1.     Nature of Business and Significant Accounting Policies

Nature of Business

Interpace Diagnostics Group, Inc. (the “Company”) is a fully integrated commercial and bioinformatics company that provides clinically useful molecular diagnostic tests and pathology services. We develop and commercialize molecular diagnostic tests and related first line assays principally focused on early detection of patients at high risk of cancer and leverage the latest technology and personalized medicine for improved patient diagnosis and management. We currently have four commercialized molecular diagnostic assays in the marketplace for which we are reimbursed by Medicare and multiple private payers: PancraGEN^®, which is a pancreatic cyst and pancreaticobiliary solid lesion molecular test that helps physicians better assess risk of pancreaticobiliary cancers using our proprietary PathFinderTG^® platform; ThyGenX^®, which is a oncogenic mutation panel that helps identify malignant thyroid nodules ; and ThyraMIR^®, which assesses thyroid nodules for risk of malignancy; and ThyraMIR^®, which assesses thyroid nodules for risk of malignancy utilizing a proprietary gene expression assay. We also launched in September 2017 RespriDX™ for assessing metastatic versus primary lung cancer. RespriDX™ utilizes our PathFinderTG^® platform and compares the mutational fingerprint of two or more sites of lung cancer to determine whether the neoplastic deposits are representative of a recurrence of cancer or a new primary (independent) cancer. We are also in the process of “soft launching” while we gather additional market data, BarreGEN^®, an esophageal cancer risk classifier for Barrett’s Esophagus that also utilizes our PathFinderTG^® platform.

Principles of Consolidation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Interpace Diagnostics Group, Inc., Interpace Diagnostics Corporation and Interpace Diagnostics, LLC.

Discontinued operations include the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiaries: Group DCA, LLC (“Group DCA”); InServe Support Solutions (Pharmakon); and TVG, Inc. (TVG, dissolved December 31, 2014) and its Commercial Services (“CSO”) business unit. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Effective December 31, 2015, the Company has one reporting segment: the Company’s molecular diagnostics business, after the divestiture of its CSO business on December 22, 2015, see Note 4, Discontinued Operations for further information. The Company’s current reporting segment structure is reflective of the way the Company’s management views the business, makes operating decisions and assesses performance. This structure allows investors to better understand Company performance, better assess prospects for future cash flows, and make more informed decisions about the Company.

Accounting Estimates

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts of assets and liabilities reported and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Management’s estimates are based on historical experience, facts and circumstances available at the time, and various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Significant estimates include accounting for valuation allowances related to deferred income taxes, contingent consideration, allowances for doubtful accounts and notes, revenue recognition, unrecognized tax benefits, and asset impairments involving other intangible assets. The Company periodically reviews these matters and reflects changes in estimates as appropriate. Actual results could materially differ from those estimates.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include unrestricted cash accounts, money market investments and highly liquid investment instruments with original maturity of three months or less at the date of purchase.

Accounts Receivable

The Company’s accounts receivable are generated using its proprietary tests. The Company’s services are fulfilled upon completion of the test, review and release of the test results. In conjunction with fulfilling these services, the Company bills the third-party payer or hospital. The Company recognizes accounts receivable related to billings for Medicare, Medicare Advantage, and hospitals (direct-bill clients) on an accrual basis, net of contractual adjustment, when collectability is reasonably assured. Contractual adjustments represent the difference between the list prices and the reimbursement rate set by Medicare and Medicare Advantage, or the amounts billed to hospitals. The Company records accounts receivable net of contractual allowances and net of estimated uncollectable amounts. Specific accounts may be written off after several appeals, which in some cases may take longer than twelve months.

The Company provides services for patients with health insurance coverage through commercial insurance carriers or governmental programs that do not have a contract in place for its proprietary tests, which may or may not be covered by these entities existing reimbursement policies. In addition, the Company does not enter into direct agreements with patients that commit them to pay any portion of the cost of the tests in the event that their commercial insurance carrier or governmental program does not pay the Company for its services. In the absence of an agreement with the patient, or other clearly enforceable legal right to demand payment from commercial insurance carriers or governmental agencies, no accounts receivable is recognized.

Other current assets

Other current assets consisted of the following as of December 31, 2017 and 2016:

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation and amortization is recognized on a straight-line basis, using the estimated useful lives of: seven to ten years for furniture and fixtures; two to five years for office and computer equipment; five to seven years for lab equipment; and leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of the estimated service lives or the terms of the related leases which are currently four to five years. Repairs and maintenance are charged to expense as incurred. Upon disposition, the asset and related accumulated depreciation are removed from the related accounts and any gains or losses are reflected in operations.

Software Costs

Internal-Use Software - It is the Company’s policy to capitalize certain costs incurred in connection with developing or obtaining internal-use software. Capitalized software costs are included in property and equipment on the consolidated balance sheet and amortized over the software’s useful life, generally three to seven years. Software costs that do not meet capitalization criteria are expensed immediately.

External-Use Software - It is the Company’s policy to capitalize certain costs incurred in connection with developing or obtaining external-use software. Capitalized software costs are included in property and equipment on the consolidated balance sheet and amortized over the software’s useful life, generally three years. Software costs that do not meet capitalization criteria are expensed immediately.

See Note 6, Property and Equipment for further information.

Long-Lived Assets, including Finite-Lived Intangible Assets

Finite-lived intangible assets are stated at cost less accumulated amortization. Amortization of finite-lived acquired intangible assets is recognized on a straight-line basis, using the estimated useful lives of the assets of approximately two years to nine years in acquisition related amortization expense in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

The Company reviews the recoverability of long-lived assets and finite-lived intangible assets whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of such assets may not be recoverable. If the sum of the expected future undiscounted cash flows is less than the carrying amount of the asset, an impairment loss is recognized by reducing the recorded value of the asset to its fair value measured by future discounted cash flows. This analysis requires estimates of the amount and timing of projected cash flows and, where applicable, judgments associated with, among other factors, the appropriate discount rate. Such estimates are critical in determining whether any impairment charge should be recorded and the amount of such charge if an impairment loss is deemed to be necessary.

During the year ended December 31, 2016, the Company recorded an asset impairment charge of approximately $3.4 million, resulting from a decline in market value of certain assets associated with the acquisition of assets from Asuragen. See Note 7, Other Intangible Assets for further information.

Contingencies

In the normal course of business, the Company is subject to various contingencies. Contingencies are recorded in the consolidated financial statements when it is probable that a liability will be incurred and the amount of the loss is reasonably estimable, or otherwise disclosed, in accordance with ASC 450, Contingencies. Significant judgment is required in both the determination of probability and the determination as to whether a loss is reasonably estimable. In the event the Company determines that a loss is not probable, but is reasonably possible, and it becomes possible to develop what the Company believes to be a reasonable range of possible loss, then the Company will include disclosures related to such matter as appropriate and in compliance with ASC 450. To the extent there is a reasonable possibility that the losses could exceed the amounts already accrued, the Company will, when applicable, adjust the accrual in the period the determination is made, disclose an estimate of the additional loss or range of loss, indicate that the estimate is immaterial with respect to its financial statements as a whole or, if the amount of such adjustment cannot be reasonably estimated, disclose that an estimate cannot be made. The Company is not currently involved in any legal proceedings of a material nature and, accordingly, the Company has not accrued estimated costs related to any legal claims.

Revenue and Cost of Revenue

The Company’s revenue is generated using the Company’s proprietary tests. The Company’s performance obligation is fulfilled upon completion, review and release of test results and subsequently billing the third-party payer or hospital. The Company recognizes revenue related to billings for Medicare, Medicare Advantage, and hospitals on an accrual basis, net of contractual adjustment, when there is a predictable pattern of collectability. Contractual adjustments represent the difference between the list prices and the reimbursement rate set by Medicare and Medicare Advantage, or the amounts billed to hospitals, which approximates the Medicare rate. Upon ultimate collection, the amount received from Medicare, Medicare Advantage and hospitals with a predictable pattern of payment is compared to the previous estimates and the contractual allowance is adjusted, if necessary.

Until a contract has been negotiated with a commercial insurance carrier or governmental program, the services may or may not be covered by these entities existing reimbursement policies. In addition, the Company does not enter into direct agreements with patients that commit them to pay any portion of the cost of the tests in the event that insurance declines to reimburse us. In the absence of an agreement with the patient or other clearly enforceable legal right to demand payment, the related revenue is only recognized upon the earlier of payment notification or cash receipt. Accordingly, the Company recognizes revenue from commercial insurance carriers and governmental programs without a contract when payment is received.

Persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists and delivery is deemed to have occurred upon completion, review, and release of the test results by the Company. The assessment of the fixed or determinable nature of the fees charged for diagnostic testing performed, and the collectability of those fees, requires significant judgment by management. Management believes that these two criteria have been met when there is contracted reimbursement coverage or a predictable pattern of collectability with individual third-party payers or hospitals and accordingly, recognizes revenue upon delivery of the test results. Under current accounting guidelines, in the absence of contracted reimbursement coverage or a predictable pattern of collectability, as in the case of commercial or other government payers, the Company recognizes revenue when payment is received.

Cost of services consists primarily of the costs associated with operating the Company’s laboratories and other costs directly related to the Company’s tests. Personnel costs, which constitute the largest portion of cost of services, include all labor related costs, such as salaries, bonuses, fringe benefits and payroll taxes for laboratory personnel. Other direct costs include, but are not limited to, laboratory supplies, certain consulting expenses, and facility expenses.

Stock-Based Compensation

The compensation cost associated with the granting of stock-based awards is based on the grant date fair value of the stock award. The Company recognizes the compensation cost, net of estimated forfeitures, over the shorter of the vesting period or the period from the grant date to the date when retirement eligibility is achieved. Forfeitures are initially estimated based on historical information and subsequently updated over the life of the awards to ultimately reflect actual forfeitures. As a result, changes in forfeiture activity can influence the amount of stock compensation cost recognized from period to period.

The Company primarily uses the Black-Scholes option-pricing model to determine the fair value of stock options and stock appreciation rights (“SARs”). The determination of the fair value of stock-based payment awards is made on the date of grant and is affected by the Company’s stock price as well as assumptions made regarding a number of complex and subjective variables. These assumptions include: expected stock price volatility over the term of the awards; actual and projected employee stock option exercise behaviors; the risk-free interest rate; and expected dividend yield. The fair value of restricted stock units, or RSUs, and restricted shares is equal to the closing stock price on the date of grant.

See Note 13, Stock-Based Compensation for further information.

Treasury Stock

Treasury stock purchases are accounted for under the cost method whereby the entire cost of the acquired stock is recorded as treasury stock. Upon reissuance of shares, the Company records any difference between the weighted-average cost of such shares and any proceeds received as an adjustment to additional paid-in capital.

Rent Expense

Minimum rental expenses are recognized over the term of the lease. The Company recognizes minimum rent starting when possession of the property is taken from the landlord, which may include a construction period prior to occupancy. When a lease contains a predetermined fixed escalation of the minimum rent, the Company recognizes the related rent expense on a straight-line basis and records the difference between the recognized rental expense and the amounts payable under the lease as a deferred rent liability. The Company may also receive tenant allowances including cash or rent abatements, which are reflected in other accrued expenses and long-term liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet. These allowances are amortized as a reduction of rent expense over the term of the lease. Certain leases provide for contingent rents that are not measurable at inception. These contingent rents are primarily based upon use of utilities and the landlord’s operating expenses. These amounts are excluded from minimum rent and are included in the determination of total rent expense when it is probable that the expense has been incurred and the amount is reasonably estimable.

Income taxes

Income taxes are based on income for financial reporting purposes calculated using the Company’s expected annual effective rate and reflect a current tax liability or asset for the estimated taxes payable or recoverable on the current year tax return and expected annual changes in deferred taxes. Any interest or penalties on income tax are recognized as a component of income tax expense.

The Company accounts for income taxes using the asset and liability method. This method requires recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for expected future tax consequences of temporary differences that currently exist between tax bases and financial reporting bases of the Company’s assets and liabilities based on enacted tax laws and rates. Deferred tax expense (benefit) is the result of changes in the deferred tax asset and liability. A valuation allowance is established, when necessary, to reduce the deferred income tax assets when it is more likely than not that all or a portion of a deferred tax asset will not be realized.

The Company operates in multiple tax jurisdictions and pays or provides for the payment of taxes in each jurisdiction where it conducts business and is subject to taxation. The breadth of the Company’s operations and the complexity of the tax law require assessments of uncertainties and judgments in estimating the ultimate taxes the Company will pay. The final taxes paid are dependent upon many factors, including negotiations with taxing authorities in various jurisdictions, outcomes of tax litigation and resolution of proposed assessments arising from federal and state audits. Uncertain tax positions are recognized in the financial statements when it is more likely than not (i.e., a likelihood of more than fifty percent) that a position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return would be sustained upon examination by tax authorities that have full knowledge of all relevant information. A recognized tax position is then measured as the largest amount of benefit that is greater than fifty percent likely to be realized upon ultimate settlement. The Company adjusts accruals for unrecognized tax benefits as facts and circumstances change, such as the progress of a tax audit. However, any adjustments made may be material to the Company’s consolidated results of operations or cash flows for a reporting period. Penalties and interest, if incurred, would be recorded as a component of current income tax expense.

Significant judgment is also required in evaluating the need for and magnitude of appropriate valuation allowances against deferred tax assets. Deferred tax assets are regularly reviewed for recoverability. The Company currently has significant deferred tax assets resulting from net operating loss carryforwards and deductible temporary differences, which should reduce taxable income in future periods, if generated. The realization of these assets is dependent on generating future taxable income.

Income (Loss) per Share

Basic earnings per common share are computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the year including any unvested share-based payment awards that contain nonforfeitable rights to dividends. Diluted earnings per common share are computed by dividing net income by the sum of the weighted average number of shares outstanding and dilutive common shares under the treasury method. Unvested share-based payment awards that contain nonforfeitable rights to dividends or dividend equivalents (whether paid or unpaid), are participating securities and are included in the computation of earnings per share pursuant to the two-class method. As a result of the losses incurred in both 2017 and 2016, the potentially dilutive common shares have been excluded from the earnings per share computation for these periods because its inclusion would have been anti-dilutive.

Reverse stock split

On December 28, 2016, the Company effected a one-for-ten reverse split of its issued and outstanding shares of common stock in order to achieve the requisite increase in the market price of our common stock to be in compliance with the NASDAQ minimum bid price requirement. All share amounts in prior periods have been adjusted to reflect the reverse split.