Amedisys Reports Fourth Quarter and 2004 Year End Results Company Reports Record Full Year Revenue and Net Income BATON ROUGE, La., March 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Amedisys, Inc. (Nasdaq: AMED, "Amedisys" or "the Company"), one of America's leading home health nursing companies, today reported its financial results for the fourth quarter and the year ended December 31, 2004. For the year ended December 31, 2004, the Company reported record net income of $20.5 million, or $1.51 per diluted share, on net service revenue of $227.1 million. For the same period in the previous year, Amedisys reported net income of $8.4 million, or $0.83 per diluted share, on net service revenue of $142.5 million. The diluted weighted average number of shares outstanding approximated 13.5 million in the year ended December 31, 2004 and 10.1 million in the comparable period of 2003. For the quarter ended December 31, 2004, the Company reported record net income of $6.1 million, or $0.39 per diluted share, on record net service revenue of $64.4 million. Net service revenue increased by 53 percent when compared with the $42.1 million reported for the comparable period in the prior year. Amedisys reported net income of $3.4 million, or $0.30 per diluted share for the quarter ended December 31, 2003. The diluted weighted average number of shares outstanding approximated 15.6 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2004 and 11.2 million for the comparable period of 2003. "Our record revenue and net income, both for the quarter and the full year, are indicative of the Company's strong, and ongoing, commitment to both organic growth and selective acquisitions," noted William F. Borne, Chief Executive Officer of Amedisys. "We reported an increase in net income for the year ended December 31, 2004 of approximately 144 percent when compared with the prior year. Our results exceeded guidance previously communicated due, in part, to the continued strong internal growth of Medicare admissions. This growth rate was approximately 27 percent for the fourth quarter, and 28 percent for the year, and reflects the significant efforts made by all our field staff towards further enhancing the clinical reputation of the Company." "Further, Amedisys opened a total of 13 new locations throughout 2004, and expects to open at least 20 new locations in 2005, of which five are expected to be up and running by the end of the first quarter." "We are as excited about our future opportunities as we are about our past performance. The Company has recently announced a significant acquisition in South Carolina, and our first acquisition in Maryland. Our Balance Sheet well positions Amedisys to take advantage of future strategic acquisition opportunities in home health. The Company had a cash position in excess of $89 million at year-end, and substantial unused borrowing capacity. Combined with an internal growth rate of Medicare admissions expected to be between 15 and 20 percent in 2005, as well as possible acquisition opportunities, the Company believes it can continue to deliver strong earnings growth for our shareholders." "Therefore, based on currently available information, and inclusive of the most recent acquisitions, we are increasing our earnings guidance from the previously announced $1.63 to $1.73 cents per diluted share, to between $1.71 and $1.77 cents per diluted share for fiscal 2005. This guidance reflects an increased effective income tax rate -- expected to be approximately 39.4 percent -- which amounts to a reduction of approximately $0.04 cents per diluted share. However, it does not include the impact of expensing outstanding stock options commencing in the second half of fiscal 2005 -- expected to be approximately $0.04 per diluted share. Annual revenue is expected to be between $295 and $305 million after giving consideration to our most recent acquisitions." The Company will provide further information today on these results during a teleconference call that is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. ET. To access this call, please dial 1-800-231-5571 (domestic) or 1-973-582-2703 (international). A replay of the conference call will be available until March 17th 2005, by dialing 1-877-519-4471 (domestic) or 1-973-341-3080 (international). The replay pin number is 5685697. Amedisys, Inc., a leading provider of home health nursing services, is headquartered in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Its common stock trades on The Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol "AMED". This press release includes statements that may constitute "forward- looking" statements, usually containing the words "believe", "estimate", "project", "expect" or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements inherently involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. Factors that would cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, continued acceptance of the Company's services in the marketplace, competitive factors, changes in government reimbursement procedures, dependence upon third-party vendors, and other risks discussed in the Company's periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. By making these forward- looking statements, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this release. Additional information on the Company can be found on the World Wide Web http://www.amedisys.com/ AMEDISYS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS For the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2004 and 2003(Amounts in thousands, except per share data) (Unaudited) For the three months ended For the twelve months ended December 31, December 31, 2004 2003 2004 2003 Income: Net service revenue $64,360 $42,099 $227,089 $142,473 Cost of service revenue (excluding depreciation and amortization) 27,332 17,346 96,078 58,554 Gross margin 37,028 24,753 131,011 83,919 General and administrative expenses: Salaries and benefits 15,348 11,048 56,916 41,252 Other 11,730 7,999 40,717 28,329 Total general and administrative expenses 27,078 19,047 97,633 69,581 Operating income 9,950 5,706 33,378 14,338 Other income (expense): Interest income 370 32 550 91 Interest expense (144) (296) (510) (1,293) Miscellaneous, net (31) 9 (59) 491 Total other income (expense), net 195 (255) (19) (711) Income before income taxes 10,145 5,451 33,359 13,627 Income tax expense 4,009 2,088 12,855 5,220 Net income $6,136 $3,363 $20,504 $8,407 Basic weighted average common shares outstanding 15,255 10,701 13,057 9,808 Basic income per common share: Net income $0.40 $0.31 $1.57 $0.86 Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding 15,639 11,159 13,542 10,074 Diluted income per common share: Net income $0.39 $0.30 $1.51 $0.83 AMEDISYS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS As of December 31, 2004 and 2003 (Amounts in thousands, except share data) December 31, December 31, 2004 2003 ASSETS: (unaudited) CURRENT ASSETS: Cash and cash equivalents $ 89,679 $ 29,229 Patient accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $3,751 at December 31, 2004 and $3,008 at December 31, 2003 24,478 15,185 Prepaid expenses 1,356 1,103 Deferred income taxes - 1,650 Inventory and other current assets 3,377 2,429 Total current assets 118,890 49,596 Property and equipment, net 10,003 7,219 Goodwill and other assets, net 70,840 35,658 Total assets $ 199,733 $ 92,473 LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY: CURRENT LIABILITIES: Accounts payable $ 6,681 $ 3,340 Accrued expenses: Payroll and payroll taxes 11,914 9,163 Insurance 4,663 2,336 Income taxes 271 575 Legal settlements 1,833 1,248 Other 3,822 2,818 Deferred income taxes 1,353 - Current portion of long-term debt 1,689 3,974 Current portion of obligations under capital leases 423 1,217 Current portion of Medicare liabilities 9,327 9,347 Total current liabilities 41,976 34,018 Long-term debt 1,380 2,696 Obligations under capital leases 329 391 Deferred income taxes 6,749 2,756 Other long-term liabilities 826 1,213 Total liabilities 51,260 41,074 STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY: Preferred stock, $.001 par value, 5,000,000 shares authorized; None issued and outstanding - - Common stock, $.001 par value, 30,000,000 shares authorized; 15,310,547 and 11,908,146 shares issued at December 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003, respectively 15 12 Additional paid-in capital 132,032 55,465 Treasury stock at cost, 4,167 shares held at December 31, 2004 and 2003 (25) (25) Retained earnings (deficit) 16,451 (4,053) Total stockholders' equity 148,473 51,399 Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 199,733 $ 92,473 Contact: Amedisys, Inc. Gregory H. Browne Chief Financial Officer (225) 292-2031 Noonan/Russo Investor Relations Brian Ritchie (212) 845-4269 DATASOURCE: Amedisys, Inc. CONTACT: Gregory H. Browne, Chief Financial Officer of Amedisys, Inc., +1-225-292-2031, ; or Investor Relations - Brian Ritchie of Noonan/Russo, +1-212-845-4269, Web site: http://www.amedisys.com/

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