Operating Leases
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2016
Leases [Abstract]  
Operating Leases
Operating Leases
The Company leases office space and equipment for its surgical facilities, including surgical facilities under development.  The lease agreements generally require the lessee, or the Company, to pay all maintenance, property taxes, utilities and insurance costs.  The Company accounts for operating lease obligations and sublease income on a straight-line basis.  Contingent obligations of the Company, as defined by each lease agreement, are recognized when specific contractual measures have been met, typically the result of an increase in the Consumer Price Index.  Lease obligations paid in advance are recorded as prepaid rent and included in prepaid expenses and other current assets on the consolidated balance sheets.  The difference between actual lease payments and straight-line lease expense over the initial lease term, excluding optional renewal periods, is recorded as deferred rent and included in other current liabilities and other long-term liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets. As part of the Merger, the Company ceased use of four of their operating leases and accrued a liability of $4.6 million, net of discounting and sublease income during 2015. The Company expensed this through merger transaction and integration costs, as the leases related to offices shut down in connection with the Merger.
The future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases, net of sub-lease income, follows (in thousands):
2017
 
$
46,517

2018
 
42,917

2019
 
39,181

2020
 
34,415

2021
 
28,728

Thereafter
 
143,558

Total minimum operating lease payments
 
$
335,316


Total operating lease expense was $47.3 million, $40.1 million and $18.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively. Included in these amounts, the Company incurred lease expense of $14.4 million, $12.9 million and $6.9 million for years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively, under operating lease agreements with physician investors who are related parties.
The Company has various sub-lease arrangements and the future minimum lease payments to be received under these non-cancellable arrangements are as follows (in thousands):
2017
 
$
1,101

2018
 
1,137

2019
 
658

2020
 
468

2021
 
312

Thereafter
 
1,919

Total non-cancellable sub-lease income
 
$
5,595