Nature Of Operations And Consolidation Of Financial Statements

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Nature Of Operations And Consolidation Of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Nature Of Operations And Consolidation Of Financial Statements

1. NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND CONSOLIDATION OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Amedisys, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its consolidated subsidiaries ("Amedisys," "we," "us," or "our") are a multi-state provider of home health and hospice services with approximately 85%, 86% and 88% of our revenue derived from Medicare for 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively. As of December 31, 2011, we had 440 Medicare-certified home health care centers, 87 Medicare-certified hospice care centers and two hospice inpatient units in 41 states within the United States, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.

Use of Estimates

Our accounting and reporting policies conform with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("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. As a result of our growth through acquisition and start-up activities and our care center mergers, our operating results may not be comparable for the periods that are presented.

During 2011 and 2010, management committed to exit 29 and 23 operating care centers, respectively. In accordance with applicable accounting guidance the results of operations for these care centers are presented in discontinued operations in our consolidated financial statements. See Note 4 for additional information regarding our discontinued operations.

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.

Equity Investments

We consolidate subsidiaries and/or joint ventures 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.

For subsidiaries or joint ventures in which we do not have a controlling interest or for which we are not the primary beneficiary, we record such investments under the equity method of accounting.