-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 SUYrOXGKHAX1YR+LT3eXyJ0ktoKLNc/ouFoMxBEyrEyL0XoDvVBYXntzTHSAEtaK
 5/WeYtsiDXsyPcDK5rRDLQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000909518-04-000040.txt : 20040114
<SEC-HEADER>0000909518-04-000040.hdr.sgml : 20040114
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040114163519
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000909518-04-000040
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040105
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040114

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BURIAN SAUL
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001275619

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-06639
		FILM NUMBER:		04525250

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O HOUIHAN LOKEY HOWARD
		STREET 2:		686 THIRD AVE
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10017

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MAGELLAN HEALTH SERVICES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000019411
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-HOSPITALS [8060]
		IRS NUMBER:				581076937
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6950 COLUMBIA GATEWAY
		STREET 2:		STE 400
		CITY:			COLUMBIA
		STATE:			MD
		ZIP:			21046
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4109531000

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	CHARTER MEDICAL CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>burian1-13_form3ex.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<!-- - EDGAR Ease Plus 1.0                                   07/25/03  TT    -->
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>
   <periodOfReport>2004-01-05</periodOfReport>
    <noSecuritiesOwned>1</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000019411</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MAGELLAN HEALTH SERVICES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MGLN</issuerTradingSymbol>
   </issuer>
   <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001275619</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BURIAN SAUL</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O HOULIHAN LOKEY HOWARD AND ZUKIN</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>685 THIRD AVE., 15TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10017</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
         <isDirector>1</isDirector>
         <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
         <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
         <isOther>0</isOther>
      </reportingOwnerRelationship>
   </reportingOwner>
   <ownerSignature>
      <signatureName>/s/ Saul E. Burian</signatureName>
      <signatureDate>2004-01-13</signatureDate>
   </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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