Little Rock, AR, will host the annual NAHCA conference this month.

Arkansas and Pennsylvania were the latest states to seize control of facilities associated with the collapsing Skyline Healthcare nursing home chain.

At least 76 Skyline-run facilities — some operating under the names of commingled entities — had been placed in receivership across the U.S. at press time.

In Arkansas and Pennsylvania, state officials said they were forced to step in when concerns about resident care, including the availability of food and medicine, became clear.

“We know residents and their families rely on these providers for critical services. The health and safety of the residents is our first priority,” Nebraska health department official Craig Cloud said in announcing his state’s receivership efforts. “We also know there are many staff at these facilities who want stability and confidence when it comes to their jobs that help them take care of their families.”

Arkansas officials said they would be monitoring another 19 Skyline facilities in their state but had not yet moved to replace the operator.

In Pennsylvania, where the state took over nine facilities Skyline acquired from Golden Living, union officials reported that staff had to pass trays of food upstairs when an elevator went unrepaired, while employees bought gas for a facility van and bread with their own money.

Skyline spokesman Juda Engelmayer said the company had been communicating its needs with Pennsylvania and cooperating with takeover efforts.

The company’s difficulties flared into the national limelight the last week of March, when reports surfaced about Nebraska sending 31 of the same company’s facilities into receivership.

In a statement to McKnight’s, Engelmayer said it has been working to transition out of the nursing home industry. “As with any transition, there have been hurdles,” he said.