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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,
 Rkpb1SvYZdfBFzerGezC3CjCT/PB6n87zbADdPqKbX/gPGGi20UGZQUi13Zij/nH
 NO3kPV2JNFekU7MPWFlu3g==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-03-011796.txt : 20031203
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-03-011796.hdr.sgml : 20031203
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031203191531
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-03-011796
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031202
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031203

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:			OCM OPPORTUNITIES FUND III LP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001096900
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-10968
		FILM NUMBER:		031036261

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		333 SOUTH GRAND AVENUE
		STREET 2:		28TH FLOOR
		CITY:			LOS ANGELES
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90071
		BUSINESS PHONE:		(213) 830-6484

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		SAME AS ABOVE
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
<periodOfReport>2003-12-02</periodOfReport>
<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000882287</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MARINER HEALTH CARE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MHCA</issuerTradingSymbol>
</issuer>
<reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001096900</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>OCM OPPORTUNITIES FUND III LP</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O OAKTREE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>333 SOUTH GRAND AVENUE 28TH FLOOR</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>2003-12-02</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>98171</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare><value>16.913</value>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>2530256</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeTransaction>
</nonDerivativeTable>
<derivativeTable></derivativeTable>
<footnotes></footnotes>
<ownerSignature><signatureName>OCM Opportunities Fund III, L.P., By:  Oaktree Capital Management, LLC, its General Partner</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2003-12-03</signatureDate>
</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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