Significant Accounting Policies

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Significant Accounting Policies

Note 1. Significant Accounting Policies

MEDITECH is engaged in the development, manufacture, licensing and support of computer software products for the hospital market. The principal market for its products consists of healthcare providers located primarily in the United States and Canada.

The accompanying financial statements reflect the application of certain accounting policies discussed below. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

(a) Revenue Recognition

MEDITECH follows the provisions of ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. MEDITECH enters into perpetual software license contracts which provide for a customer deposit upon contract execution, milestone billings during the implementation phase and fixed monthly support fees thereafter.

MEDITECH considers software fees and related implementation fees together as a single performance obligation and classifies it as product revenue in the statement of income. Such revenue is recognized over time with the transfer of promised goods and services to the customer. MEDITECH considers post-implementation support fees as a separate performance obligation and classifies it as service revenue in the statement of income. Such revenue is recognized over time as the related services are rendered.

MEDITECH identifies the performance obligations for each contract, determines the transaction price, allocates the price to the performance obligations, and recognizes revenue when (or as) a performance obligation is satisfied on the percent completion method based on completion of specific events. The primary factors taken into consideration involve tracking and measuring the progress of events needed to complete software delivery, training on software usage, interfacing the software with other vendor software, and bringing the software operational at the customer's site. Events identified are estimated at the outset of a contract and the transaction price is allocated equally over said events. Annual studies are conducted on the events required to complete contracted performance obligations and to verify the validity of total events required. Variable consideration is reviewed at the outset of a contract and if present, included in the percentage completion allocation.

At December 31, 2019, outstanding performance obligations amounted to $181.7 million, with revenue to be recognized over the next 12-36 months as MEDITECH works with respective customers to schedule the corresponding software delivery and implementation events.

MEDITECH's invoices are issued as per contract terms and are typically paid by customers within one month of invoice date. Differences between timing of MEDITECH's invoicing and timing of completed performance obligations are categorized as Deferred Revenues and Contract Assets. Deferred Revenues represent invoices rendered in advance of revenue recognition. Contract Assets represent revenue recognized for which invoices have not yet been rendered.

Deferred product revenue was $42.9 million and $29.0 million at December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2019 respectively. During the year a total of $32.7 million was removed and recognized as revenue when specific events were completed. Also, Contract Assets were $5.9 million and $8.6 million at December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2019 respectively.

During 2017, 2018 and 2019, additional revenue of $9.1 million, $2.1 million and $4.7 million respectively was claimed based on adoption of the new revenue standard ASC 606 as specific events were attained over time under the new percentage of completion as compared to a point in time using the contract milestone approach previously followed under ASC 985-605.

During 2019 MEDITECH delivered and began installation services on a license agreement for which collectability of substantially all of the consideration was not deemed to be probable at the outset of the arrangement. As a result, MEDITECH did not recognize revenue on delivery of product and installation services amounting to $16.5M. All costs incurred for delivery of product and installation services under this arrangement were expensed as incurred.

(b) Software Development Costs

MEDITECH follows the provisions of ASC 985-20, Accounting for the Costs of Computer Software to Be Sold, Leased or Marketed. ASC 985-20 establishes standards for capitalizing software development costs incurred after technological feasibility of the software development projects is established and the realizability of such capitalized costs through future operations is expected, if such costs become material. MEDITECH's development cost after technological feasibility has been established was immaterial and charged to operations as incurred.

(c) Cash and Equivalents

MEDITECH considers all highly liquid investments purchased with original maturities of 90 days or less to be cash equivalents.

(d) Common Stock Dividend Policy

MEDITECH's Board of Directors has full discretion regarding the timing and amounts of dividends paid.

(e) Fair Value of Financial Instruments and Concentration of Credit Risk

The carrying value of MEDITECH's cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable approximates their fair value due to the short-term nature of these financial instruments. MEDITECH's marketable securities are carried at fair value.

Financial instruments that potentially subject MEDITECH to concentrations of credit risk are principally cash, cash equivalents, marketable securities and accounts receivable. MEDITECH places its cash and cash equivalents in highly rated institutions. Concentration of credit risk with respect to accounts receivable is limited to certain customers to whom MEDITECH makes substantial sales. To reduce risk, MEDITECH routinely assesses the financial strength of its customers and, as a result, believes that its accounts receivable credit risk exposure is limited. MEDITECH maintains a reserve for doubtful accounts but historically has not experienced any significant credit losses related to an individual customer or groups of customers.