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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,
 Ume1wIhUiusitdnpqHiQWqc1NDqMmRiy7AWhoRbuQY7phjI1QSopK6hfjMkTFs70
 vCPJOeVY1cs+K+IMnqmkNA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-04-012817.txt : 20040614
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-04-012817.hdr.sgml : 20040611
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040614174045
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-04-012817
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040609
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040614

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MARINER HEALTH CARE INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000882287
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-SKILLED NURSING CARE FACILITIES [8051]
		IRS NUMBER:				742012902
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE RAVINA DR STE 1500
		STREET 2:		STE 800
		CITY:			ATLANTA
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30346
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6784437000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE RAVINA DRIVE SUITE 1500
		STREET 2:		SUITE 800
		CITY:			ATLANTA
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30346

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	MARINER POST ACUTE NETWORK INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19980811

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	PARAGON HEALTH NETWORK INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19971104

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	LIVING CENTERS OF AMERICA INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19930328

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			OAKTREE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000949509
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			CA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-10968
		FILM NUMBER:		04862496

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		333 S GRAND AVENUE 28TH FL
		CITY:			LOS ANGELES
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90071
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2138306300

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 2:		333 S GRAND AVE 28TH FL
		CITY:			LOS ANGLES
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90071
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-06-09</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000882287</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MARINER HEALTH CARE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MHCA</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000949509</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>OAKTREE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>333 SOUTH GRAND AVENUE, 28TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LOS ANGELES</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>90071</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-06-09</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>200112</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>17.0024</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5546980</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnotes</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The reporting person is a registered investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, acting as (i) the general partner of the OCM Opportunities Fund II, L.P. (&quot;Opps II&quot;), which owns 2,881,342 shares of the common stock of the Issuer after giving effect to the sale of shares reported herein, (ii) the general partner of OCM Opportunities Fund III, L.P. (&quot;Opps III&quot;), which owns 2,399,646 shares of common stock of the Issuer after giving effect to the sale of shares reported herein, (iii) the investment manager of two third party separate accounts (&quot;Separate Accounts&quot;) which collectively own 265,992 shares of common stock of the Issuer after giving effect to the sale of shares reported herein (none of the Separate Accounts individually own in excess of 10% of the outstanding shares of the common stock of the Issuer).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Except to the extent of its pecuniary interests therein, the reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of these securities and the filing of this Form 4 shall not be construed as an admission that such person is the beneficial owner of any securities covered by this Form 4.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The reporting person is a limited liability company, the members of which are Howard S. Marks, Bruce A. Karsh, Sheldon M. Stone, D. Richard Masson, Larry W. Keele, Stephen A. Kaplan, Russel S. Bernard, Kevin Clayton, David Kirchheimer, John Moon, John B. Frank, OCM Equity Participation Plan, L.P. and OCM Equity Participation Plan II, L.L.C.  Each of such persons may be deemed a beneficial owner of the securities listed herein by virtue of such status as members of the reporting person.  Except to the extent of their respective pecuniary interests therein, each such person disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares listed herein and the filing of this Form 4 shall not be construed as an admission that such person is the beneficial owner of any securities covered by this Form 4.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Oaktree Capital Management, LLC</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-06-11</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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