UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 20192021
or
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from ___________ to ___________
Commission File Number: 1-14106
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DAVITA INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)
Delaware51-0354549
(State of incorporation)(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
2000 16th Street
Denver,CO80202
Telephone number (720(720) 631-2100
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class:Trading symbol(s):Name of each exchange on which registered:
Common Stock, $0.001 par valueDVANew York Stock Exchange
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
None
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.    Yes  ☒    No  ☐
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act.    Yes  ☐    No  ☒
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports) and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  ☒    No  
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).    Yes  ☒    No  ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large"large accelerated filer,” “accelerated" "accelerated filer,” “smaller" "smaller reporting company”company" and “emerging"emerging growth company”company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act:
Large accelerated filerAccelerated filer
Non-accelerated filerSmaller reporting company
Emerging growth company
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.    ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management's assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its final report.
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes      No  ☒
As of June 28, 2019,30, 2021, the aggregate market value of the Registrant'sregistrant's common stock outstanding held by non-affiliates based upon the closing price on the New York Stock Exchange was approximately $9.3$12.7 billion.
As of January 31, 2020,2022, the number of shares of the Registrant’sregistrant’s common stock outstanding was approximately 125.696.3 million shares.
KPMG LLP (185), Seattle, WA, USA
Documents incorporated by reference
Portions of the Registrant’sregistrant’s proxy statement for its 20202022 annual meeting of stockholders are incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K.





DAVITA INC.
INDEX


















PART I
Item 1.        Business
Unless otherwise indicated in this Annual Report on Form 10-K “DaVita”report "DaVita", “the Company” “we”"the Company" "we", “us”"us", “our”"our" and other similar terms refer to DaVita Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries. Our annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, are made available free of charge through our website, located at http://www.davita.com, as soon as reasonably practicable after the reports are filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The SEC also maintains a website at http://www.sec.gov where these reports and other information about us can be obtained. The contents of our website are not incorporated by reference into this report.
Overview of DaVita Inc.
DaVita is a leading healthcare provider focused on transforming care delivery to improve quality of life for patients globally. Incorporated as a Delaware corporation in 1994, weWe are one of the largest providers of kidney care services in the U.S. and have been a leader in clinical quality and innovation for over 20 years. DaVita is committed to bold, patient-centric care models, implementing the latest technologies and moving towardadvancing integrated care offerings. Over the years, we have established a value-based culture with a philosophy of caring that is focused on both our patients and teammates. This culture and philosophy fuel our continuous drive towardstoward achieving our mission to"to be the provider, partner and employer of choicechoice" and fulfilling our vision to "build"to build the greatest healthcare community the world has ever seen."seen".
The loss of kidney function is normally irreversible. Kidney failure is typically caused by Type I and Type II diabetes, hypertension, polycystic kidney disease, long-term autoimmune attack on the kidneys and prolonged urinary tract obstruction. End stage renal disease or end stage kidney disease (ESRD or ESKD) is the stage of advanced kidney impairment that requires continued dialysis treatments or a kidney transplant to sustain life. Dialysis is the removal of toxins, fluids and salt from the blood of patients by artificial means. Patients suffering from ESRDESKD generally require dialysis at least three times a week for the rest of their lives.lives or until they receive a kidney transplant.
Our U.S. dialysis and related lab services (U.S. dialysis) business treats patients with chronic kidney failure, and ESRD or ESKD, in the United States, and is our largest line of business. As of December 31, 2019,2021, we provided dialysis and administrative services and related laboratory services throughout the U.S. via a network of 2,7532,815 outpatient dialysis centers and home programs in 46 states and the District of Columbia, serving a total of approximately 206,900203,100 patients, and provided acutehave contracts to provide hospital inpatient dialysis services in approximately 900850 hospitals. Our robust platform to deliver kidney care services also includes established nephrology and payor relationships as well as home programs.relationships. In addition, as of December 31, 2019, we2021, our international operations provided dialysis and administrative services to a total of 259339 outpatient dialysis centers located in ten countries outside of the U.S., serving approximately 28,70039,900 patients. The Company also consists ofFinally, our U.S ancillary services and strategic initiatives which includeprovided integrated care and disease management services to 16,000 patients in risk-based integrated care arrangements and to an additional 7,000 patients in other integrated care arrangements as of December 31, 2021. Most of the aforementionedpatients served by our integrated care business are also our dialysis patients. We refer to our U.S. ancillary services and strategic initiatives and our international operations (collectively,as, collectively, our ancillary services), as well as our"ancillary services". We also have a separate corporate administrative support.support function that supports our U.S. dialysis business and these ancillary services.
Our patient-centric care model leverages our platform of kidney care services to maximize patient choice in both models and modalities of care. We believe that the flexibility we offer coupled with a focus on comprehensive kidney care supports our commitments to help improve clinical outcomes and quality of life for our patients. ForAccording to the seventhmost recently published data, for eight consecutive year,years, we are an industry leader in the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Quality Incentive Program (QIP), which promotes high quality services in outpatient dialysis facilities treating patients with ESRD. WeESKD. In addition, according to the most recently published data, for seven consecutive years, we are also an industry leader for the sixth consecutive year under CMS’ Five-Star Quality Rating system, which rates eligible dialysis centers based on the quality of outcomes to help patients, their families, and caregivers make more informed decisions about where patients receive care. In addition,According to the most recently collected data from Nephrology News and Issues, we are an industry leader for the total number of patients in home-based dialysis services.
Our quality clinical outcomes are driven by our experienced and knowledgeable teammates. We employ registered nurses, licensed practical or vocational nurses, patient care technicians, social workers, registered dietitians, biomedical technicians and other administrative and support teammates who strive to achieve superior clinical outcomes at our dialysis facilities. In addition to our teammates at our dialysis facilities, as of December 31, 2019,2021, our domestic Chief Medical Officer leadslead a team of 1524 senior nephrologists in our physician leadership team as part of our domestic Office of the Chief Medical Officer (OCMO). ThisOur international Chief Medical Officer lead a team representsof 11 senior nephrologists in our physician leadership team as part of our international OCMO as of December 31, 2021. Our OCMO teammates represent a variety of academic,
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clinical practice, and clinical research backgrounds. We also have a Physician CounselCouncil that serves as an advisory body to senior management, which iswas composed of nineeight physicians with extensive experience in clinical practice as well as eightand seven Group Medical Directors as of December 31, 2019.2021.
On June 19, 2019, we completed the sale of our prior DaVita Medical Group (DMG) business, a patient and physician-focused integrated healthcare delivery and management company, to Collaborative Care Holdings, LLC, (Optum), a subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group Inc. As a result, the DMG business has been classified as discontinued operations and its results of


operations are reported as discontinued operations for all periods presented in the consolidated financial statements included in this report.
For financial information about DMG, see Note 22 to the consolidated financial statements included in this report.
COVID-19 and its impact on our business
As a caregiving organization, we continue to be impacted by the effects of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. DaVita’s caregiving teammates continue to be on the front lines of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic providing critical, life-sustaining care for our patients. We continue to closely monitor the impact on our business of the pandemic and the resulting economic and political environment, including the various impacts on our patients, teammates, physician partners, suppliers, vendors and business partners.
During this time of great and continued challenge, our top priorities continue to be the health, safety and well-being of our patients, teammates and physician partners and helping to ensure that our patients have the ability to maintain continuity of care throughout this crisis, whether in the hospital, outpatient or home setting. To that end, we have dedicated and continue to dedicate substantial resources in response to COVID-19, including the implementation of additional protocols and initiatives to help safely maintain continuity of care for our patients and help protect our caregivers.
We believe the ultimate impact of this public health crisis on the Company will depend on future developments that are highly uncertain and difficult to predict. For additional discussion of the COVID-19 pandemic and our response, including its impact on us and related risks and uncertainties, please see the discussion below under the heading "—Human Capital Management", the risk factor in Item 1A. Risk Factors under the heading "We face various risks related to the dynamic and evolving novel coronavirus pandemic, many of which may have a material adverse impact on us," and the discussion under the heading "COVID-19 and its impact on our business"in Part II, Item 7. "Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations."
U.S. dialysis business
Our U.S. dialysis business is a leading provider of kidney dialysis services for patients suffering from ESRD.ESKD. As of December 31, 2019,2021, we provided dialysis and administrative services in the U.S. through a network of 2,7532,815 outpatient dialysis centers in 46 states and the District of Columbia, serving a total of approximately 206,900203,100 patients. We also have contracts to provide acutehospital inpatient dialysis services in approximately 900850 hospitals and related laboratory services throughout the U.S.
According to the United States Renal Data System (USRDS), there were over 523,000 ESRD569,000 ESKD dialysis patients in the U.S. in 2017.2019. Based on the most recent 20192021 annual data report from the USRDS, the underlying ESRDESKD dialysis patient population has grown at an approximate compound rate of 3.6%3.5% from 20072009 to 20172019 and a compound rate of 3.3%3.1% from 20122014 to 2017,2019, which suggests that the rate of growth of the ESRDESKD patient population is declining.declining relative to long term trends. A number of factors may impact ESRDESKD growth rates, including, among others, the aging of the U.S. population, transplant rates, incidence rates for diseases that cause kidney failure such as diabetes and hypertension, mortality rates for dialysis patients and growth rates of minority populations with higher than average incidence rates of ESRD.
Since 1972, the federal government has provided healthcare coverage for ESRD patients under the Medicare ESRD program regardlessESKD. Certain of age or financial circumstances. ESRD is the first and only disease state eligible for Medicare coverage boththese factors, in particular mortality rates for dialysis and dialysis-related services and for all benefits available underpatients, have been impacted by the Medicare program. For patients with Medicare coverage, all ESRD payments for dialysis treatments are made under a single bundled payment rate. See page 5 for further details.
Although Medicare reimbursement limits the allowable charge per treatment, it provides industry participants with a relatively predictable and recurring revenue stream for dialysis services provided to patients without commercial insurance. For the year ended December 31, 2019, approximately 90% of our total dialysis patients were covered under some form of government-based program, with approximately 74% of our dialysis patients covered under Medicare and Medicare-assigned plans.COVID-19 pandemic.
Treatment options for ESRDESKD
Treatment options for ESRDESKD are dialysis and kidney transplantation.
Dialysis options
Hemodialysis
Hemodialysis, the most common form of ESRDESKD treatment, is usually performed at a freestanding outpatient dialysis center, at a hospital-based outpatient center, or at the patient’s home. The hemodialysis machine uses an artificial kidney, called a dialyzer, to remove toxins, fluids and salt from the patient’s blood. The dialysis process occurs across a semi-permeable membrane that divides the dialyzer into two distinct chambers. While blood is circulated through one chamber, a pre-mixed
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fluid is circulated through the other chamber. The toxins, salt and excess fluids from the blood cross the membrane into the fluid, allowing cleansed blood to return back into the patient’s body. Each hemodialysis treatment that occurs in the outpatient dialysis centers typically lasts approximately three and one-half hours and is usually performed three times per week.
Hospital inpatient hemodialysis services are required for patients with acute kidney failure primarily resulting from trauma, patients in early stages of ESRDESKD and ESRDESKD patients who require hospitalization for other reasons. Hospital inpatient hemodialysis is generally performed at the patient’s bedside or in a dedicated treatment room in the hospital, as needed.
Some ESRDESKD patients who are healthier and more independent may perform home hemodialysis in their home or residence through the use of a hemodialysis machine designed specifically for home therapy that is portable, smaller and easier to use. Patients receive training, support and monitoring from registered nurses, usually in our outpatient dialysis centers, in connection with their home hemodialysis treatment. Home hemodialysis is typically performed with greater frequency than dialysis treatments performed in outpatient dialysis centers and on varying schedules.
Peritoneal dialysis
Peritoneal dialysis uses the patient’s peritoneal or abdominal cavity to eliminate fluid and toxins and is typically performed at home. The most common methods of peritoneal dialysis are continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD)


and continuous cycling peritoneal dialysis (CCPD). Because it does not involve going to an outpatient dialysis center three times a week for treatment, peritoneal dialysis is generally an alternative to hemodialysis for patients who are healthier, more independent and desire more flexibility in their lifestyle.
CAPD introduces dialysis solution into the patient’s peritoneal cavity through a surgically placed catheter. Toxins in the blood continuously cross the peritoneal membrane into the dialysis solution. After several hours, the patient drains the used dialysis solution and replaces it with fresh solution. This procedure is usually repeated four times per day.
CCPD is performed in a manner similar to CAPD, but uses a mechanical device to cycle dialysis solution through the patient’s peritoneal cavity while the patient is sleeping or at rest.
Kidney transplantation
Although kidney transplantation, when successful, is generally the most desirable form of therapeutic intervention, the shortage of suitable donors, side effects of immunosuppressive pharmaceuticals given to transplant recipients and dangers associated with transplant surgery for some patient populations have generally limited the use of this treatment option. An executive order signed in July 2019 (the 2019 Executive Order) directed the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)HHS to develop policies addressing, among other things, the goal of making more kidneys available for transplant. As directed by the 2019 Executive Order, the CMS, through its Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI), subsequently released the framework for certain proposed voluntary payment models that would adjust payment incentives to encourage kidney transplants. For more information regarding the 2019 Executive Order and these payment models, please see the discussion below under the heading “-"—New models of careIntegrated Kidney Care and Medicare and Medicaid program reforms."
U.S. dialysis services we provide
Outpatient hemodialysis services
As of December 31, 2019, we operated or provided administrative services through a network of 2,753 outpatient dialysis centers in the U.S. that are designed specifically for outpatient hemodialysis. In 2019, our overall network of U.S. outpatient dialysis centers increased by 89 primarily as a result of the opening of new dialysis centers and acquisitions, net of center closures, representing a total increase of approximately 3.3% from 2018.
As a condition of our enrollment in Medicare for the provision of dialysis services, we contract with a nephrologist or a group of associated nephrologists to provide medical director services at each of our dialysis centers. In addition, other nephrologists may apply for practice privileges to treat their patients at our centers. Each center has an administrator, typically a registered nurse, who supervises the day-to-day operations of the center and its staff. The staff of each center typically consists of registered nurses, licensed practical or vocational nurses, patient care technicians, a social worker, a registered dietician, biomedical technician support and other administrative and support personnel.
Under Medicare regulations, we cannot promote, develop or maintain any kind of contractual relationship with our patients that would directly or indirectly obligate a patient to use or continue to use our dialysis services, or that would give us any preferential rights other than those related to collecting payments for our dialysis services. Our total patient turnover at centers we consolidate, which is based upon all causes, averaged approximately 24%27% in both 20192021 and 2018. However,25% in 2019, the2020. The overall number of patients to whom we provided services in the U.S. increasedin 2021 decreased by approximately 2.1%0.5% from 2018,2020, primarily fromdue to an increase in mortality rates, which have been impacted by the opening ofCOVID-19 pandemic. This was partially offset by new dialysis patients who started treating at our centers and acquisitions, and continued growth withinacquired during the industry.year.
Hospital inpatient hemodialysis services
As of December 31, 2019,2021, we providedhave contracts to provide hospital inpatient hemodialysis services, excluding physician services, to patients in approximately 900850 hospitals throughout the U.S. We render these services based on a contracted per-treatmentper-
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treatment fee that is individually negotiated with each hospital. When a hospital requests our services, we typically administer the dialysis treatment at the patient’s bedside or in a dedicated treatment room in the hospital, as needed.
Home-based dialysis services
Home-based dialysis services includes home hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. Many of our outpatient dialysis centers offer certain support services for dialysis patients who prefer and are able to perform either home hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis in their homes. Home-based hemodialysis support services consist of providing equipment and supplies, training, patient monitoring, on-call support services and follow-up assistance. Registered nurses train patients and their families or other caregivers to perform either home hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis. The 2019 Executive Order and related HHS guidance described above also included a stated goal of increasing the relative number of new ESRDESKD patients that receive dialysis at home as compared to those receiving dialysis in center or at a hospital.


home.
According to the most recent 20192021 annual data report from the USRDS, in 20172019 approximately 12%13% of ESRDESKD dialysis patients in the U.S. perform home-based dialysis.
Treatments and revenues by modality:
The following graph summarizes our U.S. dialysis treatments by modality and U.S. dialysis patient services revenues by modality for the year ended December 31, 2019.2021.
Treatments and revenues by modality:
chart-42eccb5677b70b95d27.jpgdva-20211231_g2.jpg
Other
ESRDESKD laboratory services
We operate onea separately licensed and highly automated clinical laboratory which specializes in ESRDESKD patient testing. This specialized laboratory provides routine laboratory tests for dialysis and other physician-prescribed laboratory tests for ESRDESKD patients which are integral components of the overall dialysis services that we provide. Our laboratory provides these tests predominantly for our network of ESRDESKD patients throughout the U.S. These tests are performed to monitor a patient’s ESRDESKD condition, including the adequacy of dialysis, as well as other medical conditions of the patient. Our laboratory utilizes information systems which provide information to certain members of the dialysis centers’ staff and medical directors regarding critical outcome indicators. In 2021, our laboratory performed COVID-19 testing for our patients and teammates.
Management services
We currently operate or provide management and administrative services pursuant to management and administrative services agreements to 4457 outpatient dialysis centers located in the U.S. in which we either own a noncontrolling interest or which are wholly-owned by third parties. Management fees are established by contract and are recognized as earned typically based on a percentage of revenues or cash collections generated by the outpatient dialysis centers.
Sources of revenue—concentrations and risks
Our U.S. dialysis revenues represent approximately 92%91% of our consolidated revenues for the year ended December 31, 2019.2021. Our U.S. dialysis revenues are derived primarily from our core business of providing dialysis services and related laboratory services and, to a lesser extent, the administration of pharmaceuticals and management fees generated from providing management and administrative services to certain outpatient dialysis centers, as discussed above.
The sources of our U.S. dialysis revenues are principally from government-based programs, including Medicare and Medicare-assignedMedicare Advantage plans, and Medicaid and managed Medicaid plans and commercial insurance plans. Our largestThe following table
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summarizes our U.S. dialysis revenues by payor source of revenue is from Medicare and Medicare-assigned plans which accounted for 59% of our overall U.S. dialysis patient services revenues for the year ended December 31, 2019. Other sources of our U.S. dialysis patient services revenues for the year ended December 31, 2019, were from commercial payors (including hospital dialysis services) accounting for 31% of revenues, Medicaid and Managed Medicaid plans accounting for 6% of our revenues and other government programs accounting for 4% of our revenues.2021:
Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans58 %
Medicaid and managed Medicaid plans%
Other government-based programs%
Total government-based programs68 %
Commercial (including hospital dialysis services)32 %
Total U.S. dialysis patient service revenues100 %
Medicare revenue
Medicare ESRD revenue
Since 1972, the federal government has provided healthcare coverage for ESRD patients under the Medicare ESRD program regardless of age or financial circumstances. ESRD is the first and only disease state eligible for Medicare coverage both for dialysis and dialysis-related services and for all benefits available under the Medicare program.
Government dialysis related payment rates in the U.S. are principally determined by federal Medicare and state Medicaid policy. For patients with Medicare coverage, all ESRD payments for dialysis treatments are made under a single bundled payment rate which provides a fixed payment rate to encompass all goods and services provided during the dialysis treatment that are related to the dialysis treatment, including certain pharmaceuticals, such as Epogen® (EPO)erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs), calcimimetics, vitamin D analogs and iron supplements, irrespective of the level of pharmaceuticals administered to the patient or additional services performed except for calcimimetics, a drug class taken by many patients with ESRD to treat mineral bone disorder. As of


January 1, 2018, calcimimetics became part of the Medicare Part B ESRD payment, subject to a transitional drug add-on payment adjustment (TDAPA).performed. Most lab services are also included in the bundled payment.
Although Medicare reimbursement limits the allowable charge per treatment, it provides industry participants with a relatively predictable and recurring revenue stream for dialysis services provided to patients without commercial insurance. For the year ended December 31, 2021, approximately 90% of our total dialysis patients were covered under some form of government-based program, with approximately 75% of our dialysis patients covered under Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans.
Under thethis ESRD Prospective Payment System (PPS), the bundled payments to a dialysis facility may be reduced by as much as 2% based on the facility’s performance in specified quality measures set annually by CMS through its Quality Incentive Program (QIP).QIP. CMS established QIP through the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 to promote high quality services in outpatient dialysis facilities treating patients with ESRD. QIP associates a portion of Medicare reimbursement directly with a facility’s performance on quality of care measures. Reductions in Medicare reimbursement result when a facility’s overall score on applicable measures does not meet established standards. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, CMS is not applying QIP payment reductions to facilities in 2022. The bundled payment rate is also adjusted for certain patient characteristics, a geographic usage index and certain other factors.
Uncertainty about future payment rates remains a material risk to our business, as well as the potential implementation of or changes in coverage determinations or other rules or regulations by CMS or Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) that may impact reimbursement. An important provision in the Medicare ESRD statute is an annual adjustment, or market basket update, to the ESRD PPS base rate. Absent action by Congress, the ESRD PPS base rate is automatically updated annually by a formulaic inflation adjustment.
In NovemberOn September 18, 2020, pursuant to the 2019 Executive Order, CMS, through CMMI, published the final ESRD Treatment Choices mandatory payment model (ETC). The ETC launched on January 1, 2021, administered through CMMI in approximately 20% of our dialysis clinics across the country. There was no material impact to us during 2021 related to the ETC.
On October 29, 2021, CMS issued a final rule to update the Medicare ESRD PPS payment rate and policies. Among other things, the final rule expandsupdates payment rates under the transitional drug add-on payment to certain newESRD PPS for renal dialysis drugsservices furnished to beneficiaries on or after January 1, 2022, finalizes updates to the Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) dialysis payment rate for dialysis services furnished by ESRD facilities and biological products and amendsfinalizes modifications to the reporting measures in the ESRD QIP.ETC model policies. CMS estimates the overall impact of the final rule will affect ESRD facilities' average reimbursement by a productivity-adjusted market basket increase Medicare reimbursement to ESRD facilities by 1.7%of 1.9% in 2020.2022.
As a result of the Budget Control Act of 2011 (BCA) and subsequent activity in Congress, a $1.2 trillion sequester (across-the-board spending cuts) in discretionary programs took effect in 2013 reducing Medicare payments by 2%, which was
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subsequently extended through fiscal year 2027. TheseFederal COVID-19 relief legislation suspended the 2% Medicare sequestration from May 1, 2020 through December 31, 2021. The Protecting Medicare and American Farmers from Sequester Cuts Act, signed into law on December 10, 2021, extended the suspension of the 2% Medicare sequestration from December 31, 2021 through March 31, 2022, with 1% Medicare sequestration beginning April 1, 2022 through June 30, 2022 and 2% Medicare sequestration beginning July 1, 2022. In the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, our revenues significantly increased due to this suspension and we expect that this suspension will continue to significantly increase our revenues while it remains in effect. When the temporary suspension is no longer in effect, we expect that the across-the-board spending cuts have affected andof the BCA will, continue toonce again, adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows. Although the Bipartisan Budget Act (BBA) of 2018 passed in February 2018 enacted a two-year federal spending agreement and raised the federal spending cap on non-defense spending for fiscal years 2018 and 2019, the Medicare program is frequently mentioned as a target for spending cuts.
ESRD patients receiving dialysis services become eligible for primary Medicare coverage at various times, depending on their age or disability status, as well as whether they are covered by a commercial insurance plan. Generally, for a patient not covered by a commercial insurance plan, Medicare becomes the primary payor for ESRD patients receiving dialysis services either immediately or after a three-month waiting period. For a patient covered by a commercial insurance plan, Medicare generally becomes the primary payor after 33 months, which includes the three-month waiting period, or earlier if the patient’s commercial insurance plan coverage terminates. When Medicare becomes the primary payor, the payment rates we receive for that patient shift from the commercial insurance plan rates to Medicare payment rates, which are on average significantly lower than commercial insurance rates.
Medicare pays 80% of the amount set by the Medicare system for each covered dialysis treatment. The patient is responsible for the remaining 20%. In most cases, a secondary payor, such as Medicare supplemental insurance, a state Medicaid program or a commercial health plan, covers all or part of these balances. Some patients who do not qualify for Medicaid, but otherwise cannot afford secondary insurance in the form of a Medicare Supplement Plan, can apply for premium payment assistance from charitable organizations to obtain secondary coverage. If a patient does not have secondary insurance coverage, we are generally unsuccessful in our efforts to collect from the patient the remaining 20% portion of the ESRD composite rate that Medicare does not pay. However, we are able to recover some portion of this unpaid patient balance from Medicare through an established cost reporting process by identifying these Medicare bad debts on each center’s Medicare cost report.
In recent years, federal legislative and executive actionMedicare Advantage revenue
Medicare Advantage (MA, managed Medicare or Medicare Part C) plans are offered by private health insurers who contract with CMS to provide their members with Medicare Part A, Part B and/or Part D benefits. These MA plans include health maintenance organizations, preferred provider organizations, private fee-for-service (FFS) organizations, special needs plans (SNPs) or Medicare medical savings account plans. The 21st Century Cures Act (the Cures Act) included a provision that, effective January 1, 2021, allows Medicare-eligible beneficiaries with ESRD to choose coverage under an MA plan. Prior to the Cures Act, MA plans were only available to ESRD patients if the patient was remaining on an MA plan that they had enrolled in prior to being diagnosed with ESRD, or in certain other limited situations such as a SNP. As a result, this provision under the Cures Act has been focused on developing new models of kidney carebroadened access for Medicare beneficiaries. For example, CMMIESRD patients to certain enhanced benefits offered by MA plans. MA plans usually provide reimbursement to us at a negotiated rate that is working with various healthcare providers to develop, refine and implement Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) and other innovative models of care forgenerally higher than Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, including ACOs, the Comprehensive ESRD Care (CEC) Model (which includes the development of ESRD Seamless Care Organizations (ESCOs)) and the Duals Demonstration. In addition, federal bipartisan legislation related to full capitation demonstration for ESRD was proposed in late 2017. Legislation, which has yet to secure introduction to the 116th Congress, would build on prior coordinated care models, such as the CEC Model, and would establish a demonstration program for the provision of integrated care to Medicare ESRD patients. More recently, the 2019 Executive Order directed CMS to create payment models to evaluate the effects of creating payment incentives for the greater use of home dialysis and kidney transplants for those already on dialysis. For additional detail on these and other developments in models of care, see the discussion below under the heading “—New models of care and Medicare and Medicaid program reforms.”


FFS rates.
Medicaid revenue
Medicaid programs are state-administered programs partially funded by the federal government. These programs are intended to provide health coverage for patients whose income and assets fall below state-defined levels and who are otherwise uninsured. These programs also serve as supplemental insurance programs for co-insurance payments due from Medicaid-eligible patients with primary coverage under the Medicare program. Some Medicaid programs also pay for additional services, including some oral medications that are not covered by Medicare. We are enrolled in the Medicaid programs in the states in which we conduct our business.
Commercial revenue
Before a patient becomes eligible to elect to have Medicare as their primary payor for dialysis services, a patient’s commercial insurance plan, if any, is generally responsible for payment of such dialysis services for up to the first 33 months, as discussed above. Although commercial payment rates vary, average commercial payment rates established under commercial contracts are generally significantly higher than Medicare rates. The payments we receive from commercial payors generate nearly all of our profits and all of our nonacutenon-hospital dialysis profits come from commercial payors. Payment methods from commercial payors can include a single lump-sum per treatment, referred to as bundled rates, or in other cases separate payments for dialysis treatments and pharmaceuticals, if used as part of the treatment, referred to as FFS rates. Commercial payment rates are the result of negotiations between us and insurers or third-party administrators. Our out-of-network payment rates are on average higher than in-network commercial contract payment rates. Some of our commercial contracts pay us under a single bundled payment rate for all dialysis services provided to covered patients. However, some of our commercial contracts
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also pay us for certain other services and pharmaceuticals in addition to the bundled payment. Our commercial contracts typically contain annual price escalator provisions.
Approximately 25% of our U.S. dialysis patient services revenues and approximately 10% of our U.S. dialysis patients are associated with non-acutenon-hospital commercial payors for the year ended December 31, 2019. Non-acute2021. Non-hospital commercial patients as a percentage of our total U.S. dialysis patients for 20192021 were relatively flat compared to 2018.2020. Less than 1% of our U.S. dialysis revenues are due directly from patients. There is noNo single commercial payor that accounted for more than 10% of total U.S. dialysis revenues for the year ended December 31, 2019.2021. See Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements included in this report for disclosure on our concentration related to our commercial payors on a total consolidated revenue basis.
Both the number of our patients under commercial plans and the rates under these commercial plans are subject to change based on a number of factors. These factors include, among others, a highly competitive rate environment that shapes our ongoing negotiations with commercial payors; changes in commercial plan design; and the health of the U.S. economy. In addition, changes in state and federal legislation, regulations, rules, laws, guidance or other requirements may impact the availability and scope of commercial insurance, including, among others, developments that impact the healthcare exchanges introduced by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, as amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (Affordable Care Act (ACA)) and commercial payor participation in that marketplace as well as developments that impact the availability of charitable premium assistance. For additional detail on the potential impact of these factors and other risks associated with on our commercial revenue, see the risk factors in Item 1A1A. Risk Factors under the headings "Our business is subject to a complex series of governmental laws, regulations and requirements and any failure to adhere to those requirements, or any changes in those requirements, could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows, could materially harm our stock price, and in some circumstances, could materially harm our reputation"; "Changes in federal and state healthcare legislation or regulations could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flowsflows"; If"If the number or percentage of patients with higher-paying commercial insurance declines, if the average rates that commercial payors pay us decline, significantly or if patients in commercial plans are subject to restriction in plan designs, or if we are unable to maintain contracts with payors with competitive terms, including, without limitation, reimbursement rates, scope and duration of coverage and in-network benefits, it wouldcould have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows"; and "We face various risks related to the dynamic and If the numberevolving novel coronavirus pandemic, many of patients with higher-paying commercial insurance declines, it couldwhich may have a material adverse effectimpact on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.us."
Revenue from other pharmaceuticals
The impact of physician-prescribed pharmaceuticals on our overall revenues that are separately billable has significantly decreased since Medicare’s single bundled payment system went into effect beginning in January 2011, and as a result of commercial contracts that pay us a single bundled payment rate.
Effective January 1, 2018,2021, both oral and intravenous forms of calcimimetics, a drug class taken by many patients with ESRD to treat mineral bone disorder, becamewere added to the financial responsibility ofESRD PPS bundled payment, and as a result we expect our U.S. dialysis business for our Medicare patients and are now reimbursedoperating income from calcimimetics to be more stable in the future as compared to the year ended December 31, 2020 under Medicare Part B. Previously, calcimimetics were reimbursed for Medicare patients through Part D and dispensed through traditional pharmacies. Currently,the transitional drug add-on payment adjustment (TDAPA) model. For the year ended December 31, 2020, the oral and intravenous forms of calcimimetics remainwere separately reimbursed and therefore are not part of the ESRD PPS bundled payment. During the initial pass-through period, Medicare payments for calcimimetics arethrough a TDAPA model based on a pass-through rate of the average sales price plus approximately 6% before sequestration (or 4% adjusted for sequestration), however, in 2020 they will be reimbursed at average sales price plus 0%, before sequestration. CMS has stated intentions to enter calcimimetics into the ESRD bundled payment as of January 1, 2021.

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Physician relationships
Joint Venture Partnersventure partners
We own and operate certain of our dialysis centers through entities that are structured as joint ventures. We generally hold controlling interests in these joint ventures, with certain nephrologists, hospitals, management services organizations, and/or other healthcare providers holding minority equity interests. These joint ventures are typically formed as limited liability companies. For the year ended December 31, 2019,2021, revenues from joint ventures in which we have a controlling interest represented approximately 26%28% of our net U.S. dialysis revenues. We expect to continue to enter into new U.S. dialysis-related joint ventures in the ordinary course of business.
Community Physiciansphysicians
An ESRDESKD patient generally seeks treatment or support for their home treatment at an outpatient dialysis center near their home where their treating nephrologist has practice privileges. Our relationships with local nephrologists and our ability to provide quality dialysis services and to meet the needs of their patients are key factors in the success of our dialysis operations. Over 5,6005,400 nephrologists currently refer patients to our outpatient dialysis centers.    
Medical Directorsdirectors
Participation in the Medicare ESRD program requires that dialysis services at an outpatient dialysis center be under the general supervision of a medical director. Per these requirements, this individual is usually a board certified nephrologist. We have engagedengage physicians or groups of physicians to serve as medical directors for each of our outpatient dialysis centers. At some outpatient dialysis centers, we also separately contract with one or more other physicians or groups to serve as assistant or associate medical directors over other modalities such as home dialysis. We have over 1,000 individual physicians and physician groups under contract to provide medical director services.
Medical directors for our dialysis centers enter into written contracts with us that specify their duties and fix their compensation generally for periods of ten years. The compensation of our medical directors is the result of arm’s length
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negotiations, consistent with fair market value, and generally depends upon an analysis of various factors such as the physician’s duties, responsibilities, professional qualifications and experience.experience, as well as the time and effort required to provide such services.
Our medical director contracts and joint venture operating agreements generally include covenants not to compete or own interests in other competing outpatient dialysis centers operated by other providers within a defined geographic area for various time periods, as applicable. These non-compete agreements do not restrict or limit the physicians from practicing medicine or prohibit the physicians from referring patients to any outpatient dialysis center, including competing centers.dialysis centers operated by other providers.
As part of our Corporate Integrity Agreement, as described below, we agreed not to enforce investment non-compete restrictions relating to dialysis clinics or programs that were established pursuant to a partial divestiture joint venture transaction. Therefore, to the extent a joint venture partner or medical director has a contract(s) with us covering dialysis clinics or programs that were established pursuant to a partial divestiture, we will not enforce the investment non-compete provision relating to those clinics and/or programs.
Capacity and locationLocation of our U.S. dialysis centers
Typically we are able to increase our capacity by extending hours at our existing dialysis centers, expanding our existing dialysis centers, relocating our dialysis centers, developing new dialysis centers and by acquiring dialysis centers. The development of a typical outpatient dialysis center by us generally requires approximately $2.4 million for leasehold improvements and other capital expenditures. Based on our experience, a new outpatient dialysis center typically opens within a year after the property lease is signed, normally achieves operating profitability in the second year after Medicare certification and normally reaches maturity within three to five years. Acquiring an existing outpatient dialysis center requires a substantially greater initial investment, but profitability and cash flows are generally accelerated and more predictable. To a limited extent, we enter into agreements to provide management and administrative services toWe operated 2,815 outpatient dialysis centers in which we own a noncontrolling interest or which are wholly-owned by third parties in return for management fees.


Asthe U.S. as of December 31, 2019, we operated or provided administrative services to a total2021 and 2,758 of 2,753 U.S. outpatient dialysis centers. A total of 2,709 of suchthese centers are consolidated in our financial statements. Of the remaining 44 non-consolidated57 nonconsolidated U.S. outpatient dialysis centers, we own a noncontrolling interest in 4155 centers and provide management and administrative services to threetwo centers that are wholly-owned by third parties. The locations of the 2,7092,758 U.S. outpatient dialysis centers consolidated in our financial statements at December 31, 2019,2021, were as follows:
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Ancillary services, and strategic initiatives businesses, including our international operations
As of December 31, 2019, ourOur ancillary services and strategic initiatives consisted primarily of disease management services, physician services, ESRD seamless care organizations, comprehensive care, vascular access services and clinical research programs, and our international operations and relate primarily to our core business of providing kidney care services. As of December 31, 2021, these consisted primarily of our integrated kidney care services, our physician services supporting integrated kidney care and our kidney care initiatives outside of dialysis, our clinical research programs, and our transplant software business as well as our international operations.
U.S. Ancillary Services and Strategic Business Initiativesservices
Integrated Care and Chronic Kidney Care. We have made and continue to make investments in building our integrated care capabilities, including the operation of certain strategic business initiatives that are intended to integrate care amongstamong healthcare participants across the renal care continuum from chronic kidney disease (CKD)CKD to ESRDESKD to kidney transplant. Through improved technology and data sharing, as well as an increasing focus on value basedvalue-based contracting and care, these initiatives seek to bring together physicians, nurses, dieticians, pharmacists, hospitals, dialysis clinics, transplant centers and payors with a view towards improving clinical outcomes for our patients and reducing the overall cost of comprehensive kidney care.
Disease managementIntegrated Kidney Care services. VillageHealth DM, LLC, also doing business as DaVita Integrated Kidney Care (DaVita IKC), provides advanced integrated care management services to health plans and government programs for members/beneficiaries diagnosed with ESRD, chronic kidney failure, and/or poly-comorbid conditions. Through a combination of clinical coordination, innovative interventions, medical claims analysis and information technology, we endeavor to assist our customers and patients in obtaining superior renal healthcare and improved clinical outcomes, as well as helping to reduce overall medical costs. Integrated kidney care management revenues from commercial and Medicare Advantage insurers can be based upon either an established contract fee recognized as earned over the contract period, or related to the operation of value-based programs, including pay for performance, shared savings, and capitation contracts. DaVita IKC also contracts with payors to operate Medicare Advantage ESRD Special Needs Plans to provide ESRD patients full service healthcare. We are at risk for all medical costs of the program in excess of the capitation payments. Furthermore, in October 2015, DaVita IKC entered into


management service agreements to support three ESCO joint ventures in which we are an investor through certain wholly- or majority-owned dialysis clinics.
Physician services. Nephrology Practice Solutions (NPS) is an independent business that partners with physicians committed to providing outstanding clinical and integrated care to patients. NPS provides nephrologist recruitment and staffing services in select markets which are billed on a per search basis. NPS also offers physician practice management services to nephrologists under administrative services agreements. These services include physician practice management, billing and collections, credentialing, coding, and other support services that enable physician practices to increase efficiency and manage their administrative needs. Additionally, NPS owns and operates nephrology practices in multiple states. Fees generated from these services are recognized as earned typically based upon flat fees or cash collections generated by the physician practice.
ESRD Seamless Care Organization joint ventures (ESCO JVs). In October 2015, certain of our dialysis clinics entered into partnerships with various nephrology practices, health systems, and other providers to establish three ESCO JVs in Phoenix-Tucson Arizona, South Florida, and Philadelphia Pennsylvania-Camden, New Jersey. The ESCO JVs were formed under the CMS Innovation Center’s Comprehensive ESRD Care (CEC) Model, a demonstration to assess the impact of care coordination for ESRD patients in a dialysis-center oriented ACO setting. Each ESCO JV has a shared risk arrangement with CMS and the programs are evaluated on a performance year basis. The delivery of improved quality outcomes for patients and program savings depend on the contributions of the dialysis center teammates, nephrologists, health system and hospital partners, pharmacy providers, other primary care and specialty care providers and facilities, and integrated care management support from DaVita IKC, which is also the manager of the ESCO JVs. In 2019, CMS published the results for the 2017 performance year, and all three ESCO JVs earned shared savings payments. Results for 2018 and 2019 performance years are anticipated to be released in 2020.
Comprehensive care. Vively Health (formerly known as DaVita Health Solutions) was created to provide comprehensive care through house calls and post-acute care programs to help chronically ill patients through use of community based, physician- and nurse practitioner-led care teams to deliver medical, behavioral, social and palliative care within the patient's home or skilled nursing facility.
Other Strategic Business Initiatives
Clinical research programs. DaVita Clinical Research (DCR) is a provider-based specialty clinical research organization with a full spectrum of services for clinical drug research and device development. DCR uses its extensive, applied database and real-world healthcare experience to assist in the design, recruitment and completion of retrospective and prospective pragmatic and clinical trials. Revenues are based upon an established fee per study, as determined by contract with drug companies and other sponsors and are recognized as earned according to the contract terms.
Vascular access services. Lifeline provides management and administrative services to physician-owned vascular access clinics that provide vascular services for dialysis and other patients. Lifeline is also the majority-owner of three vascular access clinics. Management fees generated from providing management and administrative services are recognized as earned typically based on a percentage of revenues or cash collections generated by the clinics. Revenues associated with the vascular access clinics that are majority-owned are recognized in the period when the services are provided.
During 2018, we transitioned the customer service and fulfillment functions of our pharmacy business, DaVita Rx, to third parties and ceased our related distribution operations. DaVita Rx was a pharmacy that specialized in providing oral medications and medication management services to health plans and government programs for members/beneficiaries diagnosed with ESKD, CKD and/or poly-comorbid conditions. Through a combination of
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health monitoring, clinical coordination, innovative interventions, predictive analytics, medical claims analysis and information technology, we endeavor to assist our health plan and government program customers and patients in obtaining superior renal healthcare and improved clinical outcomes, as well as helping to reduce overall medical costs. Integrated kidney care management revenues from commercial and Medicare Advantage insurers can be based upon either an established contract fee recognized as earned for services provided over the contract period, or related to the operation of risk-based and value-based programs, including shared savings, pay for performance, and capitation contracts. DaVita IKC also contracts with ESRD. In addition, effective June 1, 2018, we sold 100%payors to operate Medicare Advantage ESKD special needs plans to provide ESKD patients full service healthcare. DaVita IKC supported our ESKD seamless care organizations (ESCO) joint venture programs until their completion in 2021, and DaVita IKC has commenced participation in certain of the stockpayment models administered by CMMI. As further described below under the heading "—Government regulationCMMI Payment Models", the Company has invested resources, and expects to continue to invest substantial resources in these models as part of Paladina Health,the Company's overall plan to grow its integrated kidney care business and value-based care initiatives. See Note 1, Other revenue, in the Company's consolidated financial statements for more information on how the Company accounts for its integrated care arrangements.
The Company is also developing, and has entered into, various forms of technology-based, administrative, financial and other collaboration and incentive arrangements with physician partners and other providers in support of our direct primaryinnovative, developing and expanding integrated kidney care programs and arrangements.
Physician services. Nephrology Practice Solutions (NPS) is an independent business that partners with physicians committed to providing outstanding clinical and integrated care to patients. NPS provides nephrologist recruitment and staffing services in select markets which are billed on a per search basis. NPS also offers physician practice management services to nephrologists under administrative services agreements. These services include physician practice management, billing and collections, credentialing, coding and other support services that enable physician practices to increase efficiency and manage their administrative needs. Additionally, NPS owns and operates nephrology practices in multiple states. Fees generated from these services are recognized as earned typically based upon flat fees or cash collections generated by the physician practice.
Clinical research programs. DaVita Clinical Research (DCR) is a provider-based specialty clinical research organization with a full spectrum of services for clinical drug research and device development. DCR uses its extensive, applied database and real-world healthcare experience to assist in the design, recruitment and completion of retrospective and prospective pragmatic and clinical trials. Revenues are based upon an established fee per study, as determined by contract with drug companies and other sponsors and are recognized as earned according to the contract terms.
Transplant software business. DaVita's new transplant software business, MedSleuth, which was acquired on December 31, 2021, works with transplant centers across the U.S. to provide greater connectivity among transplant candidates, transplant centers, physicians and care teams to help improve the experience and outcomes for kidney and liver transplant patients.
For additional discussion of our ancillary services, and strategic initiatives businesses, see Part II, Item 7, "Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations."
International dialysis operations
As of December 31, 2019,2021, we operated or provided administrative services to a total of 259339 outpatient dialysis centers, which includes consolidated and nonconsolidated centers located in ten countries outside of the U.S., serving approximately 28,70039,900 patients. Our international dialysis operations have continued to grow steadily and expand as a result of acquiring and developing outpatient dialysis centers in various strategic markets. Our international operations are included as part ofin our ancillary services and strategic initiatives.services.

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TheAs of December 31, 2021, the locations of our international outpatient dialysis centers arewere as follows: 
Brazil83 
Poland65 
Germany56 
Malaysia(1)
40 
Colombia31 
United Kingdom25 
Saudi Arabia24 
Portugal
Singapore(1)
China(1)
339 
Germany59
Poland50
Brazil46
Malaysia(1)
39
Saudi Arabia23
Colombia22
Portugal9
Taiwan(1)
7
China(1)
2
Singapore(1)
2
259
 
(1)Includes centers that are operated or managed by our Asia Pacific Joint Venture (APAC JV).
(1)Includes centers that are operated or managed by our Asia Pacific joint venture (APAC JV).
Corporate Administrative Supportadministrative support
Corporate administrative support consists primarily of labor, benefits and long-term incentive compensation costs and professional fees for departments which provide support to all of our different operating lines of business. These expenses are included in our consolidated general and administrative expenses and are partially offset by the allocation of management fees.expenses.
Government regulation
We operate in a complex regulatory environment and are subject towith an extensive and evolving set of federal, state and local governmentgovernmental laws, regulations and other requirements. These laws, regulations and regulations require usother requirements are promulgated and overseen by a number of different legislative, regulatory, administrative and quasi-regulatory bodies, each of which may have varying interpretations, judgments or related guidance. As such, we utilize considerable resources on an ongoing basis to meet various standards relatingmonitor, assess and respond to among other things, government payment programs, dialysis facilitiesapplicable legislative, regulatory and equipment, managementadministrative requirements, but there is no guarantee that we will be successful in our efforts to adhere to all of centers, personnel qualifications, maintenance of proper records, and quality assurance programs and patient care.these requirements. Additional discussion on certain of these laws, regulations and other requirements is set forth below in this section.
If any of our personnel, representatives or operations are alleged to have violated these or other laws, regulations or requirements, we could experience material harm to our reputation and stock price, and it could impact our relationships and/or contracts related to our business, among other things. If any of our personnel, representatives, or operations are found to violate applicablethese or other laws, regulations or other requirements, we could suffer additional severe consequences that wouldcould have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows, reputation and stock price, including, among others:
Loss of required certifications, suspension or exclusion from or termination of our participation in government payment programs;programs (including, without limitation, Medicare, Medicaid and CMMI demonstration programs);
Refunds of amounts received in violation of law or applicable payment program requirements dating back to the applicable statute of limitation periods;
Loss of licenses required to operate healthcare facilities or administer pharmaceuticals in the states in which we operate;
Reductions in payment rates or coverage for dialysis and ancillary services and pharmaceuticals;
Criminal or civil liability, fines, damages or monetary penalties, which could be material;penalties;
Imposition of corporate integrity agreements, corrective action plans or consent agreements;
Enforcement actions, investigations, or audits by governmental agencies and/or state law claims for monetary damages by patients who believe their protected health information (PHI) has been used, disclosed or not properly safeguarded in violation of federal or state patient privacy laws, including, among others, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) and the Privacy Act of 1974;
Enforcement actions, investigations or audits by government agencies and/or initiated by qui tam relators related to interoperability and related data sharing and access requirements and regulations;
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Mandated changes to our practices or procedures that significantly increase operating expenses or that could subject us to ongoing audits and reporting requirements as well as increased scrutiny of our billing and business practices, any of which could lead to potential fines, among other things;
Termination of various relationships and/or contracts related to our business, such as joint venture arrangements, medical director agreements, hospital services and skilled nursing home agreements, real estate leases, value based arrangements, clinical incentive programs, payor contracts and consulting or participating provider agreements with physicians;physicians, among others; and


Harm to our reputation which could negatively impact our business relationships and stock price, affect our ability to attract and retain patients, physicians and teammates, affect our ability to obtain financing and decreaseour access to new business opportunities, among other things.
We expect that our industry will continue to be subject to extensive and complex regulation, the scope and effect of which are difficult to predict. We are currently subject to various legal proceedings, such as lawsuits, investigations, audits and inquiries by various government and regulatory agencies, all as further described in Note 16 to the consolidated financial statements. Ourstatements, and our operations and activities could be reviewed or challenged by regulatory authorities at any time in the future. For additional detail on risks related to each of the foregoing, see the discussion in Item 1A. Risk Factors under the headings, "If we failOur business is subject to a complex set of governmental laws, regulations and other requirements and any failure to adhere to all of the complex government laws, regulations andthose requirements, that apply to our business, we could suffer severe consequences thator any changes in those requirements, could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows, could materially harm stock price, and in some circumstances, could materially harm our reputation and stock price.reputation;"; "andChanges in federal and state healthcare legislation or regulations could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows"; and "We are, and may in the future be, a party to various lawsuits, demands, claims, qui tam suits, governmental investigations and audits (including, without limitation, investigations or other actions resulting from our obligation to self-report suspected violations of law) and other legal matters, any of which could result in, among other things, substantial financial penalties or awards against us, mandated refunds, substantial payments made by us, required changes to our business practices, exclusion from future participation in Medicare, Medicaid and other healthcare programs and possible criminal penalties, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, cash flows, reputation and stock price."
Licensure and certificationCertification
Our dialysis centers are certified by CMS, as is required for the receipt of Medicare payments. Certain of our payor contracts also condition payment on Medicare certification. In some states, our outpatient dialysis centers also are required to secure additional state licenses and permits. Governmental authorities, primarily state departments of health, periodically inspect our centers to determine if we satisfy applicable federal and state standards and requirements, including the conditions of participationfor coverage in the Medicare ESRD program.
We have experienced some delays in obtaining Medicare certifications from CMS, though recent changes by CMS in the prioritizing of dialysis providers as well as legislation allowing private entities to perform initial dialysis facilities certificationsfacility surveys for certification has helped to decrease or limit certain delays.
In addition, in NovemberSeptember 2019, CMS finalized aupdates to the Provider Enrollment Rule creating new onerous disclosure obligations for all providers enrolledenrolling in Medicare, Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Plan (CHIP). The final rule imposes aprovides CMS with stronger revocation authority, and increases the bar for re-enrollment, and permits CMS to impose a Medicare reapplication bar where a prospective provider's Medicare enrollment application is denied because the provider submitted incomplete, false, or misleading information for providers who submit incomplete or inaccurate information orare terminated from the Medicare program. CMS may also deny enrollment to providers who have affiliations with other providers that CMS has determined pose undue risk of fraud, waste or abuse. If we fail to comply with these and other applicable requirements on our licensure and certification programs, particularly in light of increased penalties that include a 10-year banbar to Medicare re-enrollment, under certain circumstances it could have a material adverse impact on our business, results of operations, financial condition, cash flows and reputation.
Federal Anti-Kickback Statute
The federal Anti-Kickback Statute prohibits, among other things, knowingly and willfully offering, paying, soliciting or receiving remuneration, directly or indirectly, in cash or kind, to induce or reward either the referral of an individual for, or the purchase, or order or recommendation of, any good or service, for which payment may be made under federal and state healthcare programs such as Medicare and Medicaid.
Federal criminal penalties for the violation of the federal Anti-Kickback Statute include imprisonment, fines and exclusion of the provider from future participation in the federal healthcare programs, including Medicare and Medicaid. Violations of the federal Anti-Kickback Statute are punishable by imprisonment for up to ten years and statutory fines of up to $100,000 or both. Larger criminal fines can be imposed upon corporations under the provisions of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the
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Alternate Fines Statute. Individuals and entities convicted of violating the federal Anti-Kickback Statute are subject to mandatory exclusion from participation in Medicare, Medicaid and other federal healthcare programs for a minimum of five years. Civil penalties for violation of this law include statutory amounts of up to $100,000 (adjusted for inflation) in monetary penalties per violation, repaymentsassessments of up to three times the total payments between the parties to the arrangement, and permissive exclusion from participation in the federal healthcare programs or suspension from future participation in Medicare and Medicaid. Court decisions have held that the statute may be violated even if only one purpose of remuneration is to induce referrals. The ACA amended the federal Anti-Kickback Statute to clarify the intent that is required to prove a violation. Under the statute as amended, the defendant may not need to have actual knowledge of the federal Anti-Kickback Statute or have the specific intent to violate it. In addition, the ACA amended the federal Anti-Kickback Statute to provide that any claims for


items or services resulting from a violation of the federal Anti-Kickback Statute are considered false or fraudulent for purposes of the False Claims Act (FCA). and can result in treble damages and other penalties under the FCA.
The federal Anti-Kickback Statute includes statutory exceptions and regulatory safe harbors that protect certain arrangements. Business transactions and arrangements that are structured to comply fully withwithin an applicable safe harbor do not violate the federal Anti-Kickback Statute. Transactions and arrangements that do not satisfy all elements of a relevant safe harbor do not necessarily violate the law. When an arrangement doesis not satisfystructured fully within a safe harbor, the arrangement must be evaluated on a case-by-case basis in light of the parties’ intent and the arrangement’s potential for abuse. Arrangements that do not satisfy a safe harborabuse, and may be subject to greater scrutiny by enforcement agencies.
On December 2, 2020, HHS' Office of Inspector General (OIG) and CMS released a final rule implementing modifications to the Federal Anti-Kickback Statute and Civil Monetary Penalties Statute that are intended to promote value-based and coordinated care arrangements as well as reduce other regulatory burdens. The changes implemented by the final rules went into effect on January 19, 2021.
In the ordinary course of our business operations, DaVita and its ancillary businesses and subsidiaries enter into severalnumerous arrangements with physicians and other potential referral sources, that potentially implicate the Anti-Kickback Statute,Statute. Examples of such as:
Medical Director Agreements. Because ourarrangements include, among other things, medical directors may refer patients to our dialysis centers, our arrangements with these physicians are designed to substantially comply with the safe harbor for personal service arrangements. Although we endeavor to structure the Medical Director Agreements we enter into with physicians to substantially comply with the safe harbor for personal service arrangements, including the requirement that compensation be consistent with fair market value, the safe harbor requires that when services are provided on a part-time basis, the agreement must specify the schedule of intervals of services, and their precise length and the exact charge for such services. Because of the nature of our medical directors’ duties, it is impossible to fully satisfy this technical element of the safe harbor. As a result, these arrangements could be subject to scrutiny since they do not expressly describe the schedule of part-time services to be provided under the arrangement.
Joint Ventures. As noted above, we own a controlling interest in numerous U.S. dialysis related joint ventures. Our internal policies, procedures, and templatedirector agreements, were developed and are utilized for compliance with the Anti-Kickback Statute. However, we recognize that at times these joint ventures, do not fully satisfy all of the requirements of the safe harbor for investments in small entities. Although failure to complyleases and subleases with a safe harbor does not render an arrangement illegal under the federal Anti-Kickback Statute, an arrangement that does not operate within a safe harbor may be subject to scrutiny by both federal and state government enforcement agencies including the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Inspector General (OIG) and the Department of Justice (DOJ). Joint ventures that fall outside the safe harbors are evaluated on a case-by-case basis under the federal Anti-Kickback Statute.
Lease Arrangements. We lease space from entities in which physicians, hospitals or medical groups hold ownership interests, and we sublease space to referring physicians. We endeavor to structure these arrangements to comply with the federal Anti-Kickback Statute safe harbor for space rentals in all material respects.
Consulting Agreements. From time to time, we enter into consulting agreements, with physicians. Engaged physicians providehospital services including providing input on processes,agreements, discharge planning services agreements, acute dialysis services agreements, value based care arrangements, employment and protocols as well as providing education on assorted topics. We endeavor to structure these arrangements to comply with the federal Anti-Kickback Statute safe harbor for personal services in all material respects.
Employment Agreements. Our subsidiary Nephrology Practice Solutions employs physicians to provide administrativecoverage agreements, and clinical services. We endeavor to structure these arrangements to comply with the federal Anti-Kickback Statute safe harbor for employment in all material respects.
Common Stock. Someincentive performance arrangements. In addition, some referring physicians may own our common stock. We believe that these interests materially satisfy the requirements ofstock in reliance on the Anti-Kickback Statute safe harbor for investmentsinvestment interests in large publicly traded companies.
Discounts. Our Furthermore, our dialysis centers and subsidiaries sometimes enter into certain rebate, pricing, or other contracts to acquire certain discounted items and services at a discount that may be reimbursed by a federal healthcare program. We endeavor
Agreements do not need to structure our vendor contracts that include discount or rebate provisions to comply with thefit within a relevant federal Anti-Kickback Statute safe harbor for discounts.provision to be permissible; however, we generally endeavor to structure our arrangements within applicable safe harbors. Some of our arrangements are not structured fully within a safe harbor.
If any of our business transactions or arrangements, including but not limited to those described above, were found to violate the federal Anti-Kickback Statute, we, among other things, could face criminal, civil or administrative sanctions, including possible exclusion from participation in Medicare, Medicaid and other state and federal healthcare programs. Any findings that we have violated these laws could have a material adverse impact on our business, results of operations, financial condition, cash flows, reputation and stock price.
As part of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Regulatory Sprint to Coordinated Care (Regulatory Sprint), in October 2019, OIG issued proposed modifications to certain of its Anti-Kickback and Civil Monetary Penalties regulations. OIG has not issued final rules at this time so the impact on future modifications is unknown, but we will continue to monitor to assess the anticipated impact on our business, results of operations and financial condition.


Stark Law
The Stark Law is a strict liability civil law that prohibits a physician who has a financial relationship, or who has an immediate family member who has a financial relationship, with entities providing Designated Health Services (DHS), from referring Medicare and Medicaid patients to such entities for the furnishing of DHS, unless an exception applies. DHS is defined to mean any of the following enumerated items or services; clinical laboratory services; physical therapy services; occupational therapy services; radiology services, including magnetic resonance imaging, computerized axial tomography scans, and ultrasound services; radiation therapy services and supplies; durable medical equipment and supplies; parenteral and enteral nutrients, equipment, and supplies; prosthetics, orthotics and prosthetic devices and supplies; home health services; outpatient prescription drugs; inpatient and outpatient hospital services; and outpatient speech-language pathology services. The types of financial arrangements between a physician and a DHS entity that trigger the self-referral prohibitions of the Stark Law are broad and include direct and indirect ownership and investment interests and compensation arrangements. The Stark Law also prohibits the DHS entity receiving a prohibited referral from presenting, or causing to be presented, a claim or billing for the services arising out of the prohibited referral. The prohibition applies regardless of the reasons for the financial relationship and the referral; unlike the federal Anti-Kickback Statute, intent to induce referrals is not required. If the Stark Law is implicated, the financial relationship must fully satisfy a Stark Law exception. If an exception to the Stark Law is not satisfied, then the parties to the arrangement could be subject to sanctions. Sanctions for violation of the Stark Law include denial of payment for claims for services provided in violation of the prohibition, refunds of amounts collected in violation of the prohibition, a civil penalty of up to $15,000 (adjusted for inflation) for each service arising out of the prohibited referral, a statutory civil penalty of up to $100,000 (adjusted for inflation) against parties that enter into a scheme to circumvent the Stark Law prohibition, civil assessment of up to three times the amount claimed, and potential exclusion from the federal healthcare programs, including Medicare and Medicaid. Amounts collected for prohibited claims must be reported and refunded generally within 60 days after the date on which the overpayment was identified. Furthermore, Stark Law violations and failure to return overpayments timely can form the basis for FCA liability as discussed below.
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On December 2, 2020, CMS released a final rule implementing modifications to the Stark Law. The purpose of these modifications is to promote value-based and coordinated care arrangements as well as reduce other regulatory burdens. Most changes implemented by the final rule went into effect on January 19, 2021. We continue to assess the anticipated impact of these modifications on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
The definition of DHS under the Stark Law excludes services paid under a composite rate, even if some of the components bundled in the composite rate are DHS. Although the ESRD bundled payment system is no longer titled a composite rate, we believe that the former composite rate payment system and the current bundled system are both composite systems excluded from the Stark Law. Since most services furnished to Medicare beneficiaries provided in our dialysis centers are reimbursed through a bundled rate, we believe that the services performed in our facilities generally are not DHS, and the Stark Law referral prohibition does not apply to those services.DHS. Certain separately billable drugs (drugs furnished to an ESRD patient that are not for the treatment of ESRD that CMS allows our centers to bill for using the so-called AY modifier) may be considered DHS. However, we have implemented certain billing controls designed to limit DHS being billed out of our dialysis clinics. Likewise, the definition of inpatient hospital services, for purposes of the Stark Law, also excludes inpatient dialysis performed in hospitals that are not certified to provide ESRD services. Consequently, we believe that our arrangements with such hospitals for the provision of dialysis services to hospital inpatients doshould not trigger the Stark Law referral prohibition.
In addition, although prescription drugs are DHS, there is an exception in the Stark Law for calcimimetics, EPO and other specifically enumerated dialysis drugs when furnished in or by an ESRD facility such that the arrangement for the furnishing of the drugs does not violate the Stark Law.
WeIn the ordinary course of business operations, DaVita and its ancillary businesses and subsidiaries have entered into severalmany different types of financial relationshipsarrangements with referring physicians that potentially implicate the Stark Law, including, compensationbut not limited to, medical director agreements, joint ventures, leases and subleases with entities in which physicians, hospitals or medical groups hold ownership interest, consulting agreements, hospital services agreements, discharge planning services agreements, acute dialysis services agreements, value based care arrangements, employment agreements and incentive performance arrangements. In addition, some referring physicians may own our common stock in reliance on the Stark Law exception for investment interests in large publicly traded companies.
If our dialysis centersinterpretation of the applicability of the Stark Law to our operations is incorrect, the controls we have implemented fail, an arrangement is entered into outside of our processes, or we were to bill for a non-exempted drug and the financial relationships with the referring physician did notfail to satisfy an applicable exception to the Stark Law, we could be found to be in violation of the Stark Law and required to change our practices, face civil penalties, pay substantial fines, return certain payments received from Medicare and beneficiaries or otherwise experience a material adverse effect as a result of a challenge to payments made pursuant to referrals from these physicians under the Stark Law. Additionally, certain of our subsidiaries, were they to bill DHS, would implicate the Stark Law. As such we endeavor to structure arrangements with relevant physicians to fit within the existing exceptions to the Stark Law. If we were to fail to satisfy an applicable exception, we could similarly be required to change practices, face penalties and fines, return certain payments or otherwise face adverse consequences.effect.
Medical Director Agreements. We endeavor to structure our medical director agreements to satisfy the personal services arrangement exception to the Stark Law. While we believe that the compensation provisions included in our medical director agreements are the result of arm’s length negotiations and result in fair market value payments for medical director services, an enforcement agency could nevertheless challenge the level of compensation that we pay our medical directors.
Lease Agreements. We lease space from entities in which referring physicians hold interests and we sublease space to referring physicians at some of our dialysis centers. The Stark Law provides an exception for lease arrangements if specific requirements are met. We endeavor to structure our leases and subleases with referring physicians to satisfy the requirements for this exception.


Consulting Agreements. From time to time, we enter into consulting agreements with physicians. Engaged physicians provide services including providing input on processes, services and protocols as well as providing education on assorted topics. We endeavor to structure these arrangements to comply with the Stark Law exception for personal services.
Employment Agreements. We employ physicians to provide administrative and clinical services. We endeavor to structure these arrangements to comply with the relevant Stark Law exceptions.
Common Stock. Some referring physicians may own our common stock. We believe that these interests satisfy the Stark Law exception for investments in large publicly traded companies.
Joint Ventures. Some of our referring physicians also own equity interests in entities that operate our dialysis centers and subsidiaries. We believe that none of the Stark Law exceptions applicable to physician ownership interests in entities to which they make DHS referrals apply to the kinds of ownership arrangements that referring physicians hold in several of our subsidiaries that operate dialysis centers. Accordingly, these dialysis centers do not bill Medicare for DHS referrals from physician owners. If the dialysis centers bill for DHS referred by physician owners, the dialysis centers or subsidiaries would be subject to the Stark Law penalties described above.
Ancillary Services. The operations of our ancillary and subsidiary businesses are also subject to compliance with the Stark Law, and any failure to comply with these requirements, particularly in light of the strict liability nature of the Stark Law, could subject these operations to the Stark Law penalties and sanctions described above.
If CMS or other regulatory or enforcement authorities determined that we have submitted claims in violation of the Stark Law, or otherwise violated the Stark Law, we would be subject to the penalties described above. In addition, it might be necessary to restructure existing compensation agreements with our medical directors and to repurchase or to request the sale of ownership interests in subsidiaries and partnerships held by referring physicians or, alternatively, to refuse to accept referrals for DHS from these physicians, or take other actions to modify our operations. Any suchfinding by CMS or other regulatory or enforcement authorities that we have violated the Stark Law or related penalties and restructuring or other required actions could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, cash flows, stock price and reputation.
False Claims Act
The federal FCA is a means of policing false bills or false requests for payment in the healthcare delivery system. In part, the FCA authorizes the imposition of up to three times the government’s damages and civil penalties, plus up to approximately $23,000 per claim, on any person who, among other acts:
Knowingly presents or causes to be presented to the federal government, a false or fraudulent claim for payment or approval;
Knowingly makes, uses or causes to be made or used, a false record or statement material to a false or fraudulent claim;
Knowingly makes, uses, or causes to be made or used, a false record or statement material to an obligation to pay the government, or knowingly conceals or knowingly and improperly, avoids or decreases an obligation to pay or transmit money or property to the federal government; or
Conspires to commit the above acts.
In addition, amendments to the FCA impose severe penalties for the knowing and improper retention of overpayments collected from government payors. Under these provisions, within 60 days of identifying and quantifying an overpayment, a
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provider is required to follow certain notification and repayment processes. An overpayment impermissibly retained could subject us to liability under the FCA, exclusion from government healthcare programs, and penalties under the federal Civil Monetary Penalty statute. As a result of these provisions, our procedures for identifying and processing overpayments may be subject to greater scrutiny.
The federal government has used the FCA to prosecute a wide variety of alleged false claims and fraud allegedly perpetrated against Medicare and state healthcare programs, including coding errors, billing for services not rendered, the submission of false cost reports, billing for services at a higher payment rate than appropriate, billing under a comprehensive code as well as under one or more component codes included in the comprehensive code and billing for care that is not considered medically necessary. The ACA provides that claims tainted by a violation of the federal Anti-Kickback Statute are false for purposes of the FCA. Some courts have held that filing claims or failing to refund amounts collected in violation of the Stark Law can form the basis for liability under the FCA. In addition to the provisions of the FCA, which provide for civil enforcement, the federal government can use several criminal statutes to prosecute persons who are alleged to have submitted false or fraudulent claims for payment to the federal government.
Fraud and abuse under state law
Some states in which we operate dialysis centers have laws prohibiting physicians from holding financial interests in various types of medical facilities to which they refer patients. Some of these laws could potentially be interpreted broadly as prohibiting physicians who hold shares of our publicly traded stock or are physician owners from referring patients to our dialysis centers if the centers use our laboratory subsidiary to perform laboratory services for their patients or do not otherwise satisfy an exception to the law. States also have laws similar to or stricter than the federal Anti-Kickback Statute that may affect our ability to receive referrals from physicians with whom we have financial relationships, such as our medical directors. Some state anti-kickback laws also include civil and criminal penalties. Some of these laws include exemptions that may be applicable to our medical directors and other physician relationships or for financial interests limited to shares of publicly traded stock. Some, however, may include no explicit exemption for certain types of agreements and/or relationships entered into with physicians. If these laws are interpreted to apply to referring physicians with whom we contract for items or services, including medical director and similar services,directors, or to referring physicians with whom we hold joint ownership interests or to referring physicians who hold interests in DaVita Inc. limited solely to our publicly traded stock, and for which no applicable exception exists, we may be required to terminate or restructure our relationships with or refuse referrals from these referring physicians and could be subject to criminal, civil and administrative sanctions, refund requirements and exclusions from government healthcare programs, including Medicare and Medicaid, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, cash flows, reputation and stock price.
Corporate Practice of Medicine and Fee-Splitting
There are states in which we operate that have laws that prohibit business entities not owned by health care providers, such as our Company and our subsidiaries, from practicing medicine, employing physicians to practice medicineand other health care providers providing certain clinical services or exercising control over medical or clinical decisions by physicians and potentially other types of health care providers (known collectively as the corporate practice of medicine). These states may also prohibit entities from engaging in certain financial arrangements, such as fee-splitting, with physicians. In some states these prohibitions are expressly stated in a statute or regulation, while inphysicians and potentially other states the prohibition is a mattertypes of judicial or regulatory interpretation.health care providers. Violations of the corporate practice of medicine, fee-splitting and related laws vary by state and may result in physicians and potentially other types of health care providers being subject to disciplinary action, as well as to forfeiture of revenues from payors for services rendered. For lay entities, violationsViolations may also bring both civil and, in more extreme cases, criminal liability for engaging in medical practice without a license.license and violating the corporate practice of medicine, fee-splitting and related laws. Some of the relevant laws, regulations, and agency interpretations in states with corporate practice of medicine restrictions have been subject to limited judicial and regulatory interpretation. Moreover, state laws are subject to change.


False Claims Act
The federal FCA is a means of policing false bills or false requests for payment in the healthcare delivery system. In part, the FCA authorizes the imposition of up to three times the government’s damages and civil penalties on any person who, among other acts:
Knowingly presents or causes to be presented to the federal government, a false or fraudulent claim for payment or approval;
Knowingly makes, uses or causes to be made or used, a false record or statement material to a false or fraudulent claim;
Knowingly makes, uses, or causes to be made or used, a false record or statement material to an obligation to pay the government, or knowingly conceals or knowingly and improperly, avoids or decreases an obligation to pay or transmit money or property to the federal government; or
Conspires to commit the above acts.
In addition, amendments to the FCA impose severe penalties for the knowing and improper retention of overpayments collected from government payors. Under these provisions, within 60 days of identifying and quantifying an overpayment, a provider is required to follow certain notification and repayment processes. An overpayment impermissibly retained could subject us to liability under the FCA, exclusion from government healthcare programs, and penalties under the federal Civil Monetary Penalty statute. As a result of these provisions, our procedures for identifying and processing overpayments may be subject to greater scrutiny.
On February 1, 2019, the DOJ issued a final rule announcing penalties for a violation of the FCA range from $11,463 to $22,927 for each false claim, plus up to three times the amount of damages caused by each false claim, which can be as much as the amounts received directly or indirectly from the government for each such false claim. The federal government has used the FCA to prosecute a wide variety of alleged false claims and fraud allegedly perpetrated against Medicare and state healthcare programs, including coding errors, billing for services not rendered, the submission of false cost reports, billing for services at a higher payment rate than appropriate, billing under a comprehensive code as well as under one or more component codes included in the comprehensive code and billing for care that is not considered medically necessary. The ACA provides that claims tainted by a violation of the federal Anti-Kickback Statute are false for purposes of the FCA. Some courts have held that filing claims or failing to refund amounts collected in violation of the Stark Law can form the basis for liability under the FCA. In addition to the provisions of the FCA, which provide for civil enforcement, the federal government can use several criminal statutes to prosecute persons who are alleged to have submitted false or fraudulent claims for payment to the federal government.
Civil Monetary Penalties Statute
The Civil Monetary Penalties Statute, 42 U.S.C. § 1320a-7a, authorizes the imposition of civil money penalties, assessments, and exclusion against an individual or entity based on a variety of prohibited conduct, including, but not limited to:
Presenting, or causing to be presented, claims for payment to Medicare, Medicaid, or other third-party payors that the individual or entity knows or should know are for an item or service that was not provided as claimed or is false or fraudulent;
Offering remuneration to a Federalfederal healthcare program beneficiary that the individual or entity knows or should know is likely to influence the beneficiary to order or receive healthcare items or services formfrom a particular provider;
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Arranging contracts with an entity or individual excluded from participation in the Federalfederal healthcare programs;
Violating the federal Anti-Kickback Statute;
Making, using, or causing to be made or used, a false record or statement material to a false or fraudulent claim for payment for items and services furnished under a Federalfederal healthcare program;
Making, using, or causing to be made any false statement, omission, or misrepresentation of a material fact in any application, bid, or contract to participate or enroll as a provider of services or a supplier under a Federalfederal healthcare program; and
Failing to report and return an overpayment owed to the federal government.


Substantial civil monetary penalties may be imposed under the federal Civil Monetary Penalty Statute and vary, depending on the underlying violation. In addition, an assessment of not more than three times the total amount claimed for each item or service may also apply, and a violator may be subject to exclusion from Federalfederal and state healthcare programs.
Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
We are subject to regulations imposed bythe provisions of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) in the United States and similar laws in other countries, which generally prohibit companies and those acting on their behalf from making improper payments to foreign government officials and others for the purpose of obtaining or retaining business. A violation of specificthe FCPA or other similar laws and regulations by us and/or our agents or representatives could result in, among other things, the imposition of fines and penalties, on us, changes to our business practices, the termination of or other adverse impacts under our contracts or debarment from bidding on contracts, and/or harm to our reputation, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, cash flows and cash flows.stock price.
Privacy and Security
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 and its implementing privacy and security regulations, as amended by the federal Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH Act), (collectively referred to as HIPAA), require us to provide certain protections to patients and their health information. The HIPAA privacy and security regulations extensively regulate the use and disclosure of PHI and require covered entities, which include healthcare providers, to implement and maintain administrative, physical and technical safeguards to protect the security of such information. Additional security requirements apply to electronic PHI. These regulations also provide patients with substantive rights with respect to their health information.
The HIPAA privacy and security regulations also require us to enter into written agreements with certain contractors, known as business associates, to whom we disclose PHI. Covered entities may be subject to penalties for, among other activities, failing to enter into a business associate agreement where required by law or as a result of a business associate violating HIPAA if the business associate is found to be an agent of the covered entity and acting within the scope of the agency. Business associates are also directly subject to liability under the HIPAA privacy and security regulations. In instances where we act as a business associate to a covered entity, there is the potential for additional liability beyond our status as a covered entity.
Covered entities must report breaches of unsecured PHI to affected individuals without unreasonable delay but not to exceed 60 days of discovery of the breach by a covered entity or its agents. Notification must also be made to the HHS and, for breaches of unsecured PHI involving more than 500 residents of a state or jurisdiction, to the media. All non-permitted uses or disclosures of unsecured PHI are presumed to be breaches unless the covered entity or business associate establishes that there is a low probability the information has been compromised. Various state laws and regulations may also require us to notify affected individuals, and U.S. state attorneys general, or other regulators or law enforcement, in the event of a data breach involving individually identifiable information without regard to whether there is a low probability of the information being compromised.
Penalties for impermissible use or disclosure of PHI were increased by the HITECH Act by imposing tiered penalties of more than $50,000 per violation and up to $1.5 million per year for identical violations. In addition, HIPAA provides for criminal penalties of up to $250,000 and ten years in prison, with the severest penalties for obtaining and disclosing PHI with the intent to sell, transfer or use such information for commercial advantage, personal gain or malicious harm. Further, state attorneys general may bring civil actions seeking either injunction or damages in response to violations of the HIPAA privacy and security regulations that threaten the privacy of state residents.
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In addition to the protection of PHI, healthcare companies must meet privacy and security requirements applicable to other categories of personal information. Companies may process consumer information in conjunction with website and corporate operations. They may also handle employee information, including Social Security Numbers, payroll information, and other categories of sensitive information, to further their employment practices. In processing this additional information, companies must comply with the applicable privacy and security requirements of comprehensive privacy and data protection laws, consumer protection laws, labor and employment laws, and its publicly-available notices.
Data protection laws and regulations are evolving globally, and may continue to add additional compliance costs and legal risks to our international operations. In Europe,the European Union, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) became effective on May 25, 2018. The GDPR applies to entities that are established in the European Union (EU), as well as extends the scope of EU data protection laws to foreign companies processing data of individuals in the EU. The GDPR(EU GDPR) imposes a comprehensive data protection regime with the potential for regulatory fines as well as data breach litigation by impacted data subjects. Under the EU GDPR, regulatory penalties may be passed by data protection authorities for up to the greater of 4% of worldwide turnover or €20 million. The United Kingdom has implemented similar legislation (UK GDPR) that may carry similar compliance and operational costs as the EU GDPR, and non-compliance with which carries potential fines of up to the greater of £17.5 million or 4% of global turnover. The costs of compliance with, and other burdens imposed by, the EU GDPR, UK GDPR and other new laws, regulations and policies implementing the


EU GDPR and UK GDPR may impact our European and United Kingdom operations and/orand may limit the ways in which we can provide services or use personal data collected while providing services. If we fail to comply with the requirements of GDPR, we could be subject to penalties that would have a material adverse impact on our business, results of operations, financial condition
Privacy and cash flows.
Datadata protection laws are also evolving nationally, providing for enhanced state privacy rights that are broader than the current federal privacy rights, and may add additional compliance costs and legal risks to our U.S. operations. For example, the California legislature recently passed the California Consumer Protection Act (CCPA), which became effective January 1, 2020. The CCPA is a privacy law that2020, requires certain companies doing business in California to enhance privacy disclosures regarding the collection, use and sharing of a consumer's personal data. The CCPA grants consumers additional privacy rights that are broader than current Federal privacy rights. The CCPA also permits the imposition of civil penalties, grants enforcement authority to the state Attorney General and provides a private right of action for consumers where certain personal information is breached due to unreasonable information security practices. SeveralAdditionally, the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA), which is expected to take effect in January 2023, significantly expands the data protection obligations imposed by the CCPA on companies doing business in California, including additional consumer rights processes, limitations on data uses, and opt outs for certain uses of sensitive data. It will also create a new California data protection agency to enforce the law, and require certain businesses with higher risk privacy and security practices to submit annual audits to the agency on a regular basis. The CPRA will likely result in broader increased regulatory scrutiny in California of businesses’ privacy and security practices, could lead to a further rise in data protection litigation, and will require additional compliance investment and potential business process changes in the meantime. In addition to California, other states including Nevada and Maine, have passed data protectionsimilar privacy laws, similar to CCPA. These laws would impose organizational requirementssuch as the Colorado Privacy Act and grant individual rights that are comparable to those established in the CCPA, and other states may pass similar legislation in the future.Virginia Consumer Data Protection Act.
In addition to the breach reporting requirements under HIPAA, companies are subject to state breach notification laws. Each state enforces a law requiring companies to provide notice of a breach of certain categories of sensitive personal information, e.g. Social Security Number, financial account information, or username and password. A company impacted by a breach must notify affected individuals, attorney’s general or other agencies within a certain time frame. If a company does not provide timely notice with the required content, it may be subject to civil penalties brought by attorney’s generals or affected individuals.
Companies must also safeguard personal information in accordance with federal and state data security laws and requirements. These requirements are akin to the HIPAA requirements to safeguard PHI, described above. The Federal Trade Commission, for example, requires companies to implement reasonable data security measures relative to its operations and the volume and complexity of the information it processes. Also, various state data security laws require companies to safeguard data with technical security controls and underlying policies and processes. Due to the constant changes in the data security space, companies must continuously review and update data security practices to mitigate any potential operational or legal liabilities stemming from data security risks. If we fail to comply with applicable privacy and security laws, regulations
Healthcare reformand standards, including with respect to third-party service providers that utilize sensitive personal information, including PHI,
In March 2010, broad healthcare reform legislation was enacted inon our behalf, properly maintain the U.S. through the ACA, but the ACA’sintegrity of our data, protect our proprietary rights, or defend against cybersecurity attacks,
it could materially harm our reputation and/or have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial
condition and cash flows.
Integrated Kidney Care and Medicare and Medicaid program reforms
The regulatory framework and other relatedof the healthcare reforms continuemarketplace continues to evolve as a result of executive, legislative, regulatory and administrative developments and judicial proceedings. As such, there remains considerable uncertainty surroundingThese changes shape the continued implementation of the ACA and what similar healthcare reform measures or other changes might be enacted at the federal and/or state level. While legislative attempts to completely repeal the ACA have been unsuccessful to date, there have been multiple attempts to repeal or amend the ACA through legislative action and legal challenges. As a result, any specific changes to the ACA and related regulatory framework,landscape for our current dialysis business as well as the timing of any such changes, are not possible to predict. Nevertheless, previously enacted reformsfor emerging comprehensive and future changes could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows. For example, the ACA's health insurance exchanges, which provide a marketplace for eligible individuals and small employers to purchase health insurance, initially increased the accessibility and availability of commercial insurance. However,integrated kidney care programs. The following discussion describes certain legislative developments, such as the repeal of the individual mandate under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, have adversely impacted the risk pool in certain exchange markets, and the nature and extent of commercial payor participation in the exchanges has fluctuated as a result. Other proposed legislative developments or administrative decisions, such as moving to a universal health insurance or “single payor” system whereby health insurance is provided to all Americans by the government under government programs, or lowering or eliminating the cost-sharing reduction subsidies under the ACA, could impact the percentage of our patients with higher-paying commercial health insurance, impact the scope of coverage under commercial health plans and increase our expenses, among other things.
The ACA also requires that all non-grandfathered individual and small group health plans sold in a state, including plans sold through the state-based exchanges created pursuant to the healthcare reform laws, cover essential health benefits (EHBs) in ten general categories. The scope of the benefits is intended to equal the scope of benefits under a typical employer plan.
On February 25, 2013, HHS issued the final rule governing the standards applicable to EHB benchmark plans, including new definitions and actuarial value requirements and methodology, and published a list of plan benchmark options that states can use to develop EHBs. The rule describes specific coverage requirements that (i) prohibit discrimination against individuals because of pre-existing or chronic conditions, (ii) ensure network adequacy of essential health providers, and (iii) prohibit benefit designs that limit enrollment and that prohibit access to care for enrollees. Subsequent regulations relevant to the EHB have continued the benchmark plan approach for 2016 and future years and have implemented clarifications and modifications


to the existing EHB regulations, including the prohibition on discrimination, network adequacy standards and other requirements. In recent years, CMS has issued an annual Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters rulemaking and related guidance setting forth standards for insurance plans provided through the exchanges.
Other aspects of the ACA may affect our business as well, including provisions that impact the Medicare and Medicaid programs. For example, the ACA broadened the potential for penalties under the FCA for the knowing and improper retention of overpayments collected from government payors and reduced the timeline to file Medicare claims. Nevertheless, as an example of how the healthcare regulatory environment continues to change in the wake of ACA, in February 2018 Congress passed the BBA, which included a provision that repealed an Independent Payment Advisory Board initially established by the ACA. While certain provisions of the BBA may increase the scope of benefits available for certain chronically ill federal healthcare program beneficiaries beginning in 2020, the ultimate impact of such changes cannot be predicted.
New models of care and Medicare and Medicaid program reforms
CMMI is working with various healthcare providers to develop, refine and implement ACOs and other innovative models of care for Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. We are uncertain of the extent to which the long-term operation and evolution of these models of care, including ACOs, the CEC Model (which includes the development of ESCOs), the Duals Demonstration, or other models, will impact the healthcare market over time. We may choose to participatechanges in one or several of these models either as a partner with other providers or independently. We are currently participatingfurther detail.
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CMMI Payment Models: An executive order issued in the CEC Model with CMMI, including with organizations in Arizona, Florida, and adjacent markets in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. We may choose to participate in additional models either as a partner with other providers or independently. Even in areas where we are not directly participating in these or other CMMI models, some of our patients may be assigned to an ACO, another ESRD Care Model, or another program, in which case the quality and cost of care that we furnish will be included in an ACO's, another ESRD Care Model's, or other program's calculations.
In addition, as noted above, federal bipartisan legislation related to full capitation demonstration for ESRD was proposed in late 2017. Legislation, which has yet to secure introduction to the 116th Congress, would build on prior coordinated care models, such as the CEC Model, and would establish a demonstration program for the provision of integrated care to Medicare ESRD patients. We have made and continue to make investments in building our integrated care capabilities, but there can be no assurances that initiatives such as this or similar legislation will be introduced or passed into law. If such legislation is passed, there can be no assurances that we will be able to successfully execute on the required strategic initiatives that would allow us to provide a competitive and successful integrated care program on the broader scale contemplated by this legislation, and in the desired time frame. Additionally, the ultimate terms and conditions of any such potential legislation remain unclear-for example, our costs of care could exceed our associated reimbursement rates under such legislation.
More recently, theJuly 2019 (the 2019 Executive OrderOrder) directed CMS to create payment models through CMMI to evaluate the effects of creating payment incentives for the greater use of homehome-based dialysis and kidney transplants for those already on dialysis. CMS subsequently announced in a proposed ruledialysis, improve quality of care for kidney patients and reduce expenditures. The first of these, the ESRD Treatment Choices (ETC) mandatory payment model which will be administered through the CMMI and is proposed to launchlaunched in 50%approximately 30% of dialysis clinics across the country in 2020. Under the proposed rule, which was subject to a comment period that ended in September 2019,on January 1, 2021. In November 2021, CMS would select ESRD facilities and clinicians to participate in the model according to their location in randomly selected geographic areas and would require participation to minimize the potential for selection effect. We support the administration's emphasis on and move towards home dialysis and kidney transplant; however, we believe that if launched as proposed,revised the ETC model would negativelyto include an additional positive payment adjustment for significant improvement in the home dialysis rate or the transplant waitlist rate among ESRD patients with lower socioeconomic status. CMS will also stratify the achievement benchmarks for geographies with 50 percent or more patients who are dual-eligible or received a Low Income Subsidy (LIS) to account for socioeconomic factors that may impact patient clinicalthe ability to receive home-based dialysis or gain placement on a transplant waitlist. CMS also announced the Global and Professional Direct Contracting (GPDC) Model to reduce the cost and improve the quality of care for Medicare coverage and/or payment for ESRD claims and, depending onfee-for-service patients. The Company, via its wholly owned subsidiary Vively Health, began participating in the final requirementsGPDC Model at the start of the ETC model, ultimately could have a material adverse effectfirst performance year on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
In connection with the 2019 Executive Order,April 1, 2021. CMS also announced the implementation of fourtwo voluntary kidney care payment models, Kidney Care First (KCF) and Comprehensive Kidney Care Contracting (CKCC), with the stated goal of helping healthcare providers reduce the cost and improve the quality of care for patients with late-stage chronic kidney disease and ESRD. CMS has stated these payment models are aimed to prevent or delay the need for dialysis and encourage kidney transplantation. TheseCertain of these payment models, such as the First Performance Period for the Kidney Care Choices Model CKCC Options (the CKCC Model) commenced on January 1, 2022. As described above, the Company has invested substantial resources, and expects to continue to invest substantial resources in these models as part of the Company's overall plan to grow its integrated kidney care business and value-based care initiatives.
In addition to the aforementioned new models of care, federal bipartisan legislation related to full capitation demonstration for ESRD was introduced in Congress in August 2021 as the BETTER Kidney Care Act. This proposed legislation would build on prior coordinated care models, such as the Comprehensive ESRD Care (CEC) Model, and would establish a demonstration program for the provision of integrated care to Medicare fee-for-service dialysis and transplant patients. As noted above, we have made and continue to make substantial investments in value based care and building our integrated care capabilities, but there can be no assurances that initiatives such as this or any other legislation that aligns with our strategy and investments will be passed into law, and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic may delay the progress of any such initiatives. Irrespective of whether such laws are scheduledpassed, there can be no assurances that we will be able to run from 2020 through December 2023. In October 2019, CMS released initial guidance aroundsuccessfully execute on the voluntary payment models,required strategic initiatives that would allow us to provide a competitive and we expect additional guidancesuccessful integrated care program on the broad scale, and in the coming months.desired time frame. Additionally, the ultimate terms and conditions of any such potential legislation remain unclear. For example, our costs of care could exceed our associated reimbursement rates under such legislation.
For additional details on the risks related to integrated kidney care and Medicare and Medicaid program reforms, see the discussion in Item 1A. Risk Factors under the headings "If we are not able to successfully implement our strategy with respect to our integrated kidney care and value-based care initiatives, including maintaining our existing business and further developing our capabilities in a complex and highly regulated environment, it could result in a loss of our investments and have a material adverse effect on our growth strategy, could adversely impact our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows, and could materially harm our reputation;" and "If we are unable to compete successfully, including, without limitation, implementing our growth strategy and/or retaining patients and developing and maintaining relationships with physicians and hospitals, it could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows."
ACA and related regulations: The detailsACA regulatory framework of the healthcare marketplace continues to evolve as a result of executive, legislative, regulatory and specificsadministrative developments and judicial proceedings. For example, the expanded access to healthcare developed under the ACA has been both positively and negatively impacted over time by subsequent legal, regulatory and judicial action. In 2021, the American Rescue Plan included several provisions designed to expand health coverage during the COVID-19 pandemic, including the expansion of these voluntary modelspremium tax credits that assist consumers who purchase health insurance on marketplaces developed under the ACA and temporarily offering incentives to expand Medicaid coverage for states that have not yet beendone so. Our revenue and operating income levels are highly sensitive to the percentage of our patients with higher-paying commercial health insurance and any legislative, regulatory or other changes that decrease the accessibility and availability, including the duration, of commercial insurance is likely to have a material adverse impact on our business.
Changes to the political environment may increase the likelihood of legislative or regulatory changes that would impact us, such as changes to the healthcare regulatory landscape. Examples of such potential changes also could include, among other things, legislative developments or administrative decisions such as moving to a universal health insurance or "single payor" system whereby health insurance is provided to all Americans by the government, the availability of a "public health insurance option" similar to Medicare, government programs that impact access to Medicaid expansion or impact funding provided to families to purchase plans through the health insurance exchanges or changes to the eligibility age for Medicare beneficiaries. Some of these or other changes could in turn impact the percentage of our patients with higher-paying commercial health
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insurance, impact the scope or terms of coverage under commercial health plans and/or increase our expenses, among other things. The timing of legislative or executive action related to these potential initiatives, if any, remains uncertain, particularly in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and we anticipateas such, considerable uncertainty exists surrounding the continued development of the ACA and related regulations, programs and models, as well as similar healthcare reform measures and/or other potential changes at the federal and/or state level to laws, regulations and other requirements that such details will be released in the second half of 2020. We continue to assess these models and their viability for us and the industry, andgovern our assessment will continue to develop as additional details become available.business.
The 21st21st Century Cures Act enacted in December 2016, includes:The Cures Act included a provision that, will alloweffective January 1, 2021, allows Medicare eligible beneficiaries with ESRD to choose to obtain coverage under a Medicare Advantage (MA) plan, which could broadenMA managed care plan. This provision has broadened patient access to certain enhanced benefits offered by MA plans. We continueMA plans usually provide reimbursement to evaluate the potential impact of thisus at a negotiated rate that is generally higher than Medicare FFS rates. This change in benefit eligibility has increased the percentage of our patients on MA plans as therecompared to Medicare Part B plans, though it is significant uncertainty as tounclear how many or which newly eligible ESRD patients will continue to seek to enroll in MA plans for their ESRD


benefits over time. This uncertainty may be heightened by a provision in the Cures Act that, among other things, removes the objective time and how quickly any such changes would occur. Untildistance standards relating to network adequacy for outpatient dialysis centers for MA plans. The removal of these standards could result in MA plans seeking to limit provider networks available to dialysis patients. If MA plans attempt to use this revision to the effective daterules to limit or restrict their networks, this may adversely impact the number of this law, January 1, 2021, this choice is available only to Medicare beneficiaries without ESRD.
ESRD patients that select MA plans and also may result in the Company not being an in-network provider for significant MA plans. For additional discussiondetails on the risks associated with these provisions of the evolving payment and regulatory landscape for kidney care,Cures Act, see the discussionrisk factors in Item 1A1A. Risk Factors including the discussion under the heading, “headings,Changes "Our business is subject to a complex set of governmental laws, regulations and other requirements and any failure to adhere to those requirements, or any changes in federalthose requirements, could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and state healthcare legislationcash flows, could materially harm our stock price, and in some circumstances, could materially harm our reputation;" and "If the number or regulationspercentage of patients with higher-paying commercial insurance declines, if the average rates that commercial payors pay us decline, if patients in commercial plans are subject to restriction in plan designs, or if we are unable to maintain contracts with payors with competitive terms, including, without limitation, reimbursement rates, scope and duration of coverage and in-network benefits, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows."
The Cures Act also includes provisions related to data interoperability, information blocking, and patient access. CMS and the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) issued final rules related to these provisions, which include, among other things, requirements surrounding information blocking, changes to ONC's Health IT Certification Program and requirements that CMS-regulated payors make relevant claims/care data and provider directory information available through standardized patient access and provider directory application programming interfaces (APIs) that connect to provider electronic health records. We have made and continue to make investments in building data interoperability capabilities, including as part of building on our integrated care capabilities as noted above, and continue to monitor guidance from ONC on the rule.
Price Transparency Rules: In addition, recent price transparency regulations require most group health plans, and health insurance issuers in the group and individual markets, to make certain pricing and patient responsibility information publicly available. For plan years that start on or after January 1, 2022, and with enforcement beginning on July 1, 2022, any such plan or issuer must publish monthly machine-readable files that include negotiated rates between the plan or issuer and in-network providers, and allowed amounts paid and/or billed charges for out-of-network providers, for all covered items and services. For plan years that begin on or after January 1, 2023, most group health plans, and health insurance issuers in the group and individual markets, must provide enrollees with out-of-pocket cost and underlying provider negotiated rate information in a consumer-friendly format for an initial list of 500 designated services (which do not include dialysis). A plan or issuer may choose to include more than these 500 services, and for plan years that begin on or after January 1, 2024, most group health plans, and health insurance issuers in the group and individual markets, must provide enrollees with this information for all covered items and services. Additionally, CMS released regulations associated with "surprise billing" which necessitate, among other requirements, that certain providers provide patients with information regarding patient financial accountability and costs of services in advance of care being provided.While the ultimate impact of these regulations remains uncertain, any changes by group health plans, health insurance issuers in the group and individual markets, or consumer choices resulting from these regulations could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations, and could materially harm our reputation.
COVID-19 Response:In September 2021, President Biden directed federal agencies to develop rules and take action related to COVID-19 vaccination requirements, including rules that may impact employers with 100 or more employees as well as workers in the dialysis and other healthcare settings. On November 4, 2021, OSHA released the COVID-19 vaccine emergency temporary standard (ETS), but withdrew the rule effective January 26, 2022 after legal challenges. On November 5, 2021, CMS also issued an Interim Final Rule (IFR) requiring that, as a condition of participation in Medicare and Medicaid, various providers and suppliers, including ESRD facilities, implement policies and procedures for COVID-19 vaccination of all staff who provide care, treatment, or other services for the provider or its patients. Several legal challenges have been filed
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against the IFR, but the U.S. Supreme Court lifted the injunction against the IFR while the legal challenges proceed in the lower courts such that all healthcare workers at the providers and suppliers noted above are to be fully vaccinated or receive an approved medical or religious accommodation by February 28, 2022, in accordance with federal employment law. In addition, on September 9, 2021, President Biden issued Executive Order 14042, referred to as the federal contractor vaccine mandate, to require all U.S. based employees working on or in connection with covered federal government contracts and all other employees who share workplaces with or come into contact with employees working on or in connection with covered federal government contracts, to be fully vaccinated, or have an approved medical or religious accommodation, by January 18, 2022. In December 2021 a federal court enjoined the federal contractor vaccine mandate. A number of of other courts have enjoined the federal contractor vaccine mandate. At this time, several other state vaccine mandates have been legally challenged and are under review by the applicable courts. The uncertainty associated with the legal standing of these mandates and the cumulative impact of those mandates, that have already gone into effect, contributes to the volatility and uncertainty in the current labor market and may ultimately exacerbate the risk and impact of labor shortages on our business. For additional information on the risks to our business associated with COVID-19 and labor market conditions, see the risk factors in Item 1A. Risk Factors under the headings, "We face various risks related to the dynamic and evolving novel coronavirus pandemic, many of which may have a material adverse impact on us;" and "Our business is labor intensive and if our labor costs continue to rise, including due to shortages, changes in certification requirements and/or higher than normal turnover rates in skilled clinical personnel; or currently pending or future governmental laws, rules, regulations or initiatives impose additional requirements or limitations on our operations or profitability; or, if we are unable to attract and retain employees; or if union organizing activities or legislative or other changes result in significant increases in our operating costs or decreases in productivity, we may experience disruptions in our business operations and increases in operating expenses, among other things, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, cash flows and reputation" and "We face various risks related to the dynamic and evolving novel coronavirus pandemic, many of which may have a material adverse impact on us."
In addition, certain state and federal agencies, including OSHA and CMS, have released requirements, or are considering or are in the process of modifying existing requirements associated with the continued protection of employees as it relates to COVID-19. These requirements may result in increased costs related to, among other things, PPE, fit-testing, and paid time off, mandated surveillance testing of our teammates for COVID-19 and other increased obligations with which we must comply. Compliance with COVID-19-related safety rules and regulations is generally enforced with sanctions and/or fines, and non-compliance also has the potential for negative publicity or reputational impact. As these requirements are continuing to evolve and develop, at this time we cannot predict the ultimate impact they might have on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
Other regulations
Our U.S. dialysis and related lab services operations are subject to various state hazardous waste and non-hazardous medical waste disposal laws. These laws do not classify as hazardous most of the waste produced from dialysis services. Occupational Safety and Health AdministrationOSHA regulations require employers to provide workers who are occupationally subject to blood or other potentially infectious materials with prescribed protections. These regulatory requirements apply to all healthcare facilities, including dialysis centers, and require employers to make a determination as to which employees may be exposed to blood or other potentially infectious materials and to have in effect a written exposure control plan. In addition, employers are required to provide or employ hepatitis B vaccinations, personal protective equipment and other safety devices, infection control training, post-exposure evaluation and follow-up, waste disposal techniques and procedures and work practice controls. Employers are also required to comply with various record-keeping requirements.
In addition, a few states in which we do business have certificate of need programs regulating the establishment or expansion of healthcare facilities, including dialysis centers.
State initiatives
There have been several state initiatives to limit payments to dialysis providers or impose other burdensome operational requirements, which, if passed, could have a material adverse impact on our business, results of operation, financial condition and cash flows. For instance, in 2020, voters in California considered a statewide ballot initiative proposed by the Service Employees International Union - United Healthcare Workers West (SEIU) that sought to impose certain regulatory requirements on dialysis clinics, including requirements related to physician staffing levels, clinical reporting, clinical treatment options and limitations on the ability to make decisions on closing or reducing services for dialysis clinics. While voters rejected this ballot initiative in 2020, we incurred substantial costs to oppose it. On August 25, 2021, SEIU again proposed a California statewide ballot initiative with similar provisions. In the event this proposal becomes eligible for the November 2022 election, we expect to again incur substantial costs to oppose it. We may face ballot initiatives or other proposed regulations or
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legislation in California or other states in future years, which may require us to incur further substantial costs and which, if passed, could have a material adverse impact on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
Evolving proposed or issued laws, requirements, rules and guidance that impact our business, including without limitation as may be described above, and any failure on our part to adequately adjust to any resulting marketplace developments could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows. For additional discussion on the risks associated with the evolving payment and regulatory landscape for kidney care, see the discussion in Item 1A. Risk Factors, including the discussion under the heading, "Our business is subject to a complex set of governmental laws, regulations and requirements and any failure to adhere to those requirements, or any changes in those requirements, could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows, could materially harm our stock price, and in some circumstances, could materially harm our reputation;" and"Changes in federal and state healthcare legislation or regulations could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows."
Corporate compliance program
Our businesses are subject to extensive regulations. Management has designed and implemented a corporate compliance program as part of our commitment to comply fully with applicable criminal, civil and administrative laws and regulations and to maintain the high standards of conduct we expect from all of our teammates. We continuously review this program and work to enhance it as appropriate. The primary purposes of the program include:
Assessing and identifying health care regulatory risks for existing and new businesses;
Training and educating our teammates and affiliated professionals to promote awareness of legal and regulatory requirements, a culture of compliance, and the necessity of complying with all these laws;applicable laws, regulations and requirements;
Developing and implementing compliance policies and procedures and creating controls to support compliance with theseapplicable laws, regulations and requirements and our policies and procedures;
Auditing and monitoring the activities of our operating units and business support functions to identify and mitigate risks and potential instances of noncompliance in a timely manner; and
Ensuring that we promptly take steps to resolve any instances of noncompliance and address areas of weakness or potential noncompliance.
We have a code of conduct that each of our teammates, members of our Board of Directors, affiliated professionals and certain third parties must follow, and we have an anonymous compliance hotline for teammates and patients to report potential instances of noncompliance that is managed by a third party. Our Chief Compliance Officer administers the compliance program. The Chief Compliance Officer reports directly to our Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and the Chair of the Compliance and Quality Committee of our Board of Directors (Board Compliance Committee)(Board).
On October 22, 2014, DaVita entered into a Corporate Integrity Agreement (CIA) with HHS and the OIG. The term of the CIA expired on October 22, 2019, and the independent monitor is completing both her annual review and annual report. We are in the process of preparing our final annual report, which we will submit to HHA-OIG by March 11, 2020. The CIA (i) required that we maintain certain elements of our compliance programs; (ii) imposed certain expanded compliance-related requirements during the term of the CIA; (iii) required ongoing monitoring and reporting by an independent monitor, imposed certain reporting, certification, records retention and training obligations, allocated certain oversight responsibility to the Board’s Compliance Committee, and necessitated the creation of a Management Compliance Committee and the retention of an independent compliance advisor to the Board; and (iv) contained certain business restrictions related to a subset of our joint venture arrangements.


Until OIG closes out the CIA following review of the aforementioned final annual reports, OIG retains the right to impose penalties, sanctions and other consequences on us under the CIA, including, without limitation, potential exclusion from federal healthcare programs.
Any future penalties, sanctions or other consequences under the CIA or otherwise could be more severe in certain circumstances in whichif the OIG or a similar regulatory authority determines that we haveknowingly or repeatedly failed to comply with applicable laws, regulations or requirements, that apply to our business, including substantial penalties and exclusion from participation in federal healthcare programs that could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows, reputation and stock price.
Competition
The U.S. dialysis industry has experienced some consolidation over the last few20 years, but remains highly competitive. Patient retention and the continued referrals of patients from referral sources such as hospitals and nephrologists, as well as acquiring or developing new outpatient dialysis centers are some of the important parts of our growth strategy. In our U.S. dialysis business, we continue to face intense competition from large and medium-sized providers, among others, which compete directly with us for limited acquisition targets, for individual patients who may choose to dialyze with us and forto engage physicians qualified to provide required medical director services. Competition for growth in existing and expanding geographies or areas is intense and is not limited to only those large competitorsdialysis providers with substantial financial resources or established participants in the dialysis space. We also compete with new dialysis providers, individual nephrologists, former medical directors or physicians that have opened their own dialysis units or facilities. Moreover, as we continue our international dialysis expansion into various international markets, we face competition from large and medium-sized providers, among others, for acquisition targets as well as physician relationships. We also experience competitive pressures from other dialysis and healthcare providers in recruiting and retaining qualified skilled clinical personnel as well as in connection with negotiating contracts with commercial healthcare payors and inpatient dialysis service agreements with hospitals. Acquisitions, developing new outpatient dialysis centers, patient retention and referrals, and physician relationships are significant components of our growth strategy and our business could be adversely affected if we are not able to continue to make dialysis
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acquisitions on reasonable and acceptable terms, continue to develop new outpatient dialysis centers, maintain or establish new relationships with physicians or if we experience significant patient attrition or lack of new patient growth relative to our competitors.
Together with ourOur largest competitor, Fresenius Medical Group (FMC), we account for approximately 73% of outpatient dialysis centers in the U.S. Many of the centers not owned by us, FMC or other large for profit dialysis providers are owned or controlled by hospitals or non-profit organizations. Hospital-based and non-profit dialysis units typically are more difficult to acquire than physician-owned dialysis centers.
FMC also manufactures a full line of dialysis supplies and equipment in addition to owning and operating outpatient dialysis centers worldwide. This may, among other things, give FMC cost advantages over us because of its ability to manufacture its own products or prevent us from accessing existing or new technology on a cost-effective basis.products. Additionally, FMC has been one of our largest suppliers of dialysis products and equipment over the last several years. In 2018,January 2021, upon the expiration of our prior agreement with FMC on December 31, 2020, we entered into and subsequently extended ana new agreement with FMC to purchase a certain amount of dialysis equipment, parts and supplies from FMC which extends through December 31, 2020.2024. The amount of purchases from FMC over the remaining term of this agreement will depend upon a number of factors, including the operating requirements of our centers, the number of centers we acquire, and growth of our existing centers.
ThereIn addition to traditional dialysis providers, there have been a number of announcements, initiatives and capital raises by non-traditional dialysis providers and others along the full continuum of kidney care from CKD to dialysis to transplant. These providers, certain of which relatecommand considerable resources and capital, may increasingly compete with us in the integrated kidney care market as we seek to entry intogrow in that space, or they may focus their efforts on the development of more conventional dialysis and pre-dialysis space,competition or the commencement of other new business activities or the development of innovative technologies or the commencement of new business activities that could be disruptivetransformative to the industry. These developments over time may shift the competitive landscape in which we operate. For additional discussion on these developments and associated risks, see the risk factor in Item 1A1A. Risk Factors under the heading, "If we are unable to compete successfully, including, without limitation, implementing our growth strategy and/or retaining patients and developing and maintaining relationships with physicians willing to serve as medical directors,and hospitals, it could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows."
Insurance
We are predominantly self-insured with respect to professional and general liability and workers' compensation risks through wholly-owned captive insurance companies. We are also predominantly self-insured with respect to employee medical and other health benefits. We also maintain insurance, excess coverage, or reinsurance for property and general liability, professional liability, directors’ and officers’ liability, workers' compensation, cybersecurity and other coverage in amounts and on terms deemed adequateappropriate by management, based on our actual claims experience and expectations for future claims. Future claims could, however, exceed our applicable insurance coverage. Physicians practicing at our dialysis centers are required to maintain their own malpractice insurance, and our medical directors are required to maintain coverage for their individual


private medical practices. Our liability policies cover our medical directors for the performance of their duties as medical directors at our outpatient dialysis centers.
TeammatesHuman capital management
Overview
At DaVita, we are guided by our Mission—to be the provider, partner and employer of choice—and a set of Core Values—Service Excellence, Integrity, Team, Continuous Improvement, Accountability, Fulfillment and Fun—which are reinforced at all levels of the organization. Our teammates share a common passion for improving patients' lives and are the cornerstone for the health of DaVita.
We strive to be a community first and a company second, and affectionately call ourselves a Village. To be a healthy Village, we need to attract, retain and develop highly qualified and diverse teammates. To do so, we have implemented strategies that support our mission to be the employer of choice, such as:
Designing programs and processes to cultivate a diverse talent pipeline that can allow us to hire ahead of needs;
Providing development and professional growth opportunities; and
Offering a robust and competitive total rewards program.
These efforts are underpinned by a foundational focus on diversity and belonging that starts at the top with our Board and executive leadership and permeates through our Village as further described below.
We believe that this intentional investment of time and resources fosters a special community of teammates that, in turn, inspires the Village to take better care of our patients and better care of the communities in which we live.
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Oversight & Management
Our Board provides oversight on human capital matters, receiving regular updates from our Chief People Officer about People Services’ activities, strategies and initiatives, and through the Board’s annual work with our CEO on management development and succession planning. Among other things, our Board and/or its committees also receive reports related to pay equity, risks and trends related to labor and human capital management issues and general issues pertaining to our teammates. The Board, in conjunction with its committees, also oversees the Company's activities, policies and programs related to corporate environmental and social responsibility, including considering the impact of such activities, policies and programs on the Company, teammates, patients and communities, among others.
These reports and recommendations to the Board and its committees are part of our broader People Services leadership and oversight framework, which includes guidance from various stakeholders across the business and benefits from the broad participation of senior leadership.
Diversity & Belonging
Our investment in our teammates is underscored by our commitment to Diversity & Belonging (D&B). We published our first D&B Report in March 2021, which disclosed our diversity metrics and roadmap for delivering our vision of cultivating "a diverse Village where everyone belongs." Our 3,154 dialysis centers operate in communities large and small, in nearly every state in the U.S. as well as ten other countries. Our Village's diversity is inherent in the teammates who work in our centers, the patients we care for, the physicians with whom we partner, and the communities where we serve.
To help achieve this vision, we empower all leaders and teammates to cultivate D&B in their centers and on their teams. One way we do this is by sharing tools and resources like our Belonging Teammate and Belonging Leader Guides, which encourage teammates to connect with each other to learn about individual experiences with belonging and better understand the impact of unconscious bias. Based on our most recent internal surveys, 84% of teammates indicated that they feel a sense of belonging within the DaVita community. We also launched our second annual Week of Belonging in 2021, engaging approximately 69,000 teammates globally with activities and education designed to further create a sense of belonging.
We take a collaborative, leader-led approach to building our D&B program. Everyone from our front-line patient care technicians (PCTs) and nurses to our divisional vice presidents, our CEO and our Board has a role in implementing our strategy. It truly does take a Village to bring our vision to life.
Over the past several years, our D&B efforts have focused primarily on supporting strong representation of women and people of color in our Company and ensuring that we are creating a welcoming, open environment where all teammates, patients, physicians and care partners belong.
As of December 31, 2019,2021, our Village in the U.S. was comprised of 78% women and 55% people of color. We are proud of the fact that in the U.S. as of December 31, 2021, 73% of our managers and 57% of our directors are women and that leaders with profit and loss responsibility are 54% women and 25% people of color. We also are proud that our Board is comprised of 44% women and 33% people of color. With respect to Board leadership positions, we are one of the few companies in the S&P 500 to have a woman serving as the Chair of the Board. We are also one of the few S&P 500 companies to have a person of color serve as our CEO. We publish our demographic data in our EEO-1 Report, which is included in our Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) Report.
Talent Pipeline and Career Development
We understand that a key component of developing strong representation of women and people of color in leadership is to have recruiting practices focused on diversity. Some of our practices include:
Diverse Sourcing: Our recruiters are trained on how to source for diverse candidates to ensure we have a robust pipeline at all levels of the organization.
Diverse Partnerships: We have external partnerships with organizations like Forte Foundation and Management Leadership for Tomorrow to help create equal opportunities for diverse candidates.
Redwoods Leadership: We partner closely with diverse student body organizations at colleges and universities to source applicants for our Redwoods leadership development programs.
Helping teammates reach the next stage in their career and increasing their earnings potential is one of our passions. We have several career development programs that support teammates to further their careers. To help ensure that teammates have the support needed to succeed in their current roles, and grow their careers, we have invested in an end-to-end career
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development pipeline that includes programs and initiatives that provide financial, academic and social support to our clinical and operations personnel to help achieve their higher education and leadership goals. We are proud of our Clinical Ladders program that ties performance and career progression. This program is designed to clarify for teammates what is expected in order to move to the next level on the ladder and help provide them with the tools to do so. Predominately all of our teammates are clinical field/operations personnel, and we have programs in place to help guide their potential journey at DaVita. Beginning with programs that cover certification fees for PCTs to coaching and tuition programs that help guide PCTs to becoming registered nurses (RNs) to programs that help develop high potential nurses, clinical coordinators and clinic nurse managers into operational managers and ultimately to programs that prepare and coach operational managers for potential regional operations director roles, our goal is to make resources available to teammates at each step of a possible career path. We are proud of the work we have done in this area, with approximately 64% of our Facility Administrators and managers having been promoted internally, as of December 31, 2021.
Total Rewards Program and Pay Equity
Our pay philosophy and practices are designed to be competitive in the local market and to reward strong team and individual performance. We believe merit-driven pay encourages teammates to do their best work, including in caring for our patients, and we strive to link pay to performance so we can continue to incentivize the provision of extraordinary care to our patients and grow our Village.
To help our teammates reach their full potential, we offer a total rewards package. More than just pay, our comprehensive compensation package connects teammates to robust health care coverage, resources for retirement planning and savings, opportunities for career development, and well-being resources for every stage of life.
We also offer family support programs to our teammates and their families that include family care programs for back-up child and elder care, parental support and parental leave programs. We also offer a number of scholarships for teammates' children and grandchildren.
To support our teammates in maintaining strong physical and mental health, we offer a variety of physical and mental health benefits programs, including, among other things:
Teammate Assistance Program that offers counseling sessions annually to all teammates and their household members, along with work/life resources and tools that include telephonic or face to face legal consultation and expert financial planning/consultation. Each household member has access to ten free sessions per life event.
Free access to Headspace application for digital meditation and mindfulness and referrals/consultations on everyday issues such as dependent care, auto repair, pet care and home improvement.
Vitality Points, a voluntary wellness incentive program that encourages teammates and their spouses/domestic partners to engage with their provider to manage their overall health. In addition, it allows participating teammates and spouses/domestic partners to earn credits toward their medical premium for getting a biometric screening with a primary care provider.
Short & Long term disability for full time teammates and Life/AD&D coverage at both the basic and supplemental levels.
Our DaVita Village Network, which provides financial support to eligible teammates experiencing a specific tragedy or hardship and helps cover additional costs that local fundraising and insurance do not fully cover.
We also offer a robust suite of financial well-being programs for eligible teammates including, among others, a 401(k) program with company match, an employee stock purchase plan, health savings account funding for certain high deductible health plans and a deferred compensation plan. We also offer DailyPay, a service that provides teammates with financial flexibility by allowing them to access earned but unpaid wages before payday for a nominal fee.
Pay Equity
At DaVita, we are committed to equal pay for equal work; meaning, teammates in the same position, performing at the same level, and in similar geographies, are paid fairly relative to one another, regardless of their gender, race or ethnicity. We believe that equitable pay is a critical component of establishing a fair work environment where all teammates are valued and feel like they belong. Fair pay is essential to our ability to attract and motivate the highly qualified, and diverse, teammates who are at the center of our current and future success.
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Agile Response, Teammate Feedback and Responding to the Public Health Crisis
The COVID-19 pandemic has continued to test our ability to respond to external developments and care for our teammates in real time. One of our key goals during the pandemic has been to maintain frequent communication and engagement with teammates, including "town hall" and Q&A calls, emails and more. We continued this practice in 2021, and as the pandemic continues to evolve, the scope of our teammate communications program has expanded to include COVID-19 testing, treatments, therapies, vaccines and boosters, as well as associated government actions and mandates. As the pandemic has persisted and in response to the hardship imposed by the pandemic on our teammates, and in recognition of their dedication and commitment to our patients’ health, we provided financial support to teammates and we also continue to provide essential relief programs to support teammates, including backup childcare, modified sick policies and certain increased overtime pay for front-line positions.
Most importantly, the health and safety of our teammates, physician partners and their families remains a top priority throughout this ongoing pandemic. We implemented guidance early in the pandemic to help mitigate health and safety risks imposed by COVID-19, including, among other things:
Securing necessary supplies of personal protective equipment;
Restricting visitors to our centers;
Screening teammates, patients and visitors for signs and symptoms of, or exposure to, COVID-19, before allowing entry into our clinics or business offices;
Implementing an early universal masking policy;
Educating teammates and patients on the benefits of the COVID-19 vaccines and boosters, and facilitating the administration of these to our teammates and patients; and
Providing guidance on staying safe outside of our centers.
We also converted our live, in-person teammate and leadership development programs to virtual delivery, to help ensure that our teammates across our global Village could continue to grow personally and professionally and have access to career development resources despite the ongoing pandemic.
We believe our ability to engage with teammates and respond to these developments has helped us to better care for them. By caring for our teammates, we have been generally able to maintain continuity of care for our patients and support the broader healthcare community throughout this unprecedented public health crisis.
As of December 31, 2021, we employed approximately 65,00069,000 teammates, including our international teammates.
Our businesses require skilled healthcare professionals with specialized training for treating patients with complex care needs. Recruitment and retention of nurses are continuing concerns for healthcare providers due to short supply. We have an active program of investing in our professional healthcare teammates to help ensure we meet our recruitment and retention targets, including expanded training opportunities, tuition reimbursements and other incentives, but there can be no assurances that we will meet our goals in this regard. For additional information about certain risks associated with our human capital management and our response to the COVID-19 pandemic, see the risk factorfactors in Item 1A1A. Risk Factors under the heading, headings, ""IfOur business is labor intensive and if our labor costs continue to rise, including due to shortages, changes in certification requirements andand/or higher than normal turnover rates in skilled clinical personnel; or currently pending or future governmental laws, rules, regulations legislation or initiatives impose additional requirements or limitations on our operations or profitability; or, if we are unable to attract and retain key leadership talent,employees; or if union organizing activities or legislative or other changes result in significant increases in our operating costs or decreases in productivity, we may experience disruptions in our business operations and increases in operating expenses, among other things, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, cash flows and cash flows.reputation;" and "We face various risks related to the dynamic and evolving novel coronavirus pandemic, many of which may have a material adverse impact on us."

We also encourage you to visit our website at www.davita.com/communitycare for more detailed information regarding certain aspects of our human capital and ESG related programs and initiatives described herein, including our D&B Report, SASB Report and Policy on Fair and Equitable Pay, as well as our efforts to care for our patients, our community and our world. Nothing on our website, sections thereof or documents linked thereto, shall be deemed incorporated by reference into this report.
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Item 1A.    Risk Factors
This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains statements that are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. These statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties including those discussed below. The risks and uncertainties discussed below are not the only ones facing our business. In addition, pleasePlease read the cautionary notice regarding forward-looking statements in Item 7 of Part II of this Annual Report on Form 10-K under the heading “Management’s"Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations." These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including those discussed below, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, cash flows, financial condition, results of operations and/or reputation. The risks and uncertainties discussed below are not the only ones facing our business. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial could also have a material adverse effect on our business, cash flows, financial condition, results of operations and/or reputation.
If
Summary Risk Factors
The following is a summary of the principal risks and uncertainties that could adversely affect our business, cash flows, financial condition and/or results of operations, and these adverse impacts may be material. This summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the more detailed descriptions of the risks and uncertainties included in this Item 1A. below and you should read this summary together with those more detailed descriptions.
These principal risk and uncertainties relate to, among other things:
Risks Related to the Operation of our Business
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General Risks
Risks Related to the Operation of our Business
We face various risks related to the dynamic and evolving novel coronavirus pandemic, many of which may have a material adverse impact on us.
The disease caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is impacting the world and our business in many different ways. The ultimate impact of COVID-19 on us will depend on future developments that are highly uncertain and difficult to predict, including among other things, the severity and duration of the complex governmentalpandemic; further spread or resurgence of the virus, including as a result of the emergence of new strains of the virus such as the Delta and Omicron variants; COVID-19's impact on the chronic kidney disease (CKD) patient population and our patient population including on the mortality of these patients; the availability, acceptance, impact and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines, treatments and therapies; the pandemic’s continuing impact on our revenue and non-acquired growth due to lower treatment volumes, the U.S. and global economies, unemployment, labor market conditions, inflation and monetary policies; the potential negative impact on our commercial mix or the number of patients covered by commercial insurance plans; continued increased COVID-related costs; supply chain challenges and disruptions, including with respect to our clinical supplies; the responses of our competitors to the pandemic and related changes in the marketplace; the timing, scope and effectiveness of federal, state and local government responses; and any potential changes to the extensive set of federal, state and local laws, regulations and requirements that applygovern our business. The impact could come in many forms, including but not limited to those described below.
We have experienced and expect to continue to experience a negative impact on revenue and non-acquired growth from COVID-19 due to lower treatment volumes, including from the negative impact of COVID-19 on the mortality rates of our patients, which has in turn impacted our patient census. Because ESKD patients may be older and generally have comorbidities, several of which are risk factors for COVID-19, we believe the mortality rate of infected patients has been higher in the dialysis population than in the general population, and COVID-19 also could impact the CKD population differently. Over the longer term, we believe that changes in mortality in both the CKD and ESKD populations due to COVID-19 will continue to depend primarily on the infection rate, case fatality rate, the age and health status of affected patients, and access to and continued efficacy of vaccinations or other treatments or therapies, particularly as it relates to variants of the virus, as well as willingness to be vaccinated. We expect that the impact of COVID-19 is likely to continue to negatively impact our revenue and non-acquired growth for a period of time even as the pandemic subsides due to the compounding impact of mortalities, among other things. However, determining the extent to which these impacts should be directly attributable to COVID-19 is difficult due to testing and reporting limitations, and other factors that may drive treatment volumes and new admissions over time, such as the number of transplants or deferred admissions. Depending on the ultimate severity and duration of the pandemic, the magnitude of these cumulative impacts could have a material adverse impact on our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
Our business is labor intensive and our financial and operating results have been and continue to be sensitive to variations in labor-related costs and productivity. We have historically faced and expect to continue to face costs and
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difficulties in hiring and retaining caregivers due to a nationwide shortage of skilled clinical personnel. These challenges have been heightened by the increased demand for and demand upon such personnel by the ongoing pandemic. The labor market is challenging and continues to experience volatility, uncertainty and labor supply shortages, particularly in healthcare. In addition, federal and state agencies have announced or released rules relating to COVID-19 vaccination requirements that may impact our teammates, provider and patients.The cumulative impact of these requirements, some of which have already gone into effect and some of which remain subject to legal challenge, as further described in Part I, Item 1. Business of this Form 10-K under the heading "Government Regulation—COVID-19 Response", contributes further to the volatility and uncertainty in the labor market and may ultimately further exacerbate labor shortages. These conditions have adversely impacted, and may continue to adversely impact, our ability to attract and retain employees, particularly clinical personnel.As part of our continuing efforts in this highly competitive market, we have provided our teammates with additional compensation, among other things. In 2022, we expect to provide our teammates with higher than usual wage increases, which will put additional pressure on our cost structure going forward. We have experienced staffing shortages and disruptions as a result of current labor market conditions and the current Omicron surge, and further staffing shortages or disruptions, if material, could lead to the unplanned closures of certain centers or adversely impact clinical operations, and may otherwise have a material adverse impact on our ability to provide dialysis services or the cost of providing those services, among other things. Prolonged volatility, uncertainty, labor supply shortages and other challenging labor market conditions, including, among other things, due to inflationary pressures or evolving monetary policies, could have an adverse impact on our ability to execute on our strategic initiatives, and ultimately could have a material adverse impact on our labor costs, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
The COVID-19 pandemic and efforts to contain the virus have impacted the global economy, resulting in, among other things, volatility and uncertainty in labor market conditions as discussed in more detail above. These impacts could ultimately result in a materially reduced share of our patients being covered by commercial insurance plans, with more patients being covered by lower-paying government insurance programs or being uninsured. These effects may persist after the pandemic subsides as, among other things, our patients could experience permanent changes in their insurance coverage as a result of changes to their employment status. In the event such a material reduction occurs in the share of our patients covered by commercial insurance plans, it would have a material adverse impact on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows. The extent of these effects will depend upon, among other things, the extent and duration of the increased unemployment levels for our patient population, any economic deterioration or potential recession; the timing and scope of federal, state and local governmental responses to the ongoing pandemic; and patients’ ability to retain existing insurance and their individual choices with respect to their coverage, all of which are highly uncertain and difficult to predict.
We have dedicated and continue to dedicate substantial resources in response to COVID-19. We have incurred costs, and expect to continue to incur extended costs in the future in connection with our response to COVID-19, and the cumulative impact of these costs could be material. Among other things, our response to COVID-19 has resulted in higher salary and wage expense, and we have provided, and may provide in the future, substantial financial support to our teammates, which may include relief reimbursement. Additionally, the steps we have taken designed to help safely maintain continuity of care for our patients and help protect our caregivers, such as our policies to implement dedicated care shifts for patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 and other enhanced clinical practices, have increased our expenses and use of personal protective equipment (PPE). These efforts are part of a wider Prepare, Prevent, Respond and Recover protocol that includes operational initiatives such as the redistribution of teammates, machines and supplies across the country as needed, increased investment in and utilization of telehealth capabilities and administration of COVID-19 vaccines. These initiatives have increased our expenses and operational complexity, and also may involve execution and compliance risks.
The effort and cost needed to procure certain of our equipment and clinical supplies, including PPE, have substantially increased, and we expect these increased costs will continue. Certain of these increased costs may persist due to the overall challenges and disruptions of global supply chains. These global supply chain challenges have impacted the availability of certain of our equipment and clinical supplies. Prolonged strain on global supply chains may result in additional equipment and clinical supply shortages, disruptions, delays or associated price increases that could impact our ability to provide dialysis services or the cost of providing those services, among other things.
Rulemaking responses to COVID-19 by certain state and federal agencies, including without limitation OSHA and CMS, have also impacted our costs and operations and generated certain compliance risks. These regulations, described in detail in Part I, Item 1. Business of this Form 10-K under the heading "Government Regulation—COVID-19 Response"have resulted in increased costs related to, among other things, PPE, fit-testing, paid time off, surveillance testing of our teammates for COVID-19 and other increased obligations with which we must comply. As these requirements are continuing to evolve and develop, at this time we cannot predict the ultimate impact they may
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have on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows. Compliance with COVID-19-related safety rules and regulations is enforced with sanctions and/or fines, and non-compliance also has the potential for negative publicity or reputational impact. If the pandemic requires us to maintain certain restrictive operational protocols for an extended period of time, it may adversely impact our strategic initiatives, such as our strategy to continue to build our abilities to offer home dialysis options and expanding our integrated care capabilities.
We operate in a complex and highly regulated environment, and the novel nature of our COVID-19 response, including, among other things, with respect to waivers of certain regulatory requirements, temporary clinical and operational changes and administration of COVID-19 vaccines, some of which are currently available under emergency use authorizations, as well as our efforts to comply with related evolving rules and regulations may increase our exposure to legal, regulatory and clinical risks. In addition, in the event any of our temporary clinical and operational changes in response to COVID-19 become permanent, it could have an adverse impact on our business to the extent such changes result in increased costs or otherwise negatively impact our operations.
If we experience a failure of the fitness of our clinical laboratory, dialysis centers and related operations and/or other facilities as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic or otherwise, or another event or occurrence adversely impacts the safety of our caregivers or patients (or is alleged to have done so), we could face adverse consequences, including without limitation, material negative impact on our brand, increased litigation, compliance or regulatory investigations, teammate unrest, work stoppages or other workforce disruptions. Any governmental investigations or legal actions brought by patients, teammates, caregivers or others relating to the safety of our caregivers or patients or alleged exposure to COVID-19 at our facilities or by our caregivers may involve significant demands and require substantial legal defense costs, which may not be adequately covered by our professional and general liability insurance, and may materially harm our reputation.
State and local social distancing restrictions and guidance have required us to significantly increase the use of remote arrangements for our teammates and telehealth technology for our dialysis patients, which broadens our technology footprint for where and how protected health information is used or disclosed, and in turn increases our exposure to the various privacy and information security risks we face, such as the risk of "phishing" and other cybersecurity attacks and the risk of unauthorized dissemination of sensitive personal, proprietary or confidential information.
Our need, ability and willingness to use and retain any provider relief or other funds or assistance from the government, the consequences of our decisions with respect thereto, our ability to operate within any restrictions on our business or operations that may be imposed as a condition to participation in any government assistance programs, and the impact of any such programs on our competitors, all will depend, among other things, on the magnitude, timing and nature of COVID-19’s impact on the Company as well as the requirements of any such programs, which are uncertain. There can be no assurance that financial or other assistance will be available from the government if we have a need for such assistance in the future.
If general economic conditions deteriorate further or remain uncertain for an extended period of time, we may incur future charges to recognize impairment in the carrying amount of our goodwill and other intangible assets. We may experience an increased need for additional liquidity funded by accessing existing credit facilities, raising new debt in the capital markets, or other sources, and we may seek to refinance existing debt, which may be more difficult or costly as a result of the pandemic’s impact on capital markets or on us. Furthermore, any extended billing or collection cycles, or deterioration in collectability of accounts receivable, will adversely impact our results of operations and cash flows.
In our value-based care and other programs where we assume financial accountability for total patient cost, an increase in COVID-19 rates among patients could have an impact on total cost of care. This increase may in turn impact the profitability of those programs relative to their respective funding.
The global nature of the pandemic may have varying impacts on our ongoing operations outside the United States, and may impact our ability to expand our operations into other parts of the world.
The foregoing and other continued impacts and disruptions to our business wein connection with the COVID-19 pandemic could suffer severe consequenceshave a material adverse impact on our patients, teammates, physician partners, suppliers, business, operations, reputation, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and/or liquidity. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic heightens many of the other risks and uncertainties discussed herein, and in many cases, may lead to impacts that persist even after the pandemic subsides. For additional information related to COVID-19 and its impact on our business, see the discussion in Part I, Item 1. Business of this Form 10-K under the heading "Human Capital Management" and in Part II, Item 7. "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations."
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Our business is subject to a complex set of governmental laws, regulations and other requirements and any failure to adhere to those requirements, or any changes in those requirements, could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows, and could materially harm our reputationstock price, and stock price.in some circumstances, could materially harm our reputation.
We operate in a complex regulatory environment with an extensive and evolving set of federal, state and local governmental laws, regulations and requirements.other requirements that apply to us. These laws, regulations and other requirements are promulgated and overseen by a number of different legislative, regulatory, administrative, regulatory, and quasi-regulatory bodies, each of which may have varying interpretations, judgments or related guidance. As such, we utilize considerable resources on an ongoing basis to monitor, assess and respond to applicable legislative, regulatory and administrative requirements, but there is no guarantee that we will be successful in our efforts to adhere to all of these requirements. Laws, regulations and other requirements that apply to or impact our business include, but are not limited to:
Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement statutes, rules and regulations (including, but not limited to, manual provisions, local coverage determinations, national coverage determinations, payment schedules and agency guidance);
federal and state anti-kickback laws, including, without limitation, any applicable exceptions or regulatory safe harbors thereunder;
the Physician Self-Referral Law (the Stark Law) and analogous state self-referral prohibition laws;
the 21st Century Cures Act;
Federal Acquisition Regulations;
the False Claims Act (FCA) and associated regulations;
the Civil Monetary Penalty statute (CMP) and associated regulations;
the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA);
Medicare and Medicaid provider requirements, including, but not limited to, requirements associated with providing and updating certain information about the Medicare or Medicaid entity, as applicable, and its direct and indirect affiliates;
Section 1115A of the Social Security Act, which, among other things, authorizes the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) to test certain innovation models;
Fraud waste and abuse laws;
the 21st Century Cures Act (the Cures Act);
Federal Acquisition Regulations;
the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and similar laws and regulations;
antitrust and competition laws and regulations;
laws and regulations related to the corporate practice of medicine;
federallaws and state lawsregulations regarding the collection, use and disclosure of patient health information (e.g., Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA));
laws and regulations regarding the storage, handling, shipment, disposal and/or dispensing of pharmaceuticals and blood products and other biological materials.materials; and
In addition, on October 9, 2019, the U.S. Department of Healthindividualized state laws and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (OIG) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a pair of proposed rules that, if adopted, would change the Federal Anti-Kickback Statute (AKS), CMP and Stark Law regulations to promote certain value-based and coordinated care arrangements. The proposed rules were subject to a comment period ending in December 2019 and remain subject to change until the publication of any final rules, the date and content of which are currently unknown.
We have historically been subject to a five-year Corporate Integrity Agreement (CIA) with OIG. The term of the CIA expired on October 22, 2019, and the Company is in the process of workingassociated with the independent monitor and OIG to close out the review of the final annual reports by the independent monitor and the Company. The CIA (i) required that we maintain certain elementsoperation of our compliance programs; (ii) imposed certain expanded compliance-related requirements during the term of the CIA; (iii) required ongoing monitoring and reporting by an independent monitor, imposed certain reporting, certification, records retention and training obligations, allocated certain oversight responsibility to the Board's Compliance Committee, and necessitated the creation of a Management Compliance Committee and the retention of an independent compliance advisor to the Board; and (iv) contained certain business restrictions related to a subsetbusiness.
If any of our joint venture arrangements. Until OIG closes out the CIA following review of the aforementioned final annual reports, OIG retains the rightpersonnel, representatives or operations are alleged to impose penalties,


sanctions and other consequences on us under the CIA, including, without limitation, potential exclusion from federal healthcare programs. Any future penalties, sanctionshave violated these or other consequences under the CIA or otherwise could be more severe in circumstances in which OIG or a similar regulatory authority determines that we have repeatedly failed to comply with applicable laws, regulations or requirements.
requirements, we could experience material harm to our reputation and stock price, and it could impact our relationships and/or contracts related to our business, among other things. If any of our personnel, representatives, or operations are found to violate these or other laws, regulations or requirements, we could suffer additional severe consequences that wouldcould have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows, and could materially harm our reputation and stock price, including, among others:
Loss of required certifications or suspension or exclusion from or termination of our participation in government payment programs;programs (including, without limitation, Medicare, Medicaid and CMMI demonstration programs);
Refunds of amounts received in violation of law or applicable payment program requirements dating back to the applicable statute of limitation periods;
Loss of licenses required to operate healthcare facilities or administer pharmaceuticals in the states in which we operate;
Reductions in payment rates or coverage for dialysis and ancillary services and pharmaceuticals;
Criminal or civil liability, fines, damages or monetary penalties, which could be material;penalties;
Imposition of corporate integrity agreements, corrective action plans or consent agreements;
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Enforcement actions, investigations, or audits by governmental agencies and/or state law claims for monetary damages by patients who believe their protected health information (PHI) has been used, disclosed or not properly safeguarded in violation of federal or state patient privacy laws, including, among others, HIPAA and the Privacy Act of 1974;
Enforcement actions, investigations, or audits by government agencies related to interoperability and related data sharing and access requirements and regulations;
Mandated changes to our practices or procedures that significantly increase operating expenses that could subject us to ongoing audits and reporting requirements as well as increased scrutiny of our billing and business practices which could lead to potential fines, among other things;
Termination of various relationships and/or contracts related to our business, such as joint venture arrangements, medical director agreements, hospital services and skilled nursing home agreements, real estate leases, value-based care arrangements, clinical incentive programs, payor contracts and consulting or participating provider agreements with physicians;physicians, among others; and
Harm to our reputation, which could negatively impact our business relationships and stock price, affect our ability to attract and retain patients, physicians and teammates, affect our ability to obtain financing and decreaseour access to new business opportunities, among other things.
Any future penalties, sanctions or other consequences could be more severe in certain circumstances if the OIG or a similar regulatory authority determines that we knowingly or repeatedly failed to comply with laws, regulations or requirements that apply to our business. Additionally, the healthcare sector, including the dialysis industry, is regularly subject to negative publicity, including as a result of governmental investigations, adverse media coverage and political debate surrounding industry regulation.the U.S. healthcare system, among other things. Negative publicity, regardless of merit, regarding the dialysis industry generally, the U.S. healthcare system or DaVita in particular may adversely affect us.
See Note 16 to the consolidated financial statements included in this report for further details regarding thecertain pending legal proceedings and regulatory matters to which we are or may be subject from time to time, any of which may include allegations of violations of applicable laws, regulations and requirements.
Changes in federal and state healthcare legislation or regulations could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
Each of the laws, regulations and other requirements that govern our business may continue to change over time, and there is no assurance that we will be able to accurately predict the nature, timing or extent of such changes or the impact of such changes on the markets in which we conduct business or on the other participants that operate in those markets.
Among other things, the regulatory framework of the healthcare marketplace continues to evolve as a result of executive, legislative, regulatory and administrative developments and judicial proceedings. These changes shape the landscape for our current dialysis and ancillary businesses as well as for emerging comprehensive and integrated kidney care markets. For example, we have made substantial investments in and dedicated resources to our integrated care business, value-based care initiatives and home-based dialysis business to address the executive order issued in July 2019 (the 2019 Executive Order) that directed CMS to create payment models through CMMI to evaluate the effects of creating payment incentives for the greater use of home-based dialysis and kidney transplants for those already on dialysis, improve quality of care for kidney patients and reduce expenditures.
In addition, the expanded access to healthcare developed under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care Reconciliation Act of 2010, as amended (collectively, the ACA) has been both positively and negatively impacted over time by subsequent legal, regulatory and judicial action. If the ACA is significantly altered or if other reforms limiting access to healthcare are enacted in the future, such changes could impact our business in a number of ways, some of which may be material. For example, any change in CMMI’s authority to implement innovative payment models, as enacted by the ACA, could cause us to lose the substantial investments and resources we have dedicated to those programs. In addition, the ACA's health insurance exchanges, which provide a marketplace for eligible individuals and small employers to purchase health insurance, initially increased the accessibility and availability of commercial insurance. In the event the exchange markets are significantly impaired as a result of legislative developments or other changes, it may adversely impact the percentage of our patients with higher-paying commercial health insurance, particularly if patients become unemployed due to factors related to the COVID-19 pandemic or otherwise and are unable to turn to the exchanges as an alternative to employer-based coverage. For additional information on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our share of patients covered by commercial insurance plans, see the risk factor under the heading "We face various risks related to the dynamic and evolving novel coronavirus pandemic, many of which may have a material adverse impact on us." Because our revenue and operating income levels are
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highly sensitive to the percentage and number of our patients with higher-paying commercial health insurance, any legislative, regulatory or other changes that decrease the accessibility and availability, including the duration, of commercial insurance is likely to have a material adverse impact on our business.
Changes to the political environment may increase the likelihood of regulatory or legislative changes that would impact us, such as changes to the healthcare regulatory landscape or to the federal corporate tax rate. Examples of such potential changes are described in more detail in Part I, Item 1. Business of this Form 10-K under the heading "Government Regulation." Some of these and other related changes could in turn impact the percentage of our patients with higher-paying commercial health insurance, impact the scope or terms of coverage under commercial health plans and/or increase our expenses, among other things. The timing of any legislative or executive action related to these potential initiatives remains uncertain, particularly in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and as such, considerable uncertainty exists surrounding the continued development of the ACA and related regulations, programs and models, as well as similar healthcare reform measures and/or other changes that may be enacted at the federal and/or state level to laws, regulations and other requirements that govern our business. Although we cannot predict the short- or long-term effects of legislative or regulatory changes, future market changes could result in, among other things, more restrictive commercial plans with lower reimbursement rates or higher deductibles and co-payments that patients may not be able to pay. In addition, to the extent that monetary policies or other factors contribute to an increase in inflationary pressures, this may in turn increase our labor and supply costs at a rate that outpaces the Medicare or any other rate increases we may receive. For additional information on the impact of economic conditions or legislative or regulatory changes on the coverage and rates for our services and the percentage or number of our patients with commercial insurance, see the risk factor under the heading "If the number or percentage of patients with higher-paying commercial insurance declines, if the average rates that commercial payors pay us decline, if patients in commercial plans are subject to restriction in plan designs, or if we are unable to maintain contracts with payors with competitive terms, including, without limitation, reimbursement rates, scope and duration of coverage and in-network benefits, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows."
Changes to the continuously evolving healthcare regulatory landscape may also have the potential to generate opportunities with relative ease of entry for certain smaller and/or non-traditional providers and we may be competing with them for patients in an asymmetrical environment with respect to data and/or regulatory requirements given our status as an ESRD service provider. For additional detail on our evolving competitive environment, see the risk factor under the heading "If we are unable to compete successfully, including, without limitation, implementing our growth strategy and/or retaining patients and developing and maintaining relationships with physicians and hospitals, it could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows."
There have also been several state initiatives to limit payments to dialysis providers or impose other burdensome operational requirements, which, if passed, could have a material adverse impact on our business, results of operation, financial condition and cash flow. For instance, in 2020, voters in California considered a statewide ballot initiative proposed by the Service Employees International Union - United Healthcare Workers West (SEIU) that sought to impose certain regulatory requirements on dialysis clinics, including requirements related to physician staffing levels, clinical reporting, clinical treatment options and limitations on the ability to make decisions on closing or reducing services for dialysis clinics. While voters rejected this ballot initiative in 2020, we incurred substantial costs to oppose it. On August 25, 2021, SEIU again proposed a California statewide ballot initiative with similar provisions. In the event this proposal becomes eligible for the November 2022 election, we expect to again incur substantial costs to oppose it. We may face ballot initiatives or other proposed regulations or legislation in California or other states in future years, which may require us to incur further substantial costs and which, if passed, could have a material adverse impact on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
Finally, there have also been rule making and legislative efforts at both the federal and state level regarding the use of charitable premium assistance for ESRD patients that may establish new conditions for coverage standards for dialysis facilities. For example, on October 13, 2019, a California bill (AB 290) was signed into law that limits the amount of reimbursement paid to certain providers for services provided to patients with commercial insurance who receive charitable premium assistance. The American Kidney Fund (AKF), an organization that provides charitable premium assistance, announced that it would be withdrawing from California as a result of AB 290. The implementation of AB 290 has been stayed pending resolution of legal challenges, but in the event AB 290 becomes effective and the AKF withdraws from California, it may cause other organizations that provide charitable premium assistance to withdraw from California, and we would expect an adverse impact on the ability of patients to afford Medicare premiums and Medicare supplemental and commercial coverage. We expect that such an adverse impact will in turn adversely impact our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows. Bills similar to AB 290 were introduced in other states, but have not been successfully passed to date. If these or similar bills are introduced and implemented in other jurisdictions, and organizations that provide charitable premium assistance in those jurisdictions are similarly impacted, it could in the aggregate have a material adverse impact on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows. For additional information on risks associated with charitable premium assistance for ESRD patients and the potential impact of decreases to the percentage or number of our patients with commercial
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insurance, see the risk factor under the heading "If the number or percentage of patients with higher-paying commercial insurance declines, if the average rates that commercial payors pay us decline, if patients in commercial plans are subject to restriction in plan designs, or if we are unable to maintain contracts with payors with competitive terms, including, without limitation, reimbursement rates, scope and duration of coverage and in-network benefits, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows."
Among other things, legislation, regulations, regulatory guidance, ballot initiatives and any similar initiatives could result in a reduction in the percentage of our patients with commercial insurance; limit the scope or nature of coverage through the exchanges or other health insurance programs or otherwise reduce reimbursement rates for our services from commercial and/or government payors; restrict or prohibit the ability of patients with access to alternative coverage from selecting a marketplace plan on or off exchange; limit the amount of revenue that a dialysis provider can retain for caring for patients with commercial insurance; impose burdensome operational requirements; affect payments made to providers for services provided to patients who receive charitable premium assistance and/or otherwise restrict or prohibit the use of charitable premium assistance; or reduce the standards for network adequacy or require disclosure of certain pricing and patient responsibility information. In turn, these potential impacts could cause us to incur substantial costs to oppose any such proposed requirements or measures, impact our dialysis center development plans, and if passed and/or implemented, could materially reduce our revenues and increase our operating and other costs, adversely impact dialysis centers across the U.S. making certain centers economically unviable, lead to the closure of certain centers, restrict the ability of dialysis patients to obtain and maintain optimal insurance coverage and reduce the number of patients that select commercial insurance plans or MA plans for their dialysis care, among other things. The healthcare legislative and regulatory environment is dynamic and evolving, and any such proposed or issued laws, requirements, rules and guidance could impact our business, including as may be described above, and any failure on our part to adequately adjust to any resulting marketplace developments or regulatory compliance requirements, may, among other things, erode our patient base or reimbursement rates and could otherwise have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
To the extent that the information above describes statutory and regulatory provisions, it is qualified in its entirety by reference to the particular statutory and regulatory provisions that are referenced. For additional information related to the laws, rules and other regulations described above, please see Part I, Item 1. Business of this Form 10-K under the heading "Government Regulation."
We are, and may in the future be, a party to various lawsuits, demands, claims, qui tam suits, governmental investigations and audits (including, without limitation, investigations or other actions resulting from our obligation to self-report suspected violations of law) and other legal matters, any of which could result in, among other things, substantial financial penalties or awards against us, mandated refunds, substantial payments made by us, required changes to our business practices, exclusion from future participation in Medicare, Medicaid and other healthcare programs and possible criminal penalties, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, cash flows, reputation and stock price.
We are, and may in the future be, subject to investigations and audits by governmental agencies and/or private civil qui tam complaints filed by relators and other lawsuits, demands, claims, and legal proceedings and/or other actions, including, without limitation, investigations or other actions resulting from our obligation to self-report certain suspected violations of law. Any allegations against us, our personnel or our representatives in such matters may among other things harm our reputation, stock price, and our various business relationships and/or contracts related to our business, and these impacts may be material.
Responding to subpoenas, investigations and other lawsuits, claims and legal proceedings, as well as defending ourselves in such matters, will continue to require management's attention and cause us to incur significant legal expense. Negative


developments, findings or terms and conditions that we might agree to accept as part of a negotiated resolution of pending or future legal or regulatory matters could result in, among other things, harm to our reputation, substantial financial penalties or awards against us, substantial payments made by us, harm to our reputation, required changes to our business practices, impacts on our various relationships and/or contracts related to our business, exclusion from future participation in Medicare, Medicaid and other healthcare programs and, in certain cases, criminal penalties, any of which could have a material adverse effect on us. It is possible that criminal proceedings may be initiated against us and/or individuals in our business in connection with governmental investigations. In that regard, as further described in Note 16 to the consolidated financial statements included in this report, in the U.S. District Court, District of Colorado in 2021, a grand jury returned an indictment against the Company and its former chief executive officer in the matter of U.S. v. DaVita Inc., et al., alleging that purported agreements entered into by DaVita's former chief executive officer not to solicit senior-level employees violate Section 1 of the Sherman Act. Other than as may be described in Note 16 to the consolidated financial statements included in this report, we cannot predict the ultimate outcomes of the various legal proceedings and regulatory matters to which we are or may be subject from time to time, or the timing of their resolution or the ultimate losses or impact of developments in those matters, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, cash flows, reputation and stock price. See Note 16 to
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the consolidated financial statements included in this report for further details regarding these and other legal proceedings and regulatory matters.
If the number or percentage of patients with higher-paying commercial insurance declines, if the average rates that commercial payors pay us decline, if patients in commercial plans are subject to restriction in plan designs, if we are unable to maintain contracts with payors with competitive terms, including, without limitation, reimbursement rates, scope and duration of coverage and in-network benefits, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
A substantial portion of our U.S. dialysis net patient services revenues for the year ended December 31, 2021 was generated from patients who have commercial payors (including hospital dialysis services) as their primary payor. The majority of these patients have insurance policies that pay us on terms and at rates that are generally significantly higher than Medicare rates, and as such our revenue and net income levels are sensitive to the number of our patients with higher-paying commercial insurance coverage and the percentage of our patients under higher-paying commercial plans relative to government-based programs. The payments we receive from commercial payors generate nearly all of our profit and all of our nonacute dialysis profits come from commercial payors.
When Medicare becomes the primary payor for a patient, the payment rate we receive for that patient decreases from the employer group health plan or commercial plan rate to the lower Medicare payment rate. If the number of our patients who have Medicare or another government-based program as their primary payor increases, it could negatively impact the percentage of our patients covered under commercial insurance plans. There are a number of factors that could drive a decline in the number or percentage of our patients covered under commercial insurance plans, including, among others, a continued decline in the rate of growth of the ESRD patient population, improved mortality, changes in the patient's or a family member's employment status, reduced availability of commercial health plans or reduced coverage by such plans through the ACA exchanges or otherwise due to changes to the marketplace, healthcare regulatory system or otherwise. Commercial payors could also cease paying in the primary position after providing 30 months of coverage resulting in potentially material reductions in payment as the patient moves to Medicare primary. Declining macroeconomic conditions, such as, for example, those resulting from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, could also negatively impact the percentage of our patients covered under commercial insurance plans. To the extent there are sustained or increased job losses in the U.S., we could experience a decrease in the number of patients covered under commercial plans and/or an increase in uninsured and underinsured patients independent of whether general economic conditions improve. If we experience higher numbers of uninsured or underinsured patients, it also would result in an increase in uncollectible accounts.
Our arrangements and negotiations with payors also impact the number or percentage of patients with higher-paying commercial insurance. We continuously are in the process of negotiating existing and potential new agreements with commercial payors who aggressively negotiate terms with us, and we can make no assurances about the ultimate results of these negotiations or the timing of any potential rate changes resulting from these negotiations. Sometimes many significant agreements are being renegotiated at the same time. A material portion of our commercial revenue is concentrated with a limited number of commercial payors, and any changes impacting our highest paying commercial payors or our relationships with these payors will have a disproportionate impact on us. We believe payor consolidations have significantly increased the negotiating leverage of commercial payors, and ongoing consolidations may continue to increase this leverage in the future. We continue to experience downward pressure on some of our commercial payment rates as a result of these and other general conditions in the market, including, among other things, as employers shift to less expensive options for medical services, as commercial payors dedicate increased focus on dialysis services. In addition, our agreements and rates with commercial payors may be impacted by new business activities of these commercial payors as well as steps that these commercial payors have taken and may continue to take to control the cost of and/or the eligibility for access to the services that we provide, including, without limitation, relative to products on and off the healthcare exchanges. These efforts could impact the number of our patients who are eligible to enroll in commercial insurance plans, and remain on the plans, including plans offered through healthcare exchanges.
Our negotiations with commercial payors may relate to commercial fee-for-service contracts, value-based care (VBC) contracts in which we share risk with commercial payors, as well as contracts to provide dialysis services to Medicare Part C Medicare Advantage (MA) patients. If we fail to maintain contracts with payors and other healthcare providers with competitive or favorable terms, either with respect to commercial plans, commercial VBC contracts, MA plans or otherwise, including, without limitation, with respect to reimbursement rates, scope and duration of coverage and in-network benefits, contract term or termination rights, or if we fail to accurately estimate the price for and manage our medical costs in an effective manner, whether due to inflationary pressures or otherwise, such that the profitability of our commercial or other value-based products are negatively impacted, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows. The ultimate result of our negotiations with payors cannot be predicted as they occur in a highly competitive environment and are influenced by those aforementioned marketplace dynamics. Among other things, these
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negotiations may result in termination or non-renewals of existing agreements, decreases in contracted rates, and reduction in the number of our patients that are covered by commercial plans, and we may not be able to enter into new agreements on competitive terms or at all. In the event that our ongoing negotiations result in overall commercial rate reductions in excess of overall commercial rate increases, the cumulative effect could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows. In addition, to the extent that these negotiations result in a reduction in the number of our patients covered by commercial plans, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
Certain payors have been attempting to design and implement plans that restrict access to ESRD coverage both in the commercial and individual market. Among other things, these restrictive plan designs seek to limit the duration and/or the breadth of ESRD benefits, limit the number of in-network providers, set arbitrary provider reimbursement rates, or otherwise restrict access to care, all of which may result in a decrease in the number of patients covered by commercial insurance. Payors have also disputed the scope and duration of ESRD benefit coverage under their plans, and, among other things, have required patients to seek Medicare coverage for ESRD treatments. The U.S. Supreme Court has accepted review of a case evaluating the scope and impact of the Medicare as Secondary Payor Act (MSPA). For additional information on the appeal, see Note 16 to the consolidated financial statements included in this report. If the Court declines to uphold the protections of the MSPA such that more plans seek to implement plan designs that discourage patients from retaining their commercial coverage, it may lead to a significant decrease in the number of patients with commercial plans, the duration of benefits for patients under commercial plans and/or a significant decrease in the payment rates we receive, any of which would have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
In addition, some commercial payors are pursuing or have incorporated policies into their provider manuals limiting or refusing to accept charitable premium assistance from non-profit organizations, such as the American Kidney Fund, which may impact the number of patients who are able to afford commercial plans. Paying for coverage is a significant financial burden for many patients, and ESRD disproportionately affects the low-income population. Charitable premium assistance supports continuity of coverage and access to care for patients, many of whom are unable to continue working full-time as a result of their severe health condition. Many patients with commercial and government insurance also rely on financial assistance from charitable organizations, such as the American Kidney Fund. Certain payors have challenged our patients' and other providers' patients' ability to utilize assistance from charitable organizations for the payment of premiums, including, without limitation, through litigation and other legal proceedings. The use of charitable premium assistance for ESRD patients has also faced challenges and inquiries from legislators, regulators and other governmental authorities, and this may continue. In addition, CMS or another regulatory agency or legislative authority may issue a new rule or guidance that challenges or restricts charitable premium assistance. If any of these challenges to kidney patients' use of premium assistance is successful or restrictions are imposed on the use of financial assistance from such charitable organizations or if organizations providing such assistance are no longer available such that kidney patients are unable to obtain, or continue to receive or receive for a limited duration, such financial assistance, it may restrict the ability of dialysis patients to obtain and maintain optimal insurance coverage and could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows. In addition, if our assumptions about how kidney patients will respond to any change in financial assistance from charitable organizations are incorrect, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
Our negotiations and relationships with payors may also be impacted by legislative or regulatory developments and associated legal rulings. For example, the final rules for the Cures Act, which are described in detail in Part I, Item 1. Business of this Form 10-K under the heading "Government Regulation—21st Century Cures Act,"broadened ESRD patient access to certain enhanced benefits offered by MA plans. While these rules increased our MA plan enrollment for ESRD benefits in their first year, the potential ultimate impact of this change in benefit eligibility remains subject to change as market participants continue to adjust to this new regulatory environment. As an example, the removal of objective time and distance standards relating to network adequacy for outpatient dialysis centers for MA plans that was included in the final rules may adversely impact the number of ESRD patients that select MA plans and also may result in the Company not being an in-network provider for significant MA plans in the event MA plans attempt to use this revision to the rules to limit or restrict their networks. If kidney patients choose not to enroll in MA plans or choose to leave MA plans, whether due to network adequacy standards or otherwise, or if we fail to provide education to kidney patients in the manner specified by CMS, we could be subject to certain clinical, operational, financial and legal risks, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows. In addition, recent price transparency regulations require most group health plans and health insurance issuers in the group and individual markets to make certain pricing and patient responsibility information publicly available. For further detail on these regulations see the discussion in Part I, Item 1. Business of this Form 10-K under the heading "Government Regulation—Price Transparency Rules." While the ultimate impact of these requirements remains uncertain, any changes by group health plans, health insurance issuers in the group and individual markets, or consumer choices resulting from these requirements could have a material adverse impact on our business, results of operations,
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and financial condition, and our reputation could be materially harmed. We could also experience a further decrease in the payments we receive for services if changes to the marketplace or the healthcare regulatory system result in fewer patients covered under commercial plans or an increase of patients covered under more restrictive commercial plans with lower reimbursement rates, among other things. For additional details regarding potential legislative or regulatory changes, the specific risks we face in connection with any decrease in payments we receive for services due to, for example, fewer patients being covered under commercial plans or an increase of patients covered under more restrictive commercial plans with lower reimbursement rates, please see Part I, Item 1. Business of this Form 10-K under the heading "Government Regulation" and the discussion in the risk factor under the heading "Changes in federal and state healthcare legislation or regulations could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows."
The extensive federalAs noted, the foregoing dynamics of our arrangements and state laws, regulations and requirements that govern our businessnegotiations with commercial payors each may continue to change over time, and there is no assurance that we will be able to accurately predict the nature, timing or extent of such changes or thehave an impact of such changes on, the markets in which we conduct business or on the other participants that operate in those markets.
For example, the regulatory framework of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care Reconciliation Act of 2010, as amended (ACA), and other healthcare reforms continues to evolve as a result of executive, legislative, regulatory and administrative developments and judicial proceedings. As such, there remains considerable uncertainty surrounding the continued implementation of the ACA and what similar healthcare reform measures or other changes might be enacted at the federal and/or state level. While legislative attempts to completely repeal the ACA have been unsuccessful to date, there have been multiple attempts to repeal or amend the ACA through legislative action and legal challenges. For example, in December 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 was signed into law which, among other things, repealed the penalty under ACA's individual mandate, which had required individualsour ability to pay a fee if they failed to obtain a qualifying health insurance plan. In December 2018, a federal district court in Texas ruled the individual mandate was unconstitutionalenter into and inseverable from the ACA. As a result, the court ruled the remaining provisions of the ACA were also invalid, though the court declined to issue a preliminary injunctionmaintain contracts with respect to the ACA. In December 2019, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals agreed that the individual mandate was unconstitutional, but remanded the case back to the district court to reassess how much of the ACA would be damaged without the individual mandate provision, and if the individual mandate could indeed be severed from the ACA. This litigation is still ongoing, but places great uncertainty upon the longevity and nature of the ACA moving forward.
While there may be significant changes to the healthcare environment in the future,payors with competitive terms, including, without limitation, reimbursement rates, scope and duration of coverage and in-network benefits as a result of potential changes towell as the political environment in connection with the current election yearnumber or otherwise, the specific changes and their timing are not yet apparent. Nevertheless, previously enacted reforms and future changes, including among others, any changes in legislation, regulation or market conditions in connection with or resulting from the upcoming elections, could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows. For example, our revenue levels are sensitive to the percentage of our patients with higher-paying commercial health insurance, andinsurance. If, as such, legislative, regulatorya result of these or other changes that decrease the accessibility and availability, including the duration, of commercial insurance may havedynamics, we experience a material adverse impact on our business. The ACA's health insurance exchanges, which provide a marketplace for eligible individuals and small employers to purchase health insurance, initially increased the accessibility and availability of commercial insurance. However, certain legislative developments, such as the repeal of the individual mandate described above, have adversely impacted the risk pool in certain exchange markets, and the nature and extent of commercial payor participationdecline in the exchanges has fluctuated as a result. Other proposed legislative developmentsaverage rates that commercial payors pay us or administrative decisions, such as moving to a universal health insurance or "single payor" system whereby health insurance is provided to all Americans by the government under government programs, or lowering or eliminating the cost-sharing reduction subsidies under the ACA, could impact the percentage of our patients with higher-paying commercial health insurance, impact the scope of coverage under commercial health plans and increase our expenses, among other things. Although we cannot predict the short- or long-term effects of legislative or regulatory changes or the potential outcome or impact of the upcoming elections, we believe that future market changes could result in more restrictive commercial plans with lower reimbursement rates or higher deductibles and co-payments that patients may not be able to pay. To the extent that changes in statutes, regulations or related guidance or changes in other market conditions result in a reduction in the percentagenumber of our patients with ESRD coverage under higher-paying commercial insurance, limitplans either in total or relative to the scopenumber of patients under government-based programs that pay at lower rates or naturean increase in the number of coverage through the exchangespatients that are uninsured or other health insurance programs or otherwise reduce reimbursement rates for our services from commercial and/or government payors,underinsured, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
If we are not able to successfully implement our strategy with respect to our integrated kidney care and value-based care initiatives, including maintaining our existing business and further developing our capabilities in a complex and highly regulated environment, it could result in a loss of our investments and have a material adverse effect on our growth strategy, could adversely impact our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows, and could materially harm our reputation.
Our integrated kidney care business manages patients and coordinates their care through value-based care arrangements with commercial payors and through government programs. We have continued to grow this portion of our business both with commercial payors, including as Medicare Advantage has expanded, and with government programs as CMS and CMMI implement new payment models focused on comprehensive and integrated kidney care. As part of our growth strategy, we have invested and expect to continue to invest substantial resources in the further development of our integrated care business and value-based care initiatives. There can be no assurances that we will be able to successfully implement our strategies with respect to integrated kidney care and value-based care in a complex, evolving and highly competitive and regulated environment, including, among other things, maintaining our existing business; recovering our investments; entering into agreements with payors, physicians, third party vendors and others on competitive terms, as appropriate, that prove actuarially sound; structuring these agreements and arrangements to comply with evolving rules and regulations, including, among other things, rules and regulations related to fraud and abuse and the use of protected health information; and further developing our operational, IT and other capabilities to enable us to provide competitive programs at scale. New entrants are aggressively pursuing opportunities to participate in the new CMMI payment models, and with increasing investment and funding, these new entrants may adopt strategies that increase our costs to participate in these payment models and/or adversely impact our ability to enter into competitive arrangements. For additional informationdetail on the impact of legislative or regulatory changes on the percentage of our patients with commercial insurance,evolving competitive environment, see the risk factor under the heading "If thewe are unable to compete successfully, including, without limitation, implementing our growth strategy and/or retaining patients and developing and maintaining relationships with physicians and hospitals, it could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows." If any of these or other of our integrated kidney care and value-based care initiatives are unsuccessful, it could result in a loss of our investments and have a material adverse effect on our growth strategy, could adversely impact our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows, and could materially harm our reputation.


numberIn addition, future legislative or regulatory action related to, among other things, integrated kidney care and/or full capitation demonstration for ESRD may impact our ability to provide a competitive and successful integrated care program at scale. There can be no assurances that any other legislation or regulation that aligns with our strategy and investments will be passed into law or enacted, and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic may delay the progress of patientssuch initiatives. Additionally, the ultimate terms and conditions of any such potential legislative or regulatory action remain unclear. For example, our costs of care could exceed our associated reimbursement rates under such legislation. Irrespective of whether such laws are passed, there can be no assurances that we will be able to successfully execute on the required strategic initiatives that would allow us to provide a competitive and successful integrated care program on a broad scale, and in the desired time frame. Any failure on our part to adequately implement strategic initiatives to adjust to any marketplace developments resulting from executive, legislative, regulatory or administrative changes could have a material adverse impact on our business. For additional detail on risks associated with higher-paying commercial insurance declines, itoperating in a highly regulated environment, see the risk factor under the heading "Our business is subject to a complex set of governmental laws, regulations and other requirements and any failure to adhere to those requirements, or any changes in those requirements, could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial
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condition and cash flows."
The ACA also added several new tax provisions that, among other things, impose various feesflows, could materially harm our stock price, and excise taxes, and limit compensation deductions for health insurance providers and their affiliates. These rulesin some circumstances, could negatively impactmaterially harm our cash flow and tax liabilities.reputation." In addition to the ACA broadenedabove risks, certain risks inherent to implementation of our strategies with respect to integrated kidney care and value-based care initiatives will increase as we work to expand these offerings, including risks related to developing our operational, IT, billing and telehealth systems, among others. For additional detail on risks associated with information systems and new technology generally, see the potential for penaltiesrisk factor under the FCA for the knowingheading "Failing to effectively maintain, operate or upgrade our information systems or those of third-party service providers upon which we rely, including, without limitation, our clinical, billing and improper retention of overpayments collected from government payorscollections systems, or failure to adhere to federal and reduced the timeline to file Medicare claims. Failure to timely identify, quantifystate data sharing and return overpayments may result in significant penalties, whichaccess requirements and regulations, could have a material adverse effect onmaterially adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition, cash flows and reputation. Failure to file a claim within the one year window could result in payments denials, adversely affecting our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows."
In addition to the ACA, changing legislation and other regulatory and executive developments have led to the emergence of new models of care and other initiatives in both the government and private sector. Any failure on our part to adequately implement strategic initiatives to adjust to these marketplace developments could have a material adverse impact on our business. For example, as noted above, the July 10, 2019 executive order (the 2019 Executive Order) related to kidney care directed CMS to create payment models to evaluate the effects of creating payment incentives for the greater use of home dialysis and kidney transplants for those already on dialysis. CMS subsequently announced in a proposed rule the ETC mandatory payment model, which will be administered through the CMMI and is proposed to launch in 50% of dialysis clinics across the country beginning in 2020. Under the proposed rule, which was subject to a comment period that ended in September 2019, CMS would select ESRD facilities and clinicians to participate in the model according to their location in randomly selected geographic areas and would require participation to minimize the potential for selection effect. We support the administration’s emphasis on and move towards home dialysis and kidney transplant; however, we believe that if launched as proposed, the ETC model would negatively impact patient clinical care, Medicare coverage and/or payment for ESRD claims and, depending on the final requirements of the ETC model, ultimately could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows. With home dialysis as a focus of the ETC model and the industry generally, any failure to successfully implement our strategy or build on our abilities to offer home dialysis options could have a material adverse impact on our business, results of operation, financial condition and cash flows. For additional detail on the risks related to our home dialysis services, see the discussion under the heading "If we are not able to successfully implement our strategy with respect to home-based dialysis, including maintaining our existing business and further developing our capabilities in a complex and highly regulated environment, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows, and could materially harm our reputation."
Our home-based dialysis services, which include home hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis (PD), represented approximately 18% of our U.S. dialysis patient services revenues for the year ended December 31, 2021, and have increasingly become an important part of our overall strategy. In addition, home-based dialysis recently has been the subject of increased political and industry focus. For example, in connection with the 2019 Executive Order, CMS also announced the implementation of fourHHS set out specific goals related to home dialysis and CMMI’s ESRD Treatment Choices (ETC) mandatory payment model and voluntary payment models withincluded new incentives to encourage dialysis at home. More recently, CMS finalized changes to the stated goal of helping healthcare providers reduce the costETC model and improve the quality of care for patients with late-stage chronic kidney diseaseother regulations to encourage dialysis facilities and ESRD. CMS has stated these payment models are aimed to prevent or delay the need for dialysis and encourage kidney transplantation. These payment models were initially proposed to run from 2020 through December 2023. The details and specifics of these voluntary models have not yet been provided, and we anticipate that such details will be released in the second half of 2020. We continue to assess these models and their viability for us and the industry, and our assessment will continue to develop as additional details become available.
In addition, CMMI is currently working with various healthcare providers to seek to decrease disparities in health equity across racial and socioeconomic status in rates of home dialysis and kidney transplants among ESRD patients. We are a leader in home-based dialysis and have made investments in processes and infrastructure to continue to grow this modality. There are, however, risks associated with this growth, including, among other things, financial, legal and operational risks related to our ability to design and develop refineinfrastructure and implement Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs)to plan for capacity in a modality that is part of an evolving marketplace. We may also be subject to associated risks related to our ability to successfully manage related operational initiatives, find, train and other innovative models of careretain appropriate staff, contract with payors for Medicareappropriate reimbursement, and Medicaid beneficiaries,maintain processes to adhere to the complex regulatory and legal requirements, including without limitation those associated with billing Medicare. For additional detail on risks associated with operating in a highly regulated environment, see the Comprehensive ESRD Care Model (CEC Model) (which includesrisk factor under the developmentheading "Our business is subject to a complex set of end stage renal disease (ESRD) Seamless Care Organizations), the Duals Demonstration,governmental laws, regulations and other models. We are currently participatingrequirements and any failure to adhere to those requirements, or any changes in the CEC Model with CMMI, including with organizationsthose requirements, could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows, could materially harm our stock price, and in Arizona, Florida, and adjacent markets in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. We may choose to participate in additional models either as a partner with other providers or independently. Even in areas where we are not directly participating in these or other CMMI models, some ofcircumstances, could materially harm our patients may be assigned to an ACO, another ESRD Care Model, or another program, in which case the quality and cost of care that we furnish will be included in an ACO's, another ESRD Care Model's, or other program's calculations.
reputation."In addition to the aforementioned new models of care, federal bipartisan legislationabove risks, certain risks inherent to home-based dialysis will increase as we expand our home-based dialysis offerings, including risks related to full capitation demonstrationmanaging transitions between in-center and home-based dialysis, billing and telehealth systems, among others. For additional detail on risks associated with information systems and new technology generally, see the risk factor under the heading "Failing to effectively maintain, operate or upgrade our information systems or those of third-party service providers upon which we rely, including, without limitation, our clinical, billing and collections systems, or failure to adhere to federal and state data sharing and access requirements and regulations, could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition, cash flows and reputation."
An increased focus on home-based dialysis is also indicative of the generally evolving market for ESRD was proposed in late 2017. Legislation, which has yet to secure introduction to the 116th Congress, would build on prior coordinated care models, such as the CEC Model, and would establish a demonstration programkidney care. This developing market may create additional opportunities for the provision of integrated care to Medicare ESRD patients. We have made and continue to make investments in building our integrated care capabilities, but there can be no assurances that initiatives such as this or similar legislation will be introduced or passed into law. If such legislation is passed, there can be no assurances that we will be able to successfully execute on the required strategic initiatives that would allow us to provide a competitive and successful integrated care program on the broader scale contemplated by this legislation, and in the desired time frame. Additionally, the ultimate terms and conditions of any such potential legislation remain unclear—for example, our costs of care could exceed our associated reimbursement rates


under such legislation. The new and evolving landscape for integrated kidney care also has led to opportunitiescompetition with relative ease of entry, for certain smaller and/and if we are unable to successfully adapt to these or non-traditional providers, and weother marketplace developments, which, among other things, may be competing with them for patients in an asymmetrical environmentinclude regulatory changes with respect to data and/conditions of coverage, in a timely and compliant manner, we may experience a material adverse impact on our growth in home-based dialysis or regulatory requirements givena reduction in our status as an ESRD service provider.overall number of patients, among other things. Our response to the COVID-19 pandemic has also required us to impose certain operational restrictions that may adversely impact certain home-based dialysis initiatives, and the extent of this impact may depend on the severity or duration of the pandemic, among other things. For additional detail on our evolvingthe competitive environment,landscape in kidney care, see the risk factor under the heading "If we are unable to compete successfully, including, without limitation, implementing our growth strategy and/or retaining patients and developing and maintaining relationships with physicians willing to serve as medical directors,and hospitals, it could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows."In general, if we are unable to efficiently adjust to these and other new models of care, it may, among other things, erode our patient base or reimbursement rates, which could have a material adverse impact on our business, results of operation, financial condition and cash flows.
There have also been several state initiatives to limit payments to dialysis providers or impose other burdensome operational requirements, which, if passed, could have a material adverse impact on our business, results of operation, financial condition and cash flow. For example, on October 24, 2019, the Service Employees International Union - United Healthcare Workers West (SEIU) proposed a California statewide ballot initiative for the November 2020 election that seeks to impose certain regulatory requirements on dialysis clinics, including requirements related to physician staffing levels, clinical reporting, clinical treatment options and the ability to make decisions on closing or reducing services for dialysis clinics. We expect to incur costs in connection with this new proposal, should it become eligible for the November 2020 election, and other potential legislative or ballot initiatives, and these costs may be substantial. Similar initiatives were also proposed in Ohio and Arizona in the 2018 election cycle; however, neither of these initiatives met the applicable requirements for inclusion on the state ballot for the November 2018 elections. We may face similar ballot initiatives or other legislation in the future in these or other states.
There have also been rule making and legislative efforts at both the federal and state level concerning charitable premium assistance. In December 2016, CMS published an interim final rule that questioned the use of charitable premium assistance for ESRD patients and would have established new conditions for coverage standards for dialysis facilities. In January 2017, a federal district court in Texas issued a preliminary injunction on CMS' interim final rule and in June 2017, at the request of CMS, the court stayed the proceedings while CMS pursues new rulemaking options. In June 2019, CMS sent to the White House Office of Management and Budget a proposed rule entitled "Conditions for Coverage for End-Stage Renal Disease Facilities-Third Party Payments." We do not know if or when this proposed rule will be released. In addition, on October 13, 2019 a California bill (AB 290) was signed into law that limits the amount of reimbursement paid to certain providers for services provided to patients with commercial insurance who receive charitable premium assistance. AB 290 was expected to become effective in January 2020. The American Kidney Fund (AKF), an organization that provides charitable premium assistance, announced that it would be withdrawing from California as a result of AB 290. On November 1, 2019, AKF filed a lawsuit in federal court challenging the law on several grounds. A group of providers, including DaVita, also filed a lawsuit challenging the law in federal court on November 5, 2019. The parties to each suit also filed motions for preliminary injunctions shortly after filing the lawsuits, seeking to prevent AB 290’s implementation during litigation. On December 30, 2019, the district court granted a preliminary injunction. The preliminary injunction will remain in place until a final judgment is made in the case, which is expected to occur in 2020.
In the event AB 290 becomes effective and the AKF withdraws from California, we expect an adverse impact on the ability of patients to afford Medicare premiums and Medicare supplemental (Medigap) and commercial coverage, which we expect will in turn result in an adverse impact on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows. In addition, bills similar to AB 290 were introduced in Illinois (SB 650) and Oregon (SB 900), but have not been successfully passed to date. If these or similar bills are introduced and implemented in other jurisdictions, and organizations that provide charitable premium assistance in those jurisdictions are similarly impacted, it could in the aggregate have a material adverse impact on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows. For additional informationdetail on the impact of decreases to the percentage ofCOVID-19 on our patients with commercial insurance,home-based dialysis business, see the risk factor under the heading "We face various risks related to the dynamic and evolving novel coronavirus pandemic, many of which may have a material adverse impact on us."If the number of patientswe are not able to successfully implement our strategy with higher-paying commercial insurance declines,respect to home-based dialysis, including maintaining our existing business and further developing our capabilities in a complex and highly regulated environment, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows".flows, and could materially harm our reputation.
Any law, rule
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Changes in the structure of and payment rates under the Medicare ESRD program or guidance proposed or issued by CMSchanges in state Medicaid or other federalnon-Medicare government-based programs or state regulatory or legislative authorities or others, including, without limitation, any initiatives similar to the proposed legislation and ballot initiatives described above, or other future ballot or other initiatives restricting or prohibiting the ability of patients with access to alternative coverage from selecting a marketplace plan on or off exchange, limiting the amount of revenue that a dialysis provider can retain for caring for patients with commercial insurance, imposing burdensome operational requirements, affecting payments made to providers for services provided to patients who receive charitable premium assistance and/or otherwise restricting or prohibiting the use of charitable premium assistance,payment rates could cause us to incur substantial costs to oppose any such proposed measures, impact our dialysis center development plans, and if passed and/or implemented, could adversely impact dialysis centers across the U.S. making certain centers economically unviable, lead to the closure of certain centers, restrict the ability of dialysis patients to


obtain and maintain optimal insurance coverage, and in some cases, have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
A substantial portion of our dialysis revenues are generated from patients who have Medicare as their primary payor. For patients with Medicare coverage, all ESRD payments for dialysis treatments are currently made under a single bundled payment rate which provides a fixed payment rate to encompass all goods and services provided during the dialysis treatment that are related to the treatment of dialysis, subject to certain adjustments as described below. Most lab services are also included in the bundled payment.
Under the ESRD Prospective Payment System (PPS), bundled payments to a dialysis facility may be reduced by as much as 2% based on the facility's performance in specified quality measures set annually by CMS through the ESRD Quality Incentive Program, which was established by the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008. The bundled payment rate is also adjusted for certain patient characteristics, a geographic usage index and certain other factors. In addition, the ESRD PPS is subject to rebasing, which can have a positive financial effect, or a negative one if the government fails to rebase in a manner that adequately addresses the costs borne by dialysis facilities. Similarly, as new drugs, services or labs are added to the ESRD bundle, CMS' failure to adequately calculate or fund the costs associated with the drugs, services or labs could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows. In certain instances, new injectable, intravenous or oral products may be reimbursed separately from the bundled payment for a defined period of time through a transitional drug add-on payment adjustment (TDAPA). For a discussion of certain risks associated with this transitional pricing process, see the risk factor under the heading, "Changes in clinical practices, payment rates or regulations impacting pharmaceuticals could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, and cash flows and negatively impact our ability to care for patients."
The current bundled payment system presents certain operating, clinical and financial risks, which include, without limitation:
Risk that our rates are reduced by CMS. CMS publishes a final rule for the ESRD PPS each year and uncertainty about future payment rates remains a material risk to our business.
Risk that CMS, on its own or through its contracted Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) or otherwise, implements Local Coverage Determinations (LCDs) or implements payment provisions, policy or regulatory mandates, including changes to the existing or future PPS, that limit our ability to either be paid for covered dialysis services or bill for treatments or other drugs and services or other rules that may impact reimbursement. Such payment rules and regulations and coverage determinations or related decisions could have an adverse impact on our operations and revenue. There is also risk that commercial insurers could seek to incorporate the requirements or limitations associated with such LCDs or CMS guidance into their contracted terms with dialysis providers, which could have an adverse impact on our revenue.
Risk that a MAC, or multiple MACs, change their interpretations of existing regulations, manual provisions and/or guidance, or seek to implement or enforce new interpretations that are inconsistent with how we have interpreted existing regulations, manual provisions and/or guidance.
Risk that CMS implements data and related reporting requirements that result in decreased reimbursement and/or increased technology and operational costs.
Risk that increases in our operating costs will outpace the Medicare rate increases we receive. We expect operating costs to continue to increase due to inflationary factors, such as increases in labor and supply costs, including, without limitation, increases in maintenance costs and capital expenditures to improve, renovate and maintain our facilities, equipment and information technology to meet changing regulatory requirements and business needs, regardless of whether there is a compensating inflation-based increase in Medicare payment rates or in payments under the bundled payment rate system.
Risk of continued federal budget sequestration cuts or other disruptions in federal government operations and funding. As a result of the Budget Control Act of 2011, the Bipartisan Budget Act (BBA) and the CARES Act, an annual 2% reduction to Medicare payments took effect on April 1, 2013, and has been extended through 2030 (though the reduction was temporarily suspended from May 1, 2020 through March 31, 2022 in connection with COVID-19 relief related legislation; from April 2022 through June 2022 a 1% sequester cut will be in effect, with a full 2% reduction resuming thereafter). These across-the-board spending cuts have affected and will continue to adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows. Any extended disruption in federal government operations and funding, including an extended government shutdown, U.S. government debt default and/or failure of
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the U.S. government to enact annual appropriations could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows. Additionally, disruptions in federal government operations may delay or negatively impact regulatory approvals and guidance that are important to our operations, and create uncertainty about the pace of upcoming regulatory developments.
Risk that failure to adequately develop and maintain our clinical systems or failure of our clinical systems to operate effectively could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows. For example, in connection with claims for which at least part of the government's payments to us is based on clinical performance or patient outcomes or co-morbidities, if our clinical systems fail to accurately capture the data we report to CMS or we otherwise have data integrity issues with respect to the reported information, we might be over-reimbursed by the government, which could, among other things, subject us to liability exclusion from participation in federal healthcare programs and penalties under the federal Civil Monetary Penalty statute, and could adversely impact our reputation.
We are subject to similar risks for services billed separately from the ESRD bundled payment, including, without limitation, the risk that a MAC, or multiple MACs, change their interpretations of existing regulations, manual provisions and/or guidance; or seek to implement or enforce new interpretations that are inconsistent with how we have interpreted existing regulations, manual provisions and/or guidance.
In addition to the above risks under the current Medicare ESRD program, changing legislation and other regulatory and executive developments have led and may continue to lead to the emergence of new models of care and other initiatives in both the government and private sector that, among other things, may impact the structure of, and payment rates under, the Medicare ESRD program. Moreover, the number of our patients with primary Medicare coverage may be subject to change, particularly with the effectiveness of the Cures Act, which allows Medicare-eligible individuals with ESRD to enroll in Medicare Part C MA managed care plans. For additional details regarding the risks we face for failing to adhere to our Medicare and Medicaid regulatory compliance obligations or failing to adequately implement strategic initiatives to adjust to marketplace developments, see the risk factors above under the headings "Our business is subject to a complex set of governmental laws, regulations and other requirements and any failure to adhere to those requirements, or any changes in those requirements, could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows, could materially harm our stock price, and in some circumstances, could materially harm our reputation;" and "Changes in federal and state healthcare legislation or regulations could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows."
Primary coverage for a significant number of our patients also comes from state Medicaid programs partially funded by the federal government as well as other non-Medicare government-based programs, such as coverage through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). As state governments and other governmental organizations face increasing financial hardship and budgetary pressure, including as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, we may in turn face reductions in payment rates, delays in the receipt of payments, limitations on enrollee eligibility or other changes to the applicable programs. For example, certain state Medicaid programs and the VA have recently considered, proposed or implemented payment rate reductions, such as the VA's adoption of Medicare's bundled PPS pricing methodology for any veterans receiving treatment from non-VA providers under a national contracting initiative. Since we are a non-VA provider, these reimbursements are tied to a percentage of Medicare reimbursement, and we have exposure to any dialysis reimbursement changes made by CMS. Approximately 3% of our U.S. dialysis patient services revenues for the year ended December 31, 2021 were generated by the VA. In addition, in 2019, we entered into a Nationwide Dialysis Services contract with the VA that includes five separate one-year renewal periods throughout the term of the contract. The term structure is similar to our prior five-year agreement with the VA, and is consistent with VA practice for similar provider agreements. With this contract award, the VA has agreed to keep our percentage of Medicare reimbursement consistent with that under our prior agreement with the VA during the term of the contract. As with that prior agreement, this agreement provides the VA with the right to terminate the agreements without cause on short notice, among other things. Should the VA renegotiate, not renew or cancel these agreements for any reason, we may cease accepting patients under this program and may be forced to close centers or experience lower reimbursement rates, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
State Medicaid programs are increasingly adopting Medicare-like bundled payment systems, but sometimes these payment systems are poorly defined and are implemented without any claims processing infrastructure, or patient or facility adjusters. If these payment systems are implemented without any adjusters and claims processing infrastructure, Medicaid payments will be substantially reduced and the costs to submit such claims may increase, which will have a negative impact on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows. In addition, some state Medicaid program eligibility requirements mandate that citizen enrollees in such programs provide documented proof of citizenship. If our patients cannot meet these proof of citizenship documentation requirements, they may be denied coverage under these programs, resulting in decreased patient volumes and revenue. These Medicaid payment and enrollment changes, along with similar changes to other
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non-Medicare government programs, could reduce the rates paid by these programs for dialysis and related services, delay the receipt of payment for services provided and further limit eligibility for coverage which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
Our business is labor intensive and if our labor costs continue to rise, including due to shortages, changes in certification requirements and/or higher than normal turnover rates in skilled clinical personnel; or currently pending or future governmental laws, rules, regulations or initiatives impose additional requirements or limitations on our operations or profitability; or, if we are unable to attract and retain employees; or if union organizing activities or legislative or other changes result in significant increases in our operating costs or decreases in productivity, we may experience disruptions in our business operations and increases in operating expenses, among other things, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, cash flows and reputation.
We face increasing labor costs generally, and in particular, we continue to face increased labor costs and difficulties in hiring nurses due to a nationwide shortage of skilled clinical personnel that has been exacerbated by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and recent developments in the labor market. As referenced above, the current labor market is challenging and continues to experience volatility, uncertainty and labor supply shortages, particularly in healthcare. Our business is labor intensive, and our financial and operating results have been and continue to be sensitive to variations in labor-related costs, productivity and the number of pending or potential claims against us related to labor and employment practices. We have incurred and expect to continue to incur increased labor costs and experience staffing challenges, including without limitation those related to COVID-19, the extent of which will depend on the severity and duration of the pandemic and ancillary impacts on the economy and labor market, among other things. For additional discussion of the risks facing us related to COVID-19, including, among other things, risks related to the potential impact of vaccine mandates and other pandemic related requirements on us, see the risk factor under the heading "We face various risks related to the dynamic and evolving novel coronavirus pandemic, many of which may have a material adverse impact on us."Additionally, to the extent that general inflationary pressures continue or further increase, this may in turn increase our labor and supply costs at a rate that outpaces the Medicare or any other rate increases we may receive.
We compete for nurses with hospitals and other healthcare providers. The ongoing nursing shortage may limit our ability to expand our operations. Furthermore, changes in certification requirements can impact our ability to maintain sufficient staff levels, including to the extent our teammates are not able to meet new requirements, among other things. In addition, if we experience a higher than normal turnover rate for our skilled clinical personnel, our operations and treatment growth may be negatively impacted, which could adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows. We also face competition in attracting and retaining talent for key leadership positions. If we are unable to attract and retain qualified individuals, we may experience disruptions in our business operations, including, without limitation, our ability to achieve strategic goals, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, cash flows and reputation.
Political or other efforts at the national or local level could result in actions or proposals that increase the likelihood of success of union organizing activities at our facilities and ongoing union organizing activities at our facilities could continue or increase for other reasons. We could experience an upward trend in wages and benefits and labor and employment claims, including, without limitation, the filing of class action suits, or adverse outcomes of such claims, or face work stoppages. In addition, we are and may continue to be subject to targeted corporate campaigns by union organizers in response to which we have been and expect to continue to be required to expend substantial resources, both time and financial. Any of these events or circumstances could have a material adverse effect on our employee relations, treatment growth, productivity, business, results of operations, financial condition, cash flows and reputation.
Privacy and information security laws are complex, and if we fail to comply with applicable laws, regulations and standards, including with respect to third-party service providers that utilize sensitive personal information on our behalf, or if we fail to properly maintain the integrity of our data, protect our proprietary rights to our systems or defend against cybersecurity attacks, we may be subject to government or private actions due to privacy and security breaches or suffer losses to our data and information technology assets, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows or materially harm our reputation.
We must comply with numerous federal and state laws and regulations in both the U.S. and the foreign jurisdictions in which we operate governing the collection, dissemination, access, use, security and privacy of PHI, including, without limitation, HIPAA and its implementing privacy, security, and related regulations, as amended by the federal Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH) and collectively referred to as HIPAA. We are also required to report known breaches of PHI and other certain personal information consistent with applicable breach reporting requirements set forth in applicable laws and regulations. From time to time, we may be subject to both federal and state inquiries or audits related to HIPAA, HITECH and relatedother state privacy laws associated with complaints, desk audits, and self-reported data
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breaches. Requirements under HIPAA also continue to evolve. If we fail to comply with applicable privacy and security laws, regulations and standards, including with respect to third-party service providers that utilize sensitive personal information, including PHI, on our behalf, properly maintain the integrity of our data, protect our proprietary rights, or defend against cybersecurity attacks, it could materially harm our reputation and/or have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows. These risks may be intensified to the extent that the laws change or to the extent that we increase our use of third-party service providers that utilize sensitive personal information, including PHI, on our behalf.
Data protection laws are evolving globally, and may continue to add additional compliance costs and legal risks to our international operations. In Europe,the European Union, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) became effective on May 25, 2018. The GDPR applies to entities that are established in the European Union (EU), as well as extends the scope of EU data protection laws to foreign companies processing data of individuals in the EU. The GDPR(EU GDPR) imposes a comprehensive data protection regime with the potential for regulatory fines as well as data breach litigation by impacted data subjects. Under the EU GDPR, regulatory penalties may be assessed by data protection authorities for up to the greater of 4% of worldwide turnover or €20 million. The United Kingdom has implemented similar legislation (UK GDPR) that may carry similar compliance and operational costs as the EU GDPR, and non-compliance with which carries potential fines of up to the greater of £17.5 million or 4% of global turnover. The costs of compliance with, and other burdens imposed by, the EU GDPR, UK GDPR and other new laws, regulations and policies implementing the EU GDPR and UK GDPR may impact our European and United Kingdom operations and may limit the ways in which we can provide services or use personal data collected while providing services.
Privacy and data protection laws are also evolving nationally, providing for enhanced state privacy rights that are broader than the current federal privacy rights, and may add additional compliance costs and legal risks to our U.S. operations. The costs of compliance with, and the burdens imposed by, these and other new federal and state laws, regulations or policies may impact our operations and/or limit the ways in which we can provide services or use personal data collected while providing services. If we fail to comply with the requirements of GDPR,these and other new laws, regulations or policies, we could be subject to penalties that, in some cases, would have a material adverse impact on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
Data protection laws are also evolving nationally, For more details on the privacy and may add additional compliance costs and legal risks toother regulations affecting our U.S. operations. For example,business, see Part I, Item 1. Business of this Form 10-K under the California legislature recently passed the California Consumer Protection Act (CCPA), which became effective January 1, 2020. The CCPA is a privacy law that requires certain companies doing business in California to enhance privacy disclosures regarding the collection, use and sharing of a consumer's personal data. The CCPA grants consumers additional privacy rights that are broader than current Federal privacy rights. The CCPA also permits the imposition of civil penalties, grants enforcement authority to the state Attorney General and provides a private right of action for consumers where certain personal information is breached due to unreasonable information security practices. Several other states, including Nevada and Maine, have passed data protection laws similar to CCPA. These laws would impose organizational requirements and grant individual rights that are comparable to those establishedheading "Government Regulation." Scrutiny over cybersecurity standards in the CCPA,health sector is also increasing, and other states may pass similar legislationongoing developments in the future. In particular, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights, in partnership with the Healthcare and Public Health Sector Coordinating Council (HSCC), recently issued cybersecurity guidelines for healthcare organizations that reflect consensus-based, voluntary practices to cost-effectively reduce cybersecurity risks for organizations of varying sizes. Although these HHS-backed guidelines, entitled "Health Industry Cybersecurity Practices: Managing Threats and Protecting Patients," are voluntary, they are likely to serve as an important reference point for the healthcare industry, andthis area may cause us to invest additional resources in technology, personnel and programmatic cybersecurity controls as the cybersecurity risks we face continue to evolve.
Information security risks have significantly increased in recent years in part because of the proliferation of new technologies, the increasing use of the Internet and telecommunications technologies to conduct our operations, and the increased sophistication and activities of organized crime, hackers, terrorists and other external parties, including, among others, foreign state agents. Our business and operations rely on the secure and continuous processing, transmission and storage of confidential, proprietary and other information in our computer systems and networks, including sensitive personal information, includingsuch as PHI, social security numbers, andand/or credit card information of our patients, teammates, physicians, business partners and others.


Our business and operations also rely on certain critical IT vendors that support such processing, transmission and storage (which have become more relevant and important given the information security issues and risks that are intensified through remote work arrangements).
We regularly review, monitor and implement multiple layers of security measures through technology, processes and our people. We utilize security technologies designed to protect and maintain the integrity of our information systems and data, and our defenses are monitored and routinely tested internally and by external parties. Despite these efforts, our facilities and systems and those of our third-party service providers may be vulnerable to privacy and security incidents; security attacks and breaches; acts of vandalism or theft; computer viruses and other malicious code; coordinated attacks by a variety of actors, including, among others, activist entities or state sponsored cyberattacks; emerging cybersecurity risks; cyber risk related to connected devices; misplaced or lost data; programming and/or human errors; or other similar events that could impact the security, reliability and availability of our systems. Internal or external parties mayhave attempted to, and will continue to attempt to, circumvent our security systems, and we have in the past, and expect that we will in the future, defend against, experience, externaland respond to attacks on our network including, without limitation, reconnaissance probes, denial of service attempts, malicious software attacks including ransomware or other attacks intended to render our internal operating systems or data unavailable, and phishing attacks or business email compromise. Cybersecurity requires ongoing investment and diligence against evolving threats. Emerging and advanced security threats, including, without limitation, coordinated attacks, require additional layers of security which may disrupt or impact efficiency of operations. As with any security program, there always exists the risk that employees will violate our policies despite our compliance efforts or that certain attacks may be beyond the ability of our security and other systems to detect. There can be no assurance that investments, diligence and/or our internal controls will be sufficient to prevent or timely discover an attack.
Any security breach involving the misappropriation, loss or other unauthorized disclosure or use of confidential information, including, among others, PHI, financial data, competitively sensitive information, or other proprietary data,
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whether by us or a third party, could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, and cash flows and materially harm our reputation. We may be required to expend significant additional resources to modify our protective measures, to investigate and remediate vulnerabilities or other exposures, or to make required notifications. The occurrence of any of these events could, among other things, result in interruptions, delays, the loss or corruption of data, cessations in the availability of systems and liability under privacy and security laws, all of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows, or materially harm our reputation and trigger regulatory actions and private party litigation. If we are unable to protect the physical and electronic security and privacy of our databases and transactions, we could be subject to potential liability and regulatory action, our reputation and relationships with our patients, physicians, vendors and other business partners would be harmed, and our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows could be materially and adversely affected. Failure to adequately protect and maintain the integrity of our information systems (including our networks) and data, or to defend against cybersecurity attacks, could subject us to monetary fines, civil suits, civil penalties or criminal sanctions and requirements to disclose the breach publicly, and could further result in a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows or harm our reputation. As malicious cyber activity escalates, including activity that originates outside of the U.S., and as our COVID-19 response has increased our remote work arrangements and broadened our technology footprint, the risks we face relating to transmission of data and our use of service providers outside of our network, as well as the storing or processing of data within our network, intensify.have intensified. There have been increased international, federal and state and other privacy, data protection and security enforcement efforts and we expect this trend to continue. While we intendplan to maintain cyber liability insurance, thisthere can be no assurance that we will successfully be able to obtain such insurance on terms and conditions that are favorable to us or at all. Additionally, any cyber liability insurance may not cover us for all types of losses or harms and may not be sufficient to protect us against the amount of all losses.
If the average rates that commercial payors pay us decline significantlycertain of our suppliers do not meet our needs, if there are material price increases on supplies, if we are not reimbursed or adequately reimbursed for drugs we purchase or if patients in commercial planswe are subjectunable to restriction in plan designs,effectively access new technology or superior products, it would have a material adverse effect oncould negatively impact our business, results of operations, financial conditionability to effectively provide the services we offer and cash flows.
Approximately 31% of our U.S. dialysis net patient services revenues for the year ended December 31, 2019, were generated from patients who have commercial payors (including hospital dialysis services) as their primary payor. The majority of these patients have insurance policies that pay us on terms and at rates that are generally significantly higher than Medicare rates. The payments we receive from commercial payors generate nearly all of our profit and all of our nonacute dialysis profits come from commercial payors. We continue to experience downward pressure on some of our commercial payment rates as a result of general conditions in the market, including as employers shift to less expensive options for medical services, recent and future consolidations among commercial payors, increased focus on dialysis services and other factors. Commercial payment rates could be materially lower in the future due to these or other factors.
We continuously are in the process of negotiating existing and potential new agreements with commercial payors who aggressively negotiate terms with us, and we can make no assurances about the ultimate results of these negotiations or the timing of any potential rate changes resulting from these negotiations. Sometimes many significant agreements are being renegotiated at the same time. In the event that our continual negotiations result in overall commercial rate reductions in excess of overall commercial rate increases, the cumulative effect could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, cash flows and cash flows. could materially harm our reputation.
We believe payor consolidations have significantly increasedsignificant suppliers, with a substantial portion of our total vendor spend concentrated with a limited number of third party suppliers. These third party suppliers include, without limitation, suppliers of pharmaceuticals or clinical products that may be the negotiating leverageprimary source of commercial payors,products critical to the services we provide, or to which we have committed obligations to make purchases, sometimes at particular prices. We and ongoing consolidations may continueother dialysis providers have experienced supply chain shortages with respect to increase this leveragecertain of our equipment and clinical supplies, such as dialysate, which is the fluid solution used in hemodialysis to filter toxins and fluid from the future. Our negotiations with payors are also influenced by competitive pressures,blood, and we may experience decreased contracted rates with


commercial payors or experience decreaseshave had to make significant operational changes in patient volume, including if we turn away new patientsresponse. Separately, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic also has resulted in instances where we are unable to come to agreement with commercial payors on rates,global supply chain challenges and has materially impacted global supply chain reliability, as our negotiations with commercial payors continue.
Certain payors have also been attempting to design and implement plans that restrict access to ESRD coverage both in the commercial and individual market. Among other things, these restrictive plan designs seek to limit the duration and/or the breadth of ESRD benefits, limit the number of in-network providers, set arbitrary provider reimbursement rates, or otherwise restrict access to care, all of which may result in a decrease in the number of patients covered by commercial insurance. Payors may also dispute the scope and duration of ESRD benefit coverage under their plans. Any of the foregoing, including developments in plan design or new business activities of commercial payors, may lead to a significant decrease in the number of patients with commercial plans, the duration of benefits for patients under commercial plans and/or a significant decrease in the payment rates we receive, which would have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
In addition, some commercial payors are pursuing or have incorporated policies into their provider manuals limiting or refusing to accept charitable premium assistance from non-profit organizations, such as the American Kidney Fund, which may impact the number of patients who are able to afford commercial plans. Paying for coverage is a significant financial burden for many patients, and ESRD disproportionately affects the low-income population. Charitable premium assistance supports continuity of coverage and access to care for patients, many of whom are unable to continue working full-time as a result of their severe condition. A material restriction in patients' ability to access charitable premium assistance may restrict the ability of dialysis patients to obtain and maintain optimal insurance coverage, and may adversely impact a large number of dialysis centers across the U.S. by making certain centers economically unviable, and may have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
For additional details regarding the impact of a decline in our patients under commercial plans, see the risk factor under the heading "If the number of patients with higher-paying commercial insurance declines, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows." For additional details regarding specific risks we face regarding potential legislative or regulatory changes that, among other things, could result in fewer patients covered under commercial plans or an increase of patients covered under more restrictive commercial plans with lower reimbursement rates, see the discussionfurther described in the risk factor under the heading, ""Changes in federalWe face various risks related to the dynamic and state healthcare legislation or regulations couldevolving novel coronavirus pandemic, many of which may have a material adverse effectimpact on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.us."
If the number of patients with higher-paying commercial insurance declines, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
Our revenue levels are sensitive to the percentageany of our patients with higher-paying commercial insurance coverage. A patient's insurance coverage may change for a number of reasons, including changes in the patient's or a family member's employment status. A material portion ofsuppliers do not meet our commercial revenue is concentrated with a limited number of commercial payors, and any changes impacting our highest paying commercial payors will have a disproportionate impact on us. In addition, many patients with commercial and government insurance rely on financial assistance from charitable organizations, such as the American Kidney Fund. Certain payors have challenged our patients' and other providers' patients' ability to utilize assistance from charitable organizationsneeds for the payment of premiums,products they supply, including, without limitation, through litigation and other legal proceedings. The use of charitable premium assistance for ESRD patients has also faced challenges and inquiries from legislators, regulators and other governmental authorities, and this may continue. In addition, CMS or another regulatory agency or legislative authority may issue a new rule or guidance that challenges or restricts charitable premium assistance. For additional details, see the discussion under the heading "Changes in federal and state healthcare legislation or regulations could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows." If any of these challenges to kidney patients' use of premium assistance are successful or restrictions are imposed on the use of financial assistance from such charitable organizations or if organizations providing such assistance are no longer available such that kidney patients are unable to obtain, or continue to receive or receive for a limited duration, such financial assistance, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows. In addition, if our assumptions about how kidney patients will respond to any change in financial assistance from charitable organizations are incorrect, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
When Medicare becomes the primary payor, the payment rate we receive for that patient decreases from the employer group health plan or commercial plan rate to the lower Medicare payment rate. If the number of our patients who have Medicare or another government-based program as their primary payor increases, it could negatively impact the percentage of our patients covered under commercial insurance plans. There are a number of factors that could drive a decline in the percentageevent of our patients covered under commercial insurance plans, including, among others,COVID-19 related global supply chain challenges, a continued decline in the rate of growth of the ESRD patient population, continued improved mortalityproduct recall, other shortage or the reduced availability of commercial health plans or reduced coverage by such plans through the ACA exchanges or otherwise due to changes to the marketplace, healthcare


regulatory system or otherwise. Commercial payors could also cease paying in the primary position after providing 30 months of coverage resulting in potentially material reductions in payment as the patient moves to Medicare primary. Moreover, declining macroeconomic conditions could also negatively impact the percentage of our patients covered under commercial insurance plans. To the extent there are sustained or increased job losses in the U.S., we could experience a decrease in the number of patients covered under commercial plans and/or an increase in uninsureddispute, and underinsured patients independent of whether general economic conditions improve. We could also experience higher numbers of uninsured and underinsured patients, which would result in an increase in uncollectible accounts.
Finally, the ultimate results of our continual negotiations with commercial payors under existing and potential new agreements cannot be predicted and, among other things, could result in a decrease in the number of our patients covered by commercial plans to the extent that we cannot reach agreement with commercial payors on rates and other terms, resulting in termination or non-renewals of existing agreements and our inability to enter into new agreements. Our agreements and rates with commercial payors may be impacted by new business activities of these commercial payors as well as steps that these commercial payors have taken and may continue to take to control the cost of and/or the eligibility for access to the services that we provide, including, without limitation, relative to products on and off the healthcare exchanges. These efforts could impact the number of our patients who are eligible to enroll in commercial insurance plans, and remain on the plans, including plans offered through healthcare exchanges. For additional detail on the risks related to commercial payor activity, including restrictive plan design, see the discussion under the heading "If the average rates that commercial payors pay us decline significantly or if patients in commercial plans are subject to restriction in plan designs, it would have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows." We could also experience a further decrease in the payments we receive for services if changes to the marketplace or the healthcare regulatory system result in fewer patients covered under commercial plans or an increase of patients covered under more restrictive commercial plans with lower reimbursement rates, among other things.
If there is a significant reduction in the number of patients under higher-paying commercial plans relative to government-based programs that pay at lower rates or a significant increase in the number of patients that are uninsured and underinsured, it would have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
If we are not able to successfully implementfind adequate alternative sources at competitive prices; if we experience material price increases from these suppliers or otherwise in connection with our strategy with respectactions to home-based dialysis,secure needed products that we are unable to mitigate; if some of the drugs that we purchase from our suppliers are not reimbursed or not adequately reimbursed by commercial or government payors; or if we are unable to secure products, including maintainingpharmaceuticals at competitive rates and within the desired time frame; it could negatively impact our existing business and further developing our capabilities in a complex and highly regulated environment, it couldability to effectively provide the services we offer, have a material adverse effectimpact on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows, and could materially harm our reputation.
Our home-based dialysis services, which include home hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis (PD), represented approximately 16% of our U.S. dialysis patient services revenues for the year ended December 31, 2019, and have increasingly become an important part of our overall strategy. In addition, home-based dialysis recently has been the subject of increased political and industry focus. For example, in connection with the 2019 Executive Order, HHS set out specific goalstechnology related to home dialysis and CMMI announced a proposed mandatory model that included new incentivesthe products critical to encourage dialysis at home. We are a leader in home-based dialysis and have made investments in processes and infrastructure to continue to grow this modality. There are, however, risks associated with this growth, including, among other things, financial, legal and operational risks related to our ability to design and develop infrastructure and to plan for capacity in a modality thatthe services we provide is part of an evolving marketplace. We may also be subject to associated risks related to our ability to successfully manage related operational initiatives, find, train and retain appropriate staff, contract with payors for appropriate reimbursement, and maintain processes to adhere to the complex regulatory and legal requirements, including without limitation those associated with billing Medicare. For additional detail on risks associated with operatingnew developments which may result in a highly regulated environment, see "If we fail to adhere to all of the complex governmental laws, regulations and requirements that apply to our business, we could suffer severe consequences that could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows, and could materially harm our reputation and stock price." In addition to the above risks, certain risks inherent to home-based dialysis will increase as we expand our home-based dialysis offerings, including risks related to managing transitions between in-center and home-based dialysis, billing and telehealth systems, among others. For additional detail on risks associated with information systems and new technology generally, see the discussion under the heading "Failing to effectively maintain, operate or upgrade our information systems or those of third-party service providers upon which we rely, including, without limitation, our clinical, billing and collections systems could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows."
An increased focus on home-based dialysis is also indicative of the generally evolving market for kidney care. This developing market may create additional opportunities for competition with relative ease of entry, and if we are unable to successfully adapt to these marketplace developments in a timely and compliant manner, we may see a reduction in our overall number of patients, among other things. For additional detail on the competitive landscape in kidney care, see the discussion under the heading “If we are unable to compete successfully, including, without limitation, implementing our growth strategy


and/or retaining patients and physicians willing to serve as medical directors, it could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.”superior products. If we are not able to successfully implement our strategy with respectaccess superior products on a cost-effective basis, either due to home-based dialysis, including maintaining our existing business and further developing our capabilities in a complex and highly regulated environment, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows, and could materially harm our reputation.
Changescompetitive conditions in the structure of and payment rates under the Medicare ESRD program could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
Approximately 42% of our U.S. dialysis net patient services revenues for the year ended December 31, 2019, were generated from patients who have Medicare as their primary payor. For patients with Medicare coverage, all ESRD payments for dialysis treatments are currently made under a single bundled payment rate which provides a fixed payment rate to encompass all goods and services provided during the dialysis treatment that are related to the treatment of dialysis, including pharmaceuticals that were historically separately reimbursed to the dialysis providers, such as erythropoietin (EPO), vitamin D analogs and iron supplements, irrespective of the level of pharmaceuticals administered or additional services performed, except in the case of calcimimetics, which are subject to a transitional drug add-on payment adjustment for the Medicare Part B ESRD payment. Most lab services are also included in the bundled payment. Under the ESRD Prospective Payment System (PPS), the bundled payments to a dialysis facility may be reduced by as much as 2% based on the facility's performance in specified quality measures set annually by CMS through the ESRD Quality Incentive Program, which was established by the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008. The bundled payment rate is also adjusted for certain patient characteristics, a geographic usage index and certain other factors. In addition, the ESRD PPS is subject to rebasing, which can have a positive financial effect, or a negative one if the government fails to rebase in a manner that adequately addresses the costs borne by dialysis facilities. Similarly, as new drugs, services or labs are added to the ESRD bundle, CMS' failure to adequately calculate the costs associated with the drugs, services or labs could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
The current bundled payment system presents certain operating, clinical and financial risks, which include, without limitation:
Risk that our rates are reduced by CMS. Uncertainty about future payment rates remains a material risk to our business. CMS publishes a final rule for the ESRD PPS each year; the final rule for 2020 was issued on October 31, 2019.
Risk that CMS, on its own or through its contracted Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs)marketplace or otherwise, implements Local Coverage Determinations (LCDs) or implements payment provisions, policy or regulatory mandates, including changesif suppliers are not able to the existing or future PPS, that limitfulfill our ability to either be paidrequirements for covered dialysis services or bill for treatments or other drugs and services or other rules that may impact reimbursement. Such payment rules and regulations and coverage determinations or related decisions could have an adverse impact on our operations and revenue. There is also risk commercial insurers could seek to incorporate the requirements or limitations associated with such LCDs or CMS guidance into their contracted terms with dialysis providers, which could have an adverse impact on our revenue.
Risk that a MAC, or multiple MACs, change their interpretations of existing regulations, manual provisions and/or guidance, or seek to implement or enforce new interpretations that are inconsistent with how we have interpreted existing regulations, manual provisions and/or guidance.
Risk that increases in our operating costs will outpace the Medicare rate increases we receive. We expect operating costs to continue to increase due to inflationary factors, such as increases in labor and supply costs, including, without limitation, increases in maintenance costs and capital expenditures to improve, renovate and maintain our facilities, equipment and information technology to meet changing regulatory requirements and business needs, regardless of whether there is a compensating inflation-based increase in Medicare payment rates or in payments under the bundled payment rate system.
Risk of continued federal budget sequestration cuts. As a result of the Budget Control Act of 2011 and the BBA, an annual 2% reduction to Medicare payments took effect on April 1, 2013, and has been extended through 2027. These across-the-board spending cuts have affected and will continue to adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.


Risk that failure to adequately develop and maintain our clinical systems or failure of our clinical systems to operate effectively could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows. For example, in connection with claims for which at least part of the government's payments to us is based on clinical performance or patient outcomes or co-morbidities, if our clinical systems fail to accurately capture the data we report to CMS or we otherwise have data integrity issues with respect to the reported information, we might be over-reimbursed by the government, which could subject us to liability. For example, CMS published a final rule that implemented a provision of the ACA, requiring providers to report and return Medicare and Medicaid overpayments within the later of (a) 60 days after the overpayment is identified and quantified, or (b) the date any corresponding cost report is due, if applicable. An overpayment impermissibly retained under this statute could, among other things, subject us to liability under the FCA, exclusion from participation in the federal healthcare programs, and penalties under the federal Civil Monetary Penalty statute and could adversely impact our reputation.
We are subject to similar risks for services billed separately from the ESRD bundled payment, including, without limitation, the risk that a MAC, or multiple MACs, change their interpretations of existing regulations, manual provisions and/or guidance; or seek to implement or enforce new interpretations that are inconsistent with how we have interpreted existing regulations, manual provisions and/or guidance. For additional details regarding the risks we face for failing to adhere to our Medicare and Medicaid regulatory compliance obligations, see the risk factor above under the heading "If we fail to adhere to all of the complex governmental laws, regulations and requirements that apply to our business,products, we could suffer severe consequences that could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows, and could materially harm our reputation and stock price."
In addition, changing legislationface patient attrition and other regulatory and executive developments have led and may continue to lead to the emergence of new models of care and other initiatives in both the government and private sector that, among other things, impact the structure of, and payment rates under, the Medicare ESRD program. For additional details regarding the risks we face for failing to adequately implement strategic initiatives to adjust to these marketplace developments, see the risk factor above under the heading “Changes in federal and state healthcare legislation or regulations could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.”
Moreover, the number of our patients with primary Medicare coverage may be subject to change, particularly with the upcoming January 1, 2021 effective date under the 21st Century Cures Act, which will allow Medicare-eligible individuals with ESRD to enroll in Medicare Part C Medicare Advantage (MA) managed care plans. We continue to evaluate the potential impact of this change in benefit eligibility, as there is significant uncertainty as to how many or which newly eligible ESRD patients will seek to enroll in MA plans for their ESRD benefits and how quickly any such changes would occur. If we fail to maintain contracts with MA payors with competitive rates, if our assumptions about how kidney patients will respond to the 21st Century Cures Act are incorrect or if we fail to provide education to kidney patients in the manner specified by CMS, we could be subject to certain clinical, operational, financial and legal risks, which could be material.
Changes in state Medicaid or other non-Medicare government-based programs or payment rates could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
Approximately 27% of our U.S. dialysis net patient services revenues for the year ended December 31, 2019, were generated from patients who have state Medicaid or other non-Medicare government-based programs, such as coverage through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), as their primary coverage. As state governments and other governmental organizations face increasing budgetary pressure, we may in turn face reductions in payment rates, delays in the receipt of payments, limitations on enrollee eligibility or other changes to the applicable programs. For example, certain state Medicaid programs and the VA have recently considered, proposed or implemented payment rate reductions.
The VA adopted Medicare's bundled PPS pricing methodology for any veterans receiving treatment from non-VA providers under a national contracting initiative. Since we are a non-VA provider, these reimbursements are tied to a percentage of Medicare reimbursement, and we have exposure to any dialysis reimbursement changes made by CMS. Approximately 3% of our U.S. dialysis net patient services revenues for the year ended December 31, 2019 were generated by the VA.
In 2019, we entered into a Nationwide Dialysis Services contract with the VA that includes five separate one-year renewal periods throughout the term of the contract. The term structure is similar to our prior five-year agreement with the VA, and is consistent with VA practice for similar provider agreements. With this contract award, the VA has agreed to keep our percentage of Medicare reimbursement consistent with that under our prior agreement with the VA during the term of the contract. As with that prior agreement, this agreement provides the VA with the right to terminate the agreements without cause on short notice. Should the VA renegotiate, or not renew or cancel these agreements for any reason, we may cease accepting patients under this program and may be forced to close centers or experience lower reimbursement rates,negative consequences which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.


State Medicaid programs are increasingly adopting Medicare-like bundled payment systems, but sometimes these payment systems are poorly defined and are implemented without any claims processing infrastructure, or patient or facility adjusters. If these payment systems are implemented without any adjusters and claims processing infrastructure, Medicaid payments will be substantially reduced and the costs to submit such claims may increase, which will have a negative impact on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows. In addition, some state Medicaid program eligibility requirements mandate that citizen enrollees in such programs provide documented proof of citizenship. If our patients cannot meet these proof of citizenship documentation requirements, they may be denied coverage under these programs, resulting in decreased patient volumes and revenue. These Medicaid payment and enrollment changes, along with similar changes to other non-Medicare government programs could reduce the rates paid by these programs for dialysis and related services, delay the receipt of payment for services provided and further limit eligibility for coverage which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
Changes in clinical practices, payment rates or regulations impacting pharmaceuticals could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, and cash flows and negatively impact our ability to care for patients.
Medicare bundles certain pharmaceuticals into the ESRD PPS payment rate at industry average doses and prices. Variations above the industry average may be subject to partial reimbursement through the PPS outlier reimbursement policy.
Changes to industry averages, which can be caused by, among other things, changes in physician prescribing practices, including in response to the introduction of new drugs, treatments or technologies, changes in best and/or accepted clinical
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practice, changes in private or governmental payment criteria regarding pharmaceuticals, or the introduction of administration policies may negatively impact our ability to obtain sufficient reimbursement levels for the care we provide, and all of these factorswhich could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows. Physician practice patterns, including their independent determinations as to appropriate pharmaceuticals and dosing, are subject to change, including, for example, as a result of changes in labeling of pharmaceuticals or the introduction of new pharmaceuticals. Additionally, commercial payors have increasingly examined their administration policies for pharmaceuticals and, in some cases, have modified those policies. If such policy and practice trends or other changes to private and governmental payment criteria make it more difficult to preserve our margins per treatment, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows. Further, increased utilization of certain pharmaceuticals whose costs are included in a bundled reimbursement rate, or decreases in reimbursement for pharmaceuticals whose costs are not included in a bundled reimbursement rate, could also have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operation, financial condition and cash flows.
Changes in regulationsRegulations and processes impacting reimbursement for pharmaceuticals and any changes thereto could similarly affect our operating results. For example, as of January 1, 2018, calcimimetics became part of the Medicare Part B ESRD payment, subject to a transitional drug add-on payment adjustment (TDAPA). We implemented operational and clinical processes designed to provide the drug as required under the applicable regulations and as prescribed by physicians, and also worked to contract with payors and manufacturers to provide for access to and distribution of the drug. If the government orAmong other payors implement new requirements for patients to receive the drug, if we are not adequately reimbursed for the cost of the drug, or the processes we have implemented to provide the drug do not perform as anticipated, then we could be subject to both financial and operational risk, among other things. During this transitional period, the wider availability of generic supplies of oral calcimimetics has driven the acquisition cost of that drug down, which will in turn continue to lower associated reimbursement rates. CMS intends to add calcimimetics into the bundle as of January 1, 2021, but at this time we cannot predict the specifics of how CMS will incorporate oral and intravenous calcimimetics into the Medicare bundle. Each of these factors could lead to significant fluctuations in our associated levels of operating income, among other things.
Similar operating and clinical rigor and processes will be needed for other potential new drugs, treatments or technologies that are approved and come onto the market. Any failure to successfully contract with manufacturers for competitive pricing, failure to successfully contract with the government or other payors for appropriate reimbursement, or failure to prepare, develop and implement processes that provide for appropriate availability and use in our clinics could have a material adverse impact on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows. Additionally,things, as new kidney care drugs, treatments or technologies are introduced over time, we expect that the use of transitional payment adjustments to incorporate certain of these new drugs, treatments or technologies as defined by the CMS policy into the bundled Medicare Part B ESRD payment may lead to fluctuations in associated levels of operating income and risk that the reimbursement levels of such drugs, treatments or technologies may not adequately cover our cost to obtain the drug or other associated costs due to,costs. Drivers of these risks include, among other things, the risk that CMS may not provide adequate funding in the Medicare Part B ESRD payment in the post-transitional period or such items are not covered by transitional add on pricing, in which case there may be less clarity on the reimbursement, either of which may in turn materially adversely impact our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows. For example, in the event that a hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) product is approved by the FDA we expect that HIF products will be subject to a TDAPA period prior to being incorporated into the payment bundle. We are developing operational and clinical processes designed to provide the drug as may be required under the applicable regulations and as may be prescribed by physicians and also are working to contract with manufacturers of drug(s) to establish terms and access to the product, as well as payors, as applicable, for reimbursement and/or administration of the drug. While the timing and details of a potential approval, including the contents of the applicable FDA label, remain uncertain, if HIF products are approved, we could experience significant fluctuations in our associated levels of operating income and could be subject to material financial, operational and/or legal risk if we are not adequately reimbursed for the cost of the drug, if we are unable to implement effective and appropriate operational measures to distribute the drug, if we fail to implement appropriate storage and diversion controls or if we cannot obtain competitive pricing for the HIF, the aggregate impact of these risks could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operation, financial condition and cash flows.


Similar operating and clinical rigor and appropriate processes will be needed for other potential new drugs, treatments or technologies that are approved and come onto the market, including, among others a new medication that may assist with uraemic pruritus in dialysis patients that was approved in 2021 and may be available to providers and for reimbursement in 2022. Any failure to successfully contract with manufacturers for competitive pricing, failure to successfully contract with the government or other payors for appropriate reimbursement, or failure to prepare, develop and implement processes that provide for appropriate availability and use in our clinics in compliance with applicable laws, including those related to controlled substances, could have a material adverse impact on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
We may also be subject to increased inquiries or audits from a variety of governmental bodies or claims by third parties related to pharmaceuticals, which would require management's attention and could result in significant legal expense. Any negative findings could result in, among other things, substantial financial penalties or repayment obligations, the imposition of certain obligations on and changes to our practices and procedures as well as the attendant financial burden on us to comply with the obligations, or exclusion from future participation in the Medicare and Medicaid programs, and could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, cash flows and reputation. For additional details, see the risk factor under the heading "If we failOur business is subject to adhere to alla complex set of the complex governmental laws, regulations and other requirements that applyand any failure to our business, we could suffer severe consequences thatadhere to those requirements, or any changes in those requirements, could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows, and could materially harm our reputationstock price, and stock price.in some circumstances, could materially harm our reputation."
If we are unable to compete successfully, including, without limitation, implementing our growth strategy and/or retaining patients and developing and maintaining relationships with physicians willing to serve as medical directors,and hospitals, it could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
Patient retentionWe operate in a highly competitive and continuously evolving environment across the continuedspectrum of kidney care, and operating in this market requires us to successfully execute on strategic initiatives which, among other things, build or retain
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our patient population through acquisition or referrals, of patients fromor that develop and maintain our relationships with physicians and hospitals in both the dialysis and pre-dialysis space.
Competition for relationships with certain referral sources, such asincluding nephrologists and hospitals, in existing and nephrologists, as well as acquisitions are some of the important parts of our growth strategy. In our U.S. dialysis business,expanding geographies or areas is intense, and we continue to face intense competition from large and medium-sized providers, among others, which compete directly with us for the limited acquisition targets as well as for individual patients and physicians qualified to serve as medical directors. U.S. regulations require medical directors, for each center. As welimited acquisition targets and our competitors continue to grow and open new dialysis centers, we may not be able to retain an adequate number of nephrologists to serve as medical directors.for individual patients. Competition in existing and expanding geographies or areas is intense, and is not limited to large competitors with substantial financial resources or to established participants in the dialysis space. We also compete with individual nephrologists who have opened their own dialysis units or facilities. Moreover, as we continue our expansion into various international markets, we will continue to face competition from large and medium-sized providers, among others,facilities, for acquisition targets.
In addition,example. Our largest competitor, Fresenius USA, our largest competitor,Medical Group, manufactures a full line of dialysis supplies and equipment in addition to owning and operating dialysis centers. Thiscenters, which may, among other things, give it cost advantages over us because of its ability to manufacture its own productsproducts.
In particular, there is significant competition for maintaining or prevent us from accessing existing or new technology on a cost-effective basis. See further discussion regarding risks associateddeveloping relationships with physicians that can serve as medical directors at our supplierscenters. Physicians, including medical directors, choose where they refer their patients, and new technologies under the heading "If certainneither of our suppliers do not meetcurrent nor former medical directors have an obligation to refer their patients to our needs, if therecenters. Certain physicians prefer to have their patients treated at dialysis centers where they or other members of their practice supervise the overall care provided as medical director of the center. As a result, referral sources for many of our centers include the physician or physician group providing medical director services to the center. Moreover, because Medicare regulations require medical directors for each of our Medicare certified dialysis centers, our ability to operate our centers depends in part on our ability to secure medical director agreements with a sufficient number of nephrologists. Our medical director contracts are material price increases on supplies, if we are not reimbursedfor fixed periods, generally ten years, and at any given time a large number of them could be up for renewal at the same time. Medical directors have no obligation to extend their agreements with us and, under certain circumstances, our former medical directors may choose to provide medical director services for competing providers or adequately reimbursed for drugs we purchase or ifestablish their own dialysis centers in competition with ours. If we are unable to effectively access new technologycontract with nephrologists to provide medical director services, then we may be unable to satisfy the federal Medicare requirements associated with medical directors and to operate our centers. The aging of the nephrologist population and opportunities presented by our competitors may negatively impact a medical director's decision to enter into or superior products,extend his or her agreement with us. In addition, if the terms of any existing agreement are found to violate applicable laws, there can be no assurances that we would be successful in restructuring the relationship, which would lead to the early termination of the agreement. If we are unable to obtain qualified medical directors to provide supervision of the operations and care provided at our dialysis centers, it could negatively impactaffect not only our ability to effectively provideoperate the services we offercenter and couldfor other physicians to feel confident in referring patients to our dialysis centers. If a significant number of physicians were to cease referring patients to our dialysis centers, whether due to law, rule or regulation, new competition, a perceived decrease in the quality of service levels at our centers or other reasons, it would have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows."
In addition, as we continue to traditionalexpand our offerings across the kidney care continuum, our ability to enter into and maintain integrated kidney care relationships with payors, physicians and other providers may have an impact on dialysis providers,patient retention and the continued referrals of patients from referral sources such as hospitals and nephrologists. This environment is highly competitive and has been evolving. For example, there have been a number of announcements, initiatives and capital raises by non-traditional dialysis providers and others, which relate to entry into the dialysis and pre-dialysis space, the development of innovative technologies, or the commencement of new business activities that could be disruptivetransformative to the industry. Some of these new entrants have considerable financial resources. Although these and other potential competitors may face operational or financial challenges, the highly-competitive and evolving nature of the dialysis and pre-dialysis marketplaces have presented some opportunities for relative ease of entry for these and other potential competitors. As a result, we may compete with these smaller or non-traditional providers or others in an asymmetrical environment with respect to data and regulatory requirements that we face as an ESRD service provider, thereby negatively impacting our ability to effectively compete. These and other factors have continued to drive change in the dialysis and pre-dialysis space, and if we are unable to successfully adapt to these dynamics, it could have a material adverse impact on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows. As an example, new entrants are aggressively pursuing opportunities to participate in the new CMMI payment models, and increasing investment in and availability of funding to new entrants in the dialysis and pre-dialysis marketplace that are not subject to the same regulatory restrictions as the Company, could adversely impact our ability to enter into competitive arrangements.
Furthermore, eachEach of the aforementioned competitive pressures and related risks may be impacted by a continued decline in the rate of growth of the ESRD patient population, higher mortality rates for dialysis patients or other reductions in demand for dialysis treatments. Based ontreatments, whether due to the development of innovative technologies or otherwise. The recent 20192020 annual data report from the United States Renal Data System (USRDS), the underlying ESRD dialysis patient population has grown at an approximate compound rate of 3.6% from 2007 to 2017 and a compound rate of 3.3% from 2012 to 2017, which suggests that the rate of growth of the ESRD patient population is declining.declining relative to long term trends. A number of factors may impact ESRD growth rates, including, without limitation, the aging of the U.S. population, incidence rates for diseases that cause kidney failure such as diabetes and hypertension, transplant rates, mortality rates for dialysis patients and growth rates of minority populations with higher than average incidence rates of ESRD. In addition,
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Certain of these factors, in particular the numbermortality rates for dialysis patients, have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The magnitude of kidney transplantsthese cumulative COVID-19 related impacts on our patient census and treatment volumes has been increasingsubstantial and depending on the ultimate severity and duration of the pandemic, could be material. While we have continued efforts to seek growth opportunities, such as by expanding our business into various international markets, we face ongoing competition from large and medium-sized providers, among others, for acquisition targets in recent yearsthose markets. Any failure on our part to appropriately adjust our business and the historical improvement in the mortality rate of patients with ESRD appears to be plateauing, each of which may impact ESRD growth rates. This transplant rate may continue to increase in future years, particularlyoperations in light of the recent 2019 Executive Order and CMMI's proposed new goals and measures to increase access to kidney transplants. In addition, one of the stated goals of the 2019 Executive Order and CMMI's proposed rule is to reduce ESRD. For additional information, see the discussion under the heading "Changes in the structure of and payment rates under the Medicare ESRD programthese complicated marketplace dynamics could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows."


flows and could materially harm our reputation.
If we are not able to effectively implementcompete in the markets in which we operate, including by implementing our growth strategy, including byeffectively adjusting our business and operations in light of evolving marketplace dynamics, building or retaining our patient population, maintaining and developing relationships with nephrologists and hospitals, particularly medical director relationships, or making acquisitions at the desired pace or at all; if we are not able to continue to maintain the expected or desired level of non-acquired growth; or if we experience significant patient attrition either as a result of new business activities in the dialysis or pre-dialysis space by our existing competitors, other market participants, new entrants, new technology or other forms of competition, or as a result of reductions in demand for dialysis treatments, including, without limitation, due to increased mortality rates for dialysis patients resulting from COVID-19 or otherwise, reduced prevalence of ESRD, the development of innovative technologies or an increase in the number of kidney transplants, it could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
The U.S. ancillary services and strategic initiatives and international operations that we operate or invest in now or in the future may generate losses and may ultimately be unsuccessful. In the event that one or more of these activities is unsuccessful, our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows may be negatively impacted and we may have to write off our investment and incur other exit costs.
Our ancillary services and strategic initiatives are subject to many of the same risks, regulations and laws, as described in the risk factors related to our dialysis business set forth in this Part I, Item 1A., and are also subject to additional risks, regulations and laws specific to the nature of the particular strategic initiative. We have added, and expect to continue to add additional service offerings to our business and pursue additional strategic initiatives in the future as circumstances warrant, which could include healthcare services not directly related to dialysis. Many of these initiatives require or would require investments of both management and financial resources and can generate significant losses for a substantial period of time and may not become profitable in the expected timeframe or at all. There can be no assurance that any such strategic initiative will ultimately be successful. Any significant change in market conditions or business performance, including, without limitation, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, or in the political, legislative or regulatory environment, may impact the performance or economic viability of any of these strategic initiatives.
If any of our ancillary services, strategic initiatives or international operations are unsuccessful, it may have a negative impact on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows, and if we determine to exit that line of business we may incur significant termination costs. For discussion of risks and potential impacts specific to our integrated kidney care business and related growth strategy, see the risk factor under the heading "If we are not able to successfully implement our strategy with respect to our integrated kidney care and value-based care initiatives, including maintaining our existing business and further developing our capabilities in a complex and highly regulated environment, it could result in a loss of our investments and have a material adverse effect on our growth strategy, could adversely impact our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows, and could materially harm our reputation."
In addition, we may incur a material write-off or an impairment of our investment, including, without limitation, goodwill or other assets, in one or more of our ancillary services or strategic initiatives or international operations. In that regard, we have taken, and may in the future take, impairment and restructuring charges in addition to those described above related to our ancillary services and strategic initiatives and international operations, including, without limitation, in our prior pharmacy businesses.
Expansion of our operations to and offering our services in markets outside of the U.S. subjects us to political, economic, legal, operational and other risks that could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, cash flows and reputation.
We are continuing to expand our operations by offering our services and entering new lines of business in certain markets outside of the U.S., which increases our exposure to the inherent risks of doing business in international markets. Depending on the market, these risks include those relating to:
changes in the local economic environment including, among other things, labor cost increases and other general inflationary pressures;
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political instability, armed conflicts or terrorism;
public health crises, such as pandemics or epidemics, including the COVID-19 pandemic;
social changes;
intellectual property legal protections and remedies;
trade regulations;
procedures and actions affecting approval, production, pricing, reimbursement and marketing of products and services;
foreign currency;
additional U.S. and foreign taxes;
export controls;
antitrust and competition laws and regulations;
lack of reliable legal systems which may affect our ability to enforce contractual rights;
changes in local laws or regulations, or interpretation or enforcement thereof;
potentially longer ramp-up times for starting up new operations and for payment and collection cycles;
financial and operational, and information technology systems integration;
failure to comply with U.S. laws, such as the FCPA, or local laws that prohibit us, our partners, or our partners' or our agents or intermediaries from making improper payments to foreign officials or any third party for the purpose of obtaining or retaining business; and
data and privacy restrictions.
Issues relating to the failure to comply with applicable non-U.S. laws, requirements or restrictions may also impact our domestic business and/or raise scrutiny on our domestic practices.
Additionally, some factors that will be critical to the success of our international business and operations will be different than those affecting our domestic business and operations. For example, conducting international operations requires us to devote significant management resources to implement our controls and systems in new markets, to comply with local laws and regulations, including to fulfill financial reporting and records retention requirements among other things, and to overcome the numerous new challenges inherent in managing international operations, including, without limitation, challenges based on differing languages and cultures, challenges related to establishing clinical operations in differing regulatory and compliance environments, and challenges related to the timely hiring, integration and retention of a sufficient number of skilled personnel to carry out operations in an environment with which we are not familiar.
Any expansion of our international operations through acquisitions or through organic growth could increase these risks. Additionally, while we may invest material amounts of capital and incur significant costs in connection with the growth and development of our international operations, including to start up or acquire new operations, we may not be able to operate them profitably on the anticipated timeline, or at all.
These risks could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, cash flows and could materially harm our reputation.
Failing to effectively maintain, operate or upgrade our information systems or those of third-party service providers upon which we rely, including, without limitation, our clinical, billing and collections systems, or failure to adhere to federal and state data sharing and access requirements and regulations could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition, cash flows and reputation.
Our business depends significantly on effective information systems. Our information systems require an ongoing commitment of significant resources to maintain, upgrade and enhance existing systems and develop or contract for new systems in order to keep pace with continuing changes in information processing technology, emerging cybersecurity risks and threats, evolving industry, legal and regulatory standards and requirements, new models of care, and other changes in our business, among other things. For example, the provisions related to data interoperability, information blocking, and patient access in the Cures Act include, among other things, changes to the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information
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Technology’s (ONC's) Health IT Certification Program and requirements that CMS-regulated payors make relevant claims/care data and provider directory information available through standardized patient access and provider directory application programming interfaces (APIs) that connect to provider electronic health records. We have made and expect to continue to make significant investments in updating and integrating our clinical IT systems and in building our data interoperability capabilities. Any failure to adequately comply with these rules may, among other things, result in fines and sanctions, adversely impact our Medicare business, our ability to scale our integrated care business and our ability to compete with certain smaller and/or non-traditional providers taking advantage of an asymmetrical environment with respect to data and/or regulatory requirements given our status as an ESRD service provider; or otherwise have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. There can be no assurances that the implementation of planned enhancements to our systems, such as our implementation of these data interoperability provisions or our other ongoing efforts to upgrade and better integrate our clinical systems, will be successful or that we will ultimately realize anticipated benefits from investments in new or existing information systems. In addition, we may from time to time obtain significant portions of our systems-related support, technology or other services from independent third parties, which may make our operations vulnerable if such third parties fail to perform adequately.
Failure to successfully implement, operate and maintain effective and efficient information systems with adequate technological capabilities, deficiencies or defects in the systems and related technology, or our failure to efficiently and effectively implement ongoing system upgrades or consolidate our information systems to eliminate redundant or obsolete applications, could result in increased legal and compliance risks and competitive disadvantages, among other things, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and reputation. For additional information on the risks we face in a highly competitive market, see the risk factor under the heading, "If we are unable to compete successfully, including, without limitation, implementing our growth strategy and/or retaining patients and developing and maintaining relationships with physicians and hospitals, it could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows." If the information we rely upon to run our business was found to be inaccurate or unreliable or if we or third parties on which we rely fail to adequately maintain information systems and data integrity effectively, whether due to software deficiencies, human coding or implementation error or otherwise, we could experience difficulty meeting clinical outcome goals, face regulatory problems, including sanctions and penalties, incur increases in operating expenses or suffer other adverse consequences, any of which could be material. Moreover, failure to adequately protect and maintain the integrity of our information systems (including our networks) and data, or information systems and data hosted by third parties upon which we rely, could subject us to severe consequences as described in the risk factor under the heading "Privacy and information security laws are complex, and if we fail to comply with applicable laws, regulations and standards, including with respect to third-party service providers that utilize sensitive personal information on our behalf, or if we fail to properly maintain the integrity of our data, protect our proprietary rights to our systems or defend against cybersecurity attacks, we may be subject to government or private actions due to privacy and security breaches or suffer losses to our data and information technology assets, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows or materially harm our reputation."
Our billing systems, among others, are critical to our billing operations. This includes our systems for our dialysis clinics as well as our systems for our ancillary businesses including hospital services. If there are defects in our billing systems, or billing systems or services of third parties upon which we rely, we may experience difficulties in our ability to successfully bill and collect for services rendered, including, without limitation, a delay in collections, a reduction in the amounts collected, increased risk of retractions from and refunds to commercial and government payors, an increase in our provision for uncollectible accounts receivable and noncompliance with reimbursement laws and related requirements, any or all of which could materially adversely affect our results of operations.
In the clinical environment, a failure of our clinical systems, or the systems of our third-party service providers, to operate effectively could have a material adverse effect on our business, the clinical care provided to patients, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows. For example, in connection with claims for which at least part of the government's payments to us is based on clinical performance or patient outcomes or co-morbidities, if relevant clinical systems fail to accurately capture the data we report to CMS or we otherwise have data integrity issues with respect to the reported information, this could impact our payments from government payors as well as our ability to retain funds paid to us based on the inaccurate information.
Additionally, we expect the highly competitive environment in which we operate to become increasingly more competitive as the market evolves and new technologies are introduced. This dynamic environment requires continuous investment in new technologies and clinical applications. Machine learning and artificial intelligence are increasingly driving innovations in technology, and parts of our operations may employ robotics. If these technologies or applications fail to operate as anticipated or do not perform as specified, including due to potential design defects and defects in the development of algorithms or other technologies, human error or otherwise, our clinical operations, business and reputation may be harmed. If we are unable to successfully maintain, enhance or operate our information systems, including through the implementation of
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such technologies or applications in our clinical operations and laboratory, we may be, among other things, unable to efficiently adapt to evolving laws and requirements, unable to remain competitive with others who successfully implement and advance this technology, subject to increased risk under existing laws, regulations and requirements that apply to our business, and our patients' safety may be adversely impacted, any of which could have a material adverse impact on our business, results of operations and financial condition and could materially harm our reputation. For additional detail, see the discussion in the risk factor under the heading "Our business is subject to a complex set of governmental laws, regulations and other requirements and any failure to adhere to those requirements, or any changes in those requirements, could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows, could materially harm our stock price, and in some circumstances, could materially harm our reputation."
We may engage in acquisitions, mergers, joint ventures or dispositions, which may materially affect our results of operations, debt-to-capital ratio, capital expenditures or other aspects of our business, and, under certain circumstances, could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows and could materially harm our reputation.
Our business strategy includes growth through acquisitions of dialysis centers and other businesses, as well as through entry into joint ventures. We may engage in acquisitions, mergers, joint ventures or dispositions or expand into new business lines or models, which may affect our results of operations, debt-to-capital ratio, capital expenditures or other aspects of our business. There can be no assurance that we will be able to identify suitable acquisition targets or merger partners or buyers for dispositions or that, if identified, we will be able to agree to terms with merger partners, acquire these targets or make these dispositions on acceptable terms or on the desired timetable. There can also be no assurance that we will be successful in completing any acquisitions, mergers or dispositions that we announce, executing new business lines or models or integrating any acquired business into our overall operations. There is no guarantee that we will be able to operate acquired businesses successfully as stand-alone businesses, or that any such acquired business will operate profitably or will not otherwise have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows or materially harm our reputation. In addition, acquisition, merger or joint venture activity conducted as part of our overall growth strategy is subject to antitrust and competition laws, and antitrust regulators can investigate future (or pending) and consummated transactions. These laws could impact our ability to pursue these transactions, and under certain circumstances, could result in mandated divestitures, among other things. If a proposed transaction or series of transactions is subject to challenge under antitrust or competition laws, we may incur substantial legal costs, management’s attention and resources may be diverted, and if we are found to have violated these or other related laws, regulations or requirements, we could suffer severe consequences that could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows and could materially harm our reputation and stock price. For additional detail, see the discussionrisk factor under the heading "If we failOur business is subject to adhere to alla complex set of the complex governmental laws, regulations and other requirements that applyand any failure to our business, we could suffer severe consequences thatadhere to those requirements, or any changes in those requirements, could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows, and could materially harm our reputationstock price, and stock price.in some circumstances, could materially harm our reputation."" Further, we cannot be certain that key talented individuals at the business being acquired will continue to work for us after the acquisition or that they will be able to continue to successfully manage or have adequate resources to successfully operate any acquired business. In addition, certain of our acquired dialysis centers and facilities have been in service for many years, which may result in a higher level of maintenance costs. Further, our facilities, equipment and information technology may need to be improved or renovated to maintain or increase operational efficiency, compete for patients and medical directors, or meet changing regulatory requirements. Increases in maintenance costs and any continued increases inand/or capital expenditures could have, under certain circumstances, a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
Businesses we acquire may have unknown or contingent liabilities or liabilities that are in excess of the amounts that we originally estimated, and may have other issues, including, without limitation, those related to internal controlscontrol over financial reporting or issues that could affect our ability to comply with healthcare laws and regulations and other laws applicable to our expanded business, which could harm our reputation. As a result, we cannot make any assurances that the acquisitions we consummate will be successful. Although we generally seek indemnification from the sellers of businesses we acquire for matters that are not properly disclosed to us, we are not always successful. In addition, even in cases where we are able to obtain indemnification, we may discover liabilities greater than the contractual limits, the amounts held in escrow for our benefit (if any), or the financial resources of the indemnifying party. In the event that we are responsible for liabilities substantially in excess of any amounts recovered through rights to indemnification or alternative remedies that might be available to us, or any applicable insurance, we could suffer severe consequences that would have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows and could materially harm our reputation.
We have in the past decided, and may in the future decide, to dispose of certain assets or businesses, such as the disposition of our DMG business, which we completed in June 2019. The sale of DMG results in a less diversified portfolio of businesses, and we have a greater dependency on the performance of our kidney care business for our financial results, which makes us more susceptible to market fluctuations and other adverse events than if we had retained the DMG business.
In addition, under the terms of the equity purchase agreement in connection withfor the DMG sale agreement, as amended (the DMG sale agreement) (and subject to the limitations therein), we agreed to certain indemnification obligations. As a result,


we may become obligatedobligations, including with respect to make payments to the buyer relating to our previous ownership and operation of the DMG business. Claims giving rise to these potential payments include, without limitation, claims related to breaches of our representations and warranties and covenants, including claims for breaches of our representations and warranties regarding compliance with law, litigation, absence of undisclosed liabilities, employee benefit matters, labor matters, or taxes, among others, and other claims for which we provided the buyer with a special indemnity. As a result, we may become
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obligated to make payments to the buyer relating to our previous ownership and operation of the DMG business. Any such post-closing liabilities and required payments under the DMG sale agreement, or otherwise, or in connection with any other past or future disposition of material assets or businesses could individually or in the aggregate have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows and could materially harm our reputation. Further, the purchase price in the DMG sale agreement is subject to customary post-closing adjustments, including, without limitation, as a result of certain net working capital adjustments. We are currently engaged with Optum concerning what, if any, net working capital adjustment or other potential adjustments to the purchase price are appropriate, via the process set forth in the DMG sale agreement. Any negative adjustments to the purchase price, including, without limitation, as a result of this ongoing engagement with Optum, could result in a material adverse change in the amount of consideration that we are able to retain.
Additionally, joint ventures, including, without limitation, our Asia Pacific joint venture, and minority investments inherently involve a lesser degree of control over business operations, thereby potentially increasing the financial, legal, operational and/or compliance risks associated with the joint venture or minority investment. In addition, we may be dependent on joint venture partners, controlling shareholders or management who may have business interests, strategies or goals that are inconsistent with ours. Business decisions or other actions or omissions of the joint venture partner, controlling shareholders or management may require us to make capital contributions or necessitate other payments, result in litigation or regulatory action against us, result in reputational harm to us or adversely affect the value of our investment or partnership, among other things. In addition, we have potential obligations to purchase the interests held by third parties in many of our joint ventures as a result of put provisions that are exercisable at the third party's discretion within specified time periods, pursuant to the applicable agreement. If these put provisions were exercised, we would be required to purchase the third party owner's equity interest, generally at the appraised market value. There can be no assurances that these joint ventures and/or minority investments, including, without limitation, our Asia Pacific joint venture, ultimately will be successful.
If certainour joint ventures were found to violate the law, we could suffer severe consequences that would have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows and could materially harm our reputation.
As of December 31, 2021, we owned a controlling interest in numerous dialysis-related joint ventures, which represented approximately 28% of our suppliersU.S. dialysis revenues for the year ended December 31, 2021. In addition, we also owned noncontrolling equity investments in several other dialysis related joint ventures. We expect to continue to increase the number of our joint ventures. Many of our joint ventures with physicians or physician groups also have certain physician owners providing medical director services to centers we own and operate. Because our relationships with physicians are governed by the federal and state anti-kickback statutes, we have sought to structure our joint venture arrangements to satisfy as many federal safe harbor requirements as we believe are commercially reasonable. Our joint venture arrangements do not meetsatisfy all of the elements of any safe harbor under the federal Anti-Kickback Statute, however, and therefore are susceptible to government scrutiny. Additionally, our needs, if therejoint ventures and minority investments inherently involve a lesser degree of control over business operations, thereby potentially increasing the financial, legal, operational and/or compliance risks associated with the joint venture or minority investment. If our joint ventures are found to violate applicable laws or regulations, we could suffer severe consequences that would have a material price increasesadverse effect on supplies, if we are not reimbursedour business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows and could materially harm our reputation. For additional information on these risks, see the risk factors under the headings "Our business is subject to a complex set of governmental laws, regulations and other requirements and any failure to adhere to those requirements, or adequately reimbursed for drugs we purchase or if we are unable to effectively access new technology or superior products, it could negatively impact our ability to effectively provide the services we offer andany changes in those requirements, could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.flows, could materially harm our stock price, and in some circumstances, could materially harm our reputation" and "We may engage in acquisitions, mergers, joint ventures or dispositions, which may materially affect our results of operations, debt-to-capital ratio, capital expenditures or other aspects of our business, and, under certain circumstances, could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows and could materially harm our reputation."
Our aspirations, goals and disclosures related to environmental, social and governance (ESG) matters expose us to numerous risks, including without limitation risks to our reputation and stock price.
We have significant suppliers,a longstanding ESG program and have engaged with a substantial portionkey stakeholders to develop ESG focus areas and to set ESG-related goals, many of which are aspirational. We have set and disclosed these focus areas, goals and related objectives as part of our total vendor spend concentrated withcontinued commitment to ESG matters, but our goals and objectives reflect our current plans and aspirations and are not guarantees that we will be able to achieve them. Our efforts to accomplish and accurately report on these goals and objectives present numerous operational, reputational, financial, legal and other risks, certain of which are outside of our control, and could have, under certain circumstances, a limited numbermaterial adverse impact on us, including on our reputation and stock price. Examples of third party suppliers. These third partysuch risks include, among others: the availability and cost of low- or non-carbon-based energy sources and technologies for us and our vendors, evolving regulatory requirements affecting ESG standards, frameworks and disclosures, including evolving standards for measuring and reporting on related metrics, the availability of suppliers include, without limitation, suppliers of pharmaceuticals that may be the primary source of products criticalcan meet our sustainability and other standards, our ability to the services we provide, orrecruit, develop and retain diverse talent in our labor markets, and our ability to which we have committed obligations to make purchases, sometimes at particular prices. grow our home based dialysis business.
If any of these suppliersour ESG practices do not meet evolving investor or other stakeholder expectations and standards, then our needs forreputation, our ability to attract or retain employees and our attractiveness as an investment, business partner or acquiror could be
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negatively impacted. Similarly, our failure or perceived failure to adequately pursue or fulfill our goals and objectives or to satisfy various reporting standards within the products they supply, including, without limitation, in the event of a product recall, shortagetimelines we announce, or dispute,at all, could also have similar negative impacts and expose us to other risks, which under certain circumstances could be material. If we are not able to find adequate alternative sources, ifadequately recognize and respond to the rapid and ongoing developments and governmental and social expectations relating to ESG matters, this failure could result in missed corporate opportunities, additional regulatory, social or other scrutiny of us, the imposition of unexpected costs, or damage to our reputation with governments, patients, teammates, third parties and the communities in which we experienceoperate, which in turn could have a material price increases from these suppliersadverse effect on our business, financial condition, cash flows and results of operations and could cause the market value of our common stock to decline.
There are significant risks associated with estimating the amount of dialysis revenues and related refund liabilities that we recognize, and if our estimates of revenues and related refund liabilities are unable to mitigate,materially inaccurate, it could impact the timing and the amount of our revenues recognition or if some have a material adverse effect on our business,resultsof operations, financial condition and cash flows.
There are significant risks associated with estimating the drugsamount of U.S. dialysis net patient services revenues and related refund liabilities that we purchaserecognize in a reporting period. The billing and collection process is complex due to ongoing insurance coverage changes, geographic coverage differences, differing interpretations of contract coverage and other payor issues, such as ensuring appropriate documentation. Determining applicable primary and secondary coverage for approximately 203,100 U.S. patients at any point in time, together with the changes in patient coverage that occur each month, requires complex, resource-intensive processes. Errors in determining the correct coordination of benefits may result in refunds to payors. Revenues associated with Medicare and Medicaid programs are also subject to estimating risk related to the amounts not paid by the primary government payor that will ultimately be collectible from other government programs paying secondary coverage, the patient's commercial health plan secondary coverage or the patient. Collections, refunds and payor retractions typically continue to occur for up to three years and longer after services are provided. We generally expect our suppliersrange of U.S. dialysis patient services revenues estimating risk to be within 1% of revenues for the segment. If our estimates of U.S. dialysis patient services revenues and related refund liabilities are not reimbursed or not adequately reimbursed by commercial or government payors, or if we are unable to secure products, including pharmaceuticals at competitive rates and within the desired time frame,materially inaccurate, it could impact the timing and the amount of our revenues recognition and have a material adverse impact on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows. In addition, the technology related to the products critical to the services we provide is subject to new developments which may result in superior products. If we are not able to access superior products on a cost-effective basis or if suppliers are not able to fulfill our requirements for such products, we could face patient attrition and other negative consequences which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
General Risk Factors
The level of our current and future debt could have an adverse impact on our business, and our ability to generate cash to service our indebtedness and for other intended purposes and our ability to maintain compliance with debt covenants depends on many factors beyond our control.
We have a substantial amount of indebtedness outstanding and we may incur substantial additional indebtedness in the future, including indebtedness incurred to finance repurchases of our common stock pursuant to our share repurchase authorization discussed under "Stock Repurchases""Stock Repurchases" in Part II, Item 7, 7. ""Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations Operations.." As described in Note 13 to the consolidated financial statements included in this report, we are party to a $5.5 billion senior secured credit agreement (the Credit Agreement), which consists of a secured term loan A facility, in the aggregate principal amount of $1.75 billion with a delayed draw feature, a secured term loan BB-1 facility in the aggregate principal amount of approximately $2.75 billion and a secured revolving line of credit in the aggregate principal amount of $1 billion. Our long-term indebtedness also includes $3.25$4.250 billion aggregate principal amount of senior notes.


If we are unable to generate sufficient cash to service our indebtedness and for other intended purposes, it could, for example:
make it difficult for us to make payments on our debt;
increase our vulnerability to general adverse economic and industry conditions;
require us to dedicate a substantial portion of our cash flows from operations to payments on our indebtedness, thereby reducing the availability of our cash flow to fund working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions and investments, repurchases of stock at the levels intended or announced, or at all, and other general corporate purposes;
limit our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business and the markets in which we operate;
expose us to interest rate volatility that could adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows, and our ability to service our indebtedness;
place us at a competitive disadvantage compared to our competitors that have less debt; and
limit our ability to borrow additional funds, or to refinance existing debt on favorable terms when otherwise available or at all.
In addition, we may continue to incur indebtedness in the future, and the amount of that additional indebtedness may be substantial. Although the indentures governing our senior notes and the Credit Agreement include covenants that could limit our indebtedness, we currently have, and expect to continue to have, the ability to incur substantial additional debt. The risks described in this risk factor could intensify as new debt is added to current debt levels.
Our senior secured credit facilities bear, and other indebtedness we may incur in the future may bear, interest at a variable rate. As a result, at any given time interest rates on the senior secured credit facilities and any other variable rate debt could be higher or lower than current levels. If interest rates increase, our debt service obligations on our variable rate indebtedness will increase even though the amount borrowed remains the same, and therefore net income and associated cash flows, including cash available for servicing our indebtedness, will correspondingly decrease.
Our indebtedness levels and the required payments on such indebtedness may also be impacted by expected reforms related to LIBOR. The variable interest rates payable under our senior secured credit facilities are linked to LIBOR as the benchmark for establishing such rates. RecentThe LIBOR benchmark has been the subject of recent national, international and other regulatory guidance and reform proposals regarding LIBOR are expected to ultimately cause LIBOR to be discontinued or become unavailable as a rate benchmark. This resultant uncertaintyproposals. The reforms may cause LIBOR to perform differently thanfrom the past and LIBOR may ultimately cease to exist after 2023. The U.S. Federal Reserve, in conjunction with the past. The consequencesAlternative Reference Rates Committee, a steering committee comprised of, these developmentsamong other entities, large U.S. financial institutions, has recommended that U.S. dollar LIBOR be replaced with respect toa new index that measures the cost of borrowing cash overnight, backed by U.S. Treasury securities (SOFR). Whether or not SOFR or any other potential alternative reference rate attains market traction as a LIBOR cannot be entirely predicted, but could disrupt the financial and credit markets or adversely affect the variable interest rates associated with our current or future indebtedness.replacement rate remains in question. Our senior secured credit facilities include mechanics to facilitate the adoption by us and our lenders of an alternative benchmark rate for use in place of LIBOR; however, no assurance can be made that we and our lenders will agree on
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such an alternative rate and, even if agreed upon, such alternative rate may not perform in a manner similar to LIBOR and may result in interest rates that are higher or lower than those that would have resulted had LIBOR remained in effect.
Our ability to make payments on our indebtedness, to fund planned capital expenditures and expansion efforts, including, without limitation, any strategic acquisitions or investments we may make in the future, to repurchase our stock at the levels intended or announced and to meet our other liquidity needs such as for working capital or capital expenditures, will depend on our ability to generate cash. This depends not only on the success of our business but is also subject to economic, financial, competitive, regulatory and other factors that are beyond our control. With the closing of the sale of DMG, our cash flows have been reduced accordingly. We cannot provide assurances that our business will generate sufficient cash flows from operations in the future or that future borrowings will be available to us in amounts sufficient to enable us to service our indebtedness or to fund our working capital and other liquidity needs, including those described above. If we are unable to generate sufficient funds to service our outstanding indebtedness or to meet our working capital or other liquidity needs, including those described above, we would be required to refinance, restructure, or otherwise amend some or all of such indebtedness, sell assets, change or reduce our intended or announced uses or strategy for capital deployment, including, without limitation, for stock repurchases, reduce capital expenditures, planned expansions or other strategic initiatives, or raise additional cash through the sale of our equity or equity-related securities. We cannot make any assurances that any such refinancing, restructurings, amendments, sales of assets, or issuances of equity or equity-related securities can be accomplished or, if accomplished, will be on favorable terms or would raise sufficient funds to meet these obligations or our other liquidity needs.
In addition, we may continue to incur indebtedness in the future, and the amount of that additional indebtedness may be substantial. Although the Credit Agreement includes covenants that could limit our indebtedness, we currently have, and expect to continue to have, the ability to incur substantial additional debt. The risks described in this risk factor could intensify as new debt is added to current debt levels or if we incur any new debt obligations that subject us to restrictive covenants that limit our financial and operational flexibility. Any breach or failure to comply with any of these covenants could result in a default under our indebtedness. Other risks related to our ability to generate sufficient cash to service our indebtedness and for other intended purposes, include, for example:
increase our vulnerability to general adverse economic and industry conditions;
limit our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business and the markets in which we operate;
expose us to interest rate volatility that could adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows, and our ability to service our indebtedness;
place us at a competitive disadvantage compared to our competitors that have less debt; and
limit our ability to borrow additional funds, or to refinance existing debt on favorable terms when otherwise available or at all.
Any failure to pay any of our indebtedness when due or any other default under our credit facilities or our other indebtedness could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows, and could trigger cross default or cross


acceleration provisions in our other debt instruments, thereby permitting the holders of that other indebtedness to demand immediate repayment or cease to make future extensions of credit, and, in the case of secured indebtedness, to take possession of and sell the collateral securing such indebtedness to satisfy our obligations.
The borrowings under our current senior secured credit facilities and senior indentures are guaranteed by certain of our domestic subsidiaries, and borrowings under our senior secured credit facilities are secured by substantially all of our and certain of our domestic subsidiaries' assets. Such guarantees and the fact that we have pledged such assets may make it more difficult and expensive for us to make, or under certain circumstances could effectively prevent us from making, additional secured and unsecured borrowings.
We may be subject to liability claims for damages and other expenses that are not covered by insurance or exceed our existing insurance coverage that could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, cash flows and reputation.
Our operations and how we manage our business may subject us, as well as our officers and directors to whom we owe certain defense and indemnity obligations, to litigation and liability for damages. Our business, profitability and growth prospects could suffer if we face negative publicity or we pay damages or defense costs in connection with a claim that is outside the scope or limits of coverage of any applicable insurance coverage, including, without limitation, claims related to adverse patient events, cybersecurity incidents, contractual disputes, antitrust and competition laws and regulations, professional and general liability and directors' and officers' duties. In addition, we have received notices of claims from commercial payors and other third parties, as well as subpoenas and CIDs from the federal government, related to our business practices, including, without limitation, our historical billing practices and the historical billing practices of acquired businesses. Although the ultimate outcome of these claims cannot be predicted, an adverse result with respect to one or more of these claims could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows. We maintain insurance coverage for those risks we deem are appropriate to insure against and make determinations about whether to self-insure as to other risks or layers of coverage. However, a successful claim, including, without limitation, a professional liability, malpractice or negligence claim or a claim related to a cybersecurity incident, which is in excess of any applicable insurance coverage, or that is subject to our self-insurance retentions, could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, cash flows and reputation.
In addition, if our costs of insurance and claims increase, then our earnings could decline. Market rates for insurance premiums and deductibles have been steadily increasing. Our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows could be materially and adversely affected by any of the following:
the collapse or insolvency of our insurance carriers;
further increases in premiums and deductibles;
increases in the number of liability claims against us or the cost of settling or trying cases related to those claims; or
an inability to obtain one or more types of insurance on acceptable terms, if at all.
Expansion of our operations to and offering our services in markets outside of the U.S. subjects us to political, economic, legal, operational and other risks that could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, cash flows and reputation.
We are continuing to expand our operations by offering our services and entering new lines of business in certain markets outside of the U.S., which increases our exposure to the inherent risks of doing business in international markets. Depending on the market, these risks include those relating to:
changes in the local economic environment;
political instability, armed conflicts or terrorism;
public health crises, such as pandemics or epidemics;
social changes;
intellectual property legal protections and remedies;
trade regulations;


procedures and actions affecting approval, production, pricing, reimbursement and marketing of products and services;
foreign currency;
additional U.S. and foreign taxes;
export controls;
antitrust and competition laws and regulations;
lack of reliable legal systems which may affect our ability to enforce contractual rights;
changes in local laws or regulations, or interpretation or enforcement thereof;
potentially longer ramp-up times for starting up new operations and for payment and collection cycles;
financial and operational, and information technology systems integration;
failure to comply with U.S. laws, such as the FCPA, or local laws that prohibit us, our partners, or our partners' or our agents or intermediaries from making improper payments to foreign officials or any third party for the purpose of obtaining or retaining business; and
data and privacy restrictions.
Issues relating to the failure to comply with applicable non-U.S. laws, requirements or restrictions may also impact our domestic business and/or raise scrutiny on our domestic practices.
Additionally, some factors that will be critical to the success of our international business and operations will be different than those affecting our domestic business and operations. For example, conducting international operations requires us to devote significant management resources to implement our controls and systems in new markets, to comply with local laws and regulations, including to fulfill financial reporting requirements, and to overcome the numerous new challenges inherent in managing international operations, including, without limitation, challenges based on differing languages and cultures, challenges related to establishing clinical operations in differing regulatory and compliance environments, and challenges related to the timely hiring, integration and retention of a sufficient number of skilled personnel to carry out operations in an environment with which we are not familiar.
Any expansion of our international operations through acquisitions or through organic growth could increase these risks. Additionally, while we may invest material amounts of capital and incur significant costs in connection with the growth and development of our international operations, including to start up or acquire new operations, we may not be able to operate them profitably on the anticipated timeline, or at all.
These risks could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, cash flows and could materially harm our reputation.
Delays in state Medicare and Medicaid certification, changes to other enrollment/provider requirements and/or anything impacting the licensing of our dialysis centers could adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition, cash flows and reputation.
Before we can begin billing for patients treated in our outpatient dialysis centers who are enrolled in government-based programs, we are required to obtain state and federal certification for participation in the Medicare and Medicaid programs. As state agencies responsible for surveying dialysis centers on behalf of the state and Medicare program face increasing budgetary pressure, certain states are having difficulty keeping up with certifying dialysis centers in the normal course resulting in significant delays in certification. If state governments continue to have difficulty keeping up with certifying new centers in the normal course and we continue to experience significant delays in our ability to treat and bill for services provided to patients covered under government programs, it could cause us to incur write-offs of investments in the event we have to close centers or our centers' operating performance deteriorates, and it could have an adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows. The BBA passed in February 2018 allows organizations approved by the HHS to accredit dialysis facilities and imposes certain timing requirements regarding the initiation of initial surveys to determine if certain conditions and requirements for payment have been satisfied. While we have made use of these HHS-approved parties for accreditation on a case-by-case basis, there can be no assurance that such changes will significantly reduce or eliminate certification and licensure delays over the long term. In addition to certifications for Medicare and Medicaid, some states have


licensing requirements for ESRD facilities. Delays in licensure, denials of licensure, or withdrawal of licensure could also adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
In addition, in November 2019, CMS finalized a Provider Enrollment Rule creating new onerous disclosure obligations for all providers enrolled in Medicare, Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Plan (CHIP). The final rule imposes a stronger revocation authority and increases the bar for re-enrollment for providers who submit incomplete or inaccurate information or who have affiliations with other providers that CMS has determined pose undue risk of fraud, waste or abuse. If we fail to comply with these and other applicable requirements on our licensure and certification programs, particularly in light of increased penalties that include a 10-year ban to re-enrollment, under certain circumstances it could have a material adverse on our business, results of operations, financial condition, cash flows and reputation.
If our joint ventures were found to violate the law, we could suffer severe consequences that would have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
As of December 31, 2019, we owned a controlling interest in numerous dialysis-related joint ventures, which represented approximately 26% of our U.S. dialysis revenues for the year ended December 31, 2019. In addition, we also owned noncontrolling equity investments in several other dialysis related joint ventures. We expect to continue to increase the number of our joint ventures. Many of our joint ventures with physicians or physician groups also have certain physician owners providing medical director services to centers we own and operate. Because our relationships with physicians are governed by the federal and state anti-kickback statutes, we have sought to structure our joint venture arrangements to satisfy as many federal safe harbor requirements as we believe are commercially reasonable. Our joint venture arrangements do not satisfy all of the elements of any safe harbor under the federal Anti-Kickback Statute, however, and therefore are susceptible to government scrutiny. For example, in October 2014, we entered into a settlement agreement to resolve the then pending 2010 and 2011 U.S. Attorney physician relationship investigations regarding certain of our joint ventures and paid $406 million in settlement amounts, civil forfeiture, and interest to the U.S. and certain states. For further details on the settlement agreement, see the risk factor under the heading "If we fail to adhere to all of the complex governmental laws, regulations and requirements that apply to our business, we could suffer severe consequences that could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows, and could materially harm our reputation and stock price."
There are significant risks associated with estimating the amount of dialysis revenues and related refund liabilities that we recognize, and if our estimates of revenues and related refund liabilities are materially inaccurate, it could impact the timing and the amount of our revenues recognition or have a material adverse effect on our business,resultsof operations, financial condition and cash flows.
There are significant risks associated with estimating the amount of U.S. dialysis net patient services revenues and related refund liabilities that we recognize in a reporting period. The billing and collection process is complex due to ongoing insurance coverage changes, geographic coverage differences, differing interpretations of contract coverage and other payor issues, such as ensuring appropriate documentation. Determining applicable primary and secondary coverage for approximately 206,900U.S. patients at any point in time, together with the changes in patient coverage that occur each month, requires complex, resource-intensive processes. Errors in determining the correct coordination of benefits may result in refunds to payors. Revenues associated with Medicare and Medicaid programs are also subject to estimating risk related to the amounts not paid by the primary government payor that will ultimately be collectible from other government programs paying secondary coverage, the patient's commercial health plan secondary coverage or the patient. Collections, refunds and payor retractions typically continue to occur for up to three years and longer after services are provided. We generally expect our range of U.S. dialysis net patient services revenues estimating risk to be within 1% of net revenues for the segment. If our estimates of U.S. dialysis net patient services revenues and related refund liabilities are materially inaccurate, it could impact the timing and the amount of our revenues recognition and have a material adverse impact on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
Our ancillary services and strategic initiatives, including, without limitation, our international operations, that we operate or invest in now or in the future may generate losses and may ultimately be unsuccessful. In the event that one or more of these activities is unsuccessful, our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows may be negatively impacted and we may have to write off our investment and incur other exit costs.
Our ancillary services and strategic initiatives are subject to many of the same risks, regulations and laws, as described in the risk factors related to our dialysis business set forth in this Part II, Item 1A, and are also subject to additional risks, regulations and laws specific to the nature of the particular strategic initiative. We expect to add additional service offerings to our business and pursue additional strategic initiatives in the future as circumstances warrant, which could include healthcare services not related to dialysis. Many of these initiatives require or would require investments of both management and financial resources and can generate significant losses for a substantial period of time and may not become profitable in the


expected timeframe or at all. There can be no assurance that any such strategic initiative will ultimately be successful. Any significant change in market conditions, or business performance, or in the political, legislative or regulatory environment, may impact the economic viability of any of these strategic initiatives. For example, changes in the oral pharmacy space, including reimbursement rate pressures, negatively impacted the economics of our pharmacy services business. As a result, in the second half of 2018 we transitioned the customer service and fulfillment functions of this business to third parties and wound down our distribution operation, which resulted in a decrease in revenues and costs. In 2018, we recognized restructuring charges of $11 million and incurred asset impairment charges of $17 million related to the restructuring of our pharmacy business.
If any of our ancillary services or strategic initiatives, including our international operations, are unsuccessful, it would have a negative impact on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows, and we may determine to exit that line of business. We could incur significant termination costs if we were to exit certain of these lines of business. In addition, we may incur a material write-off or an impairment of our investment, including, without limitation, goodwill or other assets, in one or more of our ancillary services or strategic initiatives. In that regard, we have taken, and may in the future take, impairment and restructuring charges in addition to those described above related to our ancillary services and strategic initiatives, including, without limitation, in our international and pharmacy businesses.
If a significant number of physicians were to cease referring patients to our dialysis centers, whether due to law, rule or regulation, new competition, a perceived decrease in the quality of service levels at our centers or other reasons, it would have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
Physicians, including medical directors, choose where they refer their patients. Some physicians prefer to have their patients treated at dialysis centers where they or other members of their practice supervise the overall care provided as medical director of the center. As a result, referral sources for many of our centers include the physician or physician group providing medical director services to the center.
Our medical director contracts are for fixed periods, generally ten years, and at any given time a large number of them could be up for renewal at the same time. Medical directors have no obligation to extend their agreements with us and, under certain circumstances, our former medical directors may choose to provide medical director services for competing providers or establish their own dialysis centers in competition with ours. Neither our current nor former medical directors have an obligation to refer their patients to our centers. In addition, there are a number of new entrants into the dialysis space, and physicians, including medical directors, may refer patients to these new entrants rather than the Company.
The aging of the nephrologist population and opportunities presented by our competitors may negatively impact a medical director's decision to enter into or extend his or her agreement with us. Moreover, a perceived decrease in the quality of service levels at our centers or different affiliation models in the changing healthcare environment that limit a nephrologist's choice in where he or she can refer patients, such as an increase in the number of physicians becoming employed by hospitals, may limit a nephrologist's ability or desire to refer patients to our centers or otherwise negatively impact treatment volumes.
In addition, if the terms of any existing agreement are found to violate applicable laws, there can be no assurances that we would be successful in restructuring the relationship, which would lead to the early termination of the agreement. If we are unable to obtain qualified medical directors to provide supervision of the operations and care provided at our dialysis centers, it could affect physicians' desire to refer patients to our dialysis centers. If a significant number of physicians were to cease referring patients to our dialysis centers, it would have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
If our labor costs continue to rise, including due to shortages, changes in certification requirements and higher than normal turnover rates in skilled clinical personnel; or currently pending or future rules, regulations, legislation or initiatives impose additional requirements or limitations on our operations or profitability; or, if we are unable to attract and retain key leadership talent, we may experience disruptions in our business operations and increases in operating expenses, among other things, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
We face increasing labor costs generally, and in particular, we continue to face increased labor costs and difficulties in hiring nurses due to a nationwide shortage of skilled clinical personnel. We compete for nurses with hospitals and other healthcare providers. This nursing shortage may limit our ability to expand our operations. Furthermore, changes in certification requirements can impact our ability to maintain sufficient staff levels, including to the extent our teammates are not able to meet new requirements, among other things. In addition, if we experience a higher than normal turnover rate for our skilled clinical personnel, our operations and treatment growth may be negatively impacted, which could adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows. We also face competition in attracting and retaining talent for key leadership positions. If we are unable to attract and retain qualified individuals, we may experience disruptions in our


business operations, including, without limitation, our ability to achieve strategic goals, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
In addition, proposed ballot initiatives or referendums, legislation, regulations or policy changes could cause us to incur substantial costs to challenge and prepare for and, if implemented, impose additional requirements on our operations, including, without limitation, increases in the required staffing levels or staffing ratios for clinical personnel, minimum transition times between treatments, limits on how much patients may be charged for care, limitations as to the amount that can be spent on certain medical costs, and limitations on the amount of revenue that providers can retain. Changes such as those mandated by proposed ballot initiatives or referendums, legislation, regulations or policy changes could materially reduce our revenues and increase our operating and other costs, require us to close or consolidate existing dialysis centers, postpone or not build new dialysis centers, reduce shifts or negatively impact employee relations, treatment growth and productivity, and could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows. Additionally, there can be no assurances that we would be successful in staffing our clinics to any new, elevated staffing levels, in particular given the ongoing nationwide shortage of healthcare workers, especially nurses. For additional information on these risks, see the risk factor under the heading "Changes in federal and state healthcare legislation or regulations could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows."
Our business is labor intensive and could be materially adversely affected if we are unable to attract and retain employees or if union organizing activities or legislative or other changes result in significant increases in our operating costs or decreases in productivity.
Our business is labor intensive, and our financial and operating results have been and continue to be subject to variations in labor-related costs, productivity and the number of pending or potential claims against us related to labor and employment practices. Political or other efforts at the national or local level could result in actions or proposals that increase the likelihood of success of union organizing activities at our facilities and ongoing union organizing activities at our facilities could continue or increase for other reasons. We could experience an upward trend in wages and benefits and labor and employment claims, including, without limitation, the filing of class action suits, or adverse outcomes of such claims, or face work stoppages. In addition, we are and may continue to be subject to targeted corporate campaigns by union organizers in response to which we have been and may continue to be required to expend substantial resources, both time and financial. Any of these events or circumstances could have a material adverse effect on our employee relations, treatment growth, productivity, business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
Failing to effectively maintain, operate or upgrade our information systems or those of third-party service providers upon which we rely, including, without limitation, our clinical, billing and collections systems could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
Our business depends significantly on effective information systems. Our information systems require an ongoing commitment of significant resources to maintain and enhance existing systems and develop or contract for new systems in order to keep pace with continuing changes in information processing technology, emerging cybersecurity risks and threats, evolving industry, legal and regulatory standards and requirements, and new models of care, and other changes in our business, among other things. There can be no assurances that we will ultimately realize anticipated benefits from investments in new or existing information systems. In addition, we may from time to time obtain significant portions of our systems-related support, technology or other services from independent third parties, which may make our operations vulnerable if such third parties fail to perform adequately.
Failure to successfully implement, operate and maintain effective and efficient information systems with adequate technological capabilities, deficiencies or defects in the systems and related technology, or our failure to efficiently and effectively consolidate our information systems to eliminate redundant or obsolete applications, could result in competitive disadvantages, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. For additional information on the risks we face in a highly competitive market, see the risk factor under the heading, "If we are unable to compete successfully, including, without limitation, implementing our growth strategy and/or retaining patients and physicians willing to serve as medical directors, it could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows." If the information we rely upon to run our business were found to be inaccurate or unreliable or if we or third parties on which we rely fail to adequately maintain our information systems and data integrity effectively, whether due to software deficiencies, human coding or implementation error or otherwise, we could experience difficulty meeting clinical outcome goals, face regulatory problems, including sanctions and penalties, incur increases in operating expenses or suffer other adverse consequences, any of which could be material. Moreover, failure to adequately protect and maintain the integrity of our information systems (including our networks) and data, or information systems and data hosted by third parties upon which we rely, could subject us to severe consequences as described in the risk factor under the heading "Privacy and information security laws are complex, and if we fail to comply with applicable laws, regulations and


standards, including with respect to third-party service providers that utilize sensitive personal information on our behalf, or if we fail to properly maintain the integrity of our data, protect our proprietary rights to our systems or defend against cybersecurity attacks, we may be subject to government or private actions due to privacy and security breaches, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows or materially harm our reputation."
Our billing system, among others, is critical to our billing operations. If there are defects in the billing system, or billing systems or services of third parties upon which we rely, we may experience difficulties in our ability to successfully bill and collect for services rendered, including, without limitation, a delay in collections, a reduction in the amounts collected, increased risk of retractions from and refunds to commercial and government payors, an increase in our provision for uncollectible accounts receivable and noncompliance with reimbursement laws and related requirements, any or all of which could materially adversely affect our results of operations.
In the clinical environment, a failure of our clinical systems, or the systems of our third-party service providers, to operate effectively could have a material adverse effect on our business, the clinical care provided to patients, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows. For example, in connection with claims for which at least part of the government's payments to us is based on clinical performance or patient outcomes or co-morbidities, if relevant clinical systems fail to accurately capture the data we report to CMS or we otherwise have data integrity issues with respect to the reported information, this could impact our payments from government payors as well as our ability to retain funds paid to us based on the inaccurate information.
Additionally, we expect the highly competitive environment in which we operate to become increasingly more competitive as the market evolves and new technologies are introduced. This dynamic environment requires continuous investment in new technologies and clinical applications. Machine learning and artificial intelligence are increasingly driving innovations in technology, and parts of our operations may employ robotics. If these technologies or applications fail to operate as anticipated or do not perform as specified, including due to potential design defects and defects in the development of algorithms or other technologies, human error or otherwise, our clinical operations, business and reputation may be harmed. If we are unable to successfully maintain, operate or implement such technologies or applications in our clinical operations and laboratory, we may be, among other things, unable to efficiently adapt to evolving laws and requirements, unable to remain competitive with others who successfully implement and advance this technology, subject to increased risk under existing laws, regulations and requirements that apply to our business, and our patients' safety may be adversely impacted, any of which could have a material adverse impact on our business, results of operations and financial condition and could materially harm our reputation. For additional detail, see the discussion in the risk factor under the heading "If we fail to adhere to all of the complex governmental laws, regulations and requirements that apply to our business, we could suffer severe consequences that could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows, and could materially harm our reputation and stock price."
Disruptions in federal government operations and funding create uncertainty in our industry and could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
A substantial portion of our revenues is dependent on federal healthcare program reimbursement, and any disruptions in federal government operations could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows. If the U.S. government defaults on its debt, there could be broad macroeconomic effects that could raise our cost of borrowing funds, and delay or prevent our future growth and expansion. Any future federal government shutdown, U.S. government default on its debt and/or failure of the U.S. government to enact annual appropriations could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows. Additionally, disruptions in federal government operations may negatively impact regulatory approvals and guidance that are important to our operations, and create uncertainty about the pace of upcoming regulatory developments.
We could be subject to adverse changes in tax laws, regulations and interpretations or challenges to our tax positions.
We are subject to tax laws and regulations of the U.S. federal, state and local governments as well as various foreign jurisdictions. We compute our income tax provision based on enacted tax rates in the jurisdictions in which we operate. As the tax rates vary among jurisdictions, a change in earnings attributable to the various jurisdictions in which we operate could result in an unfavorable or favorable change in our overall tax provision.
From time to time, changesChanges in tax laws or regulations may be proposed or enacted that could adversely affect our overall tax liability. There can be no assurance that changes in tax laws or regulations, both within the U.S. and the other jurisdictions in which we operate, will not materially and adversely affect our effective tax rate, tax payments, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows. For example, there are ongoing discussions domestically regarding tax reforms that could potentially have a
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material adverse impact on our results of operations and financial condition. Similarly, changes in tax laws and regulations that impact our patients, business partners and counterparties or the economy generally may also impact our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.


In addition, tax laws and regulations are complex and subject to varying interpretations, and any significant failure to comply with applicable tax laws and regulations in all relevant jurisdictions could give rise to substantialmaterial penalties and liabilities. We are regularly subject to audits by various tax authorities. For example, we are currently underour current audits include an audit by the Internal Revenue Service for the years 2014–2017, among other things. Although we believe our tax estimates and related reporting are appropriate,it is possible that the final determination of this and any other tax audits and any related litigation could be materially different from our historical income tax provisions and accruals. Any changes in enacted tax laws, (such as the recent U.S. tax legislation), rules or regulatory or judicial interpretations; any adverse development or outcome in connection with tax audits in any jurisdiction; or any change in the pronouncements relating to accounting for income taxes could materially and adversely impact our effective tax rate, tax payments, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
Laws regulating the corporate practice of medicine could restrict the manner in which our subsidiaries are permitted to conduct their business, and the failure to comply with such laws could subject these entities to penalties or require a restructuring of these businesses.
Some states have laws that prohibit business entities, such as certain of our subsidiaries, including but not limited to, Nephrology Practice Solutions, Vively, VillageHealth DM (DaVita IKC), and Lifeline Vascular Access, from practicing medicine, employing physicians to practice medicine, exercising control over medical decisions by physicians (also known collectively as the corporate practice of medicine) or engaging in certain arrangements, such as fee-splitting, with physicians. In some states these prohibitions are expressly stated in a statute or regulation, while in other states the prohibition is a matter of judicial or regulatory interpretation. Some of the states in which DaVita entities currently operate, generally prohibit the corporate practice of medicine, and other states may do so in the future as well. DaVita believes it has structured its entities appropriately; however, it is possible that a state regulatory agency or a court could determine DaVita and/or associated physician entities are in violation of the corporate practice of medicine doctrine. As a result, these arrangements could be deemed invalid, potentially resulting in a loss of revenues and an adverse effect on results of operations derived from these entities.
If we fail to successfully maintain an effective internal control over financial reporting, the integrity of our financial reporting could be compromised, which could have a material adverse effect on our ability to accurately report our financial results, the market's perception of our business and our stock price.
The integration of acquisitions and addition of new business lines into our internal control over financial reporting has required and will continue to require significant time and resources from our management and other personnel and has increased and will continue to, increase our compliance costs. Failure to maintain an effective internal control environment could have a material adverse effect on our ability to accurately report our financial results, the market's perception of our business and our stock price. In addition, we could be required to restate our financial results in the event of a significant failure of our internal control over financial reporting or in the event of inappropriate application of accounting principles.
Deterioration in economic conditions, general inflationary pressures, disruptions in the financial markets or the effects of natural or other disasters, political instability, public health crises or adverse weather events such as hurricanes, earthquakes, fires or flooding could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
Deterioration in economic conditions and general inflationary pressures, whether in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic or otherwise, could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows. Among other things, the potential decline in federal and state revenues that may result from sucha deterioration in economic conditions may create additional pressures to contain or reduce reimbursements for our services from Medicare, Medicaid and other government sponsored programs. Increases in job losses in the U.S. as a result of adverse economic conditions, has and may continueincluding economic deterioration due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, could result in a smaller percentage of our patients being covered by an employer group health plan and a larger percentage being covered by lower paying Medicare and Medicaid programs. Employers may also select more restrictive commercial plans with lower reimbursement rates. To the extent that payors are negatively impacted by a decline in the economy, we may experience further pressure on commercial rates, a further slowdown in collections and a reduction in the amounts we expect to collect. In addition, uncertainty in the financial markets could adversely affect the variable interest rates payable under our credit facilities or could make it more difficult to obtain or renew such facilities or to obtain other forms of financing in the future, if at all. For additional information regarding the risks presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, see the discussion in the risk factor under the heading "We face various risks related to the dynamic and evolving novel coronavirus pandemic, many of which may have a material adverse impact on us." For additional information regarding the risks related to our indebtedness, see the discussion in the risk factor under the heading "The level of our current and future debt could have an adverse impact on our business, and our ability to generate cash to service our indebtedness and for other intended purposes and our ability to maintain compliance with debt covenants depends on many factors beyond our control." In addition, to the extent that monetary policies or other factors contribute to an increase in inflationary pressures, this may in turn increase our labor and supply costs at a rate that outpaces the Medicare or any other rate increases we may receive.
Moreover, as of December 31, 2019,2021, we had approximately $6.788$7.046 billion of goodwill recorded on our consolidated balance sheet. We account for impairments of goodwill in accordance with the provisions of applicable accounting guidance, and record impairment charges when and to the extent a reporting unit's carrying amount is determined to exceed its estimated fair value. We use a variety of factors to assess changes in the financial condition, future prospects and other circumstances


concerning our businesses and to estimate their fair value when applicable. These assessments and the related valuations can involve significant uncertainties and require significant judgment on various matters, some of which could be subject to reasonable disagreement.matters.
Should our revenues and financial results be materially, unfavorably impacted due to, among other things, a worsening of the economic and employment conditions in the United States that negatively impacts reimbursement rates or the availability of insurance coverage for our patients, we may incur future charges to recognize impairment in the carrying amount of our goodwill and other intangible assets, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operation and financial condition.
Further, some of our operations, including our clinical laboratory, dialysis centers and other facilities, may be adversely impacted by the effects of natural or other disasters, political instability, public health crises such as global pandemics or epidemics, including the COVID-19 pandemic, or adverse weather events such as hurricanes, earthquakes, fires or flooding. PatientsEach of these effects and risks may be further intensified by the increasing impact of climate change on a global scale. In addition, these risks are particularly heightened for our patients in part because individuals with chronic illness may be more susceptible to the adverse effects of epidemics or other public health crises. Anycrises and also because any natural or other disaster, political instability or adverse weather event that disrupts or limits the operation of any of our centers or other facilities or services may delay or otherwise impact the critical services we provide to dialysis patients. Further, any such event or other
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occurrence that results in a failure of the fitness of our clinical laboratory, dialysis centers and related operations and/or other facilities or otherwise adversely impacts the safety of our teammates or patients at any of those locations could lead us to face adverse consequences, including, without limitation, the potential loss of data, including PHI or PII, compliance or regulatory investigations, any of which could materially impact our business, results of operation and financial condition, and could materially harm our reputation. For example, our clinical laboratory is located in Florida, a state that has in the past experienced and may in the future experience hurricanes. Natural or other disasters or adverse weather events could significantly damage or destroy our facilities, disrupt operations, increase our costs to maintain operations and require substantial expenditures and recovery time to fully resume operations. In addition, as the effects of climate change progressively surface, such as through potential increases in the frequency and intensity of natural or other disasters or adverse weather events or through laws or regulations adopted in response, we may face increased costs associated with operating our clinics, including, without limitation, with respect to supplies of water or energy costs.
Our presence in markets outside the U.S. may increase our exposure to certainthese and similar risks related to such natural disasters, public health crises, political instability, climate change or other catastrophic eventevents outside our control. For additional information regarding the risks related to our international business, see the discussion in the risk factor under the heading "Expansion of our operations to and offering our services in markets outside of the U.S. subjects us to political, economic, legal, operational and other risks that could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, cash flows and reputation."
Any or all of these factors, as well as other consequences of these events, none of which we can currently predict, could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows or materially harm our reputation.
We may be subject to liability claims for damages and other expenses that are not covered by insurance or exceed our existing insurance coverage that could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, cash flows and could materially harm our reputation.
Our operations and how we manage our business may subject us, as well as our officers and directors to whom we owe certain defense and indemnity obligations, to litigation and liability. Our business, profitability and growth prospects could suffer if we face negative publicity or we pay damages or defense costs in connection with a claim that is outside the scope or limits of coverage of any applicable insurance coverage, including, without limitation, claims related to adverse patient events, cybersecurity incidents, contractual disputes, antitrust and competition laws and regulations, professional and general liability and directors' and officers' duties. In addition, we have received notices of claims from commercial payors and other third parties, as well as subpoenas and civil investigative demands from the federal government, related to our business practices, including, without limitation, our historical billing practices and the historical billing practices of acquired businesses. Although the ultimate outcome of these claims cannot be predicted, an adverse result with respect to one or more of these claims could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows, and could materially harm our reputation. We maintain insurance coverage for those risks we deem are appropriate to insure against and make determinations about whether to self-insure as to other risks or layers of coverage. However, a successful claim, including, without limitation, a professional liability, malpractice or negligence claim or a claim related to antitrust and competition laws or a cybersecurity incident, which is in excess of any applicable insurance coverage, that is outside the scope or limits of any applicable insurance coverage, or that is subject to our self-insurance retentions, could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, cash flows and reputation.
In addition, if our costs of insurance and claims increase, then our earnings could decline. Market rates for insurance premiums and deductibles have been steadily increasing. Our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows could be materially and adversely affected by any of the following:
the collapse or insolvency of our insurance carriers;
further increases in premiums and deductibles;
increases in the number of liability claims against us or the cost of settling or trying cases related to those claims;
obtaining insurance with exclusions for things such as communicable diseases; or
an inability to obtain one or more types of insurance on acceptable terms, if at all.
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If we fail to successfully maintain an effective internal control over financial reporting, the integrity of our financial reporting could be compromised, which could have a material adverse effect on our ability to accurately report our financial results, the market's perception of our business and our stock price.
The integration of acquisitions and addition of new business lines into our internal control over financial reporting has required and will continue to require significant time and resources from our management and other personnel and has increased, and is expected to continue to increase, our compliance costs. Failure to maintain an effective internal control environment could have a material adverse effect on our ability to accurately report our financial results, the market's perception of our business and our stock price. In addition, we could be required to restate our financial results in the event of a significant failure of our internal control over financial reporting or in the event of inappropriate application of accounting principles.
Provisions in our charterorganizational documents, our compensation programs and policies and certain requirements under Delaware law may deter achanges of control and may make it more difficult for our stockholders to change the composition of controlour Board of Directors and take other corporate actions that our stockholders would otherwise determine to be in their best interests.
Our charterorganizational documents include provisions that may deter hostile takeovers, delay or prevent changes of control or changes in our management, or limit the ability of our stockholders to approve transactions that they may otherwise determine to be in their best interests. These include provisions prohibiting our stockholders from acting by written consent; requiring 90 daysconsent, advance notice ofrequirements for director nominations and stockholder proposals or nominations to our Board of Directors (or 120 days for nominations made using proxy access); and granting our Board of Directors the authority to issue preferred stock and to determine the rights and preferences of the preferred stock without the need for further stockholder approval.
Most of our outstanding employee stock-based compensation awards include a provision accelerating the vesting of the awards in the event of a change of control. These and any other change of control provisions may affect the price an acquirer would be willing to pay for our Company.
We are also subject to Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law that, subject to exceptions, would prohibitprohibits us from engaging in any business combinations with any interested stockholder, as defined in that section, for a period of three years following the date on which that stockholder became an interested stockholder.
TheseThe provisions described above may discourage, delay or prevent an acquisition of our Company at a price that our stockholders may find attractive. These provisions could also make it more difficult for our stockholders to elect directors and take other corporate actions and could limit the price that investors might be willing to pay for shares of our common stock.
Item 1B.    Unresolved Staff Comments.
None.
Item 2.        Properties.
Our corporate headquarters are located in Denver, Colorado, consisting of one owned 240,000 square foot building and one leased 345,900 square foot location. Our headquarters are occupied by teammates engaged in management, finance, marketing, strategy, legal, compliance and other administrative functions. We lease sixfive business offices located in California,


Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Washington, forand own one business office in Washington in the U.S. In addition, our U.S. dialysis business.international headquarters is located in the United Kingdom and consists of one leased business office. Our laboratory is based in Florida where we operate our lab services out of one leased building. We also lease other administrative offices in the U.S. and worldwide.
For our U.S. dialysis business we own the land and buildings for sevenfive outpatient dialysis centers. We also own 2216 properties for development, including operating outpatient dialysis centers and properties we hold for sale. In addition, we lease a total of four owned properties to third-party tenants. Our remaining outpatient dialysis centers are located on premises that we lease.
The majority of our leases for our U.S. dialysis business cover periods from five years to 15 years and typically contain renewal options of five years to ten years at the fair rental value at the time of renewal. Our leases are generally subject to periodic consumer price index increases, or contain fixed escalation clauses. Our outpatient dialysis centers range in size from approximately 9001,000 to 33,000 square feet, with an average size of approximately 7,7007,800 square feet. Our international leases generally range from one to ten years.
Some of our outpatient dialysis centers are operating at or near capacity. However, we believe that we have adequate capacity within most of our existing dialysis centers to accommodate additional patient volume through increased hours and/or
54


days of operation, or, if additional space is available within an existing facility, by adding dialysis stations. We can usually relocate existing centers to larger facilities or open new centers if existing centers reach capacity. With respect to relocating centers or building new centers, we believe that we can generally lease space at economically reasonable rates in the areas planned for each of these centers, although there can be no assurances in this regard. Expansion of existing centers or relocation of our dialysis centers is subject to review for compliance with conditions relating to participation in the Medicare ESRD program.program, among other things. In states that require a certificate of need or center license, additional approvals would generally be necessary for expansion or relocation.
Item 3.        Legal Proceedings.
The information required by this Part I, Item 3 is incorporated herein by reference to the information set forth under the caption “Contingencies”"Contingencies" in Note 16 to the consolidated financial statements included in this report.
Item 4.        Mine Safety Disclosures.
Not applicable.

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47



PART II
Item 5.        Market for the Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.
Our common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol DVA. The closing price of our common stock on January 31, 20202022 was $79.87$108.37 per share. According to Computershare, our registrar and transfer agent, as of January 31, 2020,2022, there were 8,0707,232 holders of record of our common stock. This figure does not include the indeterminate number of beneficial holders whose shares are held of record by brokerage firms and clearing agencies.
WeOur initial public offering was in 1994, and we have not declared or paid cash dividends to holders of our common stock since 1994.going public. We have no current plans to pay cash dividends and wethere are restricted from payingcertain limitations on our ability to pay dividends under the terms of our senior secured credit facilities and the indentures governing our senior notes.facilities. See “Liquidity"Liquidity and capital resources”resources" under “ItemItem 7. "Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”Operations" and the notes to the consolidated financial statements.
Stock Repurchases

The following table summarizes our repurchases of our common stock during the fourth quarter of 2019:2021:
PeriodTotal number
of shares
purchased
 Average price
paid per share
 Total number of shares purchased as part of publicly announced plans or programs Approximate dollar value
of shares that may yet be purchased under the plans or programs
 (dollars and shares in thousands, except for per share data)
October 1-31, 20194,028
 $57.13
 4,028
 $261,792
November 1-30, 20191,407
 69.41
 1,407
 $1,918,055
December 1-31, 20192,934
 73.13
 2,934
 $1,703,495
Total8,369
 $64.80
 8,369
  
PeriodTotal number
of shares
purchased
Average price
paid per share
Total number of shares purchased as part of publicly announced plans or programsApproximate dollar value
of shares that may yet be purchased under the plans or programs
(dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data)
October 1-31, 20211,229 $113.54 1,229 $890,970 
November 1-30, 20211,517 100.40 1,517 $738,680 
December 1-31, 20213,381 104.90 3,381 $2,383,939 
Total6,127 $105.52 6,127 
The following table summarizes our repurchases of our common stock during 2019:2021:
PeriodTotal number
of shares
purchased
 Average price
paid per share
 Total number of shares purchased as part of publicly announced plans or programs Approximate dollar value
of shares that may yet be purchased under the plans or programs
 (dollars and shares in thousands, except for per share data)
January 1 - March 31, 2019
 $
 
 $1,355,605
April 1 - June 30, 20192,060
 54.46
 2,060
 $1,243,416
July 1 - September 30, 201930,592
 57.14
 30,592
 $491,917
October 1 - December 31, 20198,369
 64.80
 8,369
 $1,703,495
Total41,020
 $58.57
 41,020
  
On July 11, 2018, our Board of Directors approved an additional share repurchase authorization in the amount of approximately $1.39 billion. This share repurchase authorization was in addition to the approximately $110 million remaining at that time under our Board of Directors’ prior share repurchase authorization approved in October 2017.
PeriodTotal number
of shares
purchased
Average price
paid per share
Total number of shares purchased as part of publicly announced plans or programsApproximate dollar value
of shares that may yet be purchased under the plans or programs
(dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data)
January 1 - March 31, 20212,949 $109.28 2,949 $1,607,622 
April 1 - June 30, 20212,070 116.38 2,070 $1,366,725 
July 1 - September 30, 20212,731 123.14 2,731 $1,030,508 
October 1 - December 31, 20216,127 105.52 6,127 $2,383,939 
Total13,877 $111.41 13,877 
Effective July 17, 2019, the Board terminated all remaining prior share repurchase authorizations available to the Company at that time and approved a new share repurchase authorization of $2.0 billion.
Effective as of the close of business on November 4, 2019,December 10, 2020, the Board terminated all remaining prior share repurchase authorizations available to us under the aforementioned July 17, 2019 authorization and approved a new share repurchase authorization of $2.0 billion. Effective on December 17, 2021, the Board increased the Company's existing authorization by $2.0 billion in additional share repurchasing authority. We are authorized to make purchases from time to time in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions, including without limitation, through accelerated share repurchase transactions, derivative transactions, tender offers, Rule 10b5-1 plans or any combination of the foregoing, depending upon market conditions and other considerations.
As of February 20, 2020,9, 2022, we have a total of $1.68$2.225 billion available under the current repurchase authorization for additional share repurchases. Although this share repurchase authorization does not have an expiration date, we remain subject to share repurchase limitations, including under the terms of our senior secured credit facilities and the indentures governing our senior notes.facilities.

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Item 6.        Selected Financial Data.
The following financialThis item is no longer required as the Company has adopted the changes to Item 301 of Regulation S-K contained in the Securities and operating data should be read in conjunction with “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and our consolidated financial statements filed as part of this report. The following table presents selected consolidated financial and operating data for the periods indicated:Exchange Commission's Release No. 33-10890.
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 Year ended December 31,
 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015
 (dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data)
Income statement data: 
  
  
  
  
Total revenues(1)
$11,388,479
 $11,404,851
 $10,876,634
 $10,707,467
 $9,982,245
Operating expenses and charges(2)
9,745,162
 9,879,027
 9,063,879
 8,677,757
 8,845,479
Operating income1,643,317
 1,525,824
 1,812,755
 2,029,710
 1,136,766
Debt expense(443,824) (487,435) (430,634) (414,116) (408,380)
Debt prepayment, refinancing and redemption charges(33,402) 
 
 
 (48,072)
Other income, net29,348
 10,089
 17,665
 7,511
 8,073
Income from continuing operations before income taxes1,195,439
 1,048,478
 1,399,786
 1,623,105
 688,387
Income tax expense(3)
279,628
 258,400
 323,859
 431,761
 207,510
Net income from continuing operations915,811
 790,078
 1,075,927
 1,191,344
 480,877
Net (loss) income from discontinued operations, net
of tax
(4)
105,483
 (457,038) (245,372) (158,262) (53,467)
Net income1,021,294
 333,040
 830,555
 1,033,082
 427,410
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests(210,313) (173,646) (166,937) (153,208) (157,678)
Net income attributable to DaVita Inc.$810,981
 $159,394
 $663,618
 $879,874
 $269,732
Basic income from continuing operations per share
attributable to DaVita Inc.
(5)
$4.61
 $3.66
 $4.78
 $5.12
 $1.53
Diluted income from continuing operations per share
attributable to DaVita Inc.
(5)
$4.60
 $3.62
 $4.71
 $5.04
 $1.49
Weighted average shares outstanding:(5)
         
Basic153,181
 170,786
 188,626
 201,641
 211,868
Diluted153,812
 172,365
 191,349
 204,905
 216,252
Balance sheet data (as of period end): 
  
  
  
  
Working capital$1,318,072
 $3,532,998
 $5,703,181
 $1,283,784
 $2,104,143
Total assets$17,311,394
 $19,110,252
 $18,974,536
 $18,755,776
 $18,524,224
Long-term debt$7,977,526
 $8,172,847
 $9,158,018
 $8,944,676
 $9,000,482
Total DaVita Inc. shareholders' equity(5)
$2,133,409
 $3,703,442
 $4,690,029
 $4,648,047
 $4,870,781
(1)
On January 1, 2018, we adopted Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) using the cumulative effect method for those contracts that were not substantially completed as of January 1, 2018. See Notes 1 and 2 of the consolidated financial statements for further discussion of our adoption of Topic 606.
(2)The following table summarizes impairment charges, gain on changes in ownership interest, legal matters accrual and settlement charges, restructuring charges and gain on settlement included in operating expenses and charges:
 Year ended December 31,
 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015
 (in thousands)
Certain operating expenses and charges: 
  
  
  
  
Impairment charges$124,892
 $27,969
 $336,223
 $43,408
 $4,066
Gain on changes in ownership interests, net  $(51,888) $(6,273) $(374,374)  
Legal matters accrual and settlement charges      $15,770
 $517,530
Restructuring charges  $11,366
 $2,700
    
Gain on settlement    $(529,504)    
(3)Tax expense for 2017 included a net tax benefit of $251,510 related to U.S. tax legislation passed in December 2017.
(4)On June 19, 2019, we completed the sale of our DMG business to Collaborative Care Holdings, LLC (Optum), a subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group Inc. Accordingly, DMG's results of operations are reported as net income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax for all periods presented and its assets and liabilities were classified as held for sale for the periods reported prior to close of the transaction.


(5)Share repurchases consisted of 41,020 shares of common stock for $2,402,475 in 2019, 16,844 shares of common stock for $1,153,511 in 2018, 12,967 shares of common stock for $810,949 in 2017, 16,649 shares of common stock for $1,072,377 in 2016, and 7,780 shares of common stock for $575,380 in 2015. Shares issued in connection with stock awards were 161 in 2019, 371 in 2018, 514 in 2017, 1,011 in 2016, and 1,479 in 2015.

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Item 7.        Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
Forward-looking statements
This Annual Report on Form 10-K, including this Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, contains statements that are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws.laws and as such are intended to be covered by the safe harbor for "forward-looking statements" provided by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements could include, among other things, DaVita's response to and the expected future impacts of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), including statements about our balance sheet and liquidity, our expenses and expense offsets, revenues, billings and collections, potential need, ability or willingness to use any funds under government relief programs, availability or cost of supplies, treatment volumes, mix expectation, such as the percentage or number of patients under commercial insurance, the availability, acceptance, impact, administration and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines, treatments and therapies, the continuing impact on the U.S. and global economies, unemployment and labor market conditions, and overall impact on our patients and teammates, as well as other statements regarding our future operations, financial condition and prospects, expenses, strategic initiatives, government and commercial payment rates, expectations related to value-based care, integrated kidney care and Medicare Advantage plan enrollment and our ongoing stock repurchase program. All statements in this report, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. Without limiting the foregoing, statements including the words "expect," "intend," "will," "could," "plan," "anticipate," "believe," "forecast," "guidance," "outlook," "goals," and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include but are not limitedbased on DaVita's current expectations and are based solely on information available as of the date of this report. DaVita undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, regarding ourwhether as a result of changed circumstances, new information, future operations, financial conditionevents or otherwise, except as may be required by law. Actual future events and prospects, such as expectations for operating cash flow, estimated charges and accruals, the development of new dialysis centers and dialysis center acquisitions or other new service offerings, government and commercial payment rates, and our stock repurchase program. Our actual results and other events could differ materially from any forward-looking statements due to numerous factors that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things:
the concentrationcontinuing impact of profits generated by higher-paying commercial payor plans forthe dynamic and evolving COVID-19 pandemic, including, without limitation, on our patients, teammates, physician partners, suppliers, business, operations, reputation, financial condition and results of operations; the government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including, among other things, federal, state and local vaccine mandates or surveillance testing requirements and the extent to which there is continued downward pressurethey may ultimately be applicable to us; the pandemic's continuing impact on realized payment rates,the U.S. and a reduction inglobal economies, unemployment, labor market conditions, inflation and evolving monetary policies; the numberavailability, acceptance, impact and efficacy of patients under such plans,COVID-19 vaccines, treatments and therapies; further spread or resurgence of the virus, including as a result of restrictions or prohibitionsthe emergence of new strains of the virus, such as the Delta and Omicron variants; the continuing impact of the pandemic on our revenue and non-acquired growth due to lower treatment volumes; COVID-19's impact on the use and/chronic kidney disease (CKD) population and our patient population including on the mortality of these patients; any potential negative impact on our commercial mix or availabilitythe number of charitable premium assistance,our patients covered by commercial insurance plans; continued increased COVID-19-related costs; supply chain challenges and disruptions, including with respect to our clinical supplies; and higher salary and wage expense driven in part by labor market conditions and a high demand for our clinical personnel, any of which may resultalso have the effect of heightening many of the other risks and uncertainties discussed below, and in many cases, lead to impacts that persist even after the loss of revenues or patients, or our making incorrect assumptions about how our patients will respond to any change in financial assistance from charitable organizations;pandemic subsides;
the extent to which the ongoing implementation of healthcare reform, or changes in or new legislation, regulations or guidance, enforcement thereof or related litigation result in a reduction in coverage or reimbursement rates for our services, a reduction in the number of patients enrolled in higher-paying commercial plans or that are enrolled in or select Medicare Advantage plans or other material impacts to our business;business or operations; or our making incorrect assumptions about how our patients will respond to any such developments;
a reduction in government payment rates under the Medicare End Stage Renal Disease program or other government-based programs and the impact of the Medicare Advantage benchmark structure;
risks arising from potential changes in laws, regulations or requirements applicable to us, such as potential and proposed federal and/or state legislation, regulation, ballot, executive action or other initiatives, including such initiativeswithout limitation those related to healthcare and/or labor matters;matters, such as AB 290 in California;
the impact of the political environment and related developments on the current healthcare marketplace and on our business, including with respect to the future of the Affordable Care Act, the exchanges and many other core aspects of the current healthcare marketplace;marketplace, as well as the composition of the U.S. Supreme Court and the current presidential administration and congressional majority;
legal and compliance risks, such as our continued compliance with complex, and at times, evolving government regulations and requirements;
noncompliance by us or our business associates with any privacy or security laws or any security breach by us or a third party involving the misappropriation, loss or other unauthorized use or disclosure of confidential information;
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the concentration of profits generated by higher-paying commercial payor plans for which there is continued downward pressure on average realized payment rates, and a reduction in the number or percentage of our patients under such plans, including, without limitation, as a result of restrictive plan designs, restrictions or prohibitions on the use and/or availability of charitable premium assistance, which may result in the loss of revenues or patients, or our making incorrect assumptions about how our patients will respond to any change in financial assistance from charitable organizations;
our ability to successfully implement our strategystrategies with respect to home-basedintegrated kidney care and value-based care initiatives and home based dialysis in the desired time frame and in a complex, dynamic and highly regulated environment, including, among other things, maintaining our existing businessbusiness; meeting growth expectations; recovering our investments; entering into agreements with payors, third party vendors and others on terms that are competitive and, as appropriate, prove actuarially sound; structuring operations, agreements and arrangements to comply with evolving rules and regulations; finding, training and retaining appropriate staff; and further developing our integrated care and other capabilities to provide competitive programs at scale;
a reduction in a complexgovernment payment rates under the Medicare End Stage Renal Disease program, state Medicaid or other government-based programs and highly regulated environment;the impact of the Medicare Advantage benchmark structure;
changes in pharmaceutical practice patterns, reimbursement and payment policies and processes, or pharmaceutical pricing, including with respect to calcimimetics;hypoxia inducible factors, among other things;
legal and compliance risks, such as our continued compliance with complex government regulations;
continued increased competition from dialysis providers and others, and other potential marketplace changes;
our ability to develop and maintain contractsrelationships with physician medical directors,physicians and hospitals, changing affiliation models for physicians, and the emergence of new models of care or other initiatives introduced by the government or private sector that, among other things, may erode our patient base and impact reimbursement rates, such as accountable care organizations, independent practice associations and integrated delivery systems;rates;
our ability to complete acquisitions, mergers, dispositions, joint ventures or dispositionsother strategic transactions that we might announce or be considering, on terms favorable to us or at all, or to integrate and successfully operate any business we may acquire or have acquired, or to successfully expand our operations and services in markets outside the United States, or to businesses outside of dialysis;
uncertaintiesour ability to attract, retain and motivate teammates and our ability to manage operating cost increases or productivity decreases whether due to union organizing activities, legislative or other changes, demand for labor, volatility and uncertainty in the labor market, the current challenging labor market conditions, or other reasons;
our aspirations, goals and disclosures related to environmental, social and governance (ESG) matters, including evolving regulatory requirements affecting ESG standards, measurements and reporting requirements; the availability of suppliers that can meet our sustainability standards; and our ability to recruit, develop and retain diverse talent in our labor markets;
continued increased competition from dialysis providers and others, and other potential payments and/or adjustments under certain provisionsmarketplace changes, including increased investment in and availability of funding to new entrants in the equity purchase agreement for the sale of our DaVita Medical Group (DMG) business, such as post-closing adjustmentsdialysis and indemnification obligations;pre-dialysis marketplace;


noncompliance by us or our business associates with any privacy or security laws or any security breach by us or a third party involving the misappropriation, loss or other unauthorized use or disclosure of confidential information;
the variability of our cash flows;flows, including without limitation any extended billing or collections cycles; the risk that we may not be able to generate or access sufficient cash in the future to service our indebtedness or to fund our other liquidity needs; and the risk that we may not be able to refinance our indebtedness as it becomes due, on terms favorable to us or at all;
factors that may impact our ability to repurchase stock under our stock repurchase program and the timing of any such stock repurchases, as well as our use of a considerable amount of available funds to repurchase stock;
risks arising from the use of accounting estimates, judgments and interpretations in our financial statements;
impairment of our goodwill, investments or other assets; and
uncertainties related to our use of the proceeds from the DMG sale transaction and other available funds, including external financing and cash flow from operations, which may be or have been used in ways that we cannot assure will improve our results of operations or enhance the value of our common stock; and
uncertainties associated with the other risk factors, trends and uncertainties set forth in Part I, Item 1A. of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, and the other risks and uncertainties discussed in any subsequent reports that we file or furnish with the SEC from time to time.
The forward-looking statements should be considered in light of these risks and uncertainties. All forward-looking statements in this report are based solely on information available to us on the date of this report. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of changed circumstances, new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
The following should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements.

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52




Company overview
Our principal business is to provide dialysis and related lab services to patients in the United States, which we refer to as our U.S. dialysis business. We also operate variousour U.S. ancillary services and strategic initiatives includingand our international operations, which we collectively refer to as our ancillary services, as well as our corporate administrative support. Our U.S. dialysis business is a leading provider of kidney dialysis services in the U.S. for patients suffering from chronic kidney failure, also known as end stage renal disease (ESRD) or end stage kidney disease (ESKD).
On June 19, 2019, we completed the sale of our prior DaVita Medical Group (DMG) business to Collaborative Care Holdings, LLC, (Optum), a subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group Inc. As a result of this transaction, DMG's results of operations have been reported as discontinued operations for all periods presented and DMG is not included below in this Management's Discussion and Analysis.
OurNotwithstanding the challenges of responding to the novel coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), our year-over-year overall financial performance in 20192021 benefited from increased revenue, which was primarily due to higher average revenue per treatment volume from acquired and non-acquired growth in both our U.S. dialysis business and acquired growth in our international businesses and a corresponding increase in revenue, as well as improved operating margins due to a decrease in the cost of calcimimeticsbusiness. In addition our 2021 financial performance benefited from the introduction of lower cost oral generics, a decrease in other pharmaceutical unit costs and a decrease inintensity, advocacy costs and COVID-19-related compensation expenses as compared to the prior year. This wasThese benefits were partially offset by a decline in treatment volume and increases in compensation expense, including labor costs (both operating and overhead) and health benefits costs, other center related costs, a decrease in revenues from the closure of our pharmaceutical business in 2018. The year-over-year comparison was also adversely impacted by $36 million of additional Medicare bad debt revenue recognized in 2018 due to a policy election on adoption of the new revenue recognition accounting standard.expense.
Drivers of our financial performance in 20192021 included the following:
improved certain key clinical outcomes in our U.S. dialysis business, including exceeding our recognition as an industry leader for the seventh consecutive year in CMS’ Quality Incentive Program and for the last six years under the CMS Five-Star Quality Rating system;pre-pandemic level of patients receiving kidney transplants;
U.S. dialysis revenue growth of 2.2%0.1% in U.S. dialysis and 19.9% in international revenueoperations;
operating income growth of 13.6%;
a year-over-year increase3.0% in our normalized non-acquired U.S. dialysis treatment growth of 2.2%, which contributed to an increase of approximately 2.5%and 82.6% in our overall U.S. dialysis treatment count for 2019;international operations;
a net increase of 89 U.S. and 18 international dialysis centers;
provision of integrated kidney care to 16,000 patients in risk-based integrated care arrangements and an additional 7,000 patients in other integrated care arrangements;
operating cash flows of $2.0$1.931 billion from continuing operations;
a $174 million or 19.3% reduction in routine maintenance and development capital expenditures from continuing operations, consistent with our capital efficient growth strategies;
repurchase of 41,020,23213,877,193 shares of our common stock for aggregate consideration of $2.4$1.546 billion, and reduction of our share count by approximately 24.4%11.5% year-over-year;
completion of an unregistered add-on offering of $1 billion aggregate principal amount to the existing 4.625% senior notes due June 1, 2030 (the Additional 2030 Notes); and
entry into a new $5.5 billion senior secured credit agreementimpact of COVID-19 as further discussed in Part I. Item 1 "Business" and redemption ofunder the heading "COVID-19 and its impact on our 5.75% senior notes.business" below.

In 2020,2022, we expect that COVID-19 will continue to impact our business and financial performance though the fundamentalsmagnitude of these impacts remains difficult to predict and subject to significant uncertainty due to a number of factors, as described in further detail below under the heading "COVID-19 and its impact on our U.S. dialysis business to generally be similar to the dynamics that we faced in 2019.." On treatment volume, we continue to face pressure primarily driven by the impact of COVID-19 on mortality rates for dialysis patients due to recent surges of infections, which may be further compounded by any future surges, if such surges occur. We anticipate that this pressure also will be magnified by continued slowing industry growth as well asand continued competitive activity.activity in 2022. On reimbursement rate, we expect modest growth in aggregate, primarily due to the expected net market basket update for Medicare treatments.treatments as well as a continuing increase in anticipated Medicare Advantage enrollment due to the 21st Century Cures Act, albeit less than what we experienced in 2021, partially offset by the scheduled resumption of Medicare sequestration later in 2022. On cost, we continue to expect increasing inflationary pressure on wage rates and other costs, increased costs due to the challenging labor market conditions, and an increase in depreciation expenses due to the general release of our new clinical IT platform in 2022, partially offset by continued anticipated savings on drugpharmaceutical costs. We expect to incur elevated advocacy costs in 2022, in-line with our advocacy costs incurred in 2018 and 2020, respectively. We also expect to continue making investments to growexpand our ability to offer home-based dialysis servicesservice options and further advance our integrated care and value-based care initiatives in 2020. We anticipate two notable differences in 2020 versus 2019 - we expect to generate significantly less income on calcimimetics due to expected decreases in Medicare reimbursement throughout 2020,2022.Finally, considerable uncertainty exists surrounding the continued development of the various governmental laws, regulations and we plan to incur costs in 2020, which could be significant, to counter a proposed union-backed ballot initiative in California.other requirements that impact our business.
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The discussion below includes analysis of our financial condition and results of operations for the years ended December 31, 20192021 compared to December 31, 2018.2020. Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018,2020, includes a discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2017,2019, in its Part II, Item 7, "Management's"Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations"Operations".
References to the "Notes" in the discussion below refer to the notes to the Company's consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K at Item 15, "Exhibits,"Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules"Schedules" as referred from Part II Item 8, "Financial"Financial Statements and Supplementary Data."

COVID-19 and its impact on our business
As noted above, the continued impacts and disruptions to our business in connection with of the COVID-19 pandemic could have a material adverse impact on our patients, teammates, physician partners, suppliers, business, operations, reputation, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and/or liquidity.
Operational and Financial Impacts
During this time of great and continued challenge, we continue our focus on the health, safety and well-being of our patients, teammates and physician partners and helping to ensure that our patients have the ability to maintain continuity of care throughout this crisis, whether in the hospital, outpatient or home setting. To that end, we have dedicated and continue to dedicate substantial resources in response to COVID-19, including the implementation of additional protocols and initiatives to help safely maintain continuity of care for our patients and help protect our caregivers. For example, we implemented dedicated care shifts for patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 and other enhanced clinical practices, including procuring additional equipment and clinical supplies, such as personal protective equipment (PPE). These efforts are part of a wider Prepare, Prevent, Respond and Recover program that we have implemented in connection with the pandemic, which also includes operational protocols such as the redistribution of teammates, machines and supplies across the country as needed and continued investment in and utilization of telehealth capabilities and the administration of COVID-19 vaccines. We also have maintained business process continuity during the pandemic by enabling most back office teammates to work remotely. We carefully monitor the efficacy of our response protocols and their impact on our operations and strategic priorities as the pandemic continues. Certain temporary changes made in response to the COVID-19 pandemic could become permanent, which could have an adverse impact on our business.
Due in part to these protocols and initiatives, we have incurred costs related to COVID-19 in 2021, and we expect to continue to incur extended costs in the future in connection with our response to COVID-19, and the cumulative impact of these costs could be material. Among other things, our response to COVID-19 has resulted in higher salary and wage expense, and we have provided, and may provide in the future, substantial financial support to our teammates, which may include relief reimbursement. We also continued to experience significant cost inflation on PPE in 2021, though certain other costs related to our COVID-19 response have decreased since the peak of the COVID-19 surge in the fourth quarter of 2020. We believe that the cost of these medical supplies will remain elevated and as our COVID-19 response continues, we expect to continue to incur extended and significant additional costs for these supplies, and we expect that certain of these increased costs may persist due to the overall challenges and disruptions of global supply chains. These global supply chain challenges have impacted the availability of certain of our equipment and clinical supplies. Prolonged strain on global supply chains may result in additional equipment and clinical supply shortages, disruptions, delays or associated price increases that could impact our ability to provide dialysis services or the cost of providing those services, among other things. On the other hand, our COVID-19 response has reduced certain other expenses, such as those related to teammate travel, though it remains uncertain how much of these reductions, if any, will persist after the pandemic subsides and more teammates return to their respective office locations.
Our business is labor intensive and our financial and operating results have been and continue to be sensitive to variations in labor-related costs and productivity. We have historically faced and expect to continue to face costs and difficulties in hiring and retaining caregivers due to a nationwide shortage of skilled clinical personnel. These challenges have been heightened by the increased demand for and demand upon such personnel attributed to the ongoing pandemic. As referenced above, the labor market is challenging and continues to experience volatility, uncertainty and labor supply shortages, particularly in healthcare. In addition, federal and state agencies have announced or released rules relating to COVID-19 vaccination requirements that relate to our teammates, providers and patients. Certain of these regulations are subject to ongoing legal challenge as further described in Part I, Item 1. Business of this Form 10-K under the heading "Government Regulation—COVID-19 Response". The cumulative impact of these mandates, some of which have already gone into effect, contributes further to the volatility and uncertainty in the labor market and may ultimately further exacerbate labor shortages. These conditions have adversely impacted, and may continue to adversely impact, our ability to attract and retain employees, particularly clinical personnel. As part of our efforts in this highly competitive market, we have provided our teammates with additional compensation, among other things. In 2022, we expect to provide our teammates with higher than usual wage
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increases, which will put additional pressure on our cost structure going forward. We have experienced staffing shortages and disruptions as a result of current labor market conditions and the current Omicron surge, and further staffing shortages or disruptions, if material, could lead to the unplanned closures of certain centers or adversely impact clinical operations, and may otherwise have a material adverse impact on our ability to provide dialysis services or the cost of providing those services, among other things. Prolonged volatility, uncertainty, labor supply shortages and other challenging labor market conditions, including, among other things, due to inflationary pressures or evolving monetary policies, could also have an adverse impact on our ability to execute on our strategic initiatives, and ultimately could have a material adverse impact on our labor costs, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
In 2021, treatment volumes reflected continued pressure primarily driven by the ongoing impact of COVID-19 on mortality rates for dialysis patients which has had a negative impact on our patient census. Because ESKD patients may be older than the average American and generally have comorbidities, several of which are risk factors for COVID-19, we believe the mortality rate of infected patients has been higher in the dialysis population than in the general population, and COVID-19 also could impact the CKD population differently. The recent surges associated with the Delta and Omicron variants led to a significant increase in COVID‑19 cases in our patient population. At the peak of the most recent surge in January 2022, the new case count was more than two times as high as the peak from winter 2020. While the mortality rate associated with this latest surge preliminarily appears to be lower than in prior surges, it is too early to provide a comprehensive assessment. The fourth quarter of 2021 saw a slight decrease in incremental mortality on an absolute basis compared to the third quarter of 2021. Over the longer term, we believe that changes in mortality in both the CKD and ESKD populations due to COVID-19 will continue to depend primarily on the infection rate, case fatality rate, the age and health status of affected patients, and access to and continued efficacy of vaccinations or other treatments or therapies, as well as willingness to be vaccinated. We expect that the impact of COVID-19 is likely to continue to negatively impact our revenue and non-acquired growth for a period of time even as the pandemic subsides due to the compounding impact of mortalities, among other things. However, determining the extent to which these impacts should be directly attributable to COVID-19 is difficult due to testing and reporting limitations, and other factors that may drive treatment volumes and new admissions over time, such as the number of transplants or deferred admissions. Depending on the ultimate severity and duration of the pandemic, the magnitude of these cumulative impacts could have a material adverse impact on our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic and efforts to contain the virus have impacted the global economy, resulting in, among other things, volatility and uncertainty in labor market conditions as noted above. These impacts could ultimately result in a materially reduced share of our patients being covered by commercial insurance plans, with more patients being covered by lower-paying government insurance programs or being uninsured. These effects may persist after the pandemic subsides as, among other things, our patients could experience permanent changes in their insurance coverage as a result of changes to their employment status. In the event such a material reduction occurs in the share of our patients covered by commercial insurance plans, it would have a material adverse impact on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows. Despite the broader economic conditions in the U.S. for the year ended December 31, 2021, our commercial mix in 2021 slightly improved as compared to our commercial mix in 2020. The ultimate impact of COVID-19 on our commercial mix will depend on future developments that are highly uncertain and difficult to predict.
Federal, State and Local Government Response
The government response to COVID-19 has been wide-ranging and will continue to develop over time. As a result, we may not be able to accurately predict the nature, timing or extent of the impact of such changes on the markets in which we conduct business or on the other participants that operate in those markets, or any potential changes to the extensive set of federal, state and local laws, regulations and requirements that govern our business, including for example, the COVID-19 vaccine mandates and similar state and local mandates referenced above.
We have worked with certain government agencies to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, and in certain cases have sought waivers of regulatory requirements. We have also contracted with the federal government to provide direct administration of COVID-19 vaccines to our patients and teammates at our clinics. Approximately 73% of our patients have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and nearly all of our clinical teammates are fully vaccinated or have an exemption. Certain of these vaccines are currently available under emergency use authorizations, and there can be no assurance that our patients and caregivers will choose to receive a COVID-19 vaccine or that the vaccines will prove to be as safe and effective as currently understood by the scientific community, particularly as it may relate to variants of the virus. In addition, we may encounter difficulties with the availability and storage of the vaccines, or experience other complications related to administering the vaccines, some of which have multiple dose requirements, or may include the administration of "boosters". As of December 31, 2021, we had administered approximately 217,000 COVID-19 vaccines and boosters due in part to the state and federal vaccine allocations to dialysis providers.Certain state and federal agencies, including the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and CMS, have released requirements, or are in the process of modifying existing requirements associated with the continued protection of employees as it relates to COVID-19. These requirements related to,
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among other things, initial and booster vaccines, PPE, fit-testing, surveillance testing of our teammates for COVID-19 and other increased obligations with which we must comply may further impact our costs, create operational challenges, negatively impact our ability to attract and retain employees and create a risk of non-compliance if we are not able to successfully implement such requirements. We operate in a complex and highly regulated environment, and the novel nature of our COVID-19 response, including, for example, with respect to regulatory waivers, our administration of the COVID-19 vaccines, and our efforts to comply with evolving rules and regulations, may increase our exposure to legal, regulatory and clinical risks.
In addition, federal COVID-19 relief legislation suspended the 2% Medicare sequestration from May 1, 2020 through December 31, 2021. The Protecting Medicare and American Farmers from Sequester Cuts Act, signed into law on December 10, 2021, extended the suspension of the 2% Medicare sequestration from December 31, 2021 through March 31, 2022, with 1% Medicare sequestration beginning April 1, 2022 through June 30, 2022 and 2% Medicare sequestration beginning July 1, 2022. While in effect, the suspension of sequestration has significantly increased, and will continue to significantly increase, our revenues.
We believe the ultimate impact of this public health crisis on the Company will depend on future developments that are highly uncertain and difficult to predict, including among others the ultimate severity and duration of the pandemic; further spread or resurgence of the virus, including as a result of the emergence of new strains of the virus, such as the Delta and Omicron variants; COVID-19's impact on the chronic kidney disease (CKD) patient population and our patient population, including on the mortality of these patients; the availability, acceptance, impact and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines, treatments and therapies; the pandemic’s continuing impact on our revenue and non-acquired growth due to lower treatment volumes, the U.S. and global economies, unemployment, labor market conditions, inflation and monetary policies; the potential negative impact on our commercial mix or the number of patients covered by commercial insurance plans; continued increased COVID-related costs; supply chain challenges and disruptions; the responses of our competitors to the pandemic and related changes in the marketplace; the timing, scope and effectiveness of federal, state and local government responses to the continuing pandemic; and any potential changes to the extensive set of federal, state and local laws, regulations and requirements that govern our business. In many cases, the impact of the pandemic on us may persist even after the pandemic subsidies.
For additional discussion of the COVID-19 pandemic and our response, including its impact on us and related risks and uncertainties, please see the discussion in Part I Item 1. Business under the headings, "COVID-19 and its impact on our business" and "Human Capital Management," as well as the risk factor in Part I Item 1A. Risk Factors under the heading "We face various risks related to the dynamic and evolving novel coronavirus pandemic, many of which may have a material adverse impact on us."
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Consolidated results of operations
The following table summarizes our revenues, operating income and adjusted operating income by line of business. See the discussion of our results for each line of business following this table. When multiple drivers are identified in the following discussion of results, they are listed in order of magnitude:
Year ended December 31, Annual change Year ended December 31,Annual change
2019 2018 Amount Percent 20212020AmountPercent
(dollars in millions)     (dollars in millions)
Revenues: 
  
    
Revenues:   
U.S. dialysis$10,563
 $10,336
 $227
 2.2 %U.S. dialysis$10,667 $10,660 $0.1 %
Other - ancillary services972
 1,196
 (224) (18.7)%
Other - Ancillary servicesOther - Ancillary services1,047 1,053 (6)(0.6)%
Elimination of intersegment revenues(146) (127) (19) (15.0)%Elimination of intersegment revenues(95)(162)67 41.4 %
Total consolidated revenues$11,388
 $11,405
 $(17) (0.1)%Total consolidated revenues$11,619 $11,551 $68 0.6 %
       
Operating income (loss):       Operating income (loss):
U.S. dialysis$1,925
 $1,710
 $215
 12.6 %U.S. dialysis$1,975 $1,918 $57 3.0 %
Other - Ancillary services(189) (94) (95) (101.1)%Other - Ancillary services(66)(76)10 13.2 %
Corporate administrative support(92) (90) (2) (2.2)%Corporate administrative support(112)(147)35 23.8 %
Operating income$1,643
 $1,526
 $117
 7.7 %Operating income$1,797 $1,695 $102 6.0 %
       
Adjusted operating income (loss):(1)
       
Adjusted operating income (loss):(1)
U.S. dialysis$1,925
 $1,682
 $243
 14.4 %U.S. dialysis$1,975 $1,918 $57 3.0 %
Other - Ancillary services(64) (78) 14
 17.9 %Other - Ancillary services(66)(60)(6)(10.0)%
Corporate administrative support(92) (90) (2) (2.2)%Corporate administrative support(112)(112)— — %
Adjusted operating income(1)
$1,768
 $1,513
 $255
 16.9 %
Adjusted operating incomeAdjusted operating income$1,797 $1,746 $51 2.9 %
Certain columns rows or percentagesrows may not sum or recalculate due to the usepresentation of rounded numbers.
 
(1)For a reconciliation of adjusted operating income (loss) by reportable segment, see "Reconciliations of non-GAAP measures" section below.
(1)For a reconciliation of adjusted operating income (loss) by reportable segment, see the "Reconciliations of non-GAAP measures" section below.
U.S. dialysis business
OurAs of December 31, 2021, our U.S. dialysis business is a leading provider of kidney dialysis services, operating 2,7532,815 outpatient dialysis centers serving a total of approximately 206,900 patients. We also203,100 patients, and contracted to provide acutehospital inpatient dialysis services in approximately 900850 hospitals. We estimate that we have approximately a 38%36% share of the U.S. dialysis market based upon the number of patients we serve.
Approximately 92%91% of our 20192021 consolidated revenues were derived directly from our U.S. dialysis business. The principal drivers of our U.S. dialysis revenues include    :
theour number of treatments, which is primarily a function of the number of chronic patients requiring approximately three in-center treatments per week as well as, to a lesser extent, the number of treatments for peritoneal dialysis, homehome-based dialysis and hospital inpatient dialysis; and
our average dialysis net patient service revenue per treatment, including the mix of patients with commercial plans and government patients.
programs as primary payor.
Within our U.S. dialysis business, our home-based dialysis and hospital inpatient dialysis services are operationally integrated with our outpatient dialysis centers and related laboratory services. Our outpatient, home-based and hospital inpatient dialysis services comprise approximately 78%76%, 16%18% and 6% of our U.S. dialysis revenues, respectively.
In the U.S., government dialysis-related payment rates are principally determined by federal Medicare and state Medicaid policy. For 2019,2021, approximately 69%68% of our total U.S. dialysis patient services revenues were generated from government-based programs for services to approximately 90% of our total U.S. patients. These government-based programs are principally Medicare and Medicare-assigned,Medicare Advantage, Medicaid and managed Medicaid plans, and other government plans, representing approximately 59%58%, 6%7% and 4%3% of our U.S. dialysis patient services revenues, respectively.

On October 29, 2021, CMS issued a final rule to update the ESRD PPS payment rate and policies, as described further above. CMS estimates the final rule will affect ESRD facilities' average reimbursement by a productivity-adjusted market
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basket increase of 1.9% in 2022. In addition, the Protecting Medicare and American Farmers from Sequester Cuts Act extended the suspension of the 2% Medicare sequestration from December 31, 2021 through March 31, 2022, with 1% Medicare sequestration beginning April 1, 2022 through June 30, 2022 and 2% Medicare sequestration beginning July 1, 2022.
Dialysis payment rates from commercial payors vary and a major portion of our commercial rates are set at contracted amounts with payors and are subject to intense negotiation pressure. On average, dialysis-related payment rates from contracted commercial payors are significantly higher than Medicare, Medicaid and other government program payment rates, and therefore the percentage of commercial patients in relation to total patients represents a majorsignificant driver of our total average dialysis net patient service revenue per treatment. Commercial payors (including hospital dialysis services) represent approximately 31%32% of U.S. dialysis patient services revenues. Over the last two years, we have seen a slight decline in the growth of our commercial patients, which has been outpaced by the growth of our government-based patients.
For further discussion of government reimbursement, the Medicare ESRD bundled payment system, Medicare Advantage and commercial reimbursement, see the discussion in Part I. Item 1. Business under the heading “U.S."U.S. dialysis business – Sources of revenue-concentrations and risks." For a discussion of operational, clinical and financial risks and uncertainties that we face in connection with the Medicare ESRD bundled payment system, see the risk factor in Part I. Item 1A. Risk Factors under the heading “Changes"Our business is subject to a complex set of governmental laws, regulations and other requirements and any failure to adhere to those requirements, or any changes in the structure of and payment rates under the Medicare ESRD programthose requirements, could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.”flows, could materially harm our stock price, and in some circumstances, could materially harm our reputation." For a discussion of operational, clinical and financial risks and uncertainties that we face in connection with commercial payors, see the risk factorsfactor in Item 1A. Risk Factors under the headingsheading "If the number or percentage of patients with higher-paying commercial insurance declines, if the average rates that commercial payors pay us decline, significantly or if patients in commercial plans are subject to restriction in plan designs, it would have a material adverse effect on our business, resultsif we are unable to maintain contracts with payors with competitive terms, including, without limitation, reimbursement rates, scope and duration of operations, financial conditioncoverage and cash flows"; and "If the number of patients with higher-paying commercial insurance declines,in-network benefits, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flowsflows.."
The impact of physician-prescribed pharmaceuticals on our overall revenues that are separately billable has significantly decreased since Medicare’s single bundled payment system went into effect beginning in January 2011, and as a result of commercial contracts that pay us a single bundled payment rate.
Effective January 1, 2018,2021, both oral and intravenous forms of calcimimetics were added to the ESRD PPS bundled payment, and as a result our operating income from calcimimetics was more stable in 2021 and will continue to be in the future as compared to the year ended December 31, 2020 under the transitional drug class taken by many patients with ESRD to treat mineral bone disorder, becameadd-on payment adjustment (TDAPA) model. For the financial responsibility of our U.S. dialysis business for our Medicare patients and are now reimbursed under Medicare Part B. Previously, calcimimetics were reimbursed for Medicare patients through Part D once dispensed from traditional pharmacies. Currently,year ended December 31, 2020, the oral and intravenous forms of calcimimetics remainwere separately reimbursed and therefore are not part of the ESRD Prospective Payment System (PPS) bundled payment. During the initial pass-through period, Medicare payment for calcimimetics wasthrough a TDAPA model based on a pass-through rate of the average sales price plus approximately 6%0%, before sequestration (or 4% adjusted for sequestration), however, in 2020 calcimimetics are reimbursed at average sales price plus 0% before sequestration. CMS has stated intentions to enter calcimimetics into the ESRD bundled payment as of January 1, 2021. We do not know the rate at which CMS will include calcimimetics into the bundle. If there is a reduction from the current amount of reimbursement or if CMS fails to increase the bundle in a sufficient manner to appropriately and adequately reimburse for the drug, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows. In addition, during the period in which we are separately reimbursed for calcimimetics, we expect our average revenue per treatment related to these pharmaceuticals to decline in future periods as CMS adjusts the reimbursement amount to more closely match the cost of these pharmaceuticals in accordance with their rules. We therefore expect to realize significantly reduced levels of operating income from calcimimetics in the future as compared to 2019.
Approximately 6%1% and 7%4% of our total U.S. dialysis net patient services revenues for the years 20192021 and 2018,2020, respectively, arewere associated with the administration of separately-billable physician-prescribed pharmaceuticals, the majority of which approximately 4% and 5% relate to the administration of calcimimetics, respectively.calcimimetics.
We anticipate that we will continue to experience increases in our operating costs in 20202022 that may outpace any net Medicare, commercial or other rate increases that we may receive, which could significantly impact our operating results. In particular, we expect to continue experiencing increases in operating costs that are subject to inflation, such as labor and supply costs, including increases in maintenance costs, regardless of whether there is a compensating inflation-based increase in Medicare, commercial or other payor payment rates or in payments under the ESRD bundled payment rate system.rates. We also continue to expect to incur additional COVID-19-related costs while the pandemic continues. In addition, we expect to continue to incur capital expenditures and associated depreciation and amortization to improve, renovate and maintain our facilities, equipment and information technology to meet evolving regulatory requirements and otherwise.
U.S. dialysis patient care costs are those costs directly associated with operating and supporting our dialysis centers, home-based dialysis programs and hospital inpatient dialysis programs, and consist principally of labor, benefits, pharmaceuticals, medical supplies and other operating costs of the dialysis centers.


The principal drivers of our U.S. dialysis patient care costs include:
clinical hours per treatment, labor rates and benefit costs;
vendor pricing and utilization levels of pharmaceuticals;
business infrastructure costs, which include the operating costs of our dialysis centers; and
certain professional fees.
medical supply costs.
Other cost categories that can present significant variability include employee benefit costs, insurance costs and medical supply costs.professional fees. In addition, proposed ballot initiatives or referendums, legislation, regulations or policy changes could cause us to incur substantial costs for related advocacy or to prepare for, or implement changes required. Any such changes could result in, among other things, increases in our labor costs
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or limitations on the amount of revenue that we can retain. For additional detailinformation on risks associated with potential and proposed ballot initiatives, referendums, legislation, regulations or policy changes, see the risk factor in Item 1A. Risk Factors under the heading, "Changes in federal and state healthcare legislation or regulations could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows."
Our average clinical hours per treatment decreasedwere relatively flat in 20192021 compared to 2018.2020. We are always striving for improved productivity levels, however, changes in things such as federal and state policies or regulatory billing requirements can lead to increased labor costs. Improvements inIn 2021, the U.S. economy have stimulated additional competitiondemand for skilled clinical personnel resulting in slightly higher clinical teammate turnover overcontinued, exacerbated by the last few years, which we believe has negatively affected productivity levels.nationwide shortage caused by the continuing COVID-19 pandemic on these resources. In both 20192021 and 2018,2020, we experienced an increase in our clinical labor rates of approximately 2.0%3.9% and 3.0%, respectively, consistent with general industry trends. We expect to continue to see higher clinical labor rates in 2022 due to the labor market conditions and the continued competition for skilled clinical personnel. In 2021, our overall clinical teammate retention declined from 2020. We also continue to experience increases in the infrastructure and operating costs of our dialysis centers primarily due to the number of new dialysis centers opened, and general increases in rent utilities and repairs and maintenance. In 2019,2021, we continued to implement certain cost control initiatives to help manage our overall operating costs, including labor productivity.productivity and utilities expense, and we expect to continue these initiatives in 2022.
Our U.S. dialysis general and administrative expenses represented 8.1%8.7% and 9.0% of our U.S. dialysis revenues in both 20192021 and 2018.2020, respectively. Increases in general and administrative expenses over the last several years were primarily related to strengthening our dialysis business and related compliance and operational processes, responding to certain legal and compliance matters, professional fees associated with enhancing our information technology systems and more recent advocacy costs in 2020 related to countercountering union policy efforts. We expect that these levels of general and administrative expenses will continuebe impacted by higher advocacy costs in 20202022 compared to 2021, continued investment in developing our capabilities and could possibly increase as we seek out new business opportunities and continue to invest in improvingexecuting on our information technology infrastructure and maintain our regulatory compliance program,strategic priorities, among other things. In addition, our general administrative expenses could increase in 2020 as compared to the prior year due to additional anticipated advocacy costs to challenge ballot initiatives, which could be significant.
U.S. dialysis results of operations
Revenues:Treatment volume:    
 Year ended December 31, Annual change
 2019 2018 Amount Percent
 (dollars in millions, except per treatment data)  
Total revenues$10,563
 $10,336
 $227
 2.2 %
Dialysis treatments30,172,699
 29,435,304
 737,395
 2.5 %
Average treatments per day96,398
 94,073
 2,325
 2.5 %
Treatment days313.0
 312.9
 0.1
  %
Average net patient service revenue per treatment$349.02
 $350.47
 $(1.45) (0.4)%
Normalized non acquired treatment growth2.2% 3.2%   (1.0)%
U.S. dialysis revenues increased primarily due to volume growth from additional treatments of 2.5% due to an increase in acquired and non-acquired treatments. Our U.S. dialysis revenues were negatively impacted by a decrease in our average net patient service revenue per treatment due to a rate decline related to calcimimetics which was partially offset by an increase in Medicare rates in 2019. In addition, 2018 was favorably impacted by $36 million of additional Medicare bad debt revenue due to a policy election made in 2018 under the new revenue recognition accounting standards.


Operating expenses and charges:
 Year ended December 31, Annual change
 2019 2018 Amount Percent
 (dollars in millions, except per treatment data)  
Patient care costs$7,219
 $7,280
 $(61) (0.8)%
General and administrative857
 836
 21
 2.5 %
Depreciation and amortization583
 559
 24
 4.3 %
Equity investment income(22) (20) (2) (10.0)%
Gain on changes in ownership interests
 (28) 28
  
Total operating expenses and charges$8,638
 $8,626
 $12
 0.1 %
Patient care costs per treatment$239.27
 $247.32
 $(8.05) (3.3)%
 Year ended December 31,Annual change
 20212020AmountPercent
Dialysis treatments29,622,188 30,314,619 (692,431)(2.3)%
Average treatments per day94,640 96,667 (2,027)(2.1)%
Treatment days313.0 313.6 (0.6)(0.2)%
Normalized non-acquired treatment growth(1)
(1.9)%1.0%(2.9)%
Certain columns rows or percentagesrows may not sum or recalculate due to the usepresentation of rounded numbers.
(1)Normalized non-acquired treatment growth reflects year over year growth in treatment volume, adjusted to exclude acquisitions and other similar transactions, and further adjusted to normalize for the number and mix of treatment days in a given period versus the prior period.
Our U.S. dialysis treatment volume is directly correlated with our operating revenues and expenses. The decrease in our U.S. dialysis treatments was driven by approximately (0.6) fewer treatment days in 2021 compared to 2020 and a decrease in non-acquired treatments, partially offset by acquired treatment growth. Treatment volume in 2021 was negatively impacted by higher mortality and missed treatments than in 2020. We believe the increased mortality rate is largely attributable to the impact of COVID-19 on our patient population.
Revenues:    
 Year ended December 31,Annual change
 20212020AmountPercent
 (dollars in millions, except per treatment data)
Total revenues$10,667 $10,660 $0.1 %
Average patient service revenue per treatment$359.24 $350.31 $8.93 2.5 %
Certain columns or rows may not sum or recalculate due to the presentation of rounded numbers.
U.S. dialysis revenues were positively impacted by an increase in our average patient service revenue per treatment driven by favorable changes in government mix due to shifts to Medicare Advantage plans, favorable changes in government rate related to increased Medicare base rates in 2021 and the temporary suspension of Medicare sequestration, as well as an increase in commercial mix and hospital inpatient dialysis services revenue per treatment. This was partially offset by changes in our treatment volume, as described above.
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Operating expenses and charges:
 Year ended December 31,Annual change
 20212020AmountPercent
 (dollars in millions, except per treatment data)
Patient care costs$7,153 $7,222 $(69)(1.0)%
General and administrative(1)
926 958 (32)(3.3)%
Depreciation and amortization643 595 48 8.1 %
Equity investment income(30)(33)9.1 %
Total operating expenses and charges$8,692 $8,742 $(50)(0.6)%
Patient care costs per treatment$241.47 $238.24 $3.23 1.4 %
Certain columns or rows may not sum or recalculate due to the presentation of rounded numbers
(1)General and administrative expenses for the year ended December 31, 2020 included advocacy costs of approximately $67 million incurred to counter union policy efforts, including a California ballot initiative.
Patient care costs. U.S. dialysis patient care costs are those costs directly associated with operating and supporting our dialysis centers and consist principally of compensation expenses including labor and benefits, pharmaceuticals, medical supplies and other operating costs of the dialysis centers.
U.S. dialysis patient care costs per treatment decreasedincreased primarily due to a decrease in calcimimetics unit costs as oral generic products have entered the market lowering the cost of products we acquire, as well as decreases in other pharmaceutical unit costs. These decreases were partially offset by increases in benefits costscompensation expenses related to increased wages and health benefit expenses due to lower than normal claims volume in 2020 due to COVID-19, other direct operating expenses associated with our dialysis centers.centers, medical supply expense and insurance expense. These increases were partially offset by decreases in pharmaceutical unit costs and intensity and COVID-19-related compensation expenses, utilities expense driven by our virtual power purchase arrangements and professional fees.
General and administrative expenses. U.S. dialysis general and administrative expenses in 2019 increaseddecreased primarily due to decreases in advocacy costs and contributions to our charitable foundation, partially offset by increases in compensation expenses related to labor costs, health benefit expenses and benefit costs,payroll taxes, as well as increases in professional fees and long-term incentive compensation expense driven by compensation plans based on operating income performance. These increases were partially offset by a decrease in advocacy costs to oppose certain legislative and ballot initiatives as well as a decline in asset impairments related to expected center closures.compensation.
Depreciation and amortization. Depreciation and amortization expense is directly impacted by the number of dialysis centers and the information technology we develop and acquire. U.S. dialysis depreciation and amortization expensesexpense increased primarily due to growth in the numberdevelopment of dialysisnew centers we operate,and renovation of existing centers as well as additional informational technology initiatives.accelerated depreciation for expected center closures.
Equity investment income. U.S. dialysis equity investment income increaseddecreased primarily due to an increasea decline in the profitability at certainour nonconsolidated joint ventures as well as an increasedue to growth in the numberdevelopment of our nonconsolidated dialysis joint ventures.
Gain on changes in ownership interests, net. During 2018, we acquired a controlling interest in a previously nonconsolidated dialysis partnership. As a result of this transaction, we consolidated this partnership and recognized a non-cash gain of $28 million on our previously held ownership interest in the partnership.new centers.
Operating income and adjusted operating income
 Year ended December 31,Annual change
 20212020AmountPercent
(dollars in millions)
Operating income$1,975 $1,918 $57 3.0 %
Adjusted operating income(1)
$1,975 $1,918 $57 3.0 %
 Year ended December 31, Annual change
 2019 2018 Amount Percent
 (dollars in millions)
Operating income$1,925
 $1,710
 $215
 12.6%
Adjusted operating income(1)
$1,925
 $1,682
 $243
 14.4%
Certain columns or rows may not sum or recalculate due to the presentation of rounded numbers.
 
(1)For a reconciliation of adjusted operating income by reportable segment, see "Reconciliations of non-GAAP measures" section below.
(1)For a reconciliation of adjusted operating income by reportable segment, see the "Reconciliations of non-GAAP measures" section below.
U.S. dialysis operating income and adjusted operating income in 2019 increased as compared to the prior year2020 primarily due to an increase in our margin on calcimimetics,average patient service revenue per treatment growth and Medicare rates,decreases in pharmaceutical unit costs and intensity, COVID-19-related compensation expenses, advocacy costs, utilities expense, as described above, as well as decreases in advocacy costs and other pharmaceutical unit costs.contributions to our charitable foundation. These increases to operating income were partially offset by a decrease in dialysis treatments and increases in compensation expense, as described above, other direct operating expenses associated with our dialysis centers, labor and benefits costsmedical supply expense, insurance expense and long-term compensation expense.incentive compensation.
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Other - Ancillary services
Our other operations include ancillary services whichthat are primarily aligned with our core business of providing dialysis services to our network of patients. As of December 31, 2019,2021, these consisted primarily of our U.S. integrated care and disease management business (DaVita IKC), ESRD seamless care organizations (ESCOs),physician services, and clinical research programs (DaVita Clinical Research), vascular access services, physician services, and comprehensive kidney care (Vively Health formerly known as DaVita Health Solutions), as well as our international operations. These ancillary services, including our international operations, generated revenues of approximately $972 million of revenues$1.047 billion in 2019,2021, representing approximately 8%9% of our consolidated revenues.
As of December 31, 2021, DaVita IKC provided integrated care and disease management services to approximately 16,000 patients in risk-based integrated care arrangements and to an additional 7,000 patients in other integrated care arrangements. We also expect to add additional service offerings to our business and pursue additional strategic initiatives in the future as circumstances warrant, which could include, among other things, healthcare services not related to dialysis.
As further described in the risk factor in Item 1A. Risk Factors under the heading, "OurThe ancillary services and strategic initiatives including, without limitation, ourand international operations that we operate or invest in now or in the future may generate losses and may ultimately be unsuccessful. In the event that one or more of these activities is unsuccessful, our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows may be negatively impacted and we may have to write off our investment and incur other exit costs," if any of our ancillary services, or strategic initiatives such asor our international operations are unsuccessful, it couldmay have a negative impact on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows, and if we may determine to exit that line of business whichwe may incur significant termination costs. For discussion of risks and potential impacts specific to our integrated kidney care business and related growth strategy, see the risk factor under the heading "If we are not able to successfully implement our strategy with respect to our integrated kidney care and value-based care initiatives, including maintaining our existing business and further developing our capabilities in a complex and highly regulated environment, it could result in significant termination costs. a loss of our investments and have a material adverse effect on our growth strategy, could adversely impact our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows, and could materially harm our reputation." In addition, we have in the past and may in the future incur a material write-offwrite-offs or an impairmentimpairments of our investment,investments, including goodwill, in one or more of these ancillary services. In that regard, we may in the future incur impairment and restructuring charges in addition to those incurred by our pharmacy business in 2018, described below.
We expect to add additional service offerings to our business and pursue additional strategic initiatives in the future as circumstances warrant, which could include healthcare services not related to dialysis.
As of December 31, 2019,2021, our international dialysis operations provided dialysis and administrative services through a network of 259business owned or operated 339 outpatient dialysis centers located in ten countries outside of the U.S. For 2019,2021, total revenues generated from our international operations were approximately 4%6% of our consolidated revenues.
Ancillary services results of operations
Year ended December 31, Annual change Year ended December 31,Annual change
2019 2018 Amount Percent 20212020AmountPercent
(dollars in millions)  (dollars in millions)
Revenues:       Revenues:
U.S. ancillary$464
 $749
 $(285) (38.1)%U.S. ancillary$371 $489 $(118)(24.1)%
International508
 447
 61
 13.6 %International676 564 112 19.9 %
Total ancillary services revenues$972
 $1,196
 $(224) (18.7)%Total ancillary services revenues$1,047 $1,053 $(6)(0.6)%
       
Operating income (loss):       
Operating (loss) income:Operating (loss) income:
U.S. ancillary$(66) $(70) $4
 5.7 %U.S. ancillary$(108)$(99)$(9)(9.1)%
International(123) (23) (100) (434.8)%
International(1)
International(1)
42 23 19 82.6 %
Total ancillary services loss$(189) $(94) $(95) (101.1)%Total ancillary services loss$(66)$(76)$10 13.2 %
       
Adjusted operating income (loss)(1):
       
Adjusted operating (loss) income(2):
Adjusted operating (loss) income(2):
U.S. ancillary$(66) $(75) $9
 12.0 %U.S. ancillary$(108)$(83)$(25)(30.1)%
International2
 (3) 5
 166.7 %
Total adjusted operating income (loss)(1):
$(64) $(78) $14
 17.9 %
International(1)
International(1)
42 23 19 82.6 %
Total adjusted operating loss:Total adjusted operating loss:$(66)$(60)$(6)(10.0)%
Certain columns rows or percentagesrows may not sum or recalculate due to the usepresentation of rounded numbers.
 
(1)For a reconciliation of adjusted operating income by reportable segment, see "Reconciliations of non-GAAP measures" section below.
(1)The reported operating income and adjusted operating income for the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, includes foreign currency gains (losses) embedded in equity method income recognized from our APAC joint venture of approximately $3 million and $(3) million, respectively.
(2)For a reconciliation of adjusted operating (loss) income by reportable segment, see the "Reconciliations of non-GAAP measures" section below.
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Revenues:
Our U.S. ancillary services revenues decreased due to the closurea decrease in revenues at our integrated care and disease management business primarily due to a reduction in members in our special needs plans, as well as a decrease in revenues related to completion of our pharmacy distribution operationsESCO programs in 2018the first quarter of 2021 and decreased revenues related to the sale of our primary carevascular access business, in the second quarter of 2018,RMS Lifeline, Inc. (Lifeline), as well as decreases in revenues at Vively Health, our ESCO joint ventures and DaVita Clinical Research. These decreases weredescribed below, partially offset by an increase in revenues at DaVita IKC,


primarily due to an increase in special needs plans revenues. In addition,our physician services business. Our international revenues increased due toprimarily as a result of acquired and non-acquired treatment growth as we continue to expand internationally.our international business.
Charges impacting operating income:
Goodwill impairment charges. During the first and third quarter of 2019, we recognized goodwill impairment charges of $41 million and $79 million, respectively, in our German kidney care business. The first quarter charge resulted primarily from a change in relevant discount rates, as well as a decline in current and expected future patient census and an increase in first quarter and expected future costs, principally due to wage increases expected to result from recently announced legislation. The third quarter incremental charge recognized in the Germany kidney care business resulted from changes and developments in our outlook for this business since our last assessment. These primarily concern developments in the business in response to evolving market conditions and changes in our expected timing and ability to mitigate them.
During 2019 and 2018, we also recognized goodwill impairment charges of $5 million and $3 million, respectively, at our German other health operations. See further discussion of these impairment charges and our reporting units that remain at risk of goodwill impairment in Note 10 to the consolidated financial statements.
Restructuring charges and other impairments. During 2018, we announced a plan to restructure our pharmacy business due to changes in the oral pharmacy space, including reimbursement rate pressures that negatively affected the economics of our pharmacy services business. This included transitioning the customer service and fulfillment functions of this business to third parties and closing our distribution operation, which resulted in a decline in revenues and costs in 2018. As a result of this closure, in 2018 we recognized restructuring charges of $11 million and asset impairment charges of $17 million related to the restructuring of our pharmacy business.
GainLoss on changes in ownership interests, net. Effective June 1, 2018, weWe sold 100% of the stock of Paladina Health,Lifeline, our direct primary carevascular access business, effective May 1, 2020 and recognized a gain of approximately $34 million on this transaction. In addition, we recognized a loss of approximately $1$16 million related to the unwinding of an international business in the second quarter of 2018.on this transaction.
Operating loss and adjusted operating loss:
U.S. ancillary services operating loss was impacted by the charges discussed above, in addition to an equity investment loss on the sale of our India business in our APAC JV of $9 million and an equity investment loss of $8 million related to impairments at our APAC JV. BothOur U.S. ancillary services operating loss and adjusted operating loss were impacted by a decrease related to our pharmacy distribution ceasing operations in 2018,the sale of Lifeline, as described above, and increases in operating results for DaVita IKC and DaVita Clinical Research, partially offsetabove. These losses were also impacted by decreasesa decline in operating results at Vively Healthour integrated care and disease management business due to increased investments to build up our integrated care support function, partially offset by a one-time non-recurring benefit received in the fourth quarter, improved performance at our ESCO joint ventures.physicians services business and decreased expenses in our clinical research business. International operating lossesresults increased primarily due to the goodwill impairment in our Germany businesses. International adjusted operating results improved over 2018 due toacquisition-related growth in our international business and benefited from cost efficiencies implemented.business.
Corporate administrative support
Corporate administrative support consists primarily of labor, benefits and long-term incentive compensation expense, as well as professional fees for departments which provide support to all of our various operating lines of business. These expenses are partially offset by internal management fees charged to our other lines of businessIn 2020, corporate support also included an accrual for that support.legal matters. Corporate administrative support expenses are included in general and administrative expenses on our consolidated income statement.
Accruals for legal matters. During 2020, we recorded a net charge for legal matters of $35 million.
Corporate administrative support expenses increased $2decreased $35 million or 2.2% in 2019 primarily due to a reduction in internal management fees charged to our pharmacy business which ceased operations in 2018. This increase was offsetdriven by accruals for legal matters, as described above, as well as a decrease in long-term incentive compensation expenseseverance accruals associated with our senior executive leadership transition in 2019 resulting from2020, partially offset by increased legal fees in 2021.
Corporate-level charges
 Year ended December 31,Annual change
 20212020AmountPercent
(dollars in millions)
Debt expense$285 $304 $(19)(6.3)%
Debt prepayment, refinancing and redemption charges$— $89 $(89)
Other income, net$$17 $(11)(64.7)%
Effective income tax rate20.2 %23.8 %(3.6)%
Effective income tax rate from continuing operations attributable to DaVita Inc.(1)
23.8 %28.6 %(4.8)%
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests$233 $221 $12 5.4 %
Certain columns or rows may not sum or recalculate due to the adoptionpresentation of a retirement policy for certain officers of the Company in 2018.rounded numbers.

59



Corporate level charges
 Year ended December 31, Annual change
 2019 2018 Amount Percent
 (dollars in millions)  
Debt expense$(444) $(487) $43
 8.8 %
Debt prepayment, refinancing and redemption charges$(33) $
 $(33)  
Other income$29
 $10
 $19
 190.9 %
Effective income tax rate23.4% 24.6%   (1.2)%
Effective income tax rate from continuing operations attributable to
DaVita Inc.
(1)
28.3% 29.2%   (0.9)%
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests$210
 $174
 $36
 20.7 %
 
(1)For a reconciliation of effective income tax rate from continuing operations attributable to DaVita Inc., see "Reconciliations of non-GAAP measures" section below.
(1)For a reconciliation of our effective income tax rate from continuing operations attributable to DaVita Inc., see the "Reconciliations of non-GAAP measures" section below.
Debt expense
Debt expense decreased primarily due to a decrease in our outstanding debt balance, partially offset by an increase in the overall weighted average effective interest rate on our debt, including a reduction in 2019.the LIBOR component of the interest rate on debt under our senior secured credit facilities and the repricing of our Term Loan B-1 as well as the refinancing our 5.125% senior notes and 5.0% senior notes with lower cost debt, partially offset by additional debt expense associated with the Additional 2030 Notes offering completed in February 2021. Our overall weighted average effective interest rate in 20192021 was 5.01%3.28% compared to 4.96%3.59% in 2018.2020. See Note 13 to the consolidated financial statements for further information on the components of our debt.debt and changes in them since 2020.
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Debt prepayment, refinancing and redemption charges
We incurred debtDebt prepayment, refinancing and redemption charges of $33were $89 million in 20192020 as a result of the repaymentredemption in full of allboth our $1.75 billion aggregate principal balancesamount outstanding onof 5.125% senior notes and our prior senior secured credit facilities and the redemption$1.50 billion aggregate principal amount outstanding of our 5.75%5.0% senior notes. This consisted of $21 million recognized in the third quarter of 2019 related toThese 2020 charges represented debt discountredemption premium charges and deferred financing cost write-offs associated with the portion of our prior senior securednote debt that was paid in fullfull. These charges recognized in 2020 also included $3 million of refinancing charges comprised partially of fees incurred on the repricing of our Term Loan B and partially of deferred financing costs written off for the portion of this debt considered extinguished and reborrowed. See further discussion of our 2020 debt prepayment, refinancing and redemption charges on our 5.75% senior notes, as well as $12 million recognized in the second quarter of 2019 relatedNote 13 to the accelerated amortization of debt discount and deferred financing costs associated with the portion of our prior senior secured debt that was mandatorily prepaid in or shortly after the second quarter of 2019 using proceeds from the sale of DMG and prior extensions of that debt.consolidated financial statements.
Other income 
Other income consists primarily of interest income on cash and cash equivalents and short- and long-term investments, realized and unrealized gains and losses recognized on investments, and foreign currency transaction gains and losses. Other income increased in 2019decreased primarily due to losses on certain investments that began trading in public markets during the increasesecond quarter of 2021 and a decrease in interest income on our holdings of cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments in 2019.2021. These decreases were partially offset by a reduction in foreign currency transaction losses.
Provision for income taxes 
The effective income tax rate and effective income tax rate from continuing operations attributable to DaVita Inc. decreased in 20192021 primarily due to an increase in tax benefits from stock-based compensation deductions, reductions in nondeductible advocacy spending in 2021 and deferred tax benefits recognized with respect to our foreign provision which were partially offset by re-measurement of our federal deferred taxes in 2021. Additionally we recognized a decrease in our estimated blendedbenefit for a favorable settlement reached with state tax rate and the lower nondeductible advocacy costs in 2019 as compared to the costs incurred in 2018 to oppose certain legislative and ballot initiatives.authorities which was partially offset by an accrual for our federal uncertain tax positions.
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
The increase in income attributable to noncontrolling interests in 2019 as2021 compared to 20182020 was due to improved earnings at certain U.S. dialysis partnershipspartnerships.
Accounts receivable
Our consolidated accounts receivable balances at December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020 were $1.958 billion and $1.824 billion, respectively, representing approximately 62 days and 59 days of revenue (DSO), respectively. The increase in consolidated DSO was primarily due to an increase of two days of DSO in our U.S. dialysis business primarily due to temporary billing holds. Our DSO calculation is based on the most recent quarter’s average revenues per day. There were no significant changes during 2021 from 2020 in the carrying amount of accounts receivable outstanding over one year old or in the amounts pending approval from third-party payors.
As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, our patient services accounts receivable balances that are more than six months old represents approximately 16% and 17%, respectively of our total accounts receivable balances outstanding. Substantially all revenue realized is from government and commercial payors, as discussed above. Less than 1% of our revenues in both periods were classified as patient pay.
Amounts pending approval from third-party payors associated with Medicare bad debt claims as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, other than the standard monthly billing, consisted of approximately $133 million and $154 million, respectively, and are classified as other receivables. A significant portion of our Medicare bad debt claims are typically paid to us before the Medicare fiscal intermediary audits the claims but are subject to subsequent adjustment based upon the actual results of those audits. Such audits typically occur one to four years after the claims are filed.
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Liquidity and capital resources
The following table summarizes our major sources and uses of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash:
Year ended December 31,Annual change
20212020AmountPercent
(dollars in millions)
Net cash provided by operating activities:
Net income$1,212 $995 $217 21.8 %
Non-cash items in net income860 1,089 (229)(21.0)%
Other working capital changes(108)(78)(30)(38.5)%
Other(33)(26)(7)(26.9)%
$1,931 $1,979 $(48)(2.4)%
Net cash used in investing activities:
Capital expenditures:
Routine maintenance/IT/other$(421)$(399)$(22)(5.5)%
Development and relocations(220)(275)55 20.0 %
Acquisition expenditures(187)(182)(5)(2.7)%
Proceeds from sale of self-developed properties56 93 (37)(39.8)%
DMG post-closing sale proceeds adjustment— (47)47 100.0 %
Other(12)(15)20.0 %
$(785)$(825)$40 4.8 %
Net cash used in financing activities:
Debt issuances (payments), net$754 $(64)$818 1,278.1 %
Deferred financing and debt redemption costs(9)(106)97 91.5 %
Distributions to noncontrolling interests(244)(253)3.6 %
Contributions from noncontrolling interests32 43 (11)(25.6)%
Stock award exercises and other share issuances(60)(1)(59)(5,900.0)%
Share repurchases(1,539)(1,458)(81)(5.6)%
Other(17)(8)(9)(112.5)%
$(1,083)$(1,847)$764 41.4 %
Total number of shares repurchased13,877,193 16,477,378 (2,600,185)(15.8)%
Free cash flow(1)
$1,133 $1,188 $(55)(4.6)%
Certain columns or rows may not sum or recalculate due to the presentation of rounded numbers.
(1)For a reconciliation of our free cash flow, see the "Reconciliations of Non-GAAP measures" section below.
Consolidated cash flows
Consolidated cash flows from operating activities for 2021 and 2020 were $1,931 million and $1,979 million, respectively. The decrease in cash flow from continuing operations was primarily driven by an increase in total DSO of approximately three days for 2021 compared to an increase of one day in 2020, combined with the net legal settlement payment partially offset by a decrease in cash interest paid.
Cash flows used for investing activities in 2021 decreased $40 million compared to 2020 primarily due to the final settlement payment made for the DMG sale in 2020, as well as a decrease in capital expenditures related to development partially offset by a reduction in proceeds from sale of assets. See below for additional information regarding the growth in our dialysis centers.
Cash flows used in financing activities decreased $764 million in 2021 compared to 2020. Significant sources of cash during 2021 included proceeds from the issuance of $1,000 million in aggregate principal amount of the Additional 2030 Notes as an add-on offering to our 4.625% senior notes due 2030 that were issued at an offering price of 101.750% of face amount in February 2021. Significant uses of cash during 2021 primarily consisted of the repayment in full of borrowings under our revolving line of credit, net payments of regularly scheduled mandatory principal payments under our senior secured credit facilities totaling approximately $88 million on Term Loan A and $27 million on Term Loan B-1 and additional required principal payments under other debt arrangements. In addition, we incurred bond issuance costs of approximately $9 million.
70


See further discussion in Note 13 to the consolidated financial statements related to debt financing activities. In addition, during the year ended December 31, 2021 we used cash to repurchase 13,877,193 shares of our common stock.
By comparison, in 2020 debt activity primarily consisted of issuances of $1,500 million in aggregate principal amount of 3.75% senior notes due 2031 in August 2020 and $1,750 million in aggregate principal amount of 4.625% senior notes due 2030 in June 2020, as well as a net draw of $75 million on our revolving line of credit. Significant uses of cash during 2020 included the subsequent redemptions in full of $1,500 million in aggregate principal amount of 5.0% senior notes due 2025 in August 2020 and $1,750 million in aggregate principal amount of 5.125% senior notes due 2024 in July 2020. Other net payments during 2020 primarily consisted of regularly scheduled mandatory principal payments under our senior secured credit facilities totaling approximately $55 million on Term Loan A and $27 million on Term Loan B-1 and additional required principal payments under other debt arrangements. In addition, we incurred bond issuance costs of approximately $38 million, debt redemption premium charges related to the redemption of our senior notes due in 2024 and 2025 of approximately $67 million and costs of repricing our Term Loan B of approximately $3 million. See further discussion in Note 13 to the consolidated financial statements related to debt financing activities. For the year ended December 31, 2020 we used cash to repurchase 16,477,378 shares of our common stock.
Dialysis center capacity and growth
We are typically able to increase our capacity by extending hours at our existing dialysis centers, expanding our existing dialysis centers, relocating our dialysis centers, developing new dialysis centers and by acquiring dialysis centers. The development of a typical new outpatient dialysis center generally requires approximately $2.3 million for leasehold improvements and other capital expenditures. Based on our experience, a new outpatient dialysis center typically opens within a year after the property lease is signed, normally achieves operating profitability in the second year after Medicare certification, and normally reaches maturity within three to five years. Acquiring an existing outpatient dialysis center requires a substantially greater initial investment, but profitability and cash flows are generally accelerated and more predictable. To a limited extent, we enter into agreements to provide management and administrative services to outpatient dialysis centers in which we own a noncontrolling interest or which are wholly-owned by third parties in return for management fees.
The table below shows the growth in our dialysis operations by number of such partnerships.dialysis centers owned or operated:
U.S.International
 2021202020212020
Number of centers operated at beginning of year2,816 2,753 321 259 
Acquired centers19 17 66 
Developed centers42 81 
Net change in non-owned managed or administered centers(1)
— — (6)
Sold and closed centers(2)
(11)(6)(5)— 
Closed centers(3)
(54)(20)(1)(3)
Number of centers operated at end of year2,815 2,816 339 321 
(1)Represents dialysis centers which we manage or provide administrative services to but in which we own a noncontrolling equity interest or which are wholly-owned by third parties, including our Asia Pacific joint venture centers.
(2)Represents dialysis centers that were sold and/or closed for which the majority of patients were not retained.
(3)Represents dialysis centers that were closed for which the majority of patients were retained and transferred to one of our other existing outpatient dialysis centers.
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Stock repurchases
The following table summarizes our common stock repurchases during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020:
Year ended December 31,
20212020
(dollars in millions and shares in thousands, except per share data)
Open market repurchases
Shares13,877 8,495 
Amounts paid$1,546 $742 
Average paid per share$111.41 $87.32 
Tender offer(1)
Shares— 7,982 
Amounts paid$— $705 
Average paid per share$— $88.32 
Total
Shares13,877 16,477 
Amounts paid$1,546 $1,447 
Average paid per share$111.41 $87.80 
(1)The aggregate amounts paid for shares repurchased pursuant to our tender offer for our shares during the year ended December 31, 2020, include its clearing price of $88.00 per share plus related fees and expenses of $2.5 million.
Subsequent to December 31, 2021, we have repurchased 1,437,107 shares of our common stock for $159 million at an average cost of $110.73 per share through February 9, 2022. We retired all shares of common stock held in treasury effective December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020.
See further discussion of our share repurchase activity and authorizations in Note 19 to the consolidated financial statements.
Available liquidity
As of December 31, 2021, our cash balance was $462 million and we held approximately $22 million in short-term investments. At that time we also had an undrawn $1.0 billion revolving line of credit under our senior secured credit facilities. Credit available under this revolving line of credit is reduced by the amount of any letters of credit outstanding thereunder, of which there were none as of December 31, 2021. As of December 31, 2021 we separately had approximately $69 million in letters of credit outstanding under a separate bilateral secured letter of credit facility.
See Note 13 to the consolidated financial statements for components of our long-term debt and their interest rates.
The COVID-19 pandemic and efforts to prevent its spread have dramatically reduced global economic activity and driven increased volatility in the financial markets. We have maintained business process continuity during the COVID-19 pandemic by enabling most back office teammates to work remotely, and as of the date of this report, we have not experienced a material deterioration in our liquidity position as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. The ultimate impact of the pandemic will depend on future developments that are highly uncertain and difficult to predict.
We believe that our cash flow from operations and other sources of liquidity, including from amounts available under our senior secured credit facilities and our access to the capital markets, will be sufficient to fund our scheduled debt service under the terms of our debt agreements and other obligations for the foreseeable future, including the next 12 months. Our primary recurrent sources of liquidity are cash from operations and cash from borrowings, which are subject to general, economic, financial, competitive, regulatory and other factors that are beyond our control, as described in Item 1A. Risk Factors under the heading "The level of our current and future debt could have an adverse impact on our business, and our ability to generate cash to service our indebtedness and for other intended purposes and our ability to maintain compliance with debt covenants depends on many factors beyond our control."
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Reconciliations of non-GAAP measures
The following tables provide reconciliations of adjusted operating income (loss) to operating income (loss) as presented on a U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) basis for our U.S. dialysis reportable segment as well as for our U.S. ancillary services, our international business, and for our total ancillary services which combines them and is disclosed as our other segments category. These non-GAAP or “adjusted”"adjusted" measures are presented because management believes these measures are useful adjuncts to, but not alternatives for, our GAAP results.


Specifically, management uses adjusted operating income (loss) to compare and evaluate our performance period over period and relative to competitors, to analyze the underlying trends in our business, to establish operational budgets and forecasts and for incentive compensation purposes. We believe this non-GAAP measure is also useful to investors and analysts in evaluating our performance over time and relative to competitors, as well as in analyzing the underlying trends in our business. We also believe this presentation enhances a user's understanding of our normal operating income by excluding certain items which we do not believe are indicative of our ordinary results of operations.
In addition, our effective income tax rate on income from continuing operations attributable to DaVita Inc. excludes noncontrolling owners' income, which primarily relates to non-tax paying entities. We believe this adjusted effective income tax rate is useful to management, investors and analysts in evaluating our performance and establishing expectations for income taxes incurred on our ordinary results attributable to DaVita Inc.
Finally, our free cash flow from continuing operations represents net cash provided by operating activities from continuing operations less distributions to noncontrolling interests and all capital expenditures (including development capital expenditures, routine maintenance and information technology), plus contributions from noncontrolling interests and proceeds from the sale of self-developed properties. Management uses this measure to assess our ability to fund acquisitions and meet our debt service obligations and we believe this measure is equally useful to investors and analysts as an adjunct to cash flows from operating activities from continuing operations and other measures under GAAP.
It is important to bear in mind that these non-GAAP “adjusted”"adjusted" measures are not measures of financial performance under GAAP and should not be considered in isolation from, nor as substitutes for, their most comparable GAAP measures.
 Year ended December 31, 2019
 U.S.
dialysis
 Ancillary services Corporate
administration
  
  U.S. International Total  Consolidated
 (dollars in millions)
Operating income$1,925
 $(66) $(123) $(189) $(92) $1,643
Goodwill impairment    125
 125
   125
Adjusted operating income$1,925
 $(66) $2
 $(64) $(92) $1,768
Year ended December 31, 2021
U.S.
dialysis
Ancillary servicesCorporate
administration
U.S.InternationalTotalConsolidated
(dollars in millions)
Operating income (loss)$1,975 $(108)$42 $(66)$(112)$1,797 
Adjusted operating income (loss)$1,975 $(108)$42 $(66)$(112)$1,797 
Certain columns or rows may not sum or recalculate due to the usepresentation of rounded numbers.
 Year ended December 31, 2018
 U.S.
dialysis
 Ancillary services Corporate
administration
  
  U.S. International Total  Consolidated
 (dollars in millions)
Operating income$1,710
 $(70) $(23) $(94) $(90) $1,526
Restructuring charges  11
   11
   11
(Gain) loss on changes in ownership
 interests, net
(28) (34) 1
 (33)   (61)
Goodwill impairment    3
 3
   3
Impairment of assets  17
   17
   17
Equity investment loss due to
 business sale in APAC JV
    9
 9
   9
Equity investment loss due to
 impairments in APAC JV
    8
 8
   8
Adjusted operating income$1,682
 $(75) $(3) $(78) $(90) $1,513
Year ended December 31, 2020
U.S.
dialysis
Ancillary servicesCorporate
administration
U.S.InternationalTotalConsolidated
(dollars in millions)
Operating income (loss)$1,918 $(99)$23 $(76)$(147)$1,695 
Loss on changes in ownership interests, net16 16 16 
Accruals for legal matters35 35 
Adjusted operating income (loss)$1,918 $(83)$23 $(60)$(112)$1,746 
Certain columns or rows may not sum or recalculate due to the usepresentation of rounded numbers.
73


Year ended December 31,Year ended December 31,
2019 201820212020
(dollars in millions)(dollars in millions)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes$1,195
 $1,048
Income from continuing operations before income taxes$1,518 $1,318 
Less: Noncontrolling owners’ income primarily attributable to non-tax paying entities(210) (167)Less: Noncontrolling owners’ income primarily attributable to non-tax paying entities(234)(222)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes attributable to DaVita Inc.$986
 $881
Income from continuing operations before income taxes attributable to DaVita Inc.$1,284 $1,097 
   
Income tax expense for continuing operations$280
 $258
Income tax expense for continuing operations$307 $314 
Less: Income tax attributable to noncontrolling interests(1) (1)
Income tax attributable to noncontrolling interestsIncome tax attributable to noncontrolling interests(1)(1)
Income tax expense from continuing operations attributable to DaVita Inc.$279
 $257
Income tax expense from continuing operations attributable to DaVita Inc.$306 $313 
   
Effective income tax rate on income from continuing operations attributable to DaVita Inc.28.3% 29.2%Effective income tax rate on income from continuing operations attributable to DaVita Inc.23.8 %28.6 %
Certain columns or rows may not sum or recalculate due to the usepresentation of rounded numbers.

61



Accounts receivable
Our consolidated accounts receivable balances at December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, were $1.796 billion and $1.859 billion, respectively, representing approximately 58 days and 62 days of revenue (DSO), respectively, net of the allowance for uncollectible accounts. The decrease in consolidated DSO was primarily due to a decrease of two days of DSO in our U.S. dialysis business primarily due to improved collections related to certain payors as well as improved DSO at our international operations. Our DSO calculation is based on the current quarter’s average revenues per day. There were no significant changes during 2019 from 2018 in the amount of unreserved accounts receivable over one year old or the amounts pending approval from third-party payors.
As of December 31, 2019 and 2018, our net patient services accounts receivable balances that are more than six months old represents approximately 18% of our dialysis accounts receivable balances. Substantially all revenue realized is from government and commercial payors, as discussed above. There were no significant unreserved balances over one year old. Less than 1% of our revenues are classified as patient pay.
Amounts pending approval from third-party payors associated with Medicare bad debt claims as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, other than the standard monthly billing, consisted of approximately $138 million and $136 million, respectively, and are classified as other receivables. A significant portion of our Medicare bad debt claims are typically paid to us before the Medicare fiscal intermediary audits the claims but are subject to adjustment based upon the actual results of these audits. Such audits typically occur one to four years after the claims are filed.

62



Liquidity and capital resources
The following table summarizes our major sources and uses of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash:
 Year ended December 31, Annual change
 2019 2018 Amount Percent
 (dollars in millions)  
Net cash provided by operating activities:       
Net income$1,021
 $333
 $688
 206.6 %
Non-cash items964
 1,340
 (376) (28.1)%
Working capital111
 96
 15
 15.6 %
Other(24) 2
 (26) (1,300.0)%
 $2,072
 $1,772
 $300
 16.9 %
        
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities:       
Capital expenditures:       
Routine maintenance/IT/other$(375) $(459) $84
 18.3 %
Development and relocations(391) (528) 137
 25.9 %
Acquisition expenditures(101) (183) 82
 44.8 %
Proceeds from sale of self-developed properties58
 45
 13
 28.9 %
DMG sale net proceeds received at closing, net of DMG cash
 divested
3,825
 
 3,825
  
Other(20) 119
 (139) (116.8)%
 $2,995
 $(1,006) $4,001
 397.7 %
        
Net cash used in financing activities:       
Debt (payments) issuances, net$(2,080) $695
 $(2,775) (399.3)%
Distributions to noncontrolling interest(233) (196) (37) (18.9)%
Contributions from noncontrolling interest57
 52
 5
 9.6 %
Stock award exercises and other share issuances11
 14
 (3) (21.4)%
Share repurchases(2,384) (1,162) (1,222) (105.2)%
Other(68) (28) (40) (142.9)%
 $(4,696) $(625) $(4,071) (651.4)%
        
Total number of shares repurchased41,020,232
 16,844,067
 24,176,165
 143.5 %
Year ended December 31,
20212020
(dollars in millions)
Net cash provided by operating activities$1,931 $1,979 
Adjustments to reconcile net cash provided by continuing operating
 activities to free cash flow from continuing operations:
Distributions to noncontrolling interests(244)(253)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests32 43 
Expenditures for routine maintenance and information technology(421)(399)
Expenditures for development(220)(275)
Proceeds from sale of self-developed properties56 93 
Free cash flow$1,133 $1,188 
Certain columns or rows may not sum or recalculate due to the usepresentation of rounded numbers.
Consolidated cash flows
Consolidated cash flows from operating activities for 2019 were $2,072 million, of which $1,973 million was from continuing operations, compared with consolidated operating cash flows for the same period in 2018 of $1,772 million, of which $1,481 million was from continuing operations. The increase in cash flow from continuing operations was primarily driven by an increase in operating income in 2019 as compared to 2018, driven by decreases in pharmaceutical and advocacy costs, as well as a decrease in DSO of approximately four days and cash tax payments.
Cash flows from investing activities in 2019 increased $4,001 million compared to 2018 primarily due to the net cash proceeds received from the DMG sale, which closed in June 2019, as well as a decrease in capital and acquisition expenditures. We developed 38 fewer centers and acquired 23 fewer centers in 2019 compared to 2018. See below for additional information regarding the growth in our dialysis centers.
Cash flows used in financing activities increased $4,071 million in 2019 compared to 2018. Significant financing activities included net payments of $2,080 million on debt during 2019. Net debt payments primarily consisted of principal prepayments totaling $5,142 million on our term debt under our prior senior secured credit facility funded primarily by the net proceeds from the DMG sale and the redemption of all of our outstanding 5.75% senior notes due in 2022 for an aggregate cash payment consisting of principal and redemption premium of $1,262 million, partially offset by funding of our term debt of $4,500 million under our new senior secured credit facility. In addition, we incurred deferred financing costs related to our new


term debt and a cap premium fee for our forward interest rate cap agreements. By comparison, 2018 included net advances of $695 million, which included a $995 million draw on our prior Term Loan A-2 and net payments of $125 million on our prior revolving line of credit, net of scheduled principal payments on our term debt under our prior senior secured credit facility. See further discussion in Note 13 to the consolidated financial statements related to debt activities. Cash flows used for share repurchases increased in 2019 as compared to 2018 primarily due to our modified Dutch auction tender offer (Tender Offer). See below for further information on our share repurchases.
Dialysis center capacity and growth
The table below shows the growth in our dialysis operations by number of dialysis centers owned or operated:
 U.S. International
 2019 2018 2019 2018
Number of centers operated at beginning of year2,664
 2,510
 241
 237
Acquired centers7
 18
 16
 28
Developed centers115
 152
 2
 3
Net change in non-owned managed or administered centers(1)
(1) (5) 
 
Sold and closed centers(2)
(10) (2) (1) (2)
Closed centers(3)
(22) (9) 
 
Net change in Asia Pacific joint venture centers
 
 1
 (25)
Number of centers operated at end of year2,753
 2,664
 259
 241
(1)Includes dialysis centers in which we own a noncontrolling interest or which are wholly-owned by third parties.
(2)Dialysis centers that were sold and/or closed for which patients were not retained.
(3)Dialysis centers that were closed for which the majority of patients were retained and transferred to existing outpatient dialysis centers.
Stock repurchases
The following table summarizes our repurchases of our common stock during the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018:
 2019 2018
 Shares repurchased 
Amount paid
(in millions)
 
Paid
per share
 Shares repurchased 
Amount paid
(in millions)
 
Paid
per share
Tender Offer(1)
21,801,975
 $1,234
 $56.61
 
 $
 $
Open market19,218,257
 1,168
 60.79
 16,844,067
 1,154
 68.48
 41,020,232
 $2,402
 $58.57
 16,844.067
 $1,154
 $68.48
(1)The amount paid for shares repurchased associated with our Tender Offer during the year ended December 31, 2019 includes the clearing price of $56.50 per share plus related fees and expenses of $2 million.
Subsequent to December 31, 2019, we have repurchased 290,904 shares of our common stock for $22 million at an average cost of $74.92 per share from January 1, 2020 through February 20, 2020. We retired all shares of common stock held in treasury effective December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018.
See further discussion in Note 19 to the consolidated financial statements.
Available liquidity
As of December 31, 2019, our cash balance was $1.102 billion and we had approximately $12 million in short-term investments. As of December 31, 2019, we also had an undrawn $1.0 billion revolving line of credit under our senior secured credit facilities, of which approximately $13 million was committed for outstanding letters of credit. We also have approximately $60 million of additional outstanding letters of credit under a separate bilateral secured letter of credit facility.
See Note 13 to the consolidated financial statements for components of our long-term debt and their interest rates.
We believe that our cash flow from operations and other sources of liquidity, including from amounts available under our new senior secured credit facilities and our access to the capital markets, will be sufficient to fund our scheduled debt service


under the terms of our debt agreements and other obligations for the foreseeable future, including the next 12 months. Our primary recurrent sources of liquidity are cash from operations and cash from borrowings, which are subject to general, economic, financial, competitive, regulatory and other factors that are beyond our control, as described in Item 1A Risk Factors under the heading "The level of our current and future debt could have an adverse impact on our business, and our ability to generate cash to service our indebtedness and for other intended purposes depends on many factors beyond our control."
Off-balance sheet arrangements and aggregate contractual obligations
In addition to the debt obligations and operating lease liabilities reflected on our balance sheet, we have commitments associated with letters of credit, as well as potentialcertain working capital funding obligations associated with our equity investments in nonconsolidated businessesdialysis ventures that we manage and to dialysis venturessome we manage that are wholly-owned by third parties.
We also have potential obligations to purchase the noncontrolling interests held by third parties in many of our majority-owned dialysis partnerships and other nonconsolidated entities. These obligations are in the form of put provisions that are exercisable at the third-party owners’ discretion within specified periods as outlined in each specific put provision. If these put provisions were exercised, we would be required to purchase the third-party owners’ equity interests, generally at the appraised fair market value of the equity interests or in certain cases at a predetermined multiple of earnings or cash flows attributable to the equity interests put to us, intended to approximate fair value. The methodology we use to estimate the fair values of noncontrolling interests subject to put provisions assumes the higher of either a liquidation value of net assets or an average multiple of earnings, based on historical earnings, patient mix and other performance indicators that can affect future results, as well as other factors. The estimated fair values of noncontrolling interests subject to put provisions are a critical accounting estimate that involves significant judgments and assumptions and may not be indicative of the actual values at which the noncontrolling interests may ultimately be settled, which could vary significantly from our current estimates. The estimated fair values of noncontrolling interests subject to put provisions can fluctuate and the implicit multiple of earnings at which these noncontrolling interests obligations may be settled will vary significantly depending upon market conditions including potential purchasers’ access to the capital markets, which can impact the level of competition for dialysis and non-dialysis related businesses, the economic performance of these businesses and the restricted marketability of the third-party owners’ equity interests. The amount of noncontrolling interests subject to put provisions that employ a contractually predetermined multiple of earnings rather than fair value are immaterial. For additional information see Note 17 to the consolidated financial statements.
We also have certain other potential commitments to provide operating capital to several dialysis businesses that are wholly-owned by third parties or in which we own a noncontrolling equity interest as well as to physician-owned vascular access clinics or medical practices that we operate under management and administrative services agreements.
The following is a summary of these cash contractual obligations and commitments as of December 31, 2019:2021:
 2020 2021-2022 2023-2024 Thereafter Total
 (dollars in millions)
Scheduled payments under contractual obligations:         
Long-term debt(1):


 

 

 

 

Principal payments$105
 $279
 $3,348
 $4,180
 $7,912
Interest payments on credit facilities and senior notes(1)
336
 657
 622
 209
 1,824
Financing leases(2)
25
 43
 49
 152
 269
Operating leases, including imputed interest(2)
462
 945
 768
 1,511
 3,685
 $928
 $1,924
 $4,787
 $6,052
 $13,690
Potential cash requirements under other commitments:         
Letters of credit$73
 $
 $
 $
 $73
Noncontrolling interests subject to put provisions829
 188
 106
 57
 1,180
Non-owned and minority owned put provisions108
 
 7
 
 115
Operating capital advances1
 2
 2
 5
 10
Purchase commitments399
 624
 
 
 1,023
 $1,410
 $814
 $115
 $62
 $2,401
 20222023-20242025-2026ThereafterTotal
(dollars in millions)
Debt and leases:     
Long-term debt(1):
Principal payments$155 $1,589 $2,633 $4,289 $8,666 
Interest payments on credit facilities and senior notes258 503 446 698 1,905 
Financing leases(2)
24 54 60 161 299 
Operating leases, including imputed interest(2)
494 974 775 1,294 3,537 
 $931 $3,120 $3,914 $6,442 $14,407 
Partnership interests subject to put provisions:(3)
     
On-balance sheet:
Noncontrolling interests subject to put provisions1,150 151 64 70 1,435 
Off-balance sheet:
Non-owned and minority owned put provisions117 122 
 $1,267 $156 $64 $70 $1,557 
(1)See Note 13 to the consolidated financial statements for components of our long-term debt and related interest rates.
(2)See Note 14 to the consolidated financial statements for components of our leases and related interest rates.

(1)See Note 13 to the consolidated financial statements for components of our long-term debt and related interest rates.
74


(2)See Note 14 to the consolidated financial statements for components of our leases and related interest rates.
(3)Represents amounts for which we are contractually committed, should the outside partner exercise its put option.
As of December 31, 2021 we have outstanding letters of credit in the aggregate amount of $69 million under a separate bilateral secured letter of credit facility.
In 2017, the Companywe entered into a Sourcing and Supply Agreement with Amgen USA Inc. (Amgen) that expires on December 31, 2022. Under the terms of the agreement, the Companywe will purchase EPO from Amgen in amounts necessary to meet no less than 90% of its requirements for erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) through the expiration of the contract. The actual amount of EPO that the Companywe will purchase will depend upon the amount of EPO administered during dialysis as prescribed by physicians and the overall number of patients that the Company serves.we serve.
The Company has an agreementAs of December 31, 2021 we have outstanding purchase agreements with Fresenius Medical Care (FMC)various suppliers to purchase a certain amountset amounts of dialysis equipment, parts, and supplies from FMC, which extends through December 31, 2020. The Company also has agreements with Baxter Healthcare Corporation (Baxter) that commit the Company to purchase certain amounts of dialysis supplies at fixed prices through 2022.supplies. If the Company failswe fail to meet the minimum purchase commitments under these contracts during any year, it iswe are required to pay the difference to the supplier. For additional information see Note 17 to the consolidated financial statements.
Settlements ofWe also have certain potential commitments to provide working capital funding, if necessary, to certain nonconsolidated dialysis businesses that we manage and in which we own a noncontrolling equity interest or which are wholly-owned by third parties. For additional information see Note 17 to the consolidated financial statements.
Additionally, we expect our 2022 capital expenditures to be in alignment with 2021 capital expenditures.
In addition, we have approximately $83$88 million of existing income tax liabilities for unrecognized tax benefits, including interest, penalties and other long-term tax liabilities, are excluded from the above table as reasonably reliable estimatesliabilities. We expect a significant portion of their timing cannotthese settlements to be made.paid in 2022.
Contingencies
The information in Note 16 to the consolidated financial statements included in this report is incorporated by reference in response to this item.
Critical accounting policies, estimates and judgments
Our consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes are prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles. These accounting principles require us to make estimates, judgments and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of revenues, expenses, assets, liabilities, contingencies and noncontrolling interests subject to put provisions (redeemable equity interests). All significant estimates, judgments and assumptions are developed based on the best information available to us at the time made and are regularly reviewed and updated when necessary. Actual results will generally differ from these estimates, and such differences may be material. Changes in estimates are reflected in our financial statements in the period of change based upon on-going actual experience trends or subsequent settlements and realizations depending on the nature and predictability of the estimates and contingencies. Interim changes in estimates are applied prospectively within annual periods. Certain accounting estimates, including those concerning revenue recognition and accounts receivable, impairments offair value estimates for goodwill and noncontrolling interests, accounting for income taxes, and fair value estimatesloss contingencies are considered to be critical to evaluating and understanding our financial results because they involve inherently uncertain matters and their application requires the most difficult and complex judgments and estimates. For additional information, see Part II Item 15, "Exhibits,"Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules" – Note 1 – "Organization and summary of significant accounting policies"policies" as referred from Part II Item 8, "Financial"Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.Data."
U.S. dialysis revenue recognition and accounts receivable. There are significant estimating risks associated with the amount of U.S. dialysis revenue that we recognize in a given reporting period. Payment rates are often subject to significant uncertainties related to wide variations in the coverage terms of the commercial healthcare plans under which we receive payments. In addition, ongoing insurance coverage changes, geographic coverage differences, differing interpretations of contract coverage, and other payor issues complicate the billing and collection process. NetThe measurement and recognition of revenue recognition and allowances for uncollectible billings requirerequires the use of estimates of the amounts that will ultimately be realized considering, among other items, retroactive adjustments that may be associated with regulatory reviews, audits, billing reviews and other matters.
Revenues associated with Medicare and Medicaid programs are recognized based on (a) the payment rates that are established by statute or regulation for the portion of the payment rates paid by the government payor (e.g., 80% for Medicare patients) and (b) for the portion not paid by the primary government payor, the estimated amounts that will ultimately be collectible from other government programs providing secondary coverage (e.g., Medicaid secondary coverage), the patient’s commercial health plan secondary coverage, or the patient. Our dialysis related reimbursements from Medicare are subject to certain variations under Medicare’s single bundled payment rate system whereby our reimbursements can be adjusted for
75


certain patient characteristics and other variable factors. Our revenue recognition depends upon our ability to effectively capture, document and bill for Medicare’s base payment rate and these other factors. In addition, as a result of the potential range of variations that can occur in our dialysis-related reimbursements from Medicare under the single bundled payment rate system, our revenue recognition is subject to a greater degree of estimating risk.


Commercial healthcare plans, including contracted managed-care payors, are billed at our usual and customary rates; however, revenue is recognized based on estimated net realizable revenue for the services provided. Net realizable revenue is estimated based on contractual terms for the patients covered under commercial healthcare plans with which we have formal agreements, non-contracted commercial healthcare plan coverage terms if known, estimated secondary collections, historical collection experience, historical trends of refunds and payor payment adjustments (retractions), inefficiencies in our billing and collection processes that can result in denied claims for payments, the estimated timing of collections, changes in our expectations of the amounts that we expect to collect and regulatory compliance matters. Determining applicable primary and secondary coverage for our approximately 206,900203,100 U.S. dialysis patients at any point in time, together with the changes in patient coverages that occur each month, requires complex, resource-intensive processes. Collections, refunds and payor retractions typically continue to occur for up to three years or longer after services are provided.
We generally expect the range of our U.S. dialysis revenue estimating risk to be within 1% of revenue, which can represent as much as approximately 5% of our U.S. dialysis business’s adjusted operating income. Changes in estimates are reflected in the then-current financial statements based on on-going actual experience trends, or subsequent settlements and realizations depending on the nature and predictability of the estimates and contingencies. Changes in revenue estimates for prior periods are separately disclosed and reported if material to the current reporting period and longer term trend analyses, and have not been significant.
Revenues for laboratory services, which are integrally related to our dialysis services, are recognized in the period services are provided at the estimated net realizable amounts to be received.
ImpairmentsCertain fair value estimates. Fair value measurements and estimates affect, or potentially affect, a variety of goodwill. We account for impairmentselements in the Company's financial statements. Two of the elements most significantly impacted by fair value estimates are the Company's goodwill in accordance with theimpairment assessments and remeasurements of its noncontrolling interests subject to put provisions of applicable accounting guidance. balance.
Goodwill is not amortized, but is assessed for impairment when changes in circumstances warrant and at least annually. An impairment charge is recorded when and to the extent a reporting unit's carrying amount is determined to exceed its estimated fair value.
Changes in circumstance that may trigger a goodwill impairment assessment for one of our business units can include, among others, changes in the legal environment, addressable market, business strategy, development or business plans, reimbursement structure, operating performance, future prospects, relationships with partners, and/or market value indications for the subject business. We use a variety of factors to assess changes in the financial condition, future prospects and other circumstances concerning thefor businesses subject businesses and to estimate their fair value when applicable. Any change in the factors, assessments or assumptions involved could affect a determination of whether and when to assess goodwill for impairment as well as the outcome of such an assessment. TheseHowever, these assessments and the related valuations can involve significant uncertainties and require significant judgment on various matters, somematters. See Note 10 to the consolidated financial statements for a sensitivity summary on the Company's reporting units considered at risk of which could begoodwill impairment as of December 31, 2021.
The Company is also required to remeasure its noncontrolling interests subject to reasonable disagreement.put provisions to estimated fair value each reporting period. These estimates also require substantive judgment on meaningful uncertainties concerning this significant balance. See Notes 17 and 24 to the consolidated financial statements for a summary of the Company's approach to these valuations, the variables and uncertainties involved, and the sensitivity of these valuations to changes in a primary aggregate valuation metric.
Accounting for income taxes. Our income tax expense, deferred tax assets and liabilities, and liabilities for unrecognized tax benefits reflect management’s best assessment of estimated current and future taxes to be paid. We are subject to income taxes in the United States and numerous state and foreign jurisdictions, and changes in tax laws or regulations may be proposed or enacted that could adversely affect our overall tax liability. The actual impact of any such laws or regulations could be materially different from our current estimates.
Significant judgments and estimates are required in determining our consolidated income tax expense. Deferred income taxes arise from temporary differences between the tax basis of assets and liabilities and their reported amounts in the financial statements, which will result in taxable or deductible amounts in the future. In evaluating our ability to recover our deferred tax assets within the jurisdictionjurisdictions from which they arise, we consider all available positive and negative evidence, including scheduled reversals of deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income, tax planning strategies, results of recent operations, and assumptions about the amount of future federal, state, and foreign pre-tax operating income adjusted for items that do not have tax consequences. The assumptions about future taxable income require significant judgments and are consistent with the plans and estimates we use to manage the underlying businesses. To the extent that recovery is not likely, a
76


valuation allowance is established. The allowance is regularly reviewed and updated for changes in circumstances that would cause a change in judgment about the realizability of the related deferred tax assets.
Fair value estimates. The FASB defines fair value generally as the amount at which an asset (or liability) could be bought (or incurred) or sold (or settled) in a current transaction between willing parties, that is, other than in a forced or liquidation sale. It also defines fair value more specifically for most purposes as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.
We rely on fair value measurements and estimates for purposes that require the recording, reassessment, or adjustment of the carrying amounts of certain assets, liabilities and noncontrolling interests subject to put provisions (redeemable equity interests). These purposes can include purchase accounting for business combination transactions; impairment assessments for goodwill, other intangible assets, and other long-lived assets; recurrent revaluation of investments in debt and equity securities,


interest rate cap agreements or other derivative instruments, contingent earn-out obligations, and noncontrolling interests subject to put provisions; and the accounting for equity method and other investments and stock-based compensation, among others. The criticality of a particular fair value estimate to our consolidated financial statements depends upon the nature and size of the item being measured, the extent of uncertainties involved and the nature and magnitude or potential effect of assumptions and judgments required. Critical fair value estimates can involve significant uncertainties and require significant judgment on various matters, some of which could be subject to reasonable disagreement.
Loss contingencies. As discussed in Notes 1 and 16 to the consolidated financial statements, we operate in a highly regulated industry and are party to various lawsuits, claims, qui tam suits, governmental investigations and audits (including, without limitation, investigations or other actions resulting from our obligation to self-report suspected violations of law), contract disputes and other legal proceedings. Assessments of such matters can involve a series of complex judgments about future events and can rely heavily on estimates and assumptions. We record accruals for loss contingencies on such matters to the extent that we determine an unfavorable outcome is probable and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. See Note 16 to the consolidated financial statements included in this report for further discussion. As described in Note 22 to the consolidated financial statements, the final sale price for our DMG business remains subject to certain post-closing adjustments under its equity purchase agreement which could have a material effect on the total sale proceeds we retain or the total amount of our loss on sale of this business.
Significant new accounting standards
See Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements included in this report for information regarding certain recent financial accounting standards that have been issued by the FASB.
Item 7A.    Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk.
Interest rate sensitivity
The tables below provide information about our financial instruments that are sensitive to changes in interest rates. The first table below presents principal repayments and current weighted average interest rates on our debt obligations as of December 31, 2019.2021. The variable rates presented reflect the weighted average LIBOR rates in effect for all debt tranches plus interest rate margins in effect as of December 31, 2019.2021. The Term Loan A interest rate margin in effect at December 31, 2019,2021, was 1.50%,. At December 31, 2021, the Term Loan B-1 interest rate margin in effect was 1.75%. The interest rates in effect on our Term Loan A and along with our revolving line of credit isare subject to adjustment depending upon changes in certainour leverage ratio.
 Expected maturity dateAverage
interest
rate
Fair value(1)
 20222023202420252026ThereafterTotal
 (dollars in millions)
Long term debt:         
Fixed rate$35 $40 $31 $32 $42 $4,447 $4,627 4.44 %$4,363 
Variable rate$144 $178 $1,394 $36 $2,583 $$4,338 2.20 %$4,336 
(1)Represents the fair value of our financial ratios, including a leverage ratio. At December 31, 2019, the Term Loan B interest rate margin in effect was LIBOR plus an interest rate margin of 2.25%. long-term debt excluding financing leases.
 Notional amountContract maturity dateReceive variableFair value
 20222023202420252026
 (dollars in millions)
2019 interest rate cap agreements$3,500 $— $— $3,500 $— $— LIBOR above 2.0%$12.2 
 Expected maturity date   Average
interest
rate
 Fair value
 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 Thereafter Total  
 (dollars in millions)
Long term debt: 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
Fixed rate$32
 $27
 $29
 $42
 $1,777
 $1,717
 $3,624
 5.11% $3,702
Variable rate$98
 $126
 $140
 $183
 $1,395
 $2,615
 $4,557
 3.94% $4,585
 Notional amount Contract maturity date Receive variable Fair value
  2020 2021 2022 2023 2024  
 (dollars in millions)
2015 cap agreements$3,500
 $3,500
 $
 $
 $
 $
 LIBOR above 3.5% $
2019 cap agreements$3,500
 $
 $
 $
 $
 $3,500
 LIBOR above 2.0% $24
For a further discussion of our debt, see Note 13 to our consolidated financial statements at Part II Item 15, "Exhibits,"Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules" – Note 13 – "Long-term debt" as referred from Part II Item 8, "Financial"Financial Statements and Supplementary Data."
We believe that our cash flow from operations and other sources of liquidity, including from amounts available under our current credit facilities and our access to the capital markets, will be sufficient to fund our scheduled debt service under the terms of our debt agreements and other obligations for the foreseeable future, including the next 12 months. Our primary recurrent sources of liquidity are cash from operations and cash from borrowings.


One means of assessing exposure to debt-related interest rate changes is a duration-based analysis that measures the potential loss in net income resulting from a hypothetical increase in interest rates of 100 basis points across all variable rate maturities (referred to as a parallel shift in the yield curve). Under this model, with all else constant, it is estimated that such an increase would have reduced net income by approximately $32.4$33.8 million, $37.8$34.8 million, and $27.6$32.4 million, net of tax, for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018,2021, 2020, and 2017,2019, respectively.
Exchange rate sensitivity
While our business is predominantly conducted in the U.S., we have developing operations in nineten other countries as well. For financial reporting purposes, the U.S. dollar is our reporting currency. However, the functional currencies of our operating businesses in other countries are typically those of the countries in which they operate. Therefore, changes in the rate of
77


exchange between the U.S. dollar and the local currencies in which our international operations are conducted affect our results of operations and financial position as reported in our consolidated financial statements.
We have consolidated the balance sheets of our non-U.S. dollar denominated operations into U.S. dollars at the exchange rates prevailing at the balance sheet dates and have translated their revenues and expense at average exchange rates during each period. Additionally, our individual subsidiaries are exposed to transactional risks mainly resulting from intercompany transactions between and among subsidiaries with different functional currencies. This exposes the subsidiaries to fluctuations in the rate of exchange between the invoicing or obligation currencies and the currency in which their local operations are conducted.
We evaluate our exposure to foreign exchange risk through the judgment of our international and corporate management teams. Through 2019,2021, our international operations have remained fairly small relative to the size of our consolidated financial statements, constituting approximately 8%9% of our consolidated assets as of December 31, 2019, and approximately 4%6% of our consolidated revenues for the year ended December 31, 2019.2021, with no single country constituting more than 3% of consolidated assets. In addition, our unrealized foreign currency translation (losses) gainslosses were approximately (1)%5%, (3)%0.4%, and 6%1% of our consolidated operating income for the years ended December 31, 2019, 20182021, 2020 and 2017.2019.
Given the relatively small size of our international operations, management does not consider our exposure to foreign exchange risk to be significant to the consolidated enterprise. As such, through December 31, 2019,2021, we have not engaged in transactions to hedge the exposure of our international transactions or net investments to foreign currency risk. 
Item 8.        Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.
See the Index to Financial Statements and Index to Financial Statement Schedules included at “Item 15. Item 15, "Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules."
Item 9.        Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.
None.
Item 9A.    Controls and Procedures.
Management has established and maintains disclosure controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports that it files or submits pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Exchange Act) as amended is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management including our Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) as appropriate to allow for timely decisions regarding required disclosures.
At the end of the period covered by this report, we carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our Chief Executive OfficerCEO and Chief Financial Officer,CFO, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of ourthe Company's disclosure controls and procedures in accordance with the Exchange Act requirements.requirements as of December 31, 2021. Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive OfficerCEO and Chief Financial OfficerCFO concluded that ourthe Company's disclosure controls and procedures arewere effective for timely identification and reviewas required by the Exchange Act as of material information required to be included insuch date for our Exchange Act reports, including this report. Management recognizes that these controls and procedures can provide only reasonable assurance of desired outcomes, and that estimates and judgments are still inherent in the process of maintaining effective controls and procedures.

Beginning January 1, 2019, we adopted FASB Accounting Standards Codification Topic 842, Leases. As a result of adopting this new standard, we implemented new business processes and related control activities in order to maintain appropriate controls over financial reporting. There was no other change in ourthe Company's internal control over financial reporting that was identified during the evaluation that occurred during the fourth fiscal quarter of 20192021 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’sCompany's internal control over financial reporting.

69



Item 9B.    Other Information.
None.

Item 9C.    Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections.
Not applicable.
70
78



PART III
Item 10.        Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.
We intend to disclose any amendments or waivers to the Code of Ethics applicable to our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller or persons performing similar functions, on our website located at http://www.davita.com. In 2002, we adopted a Corporate Governance Code of Ethics that applies to our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, and to all of our financial accounting and legal professionals who are directly or indirectly involved in the preparation, reporting and fair presentation of our financial statements and Exchange Act reports. The Code of Ethics is posted on our website, located at http://www.davita.com. We also maintain a Corporate Code of Conduct that applies to all of our employees, officers and directors, which is posted on our website.
Under our Corporate Governance Guidelines all Board Committees including the Audit Committee, Nominating and Governance Committee and the Compensation Committee, which are comprised solely of independent directors as defined within the listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange, have written charters that outline the committee’s purpose, goals, membership requirements and responsibilities. These charters are regularly reviewed and updated as necessary by our Board of Directors. All Board Committee charters as well as the Corporate Governance Guidelines are posted on our website located at http://www.davita.com.
The other information required to be disclosed by this item will appear in, and is incorporated by reference from, the sections entitled “Proposal"Proposal 1 Election of Directors”Directors", “Corporate Governance”"Corporate Governance", and “Security"Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management”Management" to be included in our definitive proxy statement relating to our 20202022 annual stockholder meeting.
Item 11.        Executive Compensation.
The information required by this item will appear in, and is incorporated by reference from, the sections entitled "Executive Compensation""Executive Compensation", "Pay"Pay Ratio Disclosure"Disclosure", "Compensation"Compensation of Directors"Directors" and "Compensation"Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation"Participation" included in our definitive proxy statement relating to our 20202022 annual stockholder meeting. The information required by Item 407(e)(5) of Regulation S-K will appear in and is incorporated by reference from the section entitled “Compensation"Compensation Committee Report”Report" to be included in our definitive proxy statement relating to our 20202022 annual stockholder meeting; however, this information shall not be deemed to be filed.
Item 12.        Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.
The following table provides information about our common stock that may be issued upon the exercise of stock-settled stock appreciation rights, restricted stock units and other rights under all of our existing equity compensation plans as of December 31, 2019,2021, which consist of our 2020 Incentive Award Plan, 2011 Incentive Award Plan and our Employee Stock Purchase Plan. The material terms of these plans are described in Note 18 to the consolidated financial statements.
Plan category 
Number of
shares to be issued upon exercise
of outstanding options, warrants and rights
(1)(2)
 
Weighted average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights(3)
 Number of shares remaining
available for future issuance under equity
compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in
column (a))
 Total of shares reflected in columns (a) and (c)
Plan category (shares in thousands)Plan category (shares in thousands)
Number of
shares to be issued upon exercise
of outstanding options, warrants and rights(1)
Weighted average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights(2)
Number of shares remaining
available for future issuance under equity
compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in
column (a))
Total of shares reflected in columns (a) and (c)
 (a) (b) (c) (d) (a)(b)(c)(d)
Equity compensation plans approved by shareholders 10,606,446
 $64.10
 21,958,174
 32,564,620
Equity compensation plans approved by shareholders9,743 $64.66 13,658 23,401 
Equity compensation plans not requiring shareholder
approval
 
 
 
 
Equity compensation plans not requiring shareholder
approval
— — — — 
Total 10,606,446
 $64.10
 21,958,174
 32,564,620
Total9,743 $64.66 13,658 23,401 
 
(1)Does not include the Premium Priced Award described in Note 18, as that Board-approved award remained contingent on stockholder approval of an amendment to our 2011 Incentive Award Plan which did not occur until January 2020.
(2)Includes 1,073,051
(1)    Includes 829 shares of common stock reserved for issuance in connection with performance share units at the maximum number of shares issuable thereunder.
(3)This weighted-average excludes full value awards such as restricted stock units and performance share units.


(2)    This weighted average excludes full value awards such as restricted stock units and performance share units.
Other information required to be disclosed by Item 12 will appear in, and is incorporated by reference from, the section entitled “Security"Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management”Management" to be included in our definitive proxy statement relating to our 20202022 annual stockholder meeting.
79


Item 13.        Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.
The information required by this item will appear in, and is incorporated by reference from, the section entitled “Certain"Certain Relationships and Related Transactions”Transactions" and the section entitled “Corporate Governance”"Corporate Governance" to be included in our definitive proxy statement relating to our 20202022 annual stockholder meeting.
Item 14.        Principal Accounting Fees and Services.
The information required by this item will appear in, and is incorporated by reference from, the section entitled “Proposal"Proposal 2 Ratification of the Appointment of our Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm”Firm" to be included in our definitive proxy statement relating to our 20202022 annual stockholder meeting.

72
80




PART IV
Item 15.        Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules.
(a) Documents filed as part of this Report:
(1) Index to Financial Statements:
(2) Index to Financial Statement Schedules:
(3) Exhibits
The information required by this Item is set forth in the Exhibit Index that precedes the signature pages of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Item 16.        Form 10-K Summary.
None.

81
73




DAVITA INC.
MANAGEMENT’S REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING
Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining an adequate system of internal control over financial reporting designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and which includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the Company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the Company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
During the last fiscal year, the Company conducted an evaluation, under the oversight of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. This evaluation was completed based on the criteria established in the report titled “Internal"Internal Control—Integrated Framework (2013)" issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).
Based upon our evaluation under the COSO framework, we have concluded that the Company’s internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2019.2021.
The Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, KPMG LLP, has issued an attestation report on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting, which report is included in this Annual Report.

F-1




Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Stockholders and Board of Directors
DaVita Inc.:

Opinion on the ConsolidatedFinancial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of DaVita Inc. and subsidiaries (the Company) as of December 31, 20192021 and 2018,2020, the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, equity, and cash flow for each of the years in the three‑yearthree-year period ended December 31, 2019,2021, and the related notes and financial statement Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts (collectively, the consolidated financial statements). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 20192021 and 2018,2020, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the years in the three‑yearthree-year period ended December 31, 2019,2021, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2019,2021, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission, and our report dated February 21, 202011, 2022 expressed an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
Change in Accounting Principle
As discussed in Notes 1 and 14 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company changed its method of accounting for leases as of January 1, 2019 due to the adoption of the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s Accounting Standards Codification Topic 842 Leases.
As discussed in Notes 1 and 2 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company changed its method of accounting for revenue recognition as of January 1, 2018 due to the adoption of the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s Accounting Standards Codification Topic 606 Revenue from Contracts with Customers.
Basis for Opinion
These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Critical Audit Matters
The critical audit matters communicated below are matters arising from the current period audit of the consolidated financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the consolidated financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matters below, providing separate opinions on the critical audit matters or on the accounts or disclosures to which they relate.
U.S. dialysis patient service revenue recognition
As discussed in Notes 1 and 2 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company recognized $10,531$10,642 million in U.S. dialysis patient service revenue for the year ended December 31, 2019.2021. There are significant uncertainties associated with


estimating U.S. dialysis patient service revenue, which generally take several years to resolve. As these estimates are refined over time, both positive and negative adjustments are recognized in the current period.
We identified the evaluation of the recognition of the transaction price the Company expects to collect as a result of satisfying its performance obligations related to U.S. dialysis patient service revenue as a critical audit matter because it involves significant estimation requiringthat requires complex auditor judgment. The key assumptions and inputs used to estimate the transaction price relate to ongoing insurance coverage changes, differing interpretations of contract coverage, determination of applicable primary and secondary coverage, coordination of benefits, and varying patient characteristics impacting Medicare reimbursements. Changes to the key assumptions and inputs used in the application of the methodology may have a significant effect on the Company’s determination of the estimate.
F-2


The following are the primary procedures we performed to address this critical audit matter includedmatter. We evaluated the following. Wedesign and tested the operating effectiveness of certain internal controls over the Company’s U.S. dialysis patient service revenue recognition process, including controls related to the application of the methodology used to estimate the transaction price, and the key assumptions and inputs. We developed an independent estimate of the transaction price based on actual and expected cash collections. We evaluated the Company’s key assumptions and inputs to estimate the transaction price the Company expects to collect as a result of satisfying its performance obligations by comparing key assumptions to historical collection experience, trends of refunds and payor payment adjustments, delays in the Company’s billing and collection process and regulatory compliance matters. Additionally, we compared U.S. dialysis patient service revenue related to the transaction price estimates recognized in prior periods to actual cash collections related to performance obligations satisfied in prior periods to analyze the Company’s ability to estimate the transaction price the Company expects to collect as a result of satisfying its performance obligations.
Evaluation We developed an estimate of U.S. dialysis patient service revenue based on actual and expected cash collections and compared the goodwill impairment analyses for the Germany kidney care reporting unit
As discussed in Note 10estimate to the consolidated financial statements, the Company performed annual and other impairment assessments for their reporting units throughout 2019. As a result of these assessments, the Company recognized goodwill impairment charges totaling $119 million related to its Germany kidney care reporting unit during 2019. The goodwill balance for the Germany kidney care reporting unit as of December 31, 2019 was $295 million.
We identified the evaluation of the goodwill impairment analyses for the Germany kidney care reporting unit as a critical audit matter. The evaluations included assessing the key assumptions used in estimating the fair value of the reporting unit, such as forecastedU.S. dialysis patient service revenue growth, projected profit margins, discount rates, and revenue and clinical earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) multiples. Evaluation of these key assumptions involved a high degree of subjectivity and auditor judgment as changes to these assumptions could have a significant impact on the goodwill impairment charges recognized.
The primary procedures we performed to address this critical audit matter included the following. We tested certain internal controls over the Company’s goodwill impairment assessment process, including controls over the development of key assumptions as described above. We assessed the Company’s ability to forecast by comparing prior year actual results of the reporting unit to previously forecasted amounts for the reporting unit. We evaluated the Company’s forecasted revenue growth rates and projected profit margins for the reporting unit by comparing the projections to the Company’s underlying business strategies and operating plans for the reporting unit and other industry and market data. In addition, we involved valuation professionals with specialized skills and knowledge, who assisted in:
evaluating the revenue growth rates and projected profit margins for the reporting unit by comparing projected rates with comparable companies;
comparing the discount rates for the reporting unit to a discount rate range that was independently developed using publicly available market data for comparable companies;
evaluating the revenue and clinical EBITDA multiples utilized in the Company’s valuation of the reporting unit by comparing the multiples selected to a range of multiples from comparable transactions; and
assessing the valuation methodology usedrecorded by the Company to estimatefor the fair value of the reporting unit.year ended December 31, 2021.
Evaluation of legal proceedings and regulatory matters
As discussed in Notes 1 andNote 16 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company operates in a highly regulated industry and is a party to various lawsuits, demands, claims, qui tamsuits, governmental investigations and audits (including, without limitation, investigations or other actions resulting from its obligation to self-report suspected violations of law) and other legal proceedings. The Company records accruals for certain legal proceedings and regulatory matters to the extent that the Company determines an unfavorable outcome is probable and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated.
We identified the evaluation of the recorded amounts or related disclosures for these legal proceedings and regulatory matters as a critical audit matter. A high degree of auditor judgment was required dueDue to the nature of the estimateslegal proceedings and assumptions that are partregulatory matters, a high degree of subjectivity was required in evaluating the completeness of the Company’s process. Such estimatespopulation of legal proceedings and assumptions primarily relate toregulatory matters. Additionally, complex auditor judgment was required in evaluating the Company’s probability of outcome assessment, and corresponding estimate of the monetary loss in the event of an unfavorable outcome for the Company.


related disclosures.
The following are the primary procedures we performed to address this critical audit matter includedmatter. We evaluated the following. Wedesign and tested the operating effectiveness of certain internal controls over the Company’s legal proceedings and regulatory matters process, includingprocess. This includes controls over the developmentCompany’s determination of significant judgments used to estimate, record, and disclose the Company’s exposure related tocompleteness of the population of legal proceedings and regulatory matters.matters, as well as controls over the Company’s probability of outcome assessment, and related disclosures. We tested existing legal proceedings and regulatory matters by 1) reading certain written correspondence received from outside parties 2)as well as reading certain written responses provided to outside parties, and 3) obtaining invoice and cash payment documentation for a sample of transactions.parties. We read letters received directly from the Company’s external and internal legal counsel that described certain legal proceedings and regulatory matters. We also evaluated the Company’s ability to estimate its monetary losses relating to legal proceedings and regulatory matters by comparing historically recorded liabilities for certain prior legal proceedings and regulatory matters to actual monetary losses incurred upon resolution of such prior legal proceedings and regulatory matters. We involved forensic professionals with specialized skills and knowledge who assisted in evaluatinginspected the Company’s compliance hotline records.case log. Additionally, we assessed the completeness of the population of legal proceedings and regulatory matters as well as the sufficiency of the recorded amounts orand related disclosures by 1) by making inquiriesinquiring of certain key executives and directors and 2) based onevaluating information received through procedures described above and through publicly available information about the Company, its competitors, and the industry.

/s/ KPMG LLP
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2000.
Seattle, Washington
February 21, 2020

11, 2022
F-4
F-3




Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Stockholders and Board of Directors
DaVita Inc.:

Opinion on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
We have audited DaVita Inc. and subsidiaries’subsidiaries' (the Company) internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2019,2021, based on criteria established inInternal Control - Integrated Framework (2013)(2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2019,2021, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the consolidated balance sheets of the Company as of December 31, 20192021 and 2018,2020, the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, equity, and cash flow for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2019,2021, and the related notes and financial statement Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts (collectively, the consolidated financial statements), and our report dated February 21, 202011, 2022 expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements.
Basis for Opinion
The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’sManagement's Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audit also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Definition and Limitations of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

/s/ KPMG LLP

Seattle, Washington
February 21, 2020

11, 2022
F-5
F-4




DAVITA INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data)
 
Year ended December 31,
202120202019
Year ended December 31,
2019 2018 2017
Dialysis patient service revenues$10,918,421
 $10,709,981
 $10,093,670
Dialysis patient service revenues$11,213,515 $11,026,251 $10,896,706 
Provision for uncollectible accounts(21,715) (49,587) (485,364)
Net dialysis patient service revenues10,896,706
 10,660,394
 9,608,306
Other revenues491,773
 744,457
 1,268,328
Other revenues405,282 524,353 491,773 
Total revenues11,388,479
 11,404,851
 10,876,634
Total revenues11,618,797 11,550,604 11,388,479 
Operating expenses and charges: 
  
  
Operating expenses:Operating expenses:  
Patient care costs7,914,485
 8,195,513
 7,640,005
Patient care costs7,972,414 7,988,613 7,914,485 
General and administrative1,103,312
 1,135,454
 1,064,026
General and administrative1,195,335 1,247,584 1,103,312 
Depreciation and amortization615,152
 591,035
 559,911
Depreciation and amortization680,615 630,435 615,152 
Provision for uncollectible accounts
 (7,300) (7,033)
Equity investment (income) loss(12,679) 4,484
 8,640
Investment and other asset impairments
 17,338
 295,234
Equity investment income, netEquity investment income, net(26,937)(26,916)(12,679)
Goodwill impairment charges124,892
 3,106
 36,196
Goodwill impairment charges— — 124,892 
Gain on changes in ownership interest, net
 (60,603) (6,273)
Gain on settlement, net
 
 (526,827)
Total operating expenses and charges9,745,162
 9,879,027
 9,063,879
Loss on changes in ownership interest, netLoss on changes in ownership interest, net— 16,252 — 
Total operating expensesTotal operating expenses9,821,427 9,855,968 9,745,162 
Operating income1,643,317
 1,525,824
 1,812,755
Operating income1,797,370 1,694,636 1,643,317 
Debt expense(443,824) (487,435) (430,634)Debt expense(285,254)(304,111)(443,824)
Debt prepayment, refinancing and redemption charges(33,402) 
 
Debt prepayment, refinancing and redemption charges— (89,022)(33,402)
Other income, net29,348
 10,089
 17,665
Other income, net6,378 16,759 29,348 
Income from continuing operations before income taxes1,195,439
 1,048,478
 1,399,786
Income from continuing operations before income taxes1,518,494 1,318,262 1,195,439 
Income tax expense279,628
 258,400
 323,859
Income tax expense306,732 313,932 279,628 
Net income from continuing operations915,811
 790,078
 1,075,927
Net income from continuing operations1,211,762 1,004,330 915,811 
Net income (loss) from discontinuing operations, net of tax105,483
 (457,038) (245,372)
Net (loss) income from discontinued operations, net of taxNet (loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax— (9,653)105,483 
Net income1,021,294
 333,040
 830,555
Net income1,211,762 994,677 1,021,294 
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests(210,313) (173,646) (166,937)Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests(233,312)(221,035)(210,313)
Net income attributable to DaVita Inc.$810,981
 $159,394
 $663,618
Net income attributable to DaVita Inc.$978,450 $773,642 $810,981 
Earnings per share attributable to DaVita Inc.: 
  
  
Earnings per share attributable to DaVita Inc.:  
Basic net income from continuing operations per share$4.61
 $3.66
 $4.78
Basic net income per share$5.29
 $0.93
 $3.52
Diluted net income from continuing operations per share$4.60
 $3.62
 $4.71
Diluted net income per share$5.27
 $0.92
 $3.47
Basic net income from continuing operationsBasic net income from continuing operations$9.30 $6.54 $4.61 
Basic net incomeBasic net income$9.30 $6.46 $5.29 
Diluted net income from continuing operationsDiluted net income from continuing operations$8.90 $6.39 $4.60 
Diluted net incomeDiluted net income$8.90 $6.31 $5.27 
Weighted average shares for earnings per share: 
  
  
Weighted average shares for earnings per share:  
Basic153,180,908
 170,785,999
 188,625,559
Diluted153,812,064
 172,364,581
 191,348,533
Basic sharesBasic shares105,230 119,797 153,181 
Diluted sharesDiluted shares109,948 122,623 153,812 
Amounts attributable to DaVita Inc.:     Amounts attributable to DaVita Inc.:
Net income from continuing operations$706,832
 $624,321
 $901,277
Net income from continuing operations$978,450 $783,295 $706,832 
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations104,149
 (464,927) (237,659)
Net (loss) income from discontinued operationsNet (loss) income from discontinued operations— (9,653)104,149 
Net income attributable to DaVita Inc.$810,981
 $159,394
 $663,618
Net income attributable to DaVita Inc.$978,450 $773,642 $810,981 
 
See notes to consolidated financial statements.


F-6
F-5




DAVITA INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(dollars in thousands)
 
Year ended December 31, Year ended December 31,
2019 2018 2017 202120202019
Net income$1,021,294
 $333,040
 $830,555
Net income$1,211,762 $994,677 $1,021,294 
Other comprehensive (loss) income: 
  
  
Unrealized gains (losses) on interest rate cap agreements, net: 
  
  
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax:Other comprehensive loss, net of tax:   
Unrealized gains (losses) on interest rate cap agreements:Unrealized gains (losses) on interest rate cap agreements:   
Unrealized gains (losses)1,151
 (133) (5,437)Unrealized gains (losses)7,155 (16,346)1,151 
Reclassification into net income6,377
 6,286
 5,058
Reclassification into net income4,133 5,313 6,377 
Unrealized losses on investments, net:     
Unrealized losses
 
 3,705
Reclassification into net income
 
 (220)
Unrealized (losses) gains on foreign currency translation:     
Foreign currency translation adjustments(20,102) (45,944) 99,770
Other comprehensive (loss) income(12,574) (39,791) 102,876
Unrealized losses on foreign currency translationUnrealized losses on foreign currency translation(84,381)(7,623)(20,102)
Other comprehensive lossOther comprehensive loss(73,093)(18,656)(12,574)
Total comprehensive income1,008,720
 293,249
 933,431
Total comprehensive income1,138,669 976,021 1,008,720 
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests(210,313) (173,646) (166,935)Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests(233,312)(221,035)(210,313)
Comprehensive income attributable to DaVita Inc.$798,407
 $119,603
 $766,496
Comprehensive income attributable to DaVita Inc.$905,357 $754,986 $798,407 
 
See notes to consolidated financial statements.


F-7
F-6




DAVITA INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data)
December 31, 2019 December 31, 2018 December 31, 2021December 31, 2020
ASSETS 
  
ASSETS  
Cash and cash equivalents$1,102,372
 $323,038
Cash and cash equivalents$461,900 $324,958 
Restricted cash and equivalents106,346
 92,382
Restricted cash and equivalents93,060 176,832 
Short-term investments11,572
 2,935
Short-term investments22,310 20,101 
Accounts receivable, net1,795,598
 1,858,608
Accounts receivableAccounts receivable1,957,583 1,824,282 
Inventories97,949
 107,381
Inventories107,428 111,625 
Other receivables489,695
 469,796
Other receivables427,321 544,376 
Prepaid and other current assets66,866
 111,840
Prepaid and other current assets72,517 76,387 
Income tax receivable19,772
 68,614
Income tax receivable25,604 70,163 
Current assets held for sale, net
 5,389,565
Total current assets3,690,170
 8,424,159
Total current assets3,167,723 3,148,724 
Property and equipment, net3,473,384
 3,393,669
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciationProperty and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation3,479,972 3,521,824 
Operating lease right-of-use assets2,830,047
 
Operating lease right-of-use assets2,824,787 2,863,089 
Intangible assets, net135,684
 118,846
Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortizationIntangible assets, net of accumulated amortization177,693 166,585 
Equity method and other investments241,983
 224,611
Equity method and other investments238,881 257,491 
Long-term investments36,519
 35,424
Long-term investments49,514 32,193 
Other long-term assets115,972
 71,583
Other long-term assets136,677 79,501 
Goodwill6,787,635
 6,841,960
Goodwill7,046,241 6,919,109 
$17,311,394
 $19,110,252
$17,121,488 $16,988,516 
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY 
  
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY  
Accounts payable$403,840
 $463,270
Accounts payable$402,049 $434,253 
Other liabilities756,174
 595,850
Other liabilities709,345 810,529 
Accrued compensation and benefits695,052
 658,913
Accrued compensation and benefits659,960 685,555 
Current portion of operating lease liabilities343,912
 
Current portion of operating lease liabilities394,357 369,497 
Current portion of long-term debt130,708
 1,929,369
Current portion of long-term debt179,030 168,541 
Income tax payable42,412
 
Income tax payable53,792 7,768 
Current liabilities held for sale
 1,243,759
Total current liabilities2,372,098
 4,891,161
Total current liabilities2,398,533 2,476,143 
Long-term operating lease liabilities2,723,800
 
Long-term operating lease liabilities2,672,713 2,738,670 
Long-term debt7,977,526
 8,172,847
Long-term debt8,729,150 7,917,263 
Other long-term liabilities160,809
 450,669
Other long-term liabilities119,158 150,060 
Deferred income taxes577,543
 562,536
Deferred income taxes830,954 809,600 
Total liabilities13,811,776
 14,077,213
Total liabilities14,750,508 14,091,736 
Commitments and contingencies   Commitments and contingencies
Noncontrolling interests subject to put provisions1,180,376
 1,124,641
Noncontrolling interests subject to put provisions1,434,832 1,330,028 
Equity: 
  
Equity:  
Preferred stock ($0.001 par value, 5,000,000 shares authorized; none issued)
 
Common stock ($0.001 par value, 450,000,000 shares authorized; 125,842,853 and 166,387,307 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively)126
 166
Preferred stock ($0.001 par value, 5,000 shares authorized; none issued)Preferred stock ($0.001 par value, 5,000 shares authorized; none issued)— — 
Common stock ($0.001 par value, 450,000 shares authorized; 97,289 and 109,933 shares issued
and outstanding at December 31, 2021, and 2020, respectively)
Common stock ($0.001 par value, 450,000 shares authorized; 97,289 and 109,933 shares issued
and outstanding at December 31, 2021, and 2020, respectively)
97 110 
Additional paid-in capital749,043
 995,006
Additional paid-in capital540,321 597,073 
Retained earnings1,431,738
 2,743,194
Retained earnings354,337 852,537 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss(47,498) (34,924)Accumulated other comprehensive loss(139,247)(66,154)
Total DaVita Inc. shareholders' equity2,133,409
 3,703,442
Total DaVita Inc. shareholders' equity755,508 1,383,566 
Noncontrolling interests not subject to put provisions185,833
 204,956
Noncontrolling interests not subject to put provisions180,640 183,186 
Total equity2,319,242
 3,908,398
Total equity936,148 1,566,752 
$17,311,394
 $19,110,252
$17,121,488 $16,988,516 
See notes to consolidated financial statements.

F-7
F-8




DAVITA INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOW
(dollars in thousands)
Year ended December 31, Year ended December 31,
2019 2018 2017 202120202019
Cash flows from operating activities:   
  
Cash flows from operating activities:  
Net income$1,021,294
 $333,040
 $830,555
Net income$1,211,762 $994,677 $1,021,294 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:     
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: 
Depreciation and amortization615,152
 591,035
 777,485
Depreciation and amortization680,615 630,435 615,152 
Impairment charges124,892
 61,981
 981,589
Impairment charges— — 124,892 
Valuation adjustment on disposal group
 316,840
 
Debt prepayment, refinancing and redemption charges33,402
 
 
Debt prepayment, refinancing and redemption charges— 86,957 33,402 
Stock-based compensation expense67,850
 73,061
 35,092
Stock-based compensation expense102,209 91,458 67,850 
Deferred income taxes41,723
 273,660
 (395,217)Deferred income taxes60,483 240,848 41,723 
Equity investment income, net8,582
 26,449
 28,925
Loss (gain) on sales of business interests, net23,022
 (85,699) (23,402)
Equity investment loss, netEquity investment loss, net5,215 13,830 8,582 
Loss on sales of business interests, netLoss on sales of business interests, net— 24,248 23,022 
Other non-cash charges, net49,579
 82,374
 66,920
Other non-cash charges, net11,231 747 49,579 
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effect of acquisitions and divestitures:     Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effect of acquisitions and divestitures:
Accounts receivable(79,957) (81,176) (156,305)Accounts receivable(138,140)(21,087)(79,957)
Inventories10,158
 73,505
 (18,625)Inventories5,720 (12,349)10,158 
Other receivables and other current assets2,790
 236,995
 (111,432)
Other receivables and prepaid and other current assetsOther receivables and prepaid and other current assets128,661 (79,277)2,790 
Other long-term assets6,965
 3,497
 (11,945)Other long-term assets(26,387)(6,123)6,965 
Accounts payable(84,539) (35,959) 26,876
Accounts payable(30,320)37,200 (84,539)
Accrued compensation and benefits(14,697) 84,165
 (78,239)Accrued compensation and benefits(16,717)(20,931)(14,697)
Other current liabilities181,940
 (157,462) 1,908
Other current liabilities(93,645)105,637 181,940 
Income taxes95,645
 (23,635) (52,176)Income taxes36,921 (87,391)95,645 
Other long-term liabilities(31,446) (1,031) 11,157
Other long-term liabilities(6,732)(19,851)(31,446)
Net cash provided by operating activities2,072,355
 1,771,640
 1,913,166
Net cash provided by operating activities1,930,876 1,979,028 2,072,355 
Cash flows from investing activities:   
  
Cash flows from investing activities:  
Additions of property and equipment(766,546) (987,138) (905,250)Additions of property and equipment(641,465)(674,541)(766,546)
Acquisitions(100,861) (183,156) (803,879)Acquisitions(187,050)(182,013)(100,861)
Proceeds from asset and business sales3,877,392
 150,205
 92,336
Proceeds from asset and business sales61,464 50,139 3,877,392 
Purchase of debt investments held-to-maturityPurchase of debt investments held-to-maturity(30,849)(150,701)(101,462)
Purchase of other debt and equity investments(5,458) (8,448) (13,117)Purchase of other debt and equity investments(2,987)(3,757)(5,458)
Purchase of investments held-to-maturity(101,462) (5,963) (228,990)
Proceeds from debt investments held-to-maturityProceeds from debt investments held-to-maturity15,849 151,213 95,376 
Proceeds from sale of other debt and equity investments3,676
 9,526
 6,408
Proceeds from sale of other debt and equity investments12,030 3,491 3,676 
Proceeds from investments held-to-maturity95,376
 34,862
 492,470
Purchase of equity investments(9,366) (19,177) (4,816)
Distributions received on equity investments2,589
 3,646
 106
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities2,995,340
 (1,005,643) (1,364,732)
Purchase of equity method investmentsPurchase of equity method investments(13,924)(22,341)(9,366)
Distributions from equity method investmentsDistributions from equity method investments2,944 3,139 2,589 
OtherOther(745)— — 
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activitiesNet cash (used in) provided by investing activities(784,733)(825,371)2,995,340 
Cash flows from financing activities:     Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowings38,525,850
 59,934,750
 50,991,960
Borrowings1,615,370 4,046,775 38,525,850 
Payments on long-term debt and other financing costs(40,606,041) (59,239,973) (50,837,112)
Payments on long-term debtPayments on long-term debt(861,115)(4,110,304)(40,520,722)
Deferred financing and debt redemption costsDeferred financing and debt redemption costs(9,091)(105,848)(85,319)
Purchase of treasury stock(2,383,816) (1,161,511) (802,949)Purchase of treasury stock(1,538,626)(1,458,442)(2,383,816)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests(233,123) (196,441) (211,467)Distributions to noncontrolling interests(244,033)(253,118)(233,123)
Stock award exercises and other share issuances, net11,382
 13,577
 21,252
Net payments related to stock purchases and awardsNet payments related to stock purchases and awards(60,001)(975)11,382 
Contributions from noncontrolling interests57,317
 52,311
 74,552
Contributions from noncontrolling interests31,754 42,966 57,317 
Proceeds from sales of additional noncontrolling interest
 15
 2,864
Proceeds from sales of additional noncontrolling interest2,880 — — 
Purchases of noncontrolling interests(68,019) (28,082) (5,357)Purchases of noncontrolling interests(20,104)(7,831)(68,019)
Net cash used in financing activities(4,696,450) (625,354) (766,257)Net cash used in financing activities(1,082,966)(1,846,777)(4,696,450)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash(1,760) (3,350) 254
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash(10,007)(13,808)(1,760)
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash369,485
 137,293
 (217,569)Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash53,170 (706,928)369,485 
Less: Net (decrease) increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash from discontinued
operations
(423,813) 240,793
 (53,026)
Less: Net decrease in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash from discontinued operationsLess: Net decrease in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash from discontinued operations— — (423,813)
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash from continuing operations793,298
 (103,500) (164,543)Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash from continuing
operations
53,170 (706,928)793,298 
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash of continuing operations at beginning of the year415,420
 518,920
 683,463
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash of continuing operations at beginning of the year501,790 1,208,718 415,420 
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash of continuing operations at end of the year$1,208,718
 $415,420
 $518,920
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash of continuing operations at end of the year$554,960 $501,790 $1,208,718 
See notes to consolidated financial statements.

F-8
F-9



DAVITA INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY
(dollars and shares in thousands)

Non-controlling
interests
subject to put
provisions
DaVita Inc. Shareholders' EquityNon-controlling interests not
subject to
put provisions
Additional
paid-in
capital
Retained
earnings
Accumulated
other
comprehensive
income (loss)
Common stockTreasury stock
SharesAmountSharesAmountTotal
Balance at December 31, 2018$1,124,641 166,387 $166 $995,006 $2,743,194 — $— $(34,924)$3,703,442 $204,956 
Cumulative effect of change
 in accounting principle
(38)39,876 39,876 (6)
Comprehensive income:         
Net income143,413 810,981 810,981 66,900 
Other comprehensive income (12,574)(12,574)
Stock purchase plan315 16,569 16,570 
Stock award plan161 — (3,290)(3,290)
Stock-settled stock-based
 compensation expense
67,549 67,549 
Changes in noncontrolling
 interest from:
Distributions(155,011)(78,112)
Contributions35,572 21,745 
Acquisitions and divestitures(6,332)(10,170)
Partial purchases(11,394)(37,145)(37,145)(19,480)
Fair value remeasurements49,525 (49,525)(49,525) 
Purchase of treasury stock(41,020)(2,402,475)(2,402,475)
Retirement of treasury stock(41,020)(41)(240,121)(2,162,313)41,020 2,402,475 — 
Balance at December 31, 2019$1,180,376 125,843 $126 $749,043 $1,431,738 — $— $(47,498)$2,133,409 $185,833 
Comprehensive income: 
Net income141,879 773,642 773,642 79,156 
Other comprehensive income(18,656)(18,656)
Stock purchase plan222 — 17,148 17,148 
Stock award plans345 — (17,801)(17,801)
Stock-settled stock-based
 compensation expense
90,007 90,007 
Changes in noncontrolling
 interest from:
Distributions(163,175)(89,943)
Contributions30,154 12,812 
Acquisitions and divestitures(3,215)(248)
Partial purchases(7,771)4,364 4,364 (4,424)
Fair value remeasurements151,780 (151,780)(151,780)
Purchase of treasury stock(16,477)(1,446,767)(1,446,767)
Retirement of treasury stock(16,477)(16)(93,908)(1,352,843)16,477 1,446,767 — 
Balance at December 31, 2020$1,330,028 109,933 $110 $597,073 $852,537 — $— $(66,154)$1,383,566 $183,186 




F-9

 Non-controlling
interests
subject to put
provisions
 DaVita Inc. Shareholders' Equity Non-controlling interests not
subject to
put provisions
  Common stock Additional
paid-in
capital
 Retained
earnings
 Treasury stock Accumulated
other
comprehensive
income (loss)
   
  Shares Amount   Shares Amount  Total 
Balance at December 31, 2016$973,258
 194,554
 $195
 $1,027,182
 $3,710,313
 
 $
 $(89,643) $4,648,047
 $201,694
Comprehensive income: 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
    
Net income103,641
       663,618
       663,618
 63,296
Other comprehensive income 
             102,878
 102,878
 (2)
Stock purchase shares issued  360
   22,131
         22,131
  
Stock unit shares issued 
 117
   (101)         (101)  
Stock-settled SAR shares
issued
  398
   
         
  
Stock-settled stock-based
compensation expense
      34,981
         34,981
  
Changes in noncontrolling
interest from:
                   
Distributions(128,853)                 (82,614)
Contributions52,911
                 21,641
Acquisitions and divestitures43,799
     (823)         (823) (5,770)
Partial purchases(397)     (2,752)         (2,752) (2,208)
Fair value remeasurements(32,999)     32,999
         32,999
  
Purchase of treasury stock          (12,967) (810,949)   (810,949)  
Retirement of treasury stock  (12,967) (13) (70,718) (740,218) 12,967
 810,949
      
Balance at December 31, 2017$1,011,360
 182,462
 $182
 $1,042,899
 $3,633,713
 
 $
 $13,235
 $4,690,029
 $196,037
Cumulative effect of change
in accounting principle
        8,368
     (8,368) 
  
Comprehensive income: 
                  
Net income105,531
       159,394
       159,394
 68,115
Other comprehensive income              (39,791) (39,791)  
Stock purchase shares issued  398
   17,398
         17,398
  
Stock unit shares issued  158
   (448)         (448)  
Stock-settled SAR shares
issued
  213
 1
 (4,887)         (4,886)  
Stock-settled stock-based
compensation expense
      73,081
         73,081
  
Changes in noncontrolling
interest from:
                   
Distributions(119,173)                 (77,268)
Contributions32,918
                 19,393
Acquisitions and divestitures79,078
     3,546
         3,546
 318
Partial purchases(8,546)     (17,897)         (17,897) (1,639)
Fair value remeasurements23,473
     (23,473)         (23,473)  
Purchase of treasury stock          (16,844) (1,153,511)   (1,153,511)  
Retirement of treasury stock  (16,844) (17) (95,213) (1,058,281) 16,844
 1,153,511
   
  
Balance at December 31, 2018$1,124,641
 166,387
 $166
 $995,006
 $2,743,194
 
 $
 $(34,924) $3,703,442
 $204,956






DAVITA INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY - continued
(dollars and shares in thousands)

Non-controlling
interests
subject to put
provisions
DaVita Inc. Shareholders' EquityNon-controlling interests not
subject to
put provisions
Non-controlling
interests
subject to put
provisions
 DaVita Inc. Shareholders' Equity Non-controlling interests not
subject to
put provisions
Additional
paid-in
capital
Retained
earnings
Accumulated
other
comprehensive
income (loss)
 
  Additional
paid-in
capital
 Retained
earnings
   Accumulated
other
comprehensive
income (loss)
   Common stockTreasury stock
Common stock Treasury stock   SharesAmountSharesAmountTotal
Shares Amount Shares Amount Total 
Cumulative effect of change
in accounting principle
(38) 

 

 

 39,876
 

 

 

 39,876
 (6)
Balance at December 31, 2020Balance at December 31, 2020$1,330,028 109,933 $110 $597,073 $852,537 — $— $(66,154)$1,383,566 $183,186 
Comprehensive income: 
                  Comprehensive income: 
Net income143,413
 

 

 

 810,981
 

 

 

 810,981
 66,900
Net income160,359 978,450 978,450 72,953 
Other comprehensive income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 (12,574) (12,574) 

Other comprehensive income(73,093)(73,093)
Stock purchase shares issued

 315
 1
 16,569
 

 

 

 

 16,570
 

Stock unit shares issued

 160
 

 (3,246) 

 

 

 

 (3,246) 

Stock-settled SAR shares
issued


 1
 

 (44) 

 

 

 

 (44) 

Stock purchase planStock purchase plan203 — 19,626 19,626 
Stock award plansStock award plans1,030 (80,642)(80,641)
Stock-settled stock-based
compensation expense


 

 

 67,549
 

 

 

 

 67,549
 

Stock-settled stock-based
compensation expense
100,714 100,714 
Changes in noncontrolling
interest from:


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Changes in noncontrolling
interest from:
Distributions(155,011) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   (78,112)Distributions(159,259)(84,774)
Contributions35,572
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   21,745
Contributions22,672 9,082 
Acquisitions and divestitures(6,332) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   (10,170)Acquisitions and divestitures5,903 (264)(264)1,250 
Partial purchases(11,394) 

 

 (37,145) 

 

 

 

 (37,145) (19,480)Partial purchases(588)(13,853)(13,853)(1,057)
Fair value remeasurements49,525
 

 

 (49,525) 

 

 

 

 (49,525) 

Fair value remeasurements75,717 (75,717)(75,717)
Purchase of treasury stock

 

 

 

 

 (41,020) (2,402,475) 

 (2,402,475) 

Purchase of treasury stock(13,877)(1,546,016)(1,546,016)
Retirement of treasury stock

 (41,020) (41) (240,121) (2,162,313) 41,020
 2,402,475
 

 
 

Retirement of treasury stock(13,877)(14)(69,352)(1,476,650)13,877 1,546,016 — 
Balance at December 31, 2019$1,180,376
 125,843
 $126
 $749,043
 $1,431,738
 
 $
 $(47,498) $2,133,409
 $185,833
Deferred taxes from partnership
buyouts
Deferred taxes from partnership
buyouts
62,736 62,736 
Balance at December 31, 2021Balance at December 31, 2021$1,434,832 97,289 $97 $540,321 $354,337 — $— $(139,247)$755,508 $180,640 
See notes to consolidated financial statements.

F-10
F-11

DAVITA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(dollars in thousands, except per share data)



1.    Organization and summary of significant accounting policies
Organization
The Company's operations are comprised of its dialysis and related lab services to patients in the United States (its U.S. dialysis business), its U.S. ancillary services and strategic initiatives includingand its international operations (collectively, its ancillary services), andas well as its corporate administrative support.
The Company’s largest line of business is its U.S. dialysis business, which operates kidney dialysis centers in the U.S. for patients suffering from chronic kidney failure, also known as end stage renal disease (ESRD) or end stage kidney disease (ESRD or ESKD). As of December 31, 2019,2021, the Company operated or provided administrative services through a network of 2,7532,815 U.S. outpatient dialysis centers in 46 states and the District of Columbia, serving a total of approximately 206,900203,100 patients. In addition, as of December 31, 2019,2021, the Company operated or provided administrative services to a total of 259339 outpatient dialysis centers serving approximately 28,70039,900 patients located in 10 countries outside of the U.S.
On June 19, 2019, the Company completed the sale of its prior DaVita Medical Group (DMG) business to Collaborative Care Holdings, LLC (Optum), a subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group Inc. As a result of this transaction, DMG's results of operations have been reported as discontinued operations for all periods presented in these consolidated financial statements. For financial information about the DMG business, see Note 22.
The Company’s U.S. dialysis business qualifies as a separately reportable segment and the Company’s ancillary services, including its international operations, have been combined and disclosed in the other segments category.
Basis of presentation
These consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (U.S. GAAP). The financial statements include DaVita Inc. and its subsidiaries, partnerships and other entities in which it maintains a majority voting or other controlling financial interest (collectively, the Company). All significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated. Equity investments in investees over which the Company only has significant influence are recorded on the equity method, while investments in other equity securities are recorded at fair value or on the adjusted cost method, as applicable. For the Company’s international subsidiaries, local currencies are considered their functional currencies. Translation adjustments result from translating the financial statements of the Company’s international subsidiaries from their functional currencies into the Company’s reporting currency (the U.S. dollar, or USD). Prior year balances and amountsclassifications have been reclassified to conformconformed to the current year presentation.
The Company has evaluated subsequent events through the date these consolidated financial statements were issued and has included all necessary adjustments and disclosures.
Use of estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires the use of estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of revenues, expenses, assets, liabilities, contingencies and noncontrolling interests subject to put provisions. Although actual results in subsequent periods will differ from these estimates, such estimates are developed based on the best information available to management and management’s best judgments at the time. All significant assumptions and estimates underlying the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes are regularly reviewed and updated when necessary. Changes in estimates are reflected in the financial statements based upon on-going actual experience trends or subsequent settlements and realizations depending on the nature and predictability of the estimates and contingencies. Interim changes in estimates related to annual operating costs are applied prospectively within annual periods.
The most significant assumptions and estimates underlying these consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes involve revenue recognition and accounts receivable, contingencies, impairments of goodwill, and investments, accounting for income taxes, and certain fair value estimates.estimates and loss contingencies. Specific estimating risks and contingencies are further addressed within these notes to the consolidated financial statements.
Revenues
On January 1, 2018, the Company adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 606 Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) using the cumulative effect method for those

F-12F-11

DAVITA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (continued)
(dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data)


contracts that were not substantially completed as of January 1, 2018. Results for reporting periods beginning on and after January 1, 2018 are presented under Topic 606, while prior period amounts continue to be presented in accordance with the Company's historical accounting under Revenue Recognition (Topic 605).
The adoption of this new standard primarily changed the Company’s presentation of revenues, provision for uncollectible accounts and allowance for doubtful accounts. Topic 606 requires revenue to be recognized based on the Company’s estimate of the transaction price the Company expects to collect as a result of satisfying its performance obligations. Accordingly, for performance obligations satisfied after the adoption of Topic 606, the Company no longer separately presents a provision for uncollectible accounts on the consolidated income statement and no longer presents the related allowance for doubtful accounts on the consolidated balance sheet. However, as a result of the Company’s election to apply Topic 606 only to contracts not substantially completed as of January 1, 2018, the Company continues to maintain an allowance for doubtful accounts related to performance obligations satisfied prior to the adoption of Topic 606. Net collections or write-offs of accounts receivable generated prior to January 1, 2018, beyond amounts previously reserved thereon, are presented in the provision for uncollectible accounts on the consolidated income statement in accordance with Topic 605.Revenues
Dialysis patient service revenues
Revenues are recognized based on the Company’s estimate of the transaction price the Company expects to collect as a result of satisfying its performance obligations. Dialysis patient service revenues are recognized in the period services are provided based on these estimates. Revenues consist primarily of payments from government and commercial health plans for dialysis services provided to patients. A usual and customary fee schedule is maintained for the Company’s dialysis treatments and related lab services; however, actual collectible revenue is normally recognized at a discount from the fee schedule.
Revenues associated with Medicare and Medicaid programs are estimated based on: (a) the payment rates that are established by statute or regulation for the portion of payment rates paid by the government payor (e.g., 80% for Medicare patients) and (b) for the portion not paid by the primary government payor, estimates of the amounts ultimately collectible from other government programs providing secondary coverage (e.g., Medicaid secondary coverage), the patient’s commercial health plan secondary coverage, or the patient.
Under Medicare’s bundled payment rate system, services covered by Medicare are subject to estimating risk, whereby reimbursements from Medicare can vary significantly depending upon certain patient characteristics and other variable factors. Even with the bundled payment rate system, Medicare payments for bad debt claims as established by cost reports require evidence of collection efforts. As a result, billing and collection of Medicare bad debt claims can be delayed significantly and final payment is subject to audit. The Company’s revenue recognition is estimated based on its judgment regarding its ability to collect, which depends upon its ability to effectively capture, document and bill for Medicare’s base payment rate as well as these other variable factors.
Medicare Advantage revenues are reimbursed at negotiated contract rates that are generally higher than Medicare fee-for-service rates, but which generally have a slower payment frequency than Medicare fee-for-service payments. Medicare Advantage revenues are subject to meaningful estimating risk based on factors similar to those described for commercial health plans below.
Medicaid payments, when Medicaid coverage is secondary, can also be difficult to estimate. For many states, Medicaid payment terms and methods differ from Medicare, and may prevent accurate estimation of individual payment amounts prior to billing.
Revenues associated with commercial health plans are estimated based on contractual terms for the patients under healthcare plans with which the Company has formal agreements, non-contracted health plan coverage terms if known, estimated secondary collections, historical collection experience, historical trends of refunds and payor payment adjustments (retractions), inefficiencies in the Company’s billing and collection processes that can result in denied claims for payments, delays in collections due to payor payment inefficiencies, and regulatory compliance matters.
Commercial revenue recognition also involves significant estimating risks. With many larger commercial insurers, the Company has several different contracts and payment arrangements, and these contracts often include only a subset of the Company’s centers. In certain circumstances, it may not be possible to determine which contract, if any, should be applied prior to billing. In addition, for services provided by non-contracted centers, final collection may require specific negotiation of a payment amount, typically at a significant discount from the Company’s usual and customary rates.
Other revenues
Other revenues consist of revenues earned by the Company's non-dialysis ancillary services as well as fees for management and administrative support services provided to outpatient dialysis centersbusinesses that the Company does not ownconsolidate. Other revenues are estimated in the period services are provided.
The Company's U.S. ancillary service revenues include revenues earned under risk-based arrangements in the Company's integrated care and disease management business, including value-based care (VBC) arrangements. Under its VBC arrangements, the Company assumes full or inshared financial risk for the total medical cost of care for patients below or above a benchmark. The benchmarks against which the Company owns a noncontrolling interest, revenues associatedincurs profit or loss on these contracts are typically based on the underlying premiums paid to the insuring entity (our counterparty), with adjustments where applicable, or on trended and adjusted medical cost targets.
For some of the Company's non-dialysis ancillary services and strategic initiatives, and administrative and management support services to certain non-dialysis joint ventures in whichrisk-based arrangements (such as its special needs plans), the Company ownsacts as a noncontrolling interest. Revenues associatedprincipal with dialysis managementrespect to all medical services disease management services, clinical research programs, physician services, ESRD seamless care

provided to the patient by effectively hosting or sponsoring the entire arrangement, and as a
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DAVITA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (continued)
(dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data)


organizations,result recognizes revenue and comprehensiveexpense for all medical services provided to covered patients. However, for most of its VBC arrangements, the Company provides health monitoring and care coordination services to patients but does not control or direct the medical services that patients receive from third party providers. As a result, for most of its VBC arrangements the Company does not include third party medical costs in its reported revenues and expenses, but rather recognizes revenue only for the estimated amount of shared savings or shared losses or other revenues that are estimated indirectly earned or incurred by the period services are provided. Revenues associated with pharmacy services were estimated as prescriptions were filledCompany, and shippedultimately paid to patients. Revenues associated with direct primary care were estimated overor by the membership period.Company, under the arrangement.
Other income
Other income includes interest income on cash and cash equivalents and short- and long-term investments, realized and unrealized gains and losses recognized on investments, and foreign currency transaction gains and losses.
Cash and cash equivalents
Cash equivalents are short-term highly liquid investments with maturitiesreadily convertible to known amounts of cash that typically mature within three months or less at date of purchase.
Restricted cash and equivalents
Restricted cash and cash equivalents are primarilyinclude funds held in trust to satisfy insurer and state regulatory requirements related to the wholly-owned captive insurance companies that bear professional and general liability and workers' compensation risks for the Company.Company as well as funds held in escrow. See Note 4 for further details.
Investments in debt and equity securities
The Company classifies certain debt securities as held-to-maturity and records them at amortized cost based on the Company’s intentions and strategies concerning those investments. Equity securities that have readily determinable fair values or redemption values are classified as short-term or long-term investments and recorded at estimated fair value with changes in fair value recognized in current earnings.earnings within other income. These debt and equity investments are classified as short-term investments or long-term investments on the Company's consolidated balance sheet. See Note 5 for further details.
Inventories
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost (first-in, first-out) or net realizable value and consist principally of pharmaceuticals and dialysis-related supplies. Rebates related to inventory purchases are recorded when earned and are based on certain qualification requirements which are dependent on a variety of factors including future pricing levels and purchase volume levels from the manufacturer and related data submission.
Property and equipment
Property and equipment is stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization and is further reduced by any impairments. Maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred. Depreciation and amortization expenses are computed using the straight-line method over the useful lives of the assets estimated as follows: buildings, 25 years to 40 years; leasehold improvements, the shorter of ten years or the expected lease term; and equipment and information systems, principally three years to 15 years. Disposition gains and losses are included in current operating expenses. Property and equipment assets are reviewed for possible impairment whenever significant events or changes in circumstances indicate that an impairment may have occurred.
Leases
The Company leases substantially all of its U.S. dialysis facilities. The majority of the Company’s facilities are leased under non-cancellable operating leases which contain renewal options. These renewal options are included in the Company's determination of the right-of-use assets and related lease liabilities when renewal is considered reasonably certain at the commencement date. Certain of the Company's leases are subject to periodic consumer price increases or contain fixed escalation clauses.
The Company categorizes leases with contractual terms longer than twelve months as either operating or finance leases. Finance leases are generally those leases that allow the Company to substantially utilize or pay for the entire asset over its estimated life. All other leases are categorized as operating leases. The Company has elected the practical expedient to not separate lease components from non-lease components for its financing and operating leases. The Company has also elected the short-term lease recognition exemption and does not recognize right-of-use assets or lease liabilities for leases with a term of less than 12 months.
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DAVITA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (continued)
(dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data)

Financing and operating right-of-use assets are recognized based on the net present value of lease payments over the lease term plus expected renewals as of the commencement date. Since most of the Company's leases do not provide an implicit rate of return, the Company uses its incremental borrowing rate based on information available at the commencement date or remeasurement date in determining the present value of lease payments.
Assets acquired under finance leases are recorded on the balance sheet within property and equipment, net and liabilities for finance lease obligations are recorded within long-term debt. Finance lease assets are amortized to depreciation expense on a straight-line basis over the shorter of their estimated useful lives or the expected lease term.
Rights to use assets under operating leases are recorded on the balance sheet as operating lease right-of-use assets and liabilities for operating lease obligations are recorded as operating lease liabilities. Reductions in the carrying amount of operating lease right-of-use assets are recorded to rent expense over the lease term.
The majority of the Company’s facilities are leased under non-cancellable operating leases ranging in terms from five years to 15 years and which contain renewal options of five years to ten years at the fair rental value at the time of renewal. The

F-14

DAVITA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (continued)
(dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data)


Company has elected the practical expedient to not separate lease components from non-lease components for its financing and operating leases.
Amortizable intangibles
Amortizable intangible assets and liabilities include noncompetition agreements, hospital service contracts, and hospital acute servicescustomer relationships arising from other service contracts, each of which have finite useful lives. Amortization expense is computed using the straight-line method over the useful lives of the assets estimated as follows: non-competitionnoncompetition agreements over three years to ten years, and hospital acute service contracts over the contract period.term, and customer relationships from other service contracts over the remaining contract term plus expected renewal periods. Amortizable intangible assets are reviewed for possible impairment whenever significant events or changes in circumstances indicate that an impairment may have occurred.
Indefinite-lived intangibles
Indefinite-lived intangible assets include international licenses and accreditations that allow the Company to be reimbursed for providing dialysis services to patients, each of which has an indefinite useful life. Indefinite-lived intangibles are not amortized, but are assessed for impairment at least annually and whenever significant events or changes in circumstances indicate that an impairment may have occurred. Costs to renew indefinite-lived intangible assets are expensed as incurred.
Equity method and other investments
Equity investments that do not have readily determinable fair values are carried on the equity method if the Company maintains significant influence over the investee. Equity investments without readily determinable fair values for which the Company does not maintain significant influence over the investee are carried either at estimated fair value or on the adjusted cost method, if it does not.as determined on an investment-specific basis. The adjusted cost method represents the Company's cost for an investment, net of any other-than-temporary impairment, or aimpairments, as adjusted for any subsequent observation of the investment's fair value. The Company classifies itsThese equity method and adjusted cost method investments are classified as “Equityequity method and other investments”investments on itsthe Company's consolidated balance sheet. See Note 9 for further details, including recent changes to the Company's accounting for these investments.details.
Equity method and other investments are assessed for other-than-temporary impairment when significant events or changes in circumstances indicate that an other-than-temporary impairment may have occurred. An other-than-temporary impairment charge is recorded when the fair value of an investment has fallen below its carrying amount and the shortfall is expected to be indefinitely or permanently unrecoverable.
Goodwill
Goodwill represents the difference between the fair value of businesses acquired and the fair value of the identifiable tangible and intangible net assets acquired. Goodwill is not amortized, but is assessed by individual reporting unit for impairment as circumstances warrant and at least annually. An impairment charge is recognized when and to the extent a reporting unit's carrying amount is determined to exceed its fair value. The Company operates multiple reporting units. See Note 10 for further details.
Self-insurance
The Company predominantly self-insures its professional and general liability and workers' compensation risks through its wholly-owned captive insurance companies, with excess or reinsurance coverage for additional risk.protection. The Company is also predominantly self-insured with respect to employee medical and other health benefits. The Company records insurance liabilities for the professional and general liability, workers’ compensation, and employee health benefit risks that it retains and estimates its liability for those risks using third party actuarial calculations that are based upon historical claims experience and expectations for future claims.
F-14

DAVITA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (continued)
(dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data)

Income taxes
Federal and state income taxes are computed at currently enacted tax rates less tax credits using the asset and liability method. Deferred taxes are adjusted both for items that do not currently have tax consequences and for the cumulative effect of any changes in tax rates from those previously used to determine deferred tax assets or liabilities. Tax provisions include amounts that are currently payable, changes in deferred tax assets and liabilities that arise because of temporary differences between the timing of when items of income and expense are recognized for financial reporting and income tax purposes, changes in the recognition of tax positions and any changes in the valuation allowance caused by a change in judgment about the realizability of the related deferred tax assets. A valuation allowance is established when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to amounts expected to be realized.

F-15

DAVITA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (continued)
(dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data)


The Company uses a recognition threshold of more-likely-than-not and a measurement attribute on all tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return in order to be recognized in the financial statements. Once the recognition threshold is met, the tax position is then measured to determine the actual amount of benefit to recognize in the financial statements.
Stock-based compensation
The Company’s stock-based compensation expense for stock-settled awards is measured at the estimated fair value of awards on the date of grant and recognized on a cumulative straight-line basis over the vesting terms of the awards, unless the stock awards are based on non-market basednon-market-based performance metrics, in which case expense is adjusted for the ultimate number of shares expected to be issued as of the end of each reporting period. Stock-based compensation expense for cash-settled awards is based on their estimated fair values as of the end of each reporting period. The expense for all stock-based awards is recognized net of expected forfeitures.
Stock-based compensation to be settled in shares is recorded to the Company’s shareholders’ contributed capital, while stock-based compensation to be settled in cash is recorded as a liability. Shares issued upon exercise or, when applicable, vesting of stock awards, are issued from authorized but unissued shares.
Interest rate cap agreements
The Company often carries a combination of current or forward interest rate caps on portions of its variable rate debt as a means of hedging its exposure to changes in LIBOR interest rates as part of its overall interest rate risk management strategy. These interest rate caps are not held for trading or speculative purposes and are designated as qualifying cash flow hedges. See Note 13 for further details.
Noncontrolling interests
Noncontrolling interests represent third-party equity ownership interests in entities which are consolidated by the Company for financial statement reporting purposes. As of December 31, 2019,2021, third parties held noncontrolling equity interests in 672717 consolidated legal entities.
Fair value estimates
Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Fair value measurements are determined based on the principal or most advantageous market for the item being measured, assume that buyers and sellers are independent, willing and able to transact, and knowledgeable, with access to all information customarily available in such a transaction, and are based on assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the item, not assumptions specific to the reporting entity. The criticality of a particular fair value estimate to the Company's consolidated financial statements depends upon the nature and size of the item being measured, the extent of uncertainties involved and the nature and magnitude or potential effect of assumptions and judgments required. Certain fair value estimates can involve significant uncertainties and require significant judgment on various matters, some of which could be subject to reasonable disagreement. See Note 24 for further details.
The Company relies on fair value measurements and estimates for purposes that require the recording, reassessment, or adjustment of the carrying amounts of certain assets, liabilities, and noncontrolling interests subject to put provisions (redeemable equity interests classified as temporary equity). These purposes can include the accounting for business combination transactions; impairment assessments for goodwill, other intangible assets, or other long-lived assets; recurrent revaluation of investments in debt and equity securities, contingent earn-out obligations, interest rate cap agreements, or other derivative instruments, and noncontrolling interests subject to put provisions; and the accounting for equity method and other investments and stock-based compensation, as applicable. The Company has also classified its assets, liabilities and temporary equity into the appropriate fair value hierarchy levels as defined by the FASB. See Note 24 for further details.
New accounting standards
New standards recently adopted
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). The amendments in Topic 842 revise lessee accounting for leases. Under the new guidance, lessees are required to recognize a lease liability and a right-of-use asset for substantially all leases with lease terms in excess of twelve months. The new lease guidance also simplifies the accounting for sale leaseback transactions primarily because lessees must recognize lease assets and lease liabilities. The Company adopted Topic 842 as of January 1, 2019 using a modified retrospective transition approach with a cumulative effect adjustment for leases existing at the adoption date. The Company elected to apply the package of practical expedients to not reassess prior conclusions related to contracts containing leases, lease classification and initial direct costs. Adoption of Topic 842 as of January 1, 2019 resulted in the recognition of operating right-of-use assets of $2,783,784, operating lease liabilities of $3,001,354 and a cumulative effect adjustment to retained earnings of $39,876, primarily related to deferred gains on prior sale leaseback transactions. Adoption of this new lease guidance did not materially impact the Company's consolidated net earnings and had 0 impact on cash flows. See Note 14 for further details.
In August 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-12, Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities. The amendments in this ASU better align an entity’s risk management activities and financial reporting for hedging relationships through changes to both the designation and measurement guidance for qualifying hedging relationships and the presentation of hedge results. The amendments in this ASU were effective for the Company on January 1, 2019. Adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

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F-15

DAVITA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (continued)
(dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data)

compensation, as applicable. The Company has classified its assets, liabilities and temporary equity into the fair value hierarchy levels defined by the FASB reflecting their differing degrees of uncertainty. See Note 24 for further details.

New accounting standards
New standards not yetrecently adopted
In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. The amendments in this ASU change the approach for recognizing credit losses on financial assets from the incurred loss methodology in current U.S. GAAP to a methodology that reflects current expected credit losses, which requires consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information to inform those credit loss estimates. The current incurred loss model delays recognition of credit losses until it is probable that a loss has been incurred, while this ASU’s new current expected credit loss model requires estimation of credit losses expected over the life of the financial asset or group of similar financial assets. The amendments in this ASU are effective for the Company on January 1, 2020 and are to be applied on a modified retrospective approach. The Company has evaluated the impact of this standard on its consolidated financial statements, including accounting policies, processes, and systems, and does not expect the impact to be material.
In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework -Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement. The applicable amendments in this ASU remove requirements for disclosures concerning transfers between fair value measurement Levels 1, 2 and 3 and disclosures concerning valuation processes for Level 3 fair value measurements. The applicable amendments also add a requirement to separately disclose the changes in unrealized gains and losses included in other comprehensive income for the reporting period for Level 3 items measured at fair value on a recurring basis, and require disclosure of the range and weighted average of significant unobservable inputs used to develop Level 3 fair value measurements. The amendments in this ASU are effective for the Company beginning on January 1, 2020 and its new requirements are to be applied on a prospective basis. Adoption of this ASU is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
In December 2019, the FASB issued ASUAccounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes (ASU 2019-12). ASU 2019-12 attempts to simplify aspects of accounting for franchise taxes and enacted changes in tax laws or rates, and clarifies the accounting for transactions that result in a step-up in the tax basis of goodwill. ASU 2019-12 is effective for public business entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020, including interim periods within that fiscal year. The amendments in this ASU became effective for the Company beginning on January 1, 2021. The adoption of ASU 2019-12 did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.
New standards not yet adopted
In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting (ASU 2020-04). ASU 2020-04 provides optional expedients and exceptions for applying U.S. GAAP to contract modifications and hedging relationships, subject to meeting certain criteria, that reference LIBOR or another rate that is expected to be discontinued. The amendments in this ASU were effective beginning on March 12, 2020, and the Company may elect to apply the amendments prospectively through December 31, 2022. Effective January 1, 2022 certain LIBOR tenors that do not affect the Company, including the one-week and two-month U.S. dollar LIBOR rate, ceased or became non-representative. The remaining U.S. dollar LIBOR tenors will cease or become non-representative effective July 1, 2023. This change will have no impact on the Company's ability to borrow. The Company is currently assessing the other effects this guidance may have on its consolidated financial statements.
In October 2021, the FASB issued ASU No. 2021-08, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Accounting for Acquired Contract Assets and Contract Liabilities (ASU 2021-08). ASU 2021-08 requires application of ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, to recognize and measure assets and liabilities from contracts with customers acquired in a business combination. This ASU creates an exception to the general recognition and measurement principle in ASC 805 and will result in recognition of contract assets and contract liabilities consistent with those recorded by the acquiree immediately before the acquisition date. ASU 2021-08 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022, including interim periods within those fiscal years.Early adoption is permitted for all entities. The Company is currently assessing the effect this guidance may have on its consolidated financial statements.
2.    Revenue recognition and accounts receivable
The following table summarizes the Company's segment revenues by segment and primary payor source:source were as follows:
 Year ended December 31, 2019
 U.S. dialysis Other - Ancillary services Consolidated
Patient service revenues:     
Medicare and Medicare Advantage$6,129,697
 $ $6,129,697
Medicaid and Managed Medicaid669,089
 
 669,089
Other government446,010
 352,765
 798,775
Commercial3,286,089
 144,256
 3,430,345
Other revenues:     
Medicare and Medicare Advantage
 264,538
 264,538
Medicaid and Managed Medicaid
 606
 606
Commercial
 130,823
 130,823
Other(1)
32,021
 78,940
 110,961
Eliminations of intersegment revenues(132,325) (14,030) (146,355)
Total$10,430,581
 $957,898
 $11,388,479
Year ended December 31, 2021
U.S. dialysisOther - Ancillary servicesConsolidated
Patient service revenues:
Medicare and Medicare Advantage$6,133,235 $$6,133,235 
Medicaid and Managed Medicaid782,430 782,430 
Other government328,256 463,385 791,641 
Commercial3,397,697 199,024 3,596,721 
Other revenues:
Medicare and Medicare Advantage326,696 326,696 
Medicaid and Managed Medicaid1,321 1,321 
Commercial15,553 15,553 
Other(1)
25,345 40,945 66,290 
Eliminations of intersegment revenues(90,796)(4,294)(95,090)
Total$10,576,167 $1,042,630 $11,618,797 
(1)Other consists of management service fees earned in the respective Company line of business as well as other revenue from the Company's ancillary services.

(1)Other consists of management service fees earned in the respective Company line of business as well as other non-patient service revenue from the Company's U.S. ancillary services and international operations.
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DAVITA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (continued)
(dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data)


 Year ended December 31, 2018
 U.S. dialysis Other - Ancillary services Consolidated
Patient service revenues:     
Medicare and Medicare Advantage$6,063,891
 $ $6,063,891
Medicaid and Managed Medicaid628,766
 
 628,766
Other government446,999
 335,594
 782,593
Commercial3,176,413
 101,681
 3,278,094
Other revenues:     
Medicare and Medicare Advantage
 492,812
 492,812
Medicaid and Managed Medicaid
 44,246
 44,246
Commercial
 90,890
 90,890
Other(1)
19,880
 130,865
 150,745
Eliminations of intersegment revenues(92,950) (34,236) (127,186)
Total$10,242,999
 $1,161,852
 $11,404,851
Year ended December 31, 2020
U.S. dialysisOther - Ancillary servicesConsolidated
Patient service revenues:
Medicare and Medicare Advantage(1)
$6,169,226 $$6,169,226 
Medicaid and Managed Medicaid744,862 744,862 
Other government(1)
334,714 380,584 715,298 
Commercial3,370,562 170,394 3,540,956 
Other revenues:
Medicare and Medicare Advantage419,662 419,662 
Medicaid and Managed Medicaid1,227 1,227 
Commercial33,246 33,246 
Other(2)
40,571 47,585 88,156 
Eliminations of intersegment revenues(145,286)(16,743)(162,029)
Total$10,514,649 $1,035,955 $11,550,604 
(1)During the first quarter of 2021, the Company realigned the classification of revenue previously disclosed in the "Other government" category to the "Medicare and Medicare Advantage" category for certain government-reimbursed plans which have structure and payment characteristics similar to traditional Medicare Advantage plans. The classification of revenue for these plans for the year ended December 31, 2020 has also been recast to conform to the current period presentation.
(2)Other consists of management service fees earned in the respective Company line of business as well as other non-patient service revenue from the Company's U.S. ancillary services and international operations.
Year ended December 31, 2019
U.S. dialysisOther - Ancillary servicesConsolidated
Patient service revenues:
Medicare and Medicare Advantage(1)
$6,246,636 $$6,246,636 
Medicaid and Managed Medicaid669,089 669,089 
Other government(1)
329,071 352,765 681,836 
Commercial3,286,089 144,256 3,430,345 
Other revenues:
Medicare and Medicare Advantage264,538 264,538 
Medicaid and Managed Medicaid606 606 
Commercial130,823 130,823 
Other(2)
32,021 78,940 110,961 
Eliminations of intersegment revenues(132,325)(14,030)(146,355)
Total$10,430,581 $957,898 $11,388,479 
(1)Other consists of management service fees earned in the respective Company line of business as well as other revenue from the Company's ancillary services.
 
Year ended December 31, 2017(1)
 U.S. dialysis Other - Ancillary services Consolidated
Patient service revenues:     
Medicare and Medicare Advantage$5,253,012
 $ $5,253,012
Medicaid and Managed Medicaid606,827
 
 606,827
Other government362,567
 259,651
 622,218
Commercial3,117,920
 63,505
 3,181,425
Other revenues:     
Medicare and Medicare Advantage
 902,289
 902,289
Medicaid and Managed Medicaid
 71,426
 71,426
Commercial
 116,503
 116,503
Other(2)
19,739
 182,974
 202,713
Eliminations of intersegment revenues(55,176) (24,603) (79,779)
Total$9,304,889
 $1,571,745
 $10,876,634
(1)As noted above, prior period amounts have not been adjusted under the cumulative effect method. In this table, the Company's U.S. dialysis revenues
(1)During the first quarter of 2021, the Company realigned the classification of revenue previously disclosed in the "Other government" category to the "Medicare and Medicare Advantage" category for certain government-reimbursed plans which have structure and payment characteristics similar to traditional Medicare Advantage plans. The classification of revenue for these plans for the year ended December 31, 2017 has been presented net of the provision for uncollectible accounts of $485,364 to conform to the current period presentation.
(2)Other consists of management service fees earned in the respective Company line of business as well as other revenue from the Company's ancillary services.
The Company’s allowance for doubtful accounts related to performance obligations satisfied prior to the adoption of Topic 606 was $8,328 and $52,924 as of December 31, 2019 has also been recast to conform to the current period presentation.
(2)Other consists of management service fees earned in the respective Company line of business as well as other non-patient revenue from the Company's U.S. ancillary services and 2018, respectively.international operations.
The majority of the Company's non-patient service revenues from Medicare and Medicare Advantage, Medicaid and Managed Medicaid, and commercial sources represent risk-based revenues earned by the Company's U.S. integrated care and disease management business.
As described in Note 1, there are significant risks associated with estimating revenue, many of which take several years to resolve. These estimates are subject to ongoing insurance coverage changes, geographic coverage differences, differing interpretations of contract coverage and other payor issues, as well as patient issues including determining applicable primary and secondary coverage, changes in patient coverage and coordination of benefits. As these estimates are refined over time, both positive and negative adjustments to revenue are recognized in the current period. As a result of these changes in estimates, additional revenue of $37,274 was recognized during the year ended December 31, 2019 associated with performance obligations satisfied prior to January 1, 2019 and additional revenue of $88,495 was recognized during the year ended December 31, 2018 associated with performance obligations satisfied in years prior to the adoption of Topic 606, which

F-18
F-17

DAVITA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (continued)
(dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data)


included a benefit of $36,000 from electing to apply Topic 606 only to contracts not substantially completed as of January 1, 2018.
There is 0No single commercial payor that accounted for more than 10% of total consolidated accounts receivable or consolidated revenues at or for the years ended December 31, 20192021 or 2018.2020. 
Net dialysisDialysis services accounts receivable and other receivables from Medicare, including Medicare-assignedMedicare Advantage plans, and Medicaid, including managed Medicaid plans, were approximately $1,038,248$1,174,123 and $1,080,561$1,101,837 as of December 31, 20192021 and 2018,2020, respectively. Approximately 18%16% and 17% of the Company’s net patient services accounts receivable balances as of both December 31, 20192021 and 2018,2020, respectively, were more than six months old. There were 0no significant balances over one year old at December 31, 2019.2021. The Company's accounts receivable are principally due from Medicare and Medicaid programs and commercial insurance plans.
3.    Earnings per share
Basic earnings per share is calculated by dividing net income attributable to the Company adjusted for any change in noncontrolling interest redemption rights in excess of fair value, by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding, reduced for 2018 and 2017 by the weighted average shares held in escrow that under certain circumstances may have been returned to the Company.outstanding. Weighted average common shares outstanding include restricted stock unit awards that are no longer subject to forfeiture because the recipients have satisfied either their explicit vesting terms or retirement eligibility requirements.
Diluted earnings per share includes the dilutive effect of outstanding stock-settled stock appreciation rights and unvested stock units (underas computed under the treasury stock method) and, for 2018 and 2017, the weighted average contingently returnable shares held in escrow that were outstanding during the period.method.
The reconciliations of the numerators and denominators used to calculate basic and diluted earnings per share were as follows:

F-19

DAVITA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (continued)
(dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data)


 Year ended December 31,
 2019 2018 2017
Numerators:     
Net income from continuing operations attributable to DaVita Inc.$706,832
 $624,321
 $901,277
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations attributable to DaVita Inc.104,149
 (464,927) (237,659)
Net income attributable to DaVita Inc. for earnings per share calculation$810,981
 $159,394
 $663,618
      
Basic:     
Weighted average shares outstanding during the period153,181
 171,886
 190,820
Weighted average contingently returnable shares previously held in escrow for
the DaVita HealthCare Partners merger

 (1,100) (2,194)
Weighted average shares for basic earnings per share calculation153,181
 170,786
 188,626
      
Basic net income (loss) attributable to DaVita Inc. from:     
Continuing operations per share$4.61
 $3.66
 $4.78
Discontinued operations per share0.68
 (2.73) (1.26)
Basic net income per share attributable to DaVita Inc.$5.29
 $0.93
 $3.52
      
Diluted:     
Weighted average shares outstanding during the period153,181
 171,886
 190,820
Assumed incremental shares from stock plans631
 479
 529
Weighted average shares for diluted earnings per share calculation153,812
 172,365
 $191,349
      
Diluted net income (loss) attributable to DaVita Inc. from:     
Continuing operations per share$4.60
 $3.62
 $4.71
Discontinued operations per share0.67
 (2.70) (1.24)
Diluted net income per share attributable to DaVita Inc.$5.27
 $0.92
 $3.47
      
Anti-dilutive stock-settled awards excluded from calculation(1)
5,936
 5,295
 4,350
 Year ended December 31,
 202120202019
Net income (loss) attributable to DaVita Inc.: 
Continuing operations$978,450 $783,295 $706,832 
Discontinued operations— (9,653)104,149 
Net income attributable to DaVita Inc.$978,450 $773,642 $810,981 
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic shares105,230 119,797 153,181 
Assumed incremental from stock plans4,718 2,826 631 
Diluted shares109,948 122,623 153,812 
Basic net income (loss) attributable to DaVita Inc.:
Continuing operations per share$9.30 $6.54 $4.61 
Discontinued operations per share— (0.08)0.68 
Basic net income per share attributable to DaVita Inc.$9.30 $6.46 $5.29 
Diluted net income (loss) attributable to DaVita Inc.:
Continuing operations per share$8.90 $6.39 $4.60 
Discontinued operations per share— (0.08)0.67 
Diluted net income per share attributable to DaVita Inc.$8.90 $6.31 $5.27 
Anti-dilutive stock-settled awards excluded from calculation(1)
116 2,301 5,936 
(1)Shares associated with stock-settled stock appreciation rights excluded from the diluted denominator calculation because they were anti-dilutive under the treasury stock method.
(1)Shares associated with stock awards excluded from the diluted denominator calculation because they were anti-dilutive under the treasury stock method.
4.    Restricted cash and equivalents
The Company had restricted cash and cash equivalents of $106,346$93,060 and $92,382$176,832 at December 31, 20192021 and 2018,2020, respectively. Approximately $91,847The decrease in restricted cash and equivalents was primarily driven by the release of escrow funds in the third quarter of 2021 related to a resolved legal settlement. See Note 16 for further details. Substantially all of the restricted cash and equivalents balance at December 31, 2019 represents restricted cash equivalents2021 is held in trust to satisfy insurer and state regulatory requirements related to the wholly-owned captive insurance companies that bear professional and general liability and workers' compensation risks for the Company. TheCompany and the remaining restricted cash and cash equivalents held at December 31, 2019 primarily represent2021 represents cash pledged to third parties in connection with 1 of the Company's ancillary and strategic initiatives businesses.
F-18
5.    Short-term and long-term investments
The Company adopted ASU No. 2016-01, Financial Instruments - Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities, and related ASU 2018-03 concerning certain technical corrections and improvements, effective January 1, 2018. Under ASU 2016-01 all changes in the fair values of equity securities with readily determinable fair values are to be recognized in current earnings. Adoption of these ASUs, in conjunction with ASU 2018-02, resulted in a cumulative effect of change in accounting principle effective January 1, 2018 which decreased accumulated other comprehensive income and increased retained earnings by $5,662 in after-tax unrealized gains accumulated

F-20

DAVITA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (continued)
(dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data)


5.    Short-term and long-term investments
in other comprehensive income through December 31, 2017 from equity securities previouslyThe Company’s short-term and long-term investments, consisting of debt instruments classified as available-for-sale investments.
From January 1, 2018,held-to-maturity and equity securities that haveinvestments with readily determinable fair values or redemption values, are recorded at estimated fair value with changes in their value recognized in current earnings within "Other income, net". The Company classifies its debt securitieswere as held-to-maturity and records them at amortized cost based on its intentions and strategy concerning those investments.follows:
The Company classifies these debt and equity investments as "Short-term investments" or "Long-term investments" on its consolidated balance sheet, as applicable, based on the characteristics of the financial instrument or the Company's intentions or expectations for the investment.
The Company’s investments in these short-term and long-term debt and equity investments consist of the following:
 December 31, 2019 December 31, 2018
 Debt
securities
 Equity
securities
 Total Debt
securities
 Equity
securities
 Total
Certificates of deposit and other time deposits$8,140
 $
 $8,140
 $2,235
 $
 $2,235
Investments in mutual funds and common stock
 39,951
 39,951
 
 36,124
 36,124
 $8,140
 $39,951
 $48,091
 $2,235
 $36,124
 $38,359
Short-term investments$8,140
 $3,432
 $11,572
 $2,235
 $700
 $2,935
Long-term investments
 36,519
 36,519
 
 35,424
 35,424
 $8,140
 $39,951
 $48,091
 $2,235
 $36,124
 $38,359

 December 31, 2021December 31, 2020
 Debt
securities
Equity
securities
TotalDebt
securities
Equity
securities
Total
Certificates of deposit and other time deposits$23,226 $— $23,226 $8,217 $— $8,217 
Investments in mutual funds and common stock— 48,598 48,598 — 44,077 44,077 
 $23,226 $48,598 $71,824 $8,217 $44,077 $52,294 
Short-term investments$8,227 $14,083 $22,310 $8,217 $11,884 $20,101 
Long-term investments14,999 34,515 49,514 — 32,193 32,193 
 $23,226 $48,598 $71,824 $8,217 $44,077 $52,294 
Debt securities: The Company's short-term debt investments are principally bank certificates of deposit with contractual maturities longer than three months but shorter than one year. The Company's long-term debt investments are bank time deposits with contractual maturities longer than one year. These debt securities are accounted for as held-to-maturity and recorded at amortized cost, which approximated their fair values at December 31, 20192021 and 2018.2020.
Equity securities: During the year ended December 31, 2021 certain of the Company’s equity investments previously accounted for under the adjusted cost method now have readily determinable fair values from public markets. As a result, these investments were reclassified from equity method and other investments to short-term investments during that period. The Company's remaining short-term and long-term equity investments in mutual funds and common stock are held within a trust to fund existing obligations associated with several of the Company’s non-qualified deferred compensation plans. During 2019,2021, the Company recognized pre-tax net gainslosses of $4,383$3,768 in other income associated with changes in the fair value of these equity securities, comprised of pre-tax realized gains of $1,459$1,762 and a net increase in unrealized gainslosses of $2,924.$5,530. During 2018,2020, the Company recognized pre-tax net lossesgains of $1,208$3,818 in other income associated with changes in the fair value of these equity securities, comprised of pre-tax realized gains of $4,490$1,941 and a net decreaseincrease in unrealized gains of $5,698.$1,877.
6.    Other receivables
Other receivables were comprised of the following: 
 December 31,
 2019 2018
Supplier rebates and non-trade receivables$351,650
 $334,156
Medicare bad debt claims138,045
 135,640
 $489,695
 $469,796

 December 31,
 20212020
Supplier rebates and non-trade receivables$294,574 $390,508 
Medicare bad debt claims132,747 153,868 
 $427,321 $544,376 

F-21




7.    Property and equipment
Property and equipment were comprised of the following:
 December 31,
 20212020
Land$34,009 $37,924 
Buildings496,455 400,616 
Leasehold improvements3,828,404 3,865,729 
Equipment and information systems, including internally developed software3,292,176 3,081,298 
New center and capital asset projects in progress592,063 616,686 
 8,243,107 8,002,253 
Less accumulated depreciation(4,763,135)(4,480,429)
 $3,479,972 $3,521,824 
 December 31,
 2019 2018
Land$36,480
 $37,384
Buildings392,256
 467,181
Leasehold improvements3,545,224
 3,164,943
Equipment and information systems, including internally developed software2,880,645
 2,586,564
New center and capital asset projects in progress588,345
 661,695
 7,442,950
 6,917,767
Less accumulated depreciation(3,969,566) (3,524,098)
 $3,473,384
 $3,393,669
Depreciation and amortization expenses are computed using the straight-line method over the useful lives of the assets estimated as follows: buildings, 25 years to 40 years; leasehold improvements, the shorter of ten years or the expected lease term; and equipment and information systems, including internally developed software, principally three years to 15 years.
F-19



Depreciation expense on property and equipment was $667,755, $616,626, and $600,905 $574,799,for 2021, 2020 and $544,129 for 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively.
Interest on debt incurred during the development of new centers and other capital asset projects is capitalized as a component of the asset cost based on the respective in-process capital asset balances. Interest capitalized was $15,275, $17,944 and $27,322 $25,978for 2021, 2020 and $19,176 for 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively.
During 2018, the Company recognized asset impairment charges of $17,338 related to the restructuring of its pharmacy business.
8.    IntangiblesIntangible assets
Intangible assets other than goodwill were comprised of the following:
 December 31,
 2019 2018
Noncompetition agreements$103,510
 $107,726
Indefinite-lived licenses90,209
 59,885
Other23,887
 31,801
 217,606
 199,412
Less accumulated amortization(81,922) (80,566)
 $135,684
 $118,846

 December 31,
 20212020
Indefinite-lived licenses$104,214 $100,138 
Noncompetition agreements70,495 84,022 
Customer relationships and other63,714 52,566 
 238,423 236,726 
Less accumulated amortization(60,730)(70,141)
 $177,693 $166,585 
Noncompetition agreements are generally amortized over three years to 10 years and customer relationships are principally amortized over 10 years to 20 years. The weighted average renewal or extension period of customer relationships was three years and five years as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Amortization expense from amortizable intangible assets other than lease agreements was $12,860, $13,809, and $14,247 $16,236,for 2021, 2020 and $15,782 for 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Lease agreement intangible assets and liabilities, previously recognized apart from lease right-of-use assets and liabilities prior to adoption of Topic 842, were amortized to rent expense in the amounts of $(296) and $(203) for December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.
For the years ended December 31, 2019, 20182021, 2020 and 2017,2019, the Company recognized 0no impairment charges on any intangible assets other than goodwill.the goodwill impairment charges discussed in Note 10.
AmortizableScheduled amortization expenses from amortizable intangible liabilitiesassets as of December 31, 2018 were comprised of lease agreements of $5,930, which were net of accumulated amortization of $4,362. With the adoption of Topic 842 on January 1, 2019, the Company no longer classifies these as intangible assets or intangible liabilities on its balance sheet. See Notes 1 and 14 for further discussion of our adoption of Topic 842.

F-22

DAVITA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (continued)
(dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data)


Scheduled amortization charges from amortizable intangible assets and liabilities as of December 31, 20192021 were as follows: 
Noncompetition
agreements
Customer relationships and other
Noncompetition
agreements
 Other
2020$11,470
 $1,779
20219,703
 1,335
20226,141
 1,330
2022$7,221 $4,695 
20233,118
 1,294
20234,443 4,669 
20241,429
 1,046
20242,499 4,444 
202520251,371 4,107 
20262026888 4,107 
Thereafter525
 6,305
Thereafter1,260 33,775 
Total$32,386
 $13,089
Total$17,682 $55,797 
 

9.    Equity method and other investments
Equity investments in nonconsolidated businesses over which the Company maintains significant influence, but which do not have readily determinable fair values, are carried on the equity method.
As described in Note 5 to these consolidated financial statements, effective January 1, 2018, the Company adopted ASU 2016-01 and related ASU 2018-03 concerning recognition and measurement of financial assets and financial liabilities. In adopting ASU 2016-01, the Company elected to adopt an adjusted cost method measurement alternative for investments in equity securities without readily determinable fair values that do not qualify for the equity method. Under this alternative, unless elected otherwise for a particular investment, the Company initially records such equity investments at cost but remeasures them to fair value through earnings when there is an observable transaction involving the same or a similar investment with the same issuer or upon an impairment.
The Company maintains equity method and other minor adjusted cost method investments in the private securities of certain other healthcare and healthcare-related businesses. The Company classifies these investmentsbusinesses, comprised as "Equity method and other investments" on its consolidated balance sheet.follows:
The Company's equity method and other investments were comprised of the following:
 December 31,
 2019 2018
APAC joint venture$116,924
 $129,173
Other equity method partnerships114,611
 83,052
Adjusted cost method investments10,448
 12,386
 $241,983
 $224,611

 December 31,
 20212020
APAC joint venture$109,153 $120,787 
Other equity method partnerships115,185 107,599 
Adjusted cost method and other investments14,543 29,105 
$238,881 $257,491 
During 2019, 20182021, 2020 and 2017,2019, the Company recognized equity investment income (loss) of $12,679, $(4,484)$26,937, $26,916 and $(8,640),$12,679, respectively, from its equity method investments in nonconsolidated businesses. 
The Company's largest equity method investment is its ownership interest in DaVita Care Pte. Ltd. (the APAC joint venture, or APAC JV). During the fourth quarter of 2019, one of the third party noncontrolling investors in the APAC JV made its final subscribed capital contribution to the joint venture and the other third party noncontrolling investor elected to exit the joint venture. As a result, theThe Company now holds a 75% voting and economic interest in the APAC JV and its otheran unrelated noncontrolling investor holds athe other 25% voting and economic interest in the joint venture. The governance structure and voting rights established for the APAC JV, which remain unchanged since its formation on August 1, 2016, provide that certain key decisions affecting the joint venture’s operations are not subject to the unilateral discretion of the Company but rather are shared with the joint venture's other noncontrolling investor. As a result,venture, however the Company does not control or consolidate the APAC JV.JV as a result of substantive participating rights retained by the unrelated investor over
Prior to the transactions described above and as of December 31, 2018, the Company held a 60% voting interest and a 73.3% economic interest in the APAC JV, while the other two noncontrolling investors collectively held a 40% voting interest and a 26.7% economic interest in the APAC JV.
During the year ended December 31, 2017, the Company recognized a non-cash other-than-temporary impairment charge of $280,066 on its investment in the APAC JV. This charge resulted from changes in then-current expectations for the

F-23F-20

DAVITA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (continued)
(dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data)


joint venture based on continuing market research and assessments by both the Company and the APAC JV concerning the size of the addressable market available tocertain key operating decisions for the joint venture at attractive risk-adjusted returns.venture.
The Company's other equity method investments include 2023 legal entities over which the Company has significant influence but in which it does not maintain a controlling financial interest. Almost all of these are U.S. dialysis partnerships in the form of limited liability companies. The Company's ownership interests in these partnerships vary, and are often subject to blocking rights on certain key operating decisions held by outside investors, but typicallymostly range from 30% to 50%65%.
There were 0no significant impairments or other valuation adjustments on the Company's adjusted cost method and other investments during 20192021, 2020 or 2018.2019.
10.    Goodwill
Changes in the carrying value of goodwill by reportable segmentssegment were as follows:
 U.S. dialysisOther - Ancillary
services
Consolidated
Balance at December 31, 2019$6,287,100 $500,535 $6,787,635 
Acquisitions24,377 105,680 130,057 
Divestitures(1,549)(6,744)(8,293)
Foreign currency and other adjustments— 9,710 9,710 
Balance at December 31, 2020$6,309,928 $609,181 $6,919,109 
Acquisitions91,979 81,265 173,244 
Divestitures(1,745)— (1,745)
Foreign currency and other adjustments— (44,367)(44,367)
Balance at December 31, 2021$6,400,162 $646,079 $7,046,241 
Balance at December 31, 2021:
Goodwill$6,400,162 $772,286 $7,172,448 
Accumulated impairment charges— (126,207)(126,207)
$6,400,162 $646,079 $7,046,241 
 U.S. dialysis 
Other - Ancillary
services
 Consolidated
Balance at December 31, 2017$6,144,761
 $465,518
 $6,610,279
Acquisitions130,574
 147,774
 278,348
Divestitures(331) (15,166) (15,497)
Impairment charges
 (3,106) (3,106)
Foreign currency and other adjustments
 (28,064) (28,064)
Balance at December 31, 2018$6,275,004
 $566,956
 $6,841,960
Acquisitions18,089
 72,137
 90,226
Impairment charges
 (124,892) (124,892)
Foreign currency and other adjustments(5,993) (13,666) (19,659)
Balance at December 31, 2019$6,287,100
 $500,535
 $6,787,635
      
Goodwill$6,287,100
 $653,870
 $6,940,970
Accumulated impairment charges
 (153,335) (153,335)
 $6,287,100
 $500,535
 $6,787,635

TheAs dialysis treatments are an essential, life-sustaining service for patients who depend on them, the Company's operations have continued and are currently expected to continue throughout the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. However, the ultimate impact of the dynamic and evolving COVID-19 pandemic on the Company electedwill depend on future developments that are highly uncertain and difficult to early adopt ASU No. 2017-04, Intangibles-Goodwillpredict, including among other things the severity and Other (Topic 350): Simplifyingduration of the Testpandemic; further spread or resurgence of the virus, including as a result of the emergence of new strains of the virus such as the Delta and Omicron variants; COVID-19's impact for Goodwill Impairment effective January 1, 2017. The amendments in this ASU simplify the test for goodwill impairmentchronic kidney disease (CKD) patient population and the Company's patient population including on the mortality of these patients; the availability, acceptance, impact and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines, treatments, and therapies; the pandemic's continuing impact on the Company's revenue and non-acquired growth due to lower treatment volumes, the U.S. and global economies, unemployment, labor market conditions, inflation and monetary policies; the potential negative impact on the Company's commercial mix or the number of patients covered by eliminatingcommercial insurance plans; continued increased COVID-related costs; supply chain challenges and disruptions, including with respect to the second stepCompany's clinical supplies; the responses of the Company's competitors to the pandemic and related changes in the assessment. All goodwill impairment tests performed since adoptionmarketplace; the timing, scope and effectiveness of federal, state and local government responses; and any potential changes to the extensive set of federal, state and local laws, regulations and requirements that govern the Company's business. While the Company does not currently expect a material adverse impact to its business as a result of this ASU were performed under this new guidance. When performing quantitative goodwill impairment assessments,public health crisis, there can be no assurance that the Company estimates fair value using either appraisals developed with an independent third party valuation firm which consider both discounted cash flow estimates forCOVID-19 pandemic will not have a material adverse impact on one or more of the subject business and observed market multiples for similar businesses, or offer prices received for the subject business that would be acceptable to the Company.Company's businesses.
Each of the Company’s operating segments described in Note 25 to these consolidated financial statements represents an individual reporting unit for goodwill impairment assessment purposes and each sovereign jurisdiction within the Company’s international operating segments is considered a separate reporting unit.purposes.
Within the U.S. dialysis operating segment, the Company considers each of its dialysis centers to constitute an individual business for which discrete financial information is available. However, since these dialysis centers have similar operating and economic characteristics, and the allocation of resources and significant investment decisions concerning these businesses are highly centralized and the benefits broadly distributed, the Company has aggregated these centers and deemed them to constitute a single reporting unit.
The Company has applied a similar aggregation to the vascular access service centers in its vascular access services reporting unit, to the physician practices in its physician services reporting units, and to the dialysis centers and other health operations within each international reporting unit. Forunit, and to the Company’s other operating segments, discrete business components below the operating segment level constitute individual reporting units.
During the three months ended March 31, 2019 and September 30, 2019, the Company recognized goodwill impairment charges of $41,037 and $78,439, respectively,vascular access service centers in its Germany kidney care business. The first quarter of 2019 charge resulted primarily from a change in relevant discount rates, as well as a decline in current and expected future patient census and an

F-24
F-21

DAVITA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (continued)
(dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data)


its former vascular access services reporting unit. For the Company’s other operating segments, discrete business components below the operating segment level constitute individual reporting units.
When performing quantitative goodwill impairment assessments, the Company estimates fair value using either appraisals developed with an independent third party valuation firm which consider both discounted cash flow estimates for the subject business and observed market multiples for similar businesses, or offer prices received for the subject business that would be acceptable to the Company.
During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company recognized goodwill impairment charges of $119,476 in its Germany kidney care business. These charges resulted primarily from a decline in then current and expected future patient census and an increase in first quarter of 2019then current and expected future costs, principallyincluding due to wage increases expected to result from recentlylegislation announced legislation.at that time. The incremental charge recognized during the third quarter of 2019 resulted from changes and developments in the Company's outlook for this business since its last assessment. These primarily concernedexpectations were informed by developments in the business in response to evolving market conditions, andincluding changes in the Company's expected timing and ability to mitigate them, which wasand based on results of in-depth operating and strategic reviews completed by the Company’sCompany's new Germany management team during the third quarter of 2019.team. During the year ended December 31, 2019 the Company also recognized a goodwill impairment charge of $5,416 in its German other health operations.
The impairment charges recognized in 2019 at the Company’s Germany kidney care business and its German other health operations include increases of $25,621 and $1,013, respectively, to the goodwill impairment charges, and reductions to deferred tax expense, related to deferred tax assets that the impairments themselves generated. The result was $124,892 in total goodwill impairment charges to operating income and reductions of $26,634 in tax expense, for a net $98,258 impact on net income.
Based on theits most recent assessments, the Company determined that further changes in expected patient census, increases in operating costs, reductionsfailure to achieve expected increases in reimbursement rates, changes in actual or expected growth rates, or other significant adverse changes in expected future cash flows or valuation assumptions could result in goodwill impairment charges in the future for the following reporting units,unit, which remainremains at risk of goodwill impairment as of December 31, 2019:2021:
Reporting unitGoodwill
balance
Carrying amount
coverage
(1)
Sensitivities
Operating
income
(2)
Discount
rate
(3)
Germany kidney care$298,499 6.6 %(1.7)%(9.4)%
Reporting unit Goodwill
balance
 
Carrying amount
coverage
(1)
 Sensitivities
Operating
income
(2)
 
Discount
rate
(3)
Germany kidney care $295,151
 % (1.3)% (11.0)%
Brazil kidney care $88,551
 4.4% (2.8)% (7.0)%
 
(1)
(1)Excess of estimated fair value of the reporting unit over its carrying amount as of the latest assessment date.
(2)Potential impact on estimated fair value of a sustained, long-term reduction of 3% in operating income as of the latest assessment date.
(3)Potential impact on estimated fair value of an increase in discount rates of 100 basis points as of the latest assessment date.
During the year ended December 31, 2018,reporting unit over its carrying amount as of the Company recognizedlatest assessment date.
(2)Potential impact on estimated fair value of a goodwill impairment chargesustained, long-term reduction of $3,106 at its German other health operations.3% in operating income as of the latest assessment date.
During(3)Potential impact on estimated fair value of an increase in discount rates of 100 basis points as of the year ended December 31, 2017, the Company recognized goodwill impairment charge of $34,696 at its vascular access reporting unit. This charge resulted primarily from changes in future governmental reimbursement rates for this business and the Company’s then-evolving plans and expected ability to mitigate them. As of December 31, 2017, there was 0 goodwill remaining at the Company's vascular access reporting unit. The Company also recognized a goodwill impairment charge of $1,500 at one of its international reporting units during the year ended December 31, 2017.latest assessment date.
Except as described above, NaNnone of the Company’s other reporting units were considered at risk of significant goodwill impairment as of December 31, 2019.2021. Since the dates of the Company’s last annual goodwill impairment assessments, there have been certain developments, events, changes in operating performance and other changes in key circumstances that have affected the Company’s businesses. However, these didhave not causecaused management to believe it is more likely than not that the fair values of any of the Company’s reporting units would be less than their respective carrying amounts as of December 31, 2019.2021.
11.    Other liabilities
Other liabilities were comprised of the following:
 December 31,
 2019 2018
Payor refunds and retractions$377,044
 $302,244
Insurance and self-insurance accruals58,941
 58,569
Accrued interest54,899
 82,827
Accrued non-income tax liabilities36,285
 28,663
Other229,005
 123,547
 $756,174
 $595,850

 December 31,
 20212020
Payor refunds and retractions$410,038 $371,183 
Insurance and self-insurance accruals55,548 54,438 
Accrued interest32,926 30,066 
Accrued non-income tax liabilities41,784 39,075 
Other169,049 315,767 
 $709,345 $810,529 

F-25

DAVITA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (continued)
(dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data)


12.    Income taxes
The Company accounts for income taxes under the asset and liability method, which requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the consolidated financial statements. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined on the basis of the differences between the financial statement and tax basis of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse.
Income before income taxes from continuing operations consisted of the following: 
 Year ended December 31,
 2019 2018 2017
Domestic$1,307,299
 $1,083,578
 $1,725,822
International(111,860) (35,100) (326,036)
 $1,195,439
 $1,048,478
 $1,399,786
F-22

 Income tax expense for continuing operations consisted of the following:
 Year ended December 31,
 2019 2018 2017
Current: 
  
  
Federal$208,339
 $140,064
 $330,191
State58,026
 32,990
 47,228
International15,545
 7,557
 3,422
Total current income tax281,910
 180,611
 380,841
Deferred: 
  
  
Federal44,263
 52,034
 (98,760)
State(25,836) 21,096
 37,347
International(20,709) 4,659
 4,431
Total deferred income tax(2,282) 77,789
 (56,982)
 $279,628
 $258,400
 $323,859

Income taxes are allocated between continuing and discontinued operations as follows:
 Year ended December 31,
 2019 2018 2017
Continuing operations$279,628
 $258,400
 $323,859
Discontinued operations40,689
 99,768
 (364,856)
 $320,317
 $358,168
 $(40,997)


F-26

DAVITA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (continued)
(dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data)


Income before income taxes from continuing operations consisted of the following: 
 Year ended December 31,
 202120202019
Domestic$1,463,029 $1,287,976 $1,307,299 
International55,465 30,286 (111,860)
 $1,518,494 $1,318,262 $1,195,439 
 Income tax expense for continuing operations consisted of the following:
 Year ended December 31,
 202120202019
Current:   
Federal$216,539 $47,171 $208,339 
State15,601 21,442 58,026 
International14,247 17,481 15,545 
Total current income tax246,387 86,094 281,910 
Deferred:   
Federal59,528 198,623 44,263 
State5,342 27,206 (25,836)
International(4,525)2,009 (20,709)
Total deferred income tax60,345 227,838 (2,282)
 $306,732 $313,932 $279,628 
Income taxes are allocated between continuing and discontinued operations as follows:
Year ended December 31,
202120202019
Continuing operations$306,732 $313,932 $279,628 
Discontinued operations— 1,657 40,689 
$306,732 $315,589 $320,317 
The reconciliation between the Company’s effective tax rate from continuing operations and the U.S. federal income tax rate is as follows:
 Year ended December 31,
 202120202019
Federal income tax rate21.0 %21.0 %21.0 %
State income taxes, net of federal benefit3.0 3.4 2.3 
Equity compensation(2.4)— 0.5 
Federal and international tax rate adjustments1.3 — — 
Nondeductible executive compensation0.8 1.2 0.8 
Political advocacy costs0.2 1.7 0.2 
Unrecognized tax benefits(0.1)0.4 2.4 
Change in international valuation allowance(1.0)1.5 1.3 
Other1.0 (0.6)(0.2)
Impact of noncontrolling interests primarily
 attributable to non-tax paying entities
(3.6)(4.8)(4.9)
Effective tax rate20.2 %23.8 %23.4 %
 Year ended December 31,
 2019 2018 2017
Federal income tax rate21.0 % 21.0 % 35.0 %
State income taxes, net of federal benefit2.3
 4.1
 3.7
Change in International valuation allowance1.3
 0.9
 0.4
Gain on APAC JV ownership changes
 
 (0.2)
Political advocacy costs0.2
 2.3
 
APAC investment impairment
 
 6.4
Impact of 2017 Tax Act
 (0.1) (20.5)
Unrecognized tax benefits2.4
 0.2
 0.1
Other1.1
 0.8
 1.5
Impact of noncontrolling interests primarily attributable
to non-tax paying entities
(4.9) (4.6) (3.3)
Effective tax rate23.4 % 24.6 % 23.1 %
F-23

DAVITA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (continued)
(dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data)

On December 22, 2017, the President signed into law tax legislation known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (2017 Tax Act). Consistent with Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118, the Company completed its analysis of certain aspects of the 2017 Tax Act in 2017 and recorded provisional amounts for those items for which the accounting was not complete as of December 31, 2017. The Company completed its analysis of these provisional items in 2018 and recorded immaterial adjustments to the original estimates.
Deferred tax assets and liabilities arising from temporary differences for continuing operations were as follows:
 December 31,
 20212020
Receivables$8,430 $9,324 
Accrued liabilities67,993 64,982 
Operating lease liabilities581,199 584,656 
Net operating loss carryforwards162,987 167,398 
Other52,434 62,110 
Deferred tax assets873,043 888,470 
Valuation allowance(100,616)(114,824)
Net deferred tax assets772,427 773,646 
Intangible assets(644,039)(634,736)
Property and equipment(283,913)(274,742)
Operating lease assets(530,839)(532,082)
Investments in partnerships(84,407)(101,996)
Other(37,274)(39,690)
Deferred tax liabilities(1,580,472)(1,583,246)
Net deferred tax liabilities$(808,045)$(809,600)
Reported as:
Deferred tax liabilities$(830,954)$(809,600)
Deferred tax assets (included in Other long-term assets)22,909 — 
$(808,045)$(809,600)
 December 31,
 2019 2018
Receivables$19,095
 $19,327
Accrued liabilities64,458
 106,506
Operating lease liabilities580,110
 
Net operating loss carryforwards139,690
 117,511
Other55,108
 36,712
Deferred tax assets858,461
 280,056
Valuation allowance(91,925) (70,474)
Net deferred tax assets766,536
 209,582
Intangible assets(563,914) (555,822)
Property and equipment(162,628) (118,008)
Operating lease assets(527,056) 
Investments in partnerships(64,960) (67,354)
Other(25,521) (30,934)
Deferred tax liabilities(1,344,079) (772,118)
Net deferred tax liabilities$(577,543) $(562,536)

At December 31, 2019,2021, the Company had federal net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $111,322$85,391 that expire through 2036, although a substantial amount expire by 2028.2029. The Company also had state net operating loss carryforwards of $434,030,$554,806, some of which have an indefinite life, although a substantial amount expire by 20392041 and international net operating loss carryforwards of $224,197,$291,927, some of which will begin to expire in 20212022 though the majority have an indefinite life. We haveThe Company has a state capital loss carryover of $188,823 that$313,722, the majority of which expires in 2024. The utilization of a portion of these losses may be limited in future years based on the profitability of certain entities. A valuation allowance is recorded to account for the unrealizable balances in the table above. The net increasedecrease of $21,451$14,208 in the valuation allowance is primarily due to the release of the valuation allowance on indefinite life net operating losses in jurisdictions where the Company has generated sufficient income to support their future utilization, partially offset by newly created net operating loss carryforwards in state and foreign jurisdictions that the Company does not anticipate being able to utilize.

During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company recorded a true-up to recognize net deferred tax assets related to historical purchases of noncontrolling interests in consolidated partnerships. The effect of this adjustment was an increase of $46,692 to net deferred tax assets, a charge of $16,044 to income tax expense, and an increase of $62,736 to additional paid-in capital. The Company’s prior purchases of this type have not generated significant pre-tax adjustments to additional paid-in capital in any single prior year. The majority of the $16,044 recorded to income tax expense was due to the decrease in the corporate tax rate in 2017.
The Company's foreign earnings continue to be indefinitely reinvested as of December 31, 2021. As a result of the passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (2017 Tax Act), the Company does not expect such earnings to be taxable if remitted.
F-27
F-24

DAVITA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (continued)
(dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data)


The Company's foreign earnings continue to be indefinitely reinvested as of December 31, 2019. As a result of the passage of the 2017 Tax Act, the Company does not expect such earnings to be taxable if remitted.
Unrecognized tax benefits
A reconciliation of the beginning and ending liability for unrecognized tax benefits that do not meet the more-likely-than-not threshold is as follows:
 Year ended December 31,
 2019 2018
Beginning balance$40,382
 $32,776
Additions for tax positions related to current year3,378
 6,111
Additions for tax positions related to prior years24,722
 4,134
Reductions related to lapse of applicable statute(268) (338)
Reductions related to settlements with taxing authorities
 (2,301)
Ending balance$68,214
 $40,382

 Year ended December 31,
 20212020
Beginning balance$70,202 $68,214 
Additions for tax positions related to current year3,335 2,293 
Additions for tax positions related to prior years22,616 258 
Reductions related to lapse of applicable statute(751)(133)
Reductions related to settlements with taxing authorities(22,378)(430)
Ending balance$73,024 $70,202 
As of December 31, 2019,2021, the Company’s total liability for unrecognized tax benefits relating to tax positions that do not meet the more-likely-than-not threshold is $68,214,$73,024, of which $63,968$68,708 would impact the Company’s effective tax rate if recognized.recognized and $42,860 is classified as a current tax liability related to settlements expected to be paid in 2022. This balance represents an increase of $27,832$2,822 from the December 31, 20182020 balance of $40,382, primarily due to additions for tax positions related to prior years.$70,202.
The Company recognizes accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense. At December 31, 20192021 and 2018,2020, the Company had approximately $14,428$15,275 and $9,019,$17,864, respectively, accrued for interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits, net of federal tax benefit.
The Company and its subsidiaries file U.S. federal and state income tax returns and various foreign income tax returns. The Company is no longer subject to U.S. federal and state examinations by tax authorities for years before 2014 and 2009, respectively. In addition to being under audit in various state and local tax jurisdictions, the Company’s federal tax returns are under audit by the Internal Revenue Service for the years 2014-2017.

F-28

DAVITA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (continued)
(dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data)


13.    Long-term debt
Long-term debt was comprised of the following: 
 December 31,   As of December 31, 2019
 2019 2018 Maturity date Interest rate 
Estimated fair value(5)
Senior Secured Credit Facilities(1):
 
  
      
New Term Loan A$1,739,063
 $
 8/12/2024 LIBOR + 1.50%
 $1,739,063
New Term Loan B(2)
2,743,125
 
 8/12/2026 LIBOR + 2.25%
 $2,770,556
Prior Term Loan A(3)

 675,000
 12/24/2019 
(4) 

 $
Prior Term Loan A-2(3)

 995,000
 12/24/2019 
(4) 

 $
Prior Term Loan B
 3,342,500
 6/24/2021 
(4) 

 $
Prior revolving line of credit(3)

 175,000
 12/24/2019 
(4) 

 $
Senior Notes:         
5 1/8% Senior Notes1,750,000
 1,750,000
 7/15/2024 5.125% $1,789,375
5% Senior Notes1,500,000
 1,500,000
 5/1/2025 5.00% $1,538,700
5 3/4% Senior Notes
 1,250,000
 8/15/2022    
Acquisition obligations and other
notes payable
(6)
180,352
 183,979
 2019-2027 5.35% $180,352
Financing lease obligations(7)
268,534
 282,737
 2019-2036 5.39% $268,534
Total debt principal outstanding8,181,074
 10,154,216
      
Discount and deferred financing
costs
(8)
(72,840) (52,000)      
 8,108,234
 10,102,216
      
Less current portion(130,708) (1,929,369)      
 $7,977,526
 $8,172,847
      

 December 31,As of December 31, 2021
 20212020Maturity dateInterest rate
Estimated fair value(1)
Senior Secured Credit Facilities:  
Term Loan A$1,596,875 $1,684,375 8/12/2024LIBOR + 1.50%$1,600,867 
Term Loan B-12,688,263 2,715,694 8/12/2026LIBOR + 1.75%2,681,542 
Revolving line of credit— 75,000 8/12/2024LIBOR + 1.50%$— 
Senior Notes:
4.625% Senior Notes2,750,000 1,750,000 6/1/20304.625 %$2,822,188 
3.75% Senior Notes1,500,000 1,500,000 2/15/20313.75 %$1,464,210 
Acquisition obligations and other notes
payable
(2)
130,599 164,160 2022-20364.80 %$130,599 
Financing lease obligations(3)
299,128 274,292 2022-20384.54 %
Total debt principal outstanding8,964,865 8,163,521 
Discount and deferred financing costs(4)
(56,685)(77,717)
 8,908,180 8,085,804 
Less current portion(179,030)(168,541)
 $8,729,150 $7,917,263 
(1)
As of December 31, 2019, the Company has an undrawn new revolving line of credit under its new senior secured credit facilities of $1,000,000. The new revolving line of credit interest rate in effect at December 31, 2019 was 1.50% plus London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) and it matures
(1)For the Company's senior secured credit facilities and senior notes, fair value estimates are based upon bid and ask quotes, typically a level 2 input. For acquisition obligations and other notes payable, the carrying values presented here approximate their estimated fair values, based on estimates of their present values using level 2 interest rate inputs.August 12, 2024.
(2)
On February 13, 2020, the Company entered into an amendment to its credit agreement governing its senior secured credit facilities to refinance the new Term Loan B with a $2,743,125 secured Term Loan B-1 that bears interest at a rate equal to LIBOR plus an applicable margin of 1.75% and matures on August 12, 2026.
(3)
On May 6, 2019, the Company entered into an agreement to extend the maturity dates of its then existing Term Loan A, Term Loan A-2 and revolving line of credit under its prior senior secured credit facilities by six months, to December 24, 2019.
(4)At June 30, 2019, the interest rate on the Company's then existing term loan debt was LIBOR plus interest rate margins in effect of 2.00% for the prior Term Loan A and prior revolving line of credit, 1.00% for the prior Term Loan A-2 and 2.75% for the prior Term Loan B.
(5)Fair value estimates are based upon quoted bid and ask prices for these instruments, typically a level 2 input. The balances of acquisition obligations and other notes payable and financing lease obligations are presented in the consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2019 at their approximate fair values due to the short-term nature of their settlements.
(6)The interest rate presented for acquisition obligations and other notes payable is their weighted average interest rate based on the current interest rate in effect and assuming no changes to the LIBOR based interest rates.
(7)The interest rate presented for financing lease obligations is their weighted average discount rate.
(8)As of December 31, 2019, the carrying amount of the Company’s current senior secured credit facilities includes a discount of $6,457 and deferred financing costs of $45,444, and the carrying amount of the Company’s senior notes includes deferred financing costs of $20,939. As of December 31, 2018, the carrying amount of the Company’s then existing senior secured credit facilities included a discount of $6,104 and deferred financing costs of $12,580, and the carrying amount of the Company’s senior notes included deferred financing costs of $33,316.


(2)The interest rate presented for acquisition obligations and other notes payable is their weighted average interest rate based on the current fixed and LIBOR interest rate components in effect as of December 31, 2021.
(3)Financing lease obligations are measured at their approximate present values at inception. The interest rate presented is the weighted average discount rate embedded in financing leases outstanding. The term of one ground lease runs to 2070, in addition to the other lease maturity dates presented in the table above.
F-29
F-25

DAVITA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (continued)
(dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data)


(4)As of December 31, 2021, the carrying amount of the Company's senior secured credit facilities have been reduced by a discount of $4,473 and deferred financing costs of $27,207 and the carrying amount of the Company's senior notes have been reduced by deferred financing costs of $40,914 and increased by a debt premium of $15,909. As of December 31, 2020, the carrying amount of the Company's senior secured credit facilities were reduced by a discount of $5,461 and deferred financing costs of $35,825, and the carrying amount of the Company's senior notes were reduced by deferred financing costs of $36,431.
Scheduled maturities of long-term debt at December 31, 20192021 were as follows: 
2020$130,708
2021$153,110
2022$168,951
2023$224,437
2024$3,172,298
Thereafter$4,331,570

2022$179,030 
2023$218,460 
2024$1,424,692 
2025$67,812 
2026$2,625,349 
Thereafter$4,449,522 
The Company completed the sale of its DMG business to Optum on June 19, 2019, and, in accordance with the terms of its prior senior secured credit agreement, used all of the net proceeds from the sale of DMG to prepay term debt outstanding under that credit agreement. During the year ended December 31, 2019,2021, the Company made regularly scheduled mandatory principal prepayments of $647,424 on the prior Term Loan A, $995,000 on the prior Term Loan A-2 and $2,823,447 on the prior Term Loan B.
On August 12, 2019, the Company entered into a new $5,500,000payments under its senior secured credit agreement (the New Credit Agreement) consisting of a secured term loan A facility in the aggregate principal amount of $1,750,000 with a delayed draw feature, a secured term loan B facility in the aggregate principal amount of $2,750,000 and a secured revolving line of credit in the aggregate principal amount of $1,000,000 (the foregoing referred to as the new Term Loan A, new Term Loan B and new revolving line of credit, respectively). In addition, the Company can increase the existing revolving commitments and enter into one or more incremental term loan facilities in an amount not to exceed the sum of $1,500,000 (less the amount of other permitted indebtedness incurred or issued in reliancetotaling $87,500 on such amount), plus an amount of indebtedness such that the senior secured leverage ratio is not in excess of 3.50:1.00 after giving effect to such borrowings.
The new Term Loan A and new revolving line$27,431 on Term Loan B-1.
On February 26, 2021, the Company completed an unregistered add-on offering of credit initially bear interest$1,000,000 aggregate principal amount to the existing 4.625% senior notes due June 1, 2030 (the Additional 2030 Notes) pursuant to Rule 144A and Regulation S under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The Additional 2030 Notes were issued at LIBORan offering price of 101.750% of face amount, plus an interest rate marginpayment advance to the Company for interest that would have accrued from December 1, 2020 (the last interest payment date) through the closing date, and began bearing full six months' semi-annual coupon interest payments as of 1.50%, which is subjectJune 1, 2021. The terms of the Additional 2030 Notes, other than their issue date, offering price and first interest payment date, are identical to adjustment depending upon the Company's leverage ratio underterms of the New Credit Agreement and can range from 1.00% to 2.00%. The new Term Loan A requires amortizing quarterly$1,750,000 principal payments beginning on December 31, 2019, in annual amounts of $10,937 in 2019, $54,689 in 2020, $87,500 in 2021, $98,437 in 2022 and $142,187 in 2023, with the balance of $1,356,250 due in 2024. The new Term Loan B bears interest at LIBOR plus an interest rate margin of 2.25%. The new Term Loan B requires amortizing quarterly principal payments beginning on December 31, 2019, in annual amounts of $6,875 in 2019 and $27,500 for each year from 2020 through 2025, with the balance of $2,578,125 due in 2026.
The Company's term loans and revolving line of credit under its New Credit Agreement are guaranteed by certainamount of the Company’s direct and indirect wholly-owned domestic subsidiaries, which hold most of the Company’s domestic assets, and are secured4.625% senior notes due June 1, 2030 previously issued by substantially all of the assets of DaVita Inc. and these guarantors. Contemporaneous with the Company entering into the New Credit Agreement and pursuant to the indentures governing the Company’s senior notes, certain subsidiaries of the Company were released from their guarantees of the Company's senior notes such that, after that release, the remaining subsidiary guarantors of the senior notes were the same subsidiaries guaranteeing the New Credit Agreement.on June 9, 2020. The New Credit Agreement contains certain customary affirmative and negative covenants such as various restrictions or limitations on permitted amounts of investments, acquisitions, share repurchases, payment of dividends, and redemptions and incurrence of other indebtedness. Many of these restrictions and limitations will not apply as long as the Company’s leverage ratio calculated in accordance with the New Credit Agreement is below 4.00:1.00. In addition, the New Credit Agreement places limitations on the amount of gross revenue from individual immaterial subsidiaries and also requires compliance with a maximum leverage ratio covenant of 5.00:1.00 through 2022 and 4.50:1.00 thereafter.
The senior notesAdditional 2030 Notes are unsecured senior obligations and rank equally in right of payment with the Company’sCompany's existing and future unsecured senior indebtedness, are guaranteed by certain of the Company’s direct and indirect wholly-owned domestic subsidiaries, and require semi-annual interest payments. The Company may redeem some or all of the senior notes at any time on or after certain specific dates and at certain specific redemption prices as outlined in each senior note agreement. Interest rates on the senior notes are fixed by their terms, and the Company is restricted from paying dividends under the indentures governing its senior notes.
In 2019, the Company used a portion of the proceeds from the new Term Loan A and new Term Loan B to pay off the remaining principal balances outstanding and accrued interest and fees on its prior Term Loan B and prior revolving line of credit in the amount of $1,153,274; to redeem all of its outstanding 5.75% senior notes due in 2022 for an aggregate cash payment consisting of principal, redemption premium and accrued but unpaid interest to the redemption date of $1,267,565; and to repurchase 21,802 shares of common stock under its modified Dutch auction tender offer (Tender Offer) for a total cost of $1,234,154, including fees and expenses, as described in Note 19 of these consolidated financial statements. The remaining

F-30

DAVITA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (continued)
(dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data)


debt borrowings added cash to the balance sheet for potential acquisitions, share repurchases and other general corporate purposes.
In addition to the prepayments described above, duringindebtedness. During the year ended December 31, 2019,2021 the Company made regularly scheduled principal payments under its then existing senior secured credit facilities of $27,576 on its prior Term Loan Aincurred $9,091 in fees and $17,500 on its prior Term Loan B, as well as $10,937 on its new Term Loan Aother professional expenses associated with this transaction, which were capitalized and $6,875 on its new Term Loan B.
As a resultwill amortize over the term of the transactions described above, the Company recognized debt prepayment, refinancing and redemption charges of $33,402 in the year ended December 31, 2019, as a result of the repayment of all principal balances outstanding on the Company's prior senior secured credit facilities and the redemption of its 5.75% senior notes, of which $21,242 represented debt discount and deferred financing cost write-offs associated with the portion of the Company's prior senior secured debt that was paid in full in the third quarter of 2019 as well as redemption charges on its 5.75% senior notes redeemed in the third quarter of 2019, and $12,160 represented accelerated amortization of debt discount and deferred financing costs associated with the portion of the Company's prior senior secured debt that was mandatorily prepaid in or shortly after the second quarter of 2019 and prior extensions of that debt.
On February 13, 2020, (the “Amendment Date”), the Company entered into an amendment to its credit agreement (the “Repricing Amendment”) governing the senior secured credit facilities to refinance the new Term Loan B with a $2,743,125 secured Term Loan B-1 that bears interest at a rate equal to LIBOR plus an applicable margin of 1.75% and matures on August 12, 2026. The Repricing Amendment did not change the interest rate on the new Term Loan A or the new revolving line of credit. NaN additional debt was incurred, nor any proceeds received, by the Company in connection with the Repricing Amendment.Additional 2030 Notes.
As of December 31, 2019,2021, the Company maintains severalCompany's 2019 interest rate cap agreements that have the economic effect of capping the Company's maximum exposure to LIBOR variable interest rate changes on specific portions of the Company's floating rate debt, including all of the new Term Loan BB-1 and a portion of the new Term Loan A. The remaining $982,188$785,138 outstanding principal balance of the new Term Loan A is subject to LIBOR-based interest rate volatility. The cap agreements are designated as cash flow hedges and, as a result, changes in their fair values are reported in other comprehensive income. The amortization oforiginal premiums paid for the original cap premium is recognized as a component ofcaps are amortized to debt expense on the interest methoda straight-line basis over the termsterm of theeach cap agreements.agreement starting from its effective date. These cap agreements do not contain credit-risk contingent features.
In August 2019, the Company entered into several forward interest rate cap agreements with a notional amount of $3,500,000 that have the economic effect of capping the Company's maximum exposure to LIBOR variable interest rate changes on specific portions of the Company's floating rate debt (2019 cap agreements). These 2019 cap agreements are designated as cash flow hedges and, as a result, changes in their fair values are reported in other comprehensive income. These 2019 cap agreements do not contain credit-risk contingent features and become effective on June 30, 2020.
The following table summarizes the Company’s interest rate cap agreements outstanding as of December 31, 20192021 and December 31, 2018,2020, which are classified in "Otherother long-term assets"assets on its consolidated balance sheet:
         Year ended December 31,
         December 31, 2019 2019 2018
 Notional amount LIBOR maximum rate Effective date Expiration date Debt expense Recorded OCI (loss) gain Fair value
2015 cap agreements$3,500,000
 3.50% 6/29/2018 6/30/2020 $8,654
 $(851) $
 $851
2019 cap agreements$3,500,000
 2.00% 6/30/2020 6/30/2024   $2,417
 $24,452
  

Year endedDecember 31,
December 31, 202120212020
 Notional amountLIBOR maximum rateEffective dateExpiration dateDebt expenseRecorded OCI gainFair value
2019 interest rate cap agreements$3,500,000 2.00%6/30/20206/30/2024$5,509 $9,532 $12,203 $2,671 
The following table summarizes the effects of the Company’s interest rate cap and swap agreements for the years ended December 31, 2019, 20182021, 2020 and 2017:2019: 
  Amount of unrealized gains (losses) in OCI
on interest rate cap and swap agreements
 Location of losses Reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income into net income
  Year ended December 31,  Year ended December 31,
Derivatives designated as cash flow hedges 2019 2018 2017  2019 2018 2017
Interest rate cap agreements $1,566
 $(181) $(8,897) Debt expense $8,591
 $8,466
 $8,278
Tax (expense) benefit (415) 48
 3,460
 Tax expense (2,214) (2,180) (3,220)
Total $1,151
 $(133) $(5,437)   $6,377
 $6,286
 $5,058

 Amount of unrealized gains (losses) in OCI on interest rate cap agreementsLocation of lossesReclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income into net income
 Year ended December 31,Year ended December 31,
Derivatives designated as cash flow hedges202120202019202120202019
Interest rate cap agreements$9,532 $(21,781)$1,566 Debt expense$5,509 $7,081 $8,591 
Related income tax(2,377)5,435 (415)Related income tax(1,376)(1,768)(2,214)
Total$7,155 $(16,346)$1,151  $4,133 $5,313 $6,377 

See Note 20 for further details on amounts recorded and reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income.
F-31
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DAVITA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (continued)
(dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data)


See Note 20 for further details on amounts recorded and reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income.
The Company’s weighted average effective interest rate on theits senior secured credit facilities at the end of 20192021 was 3.93%2.18%, based upon the current margins in effect for the new Term Loan A and the new Term Loan Bits senior secured credit facilities as of December 31, 2019.2021.
The Company’s overall weighted average effective interest rate duringon all debt, including the effect of interest rate caps and amortization of debt discount, was 3.28% for the year ended December 31, 2019 was 5.01%2021 and 3.35% as of December 31, 2019 was 4.46%.2021.
As of December 31, 2019,2021, the Company’s interest rates were fixed on approximately 44.29%51.6% of its total debt.
As of December 31, 2019,2021, the Company had an undrawn $1,000,000 revolving line of credit under its new senior secured credit facilitiesfacilities. Credit available under this revolving line of $1,000,000,credit is reduced by the amount of any letters of credit outstanding thereunder, of which approximately $13,055 was committed for outstanding lettersthere were none as of credit.December 31, 2021. The Company also had approximately $59,705$69,277 of outstanding letters of credit under a separate bilateral secured letter of credit facility.facility as of December 31, 2021.
Debt expense
Debt expense consisted of interest expense of $419,639, $461,897$267,049, $282,932 and $406,341$419,639 and the amortization and accretion of debt discounts and premiums, amortization of deferred financing costs and the amortization of interest rate cap agreements of $18,205, $21,179 and $24,185 $25,538for 2021, 2020 and $24,293 for 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively. These interest expense amounts are net of capitalized interest.
14.    Leases
The Company leases substantially all of its U.S. dialysis facilities. The majority of the Company’s facilities are leased under non-cancellable operating leases rangingwhich range in terms from five years to 15 years and which contain renewal options of five years to ten years at the fair rental value at the time of renewal. These renewal options are included in the Company’s determination of the right-of-use assets and related lease liabilities when renewal is considered reasonably certain at the commencement date. Certain of the Company’sCompany's leases are subject to periodic consumer price index increases or contain fixed escalation clauses. The Company also leases certain facilities and equipment under finance leases. The Company has elected the practical expedient to not separate lease components from non-lease componentsSee Note 1 for its financing and operating leases.
Financing and operating right-of-use assets are recognized basedfurther information on the net present value of lease payments over the lease term at the commencement date. Since most of the Company's leases do not provide an implicit rate of return,how the Company uses its incremental borrowing rate based on information available at the commencement date or remeasurement date in determining the present value of lease payments.accounts for leases.
As of December 31, 20192021 and December 31, 2018,2020, assets recorded under finance leases were $247,246$322,060 and $367,164,$275,389, respectively, and accumulated amortization associated with finance leases was $27,193$75,252 and $131,971,$49,345, respectively, included in property and equipment, net, on the Company's consolidated balance sheet.
In certain markets, the Company acquires and develops dialysis centers. Upon completion, the Company sells the center to a third party and leases the space back with the intent of operating the center on a long term basis. Both the sale and leaseback terms are generally market terms. The lease terms are consistent with the Company's other operating leases with the majority of the leases under non-cancellable operating leases ranging in terms from five years to 15 years and which contain renewal options of five years to ten years at the fair rental value at the time of renewal.
The Company adopted Topic 842, components of lease expense were as follows:Leases beginning on January 1, 2019 through a modified retrospective approach for leases existing at the adoption date with a cumulative effect adjustment. Consequently, financial information was not updated for dates
Year ended December 31,
Lease cost202120202019
Operating lease cost(1):
Fixed lease expense$547,923 $541,090 $526,352 
Variable lease expense125,981 122,729 119,740 
Financing lease cost:
Amortization of leased assets26,846 24,720 23,724 
Interest on lease liabilities13,988 14,421 14,932 
Net lease cost$714,738 $702,960 $684,748 
(1) Includes short-term lease expense and periods before January 1, 2019.

sublease income, which are immaterial.
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DAVITA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (continued)
(dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data)


The components of lease expense were as follows:
Lease cost Year ended December 31, 2019
Operating lease cost(1):
  
Fixed lease expense $526,352
Variable lease expense 119,740
Financing lease cost:  
Amortization of leased assets 23,724
Interest on lease liabilities 14,932
Net lease cost $684,748
(1) Includes short-term lease expense and sublease income, which are immaterial.
Other information related to leases was as follows:
Year ended December 31,
Lease term and discount rate202120202019
Weighted average remaining lease term (years):
Operating leases8.38.79.0
Finance leases10.510.510.2
Weighted average discount rate:
Operating leases3.5 %3.8 %4.1 %
Finance leases4.5 %5.1 %5.4 %
Lease term and discount rateDecember 31, 2019
Weighted average remaining lease term (years):
Operating leases9.0
Finance leases10.2
Weighted average discount rate:
Operating leases4.1%
Finance leases5.4%
Other information Year ended December 31, 2019
Gains on sale leasebacks, net $20,833
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities:  
Operating cash flows for operating leases $637,655
Operating cash flows for finance leases $22,257
Financing cash flows for finance leases $25,692
Net operating lease assets obtained in exchange for new or modified
operating lease liabilities
 $432,074

Year ended December 31,
Other information202120202019
Gains on sale leasebacks, net$17,137 $34,301 $20,833 
Cash paid for amounts included in the
 measurement of lease liabilities:
Operating cash flows for operating leases$684,186 $661,318 $637,655 
Operating cash flows for finance leases$21,343 $20,981 $22,257 
Financing cash flows for finance leases$22,445 $24,780 $25,692 
Net operating lease assets obtained in exchange
 for new or modified operating lease liabilities
$361,101 $401,559 $432,074 
Future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable leases as of December 31, 20192021 are as follows: 
 Operating leases Finance leases
2020$462,131
 $37,624
2021489,799
 33,267
2022454,753
 33,677
2023409,655
 33,825
2024358,009
 33,841
Thereafter1,510,665
 178,434
Total future minimum lease payments3,685,012
 350,668
Less portion representing interest(617,300) (82,134)
Present value of lease liabilities$3,067,712
 $268,534

 Operating leasesFinance leases
2022$494,442 $36,981 
2023511,341 37,672 
2024463,124 38,199 
2025413,117 38,376 
2026361,771 37,141 
Thereafter1,293,544 183,250 
Total future minimum lease payments3,537,339 371,619 
Less portion representing interest(470,269)(72,491)
Present value of lease liabilities$3,067,070 $299,128 
Rent expense under all operating leases for 2021, 2020 and 2019 2018,was $673,904, $663,819 and 2017 was $646,092, $596,117 and $530,748, respectively. Rent expense is recorded on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease, including leases that contain fixed escalation clauses or include abatement provisions. Leasehold improvement incentives are deferred and amortized to rent expense over the term of the lease. Finance lease obligations are included in long-term debt. See Note 13 for further details on long-term debt.

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DAVITA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (continued)
(dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data)


15.    Employee benefit plans
The Company has a 401(k) retirement savings plan for substantially all of its U.S. employees which has been established pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC). The plan allows for employees to contribute a percentage of their base annual salaries on a tax-deferred basis not to exceed IRC limitations. Beginning in 2018, theThe Company implementedmaintains a 401(k) matching program under which the Company matches 50% of the employee's contribution up to 6% of the employee's salary, subject to certain limitations. The matching contributions are subject to certain eligibility and vesting conditions. For the years ended December 31, 20192021, 2020 and 2018,2019, the Company accrued matching contributions totaling approximately $68,658, $70,180 and $64,988, and $67,807, respectively. Prior to 2018, the Company did not provide matching contributions in connection with the 401(k) savings plan.
The Company also maintains a voluntary compensation deferral plan, the Deferred Compensation Plan, as well as other legacy deferral plans. The Deferred Compensation Plan is non-qualified and permits certain employees whose annualized base salary equals or exceeds a minimum annual threshold amount as set by the Company to elect to defer all or a portion of their annual bonus payment and up to 50% of their base salary into a deferral account maintained by the Company. Total contributions to this plan in 2021, 2020 and 2019 2018were $2,962, $3,637 and 2017 were $1,751, $3,090 and $4,497, respectively. Deferred amounts are generally paid out in cash at the participant’s election either in the first or second year following retirement or in a specified future period at least three to four years after the deferral election was effective. During 2019, 20182021, 2020 and 20172019 the Company distributed $2,730, $4,652$11,887, $3,139 and $2,789,$2,730, respectively, to participants from its deferred compensation plans. Participants are credited with
F-28

DAVITA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (continued)
(dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data)

their proportional amount of annual earnings from the plans. The assets of these plans are held in rabbi trusts subject to the claims of the Company’s general creditors in the event of its bankruptcy. As of December 31, 20192021 and 2018,2020, the total fair value of assets held in these plans' trusts was $39,527$38,019 and $36,124,$43,844, respectively. The assets of these plans are recorded at fair value with changes in fair value recorded in other comprehensive income prior to 2018 and recognized in "Other income, net" since January 1, 2018.income. See Note 5 for further details. Any fair value changes to the corresponding liability balance are recorded as compensation expense. See Note 5 for further details.
16.    Contingencies
The majority of the Company’s revenues are from government programs and may be subject to adjustment as a result of: (i) examination by government agencies or contractors, for which the resolution of any matters raised may take extended periods of time to finalize; (ii) differing interpretations of government regulations by different Medicare contractors or regulatory authorities; (iii) differing opinions regarding a patient’s medical diagnosis or the medical necessity of services provided; and (iv) retroactive applications or interpretations of governmental requirements. In addition, the Company’s revenues from commercial payors may be subject to adjustment as a result of potential claims for refunds, as a result of government actions or as a result of other claims by commercial payors.
The Company operates in a highly regulated industry and is a party to various lawsuits, demands, claims, qui tam suits, governmental investigations (which frequently arise from qui tam suits) and audits (including, without limitation, investigations or other actions resulting from its obligation to self-report suspected violations of law) and other legal proceedings.proceedings, including, without limitation, those described below. The Company records accruals for certain legal proceedings and regulatory matters to the extent that the Company determines an unfavorable outcome is probable and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. As of December 31, 20192021 and December 31, 2018,2020, the Company’s total recorded accruals with respect to legal proceedings and regulatory matters, net of anticipated third party recoveries, were immaterial. While these accruals reflect the Company’s best estimate of the probable loss for those matters as of the dates of those accruals, the recorded amounts may differ materially from the actual amount of the losses for those matters, and any anticipated third party recoveries for any such losses may not ultimately be recoverable. Additionally, in some cases, no estimate of the possible loss or range of loss in excess of amounts accrued, if any, can be made because of the inherently unpredictable nature of legal proceedings and regulatory matters, which also may be impacted by various factors, including, without limitation, that they may involve indeterminate claims for monetary damages or may involve fines, penalties or non-monetary remedies; present novel legal theories or legal uncertainties; involve disputed facts; represent a shift in regulatory policy; are in the early stages of the proceedings; or may result in a change of business practices. Further, there may be various levels of judicial review available to the Company in connection with any such proceeding.
The following is a description of certain lawsuits, claims, governmental investigations and audits and other legal proceedings to which the Company is subject.
Certain Governmental Inquiries and Certain Related Proceedings
2016 U.S. Attorney Texas Investigation: In February 2016, DaVita Rx, LLC (DaVita Rx), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, received a Civil Investigative Demand (CID) from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Texas. The

F-34

DAVITA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (continued)
(dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data)


government is conducting a federal False Claims Act (FCA) investigation concerning allegations that DaVita Rx presented or caused to be presented false claims for payment to the government for prescription medications, as well as an investigation into the Company’s relationships with pharmaceutical manufacturers. The CIDgovernment's investigation covers the period from January 1, 2006 through the present. In connection with the Company’s ongoing efforts working with the government, the Company learned that a qui tam complaint had been filed covering some of the issues in the CID and practices that had been identified by the Company in a self-disclosure filed with the Office of Inspector General (OIG) for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in February 2016.December 31, 2018. In December 2017, the Company finalized and executed a settlement agreement withthat resolved certain of the government and relatorsissues in the qui tam mattergovernment's investigation and that included total monetary consideration of $63,700, as previously disclosed, of which $41,500 was an incremental cash payment and $22,200 was for amounts previously refunded, and all of which was previously accrued. The government’s investigation into certain of the Company'sis ongoing with respect to issues related to DaVita Rx's historic relationships with certain pharmaceutical manufacturers, is ongoing, and in July 2018 the OIGOffice of Inspector General (OIG) served the Company with a subpoena seeking additional documents and information relating to those relationships. On September 15, 2021, the U.S. Attorney’s Office notified the U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas, of its decision and the decision of 31 states not to elect to intervene at this time in the matter of U.S. ex rel. Doe v. DaVita Inc., et al. The court then unsealed the complaint, which alleges violations of the FCA, by order dated September 17, 2021. The complaint was not served on the Company. In December 2021, the private party relator filed a notice of voluntary dismissal of all claims and the Court entered an order dismissing the claims without prejudice. The Company is continuing to cooperate with the government in this investigation.
2017 U.S. Attorney Massachusetts Investigation: In January 2017, the Company was served with an administrative subpoena for records by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Massachusetts, relating to an investigation into possible federal health care offenses. The subpoena covered the period from January 1, 2007 to the present, and sought documents relevant to charitable patient assistance organizations, particularly the American Kidney Fund, including documents related to efforts to provide patients with information concerning the availability of charitable assistance. The Department of Justice notified the court on July 23, 2019 of its decision to elect not to intervene in the matter of U.S. ex rel. David Gonzalez v. DaVita Healthcare Partners, et al. The complaint then was unsealed in the U.S. District Court, District of Massachusetts by order entered on August 1, 2019. The Department of Justice has confirmed that the complaint, which alleges violations of the FCA and various state false claims acts, was the basis of its investigation initiated in January 2017. The Company has not been served with the complaint.
2017 U.S. Attorney Colorado Investigation: In November 2017, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Colorado informed the Company of an investigation it was conducting into possible federal healthcare offenses involving DaVita Kidney Care, as well as several of the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiaries. In addition to DaVita Kidney Care, the matter currently
F-29

DAVITA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (continued)
(dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data)

includes an investigation into DaVita Rx, DaVita Laboratory Services, Inc. (DaVita Labs), and RMS Lifeline Inc. (Lifeline). In each of August 2018, and May 2019, and July 2021, the Company received a CID pursuant to the FCA from the U.S. Attorney's Office relating to this investigation. In May 2020, the Company sold its interest in Lifeline, but the Company retained certain liabilities of the Lifeline business, including those related to this investigation. The Company is continuing to cooperate with the government in this investigation.
20182020 U.S. Attorney FloridaNew Jersey Investigation: In March 2018, DaVita Labs received two CIDs from2020, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Middle District of FloridaNew Jersey served the Company with a subpoena and a CID relating to an investigation being conducted by that were identical in nature but directed to the two different labs. According to the face of the CIDs,office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Pennsylvania. The subpoena and CID request information on several topics, including certain of the Company’s joint venture arrangements with physicians and physician groups, medical director agreements, and compliance with its five-year Corporate Integrity Agreement, the term of which expired October 22, 2019. The Company is conductingcooperating with the government in this investigation.
2020 California Department of Insurance Investigation: In April 2020, the California Department of Insurance (CDI) sent the Company an Investigative Subpoena relating to an investigation asbeing conducted by that office. CDI issued a superseding subpoena in September 2020, and an additional subpoena in September 2021. Those subpoenas request information on a number of topics, including but not limited to whether the Company’s subsidiary submitted claims for blood, urine,communications with patients about insurance plans and fecal testing, where there were insufficient test validation or stability studies to ensure accurate results, in violationfinancial assistance from the American Kidney Fund (AKF), analyses of the FCA.potential impact of patients’ decisions to change insurance providers, and documents relating to donations or contributions to the AKF. The Company is cooperating with CDI in this investigation.
2020 Department of Justice Investigation: In October 2018, DaVita Labs2020, the Company received a subpoenaCID from the OIGDepartment of Justice pursuant to a False Claims Act investigation concerning allegations that DaVita Medical Group (DMG) may have submitted undocumented or unsupported diagnosis codes in connection with this matter requesting certain patient records linked to clinical laboratory tests. On September 30,Medicare Advantage beneficiaries. The CID covers the period from January 1, 2015 through June 19, 2019, the U.S. Attorney's Office notified the U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida, of its decision not to elect to intervene at this time in the matter of U.S. ex rel. Lorne Holland, et al. v. DaVita Healthcare Partners, Inc. et al. The court then unsealed the complaint, which alleges violations of the FCA, by order dated the same day. In January 2020, the private party relators serveddate the Company and DaVita Labs with an amended complaint.completed the divestiture of DMG to Collaborative Care Holdings, LLC. The Company and DaVita Labs dispute these allegations and intend to defendis cooperating with the government in this action accordingly.investigation.
* * *
Although the Company cannot predict whether or when proceedings might be initiated or when these matters may be resolved (other than as may be described above), it is not unusual for inquiries such as these to continue for a considerable period of time through the various phases of document and witness requests and on-going discussions with regulators and to develop over the course of time. In addition to the inquiries and proceedings specifically identified above, the Company frequently is subject to other inquiries by state or federal government agencies, and/or private civilmany of which relate to qui tam complaints filed by relators. Negative findings or terms and conditions that the Company might agree to accept as part of a negotiated resolution of pending or future government inquiries or relator proceedings could result in, among other things, substantial financial penalties or awards against the Company, substantial payments made by the Company, harm to the Company’s reputation, required changes to the Company’s business practices, an impact on the Company's various relationships and/or contracts related to the Company's business, exclusion from future participation in the Medicare, Medicaid and other federal health care programs and, if criminal proceedings were initiated against the Company, members of its board of directors or management, possible criminal penalties, any of which could have a material adverse effect on the Company.

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DAVITA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (continued)
(dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data)


Shareholder and Derivative Claims
Peace Officers’ Annuity and Benefit Fund of Georgia Securities Class Action Civil Suit: On February 1, 2017, the Peace Officers’ Annuity and Benefit Fund of Georgia filed a putative federal securities class action complaint in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado against the Company and certain executives. The complaint covers the time period of August 2015 to October 2016 and alleges, generally, that the Company and its executives violatedfederal securities laws concerning the Company’s financial results and revenue derived from patients who received charitable premium assistance from an industry-funded non-profit organization. The complaint further alleges that the process by which patients obtained commercial insurance and received charitable premium assistance was improper and "created a false impression of DaVita’s business and operational status and future growth prospects." In November 2017, the court appointed the lead plaintiff and an amended complaint was filed on January 12, 2018. On March 27, 2018, the Company and various individual defendants filed a motion to dismiss. On March 28, 2019, the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado denied the motion to dismiss. The Company answered the complaint on May 28, 2019. The Company disputes these allegations and intends to defend this action accordingly.
In re DaVita Inc. Stockholder Derivative Litigation: On August 15, 2017, the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware consolidated three previously disclosed shareholder derivative lawsuits: the Blackburn Shareholder action filed on February 10, 2017, the Gabilondo Shareholder action filed on May 30, 2017, and the City of Warren Police and Fire Retirement System Shareholder action filed on June 9, 2017. The complaint covers the time period from 2015 to present and alleges, generally, breach of fiduciary duty, unjust enrichment, abuse of control, gross mismanagement, corporate waste, and misrepresentations and/or failures to disclose certain information in violation of the federal securities laws in connection with an alleged practice to direct patients with government-subsidized health insurance into private health insurance plans to maximize the Company’s profits. An amended complaint was filed in September 2017, and on December 18, 2017, the Company filed a motion to dismiss and a motion to stay proceedings in the alternative. On April 25, 2019, the court denied the Company's motion to dismiss. The Company answered the complaint on May 28, 2019. On January 31, 2020, the plaintiffs filed a motion for class certification that the Company intends to oppose. The Company disputes these allegations and intends to defend this action accordingly.
Other Proceedings
2021 Antitrust Indictment and Putative Class Action Suit: On July 14, 2021, an indictment was returned by a grand jury in the U.S. District Court, District of Colorado against the Company and its former chief executive officer in the matter of U.S. v. DaVita Inc., et al. The two count indictment alleges that purported agreements entered into by DaVita's former chief executive officer not to solicit senior-level employees violate Section 1 of the Sherman Act. On September 14, 2021, DaVita and its former chief executive officer filed a motion to dismiss the indictment. On November 3, 2021, a superseding indictment was returned in U.S. v. DaVita Inc., et al. that included an additional count alleging a third violation of the Sherman Act. On November 10, 2021, DaVita and its former chief executive officer filed a renewed motion to dismiss the superseding indictment. On January 28, 2022, the court denied the motion to dismiss. The matter is set to start trial on March 28, 2022. On July 16, 2021, a former DaVita employee filed a putative class action complaint in the matter of Pena v. Surgical Care Affiliates, LLC, et al. in the U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois based on the allegations in the matter of U.S. v. DaVita Inc., et al. On August 6, 2021, the plaintiff in the Pena case filed a notice of voluntary dismissal and the court dismissed the complaint on August 9, 2021. On August 9, 2021, DaVita was named as defendant in a consolidated class action complaint in the matter of In additionre Outpatient Medical Center Employee Antitrust Litigation in the U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois. This class action complaint seeks to bring an action on behalf of certain groups of individuals employed by the foregoing,Company between February 1, 2012 and January 5, 2021. On October 18, 2021, the Company filed a motion to dismiss the
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DAVITA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (continued)
(dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data)

class action complaint. The Company disputes the allegations in the superseding indictment and the class action complaint, as well as the asserted violations of the Sherman Act, and intends to defend these actions accordingly.
Marietta Memorial Hospital Employee Health Benefit Plan, et al. v. DaVita Inc. et al. No. 20-1641: On November 5, 2021 the United States Supreme Court granted certiorari of an appeal by an employer group health plan, the plan sponsor, and the plan’s advisor of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit (Sixth Circuit) decision in the Company's favor. The questions presented involve whether the health plan violates the Medicare Secondary Payor Act by "taking into account" that plan beneficiaries are eligible for Medicare and/or by "differentiating" between the benefits that the plan offers to patients with dialysis versus others. On December 23, 2021, the Solicitor General on behalf of the United States filed an amicus brief supporting the petitioners' request to overturn the Sixth Circuit decision. On January 19, 2022, the Company filed its brief in support of the Sixth Circuit decision, and the Company intends to defend against the appeal accordingly. The case is set for oral argument on March 1, 2022.
Additionally, from time to time the Company is subject to other lawsuits, demands, claims, governmental investigations and audits and legal proceedings that arise due to the nature of its business, including, without limitation, contractual disputes, such as with payors, suppliers and others, employee-related matters and professional and general liability claims. From time to time, the Company also initiates litigation or other legal proceedings as a plaintiff arising out of contracts or other matters.
* * *
Other than as may be described above, the Company cannot predict the ultimate outcomes of the various legal proceedings and regulatory matters to which the Company is or may be subject from time to time, including those described in this Note 16 to these consolidated financial statements, or the timing of their resolution or the ultimate losses or impact of developments in those matters, which could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s revenues, earnings and cash flows. Further, any legal proceedings or regulatory matters involving the Company, whether meritorious or not, are time consuming, and often require management’s attention and result in significant legal expense, and may result in the diversion of significant operational resources, may impact the Company's various relationships and/or contracts related to the Company's business or otherwise harm the Company’s business, results of operations, financial condition, cash flows or reputation.
Resolved Matters
Peace Officers’ Annuity and Benefit Fund of Georgia Securities Class Action Civil Suit: On February 1, 2017, the Peace Officers’ Annuity and Benefit Fund of Georgia filed a putative federal securities class action complaint in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado against the Company and certain executives. The complaint covers the time period of August 2015 to October 2016 and alleges, generally, that the Company and its executives violatedfederal securities laws concerning the Company’s financial results and revenue derived from patients who received charitable premium assistance from an industry-funded non-profit organization. The complaint further alleges that the process by which patients obtained commercial insurance and received charitable premium assistance was improper and "created a false impression of DaVita’s business and operational status and future growth prospects."
While the Company continues to dispute the allegations, it reached an agreement to resolve this matter without admitting to any liability. Settlement of this matter was covered primarily with insurance proceeds. The Company contributed an amount that did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows. On April 13, 2021, the court granted final approval of the settlement. On August 9, 2021, the court entered final judgment and dismissed all claims in the action with prejudice.
In re DaVita Inc. Stockholder Derivative Litigation: On August 15, 2017, the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware consolidated three previously disclosed shareholder derivative lawsuits: the Blackburn Shareholder action filed on February 10, 2017, the Gabilondo Shareholder action filed on May 30, 2017, and the City of Warren Police and Fire Retirement System Shareholder action filed on June 9, 2017. The complaint covers the time period from 2015 to present and alleges, generally, breach of fiduciary duty, unjust enrichment, abuse of control, gross mismanagement, corporate waste, and misrepresentations and/or failures to disclose certain information in violation of the federal securities laws in connection with an alleged practice to direct patients with government-subsidized health insurance into private health insurance plans to maximize the Company’s profits.
While the defendants continue to dispute the allegations, an agreement was reached to resolve this matter without admitting to any liability and the court approved the settlement and entered final judgment and dismissed the case with prejudice on January 29, 2021. As part of the settlement, the Company agreed to certain corporate governance policies, but did not make any financial contribution towards the settlement.
F-31

DAVITA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (continued)
(dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data)

2018 U.S. Attorney Florida Investigation: In March 2018, DaVita Labs received two CIDs from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Middle District of Florida that were identical in nature but directed to the two different labs. According to the face of the CIDs, the U.S. Attorney’s Office is conducting an investigation as to whether the Company’s subsidiary submitted claims for blood, urine, and fecal testing, where there were insufficient test validation or stability studies to ensure accurate results, in violation of the FCA. In October 2018, DaVita Labs received a subpoena from the OIG in connection with this matter requesting certain patient records linked to clinical laboratory tests. On September 30, 2019, the U.S. Attorney’s Office notified the U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida, of its decision not to elect to intervene at this time in the matter of U.S. ex rel. Lorne Holland, et al. v. DaVita Healthcare Partners, Inc., et al. The court then unsealed the complaint, which alleges violations of the FCA, by order dated the same day. In January 2020, the private party relators served the Company and DaVita Labs with an amended complaint. The Company and DaVita Labs answered the complaint on July 23, 2020. On August 10, 2021, the court entered summary judgment in favor of the Company and DaVita Labs on all of the relators’ FCA claims leaving only the claims for retaliation. The court dismissed the case on October 13, 2021. On October 15, 2021, the parties signed an agreement to resolve the remaining retaliation claims for an immaterial amount.
17.    Noncontrolling interests subject to put provisions and other commitments
Noncontrolling interests subject to put provisions
The Company has potential obligations to purchase the equity interests held by third parties in many of its majority-owned dialysis partnerships and other nonconsolidated entities. These noncontrolling interests subject to put provisions constitute redeemable equity interests and are therefore classified as temporary equity and carried at estimated fair value on the Company's balance sheet.
Specifically, these obligations are in the form of put provisions that are exercisable at the third-party owners’ discretion within specified periods outlined in each specific put provision. If these put provisions were exercised, the Company would be required to purchase the third-party owners’ equity interests, generally at the appraised fair market value of the equity interests or in certain cases at a predetermined multiple of earnings or cash flows attributable to the equity interests put to the Company,

F-36

DAVITA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (continued)
(dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data)


intended to approximate fair value. The methodology the Company uses to estimate the fair values of noncontrolling interests subject to put provisions assumes the higher of either a liquidation value of net assets or an average multiple of earnings, based on historical earnings, patient mix and other performance indicators that can affect future results, as well as other factors. The estimated fair values of noncontrolling interests subject to put provisions are a critical accounting estimate that involves significant judgments and assumptions and may not be indicative of the actual values at which the noncontrolling interests may ultimately be settled, which could vary significantly from the Company’s current estimates. The estimated fair values of noncontrolling interests subject to put provisions can fluctuate and the implicit multiple of earnings at which these noncontrolling interests obligations may be settled will vary significantly depending upon market conditions including potential purchasers’ access to the capital markets, which can impact the level of competition for dialysis and non-dialysis related businesses, the economic performance of these businesses and the restricted marketability of the third-party owners’ equity interests. The amount of noncontrolling interests subject to put provisions that employ a contractually predetermined multiple of earnings rather than fair value is immaterial.
The Company has certain other potential commitments to provide operating capital to a number of dialysis businesses that are wholly-owned by third parties or in which the Company owns a noncontrolling equity interest as well as to physician-owned vascular access clinics or medical practices that the Company operates under management and administrative service agreements of approximately $9,669.
Certain consolidated dialysis partnerships are originally contractually scheduled to dissolve after terms ranging from ten years to 50 years. While noncontrolling interests in these limited life entities qualify as mandatorily redeemable financial instruments, they are subject to a classification and measurement scope exception from the accounting guidance generally applicable to other mandatorily redeemable financial instruments. Future distributions upon dissolution of these entities would be valued below the related noncontrolling interest carrying balances in the consolidated balance sheet.
Other commitments
In 2017, the Company entered into a Sourcing and Supply Agreement with Amgen USA Inc. (Amgen) that expires on December 31, 2022.2022. Under the terms of the agreement, the Company will purchase EPO from Amgen in amounts necessary to meet no less than 90% of its requirements for erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) through the expiration of the contract. The actual amount of EPO that the Company will purchase will depend upon the amount of EPO administered during dialysis as prescribed by physicians and the overall number of patients that the Company serves.
The Company has an agreementagreements with Fresenius Medical Care (FMC)various suppliers to purchase a certain amountestablished amounts of dialysis equipment, parts, and supplies from FMC, which extends through December 31, 2020. The Company also has agreements with Baxter Healthcare Corporation (Baxter) that commit the Company to purchase certain amounts of dialysis supplies at fixed prices through 2022.
supplies. As of December 31, 2019,2021, the remaining minimum purchase commitments under these arrangements waswere approximately $399,042, $312,119$549,079, $510,991, $430,196, and $312,101,$345,863 for the years 2020, 20212022, 2023, 2024, and 2022,2025, respectively. If the Company fails to meet the minimum purchase commitments under these contracts during any year, it is required to pay the difference to the supplier.
F-32

DAVITA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (continued)
(dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data)

The Company also has certain potential commitments to provide working capital funding, if necessary, to certain nonconsolidated dialysis businesses that the Company manages and in which the Company owns a noncontrolling equity interest or which are wholly-owned by third parties of approximately $13,469.
Other than the letters of credit disclosed in Note 13 to these consolidated financial statements, and the arrangements as described above, the Company has no off balance sheet financing arrangements as of December 31, 2019.2021.
18.    Long-term incentiveStock-based compensation
Long-term incentiveStock-based compensation
Long-term incentive program (LTIP)Stock-based compensation includes both stock-based awards (principallyconsists primarily of stock-settled stock appreciation rights, restricted stock units and performance stock units) and long-term performance-based cash awards. Long-term incentiveunits. Stock-based compensation, expense, which is primarily general and administrative in nature, is attributed to the Company’s U.S. dialysis business, its corporate administrative support, and its ancillary services.
The Company’s See Note 1 "Organization and summary of significant accounting policies" for more information on how the Company measures and recognizes stock-based compensation expense for stock-settled awards is measured at the estimated fair value of awards on the date of grant and recognized on a cumulative straight-line basis over the vesting terms of the awards, unless the stock awards are based on non-market-based performance metrics, in which case expense is adjusted for the ultimate number of shares expected to be issued as of the end of each reporting period. Stock-based compensation expense for cash-settled awards is based on their estimated fair values as of the end of each reporting period. The expense for all stock-based awards is recognized net of expected forfeitures.

F-37

DAVITA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (continued)
(dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data)


Stock-based compensation to be settled in shares is recorded to the Company’s shareholders’ contributed capital, while stock-based compensation to be settled in cash is recorded to a liability. Shares issued upon exercise of stock awards are issued from authorized but unissued shares.expense.
Long-term incentive compensation plans
TheOn June 11, 2020, the Company’s stockholders approved the DaVita Inc. 2020 Incentive Award Plan (the 2020 Plan). Prior to June 11, 2020 stock-based awards were granted under the DaVita Healthcare Partners Inc. 2011 Incentive Award Plan (the 2011 Plan). The 2011 Plan was terminated with respect to any new awards upon stockholder approval of the 2020 Plan. At the time the 2020 Plan was approved there were 8,730 shares of common stock available for issuance under the 2020 Plan, consisting of 5,000 newly authorized shares and 3,730 shares that were available for issuance under the 2011 Plan as of the effective date of the 2020 Plan and which became available for grant under the 2020 Plan, pursuant to the terms of the 2020 Plan.
The 2020 Plan is the Company’s current omnibus equity compensation plan and provides for grants of stock-based awards to employees, directors and other individuals providing services to the Company, except that incentive stock options may only be awarded to employees. The 2020 Plan provides for the grant of stock appreciation rights, nonqualified stock options, incentive stock options, restricted stock units, restricted stock, performance stock awards, dividend equivalents, stock payments, deferred stock unit awards, deferred stock awards and performance cash awards. The 2020 Plan mandates a maximum award term of 10 years for stock appreciation rights and stock options and stipulates that awards of these types be granted with a base or exercise price per share of not less than the fair market value of the Company's common stock on the date of grant. Shares available under the 2020 Plan are also stated on a full value share basis rather than on an option-equivalent basis. The 2020 Plan therefore provides that shares available for issuance under the plan are reduced by 1 share available for every 4 shares underlying stock appreciation rights and stock options, and are reduced by 1 share available for every 1 share underlying stock-based awards other than stock appreciation rights and stock options. At December 31, 2021, there were 7,672 shares available for future grants under the 2020 Plan. The Company’s stock awards granted under the 2020 Plan generally vest over 36 months to 48 months from the date of grant.
The 2011 Plan authorizeswas the Company’s prior omnibus equity compensation plan and authorized the Company to award stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock units, restricted stock, and other stock-based or performance-based awards. The 2011 Plan mandatesmandated a maximum award term of five years and stipulatesstipulated that stock appreciation rights and stock options be granted with prices not less than fair market value on the date of grant. The 2011 Plan also requiresrequired that full value share awards such as restricted stock units reduce shares available under the 2011 Plan at a ratio of 3.5:1. The Company’s nonqualified stock appreciation rights and stock units awarded under the 2011 Plan generally vest over 36 months to 48 months from the date of grant. At December 31, 2019, there were 15,547 shares available for future grants under the 2011 Plan. This number of shares available does not reflect reduction for the Premium Priced Award described below, as that Board-approved award remained contingent on stockholder approval of an amendment to the 2011 Plan which did not occur until January 2020.
A combined summary of the status of the Company’s stock-settled awards under the 2011 Plan, including base shares for stock-settled stock appreciation rights (SSARs) and stock-settled stock unit awards is as follows:
 Year ended December 31, 2019
 Stock appreciation rights Stock units
 Awards Weighted
average
exercise
price
 Weighted
average
remaining
contractual life
 Awards Weighted
average
remaining
contractual life
Outstanding at beginning of year6,163
 $69.90
   1,860
  
Granted (1) ( 2)
2,389
 $52.45
   1,961
  
Exercised(20) $64.17
   (225)  
Expired(1,058) $70.97
   
  
Canceled(521) $65.23
   (436)  
Outstanding at end of period (1)
6,953
 $64.10
 3.0 3,160
 2.3
Exercisable at end of period1,254
 $77.68
 1.1 
 
Weighted-average fair value of grants         
2019$14.04
  
   $50.58
  
2018$16.24
  
   $66.23
  
2017$14.51
  
   $65.73
  
F-33

(1)Awards granted and outstanding do not reflect the Premium Priced Award described below, as that Board-approved award remained contingent on stockholder approval of an amendment to the 2011 Plan which did not occur until January 2020.
(2)Includes approximately 8 shares resulting from the payout of the first tranche of fiscal year 2016 PSU grants due to exceeding target payout.
  Awards Outstanding Weighted average exercise price Awards exercisable Weighted average exercise price
Range of SSARs base prices 
$50.01–$60.00 2,400
 $52.63
 
 $
$60.01–$70.00 3,069
 $66.16
 186
 $65.92
$70.01–$80.00 925
 $75.28
 509
 $75.50
$80.01–$90.00 559
 $83.59
 559
 $83.59
Total 6,953
 $64.10
 1,254
 $77.68


F-38

DAVITA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (continued)
(dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data)


A combined summary of the status of the Company’s stock-settled awards under both the 2020 Plan and 2011 Plan, including base shares for stock-settled stock appreciation rights (SSARs) and stock-settled stock unit awards is as follows:
 Year ended December 31, 2021
 Stock appreciation rightsStock units
AwardsWeighted
average
exercise
price
Weighted
average
remaining
contractual life
AwardsWeighted
average
remaining
contractual life
Outstanding at beginning of year8,084 $63.64  3,537  
Granted132 $108.93  789  
Added by performance factor153 
Exercised/Vested(2,093)$64.00  (696) 
Canceled(180)$59.19  (398) 
Outstanding at end of period5,943 $64.66 2.43,385 1.4
Exercisable at end of period1,161 $61.13 1.5— — 
Weighted-average fair value of grants:
2021$32.15   $109.50  
2020$26.70   $77.83  
2019$14.04   $50.58  
 Awards OutstandingWeighted average exercise priceAwards exercisableWeighted average exercise price
Range of SSARs base prices
$50.01–$60.001,561 $52.45 425 $52.55 
$60.01–$70.003,974 $67.22 732 $66.05 
$70.01–$80.00276 $75.77 $71.64 
$100.01–$110.00132 $108.93 — $— 
Total5,943 $64.66 1,161 $61.13 
For the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018,2021, 2020, and 2017,2019, the aggregate intrinsic value of stock-based awards exercised was $11,475, $31,045$208,585, $49,258 and $34,895,$11,475, respectively. At December 31, 2019,2021, the aggregate intrinsic value of stock-based awards outstanding was $319,486$680,251 and the aggregate intrinsic value of stock awards exercisable was $1,783.$61,389.
Estimated fair value of stock-based compensation awards
The Company has estimated the grant-date fair value of stock-settled stock appreciation rights awards using the Black-Scholes-Merton valuation model and stock-settled stock unit awards at intrinsic value on the date of grant, except for portions of the Company’s performance stock unit awards for which a Monte Carlo simulation was used to estimate the grant-date fair value. The following assumptions were used in estimating these values and determining the related stock-based compensation expense attributable to the current period:
Expected term of the awards: The expected term of awards granted represents the period of time that they are expected to remain outstanding from the date of grant. The Company determines the expected term of its stock awards based on its historical experience with similar awards, considering the Company’s historical exercise and post-vesting termination patterns, and the terms expected by peer companies in near industries.patterns.
Expected volatility: Expected volatility represents the volatility anticipated over the expected term of the award. The Company determines the expected volatility for its awards based on the volatility of the price of its common stock over the most recent retrospective period commensurate with the expected term of the award, considering the volatility expectations implied by the market price of its exchange-traded options and the volatilities expected by peer companies in near industries.
Expected dividend yield: The Company has not paid dividends on its common stock and does not currently expect to pay dividends during the term of stock awards granted.
Risk-free interest rate: The Company bases the expected risk-free interest rate on the implied yield currently available on stripped interest coupons of U.S. Treasury issues with a remaining term equivalent to the expected term of the award.
F-34

DAVITA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (continued)
(dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data)

A summary of the weighted average valuation inputs described above used for estimating the grant-date fair value of SSAR awards granted in the periods indicated is as follows: 
 Year ended December 31,
 2019 2018 2017
Expected term4.0
 4.2
 4.2
Expected volatility29.5% 23.8% 23.9%
Expected dividend yield% % %
Risk-free interest rate2.2% 2.9% 1.7%

 Year ended December 31,
 202120202019
Expected term4.54.84.0
Expected volatility34.3 %28.2 %29.5 %
Expected dividend yield— %— %— %
Risk-free interest rate0.7 %1.5 %2.2 %
 The Company estimates expected forfeitures based upon historical experience with separate groups of employees that have exhibited similar forfeiture behavior in the past. Stock-based compensation expense is recorded only for awards that are expected to vest.
On November 4, 2019, the independent members of the Company’s Board of Directors (Board) approved an award of 2,500 premium-priced stock-settled stock appreciation rights (Premium-Priced Award) to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), which award was subject to stockholder approval of a related amendment to the 2011 Plan. Stockholders approved such amendment to the 2011 Plan on January 23, 2020, authorizing the grant to ourthe Company's CEO. Since stockholder approval occurred in 2020, this award was treated as granted in 2020 for accounting purposes.
The base price of the Premium-Priced Award was $67.80 per share, which was a 20% premium to the clearing price of the Company's recent modified Dutch auction tender offer (Tenderfor its shares in 2019 (2019 Tender Offer). The award vests 50% on each of November 4, 2022 and November 4, 2023 and expires on November 4, 2024.2024. The award includes a requirement that the CEO hold any shares acquired upon exercise of this award, net of shares used to cover related taxes, until November 4, 2024 (that is, for the full term of the award), subject to lapse of the holding period upon a change in control of the Company or due to the CEO's death or termination due to disability.
Employee stock purchase plan
The Employee Stock Purchase Plan entitles qualifying employees to purchase up to $25 of the Company’s common stock during each calendar year. The amounts used to purchase stock are accumulated through payroll withholdings or through

F-39

DAVITA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (continued)
(dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data)


optional lump sum payments made in advance of the first day of the purchase right period. This compensatory plan allows employees to purchase stock for the lesser of 100% of its fair market value on the first day of the purchase right period or 85% of its fair market value on the last day of the purchase right period. Purchase right periods begin on January 1 and July 1, and end on December 31. Contributions used to purchase the Company’s common stock under this plan for the 2021, 2020 and 2019 2018 and 2017 participationpurchase periods were $16,569, $17,398$19,626, $17,148 and $22,131,$16,569, respectively. Shares purchased pursuant to the plan’s 2021, 2020 and 2019 2018 and 2017 participationpurchase periods were 315, 398203, 222 and 360,315, respectively. At December 31, 2019,2021, there were 6,4115,986 shares remaining available for future grants under this plan.
The fair value of participants’ purchase rights was estimated as of the beginning dates of the purchase right periods using the Black-Scholes-Merton valuation model with the following weighted average assumptions for purchase right periods in 2019, 20182021, 2020 and 2017,2019, respectively: expected volatility of 28.8%39.0%, 24.2%40.4% and 22.7%28.8%; risk-free interest rates of 2.6%0.1%, 1.9%1.0% and 1.3%2.6%, and 0no dividends. Using these assumptions, the weighted average estimated per share fair value of each purchase right was $34.94, $22.06 and $13.80 $17.45for 2021, 2020 and $15.19 for 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively.
Long-term incentiveStock-based compensation expense and proceeds
For the years ended December 31, 2019, 20182021, 2020 and 2017,2019, the Company recognized $118,513, $85,759$102,209, $91,458 and $61,978, respectively,$63,705 in total LTIP expense, of which $63,705, $73,582 and $34,431, respectively, was stock-based compensation expense for stock appreciation rights, stock units and discounted employee stock purchase plan purchases, which are primarily included in general and administrative expenses. The estimated tax benefits recorded for stock-based compensation in 2021, 2020 and 2019 2018were $13,853, $11,775 and 2017 were $9,186, $13,591 and $7,717, respectively. As of December 31, 2019,2021, there was $147,267$161,147 of total estimated but unrecognized stock-based compensation expense for LTIP awards outstanding, including $136,818 related to stock-based compensation arrangements under the Company’s equity compensation and employee stock purchase plans. The Company expects to recognize the performance-based cash component of this LTIP expense over a weighted average remaining period of 0.6 years and the stock-based component of this LTIP expense over a weighted average remaining period of 1.51.2 years.
During the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company adopted a retirement policy (Rule of 65 policy). The Rule of 65 policy generally provides that Section 16 officers that are a minimum age of 55 with five years of continuous service with the Company receive certain benefits with respect to their outstanding equity awards upon a qualifying retirement if the sum of their age plus years of service is greater than or equal to 65. These benefits generally include accelerated vesting of restricted stock unit awards, continued vesting of stock-settled stock appreciation rights and performance stock unit awards and an exercise window from the original vest date through the original expiration date regardless of continued employment, with pro rata vesting for a Rule of 65 retirement within one year of the award grant date. The adoption of the Rule of 65 policy resulted in a $14,704 modification charge and a net acceleration of expense of $9,727 during the year ended December 31, 2018 that is included in the expense amounts reported above.
For the years ended December 31, 2019, 20182021, 2020 and 2017,2019, the Company received $2,251, $7,988$46,990, $8,957 and $13,473,$2,251, respectively, in actual tax benefits upon the exercise or vesting of stock awards. Since the Company issues stock-settled stock appreciation rights rather than stock options, there were 0no cash proceeds from stock option exercises.
F-35
19.    Shareholders’ equity
Stock repurchases
The following table summarizes our repurchases of our common stock during the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017:
 2019 2018 2017
 Shares repurchased 
Amount
paid
 Paid per share Shares repurchased 
Amount
paid
 Paid per share Shares repurchased 
Amount
paid
 Paid per share
Tender Offer(1)
21,802
 $1,234,154
 $56.61
 
 $
 $
 
 $
 $
Open market19,218
 1,168,321
 60.79
 16,844
 1,153,511
 68.48
 12,967
 810,949
 62.54
 41,020
 $2,402,475
 $58.57
 16,844
 $1,153,511
 $68.48
 12,967
 $810,949
 $62.54
(1)
The amount paid for shares repurchased associated with the Company's Tender Offer during the year ended December 31, 2019 includes the clearing price of $56.50 per share plus related fees and expenses of $2,343.
Subsequent to December 31, 2019, the Company has repurchased 291 shares of our common stock for $21,794 at an average cost of $74.92 per share subsequent to December 31, 2019 through February 20, 2020.

F-40

DAVITA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (continued)
(dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data)


19.    Shareholders’ equity
On July 11, 2018,Stock repurchases
The following table summarizes the Company's Board approved an additional share repurchase authorization inrepurchases of its common stock during the amount of approximately $1,389,999. This share repurchase authorization was in additionyears ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019:
202120202019
Open market repurchases
Shares13,877 8,495 19,218 
Amounts paid$1,546,016 $741,850 $1,168,321 
Average paid per share$111.41 $87.32 $60.79 
Tender offers (1)
Shares— 7,982 21,802 
Amounts paid$— $704,917 1,234,154 
Average paid per share$— $88.32 56.61 
Total
Shares13,877 16,477 41,020 
Amounts paid$1,546,016 $1,446,767 $2,402,475 
Average paid per share$111.41 $87.80 $58.57 
(1)The aggregate amounts paid for shares repurchased pursuant to the approximately $110,001 remainingCompany's 2020 and 2019 tender offers for its shares during the years ended 2020 and 2019, include their clearing prices of $88.00 and $56.50 per share, respectively, plus related fees and expenses of $2,529 and $2,343, respectively.
Subsequent to December 31, 2021 through February 9, 2022, the Company has repurchased 1,437 shares of its common stock for $159,133 at that time under the Board's prior share repurchase authorization approved in October 2017.an average cost of $110.73 per share.
Effective July 17, 2019,on December 10, 2020, the Board terminated all remaining prior share repurchase authorizations available to the Company at that time and approved a new share repurchase authorization of $2,000,000.
Effective as of the close of business on November 4, 2019,December 17, 2021, the Board terminated all remaining prior share repurchase authorizations available toincreased the Company under the aforementioned July 17, 2019Company's existing authorization and approved a new share repurchase authorization ofby $2,000,000. The Company is authorized to make purchases from time to time in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions, including without limitation, through accelerated share repurchase transactions, derivative transactions, tender offers, Rule 10b5-1 plans or any combination of the foregoing, depending upon market conditions and other considerations.
As of February 20, 2020,9, 2022, the Company has a total of $1,681,701$2,224,806 available under the current repurchase authorization for additional share repurchases. Although this share repurchase authorization does not have an expiration date, the Company remains subject to share repurchase limitations, including under the terms of the currentits senior secured credit facilities and the indentures governing the Company's senior notes.facilities.
The Company retired all shares held in its treasury effective as of December 31, 20192021 and December 31, 2018.2020.
Charter documents & Delaware law
The Company’s charter documents include provisions that may deter hostile takeovers, delay or prevent changes of control or changes in management, or limit the ability of stockholders to approve transactions that they may otherwise determine to be in their best interests. These include provisions prohibiting stockholders from acting by written consent, requiring 90 days advance notice offor director nominations and stockholder proposals or nominations to the Board and granting the Company's Board of Directors the authority to issue up to 5,000 shares of preferred stock and to determine the rights and preferences of the preferred stock without the need for further stockholder approval.
The Company is also subject to Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law which, subject to exceptions, would prohibitprohibits the Company from engaging in any business combinations with any interested stockholder, as defined in that section, for a period of three years following the date on which that stockholder became an interested stockholder. These restrictionsThe provisions described above may discourage, delay or prevent a change in the controlan acquisition of the Company.Company at a price that stockholders may find attractive.
F-36

DAVITA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (continued)
(dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data)

Changes in DaVita Inc.’s ownership interests in consolidated subsidiaries
The effects of changes in DaVita Inc.’s ownership interests in consolidated subsidiaries on the Company’s consolidated equity arewere as follows: 
 Year ended December 31,
 2019 2018 2017
Net income attributable to DaVita Inc.$810,981
 $159,394
 $663,618
Changes in paid-in capital for:     
Sales of noncontrolling interest
 79
 (114)
Purchase of noncontrolling interests(37,145) (17,897) (2,752)
Net transfer in noncontrolling interests(37,145) (17,818) (2,866)
Net income attributable to DaVita Inc. net of transfers in
noncontrolling interests
$773,836
 $141,576
 $660,752

 Year ended December 31,
 202120202019
Net income attributable to DaVita Inc.$978,450 $773,642 $810,981 
Changes in paid-in capital for:
Purchases of noncontrolling interests(13,853)4,364 (37,145)
Sales of noncontrolling interest(264)— — 
Net transfers in noncontrolling interests(14,117)4,364 (37,145)
Net income attributable to DaVita Inc. net of transfers in
 noncontrolling interests
$964,333 $778,006 $773,836 
The Company acquired additional ownership interests in several existing majority-owned partnerships for $20,104, $7,831, and $68,019 $28,082,in 2021, 2020, and $5,357 in 2019, 2018, and 2017, respectively.

F-41

DAVITA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (continued)
(dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data)


20.    Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) incomeloss
Charges and credits to other comprehensive (loss) income have been as follows: 
Interest rate
cap agreements
 
Investment
securities
 
Foreign currency
translation
adjustments
 
Accumulated other
comprehensive
(loss) income
Balance at December 31, 2016$(12,029) $2,175
 $(79,789) $(89,643)
Unrealized (losses) gains(8,897) 5,075
 99,770
 95,948
Related income tax3,460
 (1,368) 
 2,092
(5,437) 3,707
 99,770
 98,040
Reclassification of income (loss) into net income8,278
 (360) 
 7,918
Related income tax(3,220) 140
 
 (3,080)
5,058
 (220) 
 4,838
Balance at December 31, 2017$(12,408) $5,662
 $19,981
 $13,235
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle(1)
(2,706) (5,662) 
 (8,368)
Unrealized losses(181) 
 (45,944) (46,125)
Related income tax48
 
 
 48
(133) 
 (45,944) (46,077)
Reclassification of income into net income8,466
 
 
 8,466
Related income tax(2,180) 
 
 (2,180)
6,286
 
 
 6,286
Interest rate
cap agreements
Foreign currency
translation
adjustments
Accumulated other
comprehensive
(loss) income
Balance at December 31, 2018$(8,961) $
 $(25,963) $(34,924)Balance at December 31, 2018$(8,961)$(25,963)$(34,924)
Unrealized gains (losses)1,566
 
 (20,102) (18,536)Unrealized gains (losses)1,566 (20,102)(18,536)
Related income tax(415) 
 
 (415)Related income tax(415)— (415)
1,151
 
 (20,102) (18,951) 1,151 (20,102)(18,951)
Reclassification of income into net income8,591
 
 
 8,591
Reclassification of income into net income8,591 — 8,591 
Related income tax(2,214) 
 
 (2,214)Related income tax(2,214)— (2,214)
6,377
 
 
 6,377
6,377 — 6,377 
Balance at December 31, 2019$(1,433) $
 $(46,065) $(47,498)Balance at December 31, 2019$(1,433)$(46,065)$(47,498)
Unrealized lossesUnrealized losses(21,781)(7,080)(28,861)
Related income taxRelated income tax5,435 (543)4,892 
(16,346)(7,623)(23,969)
Reclassification of income into net incomeReclassification of income into net income7,081 — 7,081 
Related income taxRelated income tax(1,768)— (1,768)
5,313 — 5,313 
Balance at December 31, 2020Balance at December 31, 2020$(12,466)$(53,688)$(66,154)
Unrealized gains (losses)Unrealized gains (losses)9,532 (83,375)(73,843)
Related income taxRelated income tax(2,377)(1,006)(3,383)
7,155 (84,381)(77,226)
Reclassification of income into net incomeReclassification of income into net income5,509 — 5,509 
Related income taxRelated income tax(1,376)— (1,376)
4,133 — 4,133 
Balance at December 31, 2021Balance at December 31, 2021$(1,178)$(138,069)$(139,247)

(1)Reflects the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle for ASUs 2016-01 and 2018-03 on classification and measurement of financial instruments and ASU 2018-02 on remeasurement and reclassification of deferred tax effects in accumulated other comprehensive income associated with the 2017 Tax Act. See Note 5 for further details.
The reclassification of net interest rate cap realized losses into income are recorded as debt expense in the corresponding consolidated statements of income. See Note 13 for further details.
Prior to January 1, 2018, unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale equity securities were recorded to accumulated other comprehensive income and reclassified to other income when realized. From January 1, 2018, unrealized gains and losses on investment securities are recorded directly to other income rather than to accumulated other comprehensive income.
F-37
21.    Acquisitions and divestitures
Routine acquisitions
During 2019, the Company acquired 7 dialysis centers in the U.S. and 16 dialysis centers outside the U.S. for a total of $98,836 in net cash paid, earn-outs of $23,536, and deferred purchase price and liabilities assumed of $4,326. During 2018, the Company acquired 18 dialysis centers in the U.S. and 28 dialysis centers outside the U.S. for a total of $176,161 in net cash, earn-outs of $1,246, and deferred purchase price and liabilities assumed of $34,394. In one of these transactions the Company acquired a controlling interest in a previously nonconsolidated U.S. dialysis partnership for which the Company recognized a non-cash gain of $28,152 on our prior interest upon consolidation. During 2017, the Company acquired 30 dialysis centers in the U.S. and 68 dialysis centers outside the U.S. for a total of $308,550 in net cash, earn-outs of $2,692 and deferred purchase

F-42

DAVITA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (continued)
(dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data)


21.    Acquisitions and divestitures
price of $23,748. Routine acquisitions
During 2021, 2020, and 2019 the Company acquired dialysis businesses and other businesses, including a transplant software company, as follows:
Year ended Year ended December 31,
202120202019
Cash paid, net of cash acquired$187,050 $182,013 $98,836 
Contingent earn-out obligations14,854 14,042 23,536 
Deferred purchase price and liabilities assumed10,226 20,415 4,326 
Non-cash gain— 1,821 — 
Aggregate consideration$212,130 $218,291 $126,698 
Number of dialysis centers acquired — U.S.1987
Number of dialysis centers acquired — International176616
The assets and liabilities for all acquisitions were recorded at their estimated fair values at the dates of the acquisitions and are included in the Company’s financial statements, andas are their operating results, from the designated effective dates of the acquisitions.
The initial purchase price allocations for these transactions have been recorded at estimated fair values based on information available to management and will be finalized when certain information arranged to be obtained has been received. For several of the 20192021 acquisitions, certain income tax amounts are pending final evaluation and quantification of any pre-acquisition tax contingencies. In addition, valuation of contingent earn-outs, intangibles, fixed assets, leases and certain other working capital items relating to several of these acquisitions are pending final quantification.
The following table summarizes the assets acquired and liabilities assumed in these transactions and recognized at their acquisition dates at estimated fair values, as well as the estimated fair value of noncontrolling interests assumed in these transactions:
 Year ended December 31,
 2019 2018 2017
Current assets$6,713
 $23,686
 $14,366
Property and equipment4,842
 11,421
 18,192
Amortizable intangible and other long-term assets1,980
 3,079
 11,663
Indefinite-lived licenses31,858
 23,656
 32,296
Goodwill90,226
 278,348
 318,832
Deferred income taxes
 
 (210)
Noncontrolling interests assumed(1,762) (80,291) (44,303)
Liabilities assumed(7,159) (19,946) (15,846)

$126,698
 $239,953
 $334,990

 Year ended December 31,
 202120202019
Current assets$9,134 $23,607 $6,713 
Property and equipment9,277 37,457 4,842 
Customer relationships17,200 34,625 — 
Noncompetition agreements and other long-term assets9,964 10,168 1,980 
Indefinite-lived licenses11,432 22,136 31,858 
Goodwill173,244 130,057 90,226 
Deferred income taxes— (3,962)— 
Liabilities assumed(14,200)(34,068)(7,159)
Noncontrolling interests assumed(3,921)(1,729)(1,762)
$212,130 $218,291 $126,698 
Amortizable intangible assets acquired during 2019, 2018 and 2017, primarily related to non-compete agreements, hadThe following summarizes weighted-average estimated useful lives of six years, six yearsamortizable intangible assets acquired during 2021, 2020 and seven years, respectively. The total amount of2019, as well as goodwill deductible for tax purposes associated with these acquisitions for 2019, 2018, and 2017 was approximately $88,517, $165,013 and $237,363, respectively.acquisitions:
Acquisition of Renal Ventures
On May 1, 2017, the Company completed its acquisition of 100% of the equity of Colorado-based Renal Ventures Management, LLC (Renal Ventures) for approximately $359,913 in net cash. Renal Ventures operated 36 dialysis centers, 1 uncertified dialysis center and 1 home program, which provided services to approximately 2,600 patients in 6 states. As a part of this transaction, the Company was required to divest 3 Renal Ventures outpatient dialysis centers, and 3 outpatient dialysis centers and 1 uncertified dialysis center of the Company, for approximately $21,219 in net cash. The Company also incurred approximately $11,950 in transaction and integration costs during the year ended December 31, 2017 associated with this acquisition that are included in general and administrative expenses.
The purchase price allocation for the Renal Ventures acquisition was finalized in 2018 with no material change to the initial allocation. The following table summarizes the assets acquired and liabilities assumed in this transaction and recognized at the acquisition date at estimated fair values: 
Year ended December 31,
202120202019
Weighted-average estimated useful lives (in years):
Customer relationships10180
Noncompetition agreements656
Goodwill deductible for tax purposes$169,014 $94,318 $88,517 
Current assets, net of cash acquired$22,739
Property and equipment36,295
Amortizable intangible and other long-term assets11,547
Goodwill298,200
Current liabilities(8,389)
Long-term liabilities(479)
 $359,913
F-38

 Amortizable intangible assets acquired, primarily related to non-compete agreements, had weighted-average estimated useful lives of five years. The total estimated amount of goodwill deductible for tax purposes associated with this acquisition was approximately $298,200.

F-43

DAVITA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (continued)
(dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data)


Pro forma financial information (unaudited)
The following summary, prepared on a pro forma basis, combines the results of operations as if all acquisitions within continuing operations in 20192021 and 20182020 had been consummated as of the beginning of 2018,2020, including the impact of certain adjustments such as amortization of intangibles, interest expense on acquisition financing and income tax effects.
 Year ended December 31,
 20212020
 (unaudited)
Pro forma total revenues$11,678,798 $11,722,511 
Pro forma net income from continuing operations attributable to
 DaVita Inc.
$985,800 $797,844 
Pro forma basic net income per share from continuing operations
 attributable to DaVita Inc.
$9.37 $6.66 
Pro forma diluted net income per share from continuing operations
 attributable to DaVita Inc.
$8.97 $6.51 
 Year ended December 31,
 2019 2018
 (unaudited)
Pro forma total revenues$11,416,498
 $11,566,736
Pro forma net income from continuing operations attributable to
DaVita Inc.
$709,631
 $640,112
Pro forma basic net income per share from continuing operations
attributable to DaVita Inc.
$4.63
 $3.75
Pro forma diluted net income per share from continuing operations
attributable to DaVita Inc.
$4.61
 $3.71
Sale of RMS Lifeline

The Company divested its prior vascular access business, RMS Lifeline, Inc., effective May 1, 2020 and recognized a loss on sale of approximately $16,252.
Contingent earn-out obligations
The Company has several contingent earn-out obligations associated with acquisitions that could result in the Company paying the former owners of acquired companiesbusinesses a total of up to approximately $33,889$67,638 if certain performance targets or quality margins are met over the next one year to five years.
Contingent earn-out obligations are remeasured to fair value at each reporting date until the contingencies are resolved with changes in the liability due to the remeasurement recognized in earnings. See Note 24 for further details. As of December 31, 2019,2021, the Company estimated the fair value of these contingent earn-out obligations to be $24,586,$33,600, of which a total of $6,712$9,419 is included in other current liabilities, and the remaining $17,874$24,181 is included in other long-term liabilities in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet.
The following is a reconciliation of changes in contingent earn-out liabilities for contingent earn-out obligations for the yearyears ended December 31, 2019:2021 and 2020: 
Balance at December 31, 2017$6,388
Contingent earn-out obligations associated with acquisitions1,246
Remeasurement of fair value(4,729)
Payments of contingent earn-out obligations(297)
Balance at December 31, 2018$2,608
Contingent earn-out obligations associated with acquisitions23,536
Remeasurement of fair value(784)
Payments of contingent earn-out obligations(774)
 $24,586
Year ended December 31,
20212020
Beginning balance$30,248 $24,586 
Acquisitions14,854 14,042 
Foreign currency translation(1,674)(3,688)
Fair value remeasurements(1,292)(2,630)
Payments or other settlements(8,536)(2,062)
Ending balance$33,600 $30,248 
 
22.    Discontinued operations previously held for sale
DaVita Medical Group (DMG)
On June 19, 2019,, the Company completed the sale of its prior DMG business to Optum, a subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group Inc., for an aggregate purchase price of $4,340,000, prior to certain closing and post-closing adjustments specified in the related equity purchase agreement dated as of December 5, 2017,, as amended as of September 20, 2018 and as of December 11, 2018 (as amended, the equity purchase agreement).
The Company recorded a preliminary estimated pre-tax net loss of approximately $23,022 on the sale of its DMG business in 2019. This preliminary net loss iswas based on initial estimates of the Company's expected aggregate proceeds from the sale, net of transaction costs and obligations, as well as the estimated values of DMG net assets sold as of the closing date. TheseThose estimated net proceeds includeincluded $4,465,476 in cash received from Optum at closing, or $3,824,509 net of cash and restricted cash included in the DMG net assets sold.

F-44F-39

DAVITA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (continued)
(dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data)


The ultimate net proceeds fromAt close of the DMG sale, as well as the value of its previously held forCompany's ultimate net sale net assets sold, remainproceeds remained subject to estimate revisions andresolution of certain post-closing purchase price adjustments pursuant todescribed in the equity purchase agreement. In the fourth quarter of 2020, the Company and Optum reached agreement on the final purchase price for the DMG sale, which could be material. resulted in an additional payment by the Company to Optum of $47,000 and an additional loss on sale of $17,976. In the first quarter of 2020, the Company recognized $9,980 in additional tax benefits under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act related to its period of DMG ownership, which were also recognized as an adjustment to the Company's loss on sale of the DMG business.
Under the equity purchase agreement, the Company also has certain continuing indemnification obligations that could require payments to the buyer relating to the Company's previous ownership and operation of the DMG business. Potential payments under these provisions, if any, remain subject to significantcontinuing uncertainties and the amounts of such payments could have a material adverse effect onbe significant to the net proceeds ultimately retained by the Company or the total amount of its loss on the sale of this business.Company.
The following table presents the financial results of discontinued operations related to DMG:
 Year ended December 31,
 2019 2018 2017
Net revenues$2,713,059
 $4,963,792
 $4,676,213
Expenses2,543,865
 4,962,686
 4,634,782
Goodwill and other asset impairment charges
 41,537
 651,659
Valuation adjustment on disposal group
 316,840
 
Income (loss) from discontinued operations before taxes169,194
 (357,271) (610,228)
Loss on sale of discontinued operations before taxes(23,022) 
 
Income tax expense (benefit)40,689
 99,768
 (364,856)
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax$105,483
 (457,038) $(245,372)

 Year ended December 31,
 20202019
Net revenues$— $2,713,059 
Expenses— 2,543,865 
Income from discontinued operations before taxes— 169,194 
Loss on sale of discontinued operations before taxes(7,996)(23,022)
Income tax expense1,657 40,689 
Net (loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax$(9,653)$105,483 
The following table presents cash flows of discontinued operations related to DMG:
 Year ended December 31,
 2019 2018 2017
Net cash provided by operating activities from discontinued operations$99,634
 $290,684
 $357,274
Net cash used in investing activities from discontinued operations$(43,442) $(57,382) $(232,329)

 Year ended December 31,
 20202019
Net cash provided by operating activities from discontinued operations$— $99,634 
Net cash used in investing activities from discontinued operations$— $(43,442)
DMG acquisitions
During the period from January 1, 2019 to June 18, 2019 immediately prior to the sale, the DMG business acquired 2 medical businesses for a total of $2,025 in net cash and deferred purchase price of $212. During 2018, the DMG business acquired other medical businesses for a total of $6,995 in net cash, deferred purchase price of $1,142. During 2017, the DMG business acquired other medical businesses for a total of $135,416 in net cash, deferred purchase price of $1,038 and liabilities assumed of $10,145.
23.    Variable interest entities
The Company manages or maintains an ownership interest in certain legal entities subject to the consolidation guidance applicable to variable interest entities (VIEs). Almost all of these legal entities are either U.S. dialysis partnerships encumbered by guaranteed debt, U.S. dialysis limited partnerships, or other legal entities subject to nominee ownership arrangements.
Under U.S. GAAP, VIEs typically include entities for which (i) the entity’s equity is not sufficient to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support; (ii) the equity holders as a group lack the power to direct the activities that most significantly influence the entity’s economic performance, the obligation to absorb the entity’s expected losses, or the right to receive the entity’s expected returns; or (iii) the voting rights of some investors are not proportional to their obligations to absorb the entity’s losses.
The substantial majority of VIEs the Company is associated with are U.S. dialysis partnerships which the Company manages and in which it maintains a controlling majority ownership interest. These U.S. dialysis partnerships are considered VIEs either because they are either (i) encumbered by debt guaranteed proportionately by the partners that is considered necessary to finance the partnership's activities, or (ii) in the form of limited partnerships for which the limited partners are not considered to have substantive kick-out or participating rights. The Company consolidates virtually all such U.S. dialysis partnerships.
The Company also relies on the operating activities of certain legal entities in which it does not maintain a controlling ownership interest but over which it has indirect influence and of which it is considered the primary beneficiary. These entities are typically subject to nominee ownership and transfer restriction agreements that effectively transfer the majority of the economic risks and rewards of their ownership to the Company. The Company’s management, restriction and other agreements

F-45

DAVITA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (continued)
(dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data)


concerning such nominee-owned entities typically include both financial terms and protective and participating rights to the entities’ operating, strategic and non-clinical governance decisions which transfer substantial powers over and economic
F-40

DAVITA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (continued)
(dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data)

responsibility for these entities to the Company. The Company consolidates all of the nominee-owned entities with which it is most closely associated.
At December 31, 2019,For the VIEs described above, these consolidated financial statements include total assets of VIEs of $319,691$299,953 and total liabilities and noncontrolling interests of VIEs to third parties of $231,586.$200,110 at December 31, 2021.
The Company also sponsors certain non-qualified deferred compensation plans whose trusts qualify as VIEs and the Company consolidates these plans as their primary beneficiary. The assets of these plans are recorded in short-term or long-term investments with related liabilities recorded in accrued compensation and benefits and other long-term liabilities. See Note 15 for disclosures concerning the assets of these consolidated non-qualified deferred compensation plans.
24.    Fair values of financial instruments
Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Fair value measurements are determined based on the principal or most advantageous market for the item being measured, assume that buyers and sellers are independent, willing and able to transact, and knowledgeable, with access to all information customarily available in such a transaction, and are based on assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the item, not assumptions specific to the reporting entity.
The Company measures the fair value of certain assets, liabilities, and noncontrolling interests subject to put provisions (redeemable equity interests classified as temporary equity) based upon certain valuation techniques that include observable or unobservable inputs and assumptions that market participants would use in pricing these assets, liabilities, temporary equity and commitments. The Company has also classified certain assets, liabilities and temporary equity that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis into the appropriate fair value hierarchy levels as defined by the FASB.
The following table summarizes the Company’s assets, liabilities and temporary equity measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 20192021 and 2018:2020:
December 31, 2021TotalQuoted prices in
active markets for
identical assets
(Level 1)
Significant other
observable inputs
(Level 2)
Significant
unobservable
inputs
(Level 3)
Assets    
Investments in equity securities$48,598 $48,598 $— $— 
Interest rate cap agreements$12,203 $— $12,203 $— 
Liabilities    
Contingent earn-out obligations$33,600 $— $— $33,600 
Temporary equity    
Noncontrolling interests subject to put provisions$1,434,832 $— $— $1,434,832 
December 31, 2020    
Assets    
Investments in equity securities$44,077 $44,077 $— $— 
Interest rate cap agreements$2,671 $— $2,671 $— 
Liabilities    
Contingent earn-out obligations$30,248 $— $— $30,248 
Temporary equity    
Noncontrolling interests subject to put provisions$1,330,028 $— $— $1,330,028 
December 31, 2019Total Quoted prices in
active markets for
identical assets
(Level 1)
 Significant other
observable inputs
(Level 2)
 Significant
unobservable
inputs
(Level 3)
Assets 
  
  
  
Investments in equity securities$39,951
 $39,951
 $
 $
Interest rate cap agreements$24,452
 $
 $24,452
 $
Liabilities 
  
  
  
Contingent earn-out obligations$24,586
 $
 $
 $24,586
Temporary equity 
  
  
  
Noncontrolling interests subject to put provisions$1,180,376
 $
 $
 $1,180,376
December 31, 2018 
  
  
  
Assets 
  
  
  
Investments in equity securities$36,124
 $36,124
 $
 $
Interest rate cap agreements$851
 $
 $851
 $
Liabilities 
  
  
  
Contingent earn-out obligations$2,608
 $
 $
 $2,608
Temporary equity 
  
  
  
Noncontrolling interests subject to put provisions$1,124,641
 $
 $
 $1,124,641

For reconciliations of changes in contingent earn-out obligations and noncontrolling interests subject to put provisions during the year ended at December 31, 2021 and 2020, see Note 21 and the consolidated statements of equity, respectively.
Investments in equity securities represent investments in various open-ended registered investment companies (mutual funds) and common stock and are recorded at fair value estimated based on reported market prices or redemption prices, as applicable. See Note 5 for further discussion.
Interest rate cap agreements are recorded at fair value estimated from valuation models utilizing the income approach and commonly accepted valuation techniques that use inputs from closing prices for similar assets and liabilities in active

F-46

DAVITA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (continued)
(dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data)


markets as well as other relevant observable market inputs at quoted intervals such as current interest rates, forward yield curves, implied volatility and credit default swap pricing. The Company does not believe the ultimate amount that could be realized upon settlement of these interest rate cap agreements would be materially different from the fair value estimates currently reported. See Note 13 for further discussion.
The estimated fair value measurements of contingent earn-out obligations are primarily based on unobservable inputs, including projected earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA), revenue and revenue.key performance indicators. The estimated fair value of these contingent earn-out obligations is remeasured as of each reporting date and could
F-41

DAVITA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (continued)
(dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data)

fluctuate based upon any significant changes in key assumptions, such as changes in the Company credit risk adjusted rate that is used to discount obligations to present value. See Note 21 for further discussion.
The estimated fair value of noncontrolling interests subject to put provisions is based principally on the higher of either estimated liquidation value of net assets or a multiple of earnings for each subject dialysis partnership, based on historical earnings, revenue mix, and other performance indicators that can affect future results. The multiples used for these valuations are derived from observed ownership transactions for dialysis businesses between unrelated parties in the U.S. in recent years, and the specific valuation multiple applied to each dialysis partnership is principally determined by its recent and expected revenue mix and contribution margin. As of December 31, 2021, an increase or decrease in the weighted average multiple used in these valuations of one times EBITDA would change the estimated fair value of these noncontrolling interests by approximately $180,000. See Note 17 for a discussion of the Company’s methodology for estimating the fair values of noncontrolling interests subject to put obligations.
The Company's fair value estimates for its senior secured credit facilities and senior notes are based upon quoted bid and ask prices for these instruments, typically a level 2 input. See Note 13 for further discussion of the Company's debt.
Other financial instruments consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable, other accrued liabilities, lease liabilities and debt. The balances of non-debt financial instruments other than debt and lease liabilities are presented in the consolidated financial statements at December 31, 20192021 and 20182020 at their approximate fair values due to the short-term nature of their settlements.
25.    Segment reporting
The Company's operations are comprised of its U.S. dialysis and related lab services business (its U.S. dialysis business), its variousU.S. ancillary services and strategic initiatives includingand its international operations and(collectively, its ancillary services), as well as its corporate administrative support. See Note 1 "Organization" for a summary description of the Company's businesses.
On June 19, 2019,, the Company completed the sale of its prior DMG business to Optum. As a result of this transaction, DMG's results of operations have been reported as discontinued operations for all periods presented.
The Company’s operating segments have been defined based on the separate financial information that is regularly produced and reviewed by the Company’s chief operating decision maker in making decisions about allocating resources to and assessing the financial performance of the Company’s various operating lines of business. The chief operating decision maker for the Company is its Chief Executive Officer.
The Company’s separate operating segments include its U.S. dialysis and related lab services business, each of its U.S. ancillary services and strategic initiatives, its kidney care operations in each foreign sovereign jurisdiction, its other health operations in each foreign sovereign jurisdiction, and its equity method investment in the Asia PacificAPAC joint venture. The U.S. dialysis and related lab services business qualifies as a separately reportable segment, and all other ancillary services and strategic initiatives operating segments, including the international operating segments, have been combined and disclosed in the other segments category.
The Company’s operating segment financial information included in this report is prepared on the internal management reporting basis that the chief operating decision maker uses to allocate resources and assess the financial performance of the Company's operating segments. For internal management reporting, segment operations include direct segment operating expenses but generally exclude corporate administrative support costs, which consist primarily of indirect labor, benefits and long-term incentive compensation expenses of certain departments which provide support to all of the Company’s various operating lines of business, except to the extent that such costs are charged to and borne by certain ancillary services and strategic initiatives via internal management fees. These corporate administrative support costs are reduced by internal management fees received from the Company’s ancillary lines of business.

F-47F-42

DAVITA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (continued)
(dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data)


The following is a summary of segment revenues, segment operating margin (loss), and a reconciliation of segment operating margin to consolidated income from continuing operations before income taxes:
Year ended December 31,
Year ended December 31, 202120202019
2019 2018 2017
Segment revenues:(1)
 
  
  
Segment revenues:Segment revenues:   
U.S. dialysis 
  
  
U.S. dialysis   
Patient service revenues: 
  
  
Patient service revenues:   
External sources$10,421,401
 $10,274,046
 $9,767,123
External sources$10,551,106 $10,475,273 $10,399,686 
Intersegment revenues131,199
 92,950
 55,176
Intersegment revenues90,512 144,091 131,199 
Total U.S. dialysis revenues10,552,600
 10,366,996
 9,822,299
Provision for uncollectible accounts(21,715) (50,927) (481,973)
Net U.S. dialysis patient service revenues10,530,885
 10,316,069
 9,340,326
Other revenues(2)
     
U.S. dialysis patient service revenuesU.S. dialysis patient service revenues10,641,618 10,619,364 10,530,885 
Other revenuesOther revenues
External sources30,895
 19,880
 19,739
External sources25,061 39,376 30,895 
Intersegment revenues1,126
 
 
Intersegment revenues284 1,195 1,126 
Total net U.S. dialysis revenues$10,562,906
 $10,335,949
 $9,360,065
Total U.S. dialysis revenuesTotal U.S. dialysis revenues$10,666,963 $10,659,935 $10,562,906 
Other - Ancillary services     Other - Ancillary services
Net patient service revenues$497,021
 $437,275
 $323,156
Net patient service revenues662,409 550,978 497,021 
Other external sources460,877
 724,577
 1,248,589
Other external sources380,221 484,977 460,877 
Intersegment revenues14,030
 34,236
 24,603
Intersegment revenues4,294 16,743 14,030 
Total ancillary services$971,928
 $1,196,088
 $1,596,348
Total ancillary services1,046,924 1,052,698 971,928 
Total net segment revenues11,534,834
 11,532,037
 10,956,413
Total net segment revenues11,713,887 11,712,633 11,534,834 
Elimination of intersegment revenues(146,355) (127,186) (79,779)Elimination of intersegment revenues(95,090)(162,029)(146,355)
Consolidated revenues$11,388,479
 $11,404,851
 $10,876,634
Consolidated revenues$11,618,797 $11,550,604 $11,388,479 
Segment operating margin (loss):     Segment operating margin (loss):
U.S. dialysis$1,924,826
 $1,709,721
 $2,297,198
U.S. dialysis$1,974,988 $1,917,604 $1,924,826 
Other - Ancillary services(189,174) (93,789) (439,477)
Other - Ancillary services(1)
Other - Ancillary services(1)
(66,003)(76,261)(189,174)
Total segment margin1,735,652
 1,615,932
 1,857,721
Total segment margin1,908,985 1,841,343 1,735,652 
Reconciliation of segment operating margin to consolidated income from
continuing operations before income taxes:
     Reconciliation of segment operating margin to consolidated income from
continuing operations before income taxes:
Corporate administrative support(92,335) (90,108) (44,966)Corporate administrative support(111,615)(146,707)(92,335)
Consolidated operating income1,643,317
 1,525,824
 1,812,755
Consolidated operating income1,797,370 1,694,636 1,643,317 
Debt expense(443,824) (487,435) (430,634)Debt expense(285,254)(304,111)(443,824)
Debt prepayment, refinancing and redemption charges(33,402) 
 
Debt prepayment, refinancing and redemption charges— (89,022)(33,402)
Other income29,348
 10,089
 17,665
Other income, netOther income, net6,378 16,759 29,348 
Income from continuing operations before income taxes$1,195,439
 $1,048,478
 $1,399,786
Income from continuing operations before income taxes$1,518,494 $1,318,262 $1,195,439 
 
(1)
On January 1, 2018, the Company adopted
(1)Includes equity investment income of $3,177, $5,866, and $9,366 in 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively.Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) using the cumulative effect method for those contracts that were not substantially completed as of January 1, 2018. See Notes 1 and 2 for further discussion of the Company's adoption of Topic 606.
(2)Includes management fee revenues from providing management and administrative services to dialysis ventures in which the Company owns a noncontrolling interest or which are wholly-owned by third parties.

Depreciation and amortization expense by reportable segment was as follows:
 Year ended December 31,
 202120202019
U.S. dialysis$642,711 $594,552 $583,454 
Other - Ancillary services37,904 35,883 31,698 
 $680,615 $630,435 $615,152 
Expenditures for property and equipment by reportable segment were as follows: 
 Year ended December 31,
 202120202019
U.S. dialysis589,662 $646,870 $681,339 
Other - Ancillary services51,803 27,671 46,741 
DMG - Discontinued operations— — 38,466 
 $641,465 $674,541 $766,546 

F-48
F-43

DAVITA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (continued)
(dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data)


Depreciation and amortization expense by reportable segment was as follows:
 Year ended December 31,
 2019 2018 2017
U.S. dialysis$583,454
 $558,810
 $520,965
Other - Ancillary services31,698
 32,225
 38,946
 $615,152
 $591,035
 $559,911

Summary of assets by reportable segment was as follows:
 Year ended December 31,
 2019 2018
Segment assets 
  
U.S. dialysis (including equity investments of $124,188 and $95,290,
respectively)
$15,778,880
 $12,333,641
Other - Ancillary services(1) (including equity investments of $117,795
and $129,321, respectively)
1,532,514
 1,387,046
DMG - Discontinued operations (including equity investments of
$0 and $4,833 respectively)

 5,389,565
Consolidated assets$17,311,394
 $19,110,252
 Year ended December 31,
 20212020
Segment assets  
U.S. dialysis(1)
$15,375,000 $15,344,647 
Other - Ancillary services(2)
1,746,488 1,643,869 
Consolidated assets$17,121,488 $16,988,516 
(1)Includes approximately $154,572 and $136,052 in 2019 and 2018,
(1)Includes equity method and other investments of $112,500 and $122,974 in 2021 and 2020, respectively.
(2)Includes equity method and other investments of $126,381 and 134,517 in 2021 and 2020, respectively and includes approximately $190,029 and $181,137 in 2021 and 2020, respectively, of net property and equipment related to the Company’s international operations.
Expenditures for property and equipment by reportable segment were as follows: 
 Year ended December 31,
 2019 2018 2017
U.S. dialysis$681,339
 $856,108
 $769,732
Other - Ancillary services46,741
 45,806
 40,377
DMG - Discontinued operations38,466
 85,224
 95,141
 $766,546
 $987,138
 $905,250

related to the Company’s international operations.
26.    Supplemental cash flow information
The table below provides supplemental cash flow information:
 Year ended December 31,
 2019 2018 2017
Cash paid: 
  
  
Income taxes, net$157,983
 $92,526
 $387,159
Interest$473,176
 $488,974
 $424,547
Non-cash investing and financing activities: 
  
  
Fixed assets under financing lease obligations$18,953
 $8,828
 $48,378

 Year ended December 31,
 202120202019
Cash paid:   
Income taxes, net$209,754 $154,850 $157,983 
Interest$279,002 $326,165 $473,176 
Non-cash investing and financing activities:   
Fixed assets under financing lease obligations$31,690 $22,042 $18,953 

F-49

DAVITA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (continued)
(dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data)


27.    Selected quarterly financial data (unaudited)
 December 31, September 30, June 30, March 31,
2019       
Total revenues$2,898,584
 $2,904,078
 $2,842,705
 $2,743,112
Operating income$462,588
 $378,336
 $461,886
 $340,507
Attributable to DaVita Inc.:       
Net income from continuing operations(1)
$242,242
 $150,113
 $194,223
 $120,254
Net (loss) income from discontinued operations2,629
 (6,843) 79,328
 29,035
Net income$244,871
 $143,270
 $273,551
 $149,289
Per share attributable to DaVita Inc.:       
Basic net income from continuing operations$1.87
 $1.00
 $1.17
 $0.72
Basic net income (loss) from discontinued operations0.02
 (0.05) 0.47
 0.18
Basic net income$1.89
 $0.95
 $1.64
 $0.90
Diluted net income from continuing operations$1.86
 $0.99
 $1.16
 $0.72
Diluted net income (loss) from discontinued operations0.02
 (0.04) 0.48
 0.18
Diluted net income$1.88
 $0.95
 $1.64
 $0.90
2018       
Total revenues$2,821,124
 $2,847,330
 $2,886,953
 $2,849,444
Operating income$387,908
 $289,038
 $438,192
 $410,686
Attributable to DaVita Inc.:       
Net income from continuing operations(1)
$160,332
 $73,371
 $199,603
 $191,015
Net (loss) income from discontinued operations(310,104) (210,167) 67,673
 (12,329)
Net (loss) income$(149,772) $(136,796) $267,276
 $178,686
Per share attributable to DaVita Inc.:       
Basic net income from continuing operations$0.97
 $0.44
 $1.16
 $1.07
Basic net (loss) income from discontinued operations(1.87) (1.26) 0.40
 (0.07)
Basic net (loss) income$(0.90) $(0.82) $1.56
 $1.00
Diluted net income from continuing operations$0.96
 $0.44
 $1.15
 $1.05
Diluted net (loss) income from discontinued operations(1.86) (1.26) 0.38
 (0.07)
Diluted net (loss) income$(0.90) $(0.82) $1.53
 $0.98

F-44


EXHIBIT INDEX
(1)The following table summarizes impairment charges, (gain) loss on changes in ownership interest, restructuring charges, and stock-based compensation modification charges and net acceleration of expense included in operating expenses and charges in 2019 and 2018 by quarter:
  Quarter ended  Quarter ended
 December 31,
2019
 September 30,
2019
 June 30,
2019
 March 31,
2019
 December 31,
2018
 September 30,
2018
 June 30,
2018
 March 31,
2018
Certain operating expenses
 and charges:
               
Impairment charges  $83,855
   $41,037
 $1,530
 $12,088
 $14,351
  
(Gain) loss on changes in
ownership interest, net
        $(19,437) $1,506
 $(33,957)  
Restructuring charges          $11,366
    
Stock-based compensation
modification charges and
net acceleration of expense
          $23,470
    


F-50

DAVITA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (continued)
(dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data)


28.    Consolidating financial statements
The following information is presented in accordance with Rule 3-10 of Regulation S-X. The operating and investing activities of the separate legal entities included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements are fully interdependent and integrated. Revenues and operating expenses of the separate legal entities include intercompany charges for management and other administrative services. The Company’s senior notes are guaranteed by a substantial majority of its domestic subsidiaries as measured by revenue, income and assets. The subsidiary guarantors have guaranteed the senior notes on a joint and several basis. However, a subsidiary guarantor will be released from its obligations under its guarantee of the senior notes and the indentures governing the senior notes if, in general, there is a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of such subsidiary guarantor, including by merger or consolidation, or a sale or other disposition of all of the equity interests in such subsidiary guarantor held by the Company and its restricted subsidiaries, as defined in the indentures; such subsidiary guarantor is designated by the Company as an unrestricted subsidiary, as defined in the indentures, or otherwise ceases to be a restricted subsidiary of the Company, in each case in accordance with the indentures; or such subsidiary guarantor no longer guarantees any other indebtedness, as defined in the indentures, of the Company or any of its restricted subsidiaries, except for guarantees that are contemporaneously released. The senior notes are not guaranteed by certain of the Company's domestic subsidiaries, any of the Company's foreign subsidiaries, or any entities that do not constitute subsidiaries within the meaning of the indentures, such as corporations in which the Company holds capital stock with less than a majority of the voting power, joint ventures and partnerships in which the Company holds less than a majority of the equity or voting interests, non-owned entities and third parties. Contemporaneously with the Company entering into the New Credit Agreement and pursuant to the indentures governing the Company's senior notes, certain subsidiaries of the Company were released from their guarantees of the Company's senior notes such that, after that release, the remaining subsidiary guarantors of the senior notes were the same subsidiaries guaranteeing the New Credit Agreement. The following consolidating statements have been prepared for all periods presented based on the current subsidiary guarantors and non-guarantors stipulated in the Company's New Credit Agreement.
Consolidating Statements of Income
For year ended December 31, 2019 DaVita Inc. 
Guarantor
Subsidiaries
 
Non-
Guarantor
Subsidiaries
 
Consolidating
Adjustments
 
Consolidated
Total
Dialysis patient service revenues $
 $6,961,825
 $4,226,402
 $(269,806) $10,918,421
Less: Provision for uncollectible accounts 
 (15,296) (6,419) 
 (21,715)
Net dialysis patient service revenues 
 6,946,529
 4,219,983
 (269,806) 10,896,706
Other revenues 804,684
 601,394
 171,856
 (1,086,161) 491,773
Total revenues 804,684
 7,547,923
 4,391,839
 (1,355,967) 11,388,479
Operating expenses and charges 642,717
 6,631,471
 3,826,941
 (1,355,967) 9,745,162
Operating income 161,967
 916,452
 564,898
 
 1,643,317
Debt expense (482,074) (183,272) (53,043) 241,163
 (477,226)
Other income, net 309,623
 7,314
 46,306
 (333,895) 29,348
Income tax (benefit) expense (2,616) 263,563
 18,681
 
 279,628
Equity earnings in subsidiaries 818,849
 429,628
 
 (1,248,477) 
Net income from continuing operations 810,981
 906,559
 539,480
 (1,341,209) 915,811
Net income from discontinued operations, net of tax 
 
 12,751
 92,732
 105,483
Net income 810,981
 906,559
 552,231
 (1,248,477) 1,021,294
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling
interests
 
 
 
 (210,313) (210,313)
Net income attributable to DaVita Inc. $810,981
 $906,559
 $552,231
 $(1,458,790) $810,981


F-51

DAVITA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (continued)
(dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data)


Consolidating Statements of Income - (continued)
For year ended December 31, 2018 DaVita Inc. 
Guarantor
Subsidiaries
 
Non-
Guarantor
Subsidiaries
 
Consolidating
Adjustments
 
Consolidated
Total
Dialysis patient service revenues $
 $6,834,865
 $4,096,666
 $(221,550) $10,709,981
Less: Provision for uncollectible accounts 
 (34,977) (14,610) 
 (49,587)
Net dialysis patient service revenues 
 6,799,888
 4,082,056
 (221,550) 10,660,394
Other revenues 799,230
 488,086
 558,079
 (1,100,938) 744,457
Total revenues 799,230
 7,287,974
 4,640,135
 (1,322,488) 11,404,851
Operating expenses and charges 646,640
 6,551,328
 4,003,547
 (1,322,488) 9,879,027
Operating income 152,590
 736,646
 636,588
 
 1,525,824
Debt expense (491,749) (201,496) (43,414) 249,224
 (487,435)
Other income, net 418,839
 3,430
 29,132
 (441,312) 10,089
Income tax expense 23,482
 155,372
 79,546
 
 258,400
Equity earnings in subsidiaries 103,196
 388,737
 
 (491,933) 
Net income from continuing operations 159,394
 771,945
 542,760
 (684,021) 790,078
Net loss from discontinued operations, net of tax 
 
 (649,126) 192,088
 (457,038)
Net income (loss) 159,394
 771,945
 (106,366) (491,933) 333,040
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling
interests
 
 
 
 (173,646) (173,646)
Net income (loss) attributable to DaVita Inc. $159,394
 $771,945
 $(106,366) $(665,579) $159,394
For year ended December 31, 2017 DaVita Inc. 
Guarantor
Subsidiaries
 
Non-
Guarantor
Subsidiaries
 
Consolidating
Adjustments
 
Consolidated
Total
Dialysis patient service revenues $
 $6,417,574
 $3,848,172
 $(172,076) $10,093,670
Less: Provision for uncollectible accounts 
 (322,085) (170,447) 7,168
 (485,364)
Net dialysis patient service
revenues
 
 6,095,489
 3,677,725
 (164,908) 9,608,306
Other revenues 793,751
 408,460
 1,080,832
 (1,014,715) 1,268,328
Total net revenues 793,751
 6,503,949
 4,758,557
 (1,179,623) 10,876,634
Operating expenses and charges 527,942
 5,331,545
 4,384,015
 (1,179,623) 9,063,879
Operating income 265,809
 1,172,404
 374,542
 
 1,812,755
Debt expense (426,149) (200,953) (43,490) 239,958
 (430,634)
Other income, net 411,731
 5,979
 23,657
 (423,702) 17,665
Income tax expense 65,965
 210,068
 47,826
 
 323,859
Equity earnings in subsidiaries 478,192
 460,261
 
 (938,453) 
Net income from continuing operations 663,618
 1,227,623
 306,883
 (1,122,197) 1,075,927
Net loss from discontinued operations, net of tax 
 
 (429,116) 183,744
 (245,372)
Net income (loss) 663,618
 1,227,623
 (122,233) (938,453) 830,555
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling
interests
 
 
 
 (166,937) (166,937)
Net income (loss) attributable to DaVita Inc. $663,618
 $1,227,623
 $(122,233) $(1,105,390) $663,618


F-52

DAVITA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (continued)
(dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data)


Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income
For the year ended December 31, 2019 DaVita Inc. 
Guarantor
Subsidiaries
 
Non-
Guarantor
Subsidiaries
 
Consolidating
Adjustments
 
Consolidated
Total
Net income $810,981
 $906,559
 $552,231
 $(1,248,477) $1,021,294
Other comprehensive income (loss) 7,528
 
 (20,102) 
 (12,574)
Total comprehensive income 818,509
 906,559
 532,129
 (1,248,477) 1,008,720
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to
noncontrolling interest
 
 
 
 (210,313) (210,313)
Comprehensive income attributable to DaVita Inc. $818,509
 $906,559
 $532,129
 $(1,458,790) $798,407
           
For the year ended December 31, 2018  
  
  
  
  
Net income (loss) $159,394
 $771,945
 $(106,366) $(491,933) $333,040
Other comprehensive income (loss) 6,153
 
 (45,944) 
 (39,791)
Total comprehensive income (loss) 165,547
 771,945
 (152,310) (491,933) 293,249
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to
noncontrolling interest
 
 
 
 (173,646) (173,646)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to DaVita Inc. $165,547
 $771,945
 $(152,310) $(665,579) $119,603
           
For the year ended December 31, 2017  
  
  
  
  
Net income (loss) $663,618
 $1,227,623
 $(122,233) $(938,453) $830,555
Other comprehensive income (loss) 3,106
 
 99,770
 
 102,876
Total comprehensive income (loss) 666,724
 1,227,623
 (22,463) (938,453) 933,431
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to
noncontrolling interest
 
 
 
 (166,935) (166,935)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to DaVita Inc. $666,724
 $1,227,623
 $(22,463) $(1,105,388) $766,496


F-53

DAVITA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (continued)
(dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data)


Consolidating Balance Sheets
As of December 31, 2019 DaVita Inc. 
Guarantor
Subsidiaries
 
Non-
Guarantor
Subsidiaries
 
Consolidating
Adjustments
 
Consolidated
Total
Cash and cash equivalents $758,241
 $532
 $343,599
 $
 $1,102,372
Restricted cash and equivalents 14,499
 
 91,847
 
 106,346
Accounts receivable, net 
 1,189,301
 606,297
 
 1,795,598
Other current assets 76,787
 548,553
 102,410
 (41,896) 685,854
Total current assets 849,527
 1,738,386
 1,144,153
 (41,896) 3,690,170
Property and equipment, net 543,932
 1,589,417
 1,344,543
 (4,508) 3,473,384
Operating lease right-of-use assets 109,415
 1,656,145
 1,084,552
 (20,065) 2,830,047
Intangible assets, net 362
 31,569
 103,753
 
 135,684
Investments in and advances to affiliates, net 10,813,991
 7,611,402
 3,051,208
 (21,476,601) 
Other long-term assets and investments 102,779
 133,698
 176,315
 (18,318) 394,474
Goodwill 
 4,812,972
 1,974,663
 
 6,787,635
Total assets $12,420,006
 $17,573,589
 $8,879,187
 $(21,561,388) $17,311,394
Current liabilities $379,286
 $1,327,378
 $666,470
 $(1,036) $2,372,098
Intercompany payables 1,381,863
 3,051,208
 2,615,151
 (7,048,222) 
Long-term operating lease liabilities 136,123
 1,567,776
 1,039,145
 (19,244) 2,723,800
Long-term debt and other long-term liabilities 7,741,725
 674,558
 364,102
 (64,507) 8,715,878
Noncontrolling interests subject to put provisions 647,600
 
 
 532,776
 1,180,376
Total DaVita Inc. shareholders' equity 2,133,409
 10,952,669
 3,475,710
 (14,428,379) 2,133,409
Noncontrolling interests not subject to put
provisions
 
 
 718,609
 (532,776) 185,833
Total equity 2,133,409
 10,952,669
 4,194,319
 (14,961,155) 2,319,242
Total liabilities and equity $12,420,006
 $17,573,589
 $8,879,187
 $(21,561,388) $17,311,394


F-54

DAVITA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (continued)
(dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data)


Consolidating Balance Sheets - (continued)
As of December 31, 2018 DaVita Inc. 
Guarantor
Subsidiaries
 
Non-
Guarantor
Subsidiaries
 
Consolidating
Adjustments
 
Consolidated
Total
Cash and cash equivalents $60,653
 $1,232
 $261,153
 $
 $323,038
Restricted cash and equivalents 1,005
 12,048
 79,329
 
 92,382
Accounts receivable, net 
 1,204,122
 654,486
 
 1,858,608
Other current assets 37,185
 565,974
 157,407
 
 760,566
Current assets held for sale 
 
 5,389,565
 
 5,389,565
Total current assets 98,843
 1,783,376
 6,541,940
 
 8,424,159
Property and equipment, net 491,462
 1,584,321
 1,317,886
 
 3,393,669
Intangible assets, net 153
 42,896
 75,797
 
 118,846
Investments in and advances to affiliates, net 13,522,198
 6,196,801
 2,498,545
 (22,217,544) 
Other long-term assets and investments 53,385
 90,037
 188,196
 
 331,618
Goodwill 
 4,806,939
 2,035,021
 
 6,841,960
Total assets $14,166,041
 $14,504,370
 $12,657,385
 $(22,217,544) $19,110,252
Current liabilities $1,945,943
 $1,217,526
 $483,933
 $
 $3,647,402
Current liabilities held for sale 
 
 1,243,759
 
 1,243,759
Total current liabilities 1,945,943
 1,217,526
 1,727,692
 
 4,891,161
Intercompany payables 
 2,498,545
 6,161,292
 (8,659,837) 
Long-term debt and other long-term liabilities 7,918,581
 687,443
 580,028
 
 9,186,052
Noncontrolling interests subject to put provisions 598,075
 
 
 526,566
 1,124,641
Total DaVita Inc. shareholders' equity 3,703,442
 10,100,856
 3,456,851
 (13,557,707) 3,703,442
Noncontrolling interests not subject to put
provisions
 
 
 731,522
 (526,566) 204,956
Total equity 3,703,442
 10,100,856
 4,188,373
 (14,084,273) 3,908,398
Total liabilities and equity $14,166,041
 $14,504,370
 $12,657,385
 $(22,217,544) $19,110,252





F-55

DAVITA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (continued)
(dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data)


Consolidating Statements of Cash Flow
For the year ended December 31, 2019 DaVita Inc. Guarantor
Subsidiaries
 Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries
 Consolidating
Adjustments
 Consolidated
Total
Cash flows from operating activities:  
  
  
  
  
Net income $810,981
 $906,559
 $552,231
 $(1,248,477) $1,021,294
Changes in operating assets and liabilities and
non-cash items included in net income
 (602,288) (73,356) 478,228
 1,248,477
 1,051,061
Net cash provided by operating activities 208,693
 833,203
 1,030,459
 
 2,072,355
Cash flows from investing activities:  
  
  
  
  
Additions of property and equipment, net (145,378) (310,032) (311,136) 
 (766,546)
Acquisitions 
 (11,851) (89,010) 
 (100,861)
Proceeds from asset sales, net of cash divested 3,824,516
 1,777
 51,099
 
 3,877,392
Investments and other items (4,606) (6,676) (3,363) 
 (14,645)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities 3,674,532
 (326,782) (352,410) 
 2,995,340
Cash flows from financing activities:  
  
  
  
  
Long-term debt and related financing costs, net (2,052,197) (10,481) (17,513) 
 (2,080,191)
Intercompany borrowing 1,267,138
 (455,405) (811,733) 
 
Other items (2,387,084) (53,283) (175,892) 
 (2,616,259)
Net cash used in financing activities (3,172,143) (519,169) (1,005,138) 
 (4,696,450)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash 
 
 (1,760) 
 (1,760)
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash 711,082
 (12,748) (328,849) 
 369,485
Less: Net increase in cash, cash equivalents and
restricted cash from discontinued operations
 
 
 (423,813) 
 (423,813)
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash from continuing operations 711,082
 (12,748) 94,964
 
 793,298
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash of
continuing operations at beginning of the year
 61,658
 13,280
 340,482
 
 415,420
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash of
continuing operations at end of the year
 $772,740
 $532
 $435,446
 $
 $1,208,718




















F-56

DAVITA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (continued)
(dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data)


Consolidating Statements of Cash Flow - (continued)
For the year ended December 31, 2018 DaVita Inc. Guarantor
Subsidiaries
 Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries
 Consolidating
Adjustments
 Consolidated
Total
Cash flows from operating activities:          
Net income $159,394
 $771,945
 $(106,366) $(491,933) $333,040
Changes in operating assets and liabilities and
non-cash items included in net income
 (86,070) (150,976) 1,183,713
 491,933
 1,438,600
Net cash provided by operating activities 73,324
 620,969
 1,077,347
 
 1,771,640
Cash flows from investing activities:  
  
  
  
  
Additions of property and equipment, net (175,787) (425,008) (386,343) 
 (987,138)
Acquisitions 
 (42,987) (140,169) 
 (183,156)
Proceeds from asset and business sales, net of cash
divested
 
 55,184
 95,021
 
 150,205
Investments and other items 30,962
 (8,286) (8,230) 
 14,446
Net cash used in investing activities (144,825) (421,097) (439,721) 
 (1,005,643)
Cash flows from financing activities:  
  
  
  
  
Long-term debt and related financing costs, net 725,889
 (8,874) (22,238) 
 694,777
Intercompany borrowing 404,897
 (168,224) (236,673) 
 
Other items (1,147,934) (29,457) (142,740) 
 (1,320,131)
Net cash used in financing activities (17,148) (206,555) (401,651) 
 (625,354)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash 
 
 (3,350) 
 (3,350)
Net (decrease) increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash (88,649) (6,683) 232,625
 
 137,293
Less: Net decrease in cash, cash equivalents
and restricted cash from discontinued operations
 
 
 240,793
 
 240,793
Net decrease in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash from continuing operations (88,649) (6,683) (8,168) 
 (103,500)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash of
continuing operations at beginning of the year
 150,307
 19,963
 348,650
 
 518,920
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash of
continuing operations at end of the year
 $61,658
 $13,280
 $340,482
 $
 $415,420

F-57

DAVITA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (continued)
(dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data)


Consolidating Statements of Cash Flow - (continued)
For the year ended December 31, 2017 DaVita Inc. 
Guarantor
Subsidiaries
 
Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries
 
Consolidating
Adjustments
 
Consolidated
Total
Cash flows from operating activities:  
  
  
  
  
Net income $663,618
 $1,227,623
 $(122,233) $(938,453) $830,555
Changes in operating assets and liabilities and
non-cash items included in net income
 (533,300) (739,023) 1,416,481
 938,453
 1,082,611
Net cash provided by operating activities 130,318
 488,600
 1,294,248
 
 1,913,166
Cash flows from investing activities:  
  
  
  
  
Additions of property and equipment, net (155,972) (348,292) (400,986) 
 (905,250)
Acquisitions 
 (528,588) (275,291) 
 (803,879)
Proceeds from asset sales 
 25,989
 66,347
 
 92,336
Investments and other items 211,619
 (3,526) 43,968
 
 252,061
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities 55,647
 (854,417) (565,962) 
 (1,364,732)
Cash flows from financing activities:  
  
  
  
  
Long-term debt and related financing costs, net 173,529
 (8,186) (10,495) 
 154,848
Intercompany borrowing 22,589
 382,452
 (405,041) 
 
Other items (781,697) (2,205) (137,203) 
 (921,105)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities (585,579) 372,061
 (552,739) 
 (766,257)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash 
 
 254
 
 254
Net (decrease) increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash (399,614) 6,244
 175,801
 
 (217,569)
Less: Net decrease in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash from discontinued operations 
 
 (53,026) 
 (53,026)
Net (decrease) increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash from continuing operations (399,614) 6,244
 228,827
 
 (164,543)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash of
continuing operations at beginning of the year
 549,921
 13,719
 119,823
 
 683,463
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash of
continuing operations at end of the year
 $150,307
 $19,963
 $348,650
 $
 $518,920



F-58

DAVITA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (continued)
(dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data)


29.    Supplemental data under senior note indentures (unaudited)
The Company previously disclosed certain unaudited supplemental data concerning entities that do not constitute “Subsidiaries” as defined in the indentures governing the Company’s senior notes with its consolidated financial statements, as required by those indentures. As a result of the sale of the DMG business to Optum on June 19, 2019, the Company no longer has subsidiaries large enough to require this additional unaudited supplemental disclosure under the terms of its senior note indentures.

F-59



EXHIBIT INDEX
Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of May 20, 2012, by and among DaVita Inc., Seismic Acquisition LLC, HealthCare Partners Holdings, LLC, and the Member Representative.(25)
Amendment, dated as of July 6, 2012, to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of May 20, 2012, by and among DaVita Inc., Seismic Acquisition LLC, HealthCare Partners Holdings, LLC, and the Member Representative.(22)
Amendment No. 2, dated as of August 30, 2013, to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of May 20, 2012, by and among DaVita Inc., Seismic Acquisition LLC, HealthCare Partners Holdings, LLC, and the Member Representative.(4)
Amendment No. 3, dated as of June 22, 2018, to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of May 20, 2012, by and among DaVita Inc., Seismic Acquisition LLC, HealthCare Partners Holdings, LLC, and the Member Representative.(26)
Equity Purchase Agreement, dated as of December 5, 2017, by and among DaVita Inc., Collaborative Care Holdings, LLC, and solely with respect to Section 9.3 and Section 9.18 thereto, UnitedHealth Group Incorporated.(2)
Amendment No. 1 dated as of September 20, 2018, to that certain Equity Purchase Agreement, dated as of December 5, 2017, by and among DaVita Inc., a Delaware corporation, Collaborative Care Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a wholly owned subsidiary of Optum, Inc., and solely with respect to Section 9.3 and Section 9.18 thereto, UnitedHealth Group Incorporated, a Delaware corporation.(27)(15)
Second Amendment to Equity Purchase Agreement by and between DaVita Inc., a Delaware corporation, and Collaborative Care Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, dated as of December 11, 2018, amending that certain Equity Purchase Agreement, dated as of December 5, 2017, by and among DaVita Inc., Collaborative Care Holdings, LLC, and, solely with respect to Section 9.3 and Section 9.18 thereto, UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (as previously amended).(13)(9)
Restated Certificate of Incorporation of DaVita Inc., as filed with the Secretary of State of Delaware on November 1, 2016.(1)
Amended and Restated Bylaws for DaVita Inc. dated as of September 7, 2016.(1)December 10, 2020.(24)
Indenture for the 4.625% Senior Notes due 2030, dated as of June 13, 2014,9, 2020, by and among DaVita Inc., the subsidiary guarantors named thereinparty thereto and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee.(23)(14)
Form of 5.125%4.625% Senior Notes due 20242030 and related Guarantee (included in Exhibit 4.1).(23)(14)
Indenture for the 5.000%3.750% Senior Notes due 2025,2031, dated April 17, 2015,August 11, 2020, by and among DaVita Inc., the subsidiary guarantors named thereinparty thereto and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee.(19)(12)
Form of 5.000%3.750% Senior Notes due 20252031 and related Guarantee (included in Exhibit 4.3).(19)(12)
Description of Securities.(21)ü
Sourcing and Supply Agreement between DaVita Inc. and Amgen USA Inc. effective as of January 6, 2017.(6)(4)**


Credit Agreement, dated August 12, 2019, by and among DaVita Inc., certain subsidiary guarantors party thereto, the lenders party thereto, Credit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and MUFG Bank Ltd., as co-syndication agents, Bank of America, N.A., Barclays Bank PLC, Credit Suisse Loan Funding LLC, Goldman Sachs Bank USA, Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc. and Suntrust Bank, as co-documentation agents, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as administrative agent, collateral agent and swingline lender.(29)(17)
First Amendment, dated as of February 13, 2020, to that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of August 12, 2019, by and among DaVita Inc., certain subsidiary guarantors party thereto, the lenders party thereto, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as administrative agent, collateral agent and swingline lender.(21)ü
Corporate Integrity Agreement, dated as of October 22, 2014, by and among the Office of Inspector General of The Department of Health and Human Services and DaVita Inc.(24)
Form of Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation Agreement, dated as of May 20, 2012, between DaVita Inc. and Dr. Robert Margolis, Dr. William Chin, Dr. Thomas Paulsen, Mr. Zan Calhoun, and Ms. Lori Glisson. (25)
Employment Agreement, effective July 25, 2008, between DaVita Inc. and Kent J. Thiry.(14)*
Amendment to Employment Agreement, effective December 31, 2014, by and between DaVita Inc. and Kent. J. Thiry.(4)*
Amendment Number Two to Employment Agreement, effective August 20, 2018, by and between DaVita Inc. and Kent J. Thiry.(28)*
Executive Chairman Agreement between Kent J. Thiry and DaVita, Inc., dated as of April 29, 2019.(15)*
Restricted Stock Units Agreement, effective as of May 15, 2019, by and between DaVita Inc. and Kent Thiry.(30)*
Performance Stock Units Agreement, effective as of May 15, 2019, by and between DaVita Inc. and Kent Thiry.(30)*
Employment Agreement, dated as of April 29, 2019, by and between Javier J. Rodriguez and DaVita Inc.(15)(10)*
Stock Appreciation Rights Agreement, effective November 4, 2019, by and between Javier J. Rodriguez and DaVita Inc.(32)(20)*
Employment Agreement, effective February 21, 2017, by and between DaVita Inc. and Joel Ackerman.(9)(6)*
Page 1 of 4


Employment Agreement, effective April 27, 2016, by and between DaVita HealthCare Partners Inc. and Kathleen A. Waters.(6)*
Employment Agreement, effective September 22, 2005, by and between DaVita Inc. and James Hilger.(8)*
Amendment to Mr. Hilger’s Employment Agreement, effective December 12, 2008.(17)*
Second Amendment to Mr. Hilger’s Employment Agreement, effective December 27, 2012.(20)*
Third Amendment to Employment Agreement, effective December 31, 2014, by and between DaVita Inc. and James Hilger.(4)*
Transition Agreement, dated as of July 31, 2018, by and between DaVita Inc. and James Hilger.(26)*


Employment Agreement, effective April 29, 2015, by and between DaVita HealthCare Partners Inc. and Michael Staffieri.(21)*ü
Consulting Agreement, effective June 15, 2017, by and between DaVita Inc. and Roger J. Valine.(3)*
Form of Indemnity Agreement.(12)(8)*
Form of Indemnity Agreement.(7)(5)*
DaVita Deferred Compensation Plan.(9)(6)*
DaVita Voluntary Deferral Plan.(5)*
Deferred Bonus Plan (Prosperity Plan).(16)*
Amendment No. 1 to Deferred Bonus Plan (Prosperity Plan).(17)*
Amended and Restated Employee Stock Purchase Plan.(31)(19)*
DaVita Inc. Severance Plan for Directors and Above.(4)(3)*
DaVita Inc. Non-Employee Director Compensation Policy. (18)(11)*
Amended and Restated DaVita Inc. 2011 Incentive Award Plan.(11)(7)*
Amendment No. 1 to the Amended and Restated DaVita Inc. 2011 Incentive Award Plan.(32)(20)*
DaVita Inc. 2020 Incentive Award Plan.(22)*
DaVita Inc. Rule of 65 Policy, adopted on August 19, 2018.(28)(16)*
Form of Stock Appreciation Rights Agreement-Board members (DaVita Inc. 2011 Incentive Award Plan).(26)(25)*
Form of 2014 Long Term Incentive Program Stock Appreciation Rights Agreement under the DaVita Inc. 2011 Incentive Award Plan and Long-Term Incentive Program.(10)*
Form of 2014 Long Term Incentive Program Restricted Stock Units Agreement under the DaVita Inc. 2011 Incentive Award Plan and Long-Term Incentive Program.(10)*
Form of Stock Appreciation Rights Agreement-Board members (DaVita Inc. 2011 Incentive Award Plan).(21)*
Form of Stock Appreciation Rights Agreement-Executives (DaVita Inc. 2011 Incentive Award Plan).(20)(13)*
Form of Restricted Stock Units Agreement-Executives (DaVita Inc. 2011 Incentive Award Plan).(21)*
Form of Long-Term Incentive Program Award Agreement (For 162(m) designated teammates) (DaVita Inc. 2011 Incentive Award Plan).(20)(13)*
Form of Long-Term Incentive Program Award Agreement (DaVita Inc. 2011 Incentive Award Plan).(20)(13)*
Form of Restricted Stock Units Agreement-Executives (DaVita Inc. 2011 Incentive Award Plan).(30)(18)*
Form of Performance Stock Units Agreement-Executives (DaVita Inc. 2011 Incentive Award Plan).(30)(18)*


Form of Stock Appreciation Rights Agreement-Executives (DaVita Inc. 2011 Incentive Award Plan).(30)(18)*
Form of Restricted Stock Units Agreement-Executives (DaVita Inc. 2011 Incentive Award Plan).(30)(18)*
Form of Performance Stock Units Agreement-Executives (DaVita Inc. 2011 Incentive Award Plan).(30)(18)*
Form of Stock Appreciation Rights Agreement-Executives (DaVita Inc. 2011 Incentive Award Plan).(30)(18)*
Form of Stock Appreciation Rights Agreement (DaVita Inc. 2020 Incentive Award Plan).(23)*
Form of Performance-Based Restricted Stock Unit Agreement (DaVita Inc. 2020 Incentive Award Plan).(23)*
Page 2 of 4


Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement (DaVita Inc. 2020 Incentive Award Plan).(23)*
List of our subsidiaries.ü
Consent of KPMG LLP, independent registered public accounting firm.ü
Powers of Attorney with respect to DaVita. (Included on Page S-1).
Certification of the Chief Executive Officer, dated February 21, 2020,11, 2022, pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or 15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.ü
Certification of the Chief Financial Officer, dated February 21, 2020,11, 2022, pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or 15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.ü
Certification of the Chief Executive Officer, dated February 21, 2020,11, 2022, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.ü
Certification of the Chief Financial Officer, dated February 21, 2020,11, 2022, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.ü
101.INS
XBRL Instance Document - the Instance Document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document.ü
101.SCH
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.ü
101.CAL
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document.ü
101.DEF
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document.ü
101.LAB
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document.ü
101.PRE
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document.ü
104
Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101).ü
üIncluded in this filing.
*Management contract or executive compensation plan or arrangement.
**Portions of this exhibit are subject to a request for confidential treatment and have been redacted and filed separately with the SEC.
(1)Filed on November 2, 2016 as an exhibit to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2016.
(2)Filed on December 6, 2017 as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K.
(3)Filed on November 7, 2017 as an exhibit to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2017.
(4)Filed on February 22, 2019 as an exhibit to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018.

(1)Filed on November 2, 2016 as an exhibit to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2016.

(5)Filed on November 8, 2005 as an exhibit to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2005.
(6)Filed on May 2, 2017 as an exhibit to the Company’s Quarterly Report on 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2017.
(7)Filed on March 3, 2005 as an exhibit to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004.
(8)Filed on August 7, 2006 as an exhibit to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ending June 30, 2006.
(9)Filed on February 24, 2017 as an exhibit to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016.
(10)Filed on November 6, 2014 as an exhibit to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2014.
(11)Filed on April 28, 2014 as Appendix A to the Company's Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A.
(12)Filed on December 20, 2006 as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K.
(13)Filed on December 17, 2018 as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K.
(14)Filed on July 31, 2008 as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K.
(15)Filed on April 29, 2019 as an exhibit to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K.
(16)Filed on February 29, 2008 as an exhibit to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.
(17)Filed on February 27, 2009 as an exhibit to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008.
(18)Filed on May 7, 2019 as an exhibit to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2019.
(19)Filed on April 17, 2015 as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K.
(20)Filed on March 1, 2013 as an exhibit to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012.
(21)Filed on August 4, 2011 as an exhibit to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2011.
(22)Filed on July 9, 2012 as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K.
(23)Filed on June 16, 2014 as an exhibit to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K.
(24)Filed on October 23, 2014 as an exhibit to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K.
(25)Filed on May 21, 2012 as an exhibit to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K.
(26)Filed on August 1, 2018 as an exhibit to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2018.
(27)Filed on September 24, 2018 as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K.
(28)Filed on August 23, 2018 as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K.
(29)Filed on August 14, 2019 as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K.
(30)Filed on July 22, 2019 as an exhibit to the Company’s Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO-I.
(31)Filed on May 10, 2016 as an appendix to the Company's Proxy Statement on DEF 14A.
(32)Filed on December 6, 2019 as an appendix to the Company's Proxy Statement on DEF 14A.

(2)Filed on December 6, 2017 as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K.

(3)Filed on October 28, 2021 as an exhibit to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2021.

(4)Filed on May 2, 2017 as an exhibit to the Company’s Quarterly Report on 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2017.

(5)Filed on March 3, 2005 as an exhibit to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004.

(6)Filed on February 24, 2017 as an exhibit to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016.
(7)Filed on April 28, 2014 as an appendix to the Company's Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A.
(8)Filed on December 20, 2006 as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K.
(9)Filed on December 17, 2018 as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K.
(10)Filed on April 29, 2019 as an exhibit to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K.
Page 53 of 54


(11)Filed on May 5, 2020 as an exhibit to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2020.
(12)Filed on August 11, 2020 as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K.
(13)Filed on March 1, 2013 as an exhibit to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012.
(14)Filed on June 9, 2020 as an exhibit to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K.
(15)Filed on September 24, 2018 as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K.
(16)Filed on August 23, 2018 as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K.
(17)Filed on August 14, 2019 as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K.
(18)Filed on July 22, 2019 as an exhibit to the Company’s Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO-I.
(19)Filed on May 10, 2016 as an appendix to the Company's Proxy Statement on DEF 14A.
(20)Filed on December 6, 2019 as an appendix to the Company's Proxy Statement on DEF 14A.
(21)Filed on February 21, 2020 as an exhibit to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019.
(22)Filed on April 27, 2020 as an appendix to the Company's Proxy Statement on DEF 14A.
(23)Filed on August 17, 2020 as an exhibit to the Company’s Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO-I.
(24)Filed on December 10, 2020 as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K.
(25)Filed on August 1, 2018 as an exhibit to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2018.

Page 4 of 4


SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, we have duly caused this Annual Report on Form 10-K to be signed on our behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Denver, State of Colorado, on February 21, 2020.
11, 2022.
DAVITA INC.
By:
/S/ JAVIER J. RODRIGUEZ
Javier J. Rodriguez

Chief Executive Officer
 
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENT, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Javier J. Rodriguez, Joel Ackerman, and Kathleen Waters, and each of them his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments to this Annual Report on Form 10-K, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite or necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or their or his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this Annual Report on Form 10-K has been signed by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.


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SignatureTitleDate
/S/  JAVIER J. RODRIGUEZ
Chief Executive Officer and DirectorFebruary 21, 202011, 2022
Javier J. Rodriguez(Principal Executive Officer)
/S/  JOEL ACKERMAN
Chief Financial Officer and TreasurerFebruary 21, 202011, 2022
Joel Ackerman(Principal Financial Officer)
/S/ JAMESOHN K. HD. WILGERINSTEL
Chief Accounting OfficerFebruary 21, 202011, 2022
James K. HilgerJohn D. Winstel(Principal Accounting Officer)
/S/  KENT J. THIRY
Executive Chairman and DirectorFebruary 21, 2020
Kent J. Thiry
/S/  PAMELA M. ARWAY
DirectorFebruary 21, 202011, 2022
Pamela M. Arway
/S/  CHARLES G. BERG
DirectorFebruary 21, 202011, 2022
Charles G. Berg
/S/  BARBARA J. DESOER
DirectorFebruary 21, 202011, 2022
Barbara J. Desoer
/S/  PASCAL DESROCHES
DirectorFebruary 21, 2020
Pascal Desroches
/S/  PAUL J. DIAZ
DirectorFebruary 21, 202011, 2022
Paul J. Diaz
/SPGETERREGORY T. GJ. MRAUEROORE
DirectorFebruary 21, 202011, 2022
Peter T. GrauerGregory J. Moore
/S/  JOHN M. NEHRA
DirectorFebruary 21, 202011, 2022
John M. Nehra
/SWPILLIAMAULA L. RA. POPERRICE
DirectorFebruary 21, 202011, 2022
William L. RoperPaula A. Price
/S/  PHYLLIS R. YALE
DirectorFebruary 21, 202011, 2022
Phyllis R. Yale


S-2




DAVITA INC.
SCHEDULE II—VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS
 
Balance at
beginning of year
AcquisitionsAmounts
charged to income
Amounts written offBalance
at end of year
Description
 (dollars in thousands)
Allowance for uncollectible accounts:     
Year ended December 31, 2021$— $— $— $— $— 
Year ended December 31, 2020$8,328 $— $13,458 $21,786 $— 
Year ended December 31, 2019$52,924 $— $21,715 $66,311 $8,328 
  Balance at
beginning of year
 Acquisitions Amounts
charged to income
 Amounts written off Balance
at end of year
Description     
  (in thousands)
Allowance for uncollectible accounts:  
  
  
  
  
Year ended December 31, 2019 $52,924
 $
 $21,715
 $66,311
 $8,328
Year ended December 31, 2018 $218,399
 $
 $42,287
 $207,762
 $52,924
Year ended December 31, 2017 $238,897
 $
 $478,365
 $498,863
 $218,399



S-3