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LOUISVILLE, Ky.--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--Kindred Healthcare, Inc. (aKindreda or the aCompanya) (NYSE:KND) today announced that Paul J. Diaz, Kindredas Chief Executive Officer, testified before the U.S. Senate Finance Committee (the aCommitteea).

"Progress in Health Care Delivery: Innovations from the Field."

Mr. Diaz was invited to testify at a hearing titled aProgress in Health Care Delivery: Innovations from the Field.a At the hearing, Mr. Diaz spoke about the need for collaboration, teamwork and alignment of interests in order to transform the nationas healthcare delivery system to be more patient-centered, outcome-driven and cost effective, and the critical role post-acute care plays in such a system.

In oral testimony before the Committee, Mr. Diaz shared the Companyas experiences in testing new care models in different markets. Specifically, he stated, aSeveral years ago, Kindred and other providers began to develop the capabilities to meet the needs of patients throughout their entire episode of care to begin to address the shortcomings of the current silo-based system. So we set out to build the capabilities to deliver integrated post-acute care in local communities.a

Discussing the role of post-acute care in pursuing new care models, Mr. Diaz said, aWe have to do a better job of coordinating care for patients a" to improve quality and reduce costs a" and tremendous opportunities exist as our patients leave hospitals, enter post-acute care settings, and ultimately transition home.a

Mr. Diazas written testimony, available at [ http://www.finance.senate.gov/hearings ], provides detailed accounts of pilots where Kindred is collaborating with physicians, and acute care and managed care partners and testing new models of care delivery.

Reaffirming Kindredas commitment to work with the Committee and other healthcare providers to transform the nationas healthcare delivery system and to be part of the solution, Mr. Diaz remarked, aWe can improve quality and reduce costs in the near term by re-shaping our delivery and payment systems. But investments in wellness and prevention, electronic health records, and care management offer longer term rewards.a

A webcast archive of the hearing is available to view at: [ http://www.finance.senate.gov/hearings/watch/?id=6b0758d4-5056-a032-529d-2cb26e7a98bf ].

About Kindred Healthcare

Kindred Healthcare, Inc., a top-125 private employer in the United States, is a FORTUNE 500 healthcare services company based in Louisville, Kentucky with annual revenues of $6 billion and approximately 76,000 employees in 46 states. At March 31, 2012, Kindred through its subsidiaries provided healthcare services in 2,142 locations, including 120 long-term acute care hospitals, six inpatient rehabilitation hospitals, 224 nursing and rehabilitation centers, 26 sub-acute units, 52 hospice and home care locations, 100 inpatient rehabilitation units (hospital-based) and a contract rehabilitation services business, RehabCare, which served 1,614 non-affiliated facilities. Ranked as one of Fortune magazineas Most Admired Healthcare Companies for four years in a row, Kindredas mission is to promote healing, provide hope, preserve dignity and produce value for each patient, resident, family member, customer, employee and shareholder we serve. For more information, go to [ www.kindredhealthcare.com ].