Exhibit 99.1

For release:  February 16, 2012

Contact: Gerald Coggin, Sr. VP of Corporate Relations

Phone: (615) 890-2020

NHC Reports Year End Earnings

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. -- National HealthCare Corporation (NYSE Amex:  NHC, NHC.PRA), one of the nation's oldest long-term health care companies, today announced net income available to common shareholders of $55,401,000 or $4.02 per share basic for the year ended December 31, 2011, compared to $44,022,000 or $3.22 per share basic for the year ended December 31, 2010, an increase of 25.8%.  Annual operating revenues in 2011 increased 7.3% from $720,653,000 to $773,537,000.  

Fourth quarter of 2011 net income available to common shareholders was $12,358,000 or 89 cents per basic share, compared to $13,187,000 or 97 cents per basic share in the fourth quarter of 2010, a decrease of 6.3%.  Operating revenues for the fourth quarter of 2011 increased 0.5% from $191,856,000 to $192,742,000.

The decrease in operating results for the fourth quarter of 2011 compared to the same quarter a year ago resulted primarily from the reporting in the fourth quarter of 2010 of a one-time gain of $3,563,000 ($2,172,000 after taxes) on the recovery of assets previously written off.  If the 2010 fourth quarter gain were excluded, net income available to common shareholders for the quarter would have increased 12.2%.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. NHC cautions investors that any forward-looking statements made involve risks and uncertainties and are not guarantees of future performance. The risks and uncertainties are detailed from time to time in reports filed by NHC with the S.E.C., including Forms 8-K, 10-Q and 10-K, and include, among others, the following:  liabilities and other claims asserted against us and patient care liabilities, as well as the resolution of current litigation; availability of insurance and assets for indemnification; national and local economic conditions; including their effect on the availability and cost of labor, utilities and materials; the effect of government regulations and changes in regulations governing the healthcare industry, including our compliance with such regulations; changes in Medicare and Medicaid payment levels and methodologies and the application of such methodologies by the government and its fiscal intermediaries, the ability of third parties for whom we have guaranteed debt to refinance certain short term debt obligations; and other factors referenced or incorporated by reference in the S.E.C. filings.  The risks included here are not exhaustive.  All forward-looking statements represent NHC’s best judgment as of the date of this release.

About NHC

NHC affiliates operate for themselves and third parties 75 long-term health care centers with 9,456 beds.  NHC affiliates also operate 36 homecare programs, six independent living centers and 17 assisted living communities.  NHC’s other services include Alzheimer’s units, long-term care pharmacies, hospice, a rehabilitation services company, and providing management and accounting services to third parties. Other information about the company can be found on our web site at www.nhccare.com.