Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2024	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Revenues:
Net patient revenues	$ 1,251,759,000	$ 1,087,614,000	$ 1,029,085,000
Other revenues	46,178,000	53,930,000	45,196,000
Government grant income	9,445,000	0	11,457,000
Net operating revenues and grant income	1,307,382,000	1,141,544,000	1,085,738,000
Costs and Expenses:
Salaries, wages and benefits	810,930,000	712,344,000	686,169,000
Other operating	321,390,000	288,183,000	289,372,000
Facility rent	43,182,000	41,525,000	40,977,000
Depreciation and amortization	41,985,000	42,034,000	40,489,000
Interest	4,135,000	324,000	563,000
Recovery of assets	0	0	(3,728,000)
Total costs and expenses	1,221,622,000	1,084,410,000	1,053,842,000
Income from operations	85,760,000	57,134,000	31,896,000
Other income:
Non-operating income	19,690,000	16,660,000	11,141,000
Unrealized gains on marketable equity securities	30,958,000	14,944,000	(15,806,000)
Income before income taxes	136,408,000	88,738,000	27,231,000
Income tax provision	(34,322,000)	(23,450,000)	(7,254,000)
Net income	102,086,000	65,288,000	19,977,000
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(159,000)	1,510,000	2,468,000
Net income attributable to National HealthCare Corporation	$ 101,927,000	$ 66,798,000	$ 22,445,000
Earnings per share attributable to National HealthCare Corporation stockholders:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 6.62	$ 4.36	$ 1.46
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 6.53	$ 4.34	$ 1.45
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	15,393,782	15,310,142	15,410,222
Diluted (in shares)	15,598,528	15,377,343	15,447,211
Dividends declared per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 2.42	$ 2.34	$ 2.26