Home Health & Hospice Week

News of debt restructuring has sent stock prices for Gentiva Health Services Inc. up. The Atlanta-based national chain obtained an amendment to its senior secured credit agreement to increase financial covenant flexibility in the fourth quarter of 2011, it says in a release. At press time, Gentiva stock was trading at $5.84. That's up from a low of $2.81 over the last year. Like the rest of the industry, Gentiva is hunkering down for some rough times. "This amendment represents the first part of a two-part strategy which is intended to provide flexibility through the next few years as the Company works with its lenders to reset its financial covenants to reflect a more difficult reimbursement environment," it says in the release.