PEORIA – Petersen Health Care is preparing to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, according to a report by Bloomberg.  

The Peoria-based company runs about 100 nursing homes in the Midwest. Nineteen of those facilities are under foreclosure proceedings and have been placed in receivership in recent weeks. 

Petersen’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy plans are not final and could change, according to Bloomberg, which cited anonymous sources in its story. The Journal Star was not able to independently verify the report.

Email messages seeking comment from representatives of Petersen Health Care were not immediately returned Monday. 

Petersen Health Care financial issues:Peoria-based company owes massive amount in loans, according to court documents

The company issued a statement after the Journal Star reported on the first group of properties placed in receivership at the end of January, saying that inadequate state and federal funding and staffing challenges were significant factors leading to the foreclosure proceedings on the facilities. 

Although management of the facilities has been taken over by another company, Petersen continues to own the facilities and is cooperating with the management company to ensure there is minimal impact on staff and residents as they work toward a solution that will return the facilities to Petersen management, according to a previous statement provided to the Journal Star. 

In total, two creditors allege that Petersen owes $55.5 million. 

More:Two more Petersen Health Care facilities in Illinois have been placed in receivership