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

    <schemaVersion>X0206</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2022-11-14</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001141103</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CCRN</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001955527</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Redd James V. III</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>6551  PARK OF COMMERCE BLVD, N.W.</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BOCA RATON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>33487</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chief Accounting Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>17038</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Includes 9,286 shares of unvested restricted shares of common stock of which (i) 2,037 shares will vest on March 31, 2023, (ii) 4,076 shares which will vest in substantially equal installments on each of March 31, 2023 and March 31, 2024, and (iii) 3,173 shares will vest substantially in equal installments on each of March 31, 2023, March 31, 2024, and March 31, 2025.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ James V. Redd III</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2022-11-22</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
