-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 FF7alPOnNMhcGMnECOem63HSgdf+2IkrDDnpPrVPdOZnN9YYdrkuewPB4MYW5KRE
 99LV0arc7xaWqbMMLCHWfA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001124172-03-000003.txt : 20031210
<SEC-HEADER>0001124172-03-000003.hdr.sgml : 20031210
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031210112053
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001124172-03-000003
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031209
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031210

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NEIGHBORCARE INC
		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:		7 EAST LEE STREET
		CITY:			BALTIMORE
		STATE:			MD
		ZIP:			21202
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4107522600

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		NEIGHBORCARE
		STREET 2:		7 EAST LEE STREET
		CITY:			BALTIMORE
		STATE:			MD
		ZIP:			21202

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	GENESIS HEALTH VENTURES INC /PA
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19950214

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SMITH ROBERT A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001221114

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-33217
		FILM NUMBER:		031046352

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O NEIGHBORCARE, INC
		STREET 2:		7 EAST LEE STREET
		CITY:			BALTIMORE
		STATE:			MD
		ZIP:			21202
		BUSINESS PHONE:		410 752 2600

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		NEIGHBORCARE, INC
		STREET 2:		7 EAST LEE STREET
		CITY:			BALTIMORE
		STATE:			MD
		ZIP:			21202
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-12-09</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000874265</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NEIGHBORCARE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NCRX</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001221114</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SMITH ROBERT A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>NEIGHBORCARE, INC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>7 EAST LEE STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BALTIMORE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MD</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>21202</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chief Operating Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>

        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>21.5</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-12-09</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>87500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>21.5</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-12-09</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>87500</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>87500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>

    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">25% of the options vested on the option grant date of 12/9/03 and 6.25% shall vest on the first day of each calendar quarter such that the options will be fully vested in three years.</footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>John F. Gaither on behalf of Robert A. Smith by power of attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-12-09</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

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