SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2018

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

On January 1, 2018, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) and ASU 2015-14, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Deferral of the Effective Date (collectively, "ASC 606"), the new accounting standards issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") on revenue recognition, using the full retrospective method. ASC 606 outlines a single comprehensive model to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers. The standards supersede existing revenue recognition requirements and eliminate most industry-specific guidance from U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("U.S. GAAP"). The core principle of the revenue recognition standard is to require an entity to recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which it expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. As a result of the Company's adoption of ASC 606, the revenue and related estimated uncollectible amounts owed to us by non-Medicare payors that were historically classified as provision for doubtful accounts are now considered a price concession in determining net service revenue. Accordingly, the Company reports uncollectible balances due from third-party payors and uncollectible balances associated with patient responsibility as a reduction of the transaction price and therefore, as a reduction in net service revenue (or as it relates to Hospice room and board, an increase in cost of service, excluding depreciation and amortization) when historically these amounts were classified as provision for doubtful accounts within operating expenses within our consolidated statements of operations. In addition, the adoption of ASC 606 resulted in increased disclosure, including qualitative and quantitative disclosures about the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-01, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Clarifying the Definition of a Business, which provides guidance to assist entities with evaluating whether transactions should be accounted for as an acquisition (or disposal) of assets or a business. The ASU is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017. We adopted this ASU effective January 1, 2018, on a prospective basis. The impact on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures will depend on the facts and circumstances of any specific future transactions as evaluated under the new framework.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (Topic 350) - Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment, which eliminates the requirement to calculate the implied fair value of goodwill to measure a goodwill impairment charge (Step 2 of the goodwill impairment test). Instead, impairment will be measured using the difference between the carrying amount and the fair value of the reporting unit. The ASU is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted. We adopted this ASU effective January 1, 2018, on a prospective basis and will apply this guidance to our future tests of goodwill impairment.

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments, which provides specific guidance on eight cash flow classification issues not specifically addressed by U.S. GAAP. The ASU is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017. The standard should be applied using a retrospective transition method unless it is impractical to do so for some of the issues. In such case, the amendments for those issues would be applied prospectively as of the earliest date practicable. Our adoption of this standard on January 1, 2018, using a retrospective transition method for each period presented, did not have an effect on our consolidated financial statements.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvement to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting, which simplified the accounting for share-based payment award transactions, including income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liability, and classification within the statement of cash flows. The ASU was effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2016. We adopted this ASU effective January 1, 2017, and as a result, we recorded a $0.4 million increase to our non-current deferred tax asset and retained earnings for tax benefits that were not previously recognized under the prior rules. Additionally, on a prospective basis, we recorded excess tax benefits as a discrete item in our income tax provision within our consolidated statements of operations. We recorded excess tax benefits of $3.2 million within our consolidated statements of operations for the year ended December 31, 2017. Historically, these amounts were recorded as additional paid-in capital in our consolidated balance sheet. We also elected to prospectively apply the change to the presentation of cash payments made to taxing authorities on the employees' behalf for shares withheld upon stock vesting within our consolidated statements of cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2017. We have also elected to continue our current policy of estimating forfeitures of stock-based compensation awards at grant date and revising in subsequent periods to reflect actual forfeitures.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), which requires lessees to recognize a lease liability and right-of-use asset ("ROU asset") for all leases with a term greater than twelve months and to disclose key information about leasing arrangements. Topic 842 was subsequently amended by ASU 2018-01, Land Easement Practical Expedient for Transition to Topic 842; ASU 2018-10, Codification Improvements to Topic 842, Leases; and ASU 2018-11, Targeted Improvements (collectively, "Topic 842"). Under Topic 842, leases will be classified as either financing or operating. The classification will determine the pattern of expense recognition and classification within the income statement.

Topic 842 is effective for us on January 1, 2019, with early adoption permitted. We expect to adopt the new standard on the effective date using a modified retrospective transition approach, which requires the new standard to be applied to all leases existing at the date of initial application. An entity may choose to use either (1) its effective date or (2) the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements as its date of initial application. We will use the effective date as our date of initial application. Consequently, financial information will not be updated and the disclosures required under the new standard will not be provided for dates and periods before January 1, 2019.

The new standard provides several optional practical expedients that can be adopted at transition. We expect to elect the "package of practical expedients," which allows us to not reassess our prior conclusions regarding lease identification, lease classification and initial direct costs. We do not expect to elect the use-of-hindsight or the practical expedient pertaining to land easements; the latter not being applicable to us.

We expect adoption of this standard to have a material effect on our financial statements. We are still evaluating the overall impact of adoption; however, we currently believe the most significant effects relate to (1) the recognition of new ROU assets and lease liabilities on our balance sheet for our real estate and fleet operating leases; and (2) significant new disclosures about our leasing activities. We do not expect a significant change in our leasing activities between now and adoption.

On adoption, we are expecting to recognize additional operating liabilities of approximately $80 million, with corresponding ROU assets of approximately the same amount, based on the present value of the remaining minimum rental payments under current leasing arrangements for our existing operating leases.

The new standard also provides practical expedients for an entity’s ongoing accounting. We are planning to elect the practical expedient that allows us to not separate lease and non-lease components for all of our leases. We are also planning to apply the short-term lease recognition exemption to certain information technology leases; therefore, we will not recognize ROU assets and lease liabilities for these leases.

Use of Estimates

Our accounting and reporting policies conform with U.S. GAAP. In preparing the consolidated financial statements, we are required to make estimates and assumptions that impact the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could materially differ from those estimates.

Reclassifications and Comparability

Certain reclassifications have been made to prior periods’ financial statements in order to conform to the current period’s presentation.

Principles of Consolidation

These consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Amedisys, Inc., and our wholly owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in our accompanying consolidated financial statements, and business combinations accounted for as purchases have been included in our consolidated financial statements from their respective dates of acquisition. In addition to our wholly owned subsidiaries, we also have certain equity investments that are accounted for as set forth below.

Investments

We consolidate investments when the entity is a variable interest entity and we are the primary beneficiary or if we have controlling interests in the entity, which is generally ownership in excess of 50%. Third party equity interests in our consolidated joint ventures are reflected as noncontrolling interests in our consolidated financial statements. During 2016, we sold a 30% interest in one of our care centers while maintaining a controlling interest in the newly formed joint venture; we repurchased the 30% interest during 2018.

We account for investments in entities in which we have the ability to exercise significant influence under the equity method if we hold 50% or less of the voting stock and the entity is not a variable interest entity in which we are the primary beneficiary. During 2018, we made a $7.0 million investment in a healthcare analytics company; this investment will be accounted for under the equity method. The book value of investments that we account for under the equity method of accounting is $35.1 million and $26.4 million as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively and is reflected in other assets within our consolidated balance sheets.

We account for investments in entities in which we have less than a 20% ownership interest under the cost method of accounting if we do not have the ability to exercise significant influence over the investee.

Revenue Recognition

Our adoption of ASC 606 on January 1, 2018, on a full retrospective basis, impacted the Company's previously reported results as follows (amounts in thousands):



	As Previously Reported			Adjustment for the Adoption of ASC 606			As Adjusted
	As of December 31, 2017
Consolidated Balance Sheets
Patient accounts receivable	$	201,196		$	—		$	201,196
Allowance for doubtful accounts	$	20,866		$	(20,866	)	$	—

	For the year ended December 31, 2017
Consolidated Statements of Operations
Net service revenue	$	1,533,680		$	(22,408	)	$	1,511,272
Cost of service, excluding depreciation and amortization	$	900,726		$	2,651		$	903,377
Provision for doubtful accounts	$	25,059		$	(25,059	)	$	—
Net income attributable to Amedisys, Inc.	$	30,301		$	—		$	30,301

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Provision for doubtful accounts	$	25,059		$	(25,059	)	$	—
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of impact of acquisitions:
Patient accounts receivable	$	(59,731	)	$	25,059		$	(34,672	)

	For the year ended December 31, 2016
Consolidated Statements of Operations
Net service revenue	$	1,437,454		$	(18,193	)	$	1,419,261
Cost of service, excluding depreciation and amortization	$	833,055		$	1,326		$	834,381
Provision for doubtful accounts	$	19,519		$	(19,519	)	$	—
Net income attributable to Amedisys, Inc.	$	37,261		$	—		$	37,261

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Provision for doubtful accounts	$	19,519		$	(19,519	)	$	—
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of impact of acquisitions:
Patient accounts receivable	$	(55,519	)	$	19,519		$	(36,000	)

We account for revenue from contracts with customers in accordance with ASC 606, and as such, we recognize revenue in the period in which we satisfy our performance obligations under our contracts by transferring our promised services to our customers in amounts that reflect the consideration to which we expect to be entitled in exchange for providing patient care, which are the transaction prices allocated to the distinct services. The Company's cost of obtaining contracts is not material.

Revenues are recognized as performance obligations are satisfied, which varies based on the nature of the services provided. Our performance obligation is the delivery of patient care services in accordance with the nature and frequency of services outlined in physicians' orders, which are determined by a physician based on a patient's specific goals.

The Company's performance obligations relate to contracts with a duration of less than one year; therefore, the Company has elected to apply the optional exemption provided by ASC 606 and is not required to disclose the aggregate amount of the transaction price allocated to performance obligations that are unsatisfied or partially unsatisfied as of the end of the reporting period. The unsatisfied or partially unsatisfied performance obligations are generally completed when the patients are discharged, which generally occurs within days or weeks of the end of the reporting period.

We determine the transaction price based on gross charges for services provided, reduced by estimates for explicit and implicit price concessions. Explicit price concessions include contractual adjustments provided to patients and third-party payors. Implicit price concessions include discounts provided to self-pay, uninsured patients or other payors, adjustments resulting from payment reviews and adjustments arising from our inability to obtain appropriate billing documentation, authorizations or face-to-face documentation. Subsequent changes to the estimate of the transaction price are recorded as adjustments to net service revenue in the period of change. Subsequent changes that are determined to be the result of an adverse change in the patient's ability to pay (i.e. change in credit risk) are recorded as a provision for doubtful accounts.

Explicit price concessions are recorded for the difference between our standard rates and the contracted rates to be realized from patients, third party payors and others for services provided.

Implicit price concessions are recorded for self-pay, uninsured patients and other payors by major payor class based on our historical collection experience, aged accounts receivable by payor and current economic conditions. The implicit price concession represents the difference between amounts billed and amounts we expect to collect based on our collection history with similar payors. The Company assesses its ability to collect for the healthcare services provided at the time of patient admission based on the Company's verification of the patient's insurance coverage under Medicare, Medicaid, and other commercial or managed care insurance programs. Medicare represents approximately 73% of the Company's consolidated net service revenue.

Amounts due from third-party payors, primarily commercial health insurers and government programs (Medicare and Medicaid), include variable consideration for retroactive revenue adjustments due to settlements of audits and reviews. We determine our estimates for price concessions related to payment reviews based on our historical experience and success rates in the claim appeals and adjudication process. Revenue is recorded at amounts we estimate to be realizable for services provided.

We determine our estimates for price concessions related to our inability to obtain appropriate billing documentation, authorizations, or face-to-face documentation based on our historical experience, which primarily includes a historical collection rate of over 99% on Medicare claims.

Revenue by payor class as a percentage of total net service revenue is as follows:



	As of December 31,
	2018		2017		2016
Home Health Medicare	50	%	53	%	58	%
Home Health Non-Medicare - Episodic-based	9	%	8	%	6	%
Home Health Non-Medicare - Non-episodic based	12	%	11	%	11	%
Hospice Medicare	23	%	23	%	21	%
Hospice Non-Medicare	1	%	1	%	1	%
Personal Care	5	%	4	%	3	%
	100	%	100	%	100	%

Home Health Revenue Recognition

Medicare Revenue

Net service revenue is recorded under the Medicare prospective payment system (“PPS”) based on an established Federal Medicare home health episode payment rate, that is subject to adjustment based on certain variables including, but not limited to: (a) an outlier payment if a patient’s care was unusually costly (capped at 10% of total reimbursement per provider number); (b) a low utilization payment adjustment (“LUPA”) if the number of visits was four or fewer; (c) a partial payment if a patient transferred to another provider or we admitted a patient transferring from another provider before completing the episode; (d) a payment adjustment based upon the level of therapy services required (with various incremental adjustments made for additional visits, with larger payment increases associated with the sixth, fourteenth and twentieth visit thresholds); (e) the number of episodes of care provided to a patient, regardless of whether the same home health provider provided care for the entire series of episodes; (f) changes in the base episode payments established by the Medicare Program; and (g) adjustments to the base episode payments for case mix and geographic wages. Medicare rates are based on the severity of the patient's condition, service needs and goals, and other factors relating to the cost of providing services and supplies, bundled into an episode of care, not to exceed 60 days. An episode starts the first day a billable visit is performed and ends 60 days later or upon discharge, if earlier, with multiple continuous episodes allowed.

The Medicare home health benefit requires that beneficiaries be homebound (meaning that the beneficiary is unable to leave their home without a considerable and taxing effort), require intermittent skilled nursing, physical therapy or speech therapy services, and receive treatment under a plan of care established and periodically reviewed by a physician. All Medicare contracts are required to have a signed plan of care which represents a single performance obligation, comprising of the delivery of a series of distinct services that are substantially similar and have a similar pattern of transfer to the customer. Accordingly, the Company accounts for the series of services ("episode") as a single performance obligation satisfied over time, as the customer simultaneously receives and consumes the benefits of the goods and services provided. Expected Medicare revenue per episode is recognized based on a pro-rated service output method, utilizing our historical average length of episode prior to discharge.

The base episode payment can be adjusted based on each patient's health including clinical condition, functional abilities, and service needs, as well as for the applicable geographic wage index, low utilization, patient transfers and other factors. The services covered by the episode payment include all disciplines of care in addition to medical supplies. Medicare can also make various adjustments to payments received if we are unable to produce appropriate billing documentation or acceptable authorizations. In addition, we make adjustments to Medicare revenue if we find we are unable to obtain appropriate billing documentation, authorizations or face-to-face documentation. We estimate the impact of such adjustments based on our historical experience, which primarily includes a historical collection rate of over 99% on Medicare claims, and record this estimate during the period in which services are rendered as an estimated price concession and a corresponding reduction to patient accounts receivable.

A portion of reimbursement from each Medicare episode is billed near the start of each episode, and cash is typically received before all services are rendered. The amount of revenue recognized for episodes of care which are incomplete at period end is based on the company's average percentage of days complete on episodes as of the end of the year. As of December 31, 2018 and 2017, the difference between the cash received from Medicare for a request for anticipated payment (“RAP”) on episodes in progress and the associated estimated revenue was immaterial and, therefore, the resulting credits were recorded as a reduction to our outstanding patient accounts receivable in our consolidated balance sheets for such periods.

Non-Medicare Revenue

Episodic-based Revenue. We recognize revenue in a similar manner as we recognize Medicare revenue for episodic-based rates that are paid by other insurance carriers, including Medicare Advantage programs; however, these rates can vary based upon the negotiated terms which generally range from 90% to 100% of Medicare rates.

Non-episodic based Revenue. Gross revenue is recorded on an accrual basis based upon the date of service at amounts equal to our established or estimated per-visit rates. Explicit price concessions are recorded for the difference between our standard rates and the contracted rates to be realized from patients, third parties and others for services provided and are deducted from gross revenue to determine net service revenue. We also make adjustments to non-episodic revenue for any implicit price concessions, based on historical experience, to reflect the estimated transaction price. We receive a minimal amount of our net service revenue from patients who are either self-insured or are obligated for an insurance co-payment.

Hospice Revenue Recognition

Hospice Medicare Revenue

Gross revenue is recorded on an accrual basis based upon the date of service at amounts equal to the estimated payment rates. The estimated payment rates are predetermined daily or hourly rates for each of the four levels of care we deliver. The four levels of care are routine care, general inpatient care, continuous home care and respite care. Routine care accounted for 97% of our total net Medicare hospice service revenue for each of 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively. There are two separate payment rates for routine care: payments for the first 60 days of care and care beyond 60 days. In addition to the two routine rates, we may also receive a service intensity add-on (“SIA”). The SIA is based on visits made in the last seven days of life by a registered nurse (“RN”) or medical social worker (“MSW”) for patients in a routine level of care.

The performance obligation is the delivery of hospice services to the patient, as determined by a physician, each day the patient is on hospice care.

We make adjustments to Medicare revenue for our inability to obtain appropriate billing documentation or acceptable authorizations and other reasons unrelated to credit risk. We estimate the impact of these adjustments based on our historical experience, which primarily includes a historical collection rate of over 99% on Medicare claims, and record it during the period services are rendered as an estimated price concession and as a reduction to our outstanding patient accounts receivable.

Additionally, our hospice service revenue is subject to certain limitations on payments from Medicare which are considered variable consideration. We are subject to an inpatient cap limit and an overall Medicare payment cap for each provider number. We monitor these caps on a provider-by-provider basis and estimate amounts due back to Medicare if we estimate a cap has been exceeded. We record these adjustments as a reduction to revenue and an increase in accrued expenses within our consolidated balance sheet. Beginning for the cap year ending October 31, 2017, providers are required to self-report and pay their estimated cap liability by February 28th of the following year. As of December 31, 2018, we have settled our Medicare hospice reimbursements for all fiscal years through October 31, 2012. As of December 31, 2018, we have recorded $1.7 million for estimated amounts due back to Medicare in accrued expenses for the Federal cap years ended October 31, 2013 through September 30, 2019. As of December 31, 2017, we had recorded $0.9 million for estimated amounts due back to Medicare in accrued expenses for the Federal cap years ended October 31, 2013 through September 30, 2018.

Hospice Non-Medicare Revenue

Gross revenue is recorded on an accrual basis based upon the date of service at amounts equal to our established rates or estimated per day rates, as applicable. Explicit price concessions are recorded for the difference between our established rates and the amounts estimated to be realizable from patients, third parties and others for services provided and are deducted from gross revenue to determine our net service revenue. We also make adjustments to non-Medicare revenue for any implicit price concessions, based on historical experience, to reflect the estimated transaction price.

Personal Care Revenue Recognition

Personal Care Revenue

We generate net service revenues by providing our services directly to patients based on authorized hours, visits or units determined by the relevant agency, at a rate that is either contractual or fixed by legislation. Net service revenue is recognized at the time services are rendered based on gross charges for the services provided, reduced by estimates for price concessions. We receive payment for providing such services from payors, including state and local governmental agencies, managed care organizations, commercial insurers and private consumers. Payors include the following elder service agencies: Aging Services Access Points (ASAPs), Senior Care Options (SCOs), Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) and the Veterans Administration (VA).

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include certificates of deposit and all highly liquid debt instruments with maturities of three months or less when purchased.

Patient Accounts Receivable

We report accounts receivable from services rendered at their estimated transaction price, which includes price concessions based on the amounts expected to be due from payors. Our patient accounts receivable are uncollateralized and consist of amounts due from Medicare, Medicaid, other third-party payors and patients. As of December 31, 2018, there is no single payor, other than Medicare, that accounts for more than 10% of our total outstanding patient receivables. Thus, we believe there are no other significant concentrations of receivables that would subject us to any significant credit risk in the collection of our patient accounts receivable. We write off accounts on a monthly basis once we have exhausted our collection efforts and deem an account to be uncollectible. We believe the collectibility risk associated with our Medicare accounts, which represent 56% and 59% of our net patient accounts receivable at December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively, is limited due to our historical collection rate of over 99% from Medicare and the fact that Medicare is a U.S. government payor.

We do not believe there are any significant concentrations of revenues from any payor that would subject us to any significant credit risk in the collection of our accounts receivable.

Medicare Home Health

For our home health patients, our pre-billing process includes verifying that we are eligible for payment from Medicare for the services that we provide to our patients. Our Medicare billing begins with a process to ensure that our billings are accurate through the utilization of an electronic Medicare claim review. We submit a RAP for 60% of our estimated payment for the initial episode at the start of care or 50% of the estimated payment for any subsequent episodes of care contiguous with the first episode for a particular patient. The full amount of the episode is billed after the episode has been completed (“final billed”). The RAP received for that particular episode is then deducted from our final payment. If a final bill is not submitted within the greater of 120 days from the start of the episode, or 60 days from the date the RAP was paid, any RAPs received for that episode will be recouped by Medicare from any other claims in process for that particular provider number. The RAP and final claim must then be resubmitted.

Medicare Hospice

For our hospice patients, our pre-billing process includes verifying that we are eligible for payment from Medicare for the services that we provide to our patients. Our Medicare billing begins with a process to ensure that our billings are accurate through the utilization of an electronic Medicare claim review. We bill Medicare on a monthly basis for the services provided to the patient.

Non-Medicare Home Health, Hospice, and Personal Care

For our non-Medicare patients, our pre-billing process primarily begins with verifying a patient’s eligibility for services with the applicable payor. Once the patient has been confirmed for eligibility, we will provide services to the patient and bill the applicable payor. Our review and evaluation of non-Medicare accounts receivable includes a detailed review of outstanding balances and special consideration to concentrations of receivables from particular payors or groups of payors with similar characteristics that would subject us to any significant credit risk.

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment is stated at cost and depreciated on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets or life of the lease, if shorter. Additionally, we have internally developed computer software for our own use. Additions and improvements (including interest costs for construction of qualifying long-lived assets) are capitalized. Maintenance and repair expenses are charged to expense as incurred. The cost of property and equipment sold or disposed of and the related accumulated depreciation are eliminated from the property and related accumulated depreciation accounts, and any gain or loss is credited or charged to other general and administrative expenses.

We assess the impairment of a long-lived asset group whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the asset’s carrying value may not be recoverable. Factors we consider important that could trigger an impairment review include but are not limited to the following:


•	A significant change in the extent or manner in which the long-lived asset group is being used.


•	A significant change in the business climate that could affect the value of the long-lived asset group.


•	A significant change in the market value of the assets included in the asset group.

If we determine that the carrying value of long-lived assets may not be recoverable, we compare the carrying value of the asset group to the undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by the asset group. If the carrying value exceeds the undiscounted cash flows, an impairment charge is indicated. An impairment charge is recognized to the extent that the carrying value of the asset group exceeds its fair value.

We generally provide for depreciation over the following estimated useful service lives.



	Years
Building	39
Leasehold improvements	Lesser of lease term or expected useful life
Equipment and furniture	3 to 7
Vehicles	5
Computer software	3 to 5
Capital leases	3

During 2015, we began the transition of all our care centers from our proprietary operating system to Homecare Homebase (“HCHB”), a leading home health and hospice platform, with all of our care centers operating on HCHB as of December 31, 2016. As part of our conversion process, we determined that a number of assets (primarily laptops) were not compatible with HCHB and had no other alternative or secondary use. As a result, we recorded a non-cash asset impairment charge of $4.4 million to write-off these assets during the year ended December 31, 2016.

During 2018, we reviewed the balances of our property and equipment and as a result, eliminated those asset balances and related accumulated depreciation for which the asset was no longer in service.

The following table summarizes the balances related to our property and equipment for 2018 and 2017 (amounts in millions):



	As of December 31,
	2018			2017
Building and leasehold improvements	8.7			7.8
Equipment and furniture	53.4			72.9
Capital leases	2.9			—
Computer software	59.9			97.2
	124.9			177.9
Less: accumulated depreciation	(95.5		)	(146.8		)
	$	29.4		$	31.1

Depreciation expense for 2018, 2017 and 2016 was $10.8 million, $14.4 million and $17.2 million, respectively.

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

Goodwill represents the amount of the purchase price in excess of the fair values assigned to the underlying identifiable net assets of acquired businesses. Goodwill is not amortized, but is subject to an annual impairment test. Tests are performed more frequently if events occur or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of the reporting unit below its carrying amount. These events or circumstances include, but are not limited to, a significant adverse change in the business environment, regulatory environment or legal factors, or a substantial decline in the market capitalization of our stock.

Each of our operating segments described in Note 13 – Segment Information is considered to represent an individual reporting unit for goodwill impairment testing purposes. We consider each of our home health care centers to constitute an individual business for which discrete financial information is available. However, since these care centers have substantially similar operating and economic characteristics and resource allocation and significant investment decisions concerning these businesses are centralized and the benefits broadly distributed, we have aggregated these care centers and deemed them to constitute a single reporting unit. We have applied this same aggregation principle to our hospice and personal-care care centers and have also deemed each of them to be a single reporting unit.

During 2018, we performed a qualitative assessment to determine if it is more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting units are less than their carrying values by evaluating relevant events and circumstances including financial performance, market conditions and share price. Based on this assessment, we did not record any goodwill impairment charges and none of the goodwill associated with our various reporting units was considered at risk of impairment as of October 31, 2018. Since the date of our last annual goodwill impairment test, there have been no material developments, events, changes in operating performance or other circumstances that would cause management to believe it is more likely than not that the fair value of any of our reporting units would be less than their carrying amounts.

Intangible assets consist of Certificates of Need, licenses, acquired names and non-compete agreements. We amortize non-compete agreements and acquired names that we do not intend to use in the future on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives, which is generally three years for non-compete agreements and up to five years for acquired names. Our indefinite-lived intangible assets are reviewed for impairment annually or more frequently if events occur or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of the intangible asset below its carrying amount. During 2018, we performed a qualitative assessment to determine that our indefinite-lived intangible assets were not impaired. There have been no material developments, events, changes in operating performance or other circumstances that would cause management to believe it is more likely than not that the fair value of any of our intangible assets would be less than their carrying amounts.

Debt Issuance Costs

During 2018, we recorded an additional $2.4 million in deferred debt issuance costs as a reduction to long-term obligations, less current portion in our consolidated balance sheet in connection with our new Credit Agreement (See Note 6 - Long-Term Obligations). As of December 31, 2018 and 2017, we had unamortized debt issuance costs of $3.5 million and $1.9 million, respectively, recorded as long-term obligations, less current portion in our accompanying consolidated balance sheets. We amortize deferred debt issuance costs related to our long-term obligations over the term of the obligation through interest expense, unless the debt is extinguished, in which case unamortized balances are immediately expensed.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The fair value hierarchy is based on three levels of inputs, of which the first two are considered observable and the last unobservable, that may be used to measure fair value. The three levels of inputs are as follows:


•	Level 1 – Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities.


•	Level 2 – Inputs other than Level 1 that are observable, either directly or indirectly, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.


•	Level 3 – Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities.

Our deferred compensation plan assets are recorded at fair value and are considered a level 2 measurement. For our other financial instruments, including our cash and cash equivalents, patient accounts receivable, accounts payable, payroll and employee benefits and accrued expenses, we estimate the carrying amounts approximate fair value.

Income Taxes

We use the asset and liability approach for measuring deferred tax assets and liabilities based on temporary differences existing at each balance sheet date using currently enacted tax rates. Our deferred tax calculation requires us to make certain estimates about future operations. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance when we believe it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The effect of a change in tax rate is recognized as income or expense in the period that includes the enactment date. As of December 31, 2018 and 2017, our net deferred tax assets were $35.8 million and $56.1 million, respectively. Our net deferred tax asset at December 31, 2017 was reduced $21.4 million as a result of the remeasurement of deferred taxes using the reduced U.S. corporate tax rates included in H.R. 1 (Tax Cuts and Jobs Act) enacted on December 22, 2017.

Management regularly assesses the ability to realize deferred tax assets recorded in the Company’s entities based upon the weight of available evidence, including such factors as the recent earnings history and expected future taxable income. In the event future taxable income is below management’s estimates or is generated in tax jurisdictions different than projected, we could be required to increase the valuation allowance for deferred tax assets. This would result in an increase in our effective tax rate.

Share-Based Compensation

We record all share-based compensation as expense in the financial statements measured at the fair value of the award. We recognize compensation cost on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period for each separately vesting portion of the award. Upon adoption of ASU 2016-09 in 2017, we started recording the excess tax benefits related to stock option exercises as operating cash flows; these amounts were previously classified as financing cash flows.

Weighted-Average Shares Outstanding

Net income per share attributable to Amedisys, Inc. common stockholders, calculated on the treasury stock method, is based on the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the period.

Advertising Costs

We expense advertising costs as incurred.