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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2025
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Adoption of Recently Issued Accounting Standards

In December 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures (“ASU 2023-09”), which requires a public business entity to disclose specific categories in its annual effective tax rate reconciliation and provide disaggregated information about significant reconciling items by jurisdiction and by nature. ASU 2023-09 also requires entities to disclose their income tax payments (net of refunds) to international, federal, and state and local jurisdictions and includes several other changes to income tax disclosure requirements. The Company adopted the standard on December 31, 2025 and applied the amendments in the notes to the consolidated financial statements retrospectively to all prior periods presented.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted

In November 2024, the FASB issued ASU 2024-03, Disaggregation of Income Statement Expenses (“ASU 2024-03”), which requires the disclosure of certain disaggregated expenses within the notes to the financial statements. ASU 2024-03 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2026, and interim reporting periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2027. Adoption of ASU 2024-03 can either be applied prospectively to consolidated financial statements issued for reporting periods after the effective date of this standard or retrospectively to any or all prior periods presented in the consolidated financial statements. Early adoption is also permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the standard to determine its impact on the Company’s disclosures.

In September 2025, the FASB issued ASU 2025-06, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other - Internal-Use Software (Topic 350): Targeted Improvements to the Accounting for Internal-Use Software (“ASU 2025-06”), which modernizes the current internal-use software accounting guidance by removing all references to software project development stages. Under ASU 2025-06, an entity begins capitalizing software costs when (i) management has implicitly or explicitly authorized and committed to funding a computer software project and (ii) it is probable the project will be completed and the software will be used to perform the function intended (referred to as the “probable-to-complete recognition threshold”). This ASU is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2027, and interim periods within those annual reporting periods, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the standard to determine its impact on the Company’s disclosures.
Variable Interest Entities

Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) require variable interest entities (“VIEs”) to be consolidated if an entity’s interest in the VIE is a controlling financial interest in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 810, Consolidation (“ASC 810”). Under the variable interest model, a controlling financial interest is determined based on which entity, if any, has (i) the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance and (ii) the obligation to absorb the losses, or the right to receive the benefits, from the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE.

The Company performs ongoing reassessments of whether changes in the facts and circumstances regarding the Company’s involvement with a VIE could cause the Company’s consolidation conclusion to change. The consolidation status of the VIEs with which the Company is involved may change as a result of such reassessments. Changes in consolidation status are applied prospectively.

The Company, through its wholly-owned subsidiaries, owns majority interests in certain limited liability companies (“LLCs”), with each LLC owning and operating one or more hospitals. The noncontrolling interest is typically owned by a not-for-profit medical system, university, academic medical center or foundation or combination thereof (individually or collectively referred to as “minority member”). The employees that work for the LLC and the related hospital(s) are employees of the Company, and the Company manages the day-to-day operations of the LLC and the hospital(s) pursuant to a management services agreement (“MSA”).

The LLCs are VIEs due to their structure as LLCs and the control that resides with the Company through the MSA. The Company consolidates each of these LLCs as it is considered the primary beneficiary due to the MSA providing the Company the right to direct the day-to-day operating and capital activities of the LLC and the respective hospital(s) that most significantly impact the LLC’s economic performance. Additionally, the Company would absorb a majority of the entity’s expected losses, receive a majority of the entity’s expected residual returns, or both, as a result of its majority ownership, contractual or other financial interests in the entity. The MSAs are subject to termination only by mutual agreement of the Company and minority member, except in the case of gross negligence, fraud or bankruptcy of the Company, in which case the minority member can force termination of the MSA.
All of the Company’s VIEs meet the definition of a business, and the Company holds a majority of their issued voting equity interests. Their assets are not required to be used only for the settlement of VIE obligations as the Company has the ability to direct the use of the VIE assets through its joint venture and cash management agreements.

The governance rights of the minority members are restricted to those that protect their financial interests and do not preclude consolidation of the LLCs. The rights of minority members generally are limited to such items as the right to approve the issuance of new ownership interests, calls for additional cash contributions, the acquisition or divestiture of significant assets and the incurrence of debt in excess of levels not expected to be incurred in the normal course of business.
 
As of December 31, 2025 and 2024, nine of the Company’s hospitals were owned and operated through LLCs that have been determined to be VIEs and were consolidated by the Company. Consolidated assets at December 31, 2025 and 2024 included total assets of VIEs equal to $1.3 billion. The Company’s VIEs do not have creditors that have recourse to the Company. As the structure and nature of business are very similar for each of the LLCs, they are discussed and presented herein on a combined basis.

The total liabilities of VIEs included in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets are shown below (in thousands):

December 31, 2025December 31, 2024
Current liabilities
Current installments of long-term debt$3,635 $2,266 
Accounts payable 102,482 89,428 
Accrued salaries and benefits36,900 37,713 
Other accrued expenses and liabilities67,419 45,250 
Total current liabilities210,436 174,657 
Long-term debt, less current installments9,734 8,192 
Long-term operating lease liability 101,153 108,897 
Long-term operating lease liability, related party9,313 9,423 
Self-insured liabilities677 676 
Other long-term liabilities3,826 4,595 
Total liabilities$335,139 $306,440 

Income from operations before income taxes attributable to VIEs was $301.0 million, $291.4 million, and $257.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024, and 2023, respectively.
Accounting Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and judgments that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. On an ongoing basis, the Company evaluates its estimates. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
Deferred Offering Costs

Deferred offering costs consist primarily of legal and accounting fees, which are direct and incremental fees related to equity financings. The Company capitalizes these costs until equity financings are consummated, at which time the costs are recorded against the gross proceeds of the offering. Upon receipt of the IPO proceeds during the year ended December 31, 2024, deferred offering costs were recorded against the IPO proceeds within additional paid-in capital on the Company's consolidated balance sheet.
Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents. At times, cash and cash equivalent balances may exceed federally insured limits. Management believes that the Company mitigates any risks by depositing cash, and investing in cash equivalents, with major financial institutions.
Revenue Recognition

Overview

The Company’s revenue generally relates to contracts with patients in which its performance obligations are to provide healthcare services to the patients. Revenue is recorded during the period the Company’s obligations to provide healthcare services are satisfied. Revenue for performance obligations satisfied over time is recognized based on charges incurred in relation to total expected charges. The Company’s performance obligations for inpatient services are generally satisfied over periods that average approximately five days. The Company’s performance obligations for outpatient services are generally satisfied over a period of less than one day. As the Company’s performance obligations relate to contracts with a duration of one year or less, the Company elected the optional exemption under ASC Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, and, therefore, is not required to disclose the transaction price for the remaining performance obligations at the end of the reporting period or when the Company expects to recognize revenue. Additionally, the Company is not required to adjust the consideration for the existence of a significant financing component when the period between the transfer of the services and the payment for such services is one year or less.


Change in Accounting Estimate

During the year ended December 31, 2025, a change in accounting estimate resulting from a modification to the technique used to estimate the collectability of accounts receivable and new information provided by recently completed hindsight evaluations of historical collection trends resulted in a decrease in revenue of $42.6 million. During the third quarter of 2025, the Company implemented a new revenue accounting system that provided management with additional information to more precisely estimate the collectability of accounts receivable, particularly with respect to more timely consideration of payor denial and payment trends. The detailed information provided by the new system during the year ended December 31, 2025, along with the Company's recently completed analysis of historical collection trends, indicated the current collection estimate differed from historical collection estimates thereby resulting in a change in accounting estimate in accordance with ASC 250-10, Accounting Changes and Error Corrections, to be accounted for during the year ended December 31, 2025 (the period of change).


Contractual Adjustments, Discounts and Cost Report Settlements

Contractual relationships with patients, in most cases, involve a third party payor (Medicare, Medicaid and managed care health plans), and the transaction prices for services provided are dependent upon the terms provided by (Medicare and Medicaid) or negotiated with (managed care health plans) the third party payors. The payment arrangements with third party payors for the services provided to the related patients typically specify payments at amounts less than the Company’s standard charges.

The Company’s revenue is based upon the estimated amounts the Company expects to be entitled to receive from patients and third party payors. Estimates of contractual adjustments under managed care insurance plans are based upon the contractual payment terms specified in the related contractual agreements and the historical collection experience of each payor. Revenue related to uninsured patients and copayment and deductible amounts for patients who have healthcare coverage may have discounts applied (uninsured discounts and other discounts). The Company also records estimated implicit price concessions (based primarily on historical collection experience) related to uninsured accounts to record self-pay revenue at the estimated amounts expected to be collected. At December 31, 2025, implicit price concessions of $486.1 million were estimated based on information from the new revenue accounting system and were recorded as a reduction to the Company's accounts receivable balance, reflecting accounts receivable at the estimated amount the Company expects to collect.

Medicare and Medicaid regulations and various managed care contracts, under which the discounts from the Company’s standard charges must be calculated, are complex and are subject to interpretation and adjustment. The Company estimates contractual adjustments on a payor-specific basis based on its interpretation of the applicable regulations or contract terms and the historical collection experience of each payor. However, the necessity of the services authorized and provided, and resulting reimbursements, are often subject to interpretation. These interpretations may result in payments that differ from the Company’s estimates. Additionally, updated regulations and contract renegotiations occur frequently, necessitating continual review and assessment of the estimates by management.

Due to the complexities involved in the classification and documentation of healthcare services under the laws and regulations governing Medicare and Medicaid programs, the Company’s estimates of revenue earned and related reimbursement are often subject to interpretation that could result in payments that are different from its estimates. Final determination of amounts earned under Medicare, Medicaid and other third party payor programs often occurs in subsequent years because of audits by the programs, rights of appeal, and the application of technical provisions. Estimated reimbursement amounts, which are recorded within net patient service revenue in the period in which the related services are rendered, are adjusted in subsequent periods as cost reports are prepared and filed and as final settlements are determined (in relation to certain government programs, primarily Medicare, this is generally referred to as the “cost report” filing and settlement process). Differences between original estimates and subsequent revisions, including final settlements, are recorded as adjustments to net patient service revenue in the period in which such revisions become known. These adjustments resulted in an increase to net patient service revenue of $8.3 million, $5.8 million, and $6.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024, and 2023, respectively.

At December 31, 2025 and 2024, the Company’s settlements under reimbursement agreements with third-party payors were a net payable of $7.8 million and a net receivable $2.6 million, respectively, of which a receivable of $21.1 million and $29.9 million,
respectively, was included in other current assets and a payable of $28.9 million and $27.3 million, respectively, was included in other accrued expenses and liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets.

Final determination of amounts earned under prospective payment and other reimbursement activities is subject to review by appropriate governmental authorities or their agents. In the opinion of the Company’s management, adequate provision has been made for any adjustments that may result from such reviews.

Subsequent adjustments that are determined to be the result of an adverse change in the patient’s or the payor’s ability to pay are recognized as bad debt expense. Bad debt expense for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024, and 2023 was not material to the Company.

Currently, several states in which the Company operates utilize Medicaid supplemental payment programs for the purpose of providing reimbursement to providers to offset a portion of the cost of providing care to Medicaid and indigent patients. These programs, which are designed with input from and are subject to approval and periodic renewal by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services ("CMS"), are funded by a combination of state and federal resources, including, in certain instances, fees or taxes levied on the providers. Under these supplemental programs, the Company recognizes revenue in the period in which amounts are estimable and collection is reasonably assured such that a significant reversal of cumulative revenue is not probable in the future. The Company recognizes supplemental program expenses in the period to which they relate. Reimbursements under these programs are reflected in total revenue, and taxes or other program-related costs are included in other operating expenses.


Payor Mix

The Company’s total revenue is presented in the following table (dollars in thousands):

 Years Ended December 31,
 202520242023
 Amount% of Total RevenueAmount% of Total RevenueAmount% of Total Revenue
Medicare
$2,439,774 38.6 %$2,334,071 39.2 %$2,136,695 39.5 %
Medicaid
604,767 9.6 612,889 10.3 606,770 11.2 
Other managed care
2,800,359 44.3 2,599,858 43.5 2,304,718 42.6 
Self-pay and other
360,062 5.6 312,673 5.2 268,239 5.0 
Net patient service revenue
6,204,962 98.1 5,859,491 98.2 5,316,422 98.3 
Other revenue
119,377 1.9 106,581 1.8 93,061 1.7 
Total revenue
$6,324,339 100.0 %$5,966,072 100.0 %$5,409,483 100.0 %
 

Charity Care

The Company provides care without charge to certain patients who qualify under the local charity care policy of the hospital where the patient receives services. The Company estimates that its costs of care provided under its charity care programs approximated $55.8 million, $43.9 million, and $46.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024, and 2023, respectively. The Company does not report a charity care patient’s charges in revenue as it is the Company’s policy not to pursue collection of amounts related to these patients, and therefore contracts with these patients do not exist.

The Company’s management estimates its costs of care provided under its charity care programs utilizing a calculated ratio of costs to gross charges multiplied by the Company’s gross charity care charges provided. The Company’s gross charity care charges include only services provided to patients who are unable to pay and qualify under the Company’s local charity care policies. To the extent the Company receives reimbursement through the various governmental assistance programs in which it participates to subsidize its care of indigent patients, the Company does not include these patients’ charges in its cost of care provided under its charity care program.
Patient Accounts Receivable

Patient accounts receivable are recorded at net realizable value based on certain assumptions applicable to each payor. For third party payors including Medicare, Medicaid and managed care, the net realizable value is based on the estimated contractual reimbursement percentage, which is based on historical paid claims data by payor. For self-pay accounts receivable, which includes patients who are uninsured and the patient responsibility portion for patients with insurance, the net realizable value is determined using estimates of historical collection experience. These estimates are adjusted for estimated conversions of patient responsibility portions, expected recoveries and anticipated changes in business and economic conditions, trends in federal, state and private employer healthcare coverage and other collection indicators.

Patient accounts receivable can be impacted by the effectiveness of the Company’s collection efforts. Additionally, significant changes in payor mix, business office operations, economic conditions or trends in federal, state and private employer healthcare coverage
could affect the net realizable value of accounts receivable. The Company also continually reviews the net realizable value of accounts receivable by monitoring historical cash collections as a percentage of trailing operating revenues and retrospective reviews of historical reserve accuracy, as well as by analyzing current period revenue and admissions by payor classification, aged accounts receivable by payor, days revenue outstanding, the composition of self-pay receivables between pure self-pay patients and the patient responsibility portion of third party insured receivables and the impact of recent acquisitions and dispositions.

Patient accounts receivable is the Company’s primary concentration of credit risk, which consists of amounts owed by various governmental agencies, managed care payors, commercial insurance companies, employers and patients. The Company manages its patient accounts receivable by regularly reviewing its accounts and contracts and by providing appropriate allowances for price concessions and uncollectible amounts. The Company’s management recognizes that revenues and receivables from government agencies are significant to the Company’s operations, but it does not believe that there are significant credit risks associated with these governmental agencies. Management does not believe that there are any other significant concentrations of revenues from any particular payor or geographic area that would subject the Company to any significant credit risks as the number of patients and payors limits concentration of credit risk from any one payor.
Market Risks

The Company’s revenue is subject to potential regulatory and economic changes in certain states where the Company generates significant revenue. The following is an analysis by state of revenue as a percentage of the Company’s total revenue for those states in which the Company generates significant revenue:

 Years Ended December 31,
 202520242023
Oklahoma
23.6 %24.2 %24.2 %
New Mexico
17.0 16.0 15.5 
Texas
35.7 36.0 36.2 
New Jersey
10.2 9.8 10.4 
Other
13.5 14.0 13.7 
Total
100.0 %100.0 %100.0 %
Government Assistance

Pursuant to ASU 2021-10, Disclosures by Business Entities about Government Assistance, as an accounting policy election, the Company has utilized International Accounting Standards 20, Accounting for Government Grants and Disclosure of Government Assistance, by analogy to recognize funds received from governmental entities as revenue, given no direct authoritative guidance under GAAP is available to for-profit organizations to recognize revenue for government contributions and grants.

On March 27, 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”) was enacted by the federal government. Among other provisions, the CARES Act authorized relief funding to healthcare providers through the Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund (“Provider Relief Fund”). The CARES Act also expanded the Medicare Accelerated and Advance Payment Program through which eligible providers could request accelerated Medicare payments to be repaid through withholdings against future Medicare fee-for-service payments. Distributions from the Provider Relief Fund were intended to reimburse healthcare providers for lost revenue and increased expenses related to the pandemic and were not subject to repayment, provided recipients attested to and complied with applicable terms and conditions set forth by legislation. Distributions provided by the Provider Relief Fund were accounted for as government grants and were recognized in the consolidated income statements once the grant was received and there was reasonable assurance that the applicable terms and conditions required to retain the distributions were met.

During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company received and recognized $8.5 million in cash distributions from the Provider Relief Fund and other state and local programs as government stimulus income, a reduction of operating expenses, on its consolidated income statement. Government compliance audits may result in derecognition of amounts previously recognized and repayment of such amounts.
Inventories

Inventories consist primarily of hospital supplies and pharmaceuticals and are stated at the lower of cost (first-in, first-out method) or market. These inventory items are primarily operating supplies used in the direct or indirect treatment of patients.
Property and Equipment

Property and equipment additions are recorded at cost. Property and equipment acquired in connection with business combinations are recorded at estimated fair value in accordance with the acquisition method of accounting as prescribed in ASC 805-10, Business
Combinations. Routine maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred. Expenditures that increase values, change capacities or extend useful lives are capitalized. Depreciation is computed by applying the straight-line method over the lesser of the estimated useful lives of the assets or lease term, ranging generally from five to forty years for buildings and improvements, one to twenty years for equipment, four to seven years for software, and three to ten years for leasehold improvements.

When events, circumstances or operating results indicate the carrying values of certain long-lived assets expected to be held and used might be impaired, the Company prepares projections of the undiscounted future cash flows expected to result from the use of the assets and their eventual disposition. If the projections indicate the recorded amounts are not expected to be recoverable, such amounts are reduced to estimated fair value. Assets classified as held for sale are reflected at the lower of carrying value or fair value less cost to sale. Fair value may be estimated based upon internal evaluations that include quantitative analyses of revenues and cash flows, reviews of recent sales of similar assets and independent appraisals. The Company recorded no fixed asset impairment charges in 2025, 2024 or 2023.
Goodwill

Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the estimated fair value of identifiable net assets acquired in business combinations. In accordance with ASC 350, Intangibles — Goodwill and Other, goodwill and intangible assets acquired in a business combination and determined to have an indefinite useful life are not amortized but are subject to annual impairment tests. The Company tests for goodwill impairment at the reporting unit level and has determined that it has one reporting unit for purposes of the goodwill impairment assessment.

In addition to an annual impairment test, the Company evaluates goodwill for impairment whenever circumstances indicate a possible impairment may exist. In accordance with ASU 2017-04, Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment, the Company first assesses qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not (that is, a likelihood of more than 50%) that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, including goodwill. If, after assessing qualitative factors, the Company determines that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, a quantitative impairment test is performed to identify potential goodwill impairment and measure the amount of goodwill impairment loss to be recognized, if any.

The Company completed its most recent goodwill impairment assessment as of October 1, 2025. The Company concluded that sufficient evidence existed to assert that it was more likely than not that the estimated fair value of the reporting unit remained in excess of its carrying value. The Company recorded no goodwill impairment charges in 2025, 2024 or 2023.

The Company estimates the fair value of its reporting unit based on various qualitative and, when necessary, quantitative assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Such assumptions include estimates using the income approach, which estimates fair value based on discounted cash flows, the market approach, which estimates fair value based on comparable market prices, as well as the Company's recent stock price. Actual results may differ from the estimates used in the Company’s assumptions, which may require a future impairment charge that could have a material adverse impact on the Company’s financial position and results of operations.

The following table summarizes the changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for the following periods (in thousands):
 
 Total
Balance at December 31, 2023$844,704 
Goodwill acquired7,380 
Balance at December 31, 2024852,084 
Goodwill acquired27,367 
Balance at December 31, 2025$879,451 
Other Intangible Assets

Other intangible assets consist of both indefinite-lived and definite-lived intangible assets. The Company's indefinite-lived intangible assets consist of trade names, certificates of need, and Medicare and Medicaid licenses. Trade names comprised the majority of the value of the Company's indefinite-lived intangible assets and were $76.1 million at December 31, 2025 and 2024. Indefinite-lived intangible assets are not amortized but are subject to annual impairment tests, and impairment reviews are performed whenever circumstances indicate possible impairment may exist. The Company recorded no intangible asset impairment charges in 2025, 2024 or 2023.

The Company's definite-lived intangible assets consist of capitalized internal-use software costs, which are amortized straight-line over the expected useful life of the underlying asset, which is generally five years, and included in depreciation and amortization expense in the consolidated income statements. For the intangible assets acquired in the current year, the weighted-average amortization period was approximately five years and there is no expected residual value.

The gross carrying amount of amortizable intangible assets at December 31, 2025 was $13.2 million, and the net carrying amount of amortizable intangible assets at December 31, 2025 was $12.4 million. There were no amortizable intangible assets prior to 2025.
Amortization expense related to these intangible assets was $0.8 million during the year ended December 31, 2025, with amortization expense estimated to be $2.7 million, $2.7 million, $2.7 million, $2.7 million and $1.6 million in 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029, and 2030 respectively.
Acquisitions

Acquisitions are accounted for using the acquisition method of accounting prescribed by ASC 805, Business Combinations, and the results of operations are included in the consolidated income statement from the respective dates of acquisition. The purchase price of these transactions is allocated to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed based upon their respective fair values at the date of acquisition and can be subject to change up to 12 months subsequent to the acquisition date due to settling amounts related to purchased working capital and final determination of fair value estimates.

The Company is required to allocate the purchase price of acquired businesses to assets acquired and liabilities assumed and, if applicable, noncontrolling interests based on their fair values. The Company records the excess of the purchase price allocation over those fair values as goodwill.

On January 1, 2025, the Company completed the acquisitions of certain assets and operations of 18 urgent care clinics in New Mexico and Oklahoma for a combined purchase price of $27.5 million. The consideration transferred on December 31, 2024, consisted solely of cash. Upon closing of the acquisitions, approximately $4.1 million was placed into escrow to cover potential working capital adjustments and to secure certain indemnification obligations pursuant to the terms of the purchase agreements. This escrow amount is included in the total purchase consideration of $27.5 million. Most of the combined purchase price for assets and operations acquired was recorded as goodwill with an immaterial portion allocated to identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed. As of December 31, 2025, the fair values of assets and liabilities recorded related to these acquisitions were finalized and the measurement period was closed.
Risk Management and Self-Insured Liabilities

The Company maintains claims-made commercial insurance related to professional liability risks and occurrence-based commercial insurance related to workers’ compensation and general liability risks. The Company provides an accrual representing the estimated ultimate costs of all reported and unreported claims incurred and unpaid through the respective balance sheet dates, which includes the costs of litigating or settling claims. The estimated ultimate costs include estimates of direct expenses and fees of outside counsel and experts, but do not include the general overhead costs of the Company’s in-house legal and risk management departments.
Equity-Based Compensation

The Company accounts for equity-based awards under the measurement and recognition provisions of ASC 718, Compensation — Stock Compensation. The Company measures the awards based on their grant date fair value and recognizes the resulting compensation expense in the income statements on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period of the respective awards. The Company employed a Black-Scholes option pricing model (“OPM”) to determine the grant date fair value of certain of its equity-based awards granted prior to the IPO. The grant date fair values of restricted stock awards (“RSAs”), restricted stock units (“RSUs”) and performance-based restricted stock units (“PRSUs”) are determined using the closing price of the Company's stock on the date of grant. Certain PRSUs are subject to a market condition modifier, which is based on the Company's total shareholder return (“TSR”) over a three-year performance period relative to a pre-determined peer group, and the grant date fair value of these awards is determined using a Monte Carlo simulation as of the date of grant. The Company accounts for forfeitures as they occur.
Income Taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes associated with the activities of Ardent Health, Inc., which is subject to federal and state income tax as a corporation. The Company calculates the provision for income taxes using the asset and liability method, under which deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized by identifying the temporary differences that arise from the recognition of items in different periods for tax and accounting purposes. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a difference in estimated and actual tax rates is recognized as income or loss in the period that includes the enactment date. The Company identifies deferred tax assets that more likely than not, based on the available evidence, will be unrealizable in future periods and records a valuation allowance accordingly.

Federal and state tax laws are complex, and the Company’s tax positions may be subject to interpretation and adjustment by federal and state taxing authorities. The Company accounts for uncertain tax positions in accordance with ASC 740, Income Taxes (“ASC 740”), which prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. Only tax positions that meet the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold may be recognized. The final outcome of audits by federal and state taxing authorities may have a significant effect on the financial position and results of operations of the Company.
The provisions of ASC 740 allow for the classification of interest paid on an underpayment of income tax and related penalties, if applicable, as part of income tax expense, interest expense or another appropriate expense classification based on the accounting policy election of the entity. The Company has elected to classify interest and penalties as part of income tax expense. Refer to Note 8 for further discussion on income taxes.
Derivatives and Hedging

The Company records all derivatives on the consolidated balance sheets at fair value. The accounting for changes in the fair value of derivatives depends on the intended use of the derivative, whether the Company has elected to designate a derivative in a hedging relationship and apply hedge accounting, and whether the hedging relationship has satisfied the criteria necessary to apply hedge accounting. Derivatives designated and qualifying as a hedge of the exposure to changes in the fair value of an asset, liability, or firm commitment attributable to a particular risk, such as interest rate risk, are considered fair value hedges. Derivatives designated and qualifying as a hedge of the exposure to variability in expected future cash flows, or other types of forecasted transactions, are considered cash flow hedges. Hedge accounting generally provides for the matching of the timing of gain or loss recognition on the hedging instrument with the recognition of the changes in the fair value of the hedged asset or liability that are attributable to the hedged risk in a fair value hedge or the earnings effect of the hedged forecasted transactions in a cash flow hedge. The Company may enter into derivative contracts that are intended to economically hedge certain risks, even though hedge accounting does not apply or the Company elects not to apply hedge accounting.

The Company’s pay-fixed swap derivatives are designated as cash flow hedges of future interest payments on variable rate debt. The Company has elected hedge accounting for these instruments, thus changes in the fair value of the derivatives are recorded within accumulated other comprehensive income. As variable interest payments are made related to the debt and are recorded to interest expense, the Company releases the gain or loss in accumulated other comprehensive income and records it against interest expense to offset the earnings impact. See Note 7 for further discussion of the Company's derivative financial instruments.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The Company applies the provisions of ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (“ASC 820”), which provides a single definition of fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value, and expands disclosures concerning fair value measurements. The Company applies these provisions to the valuation and disclosure of certain financial instruments. ASC 820 establishes a three-tier fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value. These tiers include: (i) Level 1, which is defined as quoted prices in active markets that can be accessed at the measurement date; (ii) Level 2, which is defined as inputs other than quoted prices in active markets that are observable, either directly or indirectly; and (iii) Level 3, which is defined as unobservable inputs resulting from the existence of little or no market data, therefore potentially requiring an entity to develop its own assumptions.

Cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, inventories, prepaid expenses, other current assets, accounts payable, accrued salaries and benefits, accrued interest and other accrued expenses and current liabilities (other than those pertaining to lease liabilities) are reflected in the accompanying consolidated financial statements at amounts that approximate fair value because of the short-term nature of these instruments. Refer to Note 7 for discussion of the fair value measurement of the Company’s derivative instruments.

The fair value of the Company’s revolving credit facility approximates its carrying value as it bears interest at current market rates. The carrying amounts and fair values of the Company’s senior secured term loan facility and its 5.75% Senior Notes due 2029 (the “5.75% Senior Notes”) were as follows (in thousands):
 
 Carrying AmountFair Value
 December 31, 2025December 31, 2024December 31, 2025December 31, 2024
Senior secured term loan facility
$770,499 $773,772 $770,499 $779,575 
5.75% Senior Notes
$299,686 $299,596 $295,191 $289,110 

The estimated fair values of the Company’s senior secured term loan facility and the 5.75% Senior Notes were based upon quoted market prices at that date and are categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.
Noncontrolling Interests

The financial statements include the financial position and results of operations of hospital and healthcare operations in which the Company owned less than 100% of the equity interests, but maintained a controlling interest during the presented periods. Earnings or losses attributable to the noncontrolling interests are presented separately in the consolidated income statements.

In accordance with ASC 810, holders of noncontrolling interests are considered to be equity holders in the consolidated company, pursuant to which noncontrolling interests are classified as part of equity, unless the noncontrolling interests are redeemable. Certain redemptive features associated with the noncontrolling interests for The University of Kansas Health System – St. Francis Campus (“St. Francis”) could require the Company to deliver cash if the redemptive features are exercised. These redemptive features could be
exercised upon, among other things, the Company’s exclusion or suspension from participation in any federal or state government healthcare payor program. Therefore, the noncontrolling interests balance for St. Francis is classified outside the permanent equity section of the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.
 
The redeemable noncontrolling interests related to St. Francis have not been subsequently measured at fair value since the acquisition date in 2017. The noncontrolling interests are not currently redeemable and it is not probable that the noncontrolling interests will become redeemable as the possibility of the Company being excluded or suspended from participation in any federal or state government healthcare payor program is remote.
Earnings Per Share

Basic net income per share is computed by dividing net income available to common stockholders by the weighted-average common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net income per share takes into account the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue shares, such as unvested restricted stock units, were exercised and converted into shares. Diluted net income per share is computed by dividing net income available to common stockholders by the weighted-average common shares outstanding during the period, increased by the number of additional shares that would have been outstanding if the potential shares had been issued and were dilutive.