DaVita Inc. announced today that on the afternoon of May 7 it received a subpoena from the Philadelphia office of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General, for the production of documents relating to pharmaceutical and other ancillary services provided to patients, as well as documents relating to the Company's financial relationships with physicians and pharmaceutical companies.

The subpoena also calls upon the Company to update its previous response to the information request received in February 2001 from the Civil Division of the United States Attorney's Office in Philadelphia. The Civil Division requested that the Company voluntarily cooperate in a review of some of the Company's historical practices, including billing and other operating procedures and its financial relationships with physicians. The Company has cooperated in this review and has provided the requested records.

The Company will continue cooperating with the government. Although no proceedings have been initiated against the Company, the Company cannot predict whether or when proceedings might be initiated.

The Company will discuss this matter further during its regular quarterly earnings call, scheduled for Friday, May 10 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time. The dial-in number for the call will be 800-399-4406.

DaVita is a leading provider of dialysis services in the United States for patients suffering from chronic kidney failure. DaVita owns and operates kidney dialysis centers and home peritoneal dialysis programs in 32 states, as well as Washington, D.C. It currently operates 495 outpatient dialysis facilities serving approximately 43,000 patients.

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SOURCE: DaVita Inc.