As previously reported, Mizuho analyst Sheryl Skolnick downgraded Amedisys (AMED) to Neutral from Buy after the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issued a proposed rule that would update the 2018 Medicare payment rates and the wage index for home health agencies, which she called a "body blow" that represents a significant headwind for the industry. The proposed new system not only would cut industry payments by $950M in 2019, but would also make LUPA reimbursement worse, she told investors. Skolnick lowered her price target for Amedisys to $50 from $65, cut her price target for HealthSouth (HLS) to $45 from $47 and trimmed her price target on Kindred Healthcare (KND) to $8 from $9.