NOTE 1 - NATURE OF BUSINESS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Business Description and Basis of Presentation [Text Block]

NOTE 1 – NATURE OF BUSINESS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION

At March 31, 2012, we operated a group of regional networks comprised of 232 centers, which we operate directly or indirectly through joint ventures located in seven states with operations primarily in California, Maryland, Florida, Delaware, New Jersey, Rhode Island and New York. We provide diagnostic imaging services including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), positron emission tomography (PET), nuclear medicine, mammography, ultrasound, diagnostic radiology, or X-ray, fluoroscopy and other related procedures. Our operations comprise a single segment for financial reporting purposes.

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Radnet Management, Inc. (or “Radnet Management”) and Beverly Radiology Medical Group III, a professional partnership (“BRMG”). The consolidated financial statements also include Radnet Management I, Inc., Radnet Management II, Inc., Radiologix, Inc., Radnet Managed Imaging Services, Inc., Delaware Imaging Partners, Inc., New Jersey Imaging Partners, Inc. and Diagnostic Imaging Services, Inc. (“DIS”), all wholly owned subsidiaries of Radnet Management. All of these affiliated entities are referred to collectively as “RadNet”, “we”, “us”, “our” or the “Company” in this report.

Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Section 810-10-15-14 stipulates that generally any entity with a) insufficient equity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support provided by any parties, or b) equity holders that, as a group, lack the characteristics specified in the Codification which evidence a controlling financial interest, is considered a Variable Interest Entity (“VIE”). We consolidate all voting interest entities in which we own a majority voting interest and all VIEs for which we are the primary beneficiary. We determine whether we are the primary beneficiary of a VIE through a qualitative analysis that identifies which variable interest holder has the controlling financial interest in the VIE. The variable interest holder who has both of the following has the controlling financial interest and is the primary beneficiary: (1) the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance and (2) the obligation to absorb losses of, or the right to receive benefits from, the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE. In performing our analysis, we consider all relevant facts and circumstances, including: the design and activities of the VIE, the terms of the contracts the VIE has entered into, the nature of the VIE’s variable interests issued and how they were negotiated with or marketed to potential investors, and which parties participated significantly in the design or redesign of the entity.

Howard G. Berger, M.D. is our President and Chief Executive Officer, a member of our Board of Directors and is deemed to be the beneficial owner, directly and indirectly, of approximately 14.1% of our outstanding common stock as of March 31, 2012. Dr. Berger also owns, indirectly, 99% of the equity interests in BRMG. BRMG provides all of the professional medical services at the majority of our facilities located in California under a management agreement with us, and employs physicians or contracts with various other independent physicians and physician groups to provide the professional medical services at most of our other California facilities. We generally obtain professional medical services from BRMG in California, rather than provide such services directly or through subsidiaries, in order to comply with California’s prohibition against the corporate practice of medicine. However, as a result of our close relationship with Dr. Berger and BRMG, we believe that we are able to better ensure that medical service is provided at our California facilities in a manner consistent with our needs and expectations and those of our referring physicians, patients and payers than if we obtained these services from unaffiliated physician groups. BRMG is a partnership of ProNet Imaging Medical Group, Inc., Breastlink Medical Group, Inc. and Beverly Radiology Medical Group, Inc., each of which are 99% or 100% owned by Dr. Berger. RadNet provides non-medical, technical and administrative services to BRMG for which it receives a management fee, pursuant to the terms of the management agreement. Through the management agreement and our relationship with Dr. Berger, we have exclusive authority over all non-medical decision making related to the ongoing business operations of BRMG. Through our management agreement with BRMG we determine the annual budget of BRMG and make all physician employment decisions. BRMG has insignificant operating assets and liabilities, and de minimis equity. Through the management agreement with us, all of BRMG’s cash flows are transferred to us. We have determined that BRMG is a variable interest entity, and that we are the primary beneficiary, and consequently, we consolidate the revenue and expenses of BRMG. BRMG recognized $12.7 million and $12.7 million of revenue, net of management service fees to RadNet, for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively, and $12.7 million and $12.7 million of operating expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. RadNet recognized $50.4 million and $47.8 million of net revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively, for management services provided to BRMG relating primarily to the technical portion of total billed revenue. The cash flows of BRMG are included in the accompanying consolidated statements of cash flows. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

The creditors of BRMG do not have recourse to our general credit and there are no other arrangements that could expose us to losses. However, BRMG is managed to recognize no net income or net loss and, therefore, RadNet may be required to provide financial support to cover any operating expenses in excess of operating revenues.

Aside from centers in California where we contract with BRMG for the provision of professional medical services and consolidate 100% of the patient service revenue, at the remaining centers in California and at all of the centers which are located outside of California, we have entered into long-term contracts with independent radiology groups in the area to provide physician services at those facilities. These third party radiology practices provide professional services, including supervision and interpretation of diagnostic imaging procedures, in our diagnostic imaging centers. The radiology practices maintain full control over the provision of professional services. The contracted radiology practices generally have outstanding physician and practice credentials and reputations; strong competitive market positions; a broad sub-specialty mix of physicians; a history of growth and potential for continued growth. In these facilities we enter into long-term agreements with radiology practice groups (typically 40 years). Under these arrangements, we provide management services and receive a fee which includes 100% of the technical reimbursements associated with imaging procedures for the use of our diagnostic imaging equipment and the provision of technical services. Our management service fees also include a portion of the practice group’s professional revenue, including revenue derived outside of our diagnostic imaging centers as well as fees for administrative services. The radiology practice groups retain the professional reimbursements associated with imaging procedures after deducting management service fees paid to us. We have no financial controlling interest in the independent (non-BRMG) radiology practices; accordingly, we do not consolidate the financial statements of those practices in our consolidated financial statements and record only our management service fee revenue.

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X and, therefore, do not include all information and footnotes necessary for a fair presentation of financial position, results of operations and cash flows in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles complete financial statements; however, in the opinion of our management, all adjustments consisting of normal recurring adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the interim periods ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 have been made. The results of operations for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results for a full year. These interim condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto contained in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011.

Significant accounting policies

As of the period covered in this report, there have been no material changes to the significant accounting policies we use, and have explained, in our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011 with the exception of the following:

Revenues

Service fee revenue, net of contractual allowances and discounts, consists of net patient fees received from various payers and patients themselves based mainly upon established contractual billing rates, less allowances for contractual adjustments. As it relates to BRMG centers, this service fee revenue includes payments for both the professional medical interpretation revenue recognized by BRMG as well as the payment for all other aspects related to our providing the imaging services, for which we earn management fees from BRMG. As it relates to non-BRMG centers, this service fee revenue is earned through providing the administration of the non-medical functions relating to the professional medical practice at our non-BRMG centers, including among other functions, provision of clerical and administrative personnel, bookkeeping and accounting services, billing and collection, provision of medical and office supplies, secretarial, reception and transcription services, maintenance of medical records, and advertising, marketing and promotional activities.

Service fee revenues are recorded during the period the patient services are provided based upon the estimated amounts due from the patients and third-party payers. Third-party payers include federal and state agencies (under the Medicare and Medicaid programs), managed care health plans, commercial insurance companies and employers. Estimates of contractual allowances under managed care health plans are based upon the payment terms specified in the related contractual agreements. Contractual payment terms in managed care agreements are generally based upon predetermined rates per discounted fee-for-service rates. We also record a provision for doubtful accounts (based primarily on historical collection experience) related to patients and copayment and deductible amounts for patients who have health care coverage under one of our third-party payers.

Our service fee revenue, net of contractual allowances and discounts less the provision for bad debts for the three months ended March 31, are summarized in the following table (in thousands):

	2012			2011

Commercial Insurance	$	93,518		$	79,390
Managed Care Capitated Payors		24,770			21,612
Medicare		33,026			28,384
Medicaid		5,729			4,899
Other		11,458			9,798
Service fee revenue, net of contractual allowances and discounts		168,500			144,083

Provision for bad debts		(6,484	)		(5,031	)
Net service fee revenue	$	162,016		$	139,052

The break-out of our service fee revenue, net of contractual allowances and discounts, is calculated based upon global payments received from consolidated imaging centers from dates of service from each respective period illustrated.

Provision for Bad Debts

Although outcomes vary, our policy is to attempt to collect amounts due from patients, including co-payments and deductibles due from patients with insurance, at the time of service. We provide for an allowance against accounts receivable that could become uncollectible by establishing an allowance to reduce the carrying value of such receivables to their estimated net realizable value. We estimate this allowance based on the aging of our accounts receivable by each type of payer over an 18-month look-back period, and other relevant factors. A significant portion of our provision for bad debt relates to co-payments and deductibles owed to us by patients with insurance. There are various factors that can impact collection trends, such as changes in the economy, which in turn have an impact on the increased burden of co-payments and deductibles to be made by patients with insurance. These factors continuously change and can have an impact on collection trends and our estimation process.

Reclassifications

Certain reclassifications have been made to the three months ended March 31, 2011 consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes to conform with the three months ended March 31, 2012 presentation. Additionally, we have adjusted prior year’s presentation as a result of the adoption of ASU 2011-07, Health Care Entities (Topic 954). In connection with this adjustment, we identified certain mechanical errors in our historical calculation of the provision for bad debts, resulting in the gross up of the provision for bad debts and revenues by $2.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011. The error has been corrected in these financial statements and upon adoption of the new guidance, resulted in no impact to net service fee revenue.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

We had a working capital balance of $27.5 million and $30.0 million at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively. We had a net loss attributable to RadNet, Inc.’s common stockholders of $111,000 and $876,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. We also had an equity deficit of $68.5 million and $69.8 million at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively.

We operate in a capital intensive, high fixed-cost industry that requires significant amounts of capital to fund operations. In addition to operations, we require a significant amount of capital for the initial start-up and development expense of new diagnostic imaging facilities, the acquisition of additional facilities and new diagnostic imaging equipment. Because our cash flows from operations have been insufficient to fund all of these capital requirements, we have depended on the availability of financing under credit arrangements with third parties.

Our business strategy with regard to operations focuses on the following:

	·	maximizing performance at our existing facilities;

	·	focusing on profitable contracting;

	·	expanding MRI, CT and PET applications;

	·	optimizing operating efficiencies; and

	·	expanding our networks.

On April 6, 2010, we completed a series of transactions which we refer to as our "debt refinancing plan" for an aggregate of $585.0 million. As part of the debt refinancing plan, our wholly owned subsidiary Radnet Management, Inc. issued and sold $200.0 million in 10 3/8% senior notes due 2018 (the "senior notes"). All payments of the senior notes, including principal and interest, are guaranteed jointly and severally on a senior unsecured basis by RadNet, Inc. and all of Radnet Management’s current and future domestic wholly owned restricted subsidiaries. The senior notes were issued under an indenture, dated April 6, 2010, by and among Radnet Management, as issuer, RadNet, Inc., as parent guarantor, the subsidiary guarantors thereof and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, in a private placement that was not subject to the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). We subsequently exchanged the senior notes initially issued on April 6, 2010 in a private placement for publicly registered exchange notes with nearly identical terms. The exchange offer was completed on February 14, 2011.

In addition to the issuance of senior notes, Radnet Management entered into a new Credit and Guaranty Agreement with a syndicate of lenders (the "New Credit Agreement"), whereby Radnet Management obtained $385.0 million in senior secured first-lien bank financing, consisting of (i) a $285.0 million, six-year term loan facility and (ii) a $100.0 million, five-year revolving credit facility, including a swing line subfacility and a letter of credit subfacility (collectively, the “New Credit Facilities”). Radnet Management’s obligations under the New Credit Agreement are unconditionally guaranteed by RadNet, Inc., all of Radnet Management’s current and future wholly owned domestic subsidiaries as well as certain affiliates, including Beverly Radiology Medical Group III and its equity holders (Beverly Radiology Medical Group, Inc., BreastLink Medical Group, Inc. and ProNet Imaging Medical Group, Inc.). These New Credit Facilities created by the New Credit Agreement are secured by a perfected first-priority security interest in all of Radnet Management’s and the guarantors’ tangible and intangible assets, including, but not limited to, pledges of equity interests of Radnet Management and all of our current and future wholly owned domestic subsidiaries.

In connection with the issuance of the outstanding senior notes and entering into the New Credit Agreement, Radnet Management used the net proceeds from the issuance of the senior notes and the New Credit Facilities created by the New Credit Agreement to repay in full its existing first lien term loan for $242.0 million in aggregate principal amount outstanding, which would have matured on November 15, 2012, and its second lien term loan for $170.0 million in aggregate principal amount outstanding, which would have matured on November 15, 2013.

On November 8, 2011, in conjunction with our acquisition of the U.S. imaging operations of CML HealthCare Inc. (RH), we increased the size of our revolving credit facility by $21.25 million, to $121.25 million of total borrowing capacity (the “Incremental Commitments”). The increased facility size will provide additional borrowing availability to fund further acquisitions and general working capital needs.

At March 31, 2012, we had $200.0 million aggregate principal amount of senior notes outstanding, $279.3 million of senior secured term loan debt outstanding and $60.7 million outstanding under the revolving credit facility. We had $60.55 million of available credit under our revolving credit facility, subject to borrowing conditions under that facility as further described in our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011. As of March 31, 2012, we were in compliance with all covenants under the New Credit Facilities and the senior notes.