VITAS acquires operating assets of Alabama-based Family Comfort Hospice

Chemed Corporation ("Chemed") (NYSE: CHE) today announced that its VITAS Healthcare Corporation ("VITAS") subsidiary has acquired the operating assets of Family Comfort Hospice based in Alabama, effective April 29, 2011. This acquisition adds three Central-Alabama locations serving ten counties to VITAS' network of hospice programs. VITAS is the nation's premier provider of end-of-life hospice care services. Alabama is a Certificate of Need state for hospice. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

"This acquisition reflects VITAS' enduring commitment to serving patients and families by offering access to the highest quality end-of-life care. VITAS looks forward to honoring that commitment to meet the expanding end-of-life needs of Alabama's communities," stated Timothy O'Toole, Chief Executive Officer of VITAS.

"We welcome the employees of Family Comfort Hospice to VITAS and we look forward to bringing our unique care delivery model to a new state," added O'Toole.

Listed on the New York Stock Exchange and headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, Chemed Corporation (http://www.chemed.com) operates two wholly owned subsidiaries: VITAS Healthcare and Roto-Rooter. VITAS is the nation's largest provider of end-of-life hospice care and Roto-Rooter is the nation's leading provider of plumbing and drain cleaning services.