pediatrix(US:MD)2025-08-05 14:00Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported adjusted EBITDA of over $73 million for Q2 2025, exceeding expectations, driven by same unit revenue growth of over 6% [4][5] - Consolidated revenue decreased by just over 7%, primarily due to non-same unit activity declining by about $63 million, offset by strong same unit growth [6][7] - The full year adjusted EBITDA range has been raised and narrowed to $245 million to $255 million, reflecting improved cash position and balance sheet [5][10] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Same unit pricing increased by 3.5%, driven by increased patient acuity, strong RCM cash collections, and an increase in contract administrative fees [6][7] - Same unit patient service volumes increased by approximately 3%, with NICU days up over 6% and modest increases in maternal fetal medicine services [7][8] - G&A expenses decreased to $5.3 million from $8.8 million in the prior year, reflecting staffing reductions and decreases in other expense categories [8] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Payer mix remained stable compared to the prior year and on a consecutive quarter basis [6] - Accounts receivable DSO improved to 46.4 days, down over three days year over year, indicating better cash collections [9] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to be the best partner to hospitals and the employer of choice for clinicians, focusing on quality of care and operational excellence [11][12] - The addition of a new team member is expected to enhance quality efforts and identify financial and operational opportunities [14] - The company is prepared to manage through legislative changes affecting Medicaid, particularly in non-expansion states where 60% of its volume resides [15][30] Management Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in navigating headwinds in the healthcare environment, emphasizing the importance of a strong balance sheet [11][17] - The company is optimistic about its ability to manage through the impacts of the Neonatal Care Transparency Act and other legislative changes [15][30] - Future guidance reflects a cautious view on hospital landscape but expects stable margins moving forward [50][51] Other Important Information - The company generated $138 million in operating cash flow in Q2, up from $109 million in the prior year, driven by higher earnings [8] - The company ended the quarter with cash of $225 million and net debt of just over $380 million, reflecting a net leverage of just above 1.5 times [9] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you talk about the hospital admin fees and their growth? - Hospital admin fees contributed about a third of the pricing growth in Q2, with negotiations showing success despite challenges [20][21] Question: What is the flow-through of admin fee increases to doctor compensation versus corporate? - The flow-through is estimated to be in the 30% to 40% range and is expected to be immediate [23][24] Question: What is driving the strong NICU growth this quarter? - The growth is attributed to multiple factors, including increased acuity and overall strong performance across services [27] Question: How will the Medicaid impact from the big beautiful bill affect the company? - The impact is unclear, but management is hopeful that the focus on pregnant women and children will shield them from cuts [30][33] Question: Can you elaborate on the buyback strategy and its pace? - The company is focused on maintaining a strong balance sheet and is open to share buybacks if deemed beneficial [38][41] Question: What is the update on IDR and arbitration with payers? - The process has been favorable, with the company remaining predominantly in-network and successfully negotiating with payers [44] Question: What is the outlook on revenue and margins for the rest of the year? - The company expects stable margins but acknowledges tougher comps as the year progresses [50][51]