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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 OGgDFUfJuN+mxcyU1iLhDqyDwGbOEg3CD64xQnVlazuMgvNxuXEW+uMVsbK2xpAw
 JioFFgvhEYJE/V9cM+lXuQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-04-040386.txt : 20040816
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-04-040386.hdr.sgml : 20040816
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040816164249
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-04-040386
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040812
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040816

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SHENK DAVID H
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001199353

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-12392
		FILM NUMBER:		04979297

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1564 NE EXPRESSWAY
		STREET 2:		ATTN B J PURCELL
		CITY:			ATLANTA
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30329

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NDCHEALTH CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000070033
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-BUSINESS SERVICES, NEC [7389]
		IRS NUMBER:				580977458
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0531

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		NDCHEALTH CORPORATION
		STREET 2:		NDC PLAZA
		CITY:			ATLANTA
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30329
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4047282000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		NDC PLAZA
		CITY:			ATLANTA
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30329-2010

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	NATIONAL DATA CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd50607.xml
<DESCRIPTION>ANNUAL OPTION GRANT CYCLE
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-08-12</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000070033</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NDCHEALTH CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NDC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001199353</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SHENK DAVID H</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>NDC PLAZA</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ATLANTA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>GA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>30329</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Senior Vice President</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>12.90</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-08-12</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>6000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-08-12</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-08-12</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>6000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>6000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Grant to reporting person of option to buy shares of stock. The option will become exercisable in one-fourth increments over a four year period.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>B.J. Purcell, as Power of Attorney for David H. Shenk</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-08-16</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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