-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
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,
 WxL0ZwTsXiT+difmJ/wMAWdPVa9J/TAMfkxMJ/82vzmmqb2mMD+EpkHTOnOx92gz
 OBnZkXQ9xQ3+rZMsn/1Bpg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001005477-03-000572.txt : 20030508
<SEC-HEADER>0001005477-03-000572.hdr.sgml : 20030508
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030508164151
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001005477-03-000572
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030506
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030508

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LANASA JOSEPH A III
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001160212

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-33217
		FILM NUMBER:		03688446

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.
		STREET 2:		85 BROAD STREET
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10004

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GENESIS HEALTH VENTURES INC /PA
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000874265
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-SKILLED NURSING CARE FACILITIES [8051]
		IRS NUMBER:				061132947
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			PA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0930

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		101 EAST STATE STREET
		CITY:			KENNETT SQUARE
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19348
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6104446350

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		101 EAST STATE STREET
		CITY:			KENNETT SQUARE
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19348
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar123.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

<documentType>4</documentType>
    <periodOfReport>2003-05-06</periodOfReport>
    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
<issuer>        <issuerCik>0000874265</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>GENESIS HEALTH VENTURES INC /PA</issuerName>
<issuerTradingSymbol>ghvi</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
    <reportingOwnerId>
        <rptOwnerCik>0001160212</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LANASA JOSEPH A III</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
<reportingOwnerRelationship>
        <isDirector>1</isDirector>
        <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
        <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
        <isOther>0</isOther>
    </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Common Stock</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-05-06</value>
        </transactionDate>
    <transactionCoding>
        <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
        <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
        <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
    </transactionCoding>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>500000</value>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>14.84</value>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>D</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>4721906</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>I</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            <natureOfOwnership>
                <value>See Footnotes</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </natureOfOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </nonDerivativeSecurity>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The Reporting Person is a managing director of Goldman, Sachs &amp; Co. (&quot;Goldman Sachs&quot;).  Goldman Sachs is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (&quot;GS Group&quot;).  The Reporting Person disclaims beneficial ownership of the securities reported herein, except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein, if any.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The securities reported herein as sold were sold and were beneficially owned directly by Goldman Sachs.  Without admitting any legal obligation, Goldman Sachs will remit appropriate profits, if any, to the Company.  Goldman Sachs beneficially owns directly and GS Group may be deemed to beneficially own indirectly 4,721,906 shares of Common Stock.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>s/ Roger S. Begelman, Attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-05-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

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