BP52955 -- Cross Country-8K


SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

_______________


FORM 8-K




CURRENT REPORT


Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934


Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)  November 5, 2003


[crosscountry8k001.jpg]


Cross Country Healthcare, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



               

Delaware

                            

0-33169

                                  

13-4066229

 

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)


6551 Park of Commerce Blvd., N.W., Boca Raton, FL 33487

(Address of Principal Executive Office) (Zip Code)



(561) 998-2232

(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)



Not Applicable

(Former Name or Former Address, If Changed Since Last Report)











Item 7.  Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits.


(c)  Exhibits.


Exhibit

Description


99.1

Press release issued by the Company on November 5, 2003

99.2

Press release issued by the Company on November 7, 2003

99.3

Press release issued by the Company on November 7, 2003


Item 9.  Regulation FD Disclosure.


Incorporated by reference are press releases issued by Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. (the “Company”) on November 7, 2003 which are attached hereto as Exhibit 99.2 and 99.3. On November 7, 2003 the Company issued two press releases announcing that it is scheduled to make presentations at two different industry conferences on November 12, 2003 and November 13, 2003. This information is being furnished under Item 9 and shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to the liability of such section.


Item 12.  Results of Operations and Financial Condition.


(a)  On November 5, 2003 the Company issued a press release announcing results for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2003, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K. This information is being furnished under Item 12 and shall not be deemed "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to the liability of such section.







2







SIGNATURES


Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.



 

CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE, INC.

                                                                                  

                                                                                 

  
 

By:  /s/ EMIL HENSEL

 

Name:

Emil Hensel

Dated:  November 7, 2003

Title:

Chief Financial Officer







3





Links


Item 7.  Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits.

Item 9.  Regulation FD Disclosure.

Item 12.  Results of Operations and Financial Condition.






BP52955 -- Cross Country -- Exhibit 99.1

Exhibit 99.1




[pressrelease991001.jpg]                                                                                    

     NEWS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE REPORTS

THIRD QUARTER 2003 RESULTS


BOCA RATON, Fla. – November 5, 2003 – Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. (Nasdaq: CCRN) today reported revenue of $184.4 million for the third quarter ended September 30, 2003, a 15% increase over revenue of $160.2 million in the third quarter of 2002. Net income for the third quarter of 2003 increased 16% to $6.8 million, or $0.21 per diluted share, from net income of $5.9 million, or $0.17 per diluted share, in the same quarter of the prior year. The third quarter of 2002 included an after-tax loss related to discontinued operations of $2.9 million. Cash flows from operations increased 6% to $14.9 million for the third quarter of 2003 compared to $14.1 million for the third quarter of 2002.

For the first nine months of 2003, the Company reported revenue of $511.3 million compared to $477.1 million in the same nine-month period of 2002. Net income was $20.7 million, or $0.63 per diluted share, compared to net income of $20.9 million, or $0.62 per diluted share, in the first nine months of 2002. The corresponding nine-month periods of 2003 and 2002 include an after-tax loss related to discontinued operations of $0.4 million and $3.5 million, respectively. Cash flows from operations decreased 6% to $43.2 million for the first nine months of 2003 compared to $45.8 million for the comparable period in the prior year.

“This clearly continues to be an increasingly difficult environment for the services we provide to our acute care hospital customers due to lower than expected patient census and economic factors that influence the degree that full- and part-time nurses work directly for hospital employers at prevailing wages, which has resulted in lower hospital demand for supplemental staffing,” said Joseph A. Boshart, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. “Even so, I am pleased to report that we achieved year over year revenue and earnings gains for the third quarter of 2003, generated strong cash flow, continued to repurchase our shares and accelerated the repayment of debt. However, putting the quarter into perspective, the increase in revenue was solely due to our recent acquisition of the Med-Staff business, 48; added Mr. Boshart.

Mr. Boshart continued, “While healthcare staffing volume trends continued to decline during the third quarter, bill rates are up year over year and up slightly sequentially. Staffing gross margins were up slightly sequentially over the second quarter, however, margins and revenue in our other human capital management services segment declined.”

Healthcare Staffing

For the third quarter ended September 30, 2003, the healthcare staffing business segment (travel and per diem nurse, allied health and clinical research trials staffing) generated revenue of $172.4 million, a 17% increase over revenue of $146.9 million in the same quarter of the prior year. The increase was entirely attributable to the recently acquired Med-Staff business. Excluding Med-Staff, healthcare staffing segment revenue declined 8% from the year ago quarter, primarily reflecting a year over year decrease in revenue from travel staffing services that was slightly offset by revenue growth in the Company’s developmental international nurse recruiting and centralized local nurse-staffing businesses.

During the third quarter of 2003, healthcare staffing volume improved both on a year over year and sequential basis due to the Med-Staff acquisition, increasing 17% and 12%, respectively. Excluding Med-Staff, the healthcare staffing segment experienced a 9% year over year quarterly decline in FTEs and a 6% sequential decline from the second quarter of 2003.

Contribution income (defined as income from continuing operations before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization and corporate expenses not specifically identified to a reporting segment), increased slightly in the third quarter of 2003 to $20.6 million from $20.5 million in the same quarter of 2002, reflecting higher SG&A investment related to hospital-oriented sales and marketing activities offset by the contribution from Med-Staff.

For the first nine months of 2003, segment revenue increased by 8% to $474.1 million from $438.6 million in the same period a year ago. Excluding Med-Staff, healthcare staffing segment revenue declined 3% from the same period in the prior year. Contribution income during the first nine months of 2003 declined by 2% to $58.8 million from $60.0 million in the prior year period, due to higher SG&A investment related to hospital-oriented sales and marketing activities offset by the contribution from Med-Staff since the acquisition date of June 5, 2003.

Other Human Capital Management Services

For the third quarter of 2003, the other human capital management services business segment (education and training, consulting, and retained search services) generated revenue of $12.0 million, a 9% decrease from the same quarter in the prior year. This was due to substantially lower search placement fees and moderately lower consulting fees. Contribution income in the third quarter of 2003 declined 57% to $0.6 million from $1.5 million in the same quarter a year ago. This decline is primarily due to the combined effect of lower revenue in the search business as well as higher general and administrative expenses in the search, consulting and educational seminars businesses.

For the first nine months of 2003, revenue for the other human capital management services segment declined 3% to $37.2 million from revenue of $38.5 million for the first nine months of 2002, while contribution income declined 36% to $3.3 million from $5.2 million for these same periods.

Stock Repurchase Program Update

During the third quarter of 2003, Cross Country Healthcare purchased 281,900 shares of its common stock at an average cost of $14.32 per share. The cost of such purchases was approximately $4.0 million. Since initiating its current stock buy-back program in November 2002, the Company has purchased 870,700 shares of its common stock at an average cost of $13.72 per share. The cost of such purchases was approximately $11.9 million. The Company can purchase up to an additional 629,300 shares at an aggregate price not to exceed approximately $13.1 million under this previously authorized stock repurchase program. Under this program, the shares may be purchased from time-to-time in the open market. The repurchase program may be discontinued at any time at the discretion of the Company. At September 30, 2003, the Company had approximately 31.9 million sha res outstanding.

Legal Matters

The Company’s Cross Country TravCorps and Cross Country Nurses, Inc. subsidiaries are the subjects of a class action lawsuit filed in the Superior Court of California in Orange County alleging, among other things, violations of certain sections of the California Labor Code, unfair competition and breach of contract. This lawsuit is currently in the very early stages, it has not been certified by the court as a class action, and no monetary damages have been specified. As a result, the Company is unable to determine its potential exposure, if any, and intends to vigorously defend this matter. Additionally, the same law firm that filed this action against the Company’s subsidiaries has filed similar class action lawsuits in the State of California against other nurse staffing companies.

In a separate matter, the Company’s new Med-Staff, Inc. subsidiary and the predecessor Med-Staff company are the subjects of a lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court in New Jersey by the National League for Nursing, Inc. (“NLN”), a not-for-profit company, in connection with certain NLN testing products as well as certain tests developed by the predecessor Med-Staff company. The Company is entitled to indemnification from the sellers for any losses associated with this lawsuit.

Guidance for Fourth Quarter and the Year Ended December 31, 2003

The following statements are based on current management expectations. Such statements are forward-looking and actual results may differ materially. These statements do not include the potential impact of any future mergers, acquisitions, other business combinations, the repurchase of the Company’s common stock or the pending legal matters.

Based on the present demand dynamics in the healthcare staffing services marketplace, for the fourth quarter of 2003, Cross Country Healthcare is projecting revenue to be in the $166 million to $172 million range and EPS to be in the range of $0.13 to $0.15 per diluted share. Based on actual results to date and the above fourth quarter guidance, the Company expects revenue for the full year 2003 to be in the $677 million to $683 million range and EPS from continuing operations to be in the range of $0.77 to $0.79 per diluted share, including $0.02 per diluted share for the write-off of certain loan fees in the second quarter. Cash flows from operations are expected to be in the range of $1.45 to $1.55 per diluted share.

Cross Country Healthcare will hold a conference call on Thursday, November 6th at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss its third quarter 2003 financial results. This call will be webcast live by CCBN and can be accessed at the Company’s web site at www.crosscountry.com or by dialing 877-915-2769 from anywhere in the U.S. or by dialing 630-395-0021 from non-U.S. locations – Passcode: Cross Country. A replay of the webcast will be available through November 20th. A replay of the conference call will be available by telephone from approximately 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time on November 6th until November 20th by calling 800-294-4340 from anywhere in the U.S. or by calling 402-220-9772 from non-U.S. locations.

Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. is a leading provider of healthcare staffing services in the United States. The Company has a client base of over 3,000 hospitals, pharmaceutical companies and other healthcare providers across all 50 states. Copies of this and other news releases as well as additional information about Cross Country Healthcare can be obtained online at www.crosscountry.com. Shareholders and prospective investors can also register at the corporate web site to automatically receive the Company’s press releases, SEC filings and other notices by e-mail.

This release contains forward-looking statements. Statements that are predictive in nature, that depend upon or refer to future events or conditions or that include words such as "expects”, "anticipates", "intends", "plans", "believes", "estimates" and similar expressions are forward-looking statements. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results and performance to be materially different from any future results or performance expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These factors include the following: our ability to attract and retain qualified nurses and other healthcare personnel, costs and availability of short-term leases for our travel nurses, demand for the healthcare services we provide, both nati onally and in the regions in which we operate, the functioning of our information systems, the effect of existing or future government regulation and federal and state legislative and enforcement initiatives on our business, our clients' ability to pay us for our services, our ability to successfully implement our acquisition and development strategies, the effect of liabilities and other claims asserted against us, the effect of competition in the markets we serve, and other factors set forth under the caption "Risk Factors" in the Company's 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002. In addition, the Company cannot predict its ability to successfully defend its subsidiaries on the merits of the lawsuit or determine its potential liability, if any. Although we believe that these statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, we cannot guarantee future results. Given these uncertainties, the forward-looking statements discussed in this press release might not occur. While it is the Company's inte ntion to update its guidance quarterly, it should not be assumed that its silence over time means that actual events are occurring as expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements.

# # #



For further information, please contact:

Howard A. Goldman

Director/Investor & Corporate Relations

Phone: 877-686-9779

Email: hgoldman@crosscountry.com







Cross Country Healthcare, Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (1)

(amounts in thousands, except per share data)

(unaudited)



 

Three Months Ended

September 30,

    

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

    
 

2003

 

2002

  

%

Change

 

2003

 

2002

  

%

Change

 
                   

                                                                                                  

  

   

  

   

  

   

  

   

  

   

  

   

Revenue from services

$

184,389

 

$

160,152

  

15%

 

$

511,304

 

$

477,056

  

7%

 

Operating expenses:

                  

   Direct operating expenses

 

139,512

  

119,450

  

17%

  

385,921

  

357,673

  

8%

 

   Selling, general and administrative expenses

 

29,198

  

23,848

  

22%

  

80,594

  

70,237

  

15%

 

   Bad debt expense

 

787

  

  

ND

  

787

  

359

  

119%

 

   Depreciation

 

1,230

  

1,006

  

22%

  

3,336

  

2,477

  

35%

 

   Amortization

 

991

  

781

  

27%

  

2,556

  

2,336

  

9%

 

   Loss on early extinguishment of debt 

 

  

  

ND

  

960

  

  

ND

 

   Non-recurring secondary offering costs

 

  

  

ND

  

16

  

1,008

  

(98)%

 

Total operating expenses

 

171,718

  

145,085

  

18%

  

474,170

  

434,090

  

9

 

Income from operations

 

12,671

  

15,067

  

(16)%

  

37,134

  

42,966

  

(14)%

 

Other expenses:

                  

   Interest expense, net

 

1,571

  

975

  

61%

  

2,812

  

3,131

  

(10)%

 

Income from continuing operations before income taxes

 

11,100

  

14,092

  

(21)%

  

34,322

  

39,835

  

(14)%

 

Income tax expense

 

4,296

  

5,339

  

(20)%

  

13,283

  

15,416

  

(14)%

 

Income from continuing operations 

 

6,804

  

8,753

  

(22)%

  

21,039

  

24,419

  

(14)%

 

Discontinued operations, net of income taxes 

 

(1

)

 

(2,881

)

 

100%

  

(355

)

 

(3,518

)

 

90%

 

Net income

$

6,803

 

$

5,872

  

16%

 

$

20,684

 

$

20,901

  

(1)%

 
                   

Net income/(loss) per common share- basic :

                  

   Income from continuing operations 

$

0.21

 

$

0.27

    

$

0.65

 

$

0.76

    

   Discontinued operations, net of income taxes 

 

(0.00

)

 

(0.09

)

    

(0.01

)

 

(0.11

)

   

Net income per common share- basic :

$

0.21

 

$

0.18

    

$

0.64

 

$

0.65

    
                   

Net income/(loss) per common share- diluted :

                  

   Income from continuing operations 

$

0.21

 

$

0.26

    

$

0.64

 

$

0.72

    

   Discontinued operations, net of income taxes 

 

(0.00

)

 

(0.09

)

    

(0.01

)

 

(0.10

)

   

Net income per common share- diluted :

$

0.21

 

$

0.17

    

$

0.63

 

$

0.62

    
                   

Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic

 

32,037

  

32,572

     

32,169

  

32,402

    

Weighted average common shares outstanding - diluted

 

32,581

  

33,615

     

32,588

  

33,871

    

                                                                                                                                                          &nb sp;                                                   

—————

(1)

Certain amounts in the 2002 information have been reclassified to conform to the 2003 presentation primarily related to the adoption of EITF Issue No. 01-14, which relates to the reclassification of  reimbursable out of pocket expenses to revenue.


ND - not determinable





Cross Country Healthcare, Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(amounts in thousands)



       

September 30,

2003

 

December 31,

2002

       

                                                                                                  

  

   

  

   

(unaudited)

   

  

   

  

   

  

   

Current assets:

                  

   Cash and cash equivalents

      

$

18,139

 

$

17,210

       

   Accounts receivable, net

       

109,506

  

97,641

       

   Income taxes receivable

       

211

  

1,816

       

   Assets from discontinued operations, net 

       

  

248

       

   Other current assets

       

12,219

  

11,163

       

Total current assets

       

140,075

  

128,078

       

Property and equipment, net

       

12,104

  

12,394

       

Goodwill, net 

       

309,274

  

226,116

       

Trademarks, net

       

15,749

  

15,749

       

Other identifiable intangible assets, net 

       

9,424

  

7,113

       

Other assets

       

3,169

  

1,150

       

Total assets

      

$

489,795

 

$

390,600

       
                   

Current liabilities:

                  

   Accounts payable and accrued expenses

      

$

2,615

 

$

3,297

       

   Accrued employee compensation and benefits

       

34,269

  

29,663

       

   Current portion of debt and note payable

       

6,021

  

14,362

       

   Liabilities from discontinued operations, net

       

19

  

186

       

   Other current liabilities

       

5,932

  

2,422

       

Total current liabilities

       

48,856

  

49,930

       

Interest rate swap

       

  

606

       

Deferred income taxes

       

11,013

  

10,779

       

Long-term debt

       

112,903

  

28,453

       

Total liabilities

       

172,772

  

89,768

       

Commitments and contingencies

                  

Stockholders' equity:

                  

   Common stock

       

3

  

3

       

   Additional paid-in capital

       

253,624

  

258,489

       

   Other stockholders' equity

       

63,396

  

42,340

       

Total stockholders' equity

       

317,023

  

300,832

       

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity

      

$

489,795

 

$

390,600

       

                                                                                                                                                          &nb sp;                                                   







Cross Country Healthcare, Inc.

Segment Data (a) (1)

(unaudited, amounts in thousands)



 

Three Months Ended

September 30,

    

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

    
 

2003

 

2002

  

%

Change

 

2003

 

2002

  

%

Change

 
                   

                                                                                                  

 

             

   

 

             

   

 

             

   

 

             

   

 

             

   

 

             

   

Revenue:

                  

   Healthcare staffing

$

172,357

 

$

146,935

  

17%

 

$

474,083

 

$

438,554

  

8%

 

   Other human capital management services

 

12,032

  

13,217

  

(9)%

  

37,221

  

38,502

  

(3)%

 
 

$

184,389

 

$

160,152

  

15%

 

$

511,304

 

$

477,056

  

7%

 

                                                                                                                                                          &nb sp;                                                   

Contribution income (b):

                  

   Healthcare staffing

$

20,608

 

$

20,531

  

0%

 

$

58,835

 

$

59,983

  

(2)%

 

   Other human capital management services

 

631

  

1,471

  

(57)%

  

3,282

  

5,154

  

(36)%

 
  

21,239

  

22,002

     

62,117

  

65,137

    
                   

   Unallocated corporate overhead 

 

6,347

  

5,148

  

23%

  

18,115

  

16,350

  

11%

 

   Depreciation

 

1,230

  

1,006

  

22%

  

3,336

  

2,477

  

35%

 

   Amortization

 

991

  

781

  

27%

  

2,556

  

2,336

  

9%

 

   Loss on early extinguishment of debt

 

  

  

ND

  

960

  

  

ND

 

   Non-recurring secondary offering costs

 

  

  

ND

  

16

  

1,008

  

(98)%

 

   Interest expense

 

1,571

  

975

  

61%

  

2,812

  

3,131

  

(10)%

 

   Income from continuing operations before income taxes

$

11,100

 

$

14,092

  

(21)%

 

$

34,322

 

$

39,835

  

(14)%

 



Cross Country Healthcare, Inc.

Financial Statistics (1)

(Unaudited)



                   
 

Three Months Ended

September 30,

    

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

    
 

2003

 

2002

    

2003

 

2002

    

                                                                                                                                                          &nb sp;                                                   

                                                                                                  

 

             

   

 

             

   

 

             

   

 

             

   

 

             

   

 

             

   

Net cash provided by operating activities (in thousands)

$

14,900

 

$

14,108

    

$

43,170

 

$

45,751

    

FTEs (c)

 

6,396

  

5,448

     

5,882

  

5,536

    

Weeks worked (d)

 

83,148

  

70,824

     

229,398

  

215,904

    

Average healthcare staffing revenue per FTE per week (e)

$

2,073

 

$

2,075

    

$

2,067

 

$

2,031

    

—————

(1)

Certain amounts in the 2002 information have been reclassified to conform to the 2003 presentation.

(a)

Segment data provided is in accordance with FASB Statement 131.

(b)

Defined as income from continuing operations before interest, income taxes, depreciation, amortization and corporate expenses not specifically identified to a reporting segment.  Contribution income is a financial measure used by management when assessing segment performance.

(c)

FTEs represent the average number of contract staffing personnel on a full-time equivalent basis.

(d)

Weeks worked is calculated by multiplying the FTEs by the number of weeks during the respective period.

(e)

Average healthcare staffing revenue per FTE per week is calculated by dividing the healthcare staffing revenue by the number of weeks worked in the respective periods.  Healthcare staffing revenue includes revenue from permanent placement of nurses.




BP52955 -- Cross Country -- Exhibit 99.2

Exhibit 99.2




[pressrelease992001.jpg]                                                                                    

     NEWS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE TO PRESENT AT

CIBC WORLD MARKETS ANNUAL HEALTHCARE CONFERENCE


BOCA RATON, Fla. – November 7, 2003 – Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. (Nasdaq: CCRN) announced today that it is scheduled to make a presentation on Wednesday, November 12, 2003, at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time at the CIBC World Markets Fourteenth Annual Healthcare Conference being held at The Plaza Hotel in New York City.


Cross Country’s presentation will be webcast and accessible to the public online via the Company’s web site at www.corporate-ir.net/ireye/ir_site.zhtml?ticker=ccrn&script=2100%20. Through this link, visitors will be able to access the Company's presentation made by Joseph A. Boshart, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. Replays will be available for 30 days after the presentation at the same website address.


Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. is a leading provider of healthcare staffing services in the United States. The company has a client base of over 3,000 hospitals, pharmaceutical companies and other healthcare providers across all 50 states. Copies of this and other news releases as well as additional information about Cross Country can be obtained online at www.crosscountry.com. Shareholders and prospective investors can also register at the corporate Web site to automatically receive the Company’s press releases by e-mail.


The Company’s presentation contains forward-looking statements that are predictive in nature, that depend upon or refer to future events or conditions or that include words such as “expects”, “anticipates”, “intends”, “plans”, “believes”, “estimates” and similar expressions are forward-looking statements. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results and performance to be materially different from any future results or performance expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These factors include the following our ability to attract and retain qualified nurses and other healthcare personnel, costs and availability of short-term leases for our travel nurses, demand for the healthcare services we provide, both nationally and in the regions in which we operate, the functioning of our information systems, the effect of existing or future government regulation and federal and state legislative and enforcement initiatives on our business, our clients’ ability to pay us for our services, our ability to successfully implement our acquisition and development strategies, the effect of liabilities and other claims asserted against us, the effect of competition in the markets we serve, and other factors set forth under the caption “Risk Factors” in the Company’s 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002.


# # #



For further information, please contact:

Howard A. Goldman

Director/Investor & Corporate Relations

Phone: 877-686-9779

Email: hgoldman@crosscountry.com




BP52955 -- Cross Country -- Exhibit 99.3

Exhibit 99.3




[pressrelease993001.jpg]                                                                                    

     NEWS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE TO PRESENT AT

SUNTRUST ROBINSON HUMPHREY BUSINESS & TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE


BOCA RATON, Fla. – November 7, 2003 – Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. (Nasdaq: CCRN) announced today that it is scheduled to make a presentation on Thursday, November 13, 2003, at 9:10 a.m. Eastern Time at the SunTrust Robinson Humphrey Business & Technology Conference being held at The Le Parker Meridien Hotel in New York City.


Cross Country’s presentation will be webcast and accessible to the public online via the Company’s web site at www.corporate-ir.net/ireye/ir_site.zhtml?ticker=ccrn&script=2100%20. Through this link, visitors will be able to access the Company's presentation made by Joseph A. Boshart, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. Replays will be available for 7 days after the presentation at the same website address.


Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. is a leading provider of healthcare staffing services in the United States. The company has a client base of over 3,000 hospitals, pharmaceutical companies and other healthcare providers across all 50 states. Copies of this and other news releases as well as additional information about Cross Country can be obtained online at www.crosscountry.com. Shareholders and prospective investors can also register at the corporate Web site to automatically receive the Company’s press releases by e-mail.


The Company’s presentation contains forward-looking statements that are predictive in nature, that depend upon or refer to future events or conditions or that include words such as “expects”, “anticipates”, “intends”, “plans”, “believes”, “estimates” and similar expressions are forward-looking statements. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results and performance to be materially different from any future results or performance expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These factors include the following our ability to attract and retain qualified nurses and other healthcare personnel, costs and availability of short-term leases for our travel nurses, demand for the healthcare services we provide, both nationally and in the regions in which we operate, the functioning of our information systems, the effect of existing or future government regulation and federal and state legislative and enforcement initiatives on our business, our clients’ ability to pay us for our services, our ability to successfully implement our acquisition and development strategies, the effect of liabilities and other claims asserted against us, the effect of competition in the markets we serve, and other factors set forth under the caption “Risk Factors” in the Company’s 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002.


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For further information, please contact:

Howard A. Goldman

Director/Investor & Corporate Relations

Phone: 877-686-9779

Email: hgoldman@crosscountry.com