Net cash provided by operating activities for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 was $275.7 million and $195.6 million, respectively, an increase of $80.1 million. The increase was the result of (1) a $352.2 million improvement in net income, (2) a net decrease of $85.4 million in non-cash charges, primarily from the change in the estimated fair value of the contingent consideration common shares liability and warrant liability, amortization, equity-based compensation expense, write-off of deferred financing costs, loss on extinguishment of debt, non-cash reduction in the carrying amount of operating lease right-of-use assets and changes in fair value of contingent consideration, (3) a $43.5 million change in deferred income taxes, (4) a net $139.2 million decrease resulting from the change in operating assets and liabilities, primarily from the change in accounts receivable, inventory and accounts payable and accrued expenses (excluding the impact of cash received in the 2020 period in connection with the CARES Act discussed below), and (5) a decrease of $28.0 million in operating lease obligations, which was offset by the receipt of $45.8 million of recoupable advanced payments from CMS and the receipt of $17.2 million of provider relief fund payments in connection with the CARES Act in 2020.
Net cash provided by operating activities for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 was $195.6 million and $60.4 million, respectively, an increase of $135.2 million. The increase was the result of (1) a $171.5 million increase in net loss, (2) a net increase of $235.5 million in non-cash charges, primarily from the change in the estimated fair value of contingent consideration common shares, a non-cash charge relating to the change in the estimated fair value of the warrant liability, amortization, non-cash interest expense relating to the Company’s interest rate swaps, equity-based compensation expense, write-off of deferred financing costs, and changes in fair value of contingent consideration, (3) a $1.0 million payment of contingent consideration, (4) receipt of $45.8 million of recoupable advanced payments from CMS in connection with the CARES Act, (5) receipt of $17.2 million pursuant to the CARES Act provider relief fund payments, (6) a $21.6 million change in deferred income taxes, and (7) a net $30.8 million increase in cash resulting from the change in operating assets and liabilities, primarily resulting from the change in accounts receivable and accounts payable and accrued expenses for the period.
Net cash used in investing activities for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019 was $1,824.8 million, $815.7 million and $84.9 million, respectively. The use of funds in 2021 consisted of $1,620.3 million for business acquisitions, primarily from the AeroCare acquisition, $203.3 million for equipment and other fixed asset purchases and $1.2 million of other investments. The use of funds in 2020 consisted of $769.3 million for business acquisitions, primarily from the Solara, ActivStyle, Advanced and Pinnacle acquisitions, $39.8 million for equipment and other fixed asset purchases, $8.6 million for the purchase of equity and cost-method investments, offset by $2.0 million of cash proceeds from the sale of an investment. The use of funds in 2019 consisted of $63.5 million for acquisitions, primarily from the acquisition of Goulds, SleepMed and Choice, and $21.4 million for equipment and other fixed asset purchases.
Net cash provided by financing activities for 2021 was $1,598.7 million and consisted of proceeds of $1,165.0 million from borrowings on long-term debt and lines of credit, proceeds of $1,100.0 million from the issuance of senior unsecured notes, proceeds of $278.9 million from the issuance of shares of Common Stock in connection with a public underwritten offering, proceeds of $12.3 million from the exercise of stock options, and proceeds of $1.0 million in connection with the employee stock purchase plan, offset by total repayments of $869.4 million on long-term debt and finance lease obligations, payments of $13.8 million for equity issuance costs, payments of $29.2 million for debt issuance costs, payments of $19.4 million for contingent consideration related to acquisitions, payments of $5.9 million for deferred purchase price in connection with acquisitions, payments of $16.1 million for debt prepayment penalties, payments of $1.1 million for distributions to noncontrolling interests, and payments of $3.6 million relating to tax withholdings associated with equity-based compensation activity and stock option exercises.
Net cash provided by financing activities for 2020 was $643.2 million and consisted of proceeds of $591.3 million from borrowings on long-term debt and lines of credit, proceeds of $350.0 million from the issuance of senior unsecured notes, proceeds of $225.0 million from the sale of shares of Class A Common Stock and Preferred Stock in connection with private placement transactions, proceeds of $142.6 million from the issuance of shares of Class A Common Stock in connection with a public underwritten offering, proceeds of $24.5 million from the exercise of warrants, and proceeds of $0.1 million in connection with the employee stock purchase plan, offset by total repayments of $586.5 million on long-term debt and capital lease obligations, payments of $11.7 million for equity issuance costs, payments of $13.1 million for debt issuance costs, payments of $44.3 million in connection with the exchange of shares