FORM 4 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person * ADAMS ROBERT G   2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol NATIONAL HEALTHCARE CORP [NHC] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) __X__ Director _____ 10% Owner _____ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) (Last) (First) (Middle) 100 VINE STREET 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year) 11/08/2018 (Street) MURFREESBORO, TN 37130 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line) _X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person ___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip) Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned

1.Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price Shares of Common Stock - Partnership               420,177 I General Partner Shares of Common Stock - Trust I               1,034 I Trustee

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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)

1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)

2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security

3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)

3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)

4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)

5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4, and 5)

6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)

7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities (Instr. 3 and 4)

8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)

9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)

10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)

11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)

Code

V

(A)

(D)

Date Exercisable

Expiration Date

Title

Amount or Number of Shares

Option to purchase common stock

$ 72.94

11/08/2018

D(1)

5,775

(1)

05/08/2022

Common Stock

5,775

(1)

0

D

Option to purchase common stock

$ 72.94

11/08/2018

A(1)

5,775

(1)

05/08/2022

Common Stock

5,775

(1)

5,775

D

Option to purchase common stock

$ 61.9

11/08/2018

D(1)

5,480

(1)

05/02/2023

Common Stock

5,480

(1)

0

D

Option to purchase common stock

$ 61.9

11/08/2018

A(1)

5,480

(1)

05/02/2023

Common Stock

5,480

(1)

5,480

D

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
ADAMS ROBERT G 100 VINE STREET MURFREESBORO, TN 37130	X

Signatures

/s/ Robert G. Adams by Kristina R. Hulsey, P.O.A.		11/12/2018
**Signature of Reporting Person		Date

Explanation of Responses:

*	If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
**	Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1)	The reported transactions involve an amendment to two outstanding options resulting in the deemed cancellation of each of the "old" options and the grant of replacement options. On November 8, 2018, the Board of Directors amended each of the options to allow a director that has served as a director for at least 12 years to remain able to exercise the option for the full term of the option even if the director retires, resigns, dies or becomes disabled. Each of the options were fully exercisable on the date of grant. The grant and exercise of these options are exempt from Section 16(b) pursuant to Rule 16b-3(d).

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