<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-12-08</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001018833</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>QUADRAMED CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>qdhc</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001287649</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CANNELL J CARLO</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>240 E. DELONEY AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>P.O. BOX 3459</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>JACKSON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>WY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>83001</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>No longer a 10% holder</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-12-08</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>125000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>8.3</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>718765</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By parnerships and corporations (1)</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <remarks>(1) As of December 8, 2009, Anegada Master Fund Limited (&quot;Anegada&quot;), The Cuttyhunk Master Portfolio (&quot;Cuttyhunk&quot;), Tonga Partners, L.P. (&quot;Tonga&quot;), Tonga Partners QP, L.P (&quot;Tonga QP&quot;) and Tristan Partners, L.P. (&quot;Tristan&quot; and collectively with Anegada, Cuttyhunk, Tonga and Tonga QP, the &quot;Funds&quot;) owned in the aggregate 718,765 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share of QuadraMed Corporation (the &quot;Company&quot;). Cannell Capital LLC acts as the investment adviser to Anegada, investment sub-advisor to Cuttyhunk, and is the general partner of and investment adviser to Tonga, Tonga QP and Tristan. Mr. J. Carlo Cannell is the sole managing member of Cannell Capital LLC. As a result, Mr. Cannell possesses sole power to vote and direct the disposition of all securities of the Company held by the Funds. Thus, for the purposes of Reg. Section 240.13d-3, as of December 8, 2009, Mr. Cannell is deemed to beneficially own 718,765 Shares. Mr. Cannell's interest in the securities reported herein is limited to the extent of his pecuniary interest in each of the Funds, if any.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ J. Carlo Cannell</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-01-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
