VITAS Healthcare Corporation Acquires Alabama-Based Hospice Provider Family Comfort Hospice

MIAMI--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--Chemed Corporation (aChemeda) (NYSE: CHE) today announced that its VITAS Healthcare Corporation (aVITASa) subsidiary has acquired the operating assets of Family Comfort Hospice based in Alabama, effective April 29, 2011. This acquisition adds three Central-Alabama locations serving ten counties to VITASa� network of hospice programs. VITAS is the nationa�s premier provider of end-of-life hospice care services. Alabama is a Certificate of Need state for hospice. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

"This acquisition reflects VITASa� enduring commitment to serving patients and families by offering access to the highest quality end-of-life care. VITAS looks forward to honoring that commitment to meet the expanding end-of-life needs of Alabamaa�s communities"

aThis acquisition reflects VITASa� enduring commitment to serving patients and families by offering access to the highest quality end-of-life care. VITAS looks forward to honoring that commitment to meet the expanding end-of-life needs of Alabamaa�s communities,a stated Timothy Oa�Toole, Chief Executive Officer of VITAS.

aWe welcome the employees of Family Comfort Hospice to VITAS and we look forward to bringing our unique care delivery model to a new state,a added Oa�Toole.

Listed on the New York Stock Exchange and headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, Chemed Corporation ([ http://www.chemed.com ]) operates two wholly owned subsidiaries: VITAS Healthcare and Roto-Rooter. VITAS is the nation's largest provider of end-of-life hospice care and Roto-Rooter is the nation's leading provider of plumbing and drain cleaning services.

Statements in this press release or in other Chemed communications may relate to future events or Chemed's future performance. Such statements are forward-looking statements and are based on present information Chemed has related to its existing business circumstances. Investors are cautioned that such forward-looking statements are subject to inherent risk that actual results may differ materially from such forward-looking statements. Further, investors are cautioned that Chemed does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements based on unanticipated events or changed expectations.

VITAS Innovative Hospice Care^�, a pioneer and leader in the hospice movement since 1978, is the nationa�s leading provider of end-of-life care. Headquartered in Miami, Florida, VITAS (pronounced VEE-tahs) operates 53 hospice programs in 19 states (Alabama, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin). VITAS employs 10,492 professionals who care for terminally ill patients daily, primarily in the patientsa� homes, but also in the companya�s 32 inpatient hospice units as well as in hospitals, nursing homes and assisted living communities/residential care facilities for the elderly. At the conclusion of the first quarter of 2011, VITAS reported an average daily census of 13,031. Visit [ www.vitas.com ].

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VITAS Healthcare Corporation Acquires Alabama-Based Hospice Provider Family Comfort Hospice