UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

x
 
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
   
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

   
For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2010
     
   
OR

o
 
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:  001-32361

METROPOLITAN HEALTH NETWORKS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Florida
 
65-0635748
(State or other jurisdiction of
 
(I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)
 
Identification No.)
250 Australian Avenue, Suite 400
West Palm Beach, FL
 
33401
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
(Zip Code)

(561) 805-8500
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

None
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

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 x                                      No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted 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 and post such files).
Yes ¨                                      No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company.  See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer ¨
Accelerated filer x
Non-accelerated filer  ¨ (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Smaller reporting company ¨
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Yes ¨                                      No  x

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

Class
 
Outstanding at October 22, 2010
Common Stock, $.001 par value per share
 
40,448,521 shares
 

 
Metropolitan Health Networks, Inc.
 
Index

 
 
 
Page
Part I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION    
       
Item 1.
Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited):
   
       
 
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
   
 
as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009
 
3
       
 
Condensed Consolidated Statements of
   
 
Income for the Nine Months and Three Months Ended September 30, 2010 and 2009
 
4
       
 
Condensed Consolidated Statements of
   
 
Cash Flows for the Nine Months Ended
   
 
September 30, 2010 and 2009
 
5
       
 
Notes to Condensed Consolidated
   
 
Financial Statements
 
6
       
Item 2.
 Management’s Discussion and Analysis of
   
 
  Financial Condition and Results of Operations
 
   13
       
Item 3.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
 
27
       
Item 4.
Controls and Procedures
 
28
       
PART II.
OTHER INFORMATION
 
28
       
Item 1
Legal Proceedings
 
28
       
Item 1A.
Risk Factors
 
28
       
Item 2.
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
 
29
       
Item 6.
Exhibits
 
30
       
SIGNATURES
   
30

2

 
PART 1. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
METROPOLITAN HEALTH NETWORKS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
   
September 30,
       
   
2010
   
December 31,
 
   
(unaudited)
   
2009
 
ASSETS
           
CURRENT ASSETS
           
Cash and equivalents
  $ 11,976,132     $ 6,794,809  
Investments, at fair value
    30,147,341       27,036,310  
Due from Humana, net
    10,069,968       -  
Accounts receivable from patients, net
    784,349       517,314  
Inventory
    258,394       216,170  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
    971,351       639,634  
Deferred income taxes
    517,358       510,816  
TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS
    54,724,893       35,715,053  
                 
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, net
    1,893,897       1,909,635  
RESTRICTED CASH AND INVESTMENTS
    3,262,840       6,444,678  
DEFERRED INCOME TAXES, net of current portion
    1,491,382       1,167,475  
OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS, net
    651,063       930,569  
GOODWILL
    4,362,332       4,362,332  
OTHER ASSETS
    801,747       802,500  
TOTAL ASSETS
  $ 67,188,154     $ 51,332,242  
                 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
               
                 
CURRENT LIABILITIES
               
Accounts payable
  $ 316,293     $ 455,306  
Accrued payroll and payroll taxes
    3,890,795       2,959,708  
Income taxes payable
    450,475       2,271,638  
Due to Humana, net
    -       1,385,200  
Accrued expenses
    1,209,274       618,575  
Current portion of long-term debt
    318,182       318,182  
TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES
    6,185,019       8,008,609  
                 
LONG-TERM DEBT, net of current portion
    238,636       397,727  
TOTAL LIABILITIES
    6,423,655       8,406,336  
                 
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
               
                 
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
               
Preferred stock, par value $.001 per share; stated value $100 per share;
               
10,000,000 shares authorized; 5,000 issued and outstanding
    500,000       500,000  
Common stock, par value $.001 per share; 80,000,000 shares authorized;
               
40,444,721 and  40,902,391 issued and outstanding at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively
    40,445       40,902  
Additional paid-in capital
    21,488,109       23,329,290  
Retained earnings
    38,735,945       19,055,714  
TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
    60,764,499       42,925,906  
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
  $ 67,188,154     $ 51,332,242  

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the condensed consolidated financial statements.
 
3

 
METROPOLITAN HEALTH NETWORKS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
 
   
Nine Months Ended September 30,
   
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
    
2010
   
2009
   
2010
   
2009
 
   
(unaudited)
   
(unaudited)
   
(unaudited)
   
(unaudited)
 
REVENUE
  $ 276,771,877     $ 265,655,152     $ 91,163,160     $ 88,138,389  
                                 
MEDICAL EXPENSE
                               
Medical claims expense
    215,962,391       227,399,839       70,236,604       76,929,010  
Medical center costs
    11,809,643       10,795,722       3,893,417       3,582,353  
Total Medical Expense
    227,772,034       238,195,561       74,130,021       80,511,363  
GROSS PROFIT
    48,999,843       27,459,591       17,033,139       7,627,026  
                                 
OPERATING EXPENSES
                               
Payroll, payroll taxes and benefits
    11,227,453       7,413,908       3,862,009       2,252,490  
General and administrative
    6,257,154       5,431,880       2,260,166       1,863,853  
Marketing and advertising
    269,058       202,092       105,949       118,334  
Total Operating Expenses
    17,753,665       13,047,880       6,228,124       4,234,677  
OPERATING INCOME BEFORE GAIN ON SALE OF HMO SUBSIDIARY
    31,246,178       14,411,711       10,805,015       3,392,349  
                                 
Gain on sale of HMO subsidiary
    62,440       811,470       -       366,470  
OPERATING INCOME
    31,308,618       15,223,181       10,805,015       3,758,819  
                                 
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE)
                               
Investment income, net
    391,780       351,301       145,161       85,838  
Other income (expense), net
    (20,596 )     (6,592 )     (10,319 )     (6,081 )
Total other income (expense)
    371,184       344,709       134,842       79,757  
INCOME  BEFORE INCOME TAXES
    31,679,802       15,567,890       10,939,857       3,838,576  
INCOME TAX EXPENSE
    11,999,568       5,954,963       4,150,368       1,412,095  
NET INCOME
  $ 19,680,234     $ 9,612,927     $ 6,789,489     $ 2,426,481  
                                 
EARNINGS PER SHARE
                               
Basic
  $ 0.50     $ 0.21     $ 0.17     $ 0.05  
Diluted
  $ 0.48     $ 0.20     $ 0.16     $ 0.05  

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the condensed consolidated financial statements.

4

 
METROPOLITAN HEALTH NETWORKS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
 
   
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
    
2010
   
2009
 
   
(unaudited)
   
(unaudited)
 
             
CASH FLOWS PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
           
Net income
  $ 19,680,234     $ 9,612,927  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash
               
provided by operating activities:
               
Depreciation and amortization
    697,778       659,989  
Gain on sale of HMO subsidiary
    (62,440 )     (811,470 )
Unrealized losses (gains) on short-term investments
    14,062       (64,446 )
Restricted cash from sale of HMO subsidiary
    -       (5,439 )
Share-based compensation expense
    1,379,917       809,229  
Shares issued for director fees
    209,513       119,186  
Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation
    (359,181 )     -  
Deferred income taxes
    28,732       (514,873 )
Loss on sale of fixed assets
    -       572  
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
               
Accounts receivable
    (267,035 )     (426,457 )
Due to/from Humana, net
    (11,392,728 )     6,965,948  
Inventory
    (42,224 )     134,599  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
    (331,717 )     84,795  
Other assets
    (18,759 )     (6,870 )
Accounts payable
    (139,016 )     292,998  
Accrued payroll and payroll taxes
    931,087       (987,631 )
Income taxes payable
    (1,821,163 )     (1,136,164 )
Accrued expenses
    590,699       (947,163 )
Net cash provided by operating activities
    9,097,759       13,779,730  
                 
CASH FLOWS (USED IN) INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
               
Purchase (sale) of short-term investments
    (3,125,093 )     1,675,682  
Release of escrow from sale of HMO subsidiary
    1,400,000       -  
Cash paid for physician practice acquisition
    -       (1,000,000 )
Capital expenditures
    (383,022 )     (678,050 )
Net cash (used in) investing activities
    (2,108,115     (2,368 )
                 
CASH FLOWS (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
               
Stock repurchases
    (4,488,115 )     (11,315,275 )
Reduction of restricted cash
    1,781,838       -  
Proceeds from exercise of stock options
    697,866       -  
Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation
    359,181       -  
Repayment of long-term debt
    (159,091 )     -  
Net cash (used in) financing activities
    (1,808,321     (11,315,275 )
NET INCREASE IN CASH AND EQUIVALENTS
    5,181,323       2,462,087  
CASH AND EQUIVALENTS - beginning of period
    6,794,809       2,701,243  
CASH AND EQUIVALENTS - end of period
  $ 11,976,132     $ 5,163,330  
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the condensed consolidated financial statements.
 
5

 
METROPOLITAN HEALTH NETWORKS, INC. & SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)

NOTE 1       UNAUDITED INTERIM INFORMATION

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of Metropolitan Health Networks, Inc. and subsidiaries (referred to as “Metropolitan,”  “the Company,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for complete financial statements, or those normally made in an Annual Report on Form 10-K. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Operating results for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2010 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be reported for the remainder of the year ending December 31, 2010 or future periods.

The preparation of our condensed consolidated financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. The areas involving the most significant use of estimates are medical expenses payable, premium revenue, the impact of risk sharing provisions related to our contracts with Humana, Inc. (“Humana”), the future benefit of deferred tax assets and the valuation and related impairment recognition of long-lived assets, including goodwill. These estimates are based on knowledge of current events and anticipated future events. We adjust these estimates each period as more current information becomes available. The impact of any changes in estimates is included in the determination of earnings in the period in which the estimate is adjusted. Actual results may ultimately differ materially from those estimates.  

For further information, refer to the audited consolidated financial statements and footnotes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009. The accompanying December 31, 2009 condensed consolidated balance sheet has been derived from these audited financial statements.  These interim condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes to consolidated financial statements included in that report.

NOTE 2        ORGANIZATION AND BUSINESS ACTIVITY

Our business is focused on the operation of a provider services network (“PSN”) in the State of Florida through our wholly-owned subsidiary, Metcare of Florida, Inc.

The PSN currently operates under three network agreements (collectively, the “Humana Agreements”)  with Humana, and its subsidiaries, pursuant to which the PSN provides, on a non-exclusive basis, healthcare services to Medicare beneficiaries in certain Florida counties who have elected to receive benefits under a Humana Medicare Advantage HMO Plan (a “Humana Plan Customer”).  Humana directly contracts with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”), an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, which administers the Medicare program.  Humana is paid a monthly premium payment by CMS for each Humana Plan Customer who selects one of the PSN physicians as his or her primary care physician (a “Humana Participating Customer”).

To deliver care, we utilize our wholly-owned medical practices and have also contracted directly or indirectly through Humana with medical practices, service providers and hospitals (collectively the “Affiliated Providers”).  For the approximately 5,800 Humana Participating Customers covered under our network agreement covering Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties, our PSN and Humana share in the cost of inpatient hospital services and the PSN is responsible for the full cost of all other medical care provided to the Humana Participating Customers. For the approximately 28,800 remaining Humana Participating Customers covered under our other two network agreements, our PSN is responsible for the cost of all medical care provided.

In return for managing these healthcare services, the PSN receives a monthly capitation fee from Humana which represents a substantial portion of the monthly premium Humana receives from CMS.

6


At September 30, 2010, the Humana Agreements enable the PSN to provide services to Humana customers in 29 Florida counties.  We currently have operations in 16 of these counties.

Our PSN also has a network agreement with CarePlus Health Plans, Inc. (“CarePlus”), a Medicare Advantage health plan in Florida wholly-owned by Humana, which covered approximately 350 customers at September 30, 2010.  Pursuant to this agreement the PSN has the right to manage, on a non-exclusive basis, healthcare services to Medicare beneficiaries in certain Florida counties who have elected to receive benefits through CarePlus’ Medicare Advantage plans (each, a “CarePlus Plan Customer”).  Like Humana, CarePlus directly contracts with CMS and is paid a monthly premium payment by CMS for each CarePlus Plan Customer.  In return for managing these healthcare services, the PSN had traditionally received a monthly network administration fee for each CarePlus Participating Customer.  Commencing on February 1, 2010, the PSN began to receive a monthly capitation fee for each CarePlus Plan Customer who selects one of the PSN physicians as his or her primary care physician (a “CarePlus Participating Customer”) from CarePlus and assumed full responsibility for the cost of all medical services provided to each.  The capitation fee represents a substantial portion of the monthly premium CarePlus receives from CMS.

At September 30, 2010, we operated in 11 of the 18 Florida counties covered by the CarePlus network agreement.

NOTE 3        REVENUE

Revenue is primarily derived from risk-based health insurance arrangements in which a monthly capitation fee is paid to us on a monthly basis.  We assume the economic risk of funding our customers’ healthcare services and related administrative costs. Revenue is recognized in the period in which our customers are entitled to receive healthcare services.  Because we have the obligation to fund medical expenses, we recognize revenue and medical expenses for these contracts in our consolidated financial statements.

Periodically we receive retroactive adjustments to the capitation fees paid to us based on the updated health status of our customers (known as a Medicare Risk Adjustment or “MRA” score).  The factors considered in this update include changes in demographic factors, risk adjustment scores, customer information and adjustments required by the risk sharing requirements for prescription drug benefits under Part D of the Medicare program.  In addition, the number of customers for whom we receive capitation fees may be retroactively adjusted due to enrollment changes not yet processed or reported. These retroactive adjustments could, in the near term, materially impact the revenue that has been recorded.  We record any adjustments to this revenue at the time the information necessary to make the determination of the adjustment is available, and either the collectibility of the amount is reasonably assured or the likelihood of repayment is probable.

Our PSN’s wholly owned medical practices also provide medical care to non-Humana customers on a fee-for-service basis.  These services are typically billed to customers, Medicare, Medicaid, health maintenance organizations and insurance companies. Fee-for-service revenue, which was less than 1.0% of total revenue in both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, is recorded at the net amount expected to be collected from the customer or from the insurance company paying the bill.  Often this amount is less than the charge that is billed and such discounts reduce the revenue recorded.
 
Investment income is recorded as earned and is included in other income.

NOTE 4        MEDICAL EXPENSE

Medical expense is recognized in the period in which services are provided and includes an estimate of our obligations for medical services that have been provided to our customers but for which we have neither received nor processed claims, and for liabilities for physician, hospital and other medical expense disputes. We develop our estimated medical claims expense payable by using an actuarial process that is consistently applied.  The actuarial process develops a range of estimated medical claims expense payable and we record to the amount in the range that is our best estimate of the ultimate liability.  Each period, we re-examine previously recorded medical claims payable estimates based on actual claim submissions and other changes in facts and circumstances. As medical claims expense recorded in prior periods becomes more exact, we adjust the amount of the estimate, and include the change in medical claims expense in the period in which the change is identified.  In each reporting period, total medical expense includes a change from the effects of more completely developed medical claims expense payable estimates associated with previously reported periods. While we believe our estimated medical claims expense payable is adequate to cover future claims payments required, such estimates are based on our claims experience to date and various management assumptions. Therefore, the actual liability could differ materially from the amount recorded. Medical claims expense payable is included in the due to/from Humana in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets.
 
7

 
   
Nine Months Ended September 30,
   
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
2010
   
2009
 
Estimated medical expense for the period, excluding prior period claims development
  $ 228,295,000     $ 237,987,000     $ 74,141,000     $ 81,205,000  
(Favorable) unfavorable prior period medical claims development in current period based on actual claims submitted
    (523,000 )     209,000       (11,000 )     (694,000 )
Total medical expense for the period
  $ 227,772,000     $ 238,196,000     $ 74,130,000     $ 80,511,000  

In the table above, favorable adjustments to amounts we recorded in prior periods for estimated medical claims payable appear in parentheses while unfavorable adjustments do not appear in parentheses.  Favorable adjustments reduce total medical expense for the applicable period and unfavorable claims development increases total medical expense for the applicable period.

Total medical expense includes, among other things, the expense of operating our wholly owned practices, capitated payments made to affiliated primary care physicians and specialists, hospital costs, outpatient costs, pharmaceutical expense, and premiums we pay to reinsurers, net of the related reinsurance recoveries.  Capitation payments represent monthly contractual fees disbursed to physicians and other providers who are responsible for providing medical care to customers. Pharmacy expense is recognized when incurred by the customer, net of rebates from drug manufacturers. Rebates are recognized when the rebates are earned according to the contractual arrangements with the respective vendors.

We assume responsibility for substantially all of the cost of all medical services provided to the customer.  To the extent that customers require more frequent or expensive care than was anticipated, the capitation fee we receive may be insufficient to cover the costs of care provided. When it is probable that expected future healthcare and maintenance costs will exceed the anticipated revenue on the agreement, we would recognize a premium deficiency liability in current operations. Losses recognized as a premium deficiency result in a beneficial effect in subsequent periods as future operating losses under these contracts are charged to the liability previously established. There are no premium deficiency liabilities recorded at September 30, 2010 or December 31, 2009, and we do not anticipate recording a premium deficiency liability, except when unanticipated adverse events or changes in circumstances indicate otherwise.

NOTE 5     PRESCRIPTION DRUG BENEFITS UNDER MEDICARE PART D

We provide prescription drug benefits to our Humana Participating Customers in accordance with the requirements of Medicare Part D. The benefits covered under Medicare Part D are in addition to the inpatient and outpatient benefits covered by the PSN under Medicare Parts A and B.  Premium revenue for the provision of Part D insurance coverage is included in our monthly capitation fee from Humana.

The Part D Payment we receive from Humana is subject to adjustment, positive or negative, based upon the application of risk corridors that compare the estimated prescription drug benefit costs (“Estimated Costs”) to actual prescription  drug benefit  incurred costs (the "Actual Costs").  To the extent the Actual Costs exceed the Estimated Costs by more than the risk corridor, we may receive additional payments.  Conversely, to the extent the Estimated Costs exceed the Actual Costs by more than the risk corridor, we may be required to refund a portion of the Part D Payment. We estimate and recognize an adjustment to premium revenue based upon pharmacy claims experience to date as if the contract to provide Part D coverage were to end at the end of each reporting period.  Accordingly, this estimate does not take into consideration projected future pharmacy claims experience.  It is reasonably possible that this estimate could change in the near term by an amount that could be material. Since these amounts represent additional capitation fees or capitation fees that are to be returned, any adjustment is recorded as an adjustment to revenue. The final settlement for the Part D program for any year occurs in the following year.
 
8

 
NOTE 6     MAJOR CUSTOMER

Revenue from Humana accounted for approximately 99.6% and 99.2% of our total revenue in the third quarters of 2010 and 2009, respectively.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, revenue from Humana accounted for 99.6% and 99.4%, respectively, of our total revenue.

Capitation fees paid to us are retroactively adjusted based on the updated health status of our customers (known as a Medicare Risk Adjustment or “MRA”).  We record an estimate of the retroactive MRA adjustment that we expect to receive in subsequent periods.  In addition, the number of customers for whom we receive capitation fees may be retroactively adjusted due to enrollment changes not yet processed or reported. These retroactive adjustments could, in the near term, materially impact the revenue that has been recorded.

In August 2010, we were notified of the final retroactive MRA premium increase for services provided in 2009.  The amount of the increase was not materially different than the estimates we recorded at December 31, 2009 and June 30, 2010.  In August 2009, we were notified by Humana of the final retroactive MRA premium increase for services provided in 2008 based on the increased risk score of our customer base.  The increase totaled $3.0 million as compared to the estimated increase of $3.8 million that we had recorded at December 31, 2008 and June 30, 2009.  The difference reduced revenue and income before income taxes in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009 by $800,000.

The Humana Agreements and/or any individual physician in our primary care physician network may be immediately terminated by Humana, upon written notice, (i) if the PSN and/or any of the PSN physician’s continued participation may adversely affect the health, safety or welfare of any Humana customer or bring Humana into disrepute; (ii) if the PSN or any of its physicians fail to meet Humana’s credentialing or re-credentialing criteria; (iii) if the PSN or any of its physicians is excluded from participation in any federal healthcare program; (iv) if the PSN or any of its physicians engages in or acquiesces to any act of bankruptcy, receivership or reorganization; or (v) if Humana loses its authority to do business in total or as to any limited segment or business (but only to that segment). The PSN and Humana may also terminate two of the Humana Agreements covering a total of 25,400 customers upon 90 days' prior written notice (with a 60 day opportunity to cure, if possible) in the event of the other's material breach of the applicable Humana Agreement.  These agreements may also be terminated upon 180 day notice of non-renewal by either party.  The third Humana Agreement covering 9,200 customers has a five-year term expiring August 31, 2013 and will renew automatically for additional one-year periods upon the expiration of the initial term and each renewal term unless terminated upon 90 days notice prior to the end of the applicable term.  After the initial five-year term, either party may terminate the agreement without cause by providing to the other party 120 days prior notice.
 
Amounts due to/from Humana consisted of the following:

   
September 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
Due from Humana
  $ 36,153,000     $ 39,278,000  
Due to Humana
    (26,083,000 )     (40,663,000 )
Total due from/(to) Humana
  $ 10,070,000     $ (1,385,000 )
 
Under our Humana Agreements, we have the right to offset certain sums owed to us by Humana under the applicable agreement against certain sums we owe to Humana under the applicable agreement and Humana has a comparable right.  In the event we owe Humana funds after any such offset, we are required to pay Humana upon notification of such deficit and Humana may offset future payments to us under the applicable agreement by such deficit.
 
9


NOTE 7       INVESTMENTS

Investments, which are recorded at fair value, are as follows:

   
September 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
Cash and money market funds
  $ 2,988,000     $ 1,094,000  
United States Government & Agency Securities
    4,783,000       3,707,000  
State and Municipal Bonds
    16,907,000       19,878,000  
Corporate Bonds
    5,469,000       2,357,000  
Total Investments
  $ 30,147,000     $ 27,036,000  

Investments consist solely of trading securities.  Trading securities are classified as Level 1 under the fair value hierarchy because the fair value of our investments is based on the closing market price of the security in an active market for identical assets.  Unrealized gains and losses are included in earnings.  For trading securities held at September 30, 2010, the amount of cumulative unrealized gains was $141,000.  In the third quarter of 2010, investment income included $6,000 of net realized gains.  In the third quarter of 2009, investment income included no net realized gains.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, investment income included realized gains of $25,000 and $26,000, respectively.

NOTE 8       INCOME TAXES

We applied an estimated effective income tax rate of 37.9% and 36.8% for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, the effective income tax rate was 37.9% and 38.3%, respectively.  The lower tax rate in the nine month period for 2010 was primarily a result of a change in the estimated 2009 tax provision.  The effective income tax rate for 2009 was 38.1%.

We are subject to income taxes in the U.S. federal jurisdiction and the State of Florida.  Tax regulations are subject to interpretation of the related tax laws and regulations and require significant judgment to apply.  We have utilized all of our available net operating loss carryforwards, including net operating loss carryforwards related to years prior to 2005.  These net operating losses are open for examination by the relevant taxing authorities.  The statute of limitations for the federal and Florida 2007 tax years will expire in the next twelve months.

NOTE 9        STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

We have a stock repurchase program in place that authorizes us to repurchase up to 20 million shares of our outstanding common stock.  In the third quarter of 2010, we repurchased 158,000 shares of our common stock for an aggregate price of $555,000.  In 2010, we have repurchased 1.9 million shares of our common stock for an aggregate price of $4.5 million.  Since the repurchase program began in October 2008, through September 30, 2010, we have repurchased 13.9 million shares and options exercisable to purchase 684,200 shares of our common stock for an aggregate of $28.1 million.  The number of shares to be repurchased and the timing of the purchases are influenced by a number of factors, including the then prevailing market price of our common stock, other perceived opportunities that may become available to us and regulatory requirements.

During the three months ended September 30, 2010, options to purchase 22,125 shares of our common stock were exercised.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2010, options to purchase 1.0 million shares of our common stock were exercised.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2010, we issued a total of 102,012 restricted shares of common stock and options to purchase 35,934 shares of common stock to the non-management members of our Board of Directors. During the three months ended September 30, 2010, we issued 30,144 restricted shares to the non-management members of our Board of Directors.  The restricted shares issued during the three months ended September 30, 2010, are scheduled to vest approximately twelve months from the date of grant.  The balance of the restricted shares and stock options issued during the nine months ended September 30, 2010, are scheduled to vest approximately fifteen months from the date of grant.   The stock options have an exercise price equal to the closing price of our common stock on the grant date. Compensation expense related to the restricted stock and options will be recognized ratably over the vesting period.
 
10

 
During the three months ended September 30, 2010, we did not issue any stock options or restricted shares of our common stock to employees.  During the nine months ended September 30, 2010, we issued to employees 648,000 restricted shares of common stock and options to purchase 1.1 million shares of common stock. The restricted shares and stock options vest in equal annual installments over a four year period from the date of grant.  The stock options have an exercise price equal to the closing price of our common stock on the grant date.  Compensation expense related to the restricted stock and options will be recognized ratably over the vesting period.

NOTE 10        EARNINGS PER SHARE

Earnings per share, basic, is computed using the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period.  Earnings per share, diluted, is computed using the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period, adjusted for incremental shares attributed to outstanding options, convertible preferred stock and unvested shares of restricted stock.

Earnings per share, basic and diluted, are calculated as follows:
   
Nine Months Ended September 30,
   
 Three Months Ended September 30,
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
2010
   
2009
 
Basic
                       
Net income
  $ 19,680,000     $ 9,613,000     $ 6,789,000     $ 2,426,000  
Less:  Preferred stock dividend
    (38,000 )     (38,000 )     (13,000 )     (13,000 )
Income available to common stockholders
  $ 19,642,000     $ 9,575,000     $ 6,776,000     $ 2,413,000  
`
                               
Weighted average common shares outstanding
    39,122,000       45,588,000       39,340,000       44,038,000  
Earnings per share, basic
  $ 0.50     $ 0.21     $ 0.17     $ 0.05  
                                 
Diluted
                               
Net income
  $ 19,680,000     $ 9,613,000     $ 6,789,000     $ 2,426,000  
                                 
Denominator:
                               
Weighted average common shares outstanding
    39,122,000       45,588,000       39,340,000       44,038,000  
Common share equivalents of outstanding stock:
                               
Convertible preferred stock
    659,000       881,000       351,000       646,000  
Unvested restricted stock
    481,000       239,000       551,000       307,000  
Options
    1,072,000       290,000       1,206,000       514,000  
Weighted average common shares outstanding
    41,334,000       46,998,000       41,448,000       45,505,000  
Earnings per share, diluted
  $ 0.48     $ 0.20     $ 0.16     $ 0.05  

The following securities were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share for the respective periods as their effect would be anti-dilutive:

   
Nine Months Ended September 30,
   
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
Security Excluded From Computation
 
2010
   
2009
   
2010
   
2009
 
Stock Options
    384,000       3,217,000       199,000       1,498,000  
Unvested restricted stock
    161,000       119,000       24,000       -  

NOTE 11      PHYSICIAN PRACTICE ACQUISITIONS

In October 2010, we entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the assets and assume certain liabilities of an existing affiliated independent primary care physician practice.  At September 30, 2010, the practice included approximately 450 Humana Participating Customers.  This transaction is expected to close during the first quarter of 2011.
 
11

 
Effective July 31, 2009, we acquired certain assets of one of our contracted independent primary care physician practices for approximately $1.9 million.  This transaction has been accounted for under the acquisition method.  Approximately $1.8 million of the purchase price has been allocated to goodwill, approximately $76,000 has been allocated to the non-compete agreement and approximately $24,000 has been allocated to patient records.  The amount allocated to the non-compete is being amortized over two years and the cost associated with the patient records is being amortized over one year.

NOTE 12     COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Legal Proceedings

We are a party to various legal proceedings which are either immaterial in amount to us or involve ordinary routine litigation incidental to our business and the business of our subsidiaries.  There are no material pending legal proceedings to which we are a party or of which any of our property is the subject, other than routine litigation incidental to our business.

Guarantees

In connection with the sale of the assets of our pharmacy division in 2003, the purchaser of the pharmacy assets agreed to assume our obligation under a lease which runs through 2012.  In the event of the purchaser’s default, we could be responsible for future lease payments totaling approximately $243,000 at September 30, 2010.  We are not currently aware of any defaults.

NOTE 13     GAIN ON SALE OF HMO SUBSIDIARY

During the first quarter of 2010, we finalized the net statutory equity settlement related to the sale of the HMO and, accordingly, no gain or loss on the sale was recorded in the third quarter of 2010.  The final settlement was paid to us in April 2010.

In the third quarter of 2009, we adjusted the final estimated working capital settlement related to the sale of the HMO by $366,000, which represents the amount that the final 2009 retroactive MRA increase received during the third quarter of 2009 exceeded the receivable we recorded for this estimated settlement at the date of the sale of the HMO.

NOTE 14      RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

In August 2010, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB) issued an amendment to the FASB Financial Accounting Standards Codification that requires the cost of malpractice claims or similar contingent liabilities shall no longer be presented net of anticipated insurance recoveries. An entity that is indemnified for these liabilities shall recognize an insurance receivable at the same time that it recognizes the liability, measured on the same basis as the liability, subject to the need for a valuation allowance for uncollectible amounts. The amendment also discusses the accounting for insurance claims costs, including estimates of costs relating to incurred-but-not-reported claims and the accounting for loss contingencies. The amendment is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2010.

This amendment will have no effect on the current method we use to record these liabilities.  The amendment will require us to reflect as a liability amounts that may be payable for malpractice costs or similar contingent liabilities.  In addition, we will record a receivable for the expected insurance recovery related to these liabilities.  At September 30, 2010, we believe that all such liabilities will be covered by insurance.

NOTE 15      SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
 
The Company has evaluated subsequent events through the time the financial statements were issued upon filing its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
 
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ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
THE FOLLOWING DISCUSSION SHOULD BE READ IN CONJUNCTION WITH OUR ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2009, AS WELL AS THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND NOTES THERETO.
 
Unless otherwise indicated or the context otherwise requires, all references in this Form 10-Q to “we,” “us,” “our,” “Metropolitan” or the “Company” refers to Metropolitan Health Networks, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries unless the context suggests otherwise. We disclaim any intent or obligation to update “forward looking statements.”

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
 
Sections of this Quarterly Report contain statements that are  “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including, without limitation, statements with respect to anticipated future operations and financial performance, growth and acquisition opportunities and other similar forecasts and statements of expectation. We intend such statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward looking statements created thereby.  These statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, such as our plans, objectives, expectations and intentions, and other factors that may cause us, or our industry’s actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.
 
In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by statements that include the words “estimate,” “project,”  “anticipate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “should,” “believe,” “seek” or other similar expressions.
 
Specifically, this report contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the following topics:
 
 
·
the ability of our provider services network (“PSN”) to renew those Humana Agreements (as defined below) with one-year renewable terms and maintain all of the Humana Agreements on favorable terms;

 
·
our ability to make reasonable estimates of Medicare retroactive premium adjustments; and

 
·
our ability to adequately predict and control medical expenses and to make reasonable estimates and maintain adequate accruals for incurred but not reported (“IBNR”) claims.

The forward-looking statements reflect our current view about future events and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions.  We wish to caution readers that certain important factors may have affected and could in the future affect our actual results and could cause actual results to differ significantly from those expressed in any forward-looking statement.  The following important factors could prevent us from achieving our goals and cause the assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements and the actual results to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by those forward-looking statements:

 
·
reductions in government funding of the Medicare program and changes in the political environment that may affect public policy and have an adverse impact on the demand for our services;

 
·
the loss of or material, negative price amendment to significant contracts;

 
·
disruptions in the PSN’s or Humana's healthcare provider networks;

 
·
failure to receive accurate and timely claims processing, billing services, data collection and other information from Humana;

 
·
future legislation and changes in governmental regulations;

 
·
increased operating costs;
 
13

 
 
·
reductions in premium payments to Medicare Advantage plans;

 
·
the impact of Medicare Risk Adjustments on payments we receive from Humana;

 
·
the impact of the Medicare prescription drug plan on our operations;

 
·
general economic and business conditions;

 
·
increased competition;

 
·
the relative health of our customers;

 
·
changes in estimates and judgments associated with our critical accounting policies;

 
·
federal and state investigations;

 
·
our ability to successfully recruit and retain key management personnel and qualified medical professionals;

 
·
impairment charges that could be required in future periods; and

 
·
our ability to successfully integrate any physician practices that we acquire.
 
Additional information concerning these and other risks and uncertainties is contained in our filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”), including the section entitled “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 and in Item 1A “Risk Factors” included in this From 10-Q.

Forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as a prediction of actual results.  Subject to any continuing obligations under applicable law or any relevant listing rules, we expressly disclaim any obligation to disseminate, after the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, any updates or revisions to any such forward-looking statements to reflect any change in expectations or events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statements are based.

We undertake no obligation to revise or publicly release the results of any revision to any forward-looking statements.
 
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BACKGROUND

Through our PSN, we provide and arrange for medical care primarily to Medicare Advantage beneficiaries in various counties in the State of Florida who have enrolled in health plans primarily operated by Humana, Inc. (“Humana”), or its subsidiaries, one of the largest participants in the Medicare Advantage program in the United States.  We operate the PSN through our wholly owned subsidiary, Metcare of Florida, Inc.  As of September 30, 2010, the PSN provided healthcare benefits to approximately 35,000 Medicare Advantage beneficiaries and primary care physician services to several thousand non-Humana customers for which we are paid on a fee-for-service basis.

Our Agreements with Humana

The PSN currently operates under three network agreements with Humana (collectively, the “Humana Agreements”) pursuant to which the PSN provides, on a non-exclusive basis, healthcare services to Medicare beneficiaries in certain Florida counties who have elected to receive benefits under a Humana Medicare Advantage HMO Plan (“Humana Plan Customers”).

Humana directly contracts with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”), an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, which administers the Medicare program.  Humana is paid a monthly premium payment for each Humana Plan Customer who selects one of the PSN physicians as his or her primary care physician (a “Humana Participating Customer”).  Among other factors, the monthly premium varies by customer, county, age and severity of health status.  Pursuant to the Humana Agreements, the PSN provides or arranges for the provision of covered medical services to each Humana Participating Customer.  The PSN assumes full responsibility for the provision or management of all necessary medical care for each Humana Participating Customer covered by the Humana Agreements, even for services we do not provide directly.  In return for the provision of these medical services, the PSN receives from Humana a monthly capitation fee for each Humana Participating Customer established pursuant to the Humana Agreements.  The amount we receive from Humana represents a substantial percentage of the monthly premiums received by Humana from CMS with respect to Humana Participating Customers.

The Humana Agreements and/or any individual physician in our primary care physician network may be immediately terminated by Humana, upon written notice, (i) if the PSN and/or any of the PSN physician’s continued participation may adversely affect the health, safety or welfare of any Humana customer or bring Humana into disrepute; (ii) if the PSN or any of its physicians fail to meet Humana’s credentialing or re-credentialing criteria; (iii) if the PSN or any of its physicians is excluded from participation in any federal healthcare program; (iv) if the PSN or any of its physicians engages in or acquiesces to any act of bankruptcy, receivership or reorganization; or (v) if Humana loses its authority to do business in total or as to any limited segment or business (but only to that segment). The PSN and Humana may also terminate two of the Humana Agreements covering a total of 25,400 customers upon 90 days' prior written notice (with a 60 day opportunity to cure, if possible) in the event of the other's material breach of the applicable Humana Agreement.  These agreements may also be terminated upon 180 day notice of non-renewal by either party.  The third Humana Agreement covering 9,200 customers has a five-year term expiring August 31, 2013 and will renew automatically for additional one-year periods upon the expiration of the initial term and each renewal term unless terminated upon 90 days notice prior to the end of the applicable term.  After the initial five-year term, either party may terminate the agreement without cause by providing to the other party 120 days prior notice.
 
For the approximately 5,800 Humana Participating Customers covered by one of our network agreements, our PSN and Humana share in the cost of inpatient hospital services and the PSN is responsible for the full cost of all other medical care provided to the Humana Participating Customers. For the remaining 28,800 Humana Participating Customers covered under our other two network agreements, our PSN is responsible for the cost of all medical care provided. To the extent the costs of providing such medical care are less than the related fees received from Humana, our PSN generates a gross profit.  Conversely, if total medical expense exceeds the fees received from Humana, our PSN experiences a deficit in gross profit.

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, substantially all of our revenue was earned through our contracts with Humana.
 
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Our Agreement with CarePlus

Our PSN has a network agreement with CarePlus Health Plans, Inc. (“CarePlus”), a Medicare Advantage HMO in Florida wholly owned by Humana, which agreement permits us to provide services to CarePlus customers in 18 Florida counties.  At September 30, 2010, we provided services to approximately 350 CarePlus customers in 11 of these counties. Since the establishment of our network agreement with CarePlus, the PSN had received a monthly network administration fee for each CarePlus customer who selected one of the PSN physicians as his or her primary care physician (a “CarePlus Participating Customer”).  Commencing on February 1, 2010, the PSN began to receive a monthly capitation fee from CarePlus and assumed full responsibility for the cost of all medical services provided to each CarePlus Participating Customer.  The capitation fee represents a substantial portion of the monthly premium CarePlus receives from CMS.

Our Primary Care Physician Network

We have built our PSN’s primary care physician network by contracting with independent primary care physician practices for their services and by acquiring and operating our own physician practices.  Through the Humana Agreements, we have established referral relationships with a large number of specialist physicians, ancillary service providers and hospitals throughout the counties covered by the Humana Agreements.

In October 2010, we entered into a definitive agreement to acquire an existing affiliate provider’s primary care practice.  At September 30, 2010, this practice included approximately 450 members which are included in the number of Humana Participating Customers discussed above.

Business Initiatives

We continue to invest resources in people, processes and technology to assure that our customers receive effective care.  Some of our key initiatives are described below.  We expect the initial installation and training costs associated with these initiatives to increase in 2011 and we believe that, over time, these costs will be offset by better patient outcomes and operating efficiencies.

Patient Centered Medical Home Recognition

In February 2010, we were notified by National Committee for Quality Assurance (“NCQA”) that all eight of our owned primary care centers that applied to the NCQA have been recognized by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) as a level 3 National Physician Practice Connections® — Patient-Centered Medical Home™ (PPC®-PCMH™), the highest recognition available. We believe that our primary care centers were the first recognized PCMHs in Florida and that this recognition improves our competitive position.  We plan to apply for NCQA recognition on our two remaining primary care centers and our oncology practice during the first half of 2011.

The Patient Centered Medical Home (“PCMH”) is a developed approach to provide comprehensive medical care.  Under this approach, care is delivered through a physician-led healthcare team which utilizes information technology and evidence-based medicine to enhance communication and customer access, improve clinical outcomes, and ensure continuity and coordination of care, thereby adding value to the healthcare consumer.  We believe that our approach to care is philosophically and operationally aligned with the PCMH principles.  However, to function as a true certified PCMH, medical practices must first develop and implement processes and systems to deliver this product consistently, efficiently, and effectively.  We believe that we are aligned with the PCMH principles.

Electronic Medical Records System

We began installation of electronic medical records system (“EMR”) at one of our owned centers in August 2010 and we expect to have the installation completed in all of our centers during 2012.

Appropriate Risk Coding

We strive to assure that our customers are assigned the proper risk scores. Our processes include ongoing training of medical staff responsible for coding and routine auditing of patient charts to assure risk-coding compliance.  Customers with higher risk codes generally require more healthcare resources than those with lower risk codes.  Proper coding helps to assure that we receive premiums consistent with the cost of treating these customers. Our efforts related to coding compliance are ongoing and we continue to commit additional resources to this important discipline.
 
16

 
Staff Training

We believe it is important, in what is a highly competitive healthcare marketplace, to retain and recruit top talent.  We have entered into a formal program to better train and develop our leaders and staff.   We believe this investment will have a positive return in terms of improved customer service, enhanced employee engagement and retention and, as a result, better outcomes and financial performance in future years.

Insurance Arrangements

We rely upon insurance to protect us from many business risks, including medical malpractice, errors and omissions and certain significantly higher than average customer medical expenses.  For example, to mitigate our exposure to high cost medical claims, we have reinsurance arrangements that provide for the reimbursement of certain customer medical expenses.  For 2010, our deductible per customer per year for the PSN is $40,000 in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties and $200,000 in the other counties in which we operate, with a maximum benefit per customer per policy period of $1.0 million.  Although we maintain insurance of the types and in the amounts that we believe are reasonable, there can be no assurances that the insurance policies maintained by us will insulate us from material expenses and/or losses in the future.

RECENT HEALTHCARE REFORM LEGISLATION

In March 2010, President Obama signed new healthcare reform legislation into law following its passage by the U.S. Congress.  This legislation is considered by some to be the most dramatic change to the country’s healthcare system in decades.  The legislation includes, among other things, scheduled phased reductions of Medicare Advantage payment rates.  There are a number of other potential risks to our business associated with the new legislation and other companion legislation that may be adopted in the future.  These risks are described in more detail in Item 1A. “Risk Factors” in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Critical Accounting Policies

A description of our critical accounting policies is contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009.
 
COMPARISON OF RESULTS OF OPERATIONS FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2010 AND SEPTEMBER 30, 2009

Net income for the third quarter of 2010 was $6.8 million or $0.17 per basic and $0.16 per diluted share compared to net income of $2.4 million or $0.05 per basic and diluted share for the third quarter of 2009, an increase of $4.4 million or 183.3%.  The gain on the sale of the HMO subsidiary of $366,000 in the third quarter of 2009 did not change the reported earnings per share.

The increase in net income was primarily a result of a $42 increase in our per customer per month (“PCPM”) revenue from the third quarter of 2009 to the third quarter of 2010.  As a result of the increase in PCPM revenue, our total revenue increased to $91.2 million in the third quarter of 2010 from $88.1 million in the third quarter of 2009, an increase of $3.1 million or 3.5%.   The increase in revenue is primarily attributable to an increase in the risk scores of the customers we serve.  We believe this increase primarily reflects our continuing efforts to assure that our customers are properly diagnosed and assigned the appropriate Medicare risk score.  This increase was partially offset by a 5% reduction in the premium rate paid by CMS to Medicare Advantage plans effective January 1, 2010 and a 1.5% reduction in the number of customer months for the quarter.

Medical costs for the third quarter of 2010 were $74.1 million compared to $80.5 million for the third quarter of 2009, a decrease of approximately $6.4 million or 8.0%.  PCPM medical costs decreased $49.  The decrease in medical costs is attributable to a number of factors, including certain plan design changes made by Humana in selected markets to increase customer co-pays and deductibles and modify certain benefits.  Such changes were primarily a response to the CMS premium reduction and expected utilization and cost increases.  In addition, certain high cost special needs plans were eliminated in January 2010 which reduced both our medical costs and our revenue.  We also believe that we are seeing the results of the PCMH philosophy of patient care as well as our continued efforts to improve medical care to our customers so they receive the appropriate level of medical care at the appropriate time.
 
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Our gross profit was $17.0 million for the third quarter of 2010 as compared to $7.6 million for the third quarter of 2009, an increase of $9.4 million or 123.7%.
 
Our medical expense ratio (“MER”), which is computed by dividing total medical expense by revenue, was 81.3% in the third quarter of 2010 compared to 91.3% in the third quarter of 2009.  The MER represents a statistic used to measure gross profit.  The decrease in MER is a result of our increased revenue and lower medical costs.

Operating expenses increased to $6.2 million in the third quarter of 2010 as compared to $4.2 million for the same period in 2009, an increase of $2.0 million or 47.6%.

Income before income taxes in the third quarter of 2010 was $10.9 million compared to income before income taxes of $3.8 million in the third quarter of 2009.  The increase in the income before income taxes between the periods is primarily a result of the increased gross profit discussed above reduced primarily by the increase in our operating expenses.

Customer Information

The table set forth below provides (i) the total number of customers to whom we were providing healthcare services as of September 30, 2010 and 2009 and (ii) the aggregate customer months for the third quarter of both 2010 and 2009.  Customer months are the aggregate number of months of healthcare services we have provided to customers during a period of time.

September 30, 2010
   
September 30, 2009
       
Customers at
End of Period
 
Customer
Months For
Quarter
   
Customers
at 
End of
Period
   
Customer
Months For
Quarter
   
Percentage Change in
Customer Months
Between Quarters
 
35,000
    105,200       35,800       106,800       -1.5 %
 
The change in total customer months for 2010 as compared to 2009 is primarily a result of the net effect of the elimination of certain high cost special needs plans, new enrollments and disenrollments, deaths, customers moving from the covered areas, customers transferring to another physician practice or customers making other insurance selections.
 
Revenue

The following table provides a breakdown of our sources of revenue:

   
Three Months Ended September 30,
   
$
Increase
   
%
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
(Decrease)
   
Change
 
Revenue from Humana
  $ 90,819,000     $ 87,427,000     $ 3,392,000       3.9 %
Fee-for-service revenue
    344,000       711,000       (367,000 )     -51.6 %
Total PSN revenue
  $ 91,163,000     $ 88,138,000     $ 3,025,000       3.4 %
                                 
Revenue PCPM
  $ 867     $ 825                  
 
In the third quarter of 2010, the 5.1% increase in our PCPM revenue, which resulted primarily from an increase in the Medicare risk score of our customers, was mitigated primarily by a 5% CMS premium rate reduction in 2010.

Periodically, we receive retroactive adjustments to the premiums paid to us based on the updated MRA scores of our customers.  The factors considered in this update include changes in demographic factors, risk adjustment scores, customer information and adjustments required by the risk sharing requirements for prescription drug benefits under Part D of the Medicare program.  In addition, the number of customers for whom we receive capitation fees may be retroactively adjusted due to enrollment changes not yet processed or reported. These retroactive adjustments could, in the near term, materially impact the revenue that has been recorded.  We record any adjustments to this revenue at the time the information necessary to make the determination of the adjustment is available, and either the collectibility of the amount is reasonably assured, or the likelihood of repayment is probable.
 
 
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In the third quarter of 2010, we were notified of the final retroactive MRA premium increase for services provided in 2009.  The amount of the increase was not materially different than the estimates we recorded at December 31, 2009 and June 30, 2010.  In the third quarter of 2009, we were notified by Humana of the final retroactive MRA premium increase for services provided in 2008 based on the increased risk score of our customer base.  The increase totaled $3.0 million as compared to the estimated increase of $3.8 million that we had recorded at December 31, 2008 and June 30, 2009.  The difference reduced revenue and income before income taxes in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009 by $800,000.

We continue to invest resources in people and processes to assure that our customers are assigned the proper risk scores. These processes include ongoing training of medical staff responsible for coding and routine auditing of patient charts to assure risk-coding compliance.   Customers with higher risk codes generally require more healthcare resources than those with lower risk codes.  Proper coding helps to assure that we receive premiums consistent with the cost of treating these customers. Our efforts related to coding compliance are ongoing and we continue to commit additional resources to this important discipline.

Fee-for-service revenue represents amounts earned from medical services provided to non-Humana Medicare Advantage customers by the PSN’s owned physician practices.

Medical Expense

Total medical expense represents the estimated total cost of providing patient care and is comprised of two components, medical claims expense and medical center costs.  Medical claims expense is recognized in the period in which services are provided and includes an estimate of our obligations for medical services that have been provided to our customers but for which we have either not yet received or processed claims, and for liabilities for physician, hospital and other medical expense disputes.  Medical claims expense includes costs such as inpatient and outpatient services, pharmacy benefits and physician services by providers other than the physician practices owned by the PSN (collectively “Non-Affiliated Providers”).  Medical center costs represent the operating costs of the physician practices owned by the PSN.

We develop our estimated medical claims expense payable by using an actuarial process that is consistently applied.  The actuarial process develops a range of estimated medical claims expense payable and we record to the amount in the range that is our best estimate of the ultimate liability.  Each period, we re-examine previously recorded medical claims payable estimates based on actual claim submissions and other changes in facts and circumstances. As medical claims expense recorded in prior periods becomes more exact, we adjust the amount of the estimate, and include the change in medical claims expense in the period in which the change is identified.  In each reporting period, total medical expense includes a change from the effects of more completely developed medical claims expense payable estimates associated with previously reported periods. While we believe our estimated medical claims expense payable is adequate to cover future claims payments required, such estimates are based on our claims experience to date and various management assumptions. Therefore, the actual liability could differ materially from the amount recorded.

Total medical expense and the MER are as follows:

 
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Three Months Ended September 30,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
Estimated medical expense for the quarter, excluding prior period claims development
  $ 74,141,000     $ 81,205,000  
(Favorable) unfavorable prior period medical claims development in current period based on actual claims submitted
    (11,000 )     (694,000 )
                 
Total reported medical expense for quarter
  $ 74,130,000     $ 80,511,000  
                 
Reported Medical Expense Ratio for Quarter
    81.3 %     91.3 %
                 
Medical Expense PCPM
  $ 705     $ 754  

In the table above, favorable adjustments to amounts we recorded in prior periods for estimated medical claims payable appear in parentheses while unfavorable adjustments do not appear in parentheses.  Favorable adjustments reduce total medical expense for the applicable period and unfavorable claims development increases total medical expense for the applicable period.

The reported MER is impacted by both revenue and expense.  Periodically we receive retroactive adjustments to the premiums paid to us based on the updated MRA score.  Retroactive adjustments of prior period’s premiums that are recorded in the current period impact the MER of that period.  If the retroactive adjustment increases premium revenue then the impact reduces the MER for the period.  Conversely, if the retroactive adjustment reduces revenue, then the MER for the period is higher.  These retroactive adjustments include, among other things, the mid-year and annual MRA premium adjustments and settlement of Part D program premiums.  In addition, actual medical claims expense usually develops differently than estimated during the period.  Therefore, the reported MER shown in the above table will likely change as additional claim development occurs.  Favorable claims development is a result of actual medical claim cost for prior periods developing lower than the original estimated cost which reduces the reported medical expense and the MER for the current period.  Unfavorable claims development is a result of actual medical claim cost for prior periods exceeding the original estimated cost which increases total reported medical expense and the MER for the current period.

A change in either revenue or medical claims expense of approximately $1.0 million would have impacted the consolidated MER by 1% in the third quarter of 2010 while a change in either revenue or medical claims expense of approximately $900,000 would have impacted the MER by 1% in the third quarter of 2009.

Total medical expense was $74.1 million and $80.5 million for the 2010 and 2009 third quarters, respectively. Approximately $70.2 million or 94.7% of our total medical expense in the third quarter 2010 and $76.9 million or 95.5% of total medical expense in the third quarter of 2009 are attributable to direct medical services such as inpatient and outpatient services, pharmacy benefits and physician services provided by Non-Affiliated Providers.

Our PCPM medical expense decreased from $754 in the third quarter of 2009 to $705 in the third quarter of 2010. Despite medical cost inflation, we believe that PCPM medical costs decreased in the third quarter of 2010, as compared to the same period in 2009, due to, among other things, certain plan design changes made by Humana in selected markets to increase customer co-pays and deductibles and modify certain benefits, the elimination of certain high cost special needs plans in certain of our counties, and the continued efforts of our medical management team to assure that proper medical care is provided to our customers.

The increase in revenue and reduction in medical costs resulted in a decrease in our MER, from 91.4% in the third quarter of 2009 to 81.3% in the third quarter of 2010.  Our MER was 88.4% and 88.5% in fiscal years 2009 and 2008, respectively.  A number of factors impacting both revenue and medical expense that are discussed in this Management’s Discussion and Analysis have positively impacted our MER for the three month period ended September 30, 2010.  Although we continue to develop and execute programs and initiatives to positively impact both revenue and medical expense, there is no assurance that we will be able to maintain our MER at this historically low level.
 
 
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As of September 30, 2010, we estimated that our medical claims cost for services provided prior to June 30, 2010 would be approximately $11,000 less than the amount originally estimated, resulting in favorable claims development.   This change in estimate did not materially affect our MER for the three months ended September 30, 2010.

As of September 30, 2009, we estimated that our medical claims cost for services provided prior to June 30, 2009 would be approximately $694,000 less than the amount originally estimated, resulting in favorable claims development.  This change in estimate reduced the medical expense ratio for the three months ended September 30, 2009 by 0.8%.

Because the Humana Agreements provide that the PSN is financially responsible for all medical services provided to the Humana Participating Customers, medical claims expense includes the cost of medical services provided to Humana Participating Customers by Non-Affiliated Providers.

Medical center costs include expenses incurred in connection with the operation of our wholly-owned physician practices and oncology center including salaries, taxes and benefits, malpractice insurance, office rent and other practice related expenses. Approximately $3.9 million of the PSN’s total medical expense in the third quarter of 2010 related to physician practices we own as compared to $3.6 million in the third quarter of 2009.  The increase is due primarily to the office acquired in July 2009 and an increase in our offices’ staff and additional technology costs as we transition to a patient centered medical home model.

At September 30, 2010, we determined that the range for estimated medical claims payable was between $23.2 million and $25.9 million and we recorded a liability of $24.3 million, the actuarial mid-point of the range.  Based on historical results, we believe that the actuarial mid-point of the range continues to be the best estimate within the range of the PSN’s ultimate liability.

Operating Expenses

   
Three Months Ended September 30,
   
Increase
   
%
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
(Decrease)
   
Change
 
Payroll, payroll taxes and benefits
  $ 3,862,000     $ 2,253,000     $ 1,609,000       71.4 %
Percentage of total revenue
    4.2 %     2.6 %                
General and administrative
    2,260,000       1,864,000       396,000       21.2 %
Percentage of total revenue
    2.5 %     2.1 %                
Marketing and advertising
    106,000       118,000       (12,000 )     -10.2 %
Percentage of total revenue
    0.1 %     0.1 %                
Total operating expenses
  $ 6,228,000     $ 4,235,000     $ 1,993,000       47.1 %

Payroll, Payroll Taxes and Benefits

Payroll, payroll taxes and benefits include salaries and benefits for our executive and administrative staff.  For the third quarter of 2010, payroll, payroll taxes and benefits were $3.9 million, compared to $2.3 million for the third quarter of 2009.   The increase is primarily a result of an increase in the amount accrued for employee bonuses for 2010 as a result of improved earnings in 2010 as well as increases in salary costs associated with the implementation of our patient centered medical homes and the installation of EMR.

General and Administrative

General and administrative expenses for the 2010 third quarter totaled $2.3 million as compared to $1.9 million for the third quarter of 2009, an increase of $400,000 or 21.1%.  This increase was primarily a result of an increase in the fees of an outside entity to review our risk score coding compliance.

Marketing and Advertising
 
Marketing and advertising costs decreased to $106,000 in the third quarter of 2010 from $118,000 in the third quarter of 2009.  We believe that our marketing and advertising expense will increase in the future.
 
 
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Gain on Sale of HMO Subsidiary
 
During the first quarter of 2010, we finalized the net statutory equity settlement related to the sale of the HMO and, accordingly, no gain or loss on the sale was recorded in the third quarter of 2010.  The final settlement was paid to us in April 2010.

In the third quarter of 2009, we adjusted the final estimated working capital settlement related to the sale of the HMO by $366,000, which represents the amount that the final 2009 retroactive MRA increase received during the third quarter of 2009 exceeded the receivable we recorded for this estimated settlement at the date of the sale of the HMO.
 
Other Income

Other income was $135,000 in the 2010 third quarter as compared to $80,000 in the 2009 third quarter.  Investment income in the 2010 third quarter increased $59,000 from the 2009 third quarter to $145,000.  Realized and unrealized gains in our investment portfolio were approximately $42,000 in the 2010 third quarter compared to realized and unrealized losses of $14,000 in the 2009 third quarter.

Income taxes

Our effective income tax rate was 37.9% in the 2010 third quarter and 36.8% in the 2009 third quarter.  The effective income tax rate for 2009 was 38.1%.

COMPARISON OF RESULTS OF OPERATIONS FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2010 AND SEPTEMBER 30, 2009

Net income for the first nine months of 2010 was $19.7 million compared to $9.6 million in 2009, an increase of $10.1 million or 105.2%.  Basic and diluted earnings per share for the first nine months of 2010 were $0.50 and $0.48, respectively, as compared to $0.21 per basic share and $0.20 per diluted share for the same period in 2009. The gain on the sale of the HMO subsidiary of $811,000 in the first nine months of 2009 increased basic and diluted earnings per share by $0.01.

The significant increase in net income between the periods was primarily a result of an increase in our PCPM revenue while our PCPM medical costs decreased.

Our PCPM revenue increased from $835 during the first nine months of 2009 to $872 for the same period in 2010.  Our total revenue increased to $276.8 million for the first nine months of 2010 from $265.7 million in the first nine months of 2009, an increase of $11.1 million or 4.2%. The increase in revenue is primarily attributable to an increase in the risk scores of the customers we serve.  We believe this increase primarily reflects our continuing efforts to assure that our customers are properly diagnosed and assigned the appropriate Medicare risk score.  This increase is partially offset by a 5% reduction in the premium rate paid by CMS to Medicare Advantage plans effective January 1, 2010.

PCPM medical costs decreased by $30, from $748 for the first nine months of 2009 to $718 for the first nine months of 2010.  Our total medical costs decreased from $238.2 million for the first nine months of 2009 to $227.8 million for the same period in 2010, a decrease of approximately $10.4 million or 4.4%.  The decrease in medical costs is attributable to a number of factors including certain plan design changes made by Humana in selected markets to increase customer co-pays and deductibles and modify certain benefits, the elimination of certain high cost special needs plans in certain of our counties, and the continued efforts of our medical management team to assure that proper medical care is provided to our customers.

Our gross profit was $49.0 million for the first nine months of 2010 as compared to $27.5 million for the first nine months of 2009, an increase of $21.5 million or 78.2%.
 
Our MER was 82.3% in the first nine months of 2010 compared to 89.7% in the first nine months of 2009.  This decline in MER is primarily a result of the increase in revenue and decrease in medical costs discussed above.
 
 
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Operating expenses increased to $17.8 million in the first nine months of 2010 as compared to $13.0 million for the same period in 2009, an increase of $4.8 million or 36.9%.

Income before income taxes in the first nine months of 2010 was $31.7 million compared to income before income taxes of $15.6 million in the first nine months of 2009.  The increase in the income before income taxes between the periods is primarily a result of the increased gross profit discussed above reduced primarily by the increase in our operating expenses.

Customer Information

The table set forth below provides (i) the total number of customers to whom we were providing healthcare services as of September 30, 2010 and 2009 and (ii) the aggregate customer months for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009.
 
September 30, 2010
   
September 30, 2009
       
Customers
at End of
Period
 
Customer
Months for
Period
   
Customers
at End of
Period
   
Customer
Months for
Period
   
Percentage Change in
Customer Months
Between Periods
 
35,000
    317,400       35,800       318,300       -0.3 %
 
The change in total customer months for 2010 as compared to 2009 is primarily a result of the net effect of the elimination of certain high costs special needs plans, new enrollments and disenrollments, deaths, customers moving from the covered areas, customers transferring to another physician practice or customers making other insurance selections.
 
Revenue

The following table provides a breakdown of our sources of revenue:

   
Nine Months Ended September 30
   
$
Increase
   
%
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
(Decrease)
   
Change
 
PSN revenue from Humana
  $ 275,596,000     $ 264,082,000     $ 11,514,000       4.4 %
PSN fee-for-service revenue
    1,176,000       1,573,000       (397,000 )     -25.2 %
Total PSN revenue
  $ 276,772,000     $ 265,655,000     $ 11,117,000       4.2 %
                                 
Revenue PCPM
  $ 872     $ 835                  

The 4.4% increase in our PCPM revenue, which resulted primarily from an increase in the average Medicare risk score of our customers, was mitigated primarily by a 5% CMS premium rate reduction in 2010.

Periodically, we receive retroactive adjustments to the premiums paid to us based on the updated MRA scores of our customers.  The factors considered in this update include changes in demographic factors, risk adjustment scores, customer information and adjustments required by the risk sharing requirements for prescription drug benefits under Part D of the Medicare program.  In addition, the number of customers for whom we receive capitation fees may be retroactively adjusted due to enrollment changes not yet processed or reported. These retroactive adjustments could, in the near term, materially impact the revenue that has been recorded.

In the third quarter of 2010, we received the final retroactive MRA premium increase for services provided in 2009.  The amount of the increase was not materially different than the estimate we recorded at December 31, 2009 and June 30, 2010. In the third quarter of 2009, we received the final retroactive MRA premium increase for services provided in 2008 in the amount of $3.0 million.  At December 31, 2008 and June 30, 2009, we estimated that we would receive $3.8 million and, accordingly, the difference of $800,000 reduced revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2009.

Fee-for-service revenue represents amounts earned from medical services provided to non-Humana Medicare Advantage customers by the PSN’s owned physician practices.
 
 
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Medical Expense

Total medical expense and the MER are as follows:

   
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
Estimated medical expense for the period, excluding prior period claims development
  $ 228,295,000     $ 237,987,000  
(Favorable) unfavorable prior period medical claims development in current period based on actual claims submitted
    (523,000 )     209,000  
Total reported medical expense for period
  $ 227,772,000     $ 238,196,000  
                 
Reported Medical Expense Ratio for period
    82.3 %     89.7 %
                 
Medical Expense PCPM
  $ 718     $ 748  

A change in either revenue or medical claims expense of approximately $3.1 million would have impacted the MER by 1% for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 while a change in either revenue or medical claims expense of approximately $2.8 million would have impacted the MER by 1% for the nine months ended September 30, 2009.

Total medical expense was $227.8 million and $238.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively.  Approximately $216.0 million or 94.8% of our total medical expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and $227.4 million or 95.5% of total medical expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 are attributable to medical claims expense such as inpatient and outpatient services, pharmacy benefits and physician services by Non-Affiliated Providers.

Our PCPM medical expense decreased, from $748 in the first nine months of 2009 to $718 in the first nine months of 2010.  Despite medical cost inflation, we believe that PCPM medical costs decreased in the first nine months of 2010, as compared to the same period in 2009, due to, among other things, certain plan design changes made by Humana in selected markets to increase customer co-pays and deductibles and modify certain benefits, the elimination of certain high cost special needs plans in certain of our counties, and the continued efforts of our medical management team to assure that proper medical care is provided to our customers.

The increase in revenue and reduction in medical costs resulted in a decrease in our MER, from 89.7% in the first nine months of 2009 to 82.3% in the first nine months of 2010.  Our MER was 88.4% and 88.5% in fiscal years 2009 and 2008, respectively.  A number of factors impacting both revenue and medical expense that are discussed in this Management’s Discussion and Analysis have positively impacted our MER for the nine month period ended September 30, 2010.  Although we continue to develop and execute programs and initiatives to positively impact both revenue and medical expense, there is no assurance that we will be able to maintain our MER at this historically low level.

As of September 30, 2010, we estimated that our medical claims cost for services provided prior to December 31, 2009 would be approximately $523,000 less than the amount originally estimated, resulting in favorable claims development.   This change in estimate did not materially effect our MER for the nine months ended September 30, 2010.

As of September 30, 2009, we estimated that our medical claims cost for services provided prior to December 31, 2008 would be approximately $209,000 greater than the amount originally estimated, resulting in an unfavorable claims development.  This did not significantly affect the medical expense ratio for the nine months ended September 30, 2009.
 
 
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Medical center costs include expenses incurred in connection with the operation of our wholly-owned physician practices and oncology center including salaries, taxes and benefits, malpractice insurance, office rent and other practice related expenses. Approximately $11.8 million of the PSN’s total medical expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 related to physician practices we own as compared to $10.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009.   The increase is due primarily to the office acquired in July 2009 and an increase in our offices’ staff and additional technology costs as we transition to a patient centered medical home model.

Operating Expenses
   
Nine Months Ended September 30,
   
Increase
   
%
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
(Decrease)
   
Change
 
Payroll, payroll taxes and benefits
  $ 11,227,000     $ 7,414,000     $ 3,813,000       51.4 %
Percentage of total revenue
    4.1 %     2.8 %                
General and administrative
    6,257,000       5,432,000       825,000       15.2 %
Percentage of total revenue
    2.3 %     2.0 %                
Marketing and advertising
    269,000       202,000       67,000       33.2 %
Percentage of total revenue
    0.1 %     0.1 %                
Total operating expenses
  $ 17,753,000     $ 13,048,000     $ 4,705,000       36.1 %

Payroll, Payroll Taxes and Benefits

For the first nine months of 2010, payroll, payroll taxes and benefits were $11.2 million compared to $7.4 million for the first nine months of 2009, an increase of approximately $3.8 million.  The increase is primarily a result of an increase in the amount accrued for employee bonuses in 2010 as a result of improved earnings in 2010, an increase in share-based compensation expense and an increase in salary costs related to the implementation of the patient centered medical homes and the installation of EMR.

General and Administrative

General and administrative expenses for the first nine months of 2010 totaled $6.3 million, an increase of $825,000 or 15.2% from the first nine months of 2009.  This increase was primarily a result of an increase in the fees of an outside entity to review our risk score coding compliance.

Marketing and Advertising
 
Our marketing and advertising costs were $269,000 in the first nine months of 2010 compared to $202,000 during the same period in 2009.  We believe that marketing and advertising expenses will increase in the future.
 
Gain on Sale of HMO Subsidiary
 
During the first quarter of 2010, we finalized the net statutory equity settlement related to the sale of the HMO which resulted in an additional gain on the sale of the HMO of $62,000.  The final settlement was paid to us in April 2010.

We recorded an $811,000 gain on sale of our HMO subsidiary for the nine months ended September 30, 2009.  This gain relates to the net effect of the favorable settlements of certain obligations related to the HMO that were retained by us and the amount in excess of the recorded receivable at the date of the sale of the HMO for the 2008 retroactive premium increase received during the third quarter of 2009.

Other Income

Other income was $371,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 as compared to $345,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2009.  Investment income for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 was $392,000 compared to $351,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2009.  Realized and unrealized gains in our investment portfolio for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 were approximately $11,000 while realized and unrealized gains in our investment portfolio for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 were approximately $90,000.
 
 
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Income taxes

Our effective income tax rates were 37.9% and 38.3% for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively.  The lower effective income tax rate in 2010 is primarily a result of a change in the estimated 2009 tax provision.  The effective income tax rate for 2009 was 38.1%.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Total cash, cash equivalents and investments at September 30, 2010 was approximately $42.1 million as compared to approximately $33.8 million at December 31, 2009.   We had working capital of approximately $48.5 million as of September 30, 2010 and $27.7 million at December 31, 2009.

Our total stockholders’ equity was approximately $60.8 million and $42.9 million at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively.  Our increase in stockholders’ equity over the past nine months is primarily a result of our net income and share-based transactions, partially offset by the impact of our stock repurchase program.

We have a stock repurchase program in place that authorizes us to repurchase up to 20 million shares of our outstanding common stock.  In the third quarter of 2010, we repurchased 158,000 shares of our common stock for an aggregate price of $555,000.  In 2010, we have repurchased 1.9 million shares of our common stock for an aggregate price of $4.5 million.  Since the repurchase program began in October 2008, through September 30, 2010, we have repurchased 13.9 million shares and options exercisable to purchase 684,200 shares of our common stock for an aggregate of $28.1 million.  The number of shares to be repurchased and the timing of the purchases are influenced by a number of factors, including the then prevailing market price of our common stock, other perceived opportunities that may become available to us and regulatory requirements.

At September 30, 2010, we had $239,000 of long-term debt related to the acquisition of a physician practice.  In addition, as of such date, we had a line of credit agreement with a bank, which provides for borrowings and issuance of letters of credit of up to $3.0 million.  The line of credit expires on December 31, 2010.  The line is secured by $3.25 million of short-term investments that are classified as restricted cash and investments.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2010, our cash and equivalents and investments increased by approximately $8.3 million from the balance at December 31, 2009.

Net cash provided by operating activities during the nine months ended September 30, 2010 was approximately $9.1 million.  The most significant sources of cash from operating activities were:

·
net income of $19.7 million; and
·
share-based compensation expense of $1.4 million

These sources of cash were partially offset by:

·
a net increase in due from Humana of $11.4 million;  and
·
a decrease in income taxes payable of $1.8 million.

In addition to routine monthly activity, including accruals and payments of MRA adjustments, the $11.4 million increase in due from Humana in the last nine months substantially relates to a $9.5 million repayment of operating deficits that were incurred subsequent to the sale of the HMO, through repayment and earnings in 2010 in the HMO’s former markets.

The $2.1 million of cash used in investing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 was attributable to the purchase of $3.1 million of short-term investments and capital expenditures of $383,000 net of the release of escrow related to the sale of our HMO subsidiary of $1.4 million.

Financing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 used $1.8 million of cash.  Approximately $4.5 million was used to reacquire our common stock.  These expenditures were partially offset by a decrease in restricted cash related to our line of credit of $1.8 million, proceeds from the exercise of stock options of $698,000 and the excess tax benefits from share-based compensation of $359,000.
 
 
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In October, 2010, we entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the assets and assume certain liabilities of an existing affiliated independent primary care physician practice.  At September 30, 2010, the practice included approximately 450 Humana Participating Customers.  This transaction is expected to close during the first quarter of 2011.

OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS

We do not have any material off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably likely to have a current or future effect on our financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources.

ITEM 3   QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Market risk generally represents the risk of loss that may result from the potential change in value of a financial instrument as a result of fluctuations in interest rates or market prices.  We do not currently have any trading derivatives nor do we expect to have any in the future.  We have established policies and internal processes related to the management of market risks, which we use in the normal course of our business operations.

Interest Rate Risk

We monitor the third-party depository institutions that hold our cash, cash equivalents and investments. We diversify our cash, cash equivalents and investments among counterparties and investment positions to minimize exposure to any one of these entities or investments.  As of September 30, 2010, other than one of our investment positions which represented 14.9% of our total investment portfolio, none of our other investment positions represented more than 5.0% of our total investment portfolio.  Our emphasis is primarily on safety of principal while maximizing yield on those funds. To achieve this objective, we maintain our portfolio of cash equivalents and investments in a variety of securities, including U.S. government and agency securities, state and municipal bonds and corporate debt. As of September 30, 2010, the fair value of our investment positions was approximately $30.1 million, 74.1% of which had a term to maturity of less than two years and a credit rating by a major rating agency of A or higher.  Our investments are classified as trading securities. Investments in both fixed rate and floating rate interest earning securities carry a degree of interest rate risk. Fixed rate securities may have their fair market value adversely impacted due to a rise in interest rates, while floating rate securities may produce less income than predicted if interest rates fall. Due in part to these factors, the value of our investments and/or our income from investments may decrease in the future.

Intangible Asset Risk

We have intangible assets and perform goodwill impairment tests annually and whenever events or circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable from estimated future cash flows. As a result of our periodic evaluations, we may determine that the values of our intangible assets need to be written down to their fair values, which could result in material charges that could be adverse to our operating results and financial position. We evaluate the continuing value of goodwill by using valuation techniques based on multiples of earnings, revenue, EBITDA (i.e., earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) particularly with regard to entities similar to us that have recently been acquired.  We also consider the market value of our own stock and those of companies similar to ours.   As of September 30, 2010, we believe our intangible assets are recoverable, however, changes in the economy, the business in which we operate and our own relative performance could change the assumptions used to evaluate intangible asset recoverability.  We continue to monitor those assumptions and their effect on the estimated recoverability of our intangible assets.

Equity Price Risk

We do not own any equity investments, other than in our subsidiaries. As a result, we do not currently have any direct equity price risk.

Commodity Price Risk

We do not enter into contracts for the purchase or sale of commodities. As a result, we do not currently have any direct commodity price risk.

 
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ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Under the supervision and with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer we carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures for the period ended September 30, 2010.
 
Based on our evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that the information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in SEC rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during our last fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

PART II   OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

We are a party to certain claims arising in the ordinary course of business. We believe that the outcome of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on our financial position or the results of our operations.
 
ITEM 1A.  RISK FACTORS

There has been no material changes in our risk factors from those disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009 other than as set forth below.

Reductions in Funding for Medicare Programs under the Recent Healthcare Reform Legislation and Future Related Regulations Could Have a Material Adverse Effect on Our Business, Revenue and Profitability

The President of the United States and members of the U.S. Congress have enacted significant reforms to the U.S. healthcare system. On March 23, 2010, the President signed into law The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, and on March 30, 2010 the President signed into law The Healthcare and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010.

The new laws impose significant new regulations and makes changes to the Medicare Advantage program.   Among other things, the new laws limit Medicare Advantage payment rates, stipulate a prescribed minimum ratio for the amount of premium revenues to be expended on medical costs, give the Secretary of Health and Human Services the ability to deny Medicare Advantage plan bids that propose significant increases in cost sharing or decreases in benefits and make certain changes to Medicare Part D.   Implementation of these and the other provisions generally vary from as early as six months from the date of enactment to as long as 2018.

Substantially all of our revenue is directly or indirectly derived from reimbursements generated by Medicare Advantage health plans.  As a result, our business and results of operations are dependent on government funding levels for Medicare Advantage programs.  Changes to Medicare Advantage health plan reimbursement rates stemming from the new laws as well as future regulations adopted in connection therewith may negatively impact our business, revenue and profitability.

We believe that as premiums are reduced the impact on us will be partially mitigated by, among other things, enhanced medical management that will reduce the cost of care, reduced benefit offerings, increased customer co-pays and deductibles, the potential for quality bonuses, improved risk score compliance and/or other factors.  We have limited ability to influence the benefits offered or co-pays and deductibles set by Humana.

There are numerous steps required to implement these laws including, for example, regulation necessary to determine the methodology of calculating minimum ratios for medical expenditures. Further, various health insurance reform proposals are also emerging at the state level. Because of the unsettled nature of these reforms and numerous steps required to implement them, we cannot predict what additional health insurance reforms will be implemented at the federal or state level, or the effect that any future legislation or regulation will have on our business. There is also considerable uncertainty around  the impact of these reforms on the health insurance market as a whole and on our competitors’ actions. However, the enacted reforms as well as future legislative changes may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, including lowering our reimbursement rates and increasing our expenses.
 
 
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CMS announced that it would audit Medicare Advantage plans, primarily targeted based on risk score growth, for compliance by the plans and their providers with proper coding practices.  CMS began targeted medical record reviews and adjustment payment validations in late 2008, focusing on risk adjustment data from 2006 dates of service, which were the basis for premium payments for the 2007 plan year.  CMS has indicated that payment adjustments will not be limited to risk scores for the specific beneficiaries for which errors are found but may be extrapolated to the entire plan.  There can be no assurance that Humana’s Medicare Advantage plans will not be randomly selected or targeted for review by CMS or, in the event that a Humana Medicare Advantage plan is selected for a review, that the outcome of such a review will not result in a material adjustment in our revenue and profitability.  Additionally, healthcare reform legislation includes heightened inspection and enforcement provisions.
 
In addition, any of the following changes, among others, could have a material adverse effect on our business:

 
o
reductions in funding of programs;
 
 
o
expansion of benefits without adequate funding; or
 
 
o
elimination of coverage for certain individuals, benefits or treatments under programs.
 
Any of the foregoing changes, among others, could compel Medicare Advantage plan providers to increase member premiums, compel them to reduce the benefits they offer, or some combination thereof, thereby making Medicare Advantage plans potentially less attractive to Medicare customers relative to other insurance or care options.

ITEM 2.  UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
 
Common stock repurchases under our authorized plan during the third quarter of 2010 were as follows:

Period
 
Total Number of
Shares Purchased
   
Average Price
Paid Per
Share
   
Total Number of
Shares Purchased as
Part of Publicly
Announced Plans (1)
   
Maximum Number of
Shares That May Yet
Be Purchased Under
the Plan
 
July 1, 2010 - July 31, 2010
    -       -       -       5,577,944  
August 1, 2010 - August 31, 2010
    138,066     $ 3.51       138,066       5,439,878  
September 1, 2010 - September 30, 2010
    19,911     $ 3.53       19,911       5,419,967  

(1)
On October 3, 2008, we announced a stock repurchase plan pursuant to which our Board of Directors authorized us to repurchase up to 10 million shares of our common stock.  On each of August 3, 2009 and February 24, 2010, the Board of Directors approved a 5 million share increase to the share repurchase program, bringing the total number of shares of common stock authorized for repurchase under the program to 20 million shares.  The plan does not have a scheduled expiration date.
 
 
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ITEM 6.  EXHIBITS

31.1
Certification of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002*
31.2
Certification of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002*
32.1
Certification of the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002**


*     filed herewith
**    furnished herewith

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the Undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 
METROPOLITAN HEALTH NETWORKS, INC.
Registrant
 
   
Date:  November 3, 2010
/s/ Michael M. Earley
 
Michael M. Earley
 
Chairman, Chief Executive Officer
   
 
/s/ Robert J. Sabo
 
Robert J. Sabo
 
Chief Financial Officer
 
(principal finance and accounting officer)
 
 
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