National Healthcare Corp. announced the purchase of six skilled health care centers from National Health Investors (NHI). The six centers, which are located in Columbia, Knoxville and Springfield, Tennessee, Madisonville, Kentucky and Rossville, Georgia, have been leased by NHC since 1991 and have a total of 650 beds.

The purchase price is $21 million and the transaction will close on December 31, 2013. In addition, the company also announced the extension of a master lease with NHI through December 31, 2026 for 38 skilled health care centers and three independent living centers. With the purchase of the six previously leased centers mentioned above, NHC's lease payment will decrease by $2.95 million beginning in 2014.