-----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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 +gd7+CZ2VJuZK3ZrmsbXvw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001228922-03-000010.txt : 20031120
<SEC-HEADER>0001228922-03-000010.hdr.sgml : 20031120
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031120170604
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001228922-03-000010
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031118
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031120

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:	000-33217
		FILM NUMBER:		031016018

	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>2003-11-18</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>2003-11-18</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>188000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>30.0221</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1740434</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Highland Equity Focus Fund, L.P.</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">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, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (&quot;HEFF&quot;), Prospect Street High Income Portfolio, Inc., a Maryland corporation (&quot;Prospect&quot;), and KZH Pamco LLC.  The general partner of Highland Capital is Strand Advisors, Inc., a Delaware corporation (&quot;Strand&quot;).  Mr. Dondero is President of Highland, Prospect and Strand, and a Director of the Issuer.</footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>James D. Dondero</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-11-20</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

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