Brentwood, Tenn. In a financial downturn that threw it into default on its financial covenants, American HomePatient posted a loss for fiscal year 1999 ended Dec. 31 of $99.9 million, or $6.55 a share. That compares with a loss of $39 million, or $2.60 a share, the year before.

For the fourth quarter, the company had a loss of $84.2 million, or $5.52 a share, compared with a loss of $36 million, or $2.44 a share, the same quarter in the previous year.

Officials attributed the loss to the negative impact from $78 million in accounting charges that were recorded in the fourth quarter. The charges were for additional accounts receivable reserves, the write-off of impaired goodwill and a valuation allowance for deferred tax assets, officials said.

The company was not in compliance with some of its financial covenants because of the loss, officials said, and projections for the year showed it also would not be in compliance with other agreements over the next 12 months. Company officials and bank representatives reached an agreement in principle to modify American HomePatient's covenants, they said in April. Because of the agreement, the company did not file its Form 10-K on March 30 as planned.