SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                               ------------------


                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE

                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934



         Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) February 18, 1999



                           Curative Health Services, Inc.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



 Minnesota                       000-19370                   41-1503914
(State or other jurisdiction    (Commission File Number)    (IRS Employer
 of incorporation)                                           Identification No.)


 150 Motor Parkway Hauppauge, NY                             11788-5145
(Address of principal executive offices)                    (Zip code)


 Registrant's telephone number, including area code:        (516)232-7000



                                 NOT APPLICABLE
         (Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)


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Item 5. Other Events.

In the Company's  fourth quarter and year end 1998 telephone  conference  call
held on February  18,  1999 with  analyst  and other  members of the  investor
community,  Curative  Health  Services,  Inc.  announced  that it expects  the
percentage  growth in its  revenue and  earnings  for 1999 to be in the low to
mid teens.  The Company  attributed this decline to increased  terminations of
Wound Care  Centers  contracts  and general  uncertainty  with  respect to its
relationship with a major customer.

"During 1998 we  experienced  a greater  number of Wound Care Center  closings
than expected,"   said John Vakoutis,  President and Chief Executive  Officer.
"The hospital industry  experienced  volatility and uncertainty due to pricing
pressures,  competition  and other issues  which has created some  pressure on
our  business  in  the  form  of  increased  negotiations  and in  some  cases
termination.  Although we are  confident  that the Curative  program  provides
hospitals  with  financial   upside,   this  value  is  not  always  accepted,
particularly when the hospital is undergoing broader difficulties."

Mr.  Vakoutis also stated that,  "We have recently  been in  discussions  with
Columbia  Healthcare  regarding our relationship.  Currently we have contracts
with 30  Columbia  hospitals  which  accounted  for  approximately  23% of our
revenue in 1998.  The  purpose of these  discussions  is to develop a standard
template  contract  for all  Columbia  Wound  Care  Center  hospitals  that is
acceptable  to their  legal  team in light of their  current  issues  with the
government.  Although we believe we are making progress,  we have no assurance
that the final outcome will be positive for Curative."

Curative  Health  Services,  Inc. is a leading disease  management  company in
chronic  wound care.  The Company  provides a broad  continuum  of services to
health care  providers  through a  nationwide  network of wound care  programs
which offer comprehensive, multi-disciplinary wound care.

This report release contains forward-looking  statements within the meaning of
Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1993, as amended,  and Section 21E of the
Securities  Exchange  Act  of  1934,  as  amended.  These  statements  include
statements  regarding  intent,  belief or current  expectations of the Company
and its  management.  These  forward-looking  statements are not guarantees of
future  performance and involve a number of risks and  uncertainties  that may
cause the  Company's  actual  results to differ  materially  form the  results
discussed  in these  statements.  Factors  that might  cause such  differences
includes,  but are not limited to, changes in the Company's  level of business
with   Columbia/HCA   Healthcare   Corporation,   changes  in  the  government
regulations  relating to the  Company's  wound care  operations  or  Procuren,
uncertainties  relating  to health  care  reform  initiatives,  changes in the
availability  of third party  reimbursements  for the  Company's  products and
services,  and the other risks and uncertainties detailed form the time in the
Company's  filings with the  Securities and Exchange  commission.  Readers are
cautioned  not to place undue  reliance on these  forward-looking  statements,
which speak only as of the date of this  release.  The Company  undertakes  no
obligation to update  publicly any  forward-looking  statements to reflect new
information,  events or  circumstances  after the date of this  release  or to
reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.


Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

        (a)(b) No financial  statements or proforma financial  information
               filed herein.

        (c)    No exhibits are filed as part of this Report.


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                                   SIGNATURES



Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of  1934,  the
registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.



                                     Curative Health Services, Inc.
                                    (Registrant)


                                     
 Date:  February 18, 1999            By:  /s/  John C. Prior
                                     ---------------------------------
                                     John C. Prior
                                     Senior Vice President/Finance and CFO