8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

___________________________

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):  February 12, 2014 (February 12, 2014)

____________________________

NATIONAL HEALTHCARE CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

____________________________

Delaware (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)	001-13489 (Commission File Number)	52-2057472 (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
100 Vine Street Murfreesboro, Tennessee (Address of Principal Executive Offices)		37130 (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:  (615) 890-2020

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

__________________________________

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

[  ] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

[  ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

[  ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2 (b))

[  ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 8.01.

Other Events.

NHC issued a press release on February 12, 2014 announcing its preferred and common dividends.  The entire press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated by reference herein.

Item 9.01.

Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d)

Exhibits.

Exhibit No.	Description of Exhibit
99.1	Copy of press release issued on February 12, 2014 by National HealthCare Corporation announcing preferred and common dividends

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Date:

February 12, 2014

NATIONAL HEALTHCARE CORPORATION

By:  /s/ Donald K. Daniel

Name: Donald K. Daniel

Title:   Senior VP/Controller

            Principal Accounting Officer

EX-99

Exhibit 99.1

For release:  February 12, 2014

Contact: Gerald Coggin, Senior VP of Corporate Relations

Phone: (615) 890-2020

NHC to Pay Preferred and Common Dividends

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. -- National HealthCare Corporation (NYSE MKT:  NHC, NHC.PRA), the nation’s oldest publicly traded long-term health care company, has announced that it will pay a quarterly dividend of 20 cents per preferred share to shareholders of record on March 17, 2014 and payable on April 15, 2014 and a dividend of 32 cents per common share to shareholders of record on March 31, 2014 and payable on June 2, 2014.

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 69 skilled nursing facilities with 8,943 beds.  NHC affiliates also operate 38 homecare programs, five independent living centers and 15 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.