LHC Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:LHCG), one of the largest providers of home health services in the United States, announced today that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire 100% of the assets of Salem Hospital Home Care located in Salem, Oregon. Salem Hospital Home Care is the largest provider of home health services in the mid-valley area.
The primary service area of this acquisition spans six counties in Oregon. The estimated population of the service area is 1 million, with almost 12% over the age of 65. Net revenue for the Salem, Oregon, agency during the most recent 12 months was approximately $5.5 million. This acquisition is expected to be completed on March 31, 2010, and is not expected to add materially to LHC Group's earnings in 2010.
"Salem Health conducted extensive reviews of the quality of care and customer service provided by potential buyers of our home care service," said Cheryl Nester Wolfe, chief nursing officer and a senior vice president of operations for Salem Health. "LHC Group has provided high-quality care for its patients in other areas of the country, which was a primary consideration in making this agreement. This will be a seamless transition and there will be no interruption in service to patients cared for by our agency."
Keith G. Myers, chief executive officer of LHC Group, said, "It is with great pleasure that I welcome the employees from Salem Hospital Home Care into our growing LHC Group family. We are proud to be part of Salem, Oregon, and the surrounding communities. As always, our commitment is to help people in these communities by providing the highest quality home health services available to the patients and families in these areas."
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