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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Mwhr5FXs+Pup2NoijkVDKh0llAd5BQEZUk8oilQkgwDbn+wnqp5vTDqMbhpQEYNC
 ymOQgpvT8d9zY9N+y4tGcA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179022-04-000011.txt : 20040105
<SEC-HEADER>0001179022-04-000011.hdr.sgml : 20040105
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040105154019
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179022-04-000011
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031231
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040105

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GENTIVA HEALTH SERVICES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001096142
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-HEALTH SERVICES [8000]
		IRS NUMBER:				364335801
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3 HUNTINGTON QUADRANGLE 2S
		CITY:			MELVILLE
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			11747-8943
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6315017000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3 HUNTINGTON QUADRANGLE 2S
		CITY:			MELVILLE
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			11747-8943

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	OLSTEN HEALTH SERVICES HOLDING CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19991001

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			POTAPCHUK JOHN R
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001188218

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-15669
		FILM NUMBER:		04504647

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		12 VANCOUVER COURT
		CITY:			ROCKVILLE CENTER
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			11570
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5167644683

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		12 VANCOUVER COURT
		CITY:			ROCKVILLE CENTER
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			11570
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-12-31</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001096142</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>GENTIVA HEALTH SERVICES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>GTIV</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001188218</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>POTAPCHUK JOHN R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>3 HUNTINGTON QUADRANGLE 2S</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MELVILLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>11747</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>SVP, CFO, Treasurer, Secretary</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>12.87</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-12-31</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>60000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F1"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-12-31</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurity
Title><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>60000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>60000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Options vest 50% after two years, 75% after three years and 100% after four years.</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Phillip A. Bradley, by power of attorney</signatureName><signatureDate>2004-01-05</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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