1. Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation and Description of Business

The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of Addus HomeCare Corporation ("Holdings") and its subsidiaries (together with Holdings, the "Company" or "we"). The Company operates as one reportable business segment and is a provider of comprehensive personal care services, which are provided primarily in the home. The Company's personal care services provide assistance with activities of daily living and adult day services. The Company's consumers are primarily persons who are at risk of hospitalization or institutionalization, such as the elderly, chronically ill and disabled. The Company's payor clients include federal, state and local governmental agencies, managed care organizations, commercial insurers and private individuals. As of December 31, 2016, the Company provided personal care services to over 33,000 consumers (unaudited) through 114 locations across 24 states, including three adult day services centers in Illinois (unaudited).

Principles of Consolidation

All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The Company's investment in entities with less than 20% ownership or in which the Company does not have the ability to influence the operations of the investee are being accounted for using the cost method and are included in investments in joint ventures.

Revenue Recognition

The Company generates net service revenues by providing services directly to consumers. The Company receives payments for providing services from federal, state and local governmental agencies, commercial insurers and private consumers. The Company's continuing operations are principally provided based on authorized hours, determined by the relevant agency, at an hourly rate specified in agreements or fixed by legislation and recognized as revenues at the time services are rendered. Personal care service revenues are reimbursed by state, local and other governmental programs which are partially funded by Medicaid or Medicaid waiver programs, with the remainder reimbursed through private pay and insurance programs.

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

The Company establishes its allowance for doubtful accounts to the extent it is probable that a portion or all of a particular account will not be collected. The Company establishes its provision for doubtful accounts primarily by analyzing historical trends and the aging of receivables. In its evaluation, the Company considers other factors including: delays in payment trends in individual states due to budget or funding issues; billing conversions related to acquisitions or internal systems; resubmission of bills with required documentation and disputes with specific payors. An allowance for doubtful accounts is maintained at a level that the Company's management believes is sufficient to cover potential losses. However, actual collections could differ from the Company's estimates.

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are recorded at cost and depreciated over the estimated useful lives of the related assets by use of the straight-line method. Maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred. The estimated useful lives of the property and equipment are as follows:


Computer equipment	3 – 5 years
Furniture and equipment	5 – 7 years
Transportation equipment	5 years
Computer software	5 – 10 years
Leasehold improvements	Lesser of useful life or lease term, unless
	probability of lease renewal is likely

Goodwill

The Company's carrying value of goodwill is the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the net assets acquired from various acquisitions including the acquisition of Addus HealthCare, Inc. ("Addus HealthCare"). In accordance with Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") Topic 350, "Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets," goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite useful lives are not amortized. The Company tests goodwill for impairment at the reporting unit level on an annual basis, as of October 1, or whenever potential impairment triggers occur, such as a significant change in business climate or regulatory changes that would indicate that an impairment may have occurred. The Company may use a qualitative test, known as "Step 0," or a two-step quantitative method to determine whether impairment has occurred. In Step 0, the Company can elect to perform an optional qualitative analysis and based on the results skip the two step analysis. In 2016, 2015 and 2014, the Company elected to implement Step 0 and was not required to conduct the remaining two step analysis. The results of the Company's Step 0 assessments indicated that it was more likely than not that the fair value of its reporting unit exceeded its carrying value and therefore the Company concluded that there were no impairments for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 or 2014.

Intangible Assets

The Company's identifiable intangible assets consist of customer and referral relationships, trade names, trademarks, state licenses and non-compete agreements. Amortization is computed using straight-line and accelerated methods based upon the estimated useful lives of the respective assets, which range from two to twenty-five years.

Intangible assets with finite lives are amortized using the estimated economic benefit method over the useful life and assessed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. The Company would recognize an impairment loss when the estimated future non-discounted cash flows associated with the intangible asset is less than the carrying value. An impairment charge would then be recorded for the excess of the carrying value over the fair value. The Company estimates the fair value of these intangible assets using the income approach. No impairment charge was recorded for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 or 2014.

The income approach, which the Company uses to estimate the fair value of its intangible assets (other than goodwill), is dependent on a number of factors including estimates of future market growth and trends, forecasted revenue and costs, expected periods the assets will be utilized, appropriate discount rates and other variables. The Company bases its fair value estimates on assumptions the Company believes to be reasonable but which are unpredictable and inherently uncertain. Actual future results may differ from those estimates.

The Company also has indefinite-lived intangible assets that are not subject to amortization expense such as certificates of need and licenses to conduct specific operations within geographic markets. The Company's management has concluded that certificates of need and licenses have indefinite lives, as management has determined that there are no legal, regulatory, contractual, economic or other factors that would limit the useful life of these intangible assets, and the Company intends to renew and operate the certificates of need and licenses indefinitely. The certificates of need and licenses are tested annually for impairment. No impairment was recorded for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 or 2014.

Debt Issuance Costs

The Company amortizes debt issuance costs on a straight-line method over the term of the related debt. This method approximates the effective interest method. The Company has classified the debt issuance costs as a reduction of the related long-term debt as of December 31, 2016. For the year ended December 31, 2015, debt issuance costs are included in other assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets as the Company had no long-term debt outstanding during the year to offset the debt issuance costs.

Workers' Compensation Program

The Company's workers' compensation program has a $0.4 million deductible component. The Company recognizes its obligations associated with this program in the period the claim is incurred. The cost of both the claims reported and claims incurred but not reported, up to the deductible, have been accrued based on historical claims experience, industry statistics and an actuarial analysis performed by an independent third party. The future claims payments related to the workers' compensation program are secured by letters of credit.

Interest Income

Illinois law entitles designated service program providers to receive a prompt payment interest penalty based on qualifying services approved for payment that remain unpaid after a designated period of time. As the amount and timing of the receipt of these payments are not certain, the interest income is recognized when received and reported in the statement of income as interest income. The Company received $2.8 million in prompt payment interest in 2016 and did not earn or receive prompt payment interest in 2015 and 2014. While the Company may be owed additional prompt payment interest, the amount and timing of receipt of such payments remains uncertain and the Company has determined that it will continue to recognize prompt payment interest income when received.

Interest Expense

The Company's interest expense consists of interest costs on its credit facility, capital lease obligations and amortization of debt issuance costs and is reported in the statement of income when incurred.

Other Income

Other income consists of income distributions received from the investment in joint venture. The Company accounts for this income in accordance with ASC Topic 325, "Investments—Other." The Company recognizes the net accumulated earnings only to the extent distributed by the joint venture on the date received.

Income Tax Expenses

The Company accounts for income taxes under the provisions of ASC Topic 740, "Income Taxes." The objective of accounting for income taxes is to recognize the amount of taxes payable or refundable for the current year and deferred tax liabilities and assets for the future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in its financial statements or tax returns. Deferred taxes, resulting from differences between the financial and tax basis of the Company's assets and liabilities, are also adjusted for changes in tax rates and tax laws when changes are enacted. ASC Topic 740 also requires that deferred tax assets be reduced by a valuation allowance if it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax asset will not be realized. ASC Topic 740, also prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement process for recording in the financial statements uncertain tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. In addition, ASC Topic 740 provides guidance on derecognition, classification, accounting in interim periods and disclosure requirements for uncertain tax positions.

Stock-based Compensation

The Company has two stock incentive plans under which stock-based employee compensation awards are outstanding, the 2006 Stock Incentive Plan (the "2006 Plan") and the 2009 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended and restated (the "2009 Plan"). The Company accounts for stock-based compensation in accordance with ASC Topic 718, "Stock Compensation." Compensation expense is recognized on a graded method under the 2006 Plan and on a straight-line basis under the 2009 Plan over the vesting period of the awards based on the fair value of the options and restricted stock awards. Under the 2006 Plan, the Company historically used the Black-Scholes option pricing model to estimate the fair value of its stock based payment awards, but beginning October 28, 2009 under its 2009 Plan the Company began using an enhanced Hull-White Trinomial model. The determination of the fair value of stock-based payments utilizing the Black-Scholes model and the enhanced Hull-White Trinomial model is affected by Holdings' stock price and a number of assumptions, including expected volatility, risk-free interest rate, expected term, expected dividends yield, expected forfeiture rate, expected turn-over rate and the expected exercise multiple. Equity grants may no longer be granted under the 2006 Plan.

Diluted Net Income Per Common Share

Diluted net income per common share, calculated on the treasury stock method, is based on the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the period. The Company's outstanding securities that may potentially dilute the common stock are stock options and restricted stock awards.

Included in the Company's calculation of diluted earnings per share for the year ended December 31, 2016 were approximately 405,000 stock options outstanding, of which approximately 30,000 were dilutive. In addition, there were approximately 103,000 restricted stock awards outstanding, of which approximately 27,000 were dilutive for the year ended December 31, 2016.

Included in the Company's calculation of diluted earnings per share for the year ended December 31, 2015 were approximately 650,000 stock options outstanding, of which approximately 40,000 were out-of-the-money. In addition, there were approximately 89,000 restricted stock awards outstanding, of which approximately 6,000 were dilutive for the year ended December 31, 2015.

Included in the Company's calculation of diluted earnings per share for the year ended December 31, 2014 were approximately 684,000 stock options outstanding, of which approximately 146,000 were out-of-the money. In addition, there were approximately 80,000 restricted stock awards outstanding, of which approximately 44,000 were dilutive for the year ended December 31, 2014.

Estimates

The financial statements are prepared by management in conformity with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP") and include estimated amounts and certain disclosures based on assumptions about future events. Accordingly, actual results could differ from those estimates.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The Company's financial instruments consist of cash, accounts receivable, payables and debt. The carrying amounts reported in the consolidated balance sheets for cash, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued expenses approximate fair value because of the short-term nature of these instruments. The carrying value of the Company's long-term debt with variable interest rates approximates fair value based on instruments with similar terms.

The Company applies fair value techniques on a non-recurring basis associated with valuing potential impairment losses related to goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets and also when determining the fair value of contingent considerations. To determine the fair value in these situations, the Company uses Level 3 inputs, defined as unobservable inputs in which little or no market data exists; therefore requiring an entity to develop its own assumptions, such as discounted cash flows, or if available, what a market participant would pay on the measurement date.

The Company utilizes the income approach to estimate the fair value of its intangible assets derived from acquisitions. At the date of acquisition, a contingent earn-out obligation is recorded at its fair value, which is calculated as the present value of the Company's maximum obligation based on probability-weighted estimates of achievement of performance targets defined in the earn-out agreements. The Company reviews the fair valuation periodically and adjusts the fair value for any changes in the maximum earn-out obligation based on probability-weighted estimates of achievement of certain performance targets defined in the earn-out agreements. In addition, discounted cash flows were used to estimate the fair value of the Company's investment in joint ventures.

Going Concern

In connection with the preparation of the financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2016, the Company conducted an evaluation as to whether there were conditions and events, considered in the aggregate, which raised substantial doubt as to the entity's ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the date of the issuance, or the date of availability, of the financial statements to be issued, noting that there did not appear to be evidence of substantial doubt of the entity's ability to continue as a going concern.

New Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2014-09, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)," which requires an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers. The ASU will replace most existing revenue recognition guidance in GAAP and will be effective for the Company as of January 1, 2018. The standard permits the use of either the retrospective or modified retrospective (cumulative effect) transition method and we have not yet selected which transition method we will apply. The Company's evaluation of ASU 2014-09 is not complete. The FASB has issued and may issue in the future, interpretative guidance, which may cause the Company's evaluation to change. The Company has completed an initial review to determine the impact ASU 2014-09 and its subsequent updates through December 31, 2016 will have on its Consolidated Financial Statements or financial statement disclosures upon adoption. Based on the Company's preliminary review, it believes that the timing and measurement of revenue for its customers will be similar to its current revenue recognition. However, this view is preliminary and could change based on the detailed analysis associated with the conversion and implementation phases of the Company's ASU 2014-09 project. The Company will complete its assessment during 2017.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, "Leases" which replaces existing leasing rules with a comprehensive lease measurement and recognition standard and expanded disclosure requirements. ASU 2016-02 will require lessees to recognize most leases on their balance sheets as liabilities, with corresponding "right-of-use" assets and is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018, subject to early adoption. For income statement recognition purposes, leases will be classified as either a finance or an operating lease. The Company will be required to recognize and measure leases at the beginning of the earliest period presented using a modified retrospective approach. Upon initial evaluation, the Company believes that the new standard will have a material impact on our Consolidated Balance Sheets but it will not affect our liquidity. The Company's continuing to evaluate other potential impacts to its financial statements and accounting systems including whether the Company will need to secure new software to account for the change in leases.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-09, "Compensation-Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting." ASU 2016-09 allows for simplification of several aspects of the accounting for share-based payment transactions including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, and classification on the statement of cash flows. Under ASU 2016-09, all excess tax benefits and tax deficiencies (including tax benefits of dividends on share-based payment awards) should be recognized as income tax expense or benefit in the income statement. ASU 2016-09 also requires recognition of excess tax benefits regardless of whether the benefit reduces taxes payable in the current period. ASU 2016-09 further permits the withholding of an amount up to employees' maximum individual tax rate in the relevant jurisdiction without resulting in a liability classification. ASU 2016-09 also requires any excess tax benefits be classified along with other income tax cash flows as an operating activity and cash paid by an employer when directly withholding shares for tax-withholding purposes to be classified as a financing activity. ASU 2016-09 is effective for public companies for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of ASU 2016-09 on its Consolidated Financial Statements.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, "Financial Instruments (Topic 326) Credit Losses." ASU 2016-13 changes the impairment model for most financial assets and certain other instruments. Under the new standard, entities holding financial assets and net investment in leases that are not accounted for at fair value through net income are to be presented at the net amount expected to be collected. An allowance for credit losses will be a valuation account that will be deducted from the amortized cost basis of the financial asset to present the net carrying value at the amount expected to be collected on the financial asset. ASU 2016-13 is effective as of January 1, 2020. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of ASU 2016-13.

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, "Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments." This standard amends and adjusts how cash receipts and cash payments are presented and classified in the statement of cash flows. ASU 2016-15 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years and will require adoption on a retrospective basis unless impracticable. If impracticable the Company would be required to apply the amendments prospectively as of the earliest date possible. The Company is currently evaluating the impact that ASU 2016-15 will have on its statement of financial position or financial statement disclosures.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04, "Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment." The new guidance eliminates the requirement to calculate the implied fair value of goodwill (i.e., Step 2 of the current goodwill impairment test) to measure a goodwill impairment charge.

Instead, entities will record an impairment charge based on the excess of a reporting unit's carrying amount over its fair value (i.e., measure the charge based on the current Step 1). ASU 2017-04 is effective for annual and any interim impairment tests for periods beginning after December 15, 2019. The Company is currently evaluating the provisions of ASU 2017-04 to determine how its goodwill impairment testing will be impacted and whether it may elect to adopt ASU 2017-04 prior to the stated effective date.

Reclassification of Prior Period Balances

Certain reclassifications have been made to prior period amounts to conform to the current-year presentation. On a retrospective basis, the Company early adopted ASU 2015-17, "Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes," which requires an entity to classify deferred tax assets and liabilities as non-current on the Consolidated Balance Sheets and Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. Previously, deferred tax assets and liabilities were separated into current and non-current amounts on the Consolidated Balance Sheets and Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.