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                                                                 EXHIBIT 10.12.4

                               THIRD AMENDMENT TO
                           LOAN AGREEMENT AND CONSENT
                               (364-DAY FACILITY)

         THIS THIRD AMENDMENT TO LOAN AGREEMENT AND CONSENT (this "Third
Amendment"), dated as of December 23, 2003, is by and among RENAL CARE GROUP,
INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Borrower"), the Guarantors, the Lenders party
hereto and BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Agent for the Lenders (in such capacity,
the "Agent").

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

         WHEREAS, pursuant to the Loan Agreement (364-Day Facility) dated as of
July 1, 2001 among the Borrower, the Lenders identified therein and the Agent,
as amended by that certain First Amendment to Loan Agreement (364-Day Facility)
dated as of November 1, 2002, that certain Second Amendment dated as of June 27,
2003 and as further amended or modified from time to time (the "Existing
Agreement"), the Lenders have extended commitments to make certain credit
facilities available to the Borrower; and

         WHEREAS, the parties hereto have agreed to amend the Existing Agreement
as set forth herein;

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the agreements herein contained and
other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are
hereby acknowledged, the parties hereby agree as follows:

                                     PART I
                                   DEFINITIONS

                  SUBPART 1.1 Certain Definitions. Unless otherwise defined
         herein or the context otherwise requires, the following terms used in
         this Third Amendment, including its preamble and recitals, shall have
         the following meanings:

                           "Amended Agreement" means the Existing Agreement as
                  amended hereby.

                           "Third Amendment Effective Date" shall have the
                  meaning set forth in Subpart 3.1.

                  SUBPART 1.2 Other Definitions. Unless otherwise defined herein
         or the context otherwise requires, terms used in this Third Amendment,
         including its preamble and recitals, shall have the meanings provided
         in the Amended Agreement.

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                                     PART II
                        AMENDMENTS TO EXISTING AGREEMENT

         Effective on (and subject to the occurrence of) the Third Amendment
Effective Date, the Existing Agreement is hereby amended in accordance with this
Part II. Except as so amended, the Existing Agreement shall continue in full
force and effect.

                  SUBPART 2.1 Amendment to 6.15. Subclause (c) of Section 6.15
         of the Existing Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its
         entirety to read as follows:

                           (c) so long as no Default or Event of Default exists
                  prior to and after giving effect to such transaction, the
                  Borrower may, from and after November 1, 2002, repurchase
                  shares of its Capital Stock in an amount not to exceed
                  $450,000,000 in the aggregate,

                                    PART III
                                     CONSENT

         Pursuant to clause (c) of the definition of Permitted Acquisition in
Section 1.1 of the Existing Agreement, the Required Lenders hereby consent to
the purchase of substantially all of the assets of Midwest Kidney Centers, LLC,
Acute Renal Services, LLC, MKC-Decatur, LLC, Quality Kidney Care, LLC, Kidney
Care, LLC, and Midwest Renal Support, LLC for Cash Consideration and non-cash
consideration in an aggregate amount not to exceed $55,830,000 provided that
such acquisition satisfies all of the other criteria identified in the
definition of Permitted Acquisition.

                                     PART IV
                           CONDITIONS TO EFFECTIVENESS

                  SUBPART 4.1 Third Amendment Effective Date. This Third
         Amendment shall become effective (the "Third Amendment Effective Date")
         when the Agent shall have received counterparts of this Third
         Amendment, which collectively shall have been duly executed on behalf
         of each of the Borrower, the Guarantors, the Agent and the Required
         Lenders.

                                     PART V
                                  MISCELLANEOUS

                  SUBPART 5.1 Cross-References. References in this Third
         Amendment to any Part or Subpart are, unless otherwise specified, to
         such Part or Subpart of this Third Amendment.

                  SUBPART 5.2 References in Other Loan Documents. At such time
         as this Third Amendment shall become effective pursuant to the terms of
         Subpart 4.1, all

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         references in the Existing Agreement to the "Agreement" and all
         references in the other Loan Documents to the "Agreement" shall be
         deemed to refer to the Amended Agreement.

                  SUBPART 5.3 Acknowledgment. The Credit Parties acknowledge and
         confirm (a) that the Agent, on behalf of the Lenders, has a valid and
         enforceable first priority security interest in the Collateral, (b)
         that the Borrower's obligation to repay the outstanding principal
         amount of the Loans is unconditional and not subject to any offsets,
         defenses or counterclaims and (c) that the Agent and the Lenders have
         performed fully all of their respective obligations under the Existing
         Agreement and the other Loan Documents. Furthermore, the Guarantors (a)
         acknowledge and consent to all of the terms and conditions of this
         Third Amendment, (b) affirm all of their obligations under the Loan
         Documents and (c) agree that this Third Amendment and all documents
         executed in connection herewith do not operate to reduce or discharge
         the Guarantors' obligations under the Guaranty Agreement or the other
         Loan Documents.

                  SUBPART 5.4 Representations and Warranties. The Credit Parties
         hereby represent and warrant that (a) the representations and
         warranties contained in Article IV of the Amended Agreement are correct
         in all material respects on and as of the date hereof as though made on
         and as of such date and after giving effect to the amendments contained
         herein, (b) no Default or Event of Default exists under the Existing
         Agreement on and as of the date hereof and (c) each Credit Party has
         taken all necessary action to authorize the execution, delivery and
         performance of this Third Amendment.

                  SUBPART 5.5 Counterparts. This Third Amendment may be executed
         by the parties hereto in several counterparts, each of which shall be
         deemed to be an original and all of which shall constitute together but
         one and the same agreement. Delivery by facsimile by any of the parties
         hereto of an executed counterpart of this Third Amendment shall be
         effective as an original executed counterpart hereof and shall be
         deemed a representation that an original executed counterpart will be
         delivered.

                  SUBPART 5.6 Governing Law. THIS THIRD AMENDMENT SHALL BE
         GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF
         GEORGIA.

                  SUBPART 5.7 Successors and Assigns. This Third Amendment shall
         be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and
         their respective successors and assigns.

            [The remainder of this page is intentionally left blank.]

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         Each of the parties hereto has caused a counterpart of this Third
Amendment to be duly executed and delivered as of the date first above written.

BORROWER:                          RENAL CARE GROUP, INC. a
                                   Delaware corporation

                                   By:   ________________________________
                                   Name: ________________________________
                                   Title: _______________________________

GUARANTORS:                        RENAL CARE GROUP EAST, INC.,
                                   a Pennsylvania corporation

                                   RENAL CARE GROUP MICHIGAN, INC.,
                                   a Delaware corporation

                                   MICHIGAN HOME DIALYSIS CENTER, INC.,
                                   a Michigan corporation

                                   RENAL CARE GROUP OF THE MIDWEST, INC.,
                                   a Kansas corporation

                                   FOUR STATE REGIONAL DIALYSIS CENTER, INC.,
                                   a Missouri corporation

                                   FORT SCOTT REGIONAL DIALYSIS CENTER, INC.,
                                   a Missouri corporation

                                   MIAMI REGIONAL DIALYSIS CENTER, INC.,
                                   a Missouri corporation

                                   RCG MISSISSIPPI, INC.,
                                   a Delaware corporation

                                   RENAL CARE GROUP OF THE SOUTHEAST, INC.,
                                   a Florida corporation

                                   NORTHEAST ALABAMA KIDNEY CLINIC, INC.,
                                   an Alabama corporation

                                   RENAL CARE GROUP TEXAS, INC.,
                                   a Texas corporation

                                                              Third Amendment to
                                               Loan Agreement (364-Day Facility)
                                                                Renal Care Group

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                                   DIALYSIS MANAGEMENT CORPORATION,
                                   a Texas corporation

                                   RCG PA MERGER CORP.,
                                   a Texas corporation

                                   STAT DIALYSIS CORPORATION,
                                   a Delaware corporation

                                   ANGLETON DIALYSIS, INC.,
                                   a Texas corporation

                                   BRAZORIA KIDNEY CENTER, INC.,
                                   a Texas corporation

                                   FONDREN DIALYSIS CLINIC, INC.,
                                   a Texas corporation

                                   WHARTON DIALYSIS, INC.,
                                   a Texas corporation

                                   JEFFERSON COUNTY DIALYSIS, INC.,
                                   an Arkansas corporation

                                   KDCO, INC.,
                                   an Arkansas corporation

                                   LAWTON DIALYSIS, INC.,
                                   an Arkansas corporation

                                   LITTLE ROCK DIALYSIS, INC.,
                                   an Arkansas corporation

                                   NORTHWEST DIALYSIS, INC.,
                                   an Arkansas corporation

                                   RENALAB, INC.,
                                   a Delaware corporation

                                   RENALPARTNERS, INC.,
                                   a Delaware corporation

                                   RENALNET, INC.,
                                   a Delaware corporation

                                                              Third Amendment to
                                               Loan Agreement (364-Day Facility)
                                                                Renal Care Group

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                                   WOUND CARE GROUP, INC.
                                   a Delaware corporation

                                   DIABETES CARE GROUP, INC.
                                   a Delaware corporation

                                   RENAL CARE GROUP ARIZONA, INC.
                                   an Arizona corporation

                                   RENAL CARE GROUP NORTHWEST, INC.,
                                   a Delaware corporation

                                   RENALNET, ARIZONA, INC.,
                                   an Arizona corporation

                                   RCG UNIVERSITY DIVISION, INC.
                                   a Tennessee corporation

                                   RCG SUPPLY COMPANY,
                                   a Tennessee corporation

                                   RENAL CARE GROUP ALASKA, INC.,
                                   an Alaska corporation

                                   RENAL CARE GROUP SOUTHWEST HOLDINGS, INC.,
                                   a Texas corporation

                                   DIALYSIS CENTERS OF AMERICA - ILLINOIS, INC.,
                                   an Illinois corporation

                                   SSKG, INC.,
                                   an Illinois corporation

                                   RENAL CARE GROUP OHIO, INC.,
                                   a Delaware corporation

                                   PHYSICIANS DIALYSIS COMPANY, INC.,
                                   an Ohio corporation

                                   By:    ______________________________________
                                   Name:  ______________________________________
                                   Title: ______________________________________

                                                              Third Amendment to
                                               Loan Agreement (364-Day Facility)
                                                                Renal Care Group

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                                   RCG FINANCE, INC.,
                                   a Delaware corporation

                                   By:    ______________________________________
                                   Name:  ______________________________________
                                   Title: ______________________________________

                                   DIALYSIS LICENSING CORP.,
                                   a Delaware corporation

                                   RCGIH, INC.
                                   a Delaware corporation

                                   By:    ______________________________________
                                   Name:  ______________________________________
                                   Title: ______________________________________

                                   RCG INDIANA, LLC,
                                   a Delaware limited liability company

                                   By:  Renal Care Group, Inc.
                                   Its: Member

                                        By:    _________________________________
                                        Name:  _________________________________
                                        Title: _________________________________

                                   By:  Renal Care Group Arizona, Inc.
                                   Its: Member

                                        By:    _________________________________
                                        Name:  _________________________________
                                        Title: _________________________________

                                                              Third Amendment to
                                               Loan Agreement (364-Day Facility)
                                                                Renal Care Group

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                                   KIDNEY DISEASE CENTERS OF THE OZARKS, LLC
                                   a Missouri limited liability company

                                   By:  Renal Care Group, Inc.
                                   Its: Member

                                        By:    _________________________________
                                        Name:  _________________________________
                                        Title: _________________________________

                                   STUTTGART DIALYSIS, LLC,
                                   an Arkansas limited liability company

                                   By:  Little Rock Dialysis, Inc.
                                   Its: Member

                                        By:    _________________________________
                                        Name:  _________________________________
                                        Title: _________________________________

                                   By:  Jefferson County Dialysis, Inc.
                                   Its: Member

                                        By:    _________________________________
                                        Name:  _________________________________
                                        Title: _________________________________

                                   RCG WEST HEALTH SUPPLY, LLC,
                                   an Arizona limited liability company

                                   By:  Renal Care Group, Inc.
                                   Its: Member

                                        By:    _________________________________
                                        Name:  _________________________________
                                        Title: _________________________________

                                   By:  Renal Care Group Arizona, Inc..
                                   Its: Member

                                        By:    _________________________________
                                        Name:  _________________________________
                                        Title: _________________________________

                                                              Third Amendment to
                                               Loan Agreement (364-Day Facility)
                                                                Renal Care Group

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                                   KENTUCKY RENAL CARE GROUP, LLC,
                                   a Delaware limited liability company

                                   By:    ______________________________________
                                   Name:  ______________________________________
                                   Title: ______________________________________

                                   RENAL CARE GROUP SOUTHWEST, L.P.
                                   a Delaware limited partnership

                                   By:  Renal Care Group Arizona, Inc.,
                                        an Arizona corporation
                                   Its: General Partner

                                   By:    ______________________________________
                                   Name:  ______________________________________
                                   Title: ______________________________________

                                                              Third Amendment to
                                               Loan Agreement (364-Day Facility)
                                                                Renal Care Group

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AGENT:                             BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as
                                   Agent

                                   By:    ______________________________________
                                   Name:  ______________________________________
                                   Title: ______________________________________

LENDERS:                           BANK OF AMERICA, N. A., as a Lender

                                   By:    ______________________________________
                                   Name:  ______________________________________
                                   Title: ______________________________________

                                   WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL
                                   ASSOCIATION

                                   By:    ______________________________________
                                   Name:  ______________________________________
                                   Title: ______________________________________

                                   SUNTRUST BANK

                                   By:    ______________________________________
                                   Name:  ______________________________________
                                   Title: ______________________________________

                                   AMSOUTH BANK

                                   By:    ______________________________________
                                   Name:  ______________________________________
                                   Title: ______________________________________

                                                              Third Amendment to
                                               Loan Agreement (364-Day Facility)
                                                                Renal Care Group