Cross Country Healthcare (CCRN) Risk Analysis

We are party to various litigation, claims, investigations, and other proceedings. These matters primarily relate to employee-related matters that include individual and collective claims, professional liability, tax, and payroll and/or related practices. We evaluate these litigation claims and legal proceedings to assess the likelihood of unfavorable outcomes and to estimate, if possible, the amount of potential losses. Additionally, as a result of the economy and changes to the law, increased collective bargaining actions, healthcare professionals no longer being able to secure the same level of income as they did during the COVID-19 pandemic, and other factors, the number of litigation claims have increased in both volume and financial recovery. Based on assessments and estimates, if any, we establish reserves and/or disclose the relevant litigation claims or legal proceedings, as appropriate. These assessments are performed at least quarterly and are based on the information available to management at the time and involve a significant amount of management judgment. Based on the new information considered in our reviews, we adjust our disclosures and our loss contingency accruals, which may increase as a result of increased litigation claims. We may not have sufficient insurance to cover these risks. Actual outcomes or losses may differ materially from those estimated by our current assessments, which would impact our profitability. Adverse developments in existing litigation claims or legal proceedings involving our Company or new claims could require us to establish or increase litigation reserves or enter into unfavorable settlements or satisfy judgments for monetary damages for amounts in excess of current reserves, which could adversely affect our financial results. In recent years, healthcare providers and the Company have become subject to or brought an increasing number of legal actions alleging, among other things, malpractice, vicarious liability, violation of certain consumer protection acts, negligent hiring, negligent credentialing, discrimination, wage and hour, or related legal theories. We may be subject to liability in such cases even if our Company's contribution to the alleged injury was minimal or related to one of our subcontractors or its employees. Many of these actions, including class actions, involve large claims and significant defense costs. In addition, we may be subject to claims related to torts or crimes committed by our corporate employees or healthcare professionals that we place on assignment. In most instances, we are required to indemnify customers against some or all of these risks, and, at times, liabilities attributable to our subcontractors and their personnel, and the law may consider the Company and its customers to be joint employers, adding further complexities to litigation. A failure of any of our corporate employees, healthcare professionals, or subcontracted personnel to observe our policies and guidelines, relevant customer policies and guidelines, or applicable federal, state, or local laws, rules, and regulations could result in negative publicity, payment of fines, or other damages to us. To protect ourselves from the cost of these types of claims, we maintain professional malpractice liability insurance, employment practices liability insurance, and general liability insurance coverage with terms and in amounts with deductibles that we believe are appropriate for our operations, although we do not maintain insurance coverage for wage and hour claims or for liabilities of our subcontractors or their personnel. We are partially self-insured for our workers' compensation coverage, health insurance coverage, and professional liability coverage for our healthcare providers. If we become subject to substantial uninsured workers' compensation, wage and hour claims, medical coverage, or medical malpractice liabilities, whether directly or indirectly, our financial results may be adversely affected. In addition, our insurance coverage may not cover all claims against us or continue to be available to us at a reasonable cost. If we are unable to pay our self-insured retention portion, pay any uninsured portion, or maintain adequate insurance coverage, we may be exposed to substantial liabilities.

Changes in global temperatures, weather patterns, negative global climate change patterns, and increases in the frequency and severity of extreme weather and natural disasters in both the U.S. and India locations could have a negative effect on the Company's business. Concern over climate change may result in new or additional legislative and regulatory requirements to reduce or mitigate the effects of climate change on the environment, which could result in future tax, transportation, and utility increases and could, in turn, have a material adverse effect on the Company's business. Moreover, continuing political and social attention to climate change and environmental issues has resulted in both existing and pending disclosure requirements, international agreements and national, regional, and local legislation, regulatory measures, reporting obligations, and policy changes. There is increasing pressure in some of the areas where we operate to limit greenhouse gas emissions as well as other global initiatives. These agreements and measures may require or could result in future legislation, regulatory measures, or policy changes that would require operational changes, taxes, or purchases of emission credits to reduce emission of greenhouse gases from our operations, which may result in substantial capital expenditures.