Healthcare Services Group, Inc. Reports Results for the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2008 and Declares Increased Third Quarter 2008 Cash Dividend

October 15, 2008

BENSALEM, PA--(Marketwire - October 14, 2008) - Healthcare Services Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: HCSG) reported that revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2008 increased over 4% to $152,978,000 compared to $146,669,000 for the same 2007 period. Net income for the three months ended September 30, 2008 was $5,522,000 or $.13 per basic and per diluted common share, compared to the 2007 third quarter net income of $7,299,000 or $.17 per basic and per diluted common share.

Revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 increased 4% to $448,155,000 compared to $430,743,000 for the same 2007 period. Net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 was $19,331,000 or $.45 per basic and $.44 per diluted common share compared to the 2007 nine month period net income of $22,274,000 or $.53 per basic and $.51 per diluted common share.

The Board of Directors has declared a third quarter 2008 regular quarterly cash dividend of $.16 per common share, payable on November 7, 2008 to shareholders of record at the close of business October 24, 2008. This represents a 7% increase over the dividend declared for the 2008 second quarter and a 33% increase over the 2007 same period payment. It is the 22nd consecutive regular quarterly cash dividend payment, as well as the 21st consecutive increase since our initiation of regular quarterly cash dividend payments in 2003.

The Company will host a conference call on October 15, 2008 at 8:30 AM Eastern Time to discuss its results for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2008. The call in number is 866-550-6338.
 
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This report contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act"), as amended, are not historical facts but rather based on current expectations, estimates and projections about our business and industry, our beliefs and assumptions. Words such as "believes," "anticipates," "plans," "expects," "will," "goal," and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. The inclusion of forward-looking statements should not be regarded as a representation by us that any of our plans will be achieved. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Such forward-looking information is also subject to various risks and uncertainties. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, risks arising from our providing services exclusively to the health care industry, primarily providers of long-term care; credit and collection risks associated with this industry; one client accounting for approximately 15% of revenues in the nine month period ended September 30, 2008; risks associated with our acquisition of Summit Services Group, Inc.; our claims experience related to workers' compensation and general liability insurance; the effects of changes in, or interpretations of laws and regulations governing the industry, including state and local regulations pertaining to the taxability of our services; and the risk factors described in our Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the year ended December 31, 2007, including Part I thereof under "Government Regulation of Clients," "Competition" and "Service Agreements/Collections," and under Part IA "Risk Factors." Many of our clients' revenues are highly contingent on Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement funding rates, which Congress has affected through the enactment of a number of major laws during the past decade. These laws have significantly altered, or threatened to alter, overall government reimbursement funding rates and mechanisms. The overall effect of these laws and trends in the long-term care industry have affected and could adversely affect the liquidity of our clients, resulting in their inability to make payments to us on agreed upon payment terms. These factors, in addition to delays in payments from clients, have resulted in, and could continue to result in, significant additional bad debts in the near future. Additionally, our operating results would be adversely affected if unexpected increases in the costs of labor and labor related costs, materials, supplies and equipment used in performing services could not be passed on to our clients.

In addition, we believe that to improve our financial performance we must continue to obtain service agreements with new clients, provide new services to existing clients, achieve modest price increases on current service agreements with existing clients and maintain internal cost reduction strategies at our various operational levels. Furthermore, we believe that our ability to sustain the internal development of managerial personnel is an important factor impacting future operating results and successfully executing projected growth strategies.
 
Healthcare Services Group, Inc. is the largest national provider of professional housekeeping, laundry and food services to long-term care and related facilities.

                      HEALTHCARE SERVICES GROUP, INC.
                  CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                               (Unaudited)


                                     September 30, 2008  December 31, 2007
                                     ------------------  ------------------

Cash and cash equivalents            $       93,572,000  $       92,461,000
Accounts receivable, net                     94,689,000          82,951,000
Other current assets                         21,730,000          19,686,000
  Total current assets                      209,991,000         195,098,000

Property and equipment, net                   3,984,000           4,303,000
Notes receivable- long term, net              4,187,000           6,058,000
Goodwill, net                                15,020,000          15,020,000
Other Intangible Assets, net                  5,298,000           6,090,000
Deferred compensation funding                 9,310,000          10,361,000
Other assets                                  6,800,000           6,438,000
                                     ------------------  ------------------

Total Assets                         $      254,590,000  $      243,368,000
                                     ==================  ==================


Accrued insurance claims- current    $        4,306,000  $        4,302,000
Other current liabilities                    30,876,000          23,579,000
                                     ------------------  ------------------
  Total current liabilities                  35,182,000          27,881,000

Accrued insurance claims- long term          10,047,000          10,037,000
Deferred compensation liability               9,589,000          10,732,000
Stockholders' equity                        199,772,000         194,718,000
                                     ------------------  ------------------

Total Liabilities and Stockholders'
 Equity                              $      254,590,000  $      243,368,000
                                     ==================  ==================



                      HEALTHCARE SERVICES GROUP, INC.
                    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
                              (Unaudited)

                                           For the Three Months Ended
                                                 September 30,
                                           2008                 2007
                                     -----------------   ------------------

Revenues                             $     152,978,000   $      146,669,000
Operating costs and expenses:
   Cost of services provided               134,228,000          126,064,000
   Selling, general and administrative       9,615,000            9,865,000
                                     -----------------   ------------------

Income from operations                       9,135,000           10,740,000
Other income:
   Investment and interest income             (157,000)           1,128,000
                                     -----------------   ------------------

Income before income taxes                   8,978,000           11,868,000
Income taxes                                 3,456,000            4,569,000
                                     -----------------   ------------------

Net income                           $       5,522,000   $        7,299,000
                                     =================   ==================

Basic earnings per common share      $             .13   $              .17
                                     =================   ==================

Diluted earnings per common share    $             .13   $              .17
                                     =================   ==================

Cash dividends per common share      $             .15   $              .11
                                     =================   ==================
Basic weighted average number of
 common shares outstanding                  43,143,000           42,606,000
                                     =================   ==================

Diluted weighted average number of
 common shares outstanding                  43,980,000           43,969,000
                                     =================   ==================



                      HEALTHCARE SERVICES GROUP, INC.
                    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
                              (Unaudited)

                                           For the Nine Months Ended
                                                 September 30,
                                           2008                 2007
                                     -----------------   ------------------

Revenues                             $     448,155,000   $      430,743,000
Operating costs and expenses:
   Cost of services provided               387,157,000          367,480,000
   Selling, general and administrative      30,318,000           30,481,000
                                     -----------------   ------------------

Income from operations                      30,680,000           32,782,000
Other income:
   Investment and interest income              753,000            3,436,000
                                     -----------------   ------------------

Income before income taxes                  31,433,000           36,218,000
Income taxes                                12,102,000           13,944,000
                                     -----------------   ------------------

Net income                           $      19,331,000   $       22,274,000
                                     =================   ==================

Basic earnings per common share      $             .45   $              .53
                                     =================   ==================

Diluted earnings per common share    $             .44   $              .51
                                     =================   ==================

Cash dividends per common share      $             .42   $              .30
                                     =================   ==================
Basic weighted average number of
 common shares outstanding                  43,078,000           42,134,000
                                     =================   ==================

Diluted weighted average number of
 common shares outstanding                  44,050,000           43,783,000
                                     =================   ==================

Company Contacts:
Daniel P. McCartney
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
215-639-4274

Thomas Cook
President
215-639-4274