Sec Form 4 Filing - Keetch Chad @ ENSIGN GROUP, INC - 2017-01-03

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 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 Keetch Chad 2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol ENSIGN GROUP, INC [ ENSG] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) _____ Director _____ 10% Owner X __ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) Executive VP and Secretary (Last) (First) (Middle) 27101 PUERTA REAL, SUITE 450 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (MM/DD/YY) 01/03/2017 (Street) MISSION VIEJO, CA92691 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed (MM/DD/YY) 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 (MM/DD/YY) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (MM/DD/YY) 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 Common Stock 01/03/2017 M 366 A $ 6.42 49,141 D Common Stock 01/03/2017 S( 1 ) 366 D $ 22.52 48,775 D Common Stock 01/03/2017 M 11,130 A $ 7.38 59,905 D Common Stock 01/03/2017 S( 1 ) 11,130 D $ 22.217 ( 2 ) 48,775 D Common Stock 01/03/2017 M 14,664 A $ 7.86 63,439 D Common Stock 01/03/2017 S( 1 ) 14,664 D $ 22.26 ( 3 ) 48,775 D Common Stock 01/03/2017 M 5,864 A $ 7.96 54,639 D Common Stock 01/03/2017 S( 1 ) 5,864 D $ 22.237 ( 4 ) 48,775 D Common Stock 01/03/2017 M 5,498 A $ 9.75 54,273 D Common Stock 01/03/2017 S( 1 ) 5,498 D $ 22.344 ( 5 ) 48,775 D

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 (MM/DD/YY) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (MM/DD/YY) 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 (MM/DD/YY) 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 Employee Stock Option (right to buy) $ 6.42 01/03/2017 M 366 10/27/2012( 6 ) 10/27/2021 Common Stock 366 $ 0 0 D Employee Stock Option (right to buy) $ 7.38 01/03/2017 M 11,130 02/08/2013( 7 ) 02/08/2022 Common Stock 11,130 $ 0 3,666 ( 8 ) D Employee Stock Option (right to buy) $ 7.86 01/03/2017 M 14,664 07/26/2013( 9 ) 07/26/2022 Common Stock 14,664 $ 0 3,666 ( 10 ) D Employee Stock Option (right to buy) $ 7.96 01/03/2017 M 5,864 10/31/2013( 11 ) 10/31/2022 Common Stock 5,864 $ 0 1,468 ( 12 ) D Employee Stock Option (right to buy) $ 9.75 01/03/2017 M 5,498 06/12/2014( 13 ) 06/12/2023 Common Stock 5,498 $ 0 3,666 ( 14 ) D

Reporting Owners Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships Director 10% Owner Officer Other Keetch Chad 27101 PUERTA REAL SUITE 450 MISSION VIEJO, CA92691 Executive VP and Secretary Signatures /s/ Chad A. Keetch 01/05/2017 Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

( 1 )The sales reported in this Form 4 were effected pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan adopted on November 14, 2016. ( 2 )This transaction was executed in multiple trades at prices ranging from $22.14 to $22.34. The price above reflects the weighted average sale price. The reporting person hereby undertakes to provide upon request by the commission staff, the issuer, or a security holder of the issuer, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price. ( 3 )This transaction was executed in multiple trades at prices ranging from $22.13 to $22.37. The price above reflects the weighted average sale price. The reporting person hereby undertakes to provide upon request by the commission staff, the issuer, or a security holder of the issuer, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price. ( 4 )This transaction was executed in multiple trades at prices ranging from $22.11 to $22.45. The price above reflects the weighted average sale price. The reporting person hereby undertakes to provide upon request by the commission staff, the issuer, or a security holder of the issuer, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price. ( 5 )This transaction was executed in multiple trades at prices ranging from $22.15 to $22.52. The price above reflects the weighted average sale price. The reporting person hereby undertakes to provide upon request by the commission staff, the issuer, or a security holder of the issuer, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price. ( 6 )The option was granted on October 27, 2011, and became exercisable in five equal annual installments beginning on October 27, 2012, which was the first anniversary of the date on which the option was granted. ( 7 )The option was granted on February 8, 2012, and became exercisable in five equal annual installments beginning on February 8, 2013, which was the first anniversary of the date on which the option was granted. ( 8 )The number of securities reported in the second row of column 9 represent unvested time-based options that are scheduled to vest on Feburary 8, 2017 and February 8, 2018. ( 9 )The option was granted on July 26, 2012, and became exercisable in five equal annual installments beginning on July 26, 2013, which was the first anniversary of the date on which the option was granted. ( 10 )The number of securities reported in the third row of column 9 represent unvested time-based options that are scheduled to vest on July 26, 2017 and July 26, 2018. ( 11 )The option was granted on October 31, 2012, and became exercisable in five equal annual installments beginning on October 31, 2013, which was the first anniversary of the date on which the option was granted. ( 12 )The number of securities reported in the fourth row of column 9 represent unvested time-based options that are scheduled to vest on October 31, 2017 and October 31, 2018. ( 13 )The option was granted on June 12, 2013, and became exercisable in five equal annual installments beginning on June 12, 2014, which was the first anniversary of the date on which the option was granted. ( 14 )The number of securities reported in the fifth row of column 9 represent unvested time-based options that are scheduled to vest on June 12, 2017, June 12, 2018, and June 12, 2019.

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