Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

12 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Composition of Certain Financial Statement Captions [Abstract]

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

2.    Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Principles of Consolidation.    The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Quality Systems, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, which consists of NextGen Healthcare Information Systems (“NextGen”), Lackland Acquisition II, LLC dba Healthcare Strategic Initiatives (“HSI”), Practice Management Partners, Inc. (“PMP”), Sphere Health Systems, Inc.(“Sphere”), Opus Healthcare Solutions, LLC (“Opus”), IntraNexus, Inc. (“IntraNexus”), CQI Solutions, Inc. (“CQI”), ViaTrack Systems, LLC (“ViaTrack”), and Quality Systems India Healthcare Private Limited (“QSIH”) (collectively, the “Company”). All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

Business Segments.    The Company has prepared operating segment information based on the manner in which management disaggregates the Company’s operations for making internal operating decisions. See Note 14.

Basis of Presentation.    The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”).References to amounts in the consolidated financial statement sections are in thousands, except shares and per share data, unless otherwise specified.

Revenue Recognition.    The Company generates revenue from the sale of licensing rights to its software products directly to end-users and value-added resellers, or VARs. The Company also generates revenue from sales of hardware and third-party software, implementation, training, electronic data interchange (“EDI”), post-contract support (maintenance) and other services, including revenue cycle management (“RCM”), performed for clients who license its products.

A typical system contract contains multiple elements of the above items. Revenue earned on software arrangements involving multiple elements is allocated to each element based on the relative fair values of those elements. The fair value of an element is based on vendor-specific objective evidence (“VSOE”). The Company limits its assessment of VSOE for each element to either the price charged when the same element is sold separately or the price established by management having the relevant authority to do so, for an element not yet sold separately. VSOE calculations are updated and reviewed quarterly or annually depending on the nature of the product or service. The Company has established VSOE for the related undelivered elements based on the bell-shaped curve method. Maintenance VSOE for the Company’s largest clients is based on stated renewal rates only if the rate is determined to be substantive and falls within the Company’s customary pricing practices.

When evidence of fair value exists for the delivered and undelivered elements of a transaction, then discounts for individual elements are aggregated and the total discount is allocated to the individual elements in proportion to the elements’ fair value relative to the total contract fair value.

When evidence of fair value exists for the undelivered elements only, the residual method is used. Under the residual method, the Company defers revenue related to the undelivered elements in a system sale based on VSOE of fair value of each of the undelivered elements and allocates the remainder of the contract price net of all discounts to revenue recognized from the delivered elements. If VSOE of fair value of any undelivered element does not exist, all revenue is deferred until VSOE of fair value of the undelivered element is established or the element has been delivered.

The Company records accounts receivable for the entire system sales contract amount upon contract execution except for arrangements that provide for services to be billed as incurred. Amounts billed in excess of the amounts contractually due are recorded in accounts receivable as advance billings. Amounts are contractually due when services are performed or in accordance with contractually specified payment dates. Provided the fees are fixed or determinable and collection is considered probable, revenue from licensing rights and sales of hardware and third-party software is generally recognized upon physical or electronic shipment and transfer of title. In certain transactions where collection risk is high, the revenue is deferred until collection occurs or becomes probable. If the fee is not fixed or determinable, then the revenue recognized in each period (subject to application of other revenue recognition criteria) will be the lesser of the aggregate of amounts due and payable or the amount of the arrangement fee that would have been recognized if the fees were being recognized using the residual method. Fees which are considered fixed or determinable at the inception of the Company’s arrangements must include the following characteristics:

• The fee must be negotiated at the outset of an arrangement and generally be based on the specific volume of products to be delivered without being subject to change based on variable pricing mechanisms such as the number of units copied or distributed or the expected number of users.

• Payment terms must not be considered extended. If a significant portion of the fee is due more than 12 months after delivery or after the expiration of the license, the fee is presumed not fixed or determinable.

Revenue from implementation and training services is recognized as the corresponding services are performed. Maintenance revenue is recognized ratably over the contractual maintenance period.

The Company ensures that the following criteria have been met prior to recognition of revenue:

• the price is fixed or determinable;

• the customer is obligated to pay and there are no contingencies surrounding the obligation or the payment;

• the customer’s obligation would not change in the event of theft or damage to the product;

• the customer has economic substance;

• the amount of returns can be reasonably estimated; and

• the Company does not have significant obligations for future performance in order to bring about resale of the product by the customer.

The Company has historically offered short-term rights of return in certain sales arrangements. If the Company is able to estimate returns for these types of arrangements, revenue is recognized, net of an allowance for returns, and these arrangements are recorded in the consolidated financial statements. If the Company is unable to estimate returns for these types of arrangements, revenue is not recognized in the consolidated financial statements until the rights of return expire, provided also, that all other criteria for revenue recognition have been met.

Revenue related to sales arrangements that include hosting or the right to use software stored on the Company’s hardware is recognized in accordance to the same revenue recognition criteria discussed above only if the customer has the contractual right to take possession of the software without incurring a significant penalty and it is feasible for the customer to either host the software themselves or through another third-party. Otherwise, the arrangement is accounted for as a service contract in which the entire arrangement is deferred and recognized over the period that the hosting services are being performed.

From time to time, the Company offers future purchase discounts on its products and services as part of its sales arrangements. Such discounts that are incremental to the range of discounts reflected in the pricing of the other elements of the arrangement, that are incremental to the range of discounts typically given in comparable transactions, and that are significant, are treated as an additional element of the contract to be deferred. Amounts deferred related to future purchase options are not recognized until either the customer exercises the discount offer or the offer expires.

RCM service revenue is derived from services fees, which include amounts charged for ongoing billing and other related services, and are generally billed to the customer as a percentage of total collections. The Company does not recognize revenue for services fees until these collections are made, as the services fees are not fixed or determinable until such time.

Revenue is divided into two categories, “system sales” and “maintenance, EDI, RCM and other services.” Revenue in the system sales category includes software license fees, third-party hardware and software and implementation and training services related to purchase of the Company’s software systems. Revenue in the maintenance, EDI, RCM and other services category includes maintenance, EDI, RCM services, follow on training and implementation services, annual third-party license fees, hosting services and other services revenue.

Cash and Cash Equivalents.    Cash and cash equivalents generally consist of cash, money market funds and short-term U.S. Treasury securities with maturities of 90 days or less at the time of purchase. The Company had cash deposits at U.S. banks and financial institutions at March 31, 2012 of which $132.4 million was in excess of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation insurance limit of $250,000 per owner. The Company is exposed to credit loss for amounts in excess of insured limits in the event of nonperformance by the institutions; however, the Company does not anticipate nonperformance by these institutions.

The money market fund in which the Company holds a portion of its cash invests in only investment grade money market instruments from a variety of industries, and therefore bears relatively low market risk.

Restricted Cash.    Restricted cash consists of cash which is being held by HSI acting as agent for the disbursement of certain state social services programs. The Company records an offsetting “Care Services liability” (see also Note 9) when it initially receives such cash from the government social service programs and relieves both restricted cash and the Care Services liability when amounts are disbursed. HSI earns an administrative fee which is based on a percentage of funds disbursed on behalf of certain government social service programs.

Marketable Securities.    Marketable securities are classified as available-for-sale and are recorded at fair value, based on quoted market rates when observable or valuation analysis when appropriate. Unrealized gains and losses, net of taxes, are included in shareholders’ equity. Realized gains and losses on investments are included as interest income.

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts.    The Company provides credit terms typically ranging from thirty days to less than twelve months for most system and maintenance contract sales and generally does not require collateral. The Company performs credit evaluations of its clients and maintains reserves for estimated credit losses. Reserves for potential credit losses are determined by establishing both specific and general reserves. Specific reserves are based on management’s estimate of the probability of collection for certain troubled accounts. General reserves are established based on the Company’s historical experience of bad debt expense and the aging of the Company’s accounts receivable balances, net of deferred revenue and specifically reserved accounts. Accounts are written off as uncollectible only after the Company has expended extensive collection efforts.

Included in accounts receivable are amounts related to maintenance and services which were billed, but which had not yet been rendered as of the end of the period. Undelivered maintenance and services are included as a component of deferred revenue (see also Note 9).

Inventories.    Inventories consist of hardware for specific client orders and spare parts and are valued at lower of cost (first-in, first-out) or market. Management provides a reserve to reduce inventory to its net realizable value.

Equipment and Improvements.    Equipment and improvements are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Repair and maintenance costs that do not improve service potential or extend economic life are expensed as incurred. Depreciation and amortization of equipment and improvements are recorded over the estimated useful lives of the assets, or the related lease terms if shorter, by the straight-line method. Useful lives generally have the following ranges:

•  Computers equipment	3-5 years
•  Furniture and fixtures	5-7 years
•  Furniture and fixtures	lesser of lease term or estimated useful life of asset

Costs incurred to develop internal-use software during the application development stage are capitalized, stated at cost, and amortized using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, which is seven years. Application development stage costs generally include costs associated with internal-use software configuration, coding, installation and testing. Costs of significant upgrades and enhancements that result in additional functionality are also capitalized, whereas costs incurred for maintenance and minor upgrades and enhancements are expensed as incurred.

Software Development Costs.    Development costs incurred in the research and development of new software products and enhancements to existing software products for external use are expensed as incurred until technological feasibility has been established. After technological feasibility is established, any additional external software development costs are capitalized and amortized on a straight-line basis over the estimated economic life of the related product, which is typically three years. The Company provides support services on the current and prior two versions of its software. Management performs an annual review of the estimated economic life and the recoverability of such capitalized software costs. If a determination is made that capitalized amounts are not recoverable based on the estimated cash flows to be generated from the applicable software, any remaining capitalized amounts are written off.

Business Combinations.    In accordance with the accounting for business combinations, the Company allocates the purchase price of acquired businesses to the tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on estimated fair values. The purchase price allocation methodology contains uncertainties because it requires management to make assumptions and to apply judgment to estimate the fair value of acquired assets and liabilities. Management estimates the fair value of assets and liabilities based upon quoted market prices, the carrying value of the acquired assets and widely accepted valuation techniques, including discounted cash flows and market multiple analyses. Unanticipated events or circumstances may occur which could affect the accuracy of our fair value estimates, including assumptions regarding industry economic factors and business strategies.

Goodwill.    The Company tests goodwill for impairment annually at the end of its first fiscal quarter, referred to as the annual test date, and has determined that there was no impairment to its goodwill as of June 30, 2011. The Company will also test for impairment between annual test dates if an event occurs or circumstances change that would indicate the carrying amount may be impaired. Impairment testing for goodwill is performed at a reporting-unit level, which is defined as an operating segment or one level below an operating segment (referred to as a component). A component of an operating segment is a reporting unit if the component constitutes a business for which discrete financial information is available and segment management regularly reviews the operating results of that component.

We have not made any material changes in the accounting methodology we use to assess impairment loss during the past three fiscal years. The first step of the impairment test involves comparing the fair values of the applicable reporting units with their carrying values. If the carrying amount of the reporting unit exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value, we perform the second step of the goodwill impairment test. The second step of the goodwill impairment test involves comparing the implied fair value of the affected reporting unit’s goodwill with the carrying value of that goodwill. The amount by which the carrying value of the goodwill exceeds its implied fair value, if any, is recognized as an impairment loss. As of March 31, 2012, the Company has not identified any events or circumstances that would require an interim goodwill impairment test. See Note 6.

Intangible Assets.    Intangible assets consist of customer relationships, trade names and certain software technology. These intangible assets are recorded at fair value and are stated net of accumulated amortization. The Company currently amortizes the intangible assets over periods ranging from three to nine years using a method that reflects the pattern in which the economic benefits of the intangible asset are consumed.

Long-Lived Assets.    The Company assesses the recoverability of long-lived assets at least annually or whenever adverse events or changes in circumstances indicate that impairment may have occurred. If the future undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use of the related assets are less than the carrying value of such assets, impairment has been incurred and a loss is recognized to reduce the carrying value of the long-lived assets to fair value, which is determined by discounting estimated future cash flows.

Management periodically reviews the carrying value of long-lived assets to determine whether or not impairment to such value has occurred and has determined that there was no impairment to its long-lived assets as of March 31, 2012. In addition to the recoverability assessment, the Company routinely reviews the remaining estimated lives of its long-lived assets.

Income Taxes.    Income taxes are provided based on current taxable income and the future tax consequences of temporary differences between the basis of assets and liabilities for financial and tax reporting. The deferred income tax assets and liabilities represent the future state and federal tax return consequences of those differences, which will either be taxable or deductible when the assets and liabilities are recovered or settled. Deferred income taxes are also recognized for operating losses that are available to offset future taxable income and tax credits that are available to offset future income taxes. At each reporting period, management assesses the realizable value of deferred tax assets based on, among other things, estimates of future taxable income and adjusts the related valuation allowance as necessary. Management makes a number of assumptions and estimates in determining the appropriate amount of expense to record for income taxes. These assumptions and estimates consider the taxing jurisdiction in which the Company operates as well as current tax regulations. Accruals are established for estimates of tax effects for certain transactions and future projected profitability of the Company’s businesses based on management’s interpretation of existing facts and circumstances.

Self-Insurance Liabilities.    Effective January 1, 2010, the Company became self-insured with respect to healthcare claims, subject to stop-loss limits. The Company accrues for estimated self-insurance costs and uninsured exposures based on claims filed and an estimate of claims incurred but not reported as of each balance sheet date. However, it is possible that recorded accruals may not be adequate to cover the future payment of claims. Adjustments, if any, to estimated accruals resulting from ultimate claim payments will be reflected in earnings during the periods in which such adjustments are determined. Periodically, the Company reevaluates the adequacy of the accruals by comparing amounts accrued on the balance sheets for anticipated losses to an updated actuarial loss forecasts and third-party claim administrator loss estimates and makes adjustments to the accruals as needed. The self-insurance accrual is included in other current liabilities. If any of the factors that contribute to the overall cost of insurance claims were to change, the actual amount incurred for the self-insurance liabilities would be directly affected.

As of March 31, 2012 and 2011, the self-insurance accrual was approximately $934 and $475, respectively, and is included in other current liabilities on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. If any of the factors that contribute to the overall cost of insurance claims were to change, the actual amount incurred for the self-insurance liabilities would be directly affected.

Advertising Costs.    Advertising costs are charged to operations as incurred. The Company does not have any direct-response advertising. Advertising costs, which include trade shows and conventions, were approximately $6,254, $7,122 and $6,198 for the years ended March 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively, and were included in selling, general and administrative expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of income.

Marketing Assistance Agreements.    The Company has entered into marketing assistance agreements with certain existing users of the Company’s products, which provide the opportunity for those users to earn commissions if they host specific site visits upon the Company’s request for prospective clients that directly result in a purchase of the Company’s software by the visiting prospects. Amounts earned by existing users under this program are treated as a selling expense in the period when earned.

Foreign Currency Translation.    The U.S. dollar is considered to be the functional currency for QSIH because it acts primarily as an extension of the Company’s operations. The determination of functional currency is primarily based on QSIH’s relative financial and operational dependence. Assets and liabilities are re-measured at current exchange rates, except for property and equipment, depreciation and investments, which are translated at historical exchange rates. Revenues and expenses are re-measured at weighted average exchange rates in effect during the year except for costs related to the above mentioned balance sheet items, which are translated at historical rates. Foreign currency gains and losses are included in other income (expense) in the consolidated statements of income. The net foreign currency gain (loss) for the year ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 was not significant.

Earnings per Share.    The Company provides dual presentation of “basic” and “diluted” earnings per share (“EPS”). Shares discussed below are in thousands.

Basic EPS excludes dilution from common stock equivalents and is computed by dividing income available to common shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted EPS reflects the potential dilution from common stock equivalents and is based on the assumption that the Company’s outstanding options are included in the calculation of diluted earnings per share, except when their effect would be anti-dilutive. Dilution is computed by applying the treasury stock method. Under this method, options are assumed to be exercised at the beginning of the period (or at the time of issuance, if later), and as if funds obtained thereby were used to purchase common stock at the average market price during the period. The following table reconciles the weighted-average shares outstanding for basic and diluted net income per share for the periods indicated:

	Fiscal Year Ended March 31,
	2012		2011		2010
Net income	$	75,657	$	61,606	$	48,379
Basic net income per share:
Weighted-average shares outstanding — Basic		58,729		57,894		57,270
Basic net income per common share	$	1.29	$	1.06	$	0.84
Net income	$	75,657	$	61,606	$	48,379
Diluted net income per share:
Weighted-average shares outstanding — Basic		58,729		57,894		57,270
Effect of potentially dilutive securities		320		342		322
Weighted-average shares outstanding — Diluted		59,049		58,236		57,592
Diluted net income per common share	$	1.28	$	1.06	$	0.84

The computation of diluted net income per share does not include 335, 514 and 150 options for the years ended March 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively, because their inclusion would have an anti-dilutive effect on net income per share.

Share-Based Compensation.    The Company estimates the fair value of share-based payment awards on the date of grant using an option-pricing model. Expected term is estimated using historical exercise experience. Volatility is estimated by using the weighted-average historical volatility of the Company’s common stock, which approximates expected volatility. The risk free rate is the implied yield available on the U.S Treasury zero-coupon issues with remaining terms equal to the expected term. The expected dividend yield is the average dividend rate during a period equal to the expected term of the option. Those inputs are then entered into the Black Scholes model to determine the estimated fair value. The value of the portion of the award that is ultimately expected to vest is recognized ratably as expense over the requisite service period in the Company’s consolidated statements of income.

Share-based compensation is adjusted on a quarterly basis for changes to estimated forfeitures based on a review of historical forfeiture activity. To the extent that actual forfeitures differ, or are expected to differ, from the estimate, share-based compensation expense is adjusted accordingly. The effect of the forfeiture adjustments for years ended March 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010 was not significant.

The following table shows total share-based compensation expense included in the consolidated statements of income for years ended March 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010:

	Fiscal Year Ended March 31,
	2012			2011			2010
Costs and expenses:
Cost of revenue	$	261		$	272		$	85
Research and development costs		184			152			108
Selling, general and administrative		2,876			3,324			1,880
Total share-based compensation		3,321			3,748			2,073
Amounts capitalized in software development costs		—			(2	)		(27	)
Amounts charged against earnings, before income tax benefit	$	3,321		$	3,746		$	2,046
Related income tax benefit		(1,236	)		(1,343	)		(608	)
Decrease in net income	$	2,085		$	2,403		$	1,438

Sales Taxes.    The Company records revenue net of sales tax obligation in the consolidated statements of income.

Use of Estimates.    The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. On an ongoing basis, the Company evaluates its estimates, including those related to uncollectible receivables, vendor specific objective evidence, self-insurance accruals and income taxes and related credits and deductions. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

New Accounting Standards.    In April 2010, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued an amendment to stock compensation. The amendment clarifies that an employee stock-based payment award with an exercise price denominated in the currency of a market in which a substantial portion of the entity’s equity shares trades should not be considered to contain a condition that is not a market, performance, or service condition. Therefore, an entity would not classify such an award as a liability if it otherwise qualifies as equity. The amendment is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning on or after December 15, 2010. There was no material impact from the adoption of this guidance on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations since the Company’s stock-based payment awards have an exercise price denominated in the same currency of the market in which the Company’s shares are traded.

In December 2010, FASB issued an amendment to the goodwill impairment test. The amendment modifies Step 1 of the goodwill impairment test for reporting units with zero or negative carrying amounts. For those reporting units, an entity is required to perform Step 2 of the goodwill impairment test if it is more likely than not that a goodwill impairment exists. In determining whether it is more likely than not that goodwill impairment exists, an entity should consider whether there are any adverse qualitative factors indicating that impairment may exist. The qualitative factors are consistent with the existing guidance and examples, which require that goodwill of a reporting unit be tested for impairment between annual tests if an event occurs or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying amount. The amendment is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2010. There was no material impact from the adoption of this guidance on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations since the Company does not have any reporting units with zero or negative carrying amounts.

In December 2010, FASB issued an amendment to the disclosure of supplementary pro forma information for business combinations. The amendment specifies that if a public entity presents comparative financial statements, the entity should disclose revenue and earnings of the combined entity as though the business combination that occurred during the current year had occurred as of the beginning of the comparable prior annual reporting period only. The amendment also expands the supplemental pro forma disclosures to include a description of the nature and amount of material, non-recurring pro forma adjustments directly attributable to the business combination included in the reported pro forma revenue and earnings. The amendment is effective prospectively for business combinations for which the acquisition date is on or after the beginning of the first annual reporting period beginning on or after December 15, 2010. The adoption of this guidance had no material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations, but may have an effect on the required disclosures for future business combinations.

In May 2011, FASB issued additional guidance on fair value measurements that clarifies the application of existing guidance and disclosure requirements, changes certain fair value measurement principles and requires additional disclosures about fair value measurements. The updated guidance is effective on a prospective basis for financial statements issued for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2011. The adoption of this guidance will not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.

In September 2011, FASB issued new accounting guidance intended to simplify goodwill impairment testing. Companies will be allowed to first perform a qualitative assessment on goodwill impairment to determine whether a quantitative assessment is necessary. This guidance is optional and effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011 with early adoption permitted. The Company is evaluating the option of adding a qualitative assessment to its goodwill impairment test.

In January 2012, FASB issued updated guidance regarding the presentation of comprehensive income. The new standard requires the presentation of comprehensive income, the components of net income and the components of other comprehensive income either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. The updated guidance is effective on a retrospective basis for financial statements issued for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2011. The adoption of this guidance will not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.