-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 VoT2fPAgf5RW1tPRiaMyjcjE+3otRx+OKE/52AHst5jnbHd8loFlNFgLNCS5WvNo
 IK5RA9D8gPQ6XQs1iA5+PA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000812191-06-000026.txt : 20060417
<SEC-HEADER>0000812191-06-000026.hdr.sgml : 20060417
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20060417105438
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000812191-06-000026
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20060413
FILED AS OF DATE:		20060417
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20060417

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			REHABCARE GROUP INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000812191
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-HOSPITALS [8060]
		IRS NUMBER:				510265872
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		7733 FORSYTH BLVD 17TH FLR
		STREET 2:		SUITE 1700
		CITY:			ST LOUIS
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			63105
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3148637422

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	REHABCARE CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19940218

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SHORT JOHN H
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001200768

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-14655
		FILM NUMBER:		06761495

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3148637422

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		7733 FORSYTH BLVD.,
		STREET 2:		SUITE 1700
		CITY:			ST. LOUIS
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			63105
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-04-13</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000812191</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>REHABCARE GROUP INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>RHB</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001200768</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SHORT JOHN H</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>7733 FORSYTH BLVD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 2300</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ST. LOUIS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MO</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>63105</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President and CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>RehabCare Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-04-13</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>15000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>12.3125</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>38000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Nonqualified Stock Options</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>12.3125</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-04-13</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>15000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>12.3125</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>1998-07-14</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2008-01-14</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock $.01 Par Value</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>15000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>328361</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Betty D. Cammarata, as Power of Attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-04-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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