; and capitalized internal-use software costs, which are expensed over the expected useful life, which is generally three years for routine software and eight to ten years for major software projects, and included in amortization expense.

Revenue Recognition. On January 1, 2018, the Company adopted the new revenue recognition accounting standard issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) and codified in the FASB Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) as topic 606 (“ASC 606”). The revenue recognition standard in ASC 606 outlines a single comprehensive model for recognizing revenue as performance obligations, defined in a contract with a customer as goods or services transferred to the customer in exchange for consideration, are satisfied. The standard also requires expanded disclosures regarding the Company’s revenue recognition policies and significant judgments employed in the determination of revenue.

The Company applied the modified retrospective approach to all contracts when adopting ASC 606. As a result, upon the Company’s adoption of ASC 606 the majority of what was previously classified as the provision for bad debts in the statement of operations is now reflected as implicit price concessions (as defined in ASC 606) and therefore is included as a reduction to net operating revenues in 2018. For changes in credit issues not assessed at the date of service, the Company prospectively recognizes those amounts in other operating expenses on the statement of operations. For periods prior to the adoption of ASC 606, the provision for bad debts has been presented consistent with the previous revenue recognition standards that required such provision to be presented separately as a component of net operating revenues. Additionally, upon adoption of ASC 606 the allowance for doubtful accounts of approximately $3.9 billion as of January 1, 2018 was reclassified as a component of net patient accounts receivable. Other than these changes in presentation on the consolidated statement of operations and consolidated balance sheet, the adoption of ASC 606 did not have a material impact on the consolidated results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2018, and the Company does not expect it to have a material impact on its consolidated results of operations on a prospective basis.

As part of the adoption of ASC 606, the Company elected two of the available practical expedients provided for in the standard. First, the Company does not adjust the transaction price for any financing components as those were deemed to be insignificant. Additionally, the Company expenses all incremental customer contract acquisition costs as incurred because such costs are not material and would be amortized over a period less than one year.

Net Operating Revenues

Upon the adoption of ASC 606, net operating revenues are recorded at the transaction price estimated by the Company to reflect the total consideration due from patients and third-party payors in exchange for providing goods and services in patient care. These services are considered to be a single performance obligation and have a duration of less than one year. Revenues are recorded as these goods and services are provided. The transaction price, which involves significant estimates, is determined based on the Company’s standard charges for the goods and services provided, with a reduction recorded for price concessions related to third party contractual arrangements as well as patient discounts and other patient price concessions. During the year ended December 31, 2018, the impact of changes to the inputs used to determine the transaction price was considered immaterial to the current period.

Currently, several states utilize supplemental reimbursement programs for the purpose of providing reimbursement to providers to offset a portion of the cost of providing care to Medicaid and indigent patients. These programs are designed with input from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and are funded with a combination of state and federal resources, including, in certain instances, fees or taxes levied on the providers. Under these supplemental programs, the Company recognizes revenue and related expenses in the period in which amounts are estimable and collection is reasonably assured. Reimbursement under these programs is reflected in net operating revenues and fees, taxes or other program-related costs are reflected in other operating expenses.

The Company’s net operating revenues during the year ended December 31, 2018 have been presented in the following table based on an allocation of the estimated transaction price with the patient between the primary patient classification of insurance coverage (in millions):


	Year Ended December 31,
	2018
Medicare	$	3,730
Medicaid		1,876
Managed Care and other third-party payors		8,349
Self-pay		200
Total	$	14,155

Operating revenues, net of contractual allowances and discounts (but before the provision for bad debts) by payor have been presented in the following table for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, as follows, consistent with the presentation prior to the adoption of ASC 606 on January 1, 2018 (in millions):


	Year Ended December 31,
	2017		2016
Medicare	$	4,188	$	5,089
Medicaid		1,900		2,234
Managed Care and other third-party payors		9,991		11,354
Self-pay		2,319		2,598
Total	$	18,398	$	21,275

Patient Accounts Receivable

Patient accounts receivable are recorded at net realizable value based on certain assumptions determined by each payor. For third-party payors including Medicare, Medicaid, and Managed Care, the net realizable value is based on the estimated contractual reimbursement percentage, which is based on current contract prices or historical paid claims data by payor. For self-pay accounts receivable, which includes patients who are uninsured and the patient responsibility portion for patients with insurance, the net realizable value is determined using estimates of historical collection experience without regard to aging category. These estimates are adjusted for estimated conversions of patient responsibility portions, expected recoveries and any anticipated changes in trends.

Patient accounts receivable can be impacted by the effectiveness of the Company’s collection efforts. Additionally, significant changes in payor mix, business office operations, economic conditions or trends in federal and state governmental healthcare coverage could affect the net realizable value of accounts receivable. The Company also continually reviews the net realizable value of accounts receivable by monitoring historical cash collections as a percentage of trailing net operating revenues, as well as by analyzing current period net revenue and admissions by payor classification, aged accounts receivable by payor, days revenue outstanding, the composition of self-pay receivables between pure self-pay patients and the patient responsibility portion of third-party insured receivables and the impact of recent acquisitions and dispositions.

Final settlements for some payors and programs are subject to adjustment based on administrative review and audit by third parties. As a result of these final settlements, the Company has recorded amounts due to third-party payors of $144 million and $156 million as of December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively, and these amounts are included in accrued liabilities-other in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. Amounts due from third-party payors were $155 million and $153 million as of December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively, and are included in other current assets in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. Substantially all Medicare and Medicaid cost reports are final settled through 2015.

Charity Care

In the ordinary course of business, the Company renders services to patients who are financially unable to pay for hospital care. The Company’s policy is to not pursue collections for such amounts; therefore, the related charges for those patients who are financially unable to pay and that otherwise do not qualify for reimbursement from a governmental program are not reported in net operating revenues, and are thus classified as charity care. The Company determines amounts that qualify for charity care primarily based on the patient’s household income relative to the federal poverty level guidelines, as established by the federal government.

These charity care services are estimated to be $491 million, $482 million and $487 million for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively, representing the value (at the Company’s standard charges) of these charity care services that are excluded from net operating revenues. The estimated cost incurred by the Company to provide these charity care services to patients who are unable to pay was approximately $62 million, $62 million and $64 million for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively. The estimated cost of these charity care services was determined using a ratio of cost to gross charges and applying that ratio to the gross charges associated with providing care to charity patients for the period.

During 2017 and culminating with the financial close process at December 31, 2017, the Company developed new accounting methodologies and processes to implement ASU 2014-09, the accounting standard for revenue recognition that was adopted by the Company effective January 1, 2018. By implementing new data extraction techniques and updated hindsight information on historical collection data, the Company was able to better estimate the net amount after contractual allowances owed by the third-party payor and what will be owed by the patient based on historical experience. Such updated information included portfolio-level data related to historical collection amounts on an individual hospital and patient level that previously had not been readily available. Using this information the Company created a new accounting process by which it can estimate contractual allowances on a per patient basis. In addition to this new accounting methodology, the Company also revised its methods of estimating contractual allowances to (1) expand the hindsight period over which the Company analyzes payors’ historical paid claims data to estimate contractual allowances, (2) expand the basis for payor denied claims to refine the hindsight reserve for such denials, and (3) adjust the contractual allowances for certain categories of commercial payors using more precise historical experience based on recent patterns of account reimbursement. Additionally, the Company evaluated the estimated collection of those amounts due from the patient as part of the Company’s estimate of the allowance for doubtful accounts. This analysis also included an evaluation of patient accounts receivable retained after the divestiture of 30 hospitals throughout 2017, and certain other revenues. Based on these new accounting processes and methodologies, the Company recorded a change in estimate during the three months ended December 31, 2017 to increase contractual allowances by approximately $197 million, and to record additional provision for bad debts and increase the allowance for doubtful accounts by $394 million. The total impact of the change in estimate recorded during the three months ended December 31, 2017 was a decrease to net operating revenues of $591 million.

Electronic Health Records Incentive Reimbursement. The federal government has implemented a number of regulations and programs designed to promote the use of electronic health records (“EHR”) technology and, pursuant to the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (“HITECH”), established requirements for a Medicare and Medicaid incentive payments program for eligible hospitals and professionals that adopt and meaningfully use certified EHR technology. The Company utilizes a gain contingency model to recognize EHR incentive payments. Recognition occurs when the eligible hospitals adopt or demonstrate meaningful use of certified EHR technology for the applicable payment period and have available the Medicare cost report information for the relevant full cost report year used to determine the final incentive payment.

Medicaid EHR incentive payments are calculated based on prior period Medicare cost report information available at the time when eligible hospitals adopt, implement, upgrade or demonstrate meaningful use of certified EHR technology. Since the information for the relevant full Medicare cost report year is available at the time of attestation, the incentive income from resolving the gain contingency is recognized when eligible hospitals adopt, implement, upgrade or demonstrate meaningful use of certified EHR technology.

Medicare EHR incentive payments are calculated based on the Medicare cost report information for the full cost report year that began during the federal fiscal year in which meaningful use is demonstrated. Since the necessary information is only available at the end of the relevant full Medicare cost report year and after the cost report is settled, the incentive income from resolving the gain contingency is recognized when eligible hospitals demonstrate meaningful use of certified EHR technology and the information for the applicable full Medicare cost report year to determine the final incentive payment is available.

In some instances, the Company may receive estimated Medicare EHR incentive payments prior to when the Medicare cost report information used to determine the final incentive payment is available. In these instances, recognition of the gain for EHR incentive payments is deferred until all recognition criteria described above are met.

Eligibility for annual Medicare incentive payments is dependent on providers successfully attesting to the meaningful use of EHR technology. Medicaid incentive payments are available to providers in the first payment year that they adopt, implement or upgrade certified EHR technology; however, providers must demonstrate meaningful use of such technology in any subsequent payment years to qualify for additional incentive payments. Medicaid EHR incentive payments are fully funded by the federal government and administered by the states; however, the states are not required to offer EHR incentive payments to providers.

The Company recognized approximately $4 million, $28 million and $70 million for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively, of incentive reimbursement for HITECH incentives from Medicare and Medicaid related to certain of the Company’s hospitals and for certain of the Company’s employed physicians that have demonstrated meaningful use of certified EHR technology or have completed attestations to their adoption or implementation of certified EHR technology. These incentive reimbursements are presented as a reduction of operating costs and expenses on the consolidated statements of loss. The Company received cash related to the incentive reimbursement for HITECH incentives of approximately $4 million, $41 million and $123 million for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively. The Company recorded no deferred revenue in connection with the receipt of these cash payments at either December 31, 2018 or 2017.

Physician Income Guarantees. The Company enters into physician recruiting agreements under which it supplements physician income to a minimum amount over a period of time, typically one year, while the physicians establish themselves in the community. As part of the agreements, the physicians are committed to practice in the community for a period of time, typically three years, which extends beyond their income guarantee period. The Company records an asset and liability for the estimated fair value of minimum revenue guarantees on new agreements. Adjustments to the ultimate value of the guarantee paid to physicians are recognized in the period that the change in estimate is identified. The Company amortizes an asset over the life of the agreement. As of December 31, 2018 and 2017, the unamortized portion of these physician income guarantees was $24 million and $29 million, respectively.

Concentrations of Credit Risk. The Company grants unsecured credit to its patients, most of whom reside in the service area of the Company’s facilities and are insured under third-party payor agreements. Because of the economic diversity of the Company’s facilities and non-governmental third-party payors, Medicare represents the only significant concentration of credit risk from payors. Accounts receivable, net of contractual allowances, from Medicare was $283 million and $220 million at December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively, representing 5% and 4% of consolidated net accounts receivable, as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets. During the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company recorded a total combined impairment charge and loss on disposal of approximately $668 million, of which (i) approximately $423 million was recorded to reduce the carrying value of certain hospitals that have been sold or deemed held for sale based on the difference between the carrying value of the hospital disposal groups compared to estimated fair value less costs to sell, (ii) approximately $29 million was recorded to write-off the value of a promissory note received as consideration for the sale of three hospitals in 2017 where the buyer entered into bankruptcy proceedings, and (iii) approximately $216 million was recorded primarily to adjust the carrying value of other long-lived assets at several underperforming hospitals that have ceased operations or where the Company is in discussions with potential buyers for divestiture at a sales price that indicates a fair value below carrying value. Included in the carrying value of the hospital disposal groups at December 31, 2018 is a net allocation of approximately $186 million of goodwill allocated from the hospital operations reporting unit goodwill based on a calculation of the disposal groups’ relative fair value compared to the total reporting unit. The Company will continue to evaluate the potential for further impairment of the long-lived assets of underperforming hospitals as well as at hospitals where the Company is evaluating offers for potential sales. Based on such analysis, additional impairment charges may be recorded in the future.

During the year ended December 31, 2017, the Company recorded a total combined impairment charge and loss on disposal of approximately $388 million to reduce the carrying value of certain hospitals that have been deemed held for sale based on the difference between the carrying value of the hospital disposal groups compared to estimated fair value less costs to sell. Included in the carrying value of the hospital disposal groups at December 31, 2017 is a net allocation of approximately $7 million of goodwill allocated from the hospital operations reporting unit goodwill based on a calculation of the disposal groups’ relative fair value compared to the total reporting unit. Additionally, the Company recorded an impairment charge of approximately $341 million during the three months ended December 31, 2017 for several underperforming hospitals as well as for certain hospitals deemed held for sale or where the Company has received offers or executed non-binding letters of intent to sell the hospital.

Income Taxes. The Company accounts for income taxes under the asset and liability method, in which deferred income tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the tax consequences of “temporary differences” by applying enacted statutory tax rates applicable to future years to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and the tax bases of existing assets and liabilities. The effect on deferred taxes of a change in tax rates is recognized in the consolidated statement of loss during the period in which the tax rate change becomes law.

Comprehensive Loss. Comprehensive loss is the change in equity of a business enterprise during a period from transactions and other events and circumstances from non-owner sources.

Segment Reporting. A public company is required to report annual and interim financial and descriptive information about its reportable operating segments. Operating segments, as defined, are components of an enterprise about which separate financial information is available that is evaluated regularly by the chief operating decision maker in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance. Aggregation of similar operating segments into a single reportable operating segment is permitted if the businesses have similar economic characteristics and meet the criteria established by U.S. GAAP.

The Company operated in two distinct operating segments during 2016, represented by the hospital operations (which includes the Company’s acute care hospitals and related healthcare entities that provide inpatient and outpatient healthcare services) and the home care agencies operations (which provide in-home outpatient care). U.S. GAAP requires (1) that financial information be disclosed for operating segments that meet a 10% quantitative threshold of the consolidated totals of net revenue, profit or loss, or total assets; and (2) that the individual reportable segments disclosed contribute at least 75% of total consolidated net revenue. Based on these measures, only the hospital operations segment meets the criteria as a separate reportable segment. Financial information for the home care agencies segment does not meet the quantitative thresholds and is therefore combined with corporate into the all other reportable segment. Additionally, as discussed in Note 3, on December 31, 2016, the Company sold 80% of its ownership interest in the home care segment. Since January 1, 2017, the Company has operated in only one operating segment.

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities. The Company records derivative instruments on the consolidated balance sheet as either an asset or liability measured at its fair value. Changes in a derivative’s fair value are recorded each period in earnings or other comprehensive income (“OCI”), depending on whether the derivative is designated and is effective as a hedged transaction, and on the type of hedge transaction. Changes in the fair value of derivative instruments recorded to OCI are reclassified to earnings in the period affected by the underlying hedged item. Any portion of the fair value of a derivative instrument determined to be ineffective under the standard is recognized in current earnings.

The Company has entered into several interest rate swap agreements. See Note 8 for further discussion about the swap transactions.

New Accounting Pronouncements. In January 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-01, which amends the measurement, presentation and disclosure requirements for equity investments, other than those accounted for under the equity method or that require consolidation of the investee. The ASU eliminates the classification of equity investments as available-for-sale with any changes in fair value of such investments recognized in other comprehensive income, and requires entities to measure equity investments at fair value, with any changes in fair value recognized in net income. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, with early adoption permitted. To adopt this ASU, companies must record a cumulative-effect adjustment to beginning retained earnings at the beginning of the period of adoption. The Company adopted this ASU on January 1, 2018, and the adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact on its consolidated results of operations or financial position.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, which amends the accounting for leases, requiring lessees to recognize most leases on their balance sheet with a right-of-use asset and a corresponding lease liability. Leases will be classified as either finance or operating leases, which will impact the manner and timing of expense recognition of such leases over the lease term. The ASU also modifies the lease classification criteria for lessors and eliminates some of the real estate leasing guidance previously applied for certain leasing transactions. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted. The Company adopted this ASU on January 1, 2019. In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-11, which provides entities relief from the transition requirements in ASU 2016-02 by allowing them to elect not to recast prior comparative periods. The Company elected this method of transition upon adoption of this ASU. Because of the number of leases the Company utilizes to support its operations, the adoption of this ASU will have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, but is not expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s results of operations. The Company is substantially complete with its implementation efforts, pending final evaluation of the impact the adoption of this ASU will have on its consolidated financial statements. The Company estimates that total right-of-use assets and related operating lease liabilities between approximately $665 million and $715 million will be recorded on the consolidated balance sheet upon adoption. The adoption of this ASU is also not expected to have an impact on the Company’s compliance with debt covenants.

In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-07, which changes the presentation of the components of net periodic benefit cost for sponsors of defined benefit plans for pensions. Under the changes in this ASU, the service cost component of net periodic benefit cost is reported in the same income statement line as other employee compensation costs arising from services during the reporting period. The other components of net periodic benefit cost are presented separately in a line item outside of operating income. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, with early adoption permitted. The Company adopted this ASU on January 1, 2018, and the adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.

In August 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-12, which amends hedge accounting recognition and disclosure requirements to improve transparency and simplify the application of hedge accounting for certain hedging instruments. The amendments in this ASU that will have an impact on the Company include simplification of the periodic hedge effectiveness assessment, elimination of the benchmark interest rate concept for interest rate swaps, and enhancement of the ability to use the critical-terms match method for its cash flow hedges of forecasted interest payments. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted. The Company early adopted this ASU on January 1, 2018, and the adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.

In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-02, which allows a reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings for the stranded tax effects in accumulated other comprehensive income resulting from the enactment of the comprehensive tax legislation commonly referred to as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Tax Act”) and corresponding accounting treatment recorded in the fourth quarter of 2017. The ASU is effective for all entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption of the amendments in this ASU is permitted, including adoption in any interim period for reporting periods for which financial statements have not yet been issued. The Company early adopted this ASU on January 1, 2018, and the Company has elected to reclassify $6 million from accumulated other comprehensive loss to a decrease to accumulated deficit for these stranded tax effects. The stranded tax effects included in this adjustment relate solely to the reduction of the federal corporate tax rate as a result of the Tax Act. The Company’s accounting policy on releasing the income tax effects of amounts from Accumulated other comprehensive loss has been to apply such amounts on a portfolio basis.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-15 to provide guidance on the accounting for implementation costs incurred in a cloud computing arrangement that is accounted for as a service contract. This ASU requires entities to account for such costs consistent with the guidance on capitalizing costs associated with developing or obtaining internal-use software. The ASU is effective for all entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact that adoption of this ASU will have on its consolidated financial position and results of operations.