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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Q3kf2lIKNKe6HYRTgNskBXGsUHpLMtikqze2BqsbqoO7pKlKm1YYs8S8iyy0hAkx
 2/v9NM9RYXvVARtKipt6bg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-03-037830.txt : 20031229
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-03-037830.hdr.sgml : 20031225
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031229080725
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-03-037830
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031223
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031229

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LECHLEITER RICHARD A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001191026

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-14057
		FILM NUMBER:		031074100

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		680 S 4TH ST
		CITY:			LOUISVILLE
		STATE:			KY
		ZIP:			40202
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5025967300

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			KINDRED HEALTHCARE INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001060009
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-NURSING & PERSONAL CARE FACILITIES [8050]
		IRS NUMBER:				611323993
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE VENCOR PLACE
		STREET 2:		680 S FOURTH ST
		CITY:			LOUISVILLE
		STATE:			KY
		ZIP:			40202
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5025967300

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3300 AEGON CENTER
		STREET 2:		400 WEST MARKET ST
		CITY:			LOUISVILLE
		STATE:			KY
		ZIP:			40202

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	VENCOR INC /NEW/
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19991124

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	VENCOR HEALTHCARE INC /DE/
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19991124
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd26896.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4  DEC 03
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-12-23</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001060009</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>KINDRED HEALTHCARE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>KIND</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001191026</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LECHLEITER RICHARD A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>680 SOUTH FOURTH STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LOUISVILLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>KY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>40202</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Senior V.P./CFO</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-12-23</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>500</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>50.61</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>26249</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership
></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-12-23</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>500</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>50.70</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>25749</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">The reporting person also indirectly beneficially owns fifty (50) shares of co
mmon stock held jointly with his wife.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Richard A. Lechleiter</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-12-24</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>



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</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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