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Note 11 - Financial Instruments
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012
Fair Value Disclosures [Text Block]
(11)            Financial Instruments

The FASB issued ASC 815 which establishes accounting and reporting standards for derivative instruments. ASC 815 requires an entity to recognize all derivatives as either assets or liabilities and measure those instruments at fair value. Derivatives that do not qualify as a hedge must be adjusted to fair value in earnings. If the derivative does qualify as a hedge under ASC 815, changes in the fair value will either be offset against the change in fair value of the hedged assets, liabilities or firm commitments or recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income until the hedged item is recognized in earnings. The ineffective portion of a hedge’s change in fair value will be immediately recognized in earnings.

In August 2008, in order to protect against interest rate exposure on its variable-rate debt, the Company entered into an interest rate swap to fix the interest rate applicable to certain of its variable-rate debt. The agreement swaps one-month LIBOR for a fixed interest rate of 4.36% with a notional amount of $8.3 million, $6.6 million and $4.8 million as of December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012, respectively. The Company did not meet the criteria for hedge accounting under ASC 815, thus the difference between its amortized cost and its fair value resulted in an unrealized gain (loss) at December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012 of $(42,000), $328,000 and $225,000 respectively, and such amount was reported in interest and other expenses, net on the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations.

In September 2012, in order to protect against foreign currency exposure on its Australian operations, the Company borrowed in Australian dollars as a hedge of its net investment in Australia related to the MedHealth acquisition. The Company has outstanding debt of approximately AUD$50.0 million that is designated as a hedge of its net investment in Australia as of December 31, 2012. There were no amounts designated as net investment hedges as of December 31, 2011. This non-derivative net investment hedge was classified as long-term debt in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets. In accordance with ASC 815, the translation of this debt instrument designated as a net investment hedge is recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss, offsetting the currency translation adjustment of the related net investment that is also recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss. This instrument will mature in conjunction with amounts outstanding under the Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility.

The Company does not enter into derivative transactions for speculative purposes.