-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 msm7bTG6v4wxmiNsRvlocA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001228922-03-000003.txt : 20030825
<SEC-HEADER>0001228922-03-000003.hdr.sgml : 20030825
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030825100324
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001228922-03-000003
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030821
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030825

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			DONDERO JAMES D
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001228922

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	033-51670
		FILM NUMBER:		03863598

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		13455 NOEL ROAD
		STREET 2:		SUITE 1300
		CITY:			DALLAS
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			75240
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9726284100

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>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-08-21</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000874265</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>GENESIS HEALTH VENTURES INC /PA</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>GHVI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001228922</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DONDERO JAMES D</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>13455 NOEL ROAD SUITE 1300</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>DALLAS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>75240</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-08-21</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>20000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>23.38</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>172537</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By SRV Highland Inc.</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">SRV Highland Inc. sold 20,000 shares of common stock for a total ownership of 172,537.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Indirect ownership consists of shares held by a filing group consisting of Highland Capital Management, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership and registered investment advisor (&quot;Highland Capital&quot;) and its affliates, Highland Crusader Offshore Partners, L.P., a Bermuda limited partnership, (&quot;Crusader&quot;), Highland Equity Focus Fund, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (&quot;HEFF&quot;), Prospect Street High Income Portfolio, Inc., a Maryland corporation (&quot;Prospect&quot;), KZH Pamco LLC, and SRV Highland Inc.  Highland Capital is the general partner of Crusader and the investment advisor of HEFF, Prospect, KZH Pamco LLC, and SRV Highland Inc.  The general partner of Highland Capital is Strand Advisors, Inc., a Delaware corporation (&quot;Strand&quot;).  Mr. Dondero is the President of Highland, Prospect and Strand, and a Director of the Issuer.</footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>James D. Dondero</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-08-25</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

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