Sep. 3, 2009 (PR Newswire) --

ATLANTA, Sept. 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Gentiva Health Services, Inc. (Nasdaq: GTIV), a leading provider of comprehensive home health services, today announced the appointment of three independent directors to the Company's Board of Directors: Philip R. Lochner, Jr., Sheldon M. Retchin, M.D., and Robert S. Forman, Jr. With these appointments, Gentiva has re-established an independent majority on its Board and has regained compliance with Nasdaq's independent director requirements as set forth in Listing Rule 5605(b)(1).

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Coincident with the director appointments, Gentiva appointed Mr. Lochner to the Board's Compensation, Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee, Dr. Retchin to the Board's Clinical Quality Committee, and Mr. Forman to the Board's Audit Committee. Gentiva's Board also approved a one-year extension of Chairman Ron Malone's employment agreements through December 31, 2010.

Tony Strange, CEO and President, commented, "All of us on the Board are pleased to welcome, Phil, Sheldon and Bob. We have accomplished our previously stated goal to strengthen our Board with candidates that have exceptional expertise in the areas of corporate governance, clinical and healthcare policy, information technology and finance. Beyond their targeted areas of expertise, each of these distinguished individuals also brings strong operational experience that will benefit Gentiva moving forward. Additionally, we are delighted to have extended Ron's leadership of our Board given the critical role he continues to play both for Gentiva and for the industry as we address proposed healthcare industry reforms."

Biographical information on Gentiva's newly appointed independent directors is presented below.

Philip R. Lochner, Jr. currently serves on the Board of Directors of CLARCOR Inc., a filtration and packaging business, CMS Energy Corporation, an electric and gas utility company, and Crane Co., a diversified manufacturer. From 1991 until 1998, Mr. Lochner was Senior Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer of Time Warner Inc. Prior to that, in 1990 to 1991, he served as a Commissioner of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. From 1978 to 1990, he was employed by Time Inc., where he became Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary. Previously, Mr. Lochner was an associate at the law firm of Cravath, Swaine & Moore and served as Associate Dean and Assistant Professor of Law at the State University of New York Law School. He has previously served as a member of the Board of Governors of the National Association of Securities Dealers and of the American Stock Exchange. Mr. Lochner also previously served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Investor Responsibility Research Center and the National Association of Corporate Directors. Mr. Lochner graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a B.A. from Yale College, with a LL.B from Yale Law School and with a Ph.D. from Stanford University, and was a Fulbright Fellow at the University of London.

Sheldon M.