Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2021

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Organization

Organization:  CorVel Corporation (“CorVel” or “the Company”), incorporated in Delaware in 1987, is an independent nationwide provider of medical cost containment and managed care services designed to address the escalating medical costs of workers’ compensation benefits, automobile insurance claims, and group health insurance benefits. The Company’s services are provided to insurance companies, TPAs, governmental entities, and self-administered employers to assist them in managing the medical costs and monitoring the quality of care associated with healthcare claims.

Basis of Presentation

Basis of Presentation:  The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of CorVel and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. Significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to fiscal 2021 presentation. These changes had no impact on previously-reported results of operations or shareholders’ equity.

The Company evaluated all subsequent events and transactions through the date of this filing.  

Use of Estimates

Use of Estimates:  The preparation of financial statements in compliance with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the accompanying consolidated financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates.  Significant estimates include the values assigned to intangible assets, capitalized software development, the allowance for doubtful accounts, work in process, accrual for income taxes, share-based payments related to performance-based awards, loss contingencies, estimated lives of claims for claims administration revenue recognition, estimates used in stock options valuations, and accrual for self-insurance reserves.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and Cash Equivalents:  Cash and cash equivalents consist of short-term, interest-bearing highly-liquid investment-grade securities with maturities of 90 days or less when purchased. The carrying amounts of the Company’s financial instruments approximate their fair values at March 31, 2021 and 2020 due to the short-term nature of those instruments.  Customer deposits represent cash that is expected to be returned or applied towards payment within one year through the Company’s provider reimbursement services.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Fair Value of Financial Instruments: The Company applies ASC 820, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures,” which defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value, and provides for disclosures about fair value measurements,  with respect to fair value measurements of (i) nonfinancial assets and liabilities that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the Company’s consolidated financial statements on a recurring basis (at least annually) and (ii) all financial assets and liabilities. ASC 820 prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value into the following hierarchy:

Level 1 Quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities;

Level 2 Observable inputs other than those included in Level 1 (for example, quoted prices for similar assets in active markets or quoted prices for identical assets in inactive markets); and

Level 3 Unobservable inputs reflecting management’s own assumptions about the inputs used in estimating the value of the asset.

The carrying amount of the Company’s financial instruments (i.e. cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable, etc.) approximates their fair values at March 31, 2021 and 2020 due to the short-term nature of those instruments.  The Company has no financial instruments that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue Recognition: The Company adopted ASC 606 using the modified retrospective method for those contracts which were not substantially completed as of the transition date, which was April 1, 2018. The reported results for the three fiscal years ended March 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019 reflect the application of the guidance of ASC 606.

Revenue is recognized when control of the promised services is transferred to the Company’s customers in an amount that reflects the consideration expected to be entitled to in exchange for those services. As the Company completes its performance obligations which are identified in Note 2, it has an unconditional right to consideration as outlined in the Company’s contracts. Generally, the Company’s accounts receivable are expected to be collected in 30 days in accordance with the underlying payment terms.  For many of the Company’s services, the Company typically has one performance obligation; however, it also provides the customer with an option to acquire additional services. The Company offers multiple services under its patient management and network solutions service lines. The Company typically provides a menu of offerings from which the customer may choose to purchase. The price of each service is separate and distinct and provides a separate and distinct value to the customer. Pricing is generally consistent for each service irrespective of the other services or quantities requested by the customer.

In transactions related to third-party service revenue, which includes pharmacy, directed care services and other services provided by the Company’s integrated network solutions services, the Company is considered the principal, as it directs the third party, controls the specified service, performs program utilization review, directs payment to the provider, accepts the financial risk of loss associated with services rendered and combines the services provided into an integrated solution, as specified within the Company’s customer contracts. The Company has the ability to influence contractual fees with customers and possesses the financial risk of loss in certain contractual obligations. These factors indicate the Company is the principal and, as such, it is required to recognize revenue gross and service partner vendor fees in the cost of revenue in the Company’s consolidated income statements.

Accounts Receivable

Accounts Receivable:  The majority of the Company’s accounts receivable are due from companies in the property and casualty insurance industries, self-insured employers and governmental entities. Credit is extended based on evaluation of a customer’s financial condition and, generally, collateral is not required. Accounts receivable are generally due within 30 days and are stated at amounts due from customers net of an allowance for doubtful accounts. Those accounts outstanding longer than the contractual payment terms are considered past due. The Company determines its allowance by considering a number of factors, including the length of time trade accounts receivable are past due, the Company’s previous loss history, the customer’s current ability to pay its obligation to the Company, and the condition of the general economy and the industry as a whole. The Company writes off accounts receivable against the reserve when they become uncollectible. Accounts receivable includes $17,213,000, and $19,692,000 of unbilled receivables at March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.  Unbilled receivables represent the amounts expected to be collected for work performed which has not yet been invoiced to the customer.  Unbilled receivables are generally invoiced within one year.

Concentrations of Credit Risk

Concentrations of Credit Risk:  Substantially all of the Company’s customers are payors of workers’ compensation benefits and property and casualty insurance, which include insurance companies, third party administrators, self-insured employers and government entities.  Credit losses consistently have been within management’s expectations.  Virtually all of the Company’s cash is invested at financial institutions in amounts which exceed the FDIC insurance levels. No customer accounted for 10% or more of revenue for either fiscal 2021, 2020 or 2019.  One customer accounted for 10% or more of accounts receivable at March 31, 2021.  No customer accounted for 10% or more of accounts receivable at March 31, 2020.

Property and Equipment

Property and Equipment:  Additions to property and equipment are recorded at cost.   The Company provides for depreciation on property and equipment using the straight-line method by charges to operations in amounts that allocate the cost of depreciable assets over their estimated lives as follows:

Asset Classification Building Building Improvements Land Improvements	Estimated Useful Life 40 years 20 years 20 years
Leasehold Improvements	Shorter of 5 years or the life of lease
Furniture and Equipment	5 to 7 years
Computer Hardware	2 to 5 years
Computer Software	3 to 5 years

The Company accounts for internally-developed software costs in accordance with ASC 350-40, “Internal Use Software”.  Capitalized software development costs, intended for internal use, totaled $27,902,000 (net of $120,832,000 in accumulated amortization) and $27,859,000 (net of $109,749,000 in accumulated amortization), as of March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. These costs are included in computer software in property and equipment and are amortized over a period of five years.

Long-Lived Assets

Long-Lived Assets:  The carrying amount of all long-lived assets is evaluated periodically to determine if adjustment to the depreciation and amortization period or to the unamortized balance is warranted. Such evaluation is based principally on the expected utilization of the long-lived assets and the projected, undiscounted cash flows of the operations in which the long-lived assets are deployed.

Leases

Leases:  The Company adopted ASC 842 using the modified retrospective method and utilizing the effective date as the date of initial application.  The reported results for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 reflect the application of the guidance of ASC 842 while the reported results for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2019 were prepared under the guidance of ASC 840.  

The Company determines if an arrangement includes a lease at inception.  Right-of-use assets represent the Company’s right to use an underlying asset for the lease term; and lease liabilities represent the Company’s obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease.  Right-of-use assets and lease liabilities are recognized at the commencement date of the lease, renewal date of the lease or significant remodeling of the lease space based on the present value of the remaining future minimum lease payments.  Leases with a term greater than one year are recognized on the balance sheet as right-of-use assets and short-term and long-term lease liabilities, as applicable.

Operating lease liabilities and their corresponding right-of-use assets are initially recorded based on the present value of lease payments over the expected remaining lease term.  The interest rate implicit in lease contracts is typically not readily determinable.  As a result, we utilize our incremental borrowing rate to discount lease payments, which reflects the fixed rate at which we could borrow on a collateralized basis the amount of the lease payments in the same currency, for a similar term, in a similar economic environment.  The Company’s leases may include options to extend or terminate the lease which are included in the lease term when it is reasonably certain that we will exercise any such options.  Lease expense for lease payments is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term.

Goodwill and Long-Lived Assets

Goodwill and Indefinite Lived Long-Lived Assets:  The Company accounts for its business combinations in accordance with the ASC 805-10 through ASC 805-50, “Business Combinations,” which (i) requires that the purchase method of accounting be applied to all business combinations and (ii) addresses the criteria for initial recognition of intangible assets and goodwill. In accordance with ASC 350-10 through ASC 350-30, goodwill and other intangible assets with indefinite lives are not amortized but are tested for impairment annually at December 31, 2020, or more frequently if circumstances indicate the possibility of impairment. If the carrying value of goodwill or an intangible asset exceeds its fair value, an impairment loss will be recognized.  Based on the Company’s tests and reviews, no impairment of its goodwill, intangible assets or other long-lived assets existed at March 31, 2021.  However, future events or changes in current circumstances could affect the recoverability of the carrying value of goodwill and long-lived assets. Goodwill amounted to $36,814,000 (net of accumulated amortization of $2,069,000) at March 31, 2021 and at March 31, 2020.

Cost of Revenues

Cost of Revenues: Cost of services consists primarily of the compensation and fringe benefits of field personnel, including managers, medical bill analysts, field case managers, telephonic case managers, systems support, administrative support, account managers and account executives, and related facility costs including rent, telephone and office supplies. Historically, the costs associated with these additional personnel and facilities have been the most significant factor driving increases in the Company’s cost of services.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes: The Company provides for income taxes in accordance with provisions specified in ASC 740, “Accounting for Income Taxes”.  Accordingly, deferred income tax assets and liabilities are computed for differences between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities. These differences will result in taxable or deductible amounts in the future, based on tax laws and rates applicable to the periods in which the differences are expected to affect taxable income. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which temporary differences become deductible. In making an assessment regarding the probability of realizing a benefit from these deductible differences, management considers the Company’s current and past performance, the market environment in which the Company operates, tax-planning strategies and the length of carry-forward periods for loss carry-forwards, if any. Valuation allowances are established when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to amounts that are more likely than not to be realized. Further, the Company accrues for income tax issues not yet resolved with federal, state and local tax authorities, when it appears more likely than not that a tax liability has been incurred.

Share-Based Compensation

Share-Based Compensation: The Company accounts for share-based compensation in accordance with the provisions of ASC Topic 718 “Compensation – Stock Compensation”.  Under ASC 718, share-based compensation cost is measured at the grant date, based on the calculated fair value of the award, and is recognized as an expense over the requisite service period (generally the vesting period of the equity grant). The Company issues performance-based stock options which vest only upon the Company’s achievement of certain earnings per share targets on a calendar year basis, as determined by the Company’s Board of Directors. These options were valued in the same manner as the time-based options. However, the Company only recognizes stock compensation expense to the extent that the targets are determined to be probable of being achieved, which triggers the vesting of the performance options.

Accrual for Self-insurance Costs

Accrual for Self-insurance Costs:  The Company self-insures for the group medical costs and workers’ compensation costs of its employees. Management believes that the self-insurance reserves are appropriate; however, actual claims costs may differ from the original estimates requiring adjustments to the reserves.  The Company determines its estimated self-insurance reserves based upon historical trends along with outstanding claims information provided by its claims paying agents.

Earnings per Share

Earnings per Share:  Earnings per common share-basic is based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Earnings per common shares-diluted is based on the weighted average number of common shares and common share equivalents outstanding during the period. In calculating earnings per share, earnings are the same for the basic and diluted calculations. Weighted average shares outstanding is greater for diluted earnings per share due to the effect of stock options.

The difference between the basic weighted average shares and the diluted weighted average shares for each of the fiscal years ended March 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019 is as follows:

	Fiscal 2021		Fiscal 2020		Fiscal 2019
Basic weighted average shares		17,930,000		18,326,000		18,794,000
Treasury stock impact of stock options		236,000		276,000		214,000
Diluted weighted average shares		18,166,000		18,602,000		19,008,000

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

Guidance Adopted

In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12, “Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes”.  The pronouncement simplifies the accounting for income taxes by removing certain exceptions to the general principles in ASC Topic 740, “Income Taxes”.  The pronouncement also improves consistent application of and simplifies GAAP for other areas of Topic 740 by clarifying and amending existing guidance.  This standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020, with early adoption permitted.  Effective April 1, 2020, the Company adopted ASU 2019-12.  Adoption of the standard did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13 regarding ASC Topic 326, “Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments”. The pronouncement changes the impairment model for most financial assets and will require the use of an "expected loss" model for instruments measured at amortized cost. Under this model, entities will be required to estimate the lifetime expected credit loss on such instruments and record an allowance to offset the amortized cost basis of the financial asset, resulting in a net presentation of the amount expected to be collected on the financial asset. Subsequently, the FASB issued an amendment to clarify the implementation dates and items that fall within the scope of this pronouncement. This standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company has adopted this standard as of April 1, 2020. The adoption did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements. On an ongoing basis, the Company will contemplate forward-looking economic conditions in recording lifetime expected credit losses for the Company’s financial assets measured at cost.