Table of Contents



UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

☒QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 20202021

OR

☐TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF

THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from _____ to ____________

Commission file number    001-13489

nhc20200930_10qimg001.jpg

nhc01.jpg

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its Charter)

Delaware

52-2057472

(State or other jurisdiction of

(I.R.S. Employer

incorporation or organization

Identification No.)

100 E. Vine Street

Murfreesboro, TN

37130

(Address of principal executive offices)

(Zip Code)

(615) 890–2020

Registrant's telephone number, including area code

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act:

 

Title of each class

Trading

Symbols(s)

Name of each exchange on which registered

Common, $0.01 par value

NHC

NYSE American

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) Has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d), of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S–T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such period that the registrant was required to submit such files).    Yes ☒      No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large Accelerated filer ☒

Accelerated filer ☐

Non–accelerated filer ☐

Smaller reporting company ☐

Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as is defined in Rule 12b–2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐   No ☒

15,359,48815,423,340 shares of common stock of the registrant were outstanding as of November 1, 2020.2021.

 



 

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Page

Item 1.

Financial Statements

3

 

Item 2.

Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

26

27

 

Item 3.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

38

40

 

Item 4.

Controls and Procedures

38

41

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.

Legal Proceedings

39

41

 

Item 1A

Risk Factors

39

41

 

Item 2.

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

39

41

 

Item 3.

Defaults Upon Senior Securities

39

41

 

Item 4.

Mine Safety Disclosures

39

42

 

Item 5.

Other Information

39

42

 

Item 6.

Exhibits

40

42

 

2


 

 

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Financial Statements.

Financial Statements.

 

 

NATIONAL HEALTHCARE CORPORATION

Interim Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

(unaudited)

  

Three Months Ended

September 30

  

Nine Months Ended

September 30

 
  

2021

  

2020

  

2021

  

2020

 
                 

Revenues and grant income:

                

Net patient revenues

 $254,817  $227,383  $708,648  $697,149 

Other revenues

  11,491   11,111   33,916   34,463 

Government stimulus income

  10,429   12,132   48,304   36,780 

Net operating revenues and grant income

  276,737   250,626   790,868   768,392 
                 

Cost and expenses:

                

Salaries, wages, and benefits

  159,305   151,564   461,239   455,947 

Other operating

  84,039   70,887   226,235   213,416 

Facility rent

  10,204   10,320   30,437   30,972 

Depreciation and amortization

  10,229   10,548   30,521   31,531 

Interest

  198   285   657   1,150 

Total costs and expenses

  263,975   243,604   749,089   733,016 
                 

Income from operations

  12,762   7,022   41,779   35,376 
                 

Other income:

                

Non–operating income

  3,399   6,478   15,245   18,870 

Gains on acquisitions of equity method investments

  0   0   95,202   1,708 

Unrealized losses on marketable equity securities

  (23,797

)

  (241

)

  (23,227

)

  (40,580

)

                 

Income/(loss) before income taxes

  (7,636

)

  13,259   128,999   15,374 

Income tax (provision)/benefit

  4,090   (391

)

  (5,907

)

  (800

)

Net income/(loss)

  (3,546

)

  12,868   123,092   14,574 

Net (income)/loss attributable to noncontrolling interest

  198   (19

)

  (290

)

  (253

)

                 

Net income/(loss) attributable to National HealthCare Corporation

 $(3,348

)

 $12,849  $122,802  $14,321 
                 

Earnings/(loss) per share attributable to National HealthCare Corporation stockholders:

                

Basic

 $(0.22

)

 $0.84  $8.00  $0.94 

Diluted

 $(0.22

)

 $0.84  $7.97  $0.93 
                 

Weighted average common shares outstanding:

             

Basic

  15,364,043   15,310,754   15,347,042   15,304,235 

Diluted

  15,364,043   15,371,311   15,414,683   15,368,775 
                 

Dividends declared per common share

 $0.52  $0.52  $1.56  $1.56 

The accompanying notes to interim condensed consolidated financial statements are an integral part of these consolidated statements.

3

NATIONAL HEALTHCARE CORPORATION

Interim Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income/(Loss)

(unaudited in thousands)

  

Three Months Ended

September 30

  

Nine Months Ended

September 30

 
  

2020

  

2019

  

2020

  

2019

 
                 

Revenues and grant income:

                

Net patient revenues

 $227,383  $235,090  $697,149  $706,465 

Other revenues

  11,111   11,977   34,463   36,038 

Government stimulus income

  12,132   0   36,780   0 

Net operating revenues and grant income

  250,626   247,067   768,392   742,503 
                 

Cost and expenses:

                

Salaries, wages, and benefits

  151,564   152,175   455,947   441,441 

Other operating

  70,887   66,730   213,416   203,760 

Facility rent

  10,320   10,167   30,972   30,602 

Depreciation and amortization

  10,548   10,663   31,531   31,515 

Interest

  285   764   1,150   2,644 

Total costs and expenses

  243,604   240,499   733,016   709,962 
                 

Income from operations

  7,022   6,568   35,376   32,541 
                 

Other income:

                

Non–operating income

  6,478   6,663   20,578   20,936 

Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable equity securities

  (241

)

  9,312   (40,580

)

  16,096 
                 

Income before income taxes

  13,259   22,543   15,374   69,573 

Income tax provision

  (391

)

  (3,167

)

  (800

)

  (15,284

)

Net income

  12,868   19,376   14,574   54,289 

Net (income)/loss attributable to noncontrolling interest

  (19

)

  85   (253

)

  152 
                 

Net income attributable to National HealthCare Corporation

 $12,849  $19,461  $14,321  $54,441 
                 

Earnings per share attributable to National HealthCare Corporation stockholders:

                

Basic

 $0.84  $1.27  $0.94  $3.57 

Diluted

 $0.84  $1.27  $0.93  $3.55 
                 

Weighted average common shares outstanding:

             

Basic

  15,310,754   15,275,709   15,304,235   15,267,250 

Diluted

  15,371,311   15,373,617   15,368,775   15,350,308 
                 

Dividends declared per common share

 $0.52  $0.52  $1.56  $1.54 
  

Three Months Ended

September 30

  

Nine Months Ended

September 30

 
  

2021

  

2020

  

2021

  

2020

 
                 

Net income/(loss)

 $(3,546

)

 $12,868  $123,092  $14,574 
                 

Other comprehensive income/(loss):

                

Unrealized gains/(losses) on investments in marketable debt securities

  (658

)

  632   (2,691

)

  2,883 

Reclassification adjustment for realized gains on sales of marketable debt securities

  (2

)

  (122

)

  (214

)

  (135

)

Income tax (expense)/benefit related to items of other comprehensive income

  138   (107

)

  614   (577

)

Other comprehensive income/(loss), net of tax

  (522

)

  403   (2,291

)

  2,171 
                 

Net (income)/loss attributable to noncontrolling interest

  198   (19

)

  (290

)

  (253

)

                 

Comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to National HealthCare Corporation

 $(3,870

)

 $13,252  $120,511  $16,492 

 

The accompanying notes to interim condensed consolidated financial statements are an integral part of these consolidated statements.

 

34


 

NATIONAL HEALTHCARE CORPORATION

Interim Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income

(unaudited – in thousands)

  

Three Months Ended

September 30

  

Nine Months Ended

September 30

 
  

2020

  

2019

  

2020

  

2019

 
                 

Net income

 $12,868  $19,376  $14,574  $54,289 
                 

Other comprehensive income:

                

Unrealized gains on investments in restricted marketable debt securities

  632   855   2,883   7,049 

Reclassification adjustment for realized gains on sales of restricted marketable debt securities

  (122

)

  (117

)

  (135

)

  (117

)

Income tax expense related to items of other comprehensive income

  (107

)

  (155

)

  (577

)

  (1,456

)

Other comprehensive income, net of tax

  403   583   2,171   5,476 
                 

Net (income)/loss attributable to noncontrolling interest

  (19

)

  85   (253

)

  152 
                 

Comprehensive income attributable to National HealthCare Corporation

 $13,252  $20,044  $16,492  $59,917 

The accompanying notes to interim condensed consolidated financial statements are an integral part of these consolidated statements.

4

NATIONAL HEALTHCARE CORPORATION

Interim Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(in thousands)

 

September 30,

2020

  

December 31,

2019

  

Sept. 30, 2021

  

December 31,

2020

 
 

unaudited

     

unaudited

    

Assets

            

Current Assets:

      

Cash and cash equivalents

 $183,765  $50,334  $112,462  $147,093 

Restricted cash and cash equivalents, current portion

 10,623  8,944  12,506  9,673 

Marketable equity securities

 111,873  152,453  105,893  128,590 

Marketable debt securities

 36,590  47,762 

Restricted marketable equity securities

 24,520  4,680 

Restricted marketable debt securities, current portion

 19,249  20,576  18,794  16,601 

Accounts receivable

 84,595  92,975  99,019  89,670 

Inventories

 7,188  7,441  8,696  8,781 

Prepaid expenses and other assets

 3,682  6,635  5,450  2,977 

Notes receivable, current portion

  1,253   1,695   899   928 

Total current assets

  422,228   341,053   424,829   456,755 
  

Property and Equipment:

      

Property and equipment, at cost

 1,041,832  1,017,204  1,062,620  1,030,426 

Accumulated depreciation and amortization

  (511,216

)

  (481,774

)

  (540,601

)

  (510,108

)

Net property and equipment

  530,616   535,430   522,019   520,318 
  

Other Assets:

      

Restricted cash and cash equivalents, less current portion

 1,730  1,732  1,799  1,736 

Restricted marketable debt securities, less current portion

 122,791  126,830  118,737  125,472 

Deposits and other assets

 5,503  5,124  4,798  4,580 

Operating lease right-of-use assets

 185,003  202,909  162,550  179,055 

Goodwill

 21,341  20,995  168,295  21,341 

Intangible assets

 7,038  0 

Notes receivable, less current portion

 12,679  13,384  3,502  12,093 

Investments in unconsolidated companies

  36,888   39,191   2,231   40,782 

Total other assets

  385,935   410,165   468,950   385,059 

Total assets

 $1,338,779  $1,286,648  $1,415,798  $1,362,132 

 

The accompanying notes to interim condensed consolidated financial statements are an integral part of these consolidated statements.

5


 

NATIONAL HEALTHCARE CORPORATION

Interim Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (continued)

(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

 

September 30,

2020

  

December 31,

2019

  

Sept. 30, 2021

  

December 31,

2020

 
 

unaudited

     

unaudited

    

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

        

Liabilities and Stockholders Equity

    

Current Liabilities:

      

Trade accounts payable

 $19,890  $18,903  $32,900  $21,112 

Finance lease obligations, current portion

 4,357  4,166  4,626  4,423 

Operating lease liabilities, current portion

 25,146  24,243  27,289  25,451 

Accrued payroll

 60,690  69,826  85,926  86,183 

Amounts due to third party payors

 15,642  15,108  17,046  16,454 

Accrued risk reserves, current portion

 29,873  29,520  31,300  30,953 

Other current liabilities

 23,431  15,029  23,550  21,344 

Provider relief funds

 21,404  0  0  16,068 

Contract liabilities

 51,253  0  27,013  51,253 

Dividends payable

 7,987  7,968   8,020   7,987 

Current maturities of long-term debt

  0   10,000 

Total current liabilities

  259,673   194,763   257,670   281,228 
  

Finance lease obligations, less current portion

 11,671  14,963  7,045  10,540 

Operating lease liabilities, less current portion

 159,857  178,666  135,261  153,604 

Accrued risk reserves, less current portion

 76,080  66,491  72,524  68,584 

Refundable entrance fees

 7,462  7,455  6,868  7,462 

Deferred income taxes

 14,185  24,012  8,037  14,079 

Other noncurrent liabilities

  32,674   21,229   26,503   28,375 

Total liabilities

  561,602   507,579   513,908   563,872 
  

Equity:

      

Common stock, $.01 par value; 45,000,000 shares authorized; 15,359,488 and 15,332,206 shares, respectively, issued and outstanding

 153  153 

Common stock, $.01 par value; 45,000,000 shares authorized; 15,423,240 and 15,369,745 shares, respectively, issued and outstanding

 154  153 

Capital in excess of par value

 225,616  222,787  230,974  226,943 

Retained earnings

 543,460  553,093  661,783  563,024 

Accumulated other comprehensive income

  4,731   2,560   2,766   5,057 

Total National HealthCare Corporation stockholders’ equity

 773,960  778,593  895,677  795,177 

Noncontrolling interest

  3,217   476   6,213   3,083 

Total equity

  777,177   779,069   901,890   798,260 

Total liabilities and equity

 $1,338,779  $1,286,648  $1,415,798  $1,362,132 

The accompanying notes to interim condensed consolidated financial statements are an integral part of these consolidated statements.

 

6


 

 

NATIONAL HEALTHCARE CORPORATION

Interim Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(unaudited in thousands)

 

  

Nine Months Ended

September 30

 
  

2020

  

2019

 

Cash Flows From Operating Activities:

        

Net income

 $14,574  $54,289 

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

        

Depreciation and amortization

  31,531   31,515 

Equity in earnings of unconsolidated investments

  (8,448

)

  (7,548

)

Distributions from unconsolidated investments

  10,050   3,884 

Unrealized (gains)/losses on marketable equity securities

  40,580   (16,096

)

Gains on sale of restricted marketable debt securities

  (135

)

  (117

)

Gains on acquisitions of equity method investments

  (1,707

)

  (1,975

)

Deferred income taxes

  (10,405

)

  6,187 

Stock–based compensation

  1,807   1,448 

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

        

Accounts receivable

  9,604   5,234 

Income tax receivable

  0   (2,330

)

Inventories

  344   (304

)

Prepaid expenses and other assets

  2,992   169 

Trade accounts payable

  207   (1,066

)

Accrued payroll

  (9,545

)

  (8,121

)

Amounts due to third party payors

  388   (197

)

Accrued risk reserves

  9,977   2,241 

Provider relief funds

  21,404   0 

Contract liabilities

  51,253   0 

Other current liabilities

  7,984   8,345 

Other noncurrent liabilities

  11,445   (674

)

Net cash provided by operating activities

  183,900   74,884 

Cash Flows From Investing Activities:

        

Purchases of property and equipment

  (17,717

)

  (19,670

)

Acquisition of equity method investment, net of cash acquired

  (6,648

)

  (15,589

)

Investments in unconsolidated companies

  (305

)

  (197

)

Investments in notes receivable

  (425

)

  (5,462

)

Collections of notes receivable

  1,572   1,010 

Purchases of restricted marketable debt securities

  (19,754

)

  (11,187

)

Proceeds from sale of restricted marketable debt securities

  28,004   41,272 

Net cash used in investing activities

  (15,273

)

  (9,823

)

Cash Flows From Financing Activities:

        

Borrowings under credit facility

  40,000   0 

Repayments under credit facility

  (50,000

)

  (25,000

)

Principal payments under finance lease obligations

  (3,101

)

  (2,920

)

Dividends paid to common stockholders

  (23,935

)

  (23,240

)

Noncontrolling interest contributions/(distributions)

  2,488   (566

)

Issuance of common shares

  1,075   1,383 

Repurchase of common shares

  (53

)

  (872

)

Entrance fee deposits/(refunds)

  7   (684

)

Net cash used in financing activities

  (33,519

)

  (51,899

)

Net Increase in Cash, Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash, and Restricted Cash Equivalents

  135,108   13,162 

Cash, Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash, and Restricted Cash Equivalents, Beginning of Period

  61,010   54,920 

Cash, Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash, and Restricted Cash Equivalents, End of Period

 $196,118  $68,082 
         

Balance Sheet Classifications:

        

Cash and cash equivalents

 $183,765  $59,261 

Restricted cash and cash equivalents

  12,353   8,821 

Total Cash, Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash, and Restricted Cash Equivalents

 $196,118  $68,082 

The accompanying notes to interim condensed consolidated financial statements are an integral part of these consolidated statements.

7

NATIONAL HEALTHCARE CORPORATION

Interim Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity

(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

(unaudited)

  

Common Stock

  

Capital in

Excess of

  

Retained

Earnings

  

Accumulated

Other

Comprehensive

  

Non-

controlling

  

Total

Stockholders’

 
  

Shares

  

Amount

  

Par Value

  

Earnings

  

Income (Loss)

  

Interest

  

Equity

 

Balance at January 1, 2020

  15,332,206  $153  $222,787  $553,093  $2,560  $476  $779,069 

Net income/(loss)

           (26,852

)

     36   (26,816

)

Noncontrolling interest contributions

                 281   281 

Other comprehensive loss

              (2,012

)

     (2,012

)

Stock–based compensation

        466            466 

Shares sold – options exercised

  15,006      400            400 

Repurchase of common shares

  (611

)

     (53

)

           (53

)

Dividends declared to common stockholders ($0.52 per share)

           (7,980

)

        (7,980

)

Balance at March 31, 2020

  15,346,601  $153  $223,600  $518,261  $548  $793   743,355 
                             

Net income

           28,324      198   28,522 

Noncontrolling interest contributions

                 244   244 

Other comprehensive income

              3,780      3,780 

Stock–based compensation

        823            823 

Shares sold – options exercised

  11,073      549            549 

Repurchase of common shares

  (186

)

     -            - 

Dividends declared to common stockholders ($0.52 per share)

  -      -   (7,986

)

        (7,986

)

Balance at June 30, 2020

  15,357,488  $153  $224,972  $538,599  $4,328  $1,235  $769,287 
                             

Net income

           12,849      19   12,868 

Noncontrolling interest contributions

                 1,963   1,963 

Other comprehensive income

     0   0   0   403   0   403 

Stock–based compensation

     0   518   0   0   0   518 

Shares sold – options exercised

  2,000   0   126   0   0   0   126 

Dividends declared to common stockholders ($0.52 per share)

     0   0   (7,988

)

  0   0   (7,988

)

Balance at September 30, 2020

  15,359,488  $153  $225,616  $543,460  $4,731  $3,217  $777,177 

8

NATIONAL HEALTHCARE CORPORATION

Interim Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity (con’t)

(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

(unaudited)

  

Common Stock

  

Capital in

Excess of

  

Retained

  

Accumulated

Other

Comprehensive

  

Non-

controlling

  

Total

Stockholders’

 
  

Shares

  

Amount

  

Par Value

  

Earnings

  

Income (Loss)

  

Interest

  

Equity

 

Balance at January 1, 2019

  15,255,002  $153  $219,435  $516,435  $(2,745

)

 $1,179  $734,457 

Net income/(loss)

           21,269      (38

)

  21,231 

Other comprehensive income

              2,548      2,548 

Stock–based compensation

        424            424 

Shares sold – options exercised

  59,384      579            579 

Repurchase of common shares

  (10,396

)

     (872

)

           (872

)

Dividends declared to common stockholders ($0.50 per share)

           (7,652

)

        (7,652

)

Balance at March 31, 2019

  15,303,990  $153  $219,566  $530,052  $(197

)

 $1,141   750,715 
                             

Net income/(loss)

           13,711      (29

)

  13,682 

Noncontrolling interest distributions

     0   0   0   0   (17

)

  (17

)

Other comprehensive income

     0   0   0   2,345   0   2,345 

Stock–based compensation

        684            684 

Shares sold – options exercised

  14,800      804            804 

Dividends declared to common stockholders ($0.52 per share)

           (7,966

)

        (7,966

)

Balance at June 30, 2019

  15,318,790  $153  $221,054  $535,797  $2,148  $1,095  $760,247 
       ��                     

Net income/(loss)

            19,461      (85)  19,376 

Noncontrolling interest distributions

     0   0   0   0   (549

)

  (549

)

Other comprehensive income

     0   0   0   583   0   583 

Stock–based compensation

     0   340   0   0   0   340 

Dividends declared to common stockholders ($0.52 per share)

     0   0   (7,966

)

  0   0   (7,966

)

Balance at September 30, 2019

  15,318,790  $153  $221,394  $547,292  $2,731  $461  $772,031 
  

Nine Months Ended

September 30

 
  

2021

  

2020

 

Cash Flows From Operating Activities:

        

Net income

 $123,092  $14,574 

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

        

Depreciation and amortization

  30,521   31,531 

Equity in earnings of unconsolidated investments

  (5,320

)

  (8,448

)

Distributions from unconsolidated investments

  6,314   10,050 

Unrealized losses on marketable equity securities

  23,227   40,580 

Gains on sales of marketable securities

  (941

)

  (135

)

Gains on acquisitions of equity method investments

  (95,202

)

  (1,708

)

Deferred income taxes

  (5,428

)

  (10,404

)

Stock–based compensation

  1,905   1,807 

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

        

Accounts receivable

  1,195   9,604 

Inventories

  85   344 

Prepaid expenses and other assets

  (1,685

)

  2,992 

Trade accounts payable

  8,329   207 

Accrued payroll

  (3,480

)

  5,309 

Amounts due to third party payors

  100   388 

Accrued risk reserves

  4,287   9,977 

Provider relief funds

  (16,068

)

  21,404 

Contract liabilities

  (24,240

)

  51,253 

Other current liabilities

  2,110   7,985 

Other noncurrent liabilities

  (1,930

)

  (3,410

)

Net cash provided by operating activities

  46,871   183,900 

Cash Flows From Investing Activities:

        

Purchases of property and equipment

  (25,774

)

  (17,717

)

Acquisitions of equity method investments, net of cash acquired

  (28,713

)

  (6,648

)

Investments in unconsolidated companies

  (350

)

  (305

)

Investments in notes receivable

  0   (425

)

Collections of notes receivable

  8,620   1,572 

Purchases of marketable securities

  (95,749

)

  (19,754

)

Proceeds from sale of marketable securities

  89,129   28,004 

Net cash used in investing activities

  (52,837

)

  (15,273

)

Cash Flows From Financing Activities:

        

Borrowings under credit facility

  0   40,000 

Repayments under credit facility

  0   (50,000

)

Principal payments under finance lease obligations

  (3,292

)

  (3,101

)

Dividends paid to common stockholders

  (24,010

)

  (23,935

)

Noncontrolling interest contributions

  0   2,488 

Issuance of common shares

  2,405   1,075 

Repurchase of common shares

  (278

)

  (53

)

Entrance fee (refunds) deposits

  (594

)

  7 

Net cash used in financing activities

  (25,769

)

  (33,519

)

Net (Decrease)/Increase in Cash, Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash, and Restricted Cash Equivalents

  (31,735

)

  135,108 

Cash, Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash, and Restricted Cash Equivalents, Beginning of Period

  158,502   61,010 

Cash, Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash, and Restricted Cash Equivalents, End of Period

 $126,767  $196,118 
         

Balance Sheet Classifications:

        

Cash and cash equivalents

 $112,462  $183,765 

Restricted cash and cash equivalents

  14,305   12,353 

Total Cash, Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash, and Restricted Cash Equivalents

 $126,767  $196,118 

 

The accompanying notes to interim condensed consolidated financial statements are an integral part of these consolidated statements.

 

7


NATIONAL HEALTHCARE CORPORATION

Interim Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders Equity

(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

(unaudited)

  

Common Stock

  

Capital in

Excess of

  

Retained

  

Accumulated

Other

Comprehensive

  

Non-

controlling

  

Total

Stockholders’

 
  

Shares

  

Amount

  

Par Value

  

Earnings

  

Income (Loss)

  

Interest

  

Equity

 

Balance at January 1, 2021

  15,369,745  $153  $226,943  $563,024  $5,057  $3,083  $798,260 

Net income

           21,267      41   21,308 

Other comprehensive loss

              (1,922

)

     (1,922

)

Stock–based compensation

        496            496 

Shares sold – options exercised

  24,331   1   326            327 

Repurchase of common shares

  (3,936

)

     (278

)

           (278

)

Dividends declared to common stockholders ($0.52 per share)

           (8,003

)

        (8,003

)

Balance at March 31, 2021

  15,390,140  $154  $227,487  $576,288  $3,135  $3,124  $810,188 
                             

Net income

           104,883      447   105,330 

Contributions attributable to noncontrolling interest

                 2,840   2,840 

Other comprehensive income

              153      153 

Stock–based compensation

        683            683 

Shares sold – options exercised

  33,100      2,078            2,078 

Dividends declared to common stockholders ($0.52 per share)

           (8,020

)

        (8,020

)

Balance at June 30, 2021

  15,423,240  $154  $230,248  $673,151  $3,288  $6,411  $913,252 
                             

Net loss

     0   0   (3,348

)

  0   (198

)

  (3,546

)

Other comprehensive loss

     0   0   0   (522

)

  0   (522

)

Stock–based compensation

     0   726   0   0   0   726 

Dividends declared to common stockholders ($0.52 per share)

     0   0   (8,020

)

  0   0   (8,020

)

Balance at September 30, 2021

  15,423,240  $154  $230,974  $661,783  $2,766  $6,213  $901,890 

8

 

NATIONAL HEALTHCARE CORPORATION

Interim Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders Equity (continued)

(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

(unaudited)

  

Common Stock

  

Capital in

Excess of

  

Retained

  

Accumulated

Other

Comprehensive

  

Non-

controlling

  

Total

Stockholders’

 
  

Shares

  

Amount

  

Par Value

  

Earnings

  

Income (Loss)

  

Interest

  

Equity

 

Balance at January 1, 2020

  15,332,206  $153  $222,787  $553,093  $2,560  $476  $779,069 

Net (loss) income

           (26,852

)

     36   (26,816

)

Contributions attributable to noncontrolling interest

                 281   281 

Other comprehensive loss

              (2,012

)

     (2,012

)

Stock–based compensation

        466            466 

Shares sold – options exercised

  15,006   0   400            400 

Repurchase of common shares

  (611

)

     (53

)

           (53

)

Dividends declared to common stockholders ($0.52 per share)

           (7,980

)

        (7,980

)

Balance at March 31, 2020

  15,346,601  $153  $223,600  $518,261  $548  $793  $743,355 
                             

Net income

           28,324      198   28,522 

Contributions attributable to noncontrolling interest

                 244   244 

Other comprehensive income

              3,780      3,780 

Stock–based compensation

        823            823 

Shares sold – options exercised

  11,073      549            549 

Repurchase of common shares

  (186

)

                  

Dividends declared to common stockholders ($0.52 per share)

           (7,986

)

        (7,986

)

Balance at June 30, 2020

  15,357,488  $153  $224,972  $538,599  $4,328  $1,235  $769,287 
                             

Net income

     0   0   12,849   0   19   12,868 

Contributions attributable to noncontrolling interest

     0   0   0   0   1,963   1,963 

Other comprehensive income

     0   0   0   403   0   403 

Stock–based compensation

     0   518   0   0   0   518 

Shares sold – options exercised

  2,000   0   126   0   0   0   126 

Dividends declared to common stockholders ($0.52 per share)

     0   0   (7,988

)

  0   0   (7,988

)

Balance at September 30, 2020

  15,359,488  $153  $225,616  $543,460  $4,731  $3,217  $777,177 

The accompanying notes to interim condensed consolidated financial statements are an integral part of these consolidated statements.

9

NATIONAL HEALTHCARE CORPORATION

Notes to Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

September 30, 20202021

(unaudited)

 

 

 

 

Note 1 Description of Business

 

National HealthCare Corporation (“NHC” or the “Company”) is a leading provider of senior health care services. As of September 30, 2020,2021, we operate or manage, through certain affiliates, 7675 skilled nursing facilities with a total of 9,6339,473 licensed beds, 24 assisted living facilities, five independent living facilities, one behavioral health hospital, 34 homecare agencies, and 35 homecare programs.28 hospice agencies. We operate specialized care units within certain of our healthcare centers such as Alzheimer's disease care units and sub-acute nursing units. We also have a noncontrolling ownership interest in a hospice care business that services NHC-owned skilled nursing facilities and others. In addition, we provide insurance services, management and accounting services, and we lease properties to operators of skilled nursing and assisted living facilities. We operate in 10 states and are located primarily in the southeastern United States.

 

 

Note 2 Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 

The listing below is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all our significant accounting policies. In many cases, the accounting treatment of a particular transaction is specifically dictated by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), with limited need for management’s judgment in their application. There are also areas in which management’s judgment in selecting any available alternative would not produce a materially different result. See our audited December 31, 20192020 consolidated financial statements and notes thereto which contain accounting policies and other disclosures required by U.S. GAAP. Our audited December 31, 20192020 consolidated financial statements are available at our web site: www.nhccare.com.

 

Basis of Presentation

 

The unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements to which these notes are attached include all normal, recurring adjustments which are necessary to fairly present the financial position, results of operations and cash flows of NHC. All significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of all entities controlled by NHC. The Company presents noncontrolling interest within the equity section of its consolidated balance sheets. The Company presents the amount of consolidated net income that is attributable to NHC and the noncontrolling interest in its consolidated statements of operations.

 

We assume that users of these interim financial statements have read or have access to the audited December 31, 20192020 consolidated financial statements and that the adequacy of additional disclosure needed for a fair presentation, except in regard to material contingencies, may be determined in that context. Accordingly, footnotes and other disclosures which would substantially duplicate the disclosure contained in our most recent annual report to stockholders have been omitted. This interim financial information is not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for a full year for a variety of reasons.

Estimates and Assumptions

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates and could cause our reported net income to vary significantly from period to period, including but not limited to, the potential future effects of the novel coronavirus (“COVID-19”).

Recently Adopted Accounting Guidance

In June 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No.2016-13,Financial Instruments – Credit Losses: Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. ASU No.2016-13 adds to U.S. GAAP an impairment model that is based on expected losses rather than incurred losses. Under the new guidance, an entity recognizes as an allowance its estimate of expected credit losses, which the FASB believes will result in more timely recognition of such losses. The ASU is also intended to reduce the complexity of U.S. GAAP by decreasing the number of credit impairment models that entities use to account for debt instruments. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those annual periods. The Company adopted the standard as of January 1, 2020. This standard did not have a material impact on our interim condensed consolidated financial statements; however, we did update our processes specifically in how we monitor credit related declines in market value for our available for sale marketable debt securities.

10

On December 18, 2019, the FASB issued ASU No.2019-12,Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes. This ASU is part of the FASB’s overall simplification initiative to reduce the costs and complexity of applying accounting standards while maintaining or improving the usefulness of the information provided to users of financial statements. This ASU removes certain exceptions for recognizing deferred taxes for investments, performing intra-period allocation, and calculating income taxes in interim periods. The ASU also adds guidance to reduce complexity in certain areas, including recognizing deferred taxes for tax goodwill and allocating taxes to members of a consolidated group. ASU No.2019-12 is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2020, with early adoption permitted. On January 1, 2020, the Company early adopted the provisions of ASU No.2019-12. This standard did not have a material impact on our interim condensed consolidated financial statements.

Net Patient Revenues and Accounts Receivable

Net patient revenues are derived from services rendered to patients for skilled and intermediate nursing, rehabilitation therapy, assisted living and independent living, and home health care services, and hospice services. Net patient revenue is reported at the amount that reflects the consideration to which the Company expects to be entitled in exchange for providing patient services. These amounts are due from patients, governmental programs, and other third-party payors, and include variable consideration for retroactive revenue adjustments due to settlement of audits, reviews, and investigations.

 

The Company recognizes revenue as its performance obligations are completed. Routine services are treated as a single performance obligation satisfied over time as services are rendered. These routine services represent a bundle of services that are not capable of being distinct. The performance obligations are satisfied over time as the patient simultaneously receives and consumes the benefits of the healthcare services provided. Additionally, there may be ancillary services which are not included in the daily rates for routine services, but instead are treated as separate performance obligations satisfied at a point in time when those services are rendered.  Contract liabilities are recorded for payments the Company receives in which performance obligations have not been completed.

 

10

The Company determines the transaction price based on established billing rates reduced by contractual adjustments provided to third party payors. Contractual adjustments are based on contractual agreements and historical experience. The Company considers the patient's ability and intent to pay the amount of consideration upon admission. Credit losses are recorded as bad debt expense, which is included as a component of other operating expenses in the interim condensed consolidated statements of operations. Bad debt expense was $1,463,000$1,452,000 and $3,538,000$3,473,000 for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2020.2021, respectively. For the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2019,2020, bad debt expense was $827,000$1,463,000 and $2,866,000,$3,538,000, respectively. As of September 30, 2020,2021, and December 31, 2019,2020, the Company has recorded an allowance for doubtful accounts of $6,295,000$7,396,000 and $4,451,000,$5,672,000, respectively, as our best estimate of expected losses inherent in the accounts receivable balance.

Other Revenues

Other revenues include revenues from the provision of insurance services, management and accounting services to other long–term care providers, and rental income. Our insurance revenues consist of premiums that are generally paid in advance and then amortized into income over the policy period. We charge for management services based on a percentage of net revenues. We charge for accounting services based on a monthly fee or a fixed fee per bed of the healthcare center under contract. We record other revenues as the performance obligations are satisfied based on the terms of our contractual arrangements.

We recognize rental income based on the terms of our operating leases. Under certain of our leases, we receive variable rent, which is based on the increase in revenues of a lessee over a base year. We recognize variable rent annually or monthly, as applicable, when, based on the actual revenue of the lessee is earned.

 

Government Grants

In the absence of specific guidance to account for government grants under U.S. GAAP, we have concluded to account for government grants in accordance with International Accounting Standard (“IAS”) 20, Accounting for Government Grants and Disclosure of Government Assistance, and as such, we recognize grant income on a systematic basis in line with the recognition of specific expenses and lost revenues for which the grants are intended to compensate.   

 

Segment Reporting

In accordance with the provisions of Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 280, Segment Reporting, the Company is required to report financial and descriptive information about its reportable operating segments. The Company has two reportable operating segments: (1) inpatient services, which includes the operation of skilled nursing facilities, assisted and independent living facilities, and one behavioral health hospital, and (2) homecare and hospice services. The Company also reports an “all other” category that includes revenues from rental income, management and accounting services fees, insurance services, and costs of the corporate office. See Note 78 for further disclosure of the Company’s operating segments.

11

Other Operating Expenses

 

Other operating expenses include the costs of care and services that we provide to the residents of our facilities and the costs of maintaining our facilities. Our primary patient care costs include drugs, medical supplies, purchased professional services, food, and professional liability insurance and licensing fees. The primary facility costs include utilities and property insurance.

General and Administrative Costs

 

With the Company being a healthcare provider, the majority of our expenses are "cost of revenue" items. Costs that could be classified as "general and administrative" by the Company would include its corporate office costs, excluding stock-based compensation, which were $10,921,000$5,361,000 and $24,535,000$15,615,000 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, respectively. General and administrative costs were $5,259,000 and $15,649,000 for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2020, respectively. General and administrative costs were $7,170,000 and $18,991,000 for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2019, respectively.

 

Long-Term Leases

The Company’s lease portfolio primarily consists of finance and operating real estate leases for certain skilled nursing facilities, assisted and independent living facilities, homecare and hospice offices, and pharmacy warehouses. The original terms of the leases typically range from two to fifteen years. Several of the real estate leases include renewal options which vary in length and may not include specific rent renewal amounts. We determine if an arrangement is a lease at inception of a contract. We determine the lease term by assuming exercise of renewal options that are reasonably certain.

11

 

The Company records right-of-use assets and liabilities on the interim condensed consolidated balance sheets for non-cancelable real estate operating leases with original or remaining lease terms in excess of one year. Leases with a lease term of 12 months or less at inception are not recorded on our interim condensed consolidated balance sheets and are expensed on a straight-line basis over the lease term in our interim condensed consolidated statements of operations. We recognize lease components and non-lease components together and not as separate parts of a lease for real estate leases.

 

Operating lease right-of-use assets and liabilities are recorded at the present value of the lease payments over the lease term. The present value of the lease payments are discounted using the incremental borrowing rate associated with each lease. The variable components of the lease payment that fluctuate with the operations of a health facility are not included in determining the right-of-use assets and lease liabilities. Rather, these variable components are expensed as incurred.

Property and Equipment

 

Property and equipment are recorded at cost. Depreciation is provided by the straight-line method over the expected useful lives of the assets estimated as follows: buildings and improvements, 20-40 years and equipment and furniture, 3-15 years. Leasehold improvements are amortized over periods that do not exceed the non-cancelable respective lease terms using the straight-line method.

 

Finance leases are recorded at cost. Finance leases are amortized in accordance with the provision codified within ASC 842, Leases. Amortization of finance lease assets is included in depreciation and amortization expense.

Business Combinations

We account for acquisitions using the acquisition method of accounting in accordance with ASC 805,Business Combinations. Acquisitions are accounted for as purchases and are included in our consolidated financial statements from their respective acquisition dates. Assets acquired and liabilities assumed, if any, are measured at fair value on the acquisition date using the appropriate valuation method. Goodwill generated from acquisitions is recognized for the excess of the purchase price over tangible and identifiable intangible assets. In determining the fair value of identifiable assets, we use various valuation techniques. These valuation methods require us to make estimates and assumptions surrounding projected revenues and costs, future growth, and discount rates.

 

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

Goodwill represents the excess of purchase price over the fair value of identifiable net assets acquired in business combinations. Goodwill is not amortized but is subject to an annual impairment test. We perform our annual goodwill impairment assessment on the first day of the fourth quarter.  AtTests are performed more frequently if events occur, or circumstances change that would more likely than September 30, 2020, not reduce the Company reviewed the carryingfair value of goodwillthe reporting unit below its carrying amount.

The Company’s indefinite-lived intangible assets consist of trade names and certificates of need and licenses. The Company reviews indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment indicators due to theon an annual basis or more frequently if events and circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result of the review, there were no impairment indicators regarding the Company’s goodwill during the three months ended September 30, 2020 that required a quantitative test to be performed. However, our accounting estimates could materially change from period to period due to changing market factors, including those driven by COVID-19. We will continue to monitor future events,or changes in circumstances andindicate that the potential impact thereof. If actual results are carrying amount of the intangible asset may not consistent with our assumptions and estimates, we may be exposed to future goodwill impairment losses.recoverable.

 

Accrued Risk Reserves  

 

We are self–insured for risks related to health insurance and have wholly–owned limited purpose insurance companies that insure risks related to workers’ compensation and general and professional liability insurance claims. The accrued risk reserves include a liability for reported claims and estimates for incurred but unreported claims. Our policy is to engage an external, independent actuary to assist in estimating our exposure for claims obligations (for both asserted and unasserted claims). We reassess our accrued risk reserves on a quarterly basis.

 

Professional liability remains an area of particular concern to us. The long-term care industry has seen an increase in personal injury/wrongful death claims based on alleged negligence by skilled nursing facilities and their employees in providing care to residents. The Company has been, and continues to be, subject to claims and legal actions that arise in the ordinary course of business, including potential claims related to patient care and treatment. A significant increase in the number of these claims, or an increase in the amounts due as a result of these claims could have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows. It is also possible that future events could cause us to make significant adjustments or revisions to these reserve estimates and cause our reported net income to vary significantly from period to period.

 

12

We are principally self-insured for incidents occurring in all centers owned or leased by us. The coverages include both primary policies and excess policies. In all years, settlements, if any, in excess of available insurance policy limits and our own reserves would be expensed by us.

12

 

Continuing Care Contracts

We have one continuing care retirement center (“CCRC”) within our operations. Residents at this retirement center may enter into continuing care contracts with us. The contracts provide that 10% of the resident entry fee becomes non-refundable upon occupancy, and the remaining refundable portion of the entry fee is calculated using the lessor of the price at which the apartment is re-assigned or 90% of the original entry fee, plus 40% of any appreciation if the apartment value exceeds the original resident’s entry fee.

 

Non-refundable fees are included as a component of the transaction price and are amortized into revenue over the actuarily determined remaining life of the resident, which is the expected period of occupancy by the resident. We pay the refundable portion of our entry fees to residents when they relocate from our community and the apartment is re-occupied. Refundable entrance fees are not included as part of the transaction price and are classified as noncurrent liabilities section of our consolidated balance sheets. As of September 30, 2020,2021, and December 31, 2019,2020, we have recorded refundable entrance fees in the amount of $7,462,000$6,868,000 and $7,455,000,$7,462,000, respectively.

 

We also annually estimate the present value of the cost of future services and the use of facilities to be provided to the current CCRC residents and compare that amount with the balance of non-refundable deferred revenue from entrance fees received. If the present value of the cost of future services exceeds the related anticipated revenues, a liability is recorded with a corresponding charge to income. As of September 30, 2020,2021, and December 31, 2019,2020, we have recorded a future service obligation liability in the amount of $2,035,000.$2,177,000. This obligation is reflected within other noncurrent liabilities in the interim condensed consolidated balance sheets. 

Other Noncurrent Liabilities

 

Other noncurrent liabilities include reserves primarily related to various uncertain income tax positions, deferred revenue, and obligations to provide future services to our CCRC residents. Deferred revenue includes the deferred gain on the sale of assets to National Health Corporation (“National”) and the non-refundable portion (10%) of CCRC entrance fees being amortized over the remaining life expectancies of the residents.

Noncontrolling Interest

The noncontrolling interest in a subsidiary is presented within total equity in the Company's interim condensed consolidated balance sheets. The Company presents the noncontrolling interest and the amount of consolidated net income attributable to NHC in its interim condensed consolidated statements of operations. The Company’s earnings per share is calculated based on net income attributable to NHC’s stockholders. The carrying amount of the noncontrolling interest is adjusted based on an allocation of the subsidiary earnings, based on ownership interest.contributions, and distributions.

 

Variable Interest Entities

 

We have equity interests in unconsolidated limited liability companies that operate various post-acute and senior healthcare businesses. We analyze our investments in these limited liability companies to determine if the company is considered a variable interest entity (“VIE”) and would require consolidation. To the extent that we own interests in a VIE and we (i) are the sole entity that hashave the power to direct the activities of the VIE and (ii) have the obligation or rights to absorb the VIE's losses or receive its benefits, then we would be determined to be the primary beneficiary and would consolidate the VIE. To the extent we own interests in a VIE, then at each reporting period, we re-assess our conclusions as to which, if any, party within the VIE is considered the primary beneficiary.

 

The Company's maximum exposure to losses in its investments in unconsolidated VIEs cannot be quantified and may or may not be limited to its investment in the unconsolidated VIE. The investments in unconsolidated VIEs are classified as “investments in limited liability companies” in the consolidated balance sheets.

 

 

Note 3 Coronavirus Pandemic ("COVID-19")

 

In early March 2020, COVID-19, a disease caused by the novel strain of the coronavirus, was characterized as a pandemic by the World Health Organization. The COVID-19 virus has spread rapidly, with every state in the United States (“U.S.”) having confirmed cases. The rapid spread has resulted in authorities around the U.S. implementing various measures to contain the virus, such as quarantines, shelter-in-place orders and business shutdowns. The pandemic and these containment measures have had an adverse impact on the Company's results of operations in 2020. The financial results for the second and third quarters of 2020 have been significantly impacted by COVID-19 with census in our skilled nursing facilities dropping to 81.3% during the third quarter of 2020, while we also incurred significantly increased operating expenses.

13

The U.S. government enacted several laws beginning in March 2020 designed to help the nation respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. The new laws impactimpacted healthcare providers in a variety of ways, but the largest legislation from a monetary relief perspective is the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the "CARES Act"). TheThrough the CARES Act, providedas well as the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act ("PPPCHE"), the federal government allocated $2.2 trillion of economy-wide financial stimulus in the form of financial aid to individuals, businesses, nonprofits, states and municipalities. The CARES Act originally appropriated $100178 billion to establish the Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund, which is referred to as the Provider Relief Fund. The Provider Relief Fund is administered through grants and other mechanisms to skilled nursing providers, home health providers, hospitals, and other Medicare and Medicaid enrolled providers to cover any unreimbursed health care related expenses or lost revenue attributable to the public health emergency resulting from COVID-19.    On

April 24, 2020, 13another $75 billion was added to the

The Provider Relief Fund by the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enactment Act, bringing the total amount appropriated in the fund to $175 billion.   

During the second and third quarters of 2020, we received four disbursements from the Provider Relief Fund which totaled $58,184,000. These fundsgrants come with terms and condition certifications in which all providers are required to submit documents to ensure the funds will be used for healthcare-related expenses or lost revenue attributable to COVID-19. Of the $58,184,000 of funds received, theThe Company recorded $10,429,000 and $12,132,000 of government stimulus income from the Provider Relief Funds for the three months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The Company recorded $48,304,000 and $36,780,000 of government stimulus income from the Provider Relief Funds for thethree and nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020,respectively.  AsThe grant income was determined on a systemic basis in line with the recognition of September 30, 2020, amounts not recognized as income are $21,404,000specific expenses and are reflected in the current liability section of our interim condensed consolidated balance sheet (provider relief funds). We anticipate incurring additional COVID-19 related expenses or lost revenues infor which the future; therefore, at this time, we believe that we will fully utilizegrants are intended to compensate. The Company’s assessment of whether the remaining $21,404,000 of provider relief funds beforeterms and conditions for amounts received have been met for income recognition and the reporting requirement deadlines outlinedCompany’s related income calculation considered all frequently asked questions and other interpretive guidance issued to date by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”).

The government stimulus income estimates we recorded at September 30, 2020 may change as our ability to utilize and retain the funds will depend on the magnitude and impact of the pandemic, as well as HHS' reporting requirements as they continue to change and evolve.  On October 22, 2020, HHS issued an updated Post-Payment Notice of Reporting Requirements ( "October 22, 2020 Notice") which, among other changes, materially revises the definition of lost revenues that was the basis for the grant income we recognized during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020.  As a non-recognizable subsequent event, the Company's estimate as of September 30, 2020, as set forth above, has not been updated for the October 22, 2020 Notice; additional information is included in Note 17.

 

Additionally, as part of the CARES Act, the legislation included an expansion of the Medicare Accelerated and Advance Payment Program. The expanded Medicare Accelerated and Advance Payment Program is a streamlined version of existing policy that allows the Medicare Administrative Contractors (“MAC’s”) to issue up to three months of advance Medicare payments to help increase cash flow and liquidity to Medicare Part A and Part B providers in certain circumstances that include national emergencies. We received approximately $51,253,000 as part of this program. On October 8, 2020 as part of the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2021 and Other Extensions Act, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (“CMS”) amended the repayment terms for the accelerated and advance payments. These funds will begin to beare applied against claims for services provided to Medicare patients after approximately one year from the date we received the funds. During the first eleven months after repayment begins, repayment will occur through an automatic recoupment of twenty-five percent of Medicare payments. During the succeeding sixnine months, repayment will occur through an automatic recoupment of fifty percent of Medicare payments. Any remaining balance that was not paid through the recoupment process within twenty-nine months of receipt of the funds will be required to be paid on-demand, subject to an interest rate of four percent. AsThe recoupment of the accelerated payments began in the second quarter of 2021. At September 30, 2020,2021, we have $27,013,000 of the accelerated payments areremaining to be recouped and this balance is reflected within contract liabilities in the interim condensed consolidated balance sheets as the related performance obligations have not been completed.sheet.

 

The CARES Act also provided for the temporary suspension of the automatic 2% reduction oftemporarily suspended Medicare claim reimbursement for the period ofsequestration beginning May 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020. The Medicare sequestration policy reduces fee-for-service Medicare payments by 2 percent. On December 27, 2020, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 further suspended the 2.0% payment adjustment through September 30, 2021. On April 14, 2021, Congress extended the Medicare sequestration suspension period to December 31, 2021.

The CARES Act also temporarily permitted employers to defer the deposit and the deferralpayment of the employer shareemployer’s portion of the social security taxes (6.2%), effective for payments of employee wages) that otherwise would be due after thebetween March 27, 2020 enactment date.  and December 31, 2020. The provision requires that the deferred taxes be paid over a two-year period with half the amount required to be paid by December 31, 2021, and the other half by December 31, 2022. As ofAt September 30, 2020,2021, we have deferred $14,854,000$21,153,000 of the Company’s share of the social security taxes.  ThisAt September 30, 2021, half of the payroll tax deferral is included in accrued payroll in the current liabilities section of the consolidated balance sheet and the other half of the payroll tax deferral is included in other noncurrent liabilities within our interim condensed consolidated balance sheets.sheet. 

 

We have also received supplemental Medicaid payments from many of the states in which we operate to help mitigate the incremental costs resulting from the COVID-19 public health emergency. We have recorded $5,053,000 and $4,845,000 in net patient revenues for these supplemental Medicaid payments for the three months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively. We have recorded $16,102,000 and $10,378,000 in net patient revenues for these supplemental Medicaid payments for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

 

 

Note 4 Acquisition of Caris HealthCare, L.P.

On June 11, 2021, the Company acquired the remaining 24.9% equity interest in Caris HealthCare, L.P. (“Caris”) for a purchase price of approximately $28,713,000, net of cash acquired. Caris specializes in providing hospice and palliative care to over 1,250 patients per day in 28 locations in Georgia, Missouri, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. As a leading senior care provider, this acquisition is a strategic advancement of our growth that will provide a continuum of post-acute health care to seniors in our operational footprint.

Prior to the June 11, 2021 acquisition date, the Company held a 75.1% non-controlling equity interest in Caris, which was accounted for as an equity method investment. The Company accounted for the acquisition of the remaining 24.9% equity interest of Caris as a step acquisition, which required remeasurement of the Company’s previous 75.1% ownership interest to fair value. Using acquisition accounting, the Company increased the value of its previously held equity method investment to its fair value of approximately $133.1 million, which resulted in a gain of $95.2 million. This gain is recorded in the interim condensed consolidated statements of operations under the line item “gains on acquisitions of equity method investments”.

14

The Company utilized widely accepted income-based, market-based, and cost-based valuation approaches to perform the preliminary purchase price allocation and determine the fair value of the previously held equity method investment.

The Company has performed a preliminary valuation analysis of the fair market value of Caris’ assets acquired and liabilities assumed. The final valuation of the assets acquired, and liabilities assumed was not complete as of September 30, 2021, but will be finalized within the allowable measurement period. The following table summarizes the allocation of the preliminary purchase price as of the transaction’s closing date (in thousands):

  

Amount

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 $15,515 

Restricted cash and cash equivalents

  58 

Accounts receivable

  10,544 

Prepaid expenses and other assets

  1,006 

Property and equipment

  3,608 

Operating lease – right-of-use assets

  2,122 

Intangible assets

  7,038 

Total assets acquired

  39,891 
     

Trade accounts payable

  3,459 

Accrued payroll

  3,223 

Other current liabilities

  587 

Operating lease liabilities

  2,122 

Other noncurrent liabilities

  58 

Total liabilities assumed

  9,449 
     

Net identifiable assets acquired

  30,442 

Goodwill

  146,954 

Total estimated fair value of the acquisition

 $177,396 

The indefinite-lived intangible assets acquired include the trade name of Caris and the certificates of need and licenses. The goodwill is recorded in the homecare and hospice segment and is attributed to the workforce acquired and reputation of the business as part of the transaction. We expect approximately 30%-40% of the goodwill to be deductible for income tax purposes.

For the three months ended September 30, 2021, Caris contributed net patient revenues of $17,547,000 and income before income taxes of $4,660,000 that are included in the Company's interim condensed consolidated statements of operations.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2021, Caris contributed net patient revenues of $21,259,000 and income before income taxes of $5,643,000 that are included in the Company’s interim condensed consolidated statements of operations.

The following table contains unaudited pro forma interim condensed consolidated statements of operations information for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, assuming that the Caris acquisition closed on January 1, 2020. The pro forma financial information includes various assumptions, including those related to the preliminary purchase price allocation of assets acquired and liabilities assumed. The pro forma financial information may vary in future quarters based on the final valuations and analysis of the fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed (in thousands).

  

Three Months Ended

September 30

  

Nine Months Ended

September 30

 
  

2021

  

2020

  

2021

  

2020

 

Net patient revenues

 $254,817  $243,357  $736,619  $744,762 

Total costs and expenses

  263,975   256,385   770,295   770,338 

Income from operations

  12,762   10,215   48,544   45,667 

Non-operating income

  3,399   3,500   10,374   10,670 

Income (loss) before income taxes

  (7,636)  14,406   35,691   17,465 

Net income (loss) attributable to NHC

 $(3,348) $13,698  $29,002  $15,589 

15

Note 5 Net Patient Revenues

 

The Company disaggregates revenue from contracts with customers by service type and by payor.

Revenue by Service Type

 

The Company’s net patient services can generally be classified into the following two categories: (1) inpatient services, which includes the operation of skilled nursing facilities, assisted and independent living facilities, and a behavioral health hospital, and (2) homecare services.and hospice services (in thousands).

 

 

Three Months Ended

September 30

  

Nine Months Ended

September 30

  

Three Months Ended

September 30

  

Nine Months Ended

September 30

 

(in thousands)

 

2020

  

2019

  

2020

  

2019

 
 

2021

  

2020

  

2021

  

2020

 

Net patient revenues:

                  

Inpatient services

 $214,211  $222,246  $659,585  $664,768  $222,884  $214,211  $644,986  $659,585 

Homecare

  13,172   12,844   37,564   41,697 

Homecare and hospice

  31,933   13,172   63,662   37,564 

Total net patient revenue

 $227,383  $235,090  $697,149  $706,465  $254,817  $227,383  $708,648  $697,149 

 

14

For inpatient and hospice services, revenue is recognized on a daily basis as each day represents a separate contract and performance obligation. For homecare, revenue is recognized when services are provided based on the number of days of service rendered in the period of care or on a per-visit basis. Typically, patients and third-party payors are billed monthly after services are performed or the patient is discharged, and payments are due based on contract terms.

 

As our performance obligations relate to contracts with a duration of one year or less, the Company is not required to disclose the aggregate amount of the transaction price allocated to performance obligations that are unsatisfied or partially unsatisfied at the end of the reporting period. The Company has minimal unsatisfied performance obligations at the end of the reporting period as our patients are typically under no obligation to remain admitted in our facilities or under our care.  As the period between the time of service and time of payment is typically one year or less, the Company did not adjust for the effects of a significant financing component.

Revenue by Payor

Certain groups of patients receive funds to pay the cost of their care from a common source. The following table sets forth sources of net patient revenues for the periods indicated:

 

 

Three Months Ended

September 30

  

Nine Months Ended

September 30

  

Three Months Ended

September 30

  

Nine Months Ended

September 30

 

Source

 

2020

  

2019

  

2020

  

2019

  

2021

  

2020

  

2021

  

2020

 

Medicare

 35% 32% 34% 33% 36%

 

 35%

 

 35%

 

 34%

 

Managed Care

 11% 12% 11% 12% 10%

 

 11%

 

 12%

 

 11%

 

Medicaid

 28% 28% 29% 27% 30%

 

 28%

 

 29%

 

 29%

 

Private Pay and Other

  26%  28%  26%  28%  24%

 

  26%

 

  24%

 

  26%

 

Total

  100%  100%  100%  100%  100%

 

  100%

 

  100%

 

  100%

 

 

Medicare covers skilled nursing services for beneficiaries who require nursing care and/or rehabilitation services following a hospitalization of at least three consecutive days (there is temporary relief from the three-day hospital stay during the COVID-19 emergency). For each eligible day a Medicare beneficiary is in a skilled nursing facility, Medicare pays the facility a daily payment, subject to adjustment for certain factors such as a wage index in the geographic area. The payment covers all services provided by the skilled nursing facility for the beneficiary that day, including room and board, nursing, therapy and drugs, as well as an estimate of capital–related costs to deliver those services.

 

For homecare services, Medicare pays based on the acuity level of the patient and based on periods of care. A period of care is defined as a length of care up to 30 days with multiple continuous periods allowed. The services covered by the payment include all disciplines of care, in addition to medical supplies, within the scope of the home health benefit.

 

Certain managed care payors for homecare services pay on a per-visit basis. This revenue is recorded on an accrual basis based upon the date of services at amounts equal to its established or estimated per-visit rates.     

16

For hospice services, Medicare pays a daily rate to cover the costs for providing services included in the patient care plan. Medicare makes daily payments based on 1 of 4 levels of hospice care. All hospice care and services offered to patients and their families must follow an individualized written plan of care that meets the patient’s needs.

Our hospice service revenue is subject to certain limitations on payments from Medicare. We are subject to an inpatient cap limit and an overall Medicare payment cap for each provider number. We monitor these caps on a provider-by-provider basis and estimate amounts due back to Medicare if we estimate a cap has been exceeded. If applicable, we record these cap adjustments as a reduction to revenue.

Medicaid is operated by individual states with the financial participation of the federal government. The states in which we operate currently use prospective cost–based reimbursement systems. Under cost–based reimbursement systems, the skilled nursing facility is reimbursed for the reasonable direct and indirect allowable costs it incurred in a base year in providing routine resident care services as defined by the program.

 

Private pay, managed care, and other payment sources include commercial insurance, individual patient funds, managed care plans and the Veterans Administration. Private paying patients, private insurance carriers and the Veterans Administration generally pay based on the healthcare center's charges or specifically negotiated contracts. For private pay patients in skilled nursing, assisted living and independent living facilities, the Company bills for room and board charges, with the remittance being due on receipt of the statement and generally by the 10th day of the month the services are performed.

 

Certain managed care payors for homecare services pay on a per-visit basis. This revenue is recorded on an accrual basis based upon the date of services at amounts equal to its established or estimated per-visit rates.     

15

Contract Liabilities

Included in the Company’s interim condensed consolidated balance sheets are contract liabilities, which represent payments the Company receives in advance of services provided. As of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the Company has recorded $27,013,000 and $51,253,000, respectively, in contract liabilities related to receipts from the Medicare Accelerated and Advance Payment Program.  These funds will begin to be applied against claims for services provided to Medicare patients after approximately one year from the date we received the funds. During the firsteleven months after repayment begins, repayment will occur through an automatic recoupment of twenty-five percent of Medicare payments. During the succeeding six months, repayment will occur through an automatic recoupment of fifty percent of Medicare payments. Any remaining balance that was not paid through the recoupment process within twenty-nine months of receipt of the funds will be required to be paid on-demand, subject to an interest rate of four percent. Recoupment of the accelerated payments is currently expected to beginbegan in the April second quarter of 2021.

 

A summary of the contract liabilities are follows (in thousands):

 

Balance at December 31, 2019

 $0 

Payments received

  51,253 

Payments recognized

  - 

Balance at September 30, 2020

 $51,253 

Balance at December 31, 2020

 $51,253 

Payments received

  0 

Payments recouped

  (24,240

)

Balance at September 30, 2021

 $27,013 

Third Party Payors

 

Laws and regulations governing the Medicare and Medicaid programs are complex and subject to interpretation. Noncompliance with such laws and regulations can be subject to regulatory actions including fines, penalties, and exclusion from the Medicare and Medicaid programs. We believe that we are following all applicable laws and regulations.

 

Medicare and Medicaid program revenues, as well as certain Managed Care program revenues, are subject to audit and retroactive adjustment by government representatives or their agents. Settlements with third-party payors for retroactive adjustments due to audits, reviews or investigations are considered variable consideration and are included in the determination of the estimated transaction price for providing patient care. These settlements are estimated based on the terms of the payment agreement with the payor, correspondence from the payor and the Company’s historical settlement activity, including an assessment to ensure that it is probable that a significant reversal in the amount of cumulative revenue recognized will not occur when the uncertainty associated with the retroactive adjustment is subsequently resolved. Estimated settlements are adjusted in future periods as adjustments become known, or as years are settled or are no longer subject to such audits, reviews, and investigations. We believe that any differences between the net revenues recorded, and final determination will not materially affect the consolidated financial statements. We have made provisions of approximately $15,642,000$17,046,000 and $15,108,000$16,454,000 as of September 30, 20202021 and December 31, 2019,2020, respectively, for various Medicare, Medicaid, and Managed Care claims reviews and current and prior year cost reports.

 

17

 

 

Note 56 Other Revenues

 

Other revenues are outlined in the table below. Revenues from rental income include health care real estate properties owned by us and leased to third party operators. Revenues from management and accounting services include fees provided to manage and provide accounting services to other healthcare operators. Revenues from insurance services include premiums for workers’ compensation and professional liability insurance policies that our wholly–owned insurance subsidiaries have written for certain healthcare operators to which we provide management or accounting services. "Other" revenues include miscellaneous health care related earnings.earnings (in thousands).

 

 

Three Months Ended

September 30

  

Nine Months Ended

September 30

  

Three Months Ended

September 30

  

Nine Months Ended

September 30

 

(in thousands)

 

2020

  

2019

  

2020

  

2019

 
 

2021

  

2020

  

2021

  

2020

 

Rental income

 $5,646  $5,678  $16,972  $16,963  $5,792  $5,646  $16,954  $16,972 

Management and accounting services fees

 4,052  4,520  12,651  13,567  4,244  4,052  12,703  12,651 

Insurance services

 1,294  1,528  4,074  4,667  1,291  1,294  3,832  4,074 

Other

  119   251   766   841   164   119   427   766 

Total other revenues

 $11,111  $11,977  $34,463  $36,038  $11,491  $11,111  $33,916  $34,463 

 

Rental Income

The Company leases real estate assets consisting of skilled nursing facilities and assisted living facilities to third party operators. Additionally, we sublease four Florida skilled nursing facilities included in our lease from National Health Investors (“NHI”) as noted in Note 89 – Long Term Leases. Rental income reflected in the interim condensed consolidated statements of operations consisted of the following:

 

  

Three Months Ended

September 30

  

Nine Months Ended

September 30

 

(in thousands)

 

2020

  

2019

  

2020

  

2019

 

Operating lease payments

 $5,505  $5,482  $16,514  $16,450 

Variable lease payments

  141   196   458   513 

Total rental income

 $5,646  $5,678  $16,972  $16,963 

16

Management Fees from National Health Corporation

 

We manage five skilled nursing facilities owned by National.National Health Corporation (“National”). For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, we recognized management fees and interest on management fees of $970,000 and $2,806,000 from these centers, respectively. For the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2020, we recognized management fees and interest on management fees of $920,000 and $3,399,000 from these centers, respectively. For the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2019, we recognized management fees and interest on management fees of $1,543,000 and $4,748,000 for these centers, respectively.

 

Insurance Services

 

For workers’ compensation insurance services, the premium revenues reflected in the interim condensed consolidated statements of operations for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2021 were $780,000 and $2,298,000, respectively. For workers’ compensation insurance services, the premium revenues reflected in the interim condensed consolidated statements of operations for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2020 were $779,000 and $2,441,000, respectively. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, the workers’ compensation premium revenues reflected in the interim condensed consolidated statements of operations were $866,000 and $2,656,000. Associated losses and expenses are reflected in the interim condensed consolidated statements of operations as "Salaries, wages and benefits."

 

For professional liability insurance services, the premium revenues reflected in the interim condensed consolidated statements of operations for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 20202021 were $515,000$511,000 and $1,633,000,$1,534,000, respectively. For professional liability insurance services, the premium revenues reflected in the interim condensed consolidated statements of operations for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 20192020 were $662,000$515,000 and $2,011,000,$1,633,000, respectively. Associated losses and expenses including those for self–insurance are included in the interim condensed consolidated statements of operations as "Other operating costs and expenses".

 

 

Note 67 Non– NonOperating Income

 

Non–operating income includes equity in earnings of unconsolidated investments, dividends and other realized gains and losses on sales of marketable securities, and interest income.income (in thousands).

 

 

Three Months Ended

September 30

  

Nine Months Ended

September 30

  

Three Months Ended

September 30

  

Nine Months Ended

September 30

 

(in thousands)

 

2020

  

2019

  

2020

  

2019

 
 

2021

  

2020

  

2021

  

2020

 

Equity in earnings of unconsolidated investments

 $3,019  $2,747  $8,448  $7,548  $14  $3,019  $5,320  $8,448 

Dividends and net realized gains on sales of securities

 2,084  2,049  5,997  5,911  2,365  2,084  6,242  5,997 

Interest income

 1,375  1,867  4,426  5,502   1,020  1,375   3,683   4,425 

Gains on acquisitions of equity method investments

  0   0   1,707   1,975 

Total non-operating income

 $6,478  $6,663  $20,578  $20,936  $3,399  $6,478  $15,245  $18,870 

 

Caris HealthCare, L.P. ("Caris")

 

OurOn June 11, 2021, the Company acquired the remaining 24.9% equity interest in Caris. See Note 4 - “Acquisition of Caris HealthCare, L.P.” for further detail describing the acquisition.

Prior to the June 11, 2021 acquisition date, Caris was our most significant equity method investment iswith a 75.1% non–controllingnon-controlling ownership interest in Caris, a business that specializes in hospice care services. The carrying value of our investmentinterest. From the respective acquisition date, Caris’ financial information is $35,035,000 and $36,673,000 at September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively. The carrying amounts arenow included in investments in unconsolidated companies in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. Summarized financial information of Caris for thestatements and will nineno months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 is provided below (in thousands):

  

Nine Months Ended

September 30

 
  

2020

  

2019

 

Net revenue

 $48,690  $45,554 

Expenses

  37,753   35,410 

Net income

 $10,937  $10,144 

Gains on Acquisitions of Equity Method Investments

Effective February 27, 2020, the Company expanded its controlled operations through an acquisition of the remaining ownership interest of a 166-bed skilled nursing facility in Knoxville, Tennessee. We previously held a 25% noncontrolling interest in the facility andlonger be accounted for the investment as an equity method investment. The operating results of the business have been included in the accompanying interim condensed consolidated financial statements since the remaining ownership interest acquisition date.

 

17
18

Upon acquiring the remaining ownership interest, the Company recorded and increased its previously held equity interest up to fair value as of the acquisition date. This remeasurement of our equity interest at fair value resulted in a gain of $1,707,000. The gain was recorded in "Non-operating income" in the interim condensed consolidated statements of operations.Additionally, the excess of the fair value over the amounts assigned to the assets and liabilities of the investee resulted in recording goodwill in the amount of $346,000 on the acquisition date.

Effective June 1, 2019, the Company expanded its controlled operations through an acquisition of the remaining ownership interest of a 60-bed memory care facility in St. Peters, Missouri. We previously held a noncontrolling interest in the facility and accounted for the investment as an equity method investment. The operating results of the business have been included in the accompanying interim condensed consolidated financial statements since the remaining ownership interest acquisition date.

Upon acquiring the remaining ownership interest, the Company recorded and increased its previously held equity interest up to fair value as of the acquisition date. This remeasurement of our equity interest at fair value resulted in a gain of $1,975,000 during the second quarter of 2019. The gain was recorded in "Non-operating income" in the interim condensed consolidated statements of operations.

 

 

Note 78 Business Segments

 

The Company has 2two reportable operating segments: (1) inpatient services, which includes the operation of skilled nursing facilities, assisted and independent living facilities, and our behavioral health hospital; and (2) homecare and hospice services. These reportable operating segments are consistent with information used by the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, as chief operating decision maker (“CODM”), to assess performance and allocate resources.

 

The Company also reports an “all other” category that includes revenues from rental income, management and accounting services fees, insurance services, and costs of the corporate office. For additional information on these reportable segments see Note 2Summary of Significant Accounting Policies.

 

The Company’s CODM evaluates performance and allocates capital resources to each segment based on an operating model that is designed to improve the quality of patient care and profitability of the Company while enhancing long-term shareholder value. The CODM does not review assets by segment in his resource allocation and therefore, assets by segment are not disclosed below.

 

The following table sets forth the Company’s unaudited interim condensed consolidated statements of operations by business segment (in thousands):

 

 

Three Months Ended September 30, 2020

  

Three Months Ended September 30, 2021

 
 

Inpatient
Services

  

Homecare

  

All Other

  

Total

  

Inpatient
Services

  

Homecare

and Hospice

  

All Other

  

Total

 

Revenues and grant income:

         

Revenues:

 

Net patient revenues

 $214,211  $13,172  $0  $227,383  $222,884  $31,933  $0  $254,817 

Other revenues

 84  0  11,027  11,111  128  0  11,363  11,491 

Government stimulus income

  12,132   0   0   12,132   10,429   0   0   10,429 

Net operating revenues and grant income

 226,427  13,172  11,027  250,626  233,441  31,933  11,363  276,737 
  

Costs and expenses:

          

Salaries, wages, and benefits

 132,245  8,210  11,109  151,564  131,567  17,592  10,146  159,305 

Other operating

 65,066  3,311  2,510  70,887  74,506  6,797  2,736  84,039 

Rent

 8,377  448  1,495  10,320  8,169  594  1,441  10,204 

Depreciation and amortization

 9,629  106  813  10,548  9,300  118  811  10,229 

Interest

  325   0   (40

)

  285   198   0   0   198 

Total costs and expenses

  215,642   12,075   15,887   243,604   223,740   25,101   15,134   263,975 
  

Income (loss) from operations

 10,785  1,097  (4,860

)

 7,022  9,701  6,832  (3,771

)

 12,762 

Non-operating income

 0  0  6,478  6,478  0  0  3,399  3,399 

Unrealized losses on marketable equity securities

  0   0   (241

)

  (241

)

  0   0   (23,797

)

  (23,797

)

  

Income before income taxes

 $10,785  $1,097  $1,377  $13,259 

Income (loss) before income taxes

 $9,701  $6,832  $(24,169

)

 $(7,636

)

 

1819

 
  

Three Months Ended September 30, 2019

 
  

Inpatient
Services

  

Homecare

  

All Other

  

Total

 

Revenues:

                

Net patient revenues

 $222,246  $12,844  $0  $235,090 

Other revenues

  199   0   11,778   11,977 

Net operating revenues

  222,445   12,844   11,778   247,067 
                 

Costs and expenses:

                

Salaries, wages, and benefits

  133,949   8,630   9,596   152,175 

Other operating

  60,800   4,267   1,663   66,730 

Rent

  8,234   450   1,483   10,167 

Depreciation and amortization

  9,666   61   936   10,663 

Interest

  312   0   452   764 

Total costs and expenses

  212,961   13,408   14,130   240,499 
                 

Income (loss) from operations

  9,484   (564

)

  (2,352

)

  6,568 

Non-operating income

  0   0   6,663   6,663 

Unrealized gains on marketable equity securities

  0   0   9,312   9,312 
                 

Income (loss) before income taxes

 $9,484  $(564

)

 $13,623  $22,543 
 
  

Three Months Ended September 30, 2020

 
  

Inpatient
Services

  

Homecare

  

All Other

  

Total

 

Revenues and grant income:

                

Net patient revenues

 $214,211  $13,172  $0  $227,383 

Other revenues

  84   0   11,027   11,111 

Government stimulus income

  12,132   0   0   12,132 

Net operating revenues and grant income

  226,427   13,172   11,027   250,626 
                 

Costs and expenses:

                

Salaries, wages, and benefits

  132,245   8,210   11,109   151,564 

Other operating

  65,066   3,311   2,510   70,887 

Rent

  8,377   448   1,495   10,320 

Depreciation and amortization

  9,629   106   813   10,548 

Interest

  325   0   (40

)

  285 

Total costs and expenses

  215,642   12,075   15,887   243,604 
                 

Income (loss) from operations

  10,785   1,097   (4,860

)

  7,022 

Non-operating income

  0   0   6,478   6,478 

Unrealized losses on marketable equity securities

  0   0   (241

)

  (241

)

                 

Income before income taxes

 $10,785  $1,097  $1,377  $13,259 

  

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2021

 
  

Inpatient
Services

  

Homecare

and Hospice

  

All Other

  

Total

 

Revenues and grant income:

                

Net patient revenues

 $644,986  $63,662  $0  $708,648 

Other revenues

  324   0   33,592   33,916 

Government stimulus income

  48,304   0   0   48,304 

Net operating revenues and grant income

  693,614   63,662   33,592   790,868 
                 

Costs and expenses:

                

Salaries, wages, and benefits

  388,949   36,483   35,807   461,239 

Other operating

  204,445   13,730   8,060   226,235 

Rent

  24,641   1,478   4,318   30,437 

Depreciation and amortization

  27,790   299   2,432   30,521 

Interest

  657   0   0   657 

Total costs and expenses

  646,482   51,990   50,617   749,089 
                 

Income (loss) from operations

  47,132   11,672   (17,025

)

  41,779 

Non-operating income

  0   0   15,245   15,245 

Gain on acquisition of equity method investment

  0   0   95,202   95,202 

Unrealized losses on marketable equity securities

  0   0   (23,227

)

  (23,227

)

                 

Income before income taxes

 $47,132  $11,672  $70,195  $128,999 

 

  

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020

 
  

Inpatient
Services

  

Homecare

  

All Other

  

Total

 

Revenues and grant income:

                

Net patient revenues

 $659,585  $37,564  $0  $697,149 

Other revenues

  645   0   33,818   34,463 

Government stimulus income

  34,754   2,026   0   36,780 

Net operating revenues and grant income

  694,984   39,590   33,818   768,392 
                 

Costs and expenses:

                

Salaries, wages, and benefits

  403,840   24,490   27,617   455,947 

Other operating

  194,170   11,471   7,775   213,416 

Rent

  25,134   1,351   4,487   30,972 

Depreciation and amortization

  28,826   266   2,439   31,531 

Interest

  1,073   0   77   1,150 

Total costs and expenses

  653,043   37,578   42,395   733,016 
                 

Income (loss) from operations

  41,941   2,012   (8,577

)

  35,376 

Non-operating income

  0   0   20,578   20,578 

Unrealized losses on marketable equity securities

  0   0   (40,580

)

  (40,580

)

                 

Income (loss) before income taxes

 $41,941  $2,012  $(28,579

)

 $15,374 

  

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019

 
  

Inpatient
Services

  

Homecare

  

All Other

  

Total

 

Revenues:

                

Net patient revenues

 $664,768  $41,697  $0  $706,465 

Other revenues

  672   0   35,366   36,038 

Net operating revenues

  665,440   41,697   35,366   742,503 
                 

Costs and expenses:

                

Salaries, wages, and benefits

  390,770   25,136   25,535   441,441 

Other operating

  183,602   13,193   6,965   203,760 

Rent

  24,754   1,400   4,448   30,602 

Depreciation and amortization

  28,790   183   2,542   31,515 

Interest

  979   0   1,665   2,644 

Total costs and expenses

  628,895   39,912   41,155   709,962 
                 

Income (loss) from operations

  36,545   1,785   (5,789

)

  32,541 

Non-operating income

  0   0   20,936   20,936 

Unrealized gains on marketable equity securities

  0   0   16,096   16,096 
                 

Income before income taxes

 $36,545  $1,785  $31,243  $69,573 

1920

 
  

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020

 
  

Inpatient
Services

  

Homecare

  

All Other

  

Total

 

Revenues and grant income:

                

Net patient revenues

 $659,585  $37,564  $0  $697,149 

Other revenues

  645   0   33,818   34,463 

Government stimulus income

  34,754   2,026   0   36,780 

Net operating revenues and grant income

  694,984   39,590   33,818   768,392 
                 

Costs and expenses:

                

Salaries, wages, and benefits

  403,840   24,490   27,617   455,947 

Other operating

  194,170   11,471   7,775   213,416 

Rent

  25,134   1,351   4,487   30,972 

Depreciation and amortization

  28,826   266   2,439   31,531 

Interest

  1,073   0   77   1,150 

Total costs and expenses

  653,043   37,578   42,395   733,016 
                 

Income (loss) from operations

  41,941   2,012   (8,577

)

  35,376 

Non-operating income

  0   0   18,870   18,870 
Gain on acquisition of equity method investment  0   0   1,708   1,708 

Unrealized losses on marketable equity securities

  0   0   (40,580

)

  (40,580

)

                 

Income (loss) before income taxes

 $41,941  $2,012  $(28,579

)

 $15,374 

 

 

Note 89 Long-Term Leases

Operating Leases

 

At September 30, 2020,2021, we leased from NHI the real property of 35 skilled nursing facilities, seven assisted living centers and three independent living centers under two separate lease agreements. As part of the first lease agreement, we sublease four Florida skilled nursing facilities to a third-party operator. Base rent expense under both NHI lease agreements totals $34,200,000 annually with rent thereafter escalating by 4% of the increase in facility revenue over a base year. Total facility rent expense to NHI was $9,026,000 and $28,336,000 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, respectively. Total facility rent expense to NHI was $9,655,000 and $28,965,000 for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2020.2020, Total facility rent expense to NHI was $9,515,000 and $28,545,000 for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2019.respectively.

 

Finance Leases

 

At September 30, 2020,2021, we leased and operated three senior healthcare facilities in the state of Missouri under three separate lease agreements. Two of the healthcare facilities are skilled nursing facilities that also include assisted living facilities and the third healthcare facility is a memory care facility. Each of the leases is a ten-year lease with two five–year renewal options. Under the terms of the leases, base rent totals $5,200,000 annually with rent thereafter escalating by 4% of the increase in facility revenue over the 2014 base year.

 

21

Minimum Lease Payments

 

The following table summarizes the maturity of our finance and operating lease liabilities as of September 30, 20202021 (in thousands):

 

  

Finance

Leases

  

Operating

Leases

 

2021

 $5,200  $35,354 

2022

  5,200   35,074 

2023

  5,200   34,573 

2024

  2,167   34,390 

2025

  0   34,228 

Thereafter

  0   48,500 

Total minimum lease payments

  17,767   222,119 

Less: amounts representing interest

  (1,739

)

  (37,116

)

Present value of future minimum lease payments

  16,028   185,003 

Less: current portion

  (4,357

)

  (25,146

)

Noncurrent lease liabilities

 $11,671  $159,857 

  

Finance

Leases

  

Operating

Leases

 

2022

 $5,200  $36,086 

2023

  5,200   35,416 

2024

  2,167   34,943 

2025

  0   34,586 

2026

  0   34,387 

Thereafter

  0   14,300 

Total minimum lease payments

  12,567   189,718 

Less: amounts representing interest

  (896

)

  (27,168

)

Present value of future minimum lease payments

  11,671   162,550 

Less: current portion

  (4,626

)

  (27,289

)

Noncurrent lease liabilities

 $7,045  $135,261 

 

 

Note 910 Earnings per Share

 

Basic net income per share is computed based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for each period presented. Diluted net income per share reflects the potential dilution that would have occurred if securities to issue common stock were exercised, converted, or resulted in the issuance of common stock that would have then shared in our earnings.

 

20

The following table summarizes the earnings and the weighted average number of common shares used in the calculation of basic and diluted earnings per share (in(in thousands, except for share and per share amounts):

 

 

Three Months Ended

September 30

  

Nine Months Ended

September 30

  

Three Months Ended

September 30

  

Nine Months Ended

September 30

 
 

2020

  

2019

  

2020

  

2019

  

2021

  

2020

  

2021

  

2020

 

Basic:

          

Weighted average common shares outstanding

  15,310,754   15,275,709   15,304,235   15,267,250   15,364,043   15,310,754   15,347,042   15,304,235 

Net income attributable to National HealthCare Corporation

 $12,849  $19,461  $14,321  $54,441 

Earnings per common share, basic

 $0.84  $1.27  $0.94  $3.57 

Net income (loss) attributable to National HealthCare Corporation

 $(3,348) $12,849  $122,802  $14,321 

Earnings (loss) per common share, basic

 $(0.22) $0.84  $8.00  $0.94 
  

Diluted:

          

Weighted average common shares outstanding

 15,310,754  15,275,709  15,304,235  15,267,250  15,364,043  15,310,754  15,347,042  15,304,235 

Effects of dilutive instruments

  60,557   97,908   64,540   83,058   0   60,557   67,641   64,540 

Weighted average common shares outstanding

  15,371,311   15,373,617   15,368,775   15,350,308   15,364,043   15,371,311   15,414,683   15,368,775 
  

Net income attributable to National HealthCare Corporation

 $12,849  $19,461  $14,321  $54,441 

Earnings per common share, diluted

 $0.84  $1.27  $0.93  $3.55 

Net income (loss) attributable to National HealthCare Corporation

 $(3,348) $12,849  $122,802  $14,321 

Earnings (loss) per common share, diluted

 $(0.22) $0.84  $7.97  $0.93 

 

In the above table, options to purchase 620,076 and 698,080 shares of our common stock have been excluded for the nine months ended September 30, 31,2021 and 2020, respectively, due to their anti-dilutive impact.

 

 

Note 1011 Investments in Marketable Securities

 

Our investments in marketable equity securities are carried at fair value with the changes in unrealized gains and losses recognized in our results of operations at each measurement date. Our investments in marketable debt securities are classified as available for sale securities and carried at fair value with the unrealized gains and losses recognized through accumulated other comprehensive income at each measurement date. Any credit related decline in fair market values of our available for sale debt securities are recorded in our results of operations through an allowance for credit losses. Realized gains and losses from securities sales are recognized in results of operations upon disposition of the securities using the specific identification method on a trade date basis. Refer to Note 1112 for a description of the Company's methodology for determining the fair value of marketable securities.

 

22

Marketable securities and restricted marketable securities consist of the following (in thousands):

 

 

September 30, 2020

  

December 31, 2019

  

September 30, 2021

  

December 31, 2020

 
 

Amortized

Cost

  

Fair

Value

  

Amortized

Cost

  

Fair

Value

  

Amortized

Cost

  

Fair

Value

  

Amortized

Cost

  

Fair

Value

 

Investments available for sale:

          

Marketable equity securities

 $30,176  $111,873  $30,176  $152,453  $30,176  $105,893  $30,176  $128,590 

Corporate debt securities

 20,005  19,905  25,812  25,778 

Asset-backed securities

 2,467  2,456  2,485  2,480 

U.S. Treasury securities

 14,251  14,229  19,519  19,504 

Restricted investments available for sale:

          

Marketable equity securities

 25,153  24,520  4,783  4,680 

Corporate debt securities

 63,446  67,478  63,414  65,653  64,796  67,786  61,709  66,247 

Asset-based securities

 46,851  47,682  54,451  55,185  33,804  34,512  40,655  41,769 

U.S. Treasury securities

 13,208  13,937  13,379  13,410  26,067  25,736  20,760  21,159 

State and municipal securities

  12,546   12,943   12,922   13,158   9,239   9,497   12,497   12,898 
 $166,227  $253,913  $174,342  $299,859  $225,958  $304,534  $218,396   323,105 

 

Included in the marketable equity securities are the following (in thousands, except share amounts):

 

  

September 30, 2020

  

December 31, 2019

 
  

Shares

  

Cost

  

Fair

Value

  

Shares

  

Cost

  

Fair

Value

 

NHI Common Stock

  1,630,642  $24,734  $98,279   1,630,642  $24,734  $132,865 
  

September 30, 2021

  

December 31, 2020

 
  

Shares

  

Cost

  

Fair

Value

  

Shares

  

Cost

  

Fair

Value

 

NHI Common Stock

  1,630,642  $24,734  $87,239   1,630,642  $24,734  $112,792 

 

The amortized cost and estimated fair value of debt securities classified as available for sale, by contractual maturity, are as follows (in thousands):

 

 

September 30, 2020

  

December 31, 2019

  

September 30, 2021

  

December 31, 2020

 
 

Cost

  

Fair

Value

  

Cost

  

Fair

Value

  

Cost

  

Fair

Value

  

Cost

  

Fair

Value

 

Maturities:

Maturities:

          

Within 1 year

Within 1 year

 $22,860  $22,795  $15,726  $15,767  $34,690  $34,792  $49,694  $49,863 

1 to 5 years

1 to 5 years

 82,046  85,640  88,314  90,408  97,382  99,947  99,143  103,002 

6 to 10 years

6 to 10 years

  31,145   33,605   40,126   41,231  38,060  38,901  34,326  36,685 

Over 10 years

  497   481   274   285 
  $170,629  $174,121  $183,437  $189,835 
  $136,051  $142,040  $144,166  $147,406 

 

21

Gross unrealized gains related to marketable equity securities are $81,804,000$76,151,000 and $122,290,000$98,445,000 as of September 30, 20202021 and December 31, 2019,2020, respectively. Gross unrealized losses related to marketable equity securities are $107,000$1,067,000 and $13,000$134,000 as of September 30, 20202021 and December 31, 2019,2020, respectively. For the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2021, the Company recognized net unrealized losses of $23,797,000 and $23,227,000, respectively, for the changes in fair market value of the marketable equity securities in the interim condensed consolidated statements of operations. For the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2020, the Company recognized net unrealized losses of $241,000 and $40,580,000, respectively, for the changes in fair market value of the marketable equity securities in the interim condensed consolidated statements of operations. For the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2019, the Company recognized net unrealized gains of $9,312,000 and $16,096,000, respectively, for the changes in fair market value of the marketable equity securities in the interim condensed consolidated statements of operations.

 

Gross unrealized gains related to available for sale marketable debt securities are $6,727,000$4,288,000 and $3,407,000$6,759,000 as of September 30, 20202021 and December 31, 2019,2020, respectively. Gross unrealized losses related to available for sale marketable debt securities are $738,000$796,000 and $167,000$361,000 as of September 30, 20202021 and December 31, 2019,2020, respectively. The Company’s unrealized losses in our available for sale marketable debt securities were determined to be non-credit related.

 

The Company has not recognized any credit related impairments for the three months or nine months ending September 30, 20202021 and 2019.2020.

 

For the marketable securities in gross unrealized loss positions, (a) it is more likely than not that the Company will not be required to sell the investment securities before recovery of the unrealized losses, and (b) the Company expects that the contractual principal and interest will be received on the investment securities.

 

23

Proceeds from the sale of available for sale marketable debt securities during the nine months ended September 30, 20202021 and 20192020 were $28,004,000$89,129,000 and $41,272,000,$28,004,000, respectively. Investment gains of $135,000$941,000 and $117,000$135,000 were realized on these sales during the nine months ended September 30, 20202021 and 2019,2020, respectively. NaN sales were reported for marketable equity securities for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

 

 

Note 1112 Fair Value Measurements

 

The accounting standard for fair value measurements provides a framework for measuring fair value and requires expanded disclosures regarding fair value measurements. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received for an asset or the exit price that would be paid to transfer a liability in the principal or most advantageous market in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. This accounting standard establishes a fair value hierarchy, which requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs, where available. The following summarizes the three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value:

 

 

Level1– The valuation is based on quoted prices in active markets for identical instruments.

 

Level2– The valuation is based on observable inputs such as quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active, and model–based valuation techniques for which all significant assumptions are observable in the market.

 

Level3– The valuation is based on unobservable inputs that are supported by minimal or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the instrument. Level 3 valuations are typically performed using pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies, or similar techniques that incorporate management’s own estimates of assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the instrument, or valuations that require significant management judgment or estimation.

 

A financial instrument’s level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

 

The following table summarizes fair value measurements by level at September 30, 20202021 and December 31, 20192020 for assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis (in thousands):

 

 

Fair Value Measurements Using

  

Fair Value Measurements Using

 

September 30, 2020

 

Fair

Value

  

Quoted

Prices
in

Active
Markets

For Identical

Assets

(Level 1)

  

Significant

Other

Observable

Inputs

(Level 2)

  

Significant

Unobservable

Inputs

(Level 3)

 

September 30, 2021

 

Fair

Value

  

Quoted

Prices
in

Active
Markets

For Identical

Assets

(Level 1)

  

Significant

Other

Observable

Inputs

(Level 2)

  

Significant

Unobservable

Inputs

(Level 3)

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 $183,765  $183,765  $0  $  $112,462  $112,462  $0  $ 

Restricted cash and cash equivalents

 12,353  12,353  0    14,305  14,305  0   

Marketable equity securities

 111,873  111,873  0    130,413  130,413  0   

Corporate debt securities

 67,478  46,513  20,965    87,691  45,640  42,051   

Mortgage–backed securities

 47,682  0  47,682    36,968  0  36,968   

U.S. Treasury securities

 13,937  13,937  0    39,965  39,965  0   

State and municipal securities

  12,943   2,004   10,939      9,497   0   9,497    

Total financial assets

 $450,031  $370,445  $79,586  $  $431,301  $342,785  $88,516  $ 

 

2224

 
  

Fair Value Measurements Using

 

December 31, 2019

 

Fair

Value

  

Quoted

Prices
in

Active
Markets

For Identical

Assets

(Level 1)

  

Significant

Other

Observable

Inputs

(Level 2)

  

Significant

Unobservable

Inputs

(Level 3)

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 $50,334  $50,334  $0  $ 

Restricted cash and cash equivalents

  10,676   10,676   0    

Marketable equity securities

  152,453   152,453   0    

Corporate debt securities

  65,653   48,584   17,069    

Asset - backed securities

  55,185   0   55,185    

U.S. Treasury securities

  13,410   13,410   0    

State and municipal securities

  13,158   1,975   11,183    

Total financial assets

 $360,869  $277,432  $83,437  $ 

Note 12 – Long–Term Debt

Long–term debt consists of the following (dollars in thousands):

 

Maturity

 

September 30,

2020

  

December 31,

2019

 
          

Credit facility, interest payable monthly

2020

 $0  $10,000 

Less current portion

  0   (10,000

)

Total long-term debt

 $0  $0 

On August 13, 2020, NHC terminated the credit facility. At September 30, 2020, the Company does not have a credit facility in place.

 
  

Fair Value Measurements Using

 

December 31, 2020

 

Fair

Value

  

Quoted

Prices in

Active

Markets

For Identical

Assets

(Level 1)

  

Significant

Other

Observable

Inputs

(Level 2)

  

Significant

Unobservable

Inputs

(Level 3)

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 $147,093  $147,093  $0  $ 

Restricted cash and cash equivalents

  11,409   11,409   0    

Marketable equity securities

  133,270   133,270   0    

Corporate debt securities

  92,025   56,772   35,253    

Asset–backed securities

  44,249   0   44,249    

U.S. Treasury securities

  40,663   40,663   0    

State and municipal securities

  12,898   0   12,898    

Total financial assets

 $481,607  $389,207  $92,400  $ 

 

 

Note 13 - Stock Repurchase Program Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

 

InAt August 2020,September 30, 2021, the BoardCompany reviewed the carrying value of Directors authorizedgoodwill for impairment indicators, including due to the events and circumstances surrounding the Coronavirus Pandemic ("COVID-19"). As a common stock purchase program. The program allowsresult of the review, there were 0 impairment indicators regarding the Company’s goodwill during the three months ended September 30, 2021 that required a quantitative test to be performed. However, our accounting estimates could materially change from period to period due to changing market factors, including those driven by COVID-19. We will continue to monitor future events, changes in circumstances, and the potential impact thereof. If actual results are not consistent with our assumptions and estimates, we may be exposed to future goodwill impairment losses.

See Note 4Acquisition of Caris HealthCare, L.P. for repurchasesfurther detail describing the goodwill addition in 2021. At September 30, 2021, the following table represents the activity related to our goodwill by segment (in thousands):

  

Inpatient

Services

  

Homecare

and Hospice

  

All Other

  

Total

 

January 1, 2021

 $3,741  $17,600  $  $21,341 

Additions

  0   146,954      146,954 

September 30, 2021

 $3,741  $164,554  $  $168,295 

As part of up to $25 millionthe Caris acquisition, we also recorded indefinite-lived intangible assets that consisted of its common stock. the trade name ($4,340,000) and certificates of need and licenses ($2,698,000).

Note 14 - Stock Repurchases

During the nine months ended September 30, 2020,2021, the Company repurchased 7973,936 shares of its common stock for a total cost of $53,000.$278,000. The shares were funded from cash on hand and were cancelled and returned to the status of authorized but unissued. The plan expires on August 31, 2021.

 

 

Note 1415 Stock– StockBased Compensation

 

NHC recognizes stock–based compensation expense for all stock options granted over the requisite service period using the fair value at the date of grant using the Black–Scholes pricing model. Stock–based compensation totaled $518,000$726,000 and $340,000$518,000 for the three months ended September 30, 20202021 and 2019,2020, respectively. Stock-basedStock–based compensation totaled $1,807,000$1,905,000 and $1,448,000$1,807,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 20202021 and 2019,2020, respectively. Stock–based compensation is included in “Salaries, wages and benefits” in the interim condensed consolidated statements of operations.

 

23

At September 30, 2020,2021, the Company had $3,024,000$1,767,000 of unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested stock–based compensation awards. This unrecognized compensation cost will be amortized over an approximate twoone-year period.

 

25

Stock Options

 

The following table summarizes the significant assumptions used to value the options granted for the nine months ended September 30, 20202021 and for the year ended December 31, 2019.2020.

 

 

September 30,

2020

  

December 31,
2019

  

September 30,

2021

  

December 31,
2020

 

Risk–free interest rate

 0.85%  2.30%  0.21% 0.87%

Expected volatility

 20.2%  17.4%  35.1% 20.1%

Expected life, in years

 2.2  2.3  2.2  2.2 

Expected dividend yield

 2.92%  2.73%  3.01% 2.91%

 

The following table summarizes our outstanding stock options for the nine months ended September 30, 20202021 and for the year ended December 31, 2019.2020.

 

 

Number of

Shares

  

Weighted

Average

Exercise Price

  

Aggregate

Intrinsic

Value

  

Number of

Shares

  

Weighted

Average

Exercise Price

  

Aggregate

Intrinsic

Value

 

Options outstanding at January 1, 2019

 1,163,381  $71.16  $ 

Options outstanding at January 1, 2020

 809,529  $71.24  $ 

Options granted

 53,316  77.89    104,057  73.98   

Options exercised

 (346,168

)

 71.57    (43,630

)

 63.37   

Options cancelled

  (85,000

)

  72.94     (3,000

)

  72.94   

Options outstanding at December 31, 2019

 785,529  71.24   

Options outstanding at December 31, 2020

 866,956  72.11   

Options granted

 102,124  75.74    56,795  70.73   

Options exercised

 (33,573

)

 62.46    (148,900

)

 68.41   

Options cancelled

  (3,000

)

  72.94       (6,000

)

  72.94    

Options outstanding at September 30, 2020

  851,080  $72.12  $66,000 

Options outstanding at September 30, 2021

  768,851  $72.72  $656,425 
  

Options exercisable at September 30, 2020

  215,456  $68.35  $18,000 

Options exercisable at September 30, 2021

  177,686  $69.38  $587,578 

 

Options

Outstanding

September 30, 2020

  

Exercise Prices

  

Weighted Average

Exercise Price

  

Weighted Average

Remaining

Contractual

Life in Years

 
153,000  $60.730$64.64  62.67  2.53 
698,080  $72.940$86.48  74.19  1.55 
851,080      72.12  1.48 

Options

Outstanding

September 30, 2021

  

Exercise Prices

  

Weighted Average

Exercise Price

  

Weighted Average

Remaining

Contractual

Life in Years

 
103,775  60.73-67.28   63.65   2.3 
665,076  71.64-84.30   74.14   0.9 
768,851        72.72   1.0 

 

 

Note 1516 Income Taxes

The Company's income tax benefit as a percentage of our loss before income taxes was 53.6% for the three months ended September 30, 2021.  The Company's income tax provision as a percentage of our income before income taxes was 3.0% for the three months ended September 30, 2020. 

 

The Company's income tax provision as a percentage of our income before income taxes was 3.0%4.6% and 5.2% for thethree and nine months ended September 30, 2020,2021 respectively.  The income tax provision as a percentage of income before income taxes was 14% and 22.0% for the threeand nine2020, months ended September 30, 2019, respectively. 

 

Typically, these percentages vary from the U.S. federal statutory income tax rate of 21% primarily due to state income taxes, excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation, benefits resulting from the lapsing of statute of limitations of items in our tax contingency reserve, and non-deductible expenses. The tax benefit related to the statute of limitation expirations was $1,444,000 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021. The tax benefit related to the statute of limitation expirations was $2,234,000 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020. The tax benefit related to statute of limitation expirations was $2,064,000 forFor thethree and nine months ended September 30, 2019.2021 the income tax provision and effective tax rate were favorably impacted by the nontaxable gain recognized upon re-measurement of our existing equity investment in Caris Healthcare, L.P.

 

Our quarterly income tax provision, and our estimate of our annual effective income tax rate, is subject to variation due to several factors, including volatility based on the amount of pre-tax income or loss.  

 

26

The Company is no longer subject to U.S. federal and state examinations by tax authorities for years before 20172018 (with certain state exceptions).

 

24

 

Note 1617 Contingencies and Commitments

 

Accrued Risk Reserves

 

We are self–insured for risks related to health insurance and have wholly–owned limited purpose insurance companies that insure risks related to workers’ compensation and general and professional liability insurance claims both for our owned and leased entities and certain of the entities to which we provide management or accounting services. The liability we have recognized for reported claims and estimates for incurred but unreported claims totals $105,953,000$103,824,000 and $96,011,000$99,537,000 at September 30, 20202021 and December 31, 2019,2020, respectively. The liability is included in accrued risk reserves in the interim condensed consolidated balance sheets and is subject to adjustment for actual claims incurred. It is possible that these claims plus unasserted claims could exceed our insurance coverages and our reserves, which could have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

 

As a result of the terms of our insurance policies and our use of wholly–owned limited purpose insurance companies, we have retained significant insurance risk with respect to workers’ compensation and general and professional liability. We consider the professional services of independent actuaries to assist us in estimating our exposures for claims obligations (for both asserted and unasserted claims) related to deductibles and exposures in excess of coverage limits, and we maintain reserves for these obligations. Such estimates are based on many variables including historical and statistical information and other factors.

 

Workers’Workers Compensation

 

For workers’ compensation, we utilize a wholly–owned Tennessee domiciled property/casualty insurance company to write coverage for NHC affiliates and for third–party customers. Policies are written for a duration of twelve months and cover only risks related to workers’ compensation losses. All customers are companies which operate in the senior care industry. Business is written on a direct basis. 

General and Professional Liability Insurance and Lawsuits

 

The senior care industry has experienced significant increases in both the number of personal injury/wrongful death claims and in the severity of awards based upon alleged negligence by skilled nursing facilities and their employees in providing care to residents. The Company has been, and continues to be, subject to claims and legal actions that arise in the ordinary course of business, including potential claims related to patient care and treatment. The defense of these lawsuits may result in significant legal costs, regardless of the outcome, and can result in large settlement amounts or damage awards. Additional insurance is purchased through third party providers that serve to supplement the coverage provided through our wholly owned captive insurance company.

 

There is certain additional litigation incidental to our business, none of which, based upon information available to date, would be material to our financial position, results of operations, or cash flows. In addition, the long–term care industry is continuously subject to scrutiny by governmental regulators, which could result in litigation or claims related to regulatory compliance matters.

 

Nutritional Support Services, L.P., Qui Tam Litigation

 

On June 19, 2018, a First Amended Complaint was filed naming Nutritional Support Services, L.P. (“NSS”), a wholly owned subsidiaryUnited States of the Company, as a defendant in the action captioned U.S.America, ex rel. McClainJennifer Cook and Sally Gaither v. Nutritional Support Services, L.P.Integrated Behavioral Health, Inc., NHC HealthCare/Moulton, LLC, et al., Case No. 6:172:20-cv--CV-260800877-AMQ (D.S.C.-AMM (N.D. Ala.), This is a qui tam case originally filed under seal on June 22, 2020. The United States declined intervention on March 1, 2021. Thereafter, the Plaintiff filed an amended Complaint and then a second amended complaint (the "Complaint") against Dr. Sanja Malhotra, Integrated Behavioral Health, Inc. and other entities Dr. Malhotra is alleged to own or in which was filedhe has a financial interest.  The Complaint also named multiple skilled nursing facilities as Defendants, including NHC Healthcare/Moulton, LLC, an affiliate of National HealthCare Corporation. The gravamen of the Complaint against the facilities is that Dr. Malhotra had nurse practitioners providing free services in the United States District Courtfacilities in exchange for the Districtreferrals to entities he owned or in which he had a financial interest in violation of South Carolina (the "Court"). The action alleges that NSS violated the False Claims Act by reporting a National Drug Code (“NDC”) number that did not correspond to the NDC for dispensed prescriptions. The plaintiffs were seeking unspecified damages. On April 16, 2018, the United States filed a Notice of Election to Decline Intervention with respect toand Anti-Kickback Statute. NHC Healthcare/Moulton, LLC denies the allegations asserted in this action. On March 14, 2020, and is vigorously defending the Court entered an Order granting the Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss.  On May 6, 2020, the Court entered a Final Judgment dismissing the case.claim. 

 

25

Governmental Regulations

 

Laws and regulations governing the Medicare, Medicaid and other federal healthcare programs are complex and subject to interpretation. Management believes that it is following all applicable laws and regulations in all material respects. However, compliance with such laws and regulations can be subject to future government review and interpretation as well as significant regulatory action including fines, penalties, and exclusions from the Medicare, Medicaid and other federal healthcare programs. There have been several enacted and proposed federal and state relief measures as a result of COVID-19 which should provide support to us during this pandemic; however, the full benefit of any such programs would not be realized until these payments are fully implemented, government agencies issue applicable regulations, or guidance and such relief is provided.

 

Divestiture

27

 

 

Note 17 – Subsequent Event

Provider Relief Funds Guidance

On September 19, 2020, HHS issued a six-page Post-Payment Notice of Reporting Requirements ( "September 19, 2020 Notice") pertaining to the guidance and reporting process for recipients of Provider Relief Funds.  This September 19, 2020 Notice was used to estimate the government stimulus income recorded in the interim condensed consolidated statements of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020.  On October 22, 2020, HHS issued a subsequent Post-Payment Notice of Reporting Requirements ( "October 22, 2020 Notice") document that materially revises the definition of lost revenues compared to the September 19, 2020 Notice.  The definition of lost revenues has subsequently changed to refer to the negative year-over-year difference in 2019 and 2020actual revenues from patient care related sources as opposed to the negative year-over-year change in net patient care operating income.  As stated in Note 3, the Company's estimate for recording government stimulus income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 has not been updated for the October 22, 2020 Notice.  The Company's evaluation of the October 22, 2020 Notice is ongoing and its impact on our financial statements is not yet known.  U.S. GAAP does not permit amounts recognized as of September 30, 2020 to be updated on the basis of new information in the October 22, 2020 Notice.    

As evidenced by the October 22, 2020 Notice, HHS' interpretation of the underlying terms and conditions of these Provider Relief Fund payments, including auditing and reporting requirements, continues to change and evolve.  Additional guidance or new and amended interpretations of existing guidance on the terms and conditions may result in changes in the Company's estimates, and such changes may be material.  Additionally, any such changes may result in the Company's inability to recognize additional Provider Relief Fund payments or may result in derecognition of amounts previously recognized, which may be material.  

Item 2.

Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

 

Forward–Looking Statements

 

References throughout this document to the Company include National HealthCare Corporation and its wholly owned subsidiaries. In accordance with the Securities and Exchange Commissions “Plain English” guidelines, this Quarterly Report on Form 10–Q has been written in the first person. In this document, the words “we”, “our”, “ours” and “us” refer only to National HealthCare Corporation and its wholly–owned subsidiaries and not any other person.

 

This Quarterly Report on Form 10–Q and other information we provide from time to time, contains certain “forward–looking” statements as that term is defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements regarding our expected future financial position, results of operations or cash flows, continued performance improvements, ability to service and refinance our debt obligations, ability to finance growth opportunities, ability to control our patient care liability costs, ability to respond to changes in government regulations, ability to execute our three–year strategic plan, and similar statements including, without limitations, those containing words such as “believes”, “anticipates”, “expects”, “intends”, “estimates”, “plans”, and other similar expressions are forward–looking statements.

 

Forward–looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause our actual results in future periods to differ materially from those projected or contemplated in the forward–looking statements as a result of, but not limited to, the following factors:

 

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;

 

liabilities and other claims asserted against us, including patient care liabilities, as well as the resolution of current litigation (see Note 16:17: Contingencies and Commitments);

 

 

the uncertainty of the extent, duration and effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the response of governments

 

 

the ability to attract and retain qualified personnel;

 

 

the availability and terms of capital to fund acquisitions and capital improvements;

 

 

the ability to refinance existing debt on favorable terms;

 

 

the competitive environment in which we operate;

26

 

the ability to maintain and increase census levels; and

 

 

demographic changes.

 

See the notes to the quarterly financial statements, and “Item 1. Business” in our 20192020 Annual Report on Form 10–K for a discussion of various governmental regulations and other operating factors relating to the healthcare industry and the risk factors inherent in them. This may be found on our web site at www.nhccare.com. You should carefully consider these risks before making any investment in the Company. These risks and uncertainties are not the only ones facing us. There may be additional risks that we do not presently know of or that we currently deem immaterial. If any of the risks occur, our business, financial condition or results of operations could be materially adversely affected. In that case, the trading price of our shares of stock could decline, and you may lose all or part of your investment. Given these risks and uncertainties, we can give no assurances that these forward–looking statements will, in fact, transpire and, therefore, caution investors not to place undue reliance on them.

 

28

Overview

 

National HealthCare Corporation (“NHC” or the “Company”) is a leading provider of senior health care services. We operate or manage, through certain affiliates, 7675 skilled nursing facilities with a total of 9,6339,473 licensed beds, 24 assisted living facilities, five independent living facilities, one behavioral health hospital, 34 homecare agencies, and 35 homecare programs.28 hospice agencies. We operate specialized care units within certain of our healthcare centers such as Alzheimer's disease care units and sub-acute nursing units. We also have a non-controlling ownership interest in a hospice care business that services NHC owned health care centers and others. In addition, we provide insurance services, management and accounting services, and we lease properties to operators of skilled nursing and assisted living facilities. We operate in 10 states and are located primarily in the southeastern United States.

 

 

Impact of COVID-19

 

In early March 2020, COVID-19, a disease caused by the novel strain of the coronavirus, was characterized as a pandemic by the World Health Organization. The COVID-19 virus has spread rapidly, with every state in the United States (“U.S.”) having confirmed cases. The rapid spread has resulted in authorities around the U.S. implementing various measures to contain the virus, such as quarantines, shelter-in-place orders and business shutdowns. The pandemic and these containment measures have had, and are expected to continue to have, an adverse impact on the Company's results of operations.

As a provider of healthcare services, we are significantly exposed to the public health and economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.  NHC’s primary objective has remained the same throughout the COVID-19 pandemic: that is to protect the health and safety of our patients, residents, and partners (employees). We continue to follow all guidance from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”), and state and local health departments to prevent the spread of the disease within our operations. The financial results for

We began our first vaccination clinics in our skilled nursing facilities around the secondmiddle of December 2020. As the vaccination clinics progressed and thirdas the vaccine became more accessible, we began to see a significant decline in COVID-19 cases among our operations.  With the COVID-19 cases significantly declining during the first and second quarters of 2020 have been significantly impacted by COVID-19 with2021, the census in our skilled nursing facilities droppingbegan to 81.3%increase. Although our census continued to increase in the third quarter of 2021, the trajectory of our census was slowed during the third quarter of 2020, while we also incurred significantly increased operating expenses. Since the first week of March, our census has declined2021 due to the lackspike in delta variant cases during the period.  The delta variant spike during the third quarter of new admissions from2021 timeframe was the second highest number of positive COVID cases across the country since the beginning of the pandemic (December 2020/January 2021 peak was the highest). 

Despite the COVID-19 cases decreasing in 2021, our acute care providers and referral partners. Our operating expenses have also increasedremain elevated with incentive compensation being paid to our frontline partners, as well as increased costs of personal protective equipment (“PPE”), sanitizers and cleaning supplies, and COVID-19 testing of our patients and partners, and food and dietary products. Besidespartners. Despite the incentive compensation being paidcontinued disruption of COVID-19 to our tireless partners on the frontlines, we continue to take every possible action to support our partners with free meals on their shifts, a one-month health insurance premium holiday in April, as well as extended paid sick leave days. Despite COVID-19 disrupting operations, our capital and financial resources, including our overall liquidity, remain strong. Our liquidity and low debt levels provideprovides us with significant flexibility to maintain the strength of our balance sheet in periods of uncertainty or stress.

 

At this time, we are not able to quantify the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic will have on our future financial results, but we expect the developments related to COVID-19 tohave adversely affectaffected our financial performance in 2020 and 2021.  The ultimate impact of the pandemic on our financial results will depend on, among other factors, the duration and severity of the pandemic, the volume of acute and post-acute healthcare patients cared for across the broader health care systems, the timing and availability of effective medical treatments and vaccines, and the impact of government actions and administrative regulations on our industry and broader economy, including future government stimulus efforts.  We have received and may continue to receive payments and advances from the various federal and state initiatives. These legislative initiatives have been beneficial to partially mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our results of operations and financial position to date.  The federal and state governments may consider additional stimulus and relief efforts, but we are unable to predict whether any of the additional stimulus measures will be enacted or their impact.   

 

Legislation and Government Stimulus Due to COVID-19

 

The U.S. government enacted several laws beginning in March 2020 designed to help the nation respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. The new laws impactimpacted healthcare providers in a variety of ways, but the largest legislation from a monetary relief perspective is the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the "CARES Act").  TheCARES Act. Through the CARES Act, provided $2.2 trillion of economy-wide financial stimulus inas well as the form of financial aid to individuals, businesses, nonprofits, states and municipalities. The CARES Act originally appropriated $100PPPCHE, the federal government allocated $178 billion to establish the Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund, which is referred to as the Provider Relief Fund. The Provider Relief Fund is administered through grants and other mechanisms to skilled nursing providers, home health providers, hospitals, and other Medicare and Medicaid enrolled providers to cover any unreimbursed health care related expenses or lost revenue attributable to the public health emergency resulting from COVID-19.    On April 24, 2020, another $75 billion was added to the

The Provider Relief Fund by the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enactment Act, bringing the total amount appropriated in the fund to $175 billion.   

27

During the second and third quarters of 2020, we received four disbursements from the Provider Relief Fund which totaled $58,184,000. These fundsgrants come with terms and condition certifications in which all providers are required to submit documents to ensure the funds will be used for healthcare-related expenses or lost revenue attributable to COVID-19. Of the $58,184,000 of funds received, theThe Company recorded $10,429,000 and $12,132,000 of government stimulus income from the Provider Relief Funds for the three months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The Company recorded $48,304,000 and $36,780,000 of government stimulus income from the Provider Relief Funds for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively.  AsThe grant income was determined on a systemic basis in line with the recognition of September 30, 2020, amounts not recognized as income are $21,404,000specific expenses and are reflected in the current liability section of our interim condensed consolidated balance sheet (provider relief funds). We anticipate incurring additional COVID-19 related expenses or lost revenues infor which the future; therefore, at this time, we believe that we will fully utilizegrants are intended to compensate. The Company’s assessment of whether the remaining $21,404,000terms and conditions for amounts received have been met for income recognition and the Company’s related income calculation considered all frequently asked questions and other interpretive guidance issued to date by HHS.

29

 

Additionally, as part of the CARES Act, the legislation included an expansion of the Medicare Accelerated and Advance Payment Program. The expanded Medicare Accelerated and Advance Payment Program is a streamlined version of existing policy that allows the Medicare Administrative Contractors (“MAC’s”) to issue up to three months of advance Medicare payments to help increase cash flow and liquidity to Medicare Part A and Part B providers in certain circumstances that include national emergencies. We received approximately $51,253,000 as part of this program. On October 8, 2020 as part of the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2021 and Other Extensions Act, CMS amended the repayment terms for the accelerated and advance payments. These funds will begin to beare applied against claims for services provided to Medicare patients after approximately one year from the date we received the funds. During the first eleven months after repayment begins, repayment will occur through an automaticThe recoupment of twenty-five percent of Medicare payments. During the succeeding six months, repayment will occur through an automatic recoupment of fifty percent of Medicare payments. Any remaining balance that was not paid through the recoupment process within twenty-nine months of receipt of the funds will be required to be paid on-demand, subject to an interest rate of four percent. As of September 30, 2020, the accelerated payments arebegan in the second quarter of 2021. At September 30, 2021, we have $27,013,000 of the accelerated payments remaining to be recouped and this balance is reflected within contract liabilities in the interim condensed consolidated balance sheets as the related performance obligations have not been completed.sheet.

 

The CARES Act temporarily suspended Medicare sequestration beginning May 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020. The Medicare sequestration policy reduces fee-for-service Medicare payments by 2 percent. The CARESOn December 27, 2020, the Consolidated Appropriations Act extendsof 2021 further suspended the 2.0% payment adjustment through September 30, 2021. On April 14, 2021, Congress extended the Medicare sequestration policy through 2030 in exchange for this temporary suspension. We expect our net patient revenuessuspension period to increase by approximately $2,600,000 in 2020 (2nd, 3rd, and 4th quarter impact) due to sequestration being temporarily suspended for the eight-month period.December 31, 2021.

 

The CARES Act also temporarily permitspermitted employers to defer the deposit and payment of the employer’s portion of the social security taxes (6.2% of employee wages) that otherwise would be due between March 27, 2020 and December 31, 2020. The provision requires that the deferred taxes be paid over a two-year period with half the amount required to be paid by December 31, 2021, and the other half by December 31, 2022. Currently, we expect the deferral of these payroll taxes to improve our liquidity and cash available for operations during 2020 by approximately $21 million to $24 million, or $7 million to $8 million per quarter (2nd, 3rd, and 4th quarter impact). As ofAt September 30, 2020,2021, we have deferred $14,854,000$21,153,000 of the Company’s share of the social security taxes.  This deferral is included in other noncurrent liabilities within our interim condensed consolidated balance sheets. 

We have also received from many of the states in which we operate a supplemental Medicaid payment to help mitigate the incremental costs resulting from the COVID-19 public health emergency. At this time, we expect our net patient revenues to increase by approximately $14,000,000 in 2020 due to these supplemental Medicaid payments.  For the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2020, we have recorded $4,845,000 and $10,378,000, respectively, in net patient revenues in our interim condensed consolidated statements of operations for these supplemental Medicaid payments.

Provider Relief Funds Guidance

On September 19, 2020, HHS issued a six-page Post-Payment Notice of Reporting Requirements ("September 19, 2020 Notice") pertaining to the guidance and reporting process for recipients of Provider Relief Funds.  This September 19, 2020 Notice was used to estimate the government stimulus income recorded in the interim condensed consolidated statements of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020.  On October 22, 2020, HHS issued a subsequent Post-Payment Notice of Reporting Requirements ("October 22, 2020 Notice") document that materially revises the definition of lost revenues compared to the September 19, 2020 Notice.  The definition of lost revenues has subsequently changed to refer to the negative year-over-year difference in 2019 and 2020 actual revenues from patient care related sources as opposed to the negative year-over-year change in net patient care operating income.  As stated in Note 3, the Company's estimate for recording government stimulus income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 has not been updated for the October 22, 2020 Notice.  The Company's evaluation of the October 22, 2020 Notice is ongoing and its impact on our financial statements is not yet known.  U.S. GAAP does not permit amounts recognized as of September 30, 2020 to be updated on the basis of new information in the October 22, 2020 Notice. 

 

 

Summary of Goals and Areas of Focus

 

Occupancy

 

A primary area of management focus continues to be the rates of occupancy within our skilled nursing facilities. For the three months ended September 30, 2021, overall census in our owned and leased skilled nursing facilities was 82.0% compared to 81.3% in the third quarter of 2020.  Our census for the third quarter of 2021 increased approximately 90 basis points when compared sequentially to the census in the second quarter of 2021.  Although our census continues to rebound, the trajectory of our census was slowed during the third quarter of 2021 due to the spike in delta variant cases during the period.  The overall census in owned and leased skilled nursing facilities for the nine months ending September 30, 20202021 was 85.7%80.0% compared to 90.3%85.7% for the same period a year ago. Although our census was strong for most of the first quarter of 2020, during the second half of March, our census began to decline due to COVID-19 and the lack of new admissions from our acute care providers and referral partners.  For the three months ended September 30, 2020, overall census in our owned and leased skilled nursing facilities was 81.3% compared to 90.1% in the third quarter of 2019.  

 

WithDue to the average length of stay decreasing for a skilled nursing patient,pandemic, as well as the increased availability of assisted living facilities and home and community-based services, the challenge of maintaining desirable patient census levels has been amplified. Management has undertaken a number of steps in order to best position our current and future health care facilities. This includes working internally to examine and improve systems to be most responsive to referral sources and payors. Additionally, NHC is in various stages of partnerships with hospital systems, payors, and other post–acute alliances to better position ourselves so we are an active participant in the delivery of post-acute healthcare services.

 

28

Quality of Patient Care

 

CMS introduced the Five-Star Quality Rating System to help consumers, their families and caregivers compare skilled nursing facilities more easily. The Five-Star Quality Rating System gives each skilled nursing operation a rating ranging between one and five stars in various categories (five stars being the best). The Company has always strived for patient-centered care and quality outcomes as precursors to outstanding financial performance.

 

The tables below summarize NHC's overall performance in these Five-Star ratings versus the skilled nursing industry as of September 30, 2020:2021:

 

 

NHC Ratings

  

Industry Ratings

  

NHC Ratings

  

Industry Ratings

 

Total number of skilled nursing facilities, end of period

 76     75    

Number of 4 and 5-star rated skilled nursing facilities

 55     58    

Percentage of 4 and 5-star rated skilled nursing facilities

 72%  47%  77% 47%

Average rating for all skilled nursing facilities, end of period

 4.00  3.22  4.08  3.21 

30

 

Development and Growth

 

We are undertaking to expand our senior care operations while protecting our existing operations and markets. The following table lists our recent development activities.

 

Type of

Operation

Description

Size

Location

Placed in Service

Memory Care

New Facility

60 beds

Farragut, TN

January, 2019

Memory Care

Acquisition

60 beds

St. Peters, MO

June, 2019

Skilled Nursing

Acquisition

166 beds

Knoxville, TN

February 2020

Assisted Living

Bed Addition

20 beds

Gallatin, TN

September 2020

Under Construction

Skilled Nursing

Bed Addition

30 beds

Kingsport, TN

December 2020

Hospice

Acquisition

28 agencies

Various

June 2021

Behavioral Health Hospital

New Facility

16 beds

St. Louis, MO

Under Construction

Behavioral Health Hospital

New Facility

64 beds

Knoxville, TN

Under Construction

 

Accrued Risk Reserves

 

Our accrued professional liability and workers’ compensation reserves totaled $105,953,000$103,824,000 at September 30, 20202021 and are a primary area of management focus. We have set aside restricted cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities to fund our estimated professional liability and workers’ compensation liabilities.

 

As to exposure for professional liability claims, we have developed performance certification criteria to measure and bring focus to the patient care issues most likely to produce professional liability exposure, including in–house acquired pressure ulcers, significant weight loss and numbers of falls. These programs for certification, which we regularly modify and improve, have produced measurable improvements in reducing these incidents. Our experience is that achieving goals in these patient care areas improves both patient and employee satisfaction.

 

Government Reimbursement Programs

 

Medicare Skilled Nursing Facilities

On October 1, 2019, the new case-mix reimbursement model of Patient Driven Payment Model ("PDPM") became effective. Under PDPM, the payment to skilled nursing facilities is based heavily on the patient's condition rather than specific services provided by each skilled nursing facility. CMS' fiscal year 2020 final rule provided for an approximate net 2.4% increase, or $851 million, compared to the fiscal year 2019 levels.

 

On July 31, 2020, CMS released its final rule outlining fiscal year 2021 Medicare payment rates and policy changes for skilled nursing facilities, which began October 1, 2020. The fiscal year 2021 final rule provided for an approximate 2.2% increase, or $750 million, compared to fiscal year 2020 levels. The final rule continues to reflectreflected the commitment to shifting Medicare payments from volume to value, with the continued implementation of PDPMthe patient driven payment model (“PDPM”) and value-based purchasing to improve interoperability, operational quality, and safety.  

 

The CARES Act temporarily suspended Medicare sequestration beginning May 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020. The Medicare sequestration policy reduces fee-for-service Medicare payments by 2 percent. The CARES Act extends the sequestration policy through 2030 in exchange for this temporary suspension. We expect ourOn December 27, 2020, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 further suspended the 2.0% payment adjustment through September 30, 2021. On April 14, 2021, Congress extended the Medicare sequestration suspension period to December 31, 2021.

On July 29, 2021, CMS released its final rule outlining fiscal year 2022 Medicare payment rates and policy changes for skilled nursing facilities, which began October 1, 2021. The fiscal year 2022 proposed rule provided for an approximate 1.2% increase, or $410 million, compared to 2021 levels. The net patient revenues to increase includes a 2.7% market-basket update that will be offset by approximately $2,600,000 in 2020 (2nd, 3rd,a 0.7% productivity adjustment and 4th quarter impact) due to sequestration being temporarily suspendeda 0.8% market-basket forecast error adjustment for FY2022 since the eight-month period.difference between the projected and actual market basket for FY2020 exceeded its threshold.

 

For the first nine months of 2020,2021, our average Medicare per diem rate for skilled nursing facilities increased 11.1%3.0% as compared to the same period in 2019.2020. 

29

 

Medicaid Skilled Nursing Facilities

 

Effective July 1, 20202021 and for the fiscal year 2021,2022, the state of Tennessee implemented specific individual nursing facility increases. We estimate the resulting increase in revenue for the 20212022 fiscal year will be approximately $2,000,000,$3,500,000 annually, or $500,000$875,000 per quarter.

31

 

Effective October 1, 20192020 and for the fiscal year 2020,2021, the state of South Carolina implemented specific individual nursing facility rate changes. The resulting increase in revenue for the 20202021 fiscal year was approximately $2,012,000$3,600,000 annually, or $503,000$900,000 per quarter.

Effective July 1, 2021 and for the fiscal year 2022, the state of Missouri implemented specific individual nursing facility increases. We estimate the resulting increase in revenue for the 2022 fiscal year will be approximately $2,000,000 annually, or $500,000 per quarter.

 

We have also received from many of the states in which we operate a supplemental Medicaid paymentpayments to help mitigate the incremental costs resulting from the COVID-19 public health emergency. At this time, we expect ourWe have recorded $5,053,000 and $4,845,000 in net patient revenues to increase by approximately $14,000,000 in 2020 due tofor these supplemental Medicaid payments.  Forpayments for the three months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively. We have recorded $16,102,000 and $10,378,000 in net patient revenues for these supplemental Medicaid payments for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, we have recorded $4,845,000 and $10,378,000, respectively, in net patient revenues in our interim condensed consolidated statements of operations for these supplemental Medicaid payments.respectively.

 

For the first nine months of 2020,2021, our average Medicaid per diem increased 5.8%7.8% compared to the same period in 2019.2020.

 

We face challenges with respect to states’ Medicaid payments, because many currently do not cover the total costs incurred in providing care to those patients. States will continue to control Medicaid expenditures and also look for adequate funding sources, including provider assessments. There are several pieces of legislation that include provisions designed to reduce Medicaid spending. These provisions include, among others, provisions strengthening the Medicaid asset transfer restrictions for persons seeking to qualify for Medicaid long-term care coverage, which could, due to the timing of the penalty period, increase facilities’ exposure to uncompensated care. Other provisions could increase state funding for home and community-based services, potentially having an impact on funding for nursing facilities.

 

Medicare Homecare Programs

 

In November 2019, CMS released a final rule that sets forth the implementation of the PDGM and a 30-day unit of payment as mandated by the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 (“BBA”). CMS projected payments to home health agencies in fiscal year 2020 would increase in aggregate by 1.3%, or $250 million. The increase reflects the 1.5% home health payment update percentage as mandated by the BBA and a 0.2% decrease in aggregate payments due to reductions made by the new rural add-on policy, also mandated by the BBA.

In June 2020, CMS released its proposedfinal rule outlining fiscal year 2021 Medicare payment rates. CMS projects payments to home health agencies in fiscal year 2021 will increase in aggregate by 2.6%1.9%, or $540 million, based on proposed policies.$390 million. The increase reflects the effects of the 2.7%2.0% home health payment update percentage and a 0.1% decrease due to reductions made by the rural add-on policy. This RuleThe rule also includes a provision to make permanentupdates the regulatory changes related to telecommunication technologies in providing care under the Medicare home health benefit beyondwage index, limiting any decrease in a geographic area’s wage index value to no more than 5% next year.

In June 2021, CMS released its proposed rule outlining fiscal year 2022 Medicare payment rates. CMS projects payments to home health agencies in fiscal year 2022 will increase in aggregate by 1.7%, or $310 million, based on proposed policies. Additionally, CMS proposed plans to expand the expirationHome Health Value-Based Purchasing (“HHVBP") model nationwide by the start of 2022. The CMS Innovation Center developed the COVID-19 public health emergency.HHVBP demonstration in an effort to create financial incentives for better quality of care.

Medicare Hospice

In July 2020, CMS released its final rule outlining fiscal year 2021 Medicare payment rates. CMS issued a rate increase of 2.4%, or $540 million, effective October 1, 2020. The hospice cap amount for the 2021 cap year is equal to the FY 2020 cap amount updated by the FY 2021 hospice payment update percentage of 2.4 percent, or $30,683.93.

In July 2021, CMS released its final rule outlining fiscal year 2022 Medicare payment rates. CMS issued a rate increase of 2.0%, or $480 million, effective October 1, 2021. The increase is the result of a 2.7% market basket increase reduced by a 0.7% productivity adjustment. The FY2022 hospice payment updates also include an update to the statutory aggregate cap amount, which limits the overall payments per patient that are made annually. The cap amount for FY2022 is $31,297.61

 

Segment Reporting

 

The Company has two reportable operating segments: (1) inpatient services, which includes the operation of skilled nursing facilities, assisted and independent living facilities, and our behavioral health hospital; and (2) homecare and hospice services. These reportable operating segments are consistent with information used by the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, as chief operating decision maker (“CODM”), to assess performance and allocate resources.

 

The Company also reports an “all other” category that includes revenues from rental income, management and accounting services fees, insurance services, and costs of the corporate office. For additional information on these reportable segments see Note 2 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies.

32

 

The Company’s CODM evaluates performance and allocates capital resources to each segment based on an operating model that is designed to improve the quality of patient care and profitability of the Company while enhancing long-term shareholder value. The CODM does not review assets by segment in his resource allocation and therefore, assets by segment are not disclosed below.

 

30

The following table sets forth the Company’s unaudited interim condensed consolidated statements of operations by business segment (in thousands):

  

Three Months Ended September 30, 2021

 
  

Inpatient
Services

  

Homecare

and Hospice

  

All Other

  

Total

 

Revenues:

                

Net patient revenues

 $222,884  $31,933  $-  $254,817 

Other revenues

  128   -   11,363   11,491 

Government stimulus income

  10,429   -   -   10,429 

Net operating revenues and grant income

  233,441   31,933   11,363   276,737 
                 

Costs and expenses:

                

Salaries, wages, and benefits

  131,567   17,592   10,146   159,305 

Other operating

  74,506   6,797   2,736   84,039 

Rent

  8,169   594   1,441   10,204 

Depreciation and amortization

  9,300   118   811   10,229 

Interest

  198   -   -   198 

Total costs and expenses

  223,740   25,101   15,134   263,975 
                 

Income (loss) from operations

  9,701   6,832   (3,771

)

  12,762 

Non-operating income

  -   -   3,399   3,399 

Unrealized losses on marketable equity securities

  -   -   (23,797

)

  (23,797

)

                 

Income (loss) before income taxes

 $9,701  $6,832  $(24,169

)

 $(7,636

)

 

  

Three Months Ended September 30, 2020

 
  

Inpatient
Services

  

Homecare

  

All Other

  

Total

 

Revenues and grant income:

                

Net patient revenues

 $214,211  $13,172  $-  $227,383 

Other revenues

  84   -   11,027   11,111 

Government stimulus income

  12,132   -   -   12,132 

Net operating revenues and grant income

  226,427   13,172   11,027   250,626 
                 

Costs and expenses:

                

Salaries, wages, and benefits

  132,245   8,210   11,109   151,564 

Other operating

  65,066   3,311   2,510   70,887 

Rent

  8,377   448   1,495   10,320 

Depreciation and amortization

  9,629   106   813   10,548 

Interest

  325   -   (40

)

  285 

Total costs and expenses

  215,642   12,075   15,887   243,604 
                 

Income (loss) from operations

  10,785   1,097   (4,860

)

  7,022 

Non-operating income

  -   -   6,478   6,478 

Unrealized losses on marketable equity securities

  -   -   (241

)

  (241

)

                 

Income before income taxes

 $10,785  $1,097  $1,377  $13,259 

 

  

Three Months Ended September 30, 2019

 
  

Inpatient
Services

  

Homecare

  

All Other

  

Total

 

Revenues:

                

Net patient revenues

 $222,246  $12,844  $-  $235,090 

Other revenues

  199   -   11,778   11,977 

Net operating revenues

  222,445   12,844   11,778   247,067 
                 

Costs and expenses:

                

Salaries, wages, and benefits

  133,949   8,630   9,596   152,175 

Other operating

  60,800   4,267   1,663   66,730 

Rent

  8,234   450   1,483   10,167 

Depreciation and amortization

  9,666   61   936   10,663 

Interest

  312   -   452   764 

Total costs and expenses

  212,961   13,408   14,130   240,499 
                 

Income (loss) from operations

  9,484   (564

)

  (2,352

)

  6,568 

Non-operating income

  -   -   6,663   6,663 

Unrealized gains on marketable equity securities

  -   -   9,312   9,312 
                 

Income (loss) before income taxes

 $9,484  $(564

)

 $13,623  $22,543 

  

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020

 
  

Inpatient
Services

  

Homecare

  

All Other

  

Total

 

Revenues and grant income:

                

Net patient revenues

 $659,585  $37,564  $-  $697,149 

Other revenues

  645   -   33,818   34,463 

Government stimulus income

  34,754   2,026   -   36,780 

Net operating revenues and grant income

  694,984   39,590   33,818   768,392 
                 

Costs and expenses:

                

Salaries, wages, and benefits

  403,840   24,490   27,617   455,947 

Other operating

  194,170   11,471   7,775   213,416 

Rent

  25,134   1,351   4,487   30,972 

Depreciation and amortization

  28,826   266   2,439   31,531 

Interest

  1,073   -   77   1,150 

Total costs and expenses

  653,043   37,578   42,395   733,016 
                 

Income (loss) from operations

  41,941   2,012   (8,577

)

  35,376 

Non-operating income

  -   -   20,578   20,578 

Unrealized losses on marketable equity securities

  -   -   (40,580

)

  (40,580

)

                 

Income (loss) before income taxes

 $41,941  $2,012  $(28,579

)

 $15,374 

3133


 

 

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019

  

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2021

 
 

Inpatient
Services

  

Homecare

  

All Other

  

Total

  

Inpatient
Services

  

Homecare

and Hospice

  

All Other

  

Total

 

Revenues:

         

Revenues and grant income:

 

Net patient revenues

 $664,768  $41,697  $-  $706,465  $644,986  $63,662  $-  $708,648 

Other revenues

  672   -   35,366   36,038  324  -  33,592  33,916 

Net operating revenues

 665,440  41,697  35,366  742,503 

Government stimulus income

  48,304   -   -   48,304 

Net operating revenues and grant income

 693,614  63,662  33,592  790,868 
  

Costs and expenses:

          

Salaries, wages, and benefits

 390,770  25,136  25,535  441,441  388,949  36,483  35,807  461,239 

Other operating

 183,602  13,193  6,965  203,760  204,445  13,730  8,060  226,235 

Rent

 24,754  1,400  4,448  30,602  24,641  1,478  4,318  30,437 

Depreciation and amortization

 28,790  183  2,542  31,515  27,790  299  2,432  30,521 

Interest

  979   -   1,665   2,644   657   -   -   657 

Total costs and expenses

  628,895   39,912   41,155   709,962   646,482   51,990   50,617   749,089 
  

Income (loss) from operations

 36,545  1,785  (5,789

)

 32,541  47,132  11,672  (17,025

)

 41,779 

Non-operating income

 -  -  20,936  20,936  -  -  15,245  15,245 

Unrealized gains on marketable equity securities

  -   -   16,096   16,096 

Gain on acquisition of equity method investment

 -  -  95,202  95,202 

Unrealized losses on marketable equity securities

  -   -   (23,227

)

  (23,227

)

  

Income before income taxes

 $36,545  $1,785  $31,243  $69,573  $47,132  $11,672  $70,195  $128,999 

  

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020

 
  

Inpatient
Services

  

Homecare

  

All Other

  

Total

 

Revenues and grant income:

                

Net patient revenues

 $659,585  $37,564  $-  $697,149 

Other revenues

  645   -   33,818   34,463 

Government stimulus income

  34,754   2,026   -   36,780 

Net operating revenues and grant income

  694,984   39,590   33,818   768,392 
                 

Costs and expenses:

                

Salaries, wages, and benefits

  403,840   24,490   27,617   455,947 

Other operating

  194,170   11,471   7,775   213,416 

Rent

  25,134   1,351   4,487   30,972 

Depreciation and amortization

  28,826   266   2,439   31,531 

Interest

  1,073   -   77   1,150 

Total costs and expenses

  653,043   37,578   42,395   733,016 
                 

Income (loss) from operations

  41,941   2,012   (8,577

)

  35,376 

Non-operating income

  -   -   18,870   18,870 
Gain on acquisition of equity method investment  -   -   1,708   1,708 

Unrealized losses on marketable equity securities

  -   -   (40,580

)

  (40,580

)

                 

Income (loss) before income taxes

 $41,941  $2,012  $(28,579

)

 $15,374 

34

Results of Operations

The following table and discussion set forth items from the interim condensed consolidated statements of operations as a percentage of net operating revenues and grant income for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020.

Percentage of Net Operating Revenues and Grant Income

  

Three Months Ended
September 30

  

Nine Months Ended

September 30

 
  

2021

  

2020

  

2021

  

2020

 

Net operating revenues and grant income

  100.0

%

  100.0

%

  100

%

  100

%

Costs and expenses:

                

Salaries, wages, and benefits

  57.6   60.5   58.3   59.3 

Other operating

  30.3   28.3   28.6   27.8 

Facility rent

  3.7   4.1   3.8   4.1 

Depreciation and amortization

  3.7   4.2   3.9   4.1 

Interest

  0.1   0.1   0.1   0.1 

Total costs and expenses

  95.4   97.2   94.7   95.4 

Income from operations

  4.6   2.8   5.3   4.6 

Non–operating income

  1.2   2.6   1.9   2.5 

Gains on acquisitions of equity method investments

  -   -   12.0   0.2 

Unrealized losses on marketable equity securities

  (8.6

)

  (0.1

)

  (2.9

)

  (5.3

)

Income/(loss) before income taxes

  (2.8

)

  5.3   16.3   2.0 

Income tax (provision)/benefit

  1.5   (0.2

)

  (0.7)  (0.1

)

Net income/(loss)

  (1.3

)

  5.1   15.6   1.9 

Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest

  0.1   0.0   0.0   0.0 

Net income/(loss) attributable to stockholders of NHC

  (1.2

)

  5.1   15.6   1.9 

 

 

Non-GAAP Financial Presentation

 

The Company is providing certain non-GAAP financial measures as the Company believes that these figures are helpful in allowing investors to more accurately assess the ongoing nature of the Company’s operations and measure the Company’s performance more consistently across periods. Therefore, the Company believes this information is meaningful in addition to the information contained in the GAAP presentation of financial information. The presentation of this additional non-GAAP financial information is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP.

 

Specifically, the Company believes the presentation of non-GAAP financial information that excludes the unrealized gains or losses on our marketable equity securities, operating results for the newly constructed healthcare facilities not at full capacity, share-based compensation expense, and any gains on the acquisitions of equity method investments is helpful in allowing investors to more accurately access the Company’s operations.

 

The operating results for the newly constructed healthcare facilities not at full capacity for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 include facilities that began operations from 2019 to 2021. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, includeincluded are facilities that began operations from 2018 to 2020. For all of the 2021 and 2020 whichperiods presented, there is one memory care facility. Forfacility that is included in the nine months ended September 30, 2019, included are facilities that began operationsreconciliation.

In June 2021, the gain on the acquisition of an equity method investment is from 2017 to 2019, whichthe acquisition of Caris HealthCare, L.P. See Note 4 for additional detail describing the Caris acquisition. In February 2020, the gain on the acquisition of an equity method investment is onefrom the acquisition of a skilled nursing facility two assisted living facilities, and one memory care facility.in Knoxville, Tennessee where we owned a prior 25% non-controlling ownership interest before acquiring the remaining 75% ownership interest.

 

3235


 

The tables below provide reconciliations of GAAP to non-GAAP items (dollars in thousands, except per share data):

 

  

Three Months Ended

September 30

  

Nine Months Ended

September 30

 
  

2020

  

2019

  

2020

  

2019

 
                 

Net income attributable to National Healthcare Corporation

 $12,849  $19,461  $14,321  $54,441 

Non-GAAP adjustments

                

Unrealized (gains)/losses on marketable equity securities

  241   (9,312

)

  40,580   (16,096

)

Gain on acquisitions of equity method investments

  -   -   (1,707

)

  (1,975

)

Operating results for newly opened facilities not at full capacity

  87   152   401   884 

Share-based compensation expense

  518   340   1,807   1,448 

Provision (benefit) of income taxes on non-GAAP adjustments

  (220

)

  2,293   (10,681

)

  4,092 

Non-GAAP Net income

 $13,475  $12,934  $44,721  $42,794 
                 
                 

GAAP diluted earnings per share

 $0.84  $1.27  $0.93  $3.55 

Non-GAAP adjustments

                

Unrealized (gains)/losses on marketable equity securities

  0.01   (0.45

)

  1.95   (0.78

)

Gain on acquisitions of equity method investments

  -   -   (0.08

)

  (0.09

)

Operating results for newly opened facilities not at full capacity

  0.01   -   0.02   0.04 

Share-based compensation expense

  0.02   0.02   0.09   0.07 

Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share

 $0.88  $0.84  $2.91  $2.79 
  

Three Months Ended

September 30

  

Nine Months Ended

September 30

 
  

2021

  

2020

  

2021

  

2020

 
                 

Net income/(loss) attributable to National Healthcare Corporation

 $(3,348

)

 $12,849  $122,802  $14,321 

Non-GAAP adjustments:

                

Unrealized losses on marketable equity securities

  23,797   241   23,227   40,580 

Gains on acquisitions of equity method investments

  -   -   (95,202

)

  (1,708

)

Operating results for newly opened facilities not at full capacity

  115   87   480   402 

Share-based compensation expense

  726   518   1,905   1,807 

Benefit of income taxes on non-GAAP adjustments

  (6,406

)

  (220

)

  (6,369

)

  (10,681

)

Non-GAAP Net income

 $14,884  $13,475  $46,843  $44,721 
                 
                 

GAAP diluted earnings/(loss) per share

 $(0.22

)

 $0.84  $7.97  $0.93 

Non-GAAP adjustments:

                

Unrealized losses on marketable equity securities

  1.14   0.01   1.12   1.95 

Gains on acquisitions of equity method investments

  -   -   (6.16

)

  (0.08

)

Operating results for newly opened facilities not at full capacity

  0.01   0.01   0.02   0.02 

Share-based compensation expense

  0.03   0.02   0.09   0.09 

Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share

 $0.96  $0.88  $3.04  $2.91 

 

 

Results of Operations

The following table and discussion set forth items from the interim condensed consolidated statements of operations as a percentage of net operating revenues and grant income for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019.

Percentage of Net Operating Revenues and Grant Income

  

Three Months Ended
September 30

  

Nine Months Ended

September 30

 
  

2020

  

2019

  

2020

  

2019

 

Net operating revenues and grant income:

  100.0

%

  100.0

%

  100

%

  100

%

Costs and expenses:

                

Salaries, wages, and benefits

  60.5   61.6   59.3   59.5 

Other operating

  28.3   27.0   27.8   27.4 

Facility rent

  4.1   4.1   4.1   4.1 

Depreciation and amortization

  4.2   4.3   4.1   4.2 

Interest

  0.1   0.3   0.1   0.4 

Total costs and expenses

  97.2   97.3   95.4   95.6 

Income from operations

  2.8   2.7   4.6   4.4 

Non–operating income

  2.6   2.7   2.7   2.8 

Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable equity securities

  (0.1

)

  3.8   (5.3

)

  2.2 

Income before income taxes

  5.3   9.2   2.0   9.4 

Income tax provision

  (0.2

)

  (1.3

)

  (0.1

)

  (2.1

)

Net income

  5.1   7.9   1.9   7.3 

Net (income)/loss attributable to noncontrolling interest

  0.0   0.0   0.0   0.0 

Net income attributable to stockholders of NHC

  5.1   7.9   1.9   7.3 

Three Months Ended September 30, 20202021 Compared to Three Months Ended September 30, 20192020

 

Results for the quarter ended September 30, 20202021 compared to the third quarter of 20192020 include a 1.4%10.4% increase in net operating revenues and grant income and a 6.9%an 81.7% increase in income from operations. ExcludingFor the grantquarter ended September 30, 2021, GAAP net loss attributable to NHC was $3,348,000 compared to net income recorded duringof $12,849,000 for the same period in 2020.

The decrease in our reported GAAP net income for the third quarter of 2020, net operating revenues decreased 3.5% compared2021 is primarily due to the third quarter of 2019.unrealized losses on our marketable equity securities. Excluding the unrealized gains inlosses on our marketable equity securities portfolio and the other non-GAAP adjustments, non-GAAP net income for the three months ended September 30, 20202021 was $13,475,000$14,884,000 compared to $12,934,000$13,475,000 for the third quarter of 2019,2020, which is an increase of 4.2%10.5%.

 

Net operating revenues and grant income

 

Net patient revenues decreased $7,707,000,increased $27,434,000, or 3.3%12.1%, compared to the same period last year.

33

 

The total census at owned and leased skilled nursing facilities for the quarter averaged 81.3%82.0%, compared to an average of 90.1%81.3% for the same quarter a year ago. The declineOur census for the third quarter of 2021 increased approximately 90 basis points when compared sequentially to the census in the second quarter of 2021.  Although our census iscontinues to rebound, the trajectory of our census was slowed during the third quarter of 2021 due to COVID-19 and the lack of new admissions from our acute care providers and referral partners.spike in delta variant cases during the period. 

Overall, the composite skilled nursing facility per diem increased 2.4% compared to the same quarter a year ago. Our Medicare per diem rates increased 11.4%0.5% and managed care per diem rates increased 4.3%decreased 2.1% compared to the same quarter a year ago. Medicaid and private pay per diem rates increased 8.4%6.0% and 5.1%3.4%, respectively, compared to the same quarter a year ago. Overall, the composite skilled nursing facility per diem at our owned and leased skilled nursing facilities increased 7.3% compared to the same quarter a year ago.

Our Medicare per diem rates have benefited from the new case-mix reimbursement model of PDPM, which was implemented on October 1, 2019. The CARES Act also temporarily suspended Medicare sequestration beginning May 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020. The Medicare sequestration policy reduces fee-for-service Medicare payments by 2 percent. Our Medicaid per diem rates have benefitedrate increased due to the supplemental COVID-19 payments that we received from many of thevarious states paying a supplemental Medicaid payment to help mitigate the incremental costs resulting fromin fighting the pandemic. For the three months ending September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively, $5,053,000 and $4,845,000 have been included in our net patient revenues for these supplemental COVID-19 public health emergency.Medicaid payments.

In June 2021, the Company acquired the remaining ownership interest in Caris, which resulted in net patient revenues increasing of $17,547,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2021 compared to the third quarter of 2020. Our homecare operations had an increase in net patient revenues of approximately $1,215,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2021 compared to the third quarter of 2020. In November 2020, the Company sold a skilled nursing facility located in Town & Country, Missouri. For the three months ended September 30, 2020, we have recorded $4,845,000 due to these supplemental Medicaid payments.

In February 2020,2021, the Company acquired the remaining 75% ownership interest in a 166-bed skilled nursingsale of this facility in Knoxville, Tennessee. For the three months ended September 30, 2020, this skilled nursing facility increaseddecreased net patient revenues approximately $3,503,000revenue by $1,824,000 compared to the third quarter of 2019.2020.

36

 

Other revenues decreased $866,000,increased $380,000, or 7.2%3.4%, compared to the same quarter last year, as further detailed in Note 56 to our interim condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

During the three months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively, we recorded $10,429,000 and $12,132,000 in government stimulus income related to funds received from the CARES Act Provider Relief Fund. See Note 3 - Coronavirus Pandemic for additional information.  

 

Total costs and expenses

 

Total costs and expenses for the three months ended September 30, 20202021 compared to the same period of 20192020 increased $3,105,000,$20,371,000, or 1.3%8.4%, to $243,604,000$263,975,000 from $240,499,000.$243,604,000.

 

Salaries, wages, and benefits decreased $611,000,increased $7,741,000, or 0.4%5.1%, to $151,564,000$159,305,000 from $152,175,000.$151,564,000. Salaries, wages, and benefits as a percentage of net operating revenues and grant income was 60.5%57.6% compared to 61.6%60.5% for the three months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Our Caris acquisition increased salaries, wages, and 2019, respectively. The primary reason for salaries and wages decreasing was the implementation of expense controlling measures among our all of operations to mitigate the decreasebenefits $8,946,000 in our occupancy among our skilled nursing and assisted living facilities, which also includes temporary pay reductions for our corporate office personnel. The expense controlling measures were offset by the incentive compensation, or "combat pay", paid to our frontline partners in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. We incurred approximately $2,506,000 in incentive compensation related to COVID-19 for the three months ended September 30, 2020. For the three months ended September 30, 2020, we also incurred approximately $1,863,000 in salaries and wages from the skilled nursing facility that we acquired in February 2020, compared to the third quarter of 2019.2021 compared to the same quarter a year ago.  We continue to face tremendous workforce and labor shortages within all of our operations, which increases wage pressure and inflation in regards to retaining and attracting qualified healthcare partners (employees).  With the workforce environment being so challenging, the largest expense increase from a labor standpoint is in our agency nurse staffing.  But, since the agency nurse staffing personnel are not our employees (partners), this expense is categorized below in "other operating expenses".   

 

Other operating expenses increased $4,157,000,$13,152,000, or 6.2%18.6%, to $84,039,000 for the 2021 period compared to $70,887,000 for the 2020 period compared to $66,730,000 for the 2019 period. Other operating expenses as a percentage of net operating revenues and grant income was 28.3%30.3% and 27.0%28.3% for the three months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, and 2019, respectively. DuringOur Caris acquisition increased other operating expenses $3,698,000 in the third quarter of 2020,2021 compared to the same quarter a year ago.  As mentioned in the previous paragraph, we incurred approximately $8,419,000 in COVID-19 related expenses in purchasing personal protective equipment, nursing supplies, and lab and testing supplies.  The expense controlling efforts have helped mitigate the increase in other operating expensescontinue to use additional agency nurse staffing due to COVID-19.  Excluding the COVID-19 related expenses, other operating expenses have decreased $4,262,000, or 6.4%, for the three months ended September 30, 2020 compared tochallenging workforce environment.  For the third quarter of 2019.

The decrease in interest expense is due from2021, our long-term debt being paid off inagency nurse staffing expenses increased $8,169,000 for the secondthird quarter of 2020. At September 30, 2020, we have no long-term debt outstanding.2021 compared to the same quarter a year ago.  

 

Other income

 

Non–operating income decreased by $185,000$3,079,000 compared to the same period last year, as further detailed in Note 67 to our interim condensed consolidated financial statements.  The decrease is due to our June 2021 acquisition of Caris.  Therefore, from the respective acquisition date, we no longer record any equity in earnings from our Caris investment.  Caris' financial information (revenues and expenses) is now included in the Company's consolidated financial statements.  

 

Income taxes

The income tax provisionbenefit for the three months ended September 30, 20202021 is $391,000$4,090,000 (an effective income tax rate of 2.9%53.6%). Excluding certain items, we expect our corporate (federal and state) income tax rate for 20202021 to be approximately 26.0%. For the three months ended September 30, 2020, our income tax provision benefitted primarily from the statute of limitation expirations of our income tax contingency reserves of $2,234,000.

34

 

Noncontrolling interest

 

The noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries is presented within total equity of the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. The company presents the noncontrolling interest and the amount of consolidated net income attributable to NHC in its consolidated statements of operations. The Company’s earnings per share is calculated based on net income attributable to NHC’s stockholders. The carrying amount of the noncontrolling interest is adjusted based on an allocation of subsidiary earnings based on ownership interest.

 

Nine Months Ended September 30, 20202021 Compared to Nine Months Ended September 30, 20192020

 

Results for the nine months ended September 30, 20202021 compared to the first nine months of 20192020 include a 3.5%2.9% increase in net operating revenues and grant income and an 8.7%a 18.1% increase in income from operations. Excluding the grant income recorded forFor the nine months ended September 30,2020,30, 2021, GAAP net operating revenues would have decreased 1.5%income attributable to NHC was $122,802,000 compared to $14,321,000 for the same period in 2020.

The large increase in our reported GAAP net income for the 2021 nine-month period compared to the same nine-month period in 2019.2020 is primarily due to the gain recorded from the acquisition of Caris, a hospice provider. Excluding the gain on the Caris acquisition, as well as the unrealized gainslosses in our marketable equity securities portfolio and the other non-GAAP adjustments, non-GAAP net income for the nine months ended September 30, 20202021 was $44,721,000$46,843,000 compared to $42,794,000$44,721,000 for the same periodfirst nine months of 2019,2020, which is an increase of 4.5%4.7%.

 

Net operating revenues and grant income

 

Net patient revenues decreased $9,316,000,increased $11,499,000, or 1.3%1.6%, compared to the same period last year.

37

 

The total census at owned and leased skilled nursing facilities for the first nine months of 2020 averaged 85.7%80.0%, compared to an average of 90.3%85.7% for the same period a year ago.  The declineWith the COVID-19 cases significantly declining during the first and second quarters of 2021, the census in our skilled nursing facilities began to increase. Although our census iscontinued to increase in the third quarter of 2021, the trajectory of our census was slowed during the third quarter of 2021 due to COVID-19 and the lackspike in delta variant cases during the period.  The delta variant spike during the third quarter of new admissions from our acute care providers and referral partners. Our Medicare per diem rates increased 11.1% and managed care per diem rates increased 3.0% compared to2021 timeframe was the same period a year ago. Medicaid and private pay per diem rates increased 5.8% and 2.7%, respectively, compared tosecond highest number of positive COVID cases across the same period a year ago. country since the beginning of the pandemic (December 2020/January 2021 peak was the highest). 

Overall, the composite skilled nursing facility per diem at our owned and leased skilled nursing facilities increased 4.2%5.5% compared to the same period a year ago. Our Medicare per diem rates increased 3.0% and managed care per diem rates increased 0.2% compared to the same period a year ago. Medicaid and private pay per diem rates increased 7.8% and 1.9%, respectively, compared to the same period a year ago. The Medicaid per diem rate increased due to the supplemental COVID-19 payments that we received from various states to help mitigate the incremental costs in fighting the pandemic. For the nine months ending September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively, $16,102,000 and $10,378,000 have been included in our net patient revenues for these supplemental COVID-19 Medicaid payments

In June 2021, the Company acquired the remaining ownership interest in Caris, which resulted in net patient revenues increasing $21,259,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 compared to the same period a year ago. Our homecare operations had an increase in net patient revenues of approximately $4,839,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, compared to the same period a year ago. In November 2020, the Company sold a skilled nursing facility located in Town & Country, Missouri. For the nine months ended September 30, 2021, the sale of this facility decreased net patient revenue by $6,228,000 compared to the same period a year ago.

 

Our Medicare per diem rates have benefited from the new case-mix reimbursement model of PDPM, which was implemented on October 1, 2019. The CARES Act also temporarily suspended Medicare sequestration beginning May 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020. The Medicare sequestration policy reduces fee-for-service Medicare payments by 2 percent. Since March 2020, our Medicaid per diem rates benefited from many of the states paying a supplemental Medicaid payment to help mitigate the incremental costs resulting from the COVID-19 public health emergency. For the nine months ended September 30, 2020, we have recorded $10,378,000 due to these supplemental Medicaid payments.

In February 2020, the Company acquired the remaining 75% ownership interest in a 166-bed skilled nursing facility in Knoxville, Tennessee. For the nine months ended September 30, 2020, this skilled nursing facility increased net patient revenues approximately $7,896,000 compared to the same period in the prior year.

Our homecare operations had a decline in net patient revenues of approximately $4,134,000 in the first nine months of 2020 compared to the same period of 2019. Our homecare net patient revenue decline was primarily due to volume declines in the first and second quarter due to COVID-19.

Other revenues decreased $1,575,000,$547,000, or 4.4%1.6%, compared to the same period last year, as further detailed in Note 56 to our interim condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

During the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively, we recorded $48,304,000 and $36,780,000 in government stimulus income related to funds received from the CARES Act Provider Relief Fund. See Note 3 - Coronavirus Pandemic for additional information.  

 

Total costs and expenses

 

Total costs and expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 20202021 compared to the same period of 20192020 increased $23,054,000$16,073,000, or 3.2%2.2%, to $733,016,000$749,089,000 from $709,962,000.$733,016,000.

 

Salaries, wages, and benefits increased $14,506,000,$5,292,000, or 3.3%1.2%, to $455,947,000$461,239,000 from $441,441,000.$455,947,000. Salaries, wages, and benefits as a percentage of net operating revenues and grant income was 59.3%58.3% compared to 59.5%59.3% for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Our Caris acquisition in June 2021 increased salaries, wages, and 2019, respectively. The primary reason for salaries and wages increasing is due to the incentive compensation, or "combat pay", paid to our frontline partners in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. We incurred approximately $9,220,000 in incentive compensation related to COVID-19benefits $10,851,000 for the nine monthsmonth period ended September 30, 2020.  For2021 compared to the nine-month period a year ago. With the COVID-19 cases declining during the first nine months ended September 30, 2020, we also incurred approximately $4,259,000 in salaries and wages fromof 2021, the skilled nursing facility that we acquired in February 2020,COVID-related incentive pay (or combat pay) was significantly reduced for the nine-month period of 2021 compared to the same period of 2019. Duea year ago ($5,527,000). We continue to COVID-19, we have implemented expense controlling measuresface tremendous workforce and labor shortages within all of our operations, that have mitigatedwhich increases wage pressure and inflation in regards to retaining and attracting qualified healthcare partners (employees).  With the workforce environment being so challenging, the largest expense increase from a labor standpoint is in salaries and wages, including temporary pay reductions for our corporate office personnel.agency nurse staffing.  But, since the agency nurse staffing personnel are not our employees (partners), this expense is categorized below in "other operating expenses".   

35

 

Other operating expenses increased $9,656,000,$12,819,000, or 4.7%6.0%, to $226,235,000 for the 2021 period compared to $213,416,000 for the 2020 period compared to $203,760,000 for the 2019 period. Other operating expenses as a percentage of net operating revenuerevenues and grant income was 27.8%28.6% and 27.4%27.8% for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, and 2019. Duringrespectively. Our Caris acquisition increased other operating expenses $4,469,000 in the nine-month period of 2021 compared to the same period a year ago.  As mentioned in the previous paragraph, we continue to use additional agency nurse staffing due to the challenging workforce environment.  For the nine months ending September 30, 2021, our agency nurse staffing expenses increased $13,127,000 for the nine-month period of 2021 compared to the same period a year ago.  With the COVID-19 cases declining during the first nine months of 2020, we incurred $15,048,000 in COVID-19 related expenses in purchasing2021, the expense for personal protective equipment, nursingtesting, and other COVID-related medical supplies and lab and testing supplies. The expense controlling efforts have helped mitigate the increase in other operating expenses due to COVID-19.  Excluding the COVID-19 related expenses, other operating expenses havehas decreased $5,392,000, or 2.6%, for the nine months ended September 30, 2020$5,421,000 when compared to the same period in 2019.

The decrease in interest expense is due from our long-term debt being paid off in the second quarter of 2020. At September 30, 2020, we have no outstanding long-term debt.a year ago.  

 

Other income

 

Non–operating income decreased by $358,000$3,625,000 compared to the same period last year, as further detailed in Note 67 to our interim condensed consolidated financial statements.  The decrease is due to our June 2021 acquisition of Caris.  Therefore, from the respective acquisition date, we no longer record any equity in earnings from our Caris investment.  Caris' financial information (revenues and expenses) is now included in the Company's consolidated financial statements.  

Gain on acquisition of equity method investments

In June 2021, a gain of $95,202,000 was recorded on the acquisition of the remaining ownership interest of Caris. We previously held a noncontrolling interest in the partnership. See Note 4 for additional detail describing the Caris acquisition.

In February 2020, a gain of $1,708,000 was recorded on the acquisition of the remaining ownership interest of a 166-bed skilled nursing facility in Knoxville, Tennessee. We previously held a noncontrolling interest in the facility. Upon acquiring the remaining ownership interest, we valued the business and our previously held equity position based upon the facility’s fair value.

38

 

Income taxes

The income tax provision for the nine months ended September 30, 20202021 is $800,000$5,907,000 (an effective income tax rate of 5.2%4.6%). The $95.2 million gain from the Caris acquisition is a mostly a non-taxable event and is the primary driver of our effective tax rate being lower than expected. Excluding certain items, we expect our corporate (federal and state) income tax rate for 20202021 to be approximately 26.0%. For the nine months ended September 30, 2020, our income tax provision benefitted primarily from the statute of limitation expirations of our income tax contingency reserves of $2,234,000.

 

Noncontrolling interest

 

The noncontrolling interest in a subsidiarysubsidiaries is presented within total equity of the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. The company presents the noncontrolling interest and the amount of consolidated net income attributable to NHC in its consolidated statements of operations. The Company’s earnings per share is calculated based on net income attributable to NHC’s stockholders. The carrying amount of the noncontrolling interest is adjusted based on an allocation of subsidiary earnings based on ownership interest.

 

 

Liquidity, Capital Resources, and Financial Condition

 

Our primary sources of cash include revenues from the operations of our healthcare and senior living facilities, management and accounting services, rental income, and investment income. Our primary uses of cash include salaries, wages and other operating costs of our healthcare and senior living facilities, the cost of additions to and acquisitions of real property, facility rent expenses, and dividend distributions. These sources and uses of cash are reflected in our interim condensed consolidated statements of cash flows and are discussed in further detail below.

 

The following is a summary of our sources and uses of cash flows (dollars in thousands):

 

 

Nine Months Ended

September 30

  

Nine Month Change

  

Nine Months Ended

September 31

  

Nine Month Change

 
 

2020

  

2019

      

%

  

2021

  

2020

  $  

%

 

Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and restricted cash equivalents, at beginning of period

 $61,010  $54,920  $6,090  11.1  $158,502  $61,010  $97,492  159.8 
  

Cash provided by operating activities

 183,900  74,884  109,016  145.6  46,871  183,900  (137,029

)

 (74.5

)

  

Cash used in investing activities

 (15,273

)

 (9,823

)

 (5,450

)

 (55.5

)

 (52,837

)

 (15,273

)

 (37,564

)

 (246.0

)

  

Cash used in financing activities

  (33,519

)

  (51,899

)

  18,380   35.4   (25,769

)

  (33,519

)

  7,750   23.1 
  

Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and restricted cash equivalents, at end of period

 $196,118  $68,082  $128,036   188.1  $126,767  $196,118  $(69,351

)

  (35.4

)

Operating Activities

Net cash provided by operating activities for the nine months ended September 30, 20202021 was $183,900,000$46,871,000 as compared to $74,884,000$183,900,000 in the same period last year. Cash provided by operating activities consisted of net income of $14,574,000$123,092,000 and adjustments for non–cash items of $53,358,000.$51,238,000. There was cash provided byused for working capital needs in the amount of $106,053,000$31,297,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 20202021 compared to cash provided by working capital needs in the amount of $3,297,000$106,053,000 for the same period a year ago.  The large swings in working capital between the 2021 and 2020 nine-month periods are primarily from the liquidity that we received from the CARES Act/Provider Relief Fund payments and the Medicare Accelerated Payment Program in 2020.  For the nine-month period in 2021, the government began recouping the Medicare Accelerated Payments in April 2021, as well as us receiving substantially less funding from the Provider Relief Fund in 2021.  We also received cash distributions from our unconsolidated investments of $10,050,000$6,314,000 during the nine months ended September 30, 2020,2021, compared to $3,884,000$10,050,000 for the same period a year ago.

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Included in cash provided by working capital is $51,253,000 from the Medicare Accelerated Payment Program, $21,404,000 provided from the Provider Relief Fund that has not been recognized as income, and $14,854,000 from the deferral of the Company’s employer social security taxes.  All three of these working capital cash flow items were initiated by the CARES Act legislation.  

 

Included in the adjustments for non-cash items are depreciation expense, equity in earnings of unconsolidated investments, unrealized gains/losses on our marketable equity securities, deferred taxes, stock compensation, and a gaingains on the acquisitionacquisitions of a 166-bed skilled nursing facility in Knoxville, Tennessee in which we previously held a noncontrolling ownership interest.equity method investments.

 

Investing Activities

 

Net cash used in investing activities totaled $52,837,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 compared to $15,273,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 compared to $9,823,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2019.2020. Cash used for property and equipment additions was $17,717,000$25,774,000 and $19,670,000$17,717,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 20202021 and 2019,2020, respectively. The acquisition of the 166-bed skilled nursing facility in Knoxville, TennesseeCaris resulted in cash used of $6,648,000$28,713,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2020.2021. The Company collected notes receivable of $1,572,000$8,620,000 and $1,010,000$1,572,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, and 2019, respectively. SalesPurchases of restricted marketable debt securities, net of purchases,proceeds from sales, resulted in positive cash flowused of $8,250,000 and $30,085,000$6,620,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively.2021 compared to proceeds from sales of marketable securities, net of purchases, resulting in positive cash flow of $8,250,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2020.

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Financing Activities 

 

Net cash used in financing activities totaled $33,519,000 and $51,899,000$25,769,000 for the nine months endingended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively. Cash2021 compared to net cash used for repayments on the Company’s credit facility has been a netin financing activities of $10,000,000$33,519,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2020. We made principal payments under our finance lease obligations in the amount of $3,101,000$3,292,000 and $2,920,000$3,101,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 20202021 and 2019,2020, respectively. Cash used for dividend payments to common stockholders totaled $23,935,000$24,010,000 in the current year period compared to $23,240,000$23,935,000 for the same period a year ago.

Short–Shortterm liquidity

 

We expect to meet our short-term liquidity requirements primarily from our cash flows from operating activities. In addition to cash flows from operations, our current cash on hand of $183,765,000$112,462,000 and our marketable equity and debt securities of $111,873,000$142,483,000 are expected to be adequate to meet our contractual obligations, operating liquidity, and our growth and development plans in the next twelve months. 

 

Long–Longterm liquidity

 

We expect to meet our long-term liquidity requirements primarily from our cash flows from operating activities, our current cash on hand of $183,765,000$112,462,000 and our marketable equity and debt securities of $111,873,000.$142,483,000. We also have substantial value in our unencumbered real estate assets which could potentially be used as collateral in future borrowing opportunities. At September 30, 2021, we do not have any long-term debt.

 

Our ability to meet our long–term contractual obligations, and to finance our operating requirements and growth plans will depend upon our future performance. Our future performance will be affected by business, economic, financial and other factors, including potential changes in state and federal government payment rates for healthcare, customer demand, success of our marketing efforts, pressures from competitors, and the state of the economy, including the state of financial and credit markets, as well as many unforeseen factors.

 

 

Commitment and Contingencies

Nutritional Support Services, L.P., Qui Tam Litigation

On June 19, 2018, a First Amended Complaint was filed naming Nutritional Support Services, L.P. (“NSS”), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, as a defendant in the action captioned U.S. ex rel. McClain v. Nutritional Support Services, L.P., No. 6:17-cv-2608-AMQ (D.S.C.), which was filed in the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina. The action alleges that NSS violated the False Claims Act by reporting a National Drug Code (“NDC”) number that did not correspond to the NDC for dispensed prescriptions. The plaintiffs are seeking unspecified damages. On April 16, 2018, the United States filed a Notice of Election to Decline Intervention with respect to the allegations asserted in this action. On March 14, 2020, the Court entered an Order granting the Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss. On May 6, 2020, the Court entered a Final Judgment dismissing the case.

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Divestiture of Skilled Nursing Facility

On August 21, 2020, the Company entered into a definitive agreement for the sale of the real estate and operations of a skilled nursing facility in Town and Country, Missouri.  This transaction is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2020.  

 

Governmental Regulations

 

Laws and regulations governing the Medicare, Medicaid and other federal healthcare programs are complex and subject to interpretation. Management believes that it is following all applicable laws and regulations in all material respects. However, compliance with such laws and regulations can be subject to future government review and interpretation as well as significant regulatory action including fines, penalties, and exclusions from the Medicare, Medicaid, and other federal healthcare programs. There have been several enacted and proposed federal and state relief measures as a result of COVID-19 which should provide support to us during this pandemic; however, the full benefit of any such programs would not be realized until these payments are fully implemented, government agencies issue applicable regulations, or guidance and such relief is provided.

 

New Accounting PronouncementsQui Tam Litigation

 

See Note 2United States of America, ex rel. Jennifer Cook and Sally Gaither v. Integrated Behavioral Health, Inc., NHC HealthCare/Moulton, LLC, et al., Case No. 2:20-CV-00877-AMM (N.D. Ala.) This is a qui tam case originally filed under seal on June 22, 2020. The United States declined intervention on March 1, 2021. Thereafter, the Plaintiff filed an amended Complaint and then a second amended complaint (the "Complaint") against Dr. Sanja Malhotra, Integrated Behavioral Health, Inc. and other entities Dr. Malhotra is alleged to own or in which he has a financial interest.  The Complaint also named multiple skilled nursing facilities as Defendants, including NHC Healthcare/Moulton, LLC, an affiliate of National HealthCare Corporation. The gravamen of the interim condensed consolidatedComplaint against the facilities is that Dr. Malhotra had nurse practitioners providing free services in the facilities in exchange for referrals to entities he owned or in which he had a financial statements forinterest in violation of the impact of new accounting standards.False Claims Act and Anti-Kickback Statute. NHC Healthcare/Moulton, LLC denies the allegations and is vigorously defending the claim. 

 

 

Item 3.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

 

Market risk represents the potential economic loss arising from adverse changes in the fair value of financial instruments. Currently, our exposure to market risk relates primarily to our fixed–income and equity portfolios. These investment portfolios are exposed primarily to, but not limited to, interest rate risk, credit risk, equity price risk, and concentration risk. We also have exposure to market risk that includes our cash and cash equivalents, notes receivable, and long–term debt. The Company's senior management has established comprehensive risk management policies and procedures to manage these market risks.

 

Interest Rate Risk

 

The fair values of our fixed–income investments fluctuate in response to changes in market interest rates. Increases and decreases in prevailing interest rates generally translate into decreases and increases, respectively, in the fair values of those instruments. Additionally, the fair values of interest rate sensitive instruments may be affected by the creditworthiness of the issuer, prepayment options, the liquidity of the instrument and other general market conditions. At September 30, 2020,2021, we have available for sale marketable debt securities in the amount of $142,040,000.$174,121,000. The fixed maturity portfolio is comprised of investments with primarily short–term and intermediate–term maturities. The portfolio composition allows flexibility in reacting to fluctuations of interest rates. The fixed maturity portfolio allows our insurance company subsidiaries to achieve an adequate risk–adjusted return while maintaining sufficient liquidity to meet obligations.

40

 

Our cash and cash equivalents consist of highly liquid investments with a maturity of less than three months when purchased. As a result of the short–term nature of our cash instruments, a hypothetical 1% change in interest rates would have minimal impact on our future earnings and cash flows related to these instruments.

 

We do not currently use any derivative instruments to hedge our interest rate exposure. We have not used derivative instruments for trading purposes and the use of such instruments in the future would be subject to approvals by the Investment Committee of the Board of Directors.

Credit Risk

Credit risk is managed by diversifying the fixed maturity portfolio to avoid concentrations in any single industry group or issuer and by limiting investments in securities with lower credit ratings.

 

Equity Price and Concentration Risk

 

Our marketable equity securities are recorded at their fair market value based on quoted market prices. Thus, there is exposure to equity price risk, which is the potential change in fair value due to a change in quoted market prices. At September 30, 2020,2021, the fair value of our marketable equity securities is approximately $111,873,000.$130,413,000. Of the $111.9$130.4 million equity securities portfolio, our investment in NHI comprises approximately $98.3$87.2 million, or 87.8%66.9%, of the total fair value. We manage our exposure to NHI by closely monitoring the financial condition, performance, and outlook of the company. Hypothetically, a 10% change in quoted market prices would result in a related increase or decrease in the fair value of our equity investments of approximately $11.2$13.0 million. At September 30, 2020,2021, our equity securities had unrealized gains of $81,697,000$75.1 million. Of the $81.7$75.1 million of unrealized gains, $73.5$62.5 million is related to our investment in NHI.

 

 

Item 4.

Controls and Procedures.

 

As of September 30, 2020,2021, an evaluation was performed under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and Principal Accounting Officer (“PAO”), of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures. Based on that evaluation, the Company’s management, including the CEO and PAO, concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of September 30, 2020.2021.

 

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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

 

 

Item 1.

Legal Proceedings.

 

For a discussion of prior, current, and pending litigation of material significance to NHC, please see Note 1617 of this Form 10–Q.

 

 

Item 1A.

Risk Factors.

 

We are providingDuring the disclosure below and supplementingnine months ended September 30, 2021, there were no material changes to the risk factors that were disclosed in Item 1A of National HealthCare Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10–K10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 based on information currently known to us and recent developments since the date of the 2019 Form 10-K filing. The additional risk factor identified should be read in conjunction with the risk factors described in the 2019 Annual Report.2020.

 

COVID-19 and other pandemics, epidemics, or outbreaks of a contagious illness may adversely affect our operating results, cash flows and financial condition. COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak and other pandemics, epidemics, or outbreaks of a contagious illness, and similar events, may cause harm to us, our partners (employees), our patients, our vendors and supply chain partners, and financial institutions, which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows. The impacts may include, but would not be limited to:

Disruption to operations due to the unavailability of partners due to illness, quarantines, risk of illness, travel restrictions or factors that limit our existing or potential workforce.

Decreased availability and increased cost of supplies due to increased demand around essential personal protective equipment (“PPE”), sanitizers and cleaning supplies including disinfecting agents, and food and food-related products due to increased global demand and disruptions along the global supply chains of these manufactures and distributors.

Decreased census across all our operations, which could negatively impact our operating cash flows and financial condition.

Elevated partner turnover which may increase payroll expense, increase third party agency nurse staffing, and recruiting-related expenses.

Significant disruption of the global financial markets, which could have a negative impact on our ability to access capital in the future.

The further spread of COVID-19, and the requirements to take action to help limit the spread of the virus, could impact the resources required to carry out our business as usual and may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows. The extent to which COVID-19 will impact our business and our financial results will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted. Such developments may include the ongoing geographic spread of the virus, the severity of the virus, the duration of the outbreak and the type and duration of actions that may be taken by various governmental authorities in response to the outbreak. Any of these developments, individually or in aggregate, could materially impact our business and our financial results and condition.

 

Item 2.

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.

 

Not applicable

 

 

Item 3.

Defaults Upon Senior Securities.

 

None

 

41

 

Item 4.

Mine Safety Disclosures.

 

Not applicable

 

 

Item 5.

Other Information.

 

None

 

39

 

Item 6.

Exhibits.

 

 

(a)  

List of exhibits

 

 

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit No.

Description

3.1

Certificate of Incorporation of National HealthCare Corporation (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant’s registration statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-37185) dated October 3, 1997.)

3.2

Certificate of Amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation of National HealthCare Corporation (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.5 to the quarterly report on Form 10-Q filed on August 3, 2017.)

3.3

Certificate of Designation Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant’s registration statement on Form 8-A, dated August 3, 2007.)

3.4

Restated Bylaws as amended February 14, 2013 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.5 to the quarterly report on Form 10-Q filed on May 8, 2013.)

4.1

Form of Common Stock (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the quarterly report on Form 10-Q filed on August 3, 2017.)

31.1

Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Chief Executive Officer

31.2

Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Principal Accounting Officer

32

Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 by Chief Executive Officer and Principal Accounting Officer

101.INS

Inline XBRL Instance Document (the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document)

101.SCH

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document

101.CAL

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document

101.DEF

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document

101.LAB

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document

101.PRE

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document

104

Cover Page Interactive File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document and include in Exhibit 101)

 

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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 thereunto duly authorized.

 

NATIONAL HEALTHCARE CORPORATION

(Registrant)

Date: November 5, 20204, 2021

/s/ Stephen F. Flatt                   

Stephen F. Flatt

Chief Executive Officer

Date: November 5, 20204, 2021

/s/ Brian F. Kidd                     

Brian F. Kidd

Senior Vice President and Controller

(Principal Accounting Officer)

 

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