<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001127602-17-029993.txt : 20171018
<SEC-HEADER>0001127602-17-029993.hdr.sgml : 20171018
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20171018115929
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001127602-17-029993
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20171016
FILED AS OF DATE:		20171018
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20171018

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ELSON CHARLES M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001122124

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-10315
		FILM NUMBER:		171142206

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1401 61STG STREET S
		STREET 2:		STETSON UNIV COLLEGE OF LAW
		CITY:			ST PETERSBURG
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			33707

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HEALTHSOUTH CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000785161
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-HOSPITALS [8060]
		IRS NUMBER:				630860407
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3660 GRANDVIEW PARKWAY
		STREET 2:		SUITE 200
		CITY:			BIRMINGHAM
		STATE:			AL
		ZIP:			35243
		BUSINESS PHONE:		205-967-7116

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3660 GRANDVIEW PARKWAY
		STREET 2:		SUITE 200
		CITY:			BIRMINGHAM
		STATE:			AL
		ZIP:			35243

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	HEALTHSOUTH REHABILITATION CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>form4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2017-10-16</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000785161</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>HEALTHSOUTH CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>HLS</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001122124</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ELSON CHARLES M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1002 WESTOVER ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WILMINGTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>DE</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>19807</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Healthsouth Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2017-10-16</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>344</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>69167</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Pursuant to outstanding restricted stock unit award agreements, additional restricted stock units (&quot;RSUs&quot;) are credited to each non-employee director's account on common stock dividend payment dates. The number of RSUs credited is equal to (a) the product of (i) the number of the RSUs in each director's account on the associated dividend record date and (ii) the per share dividend, divided by (b) the closing price on the dividend payment date. On October 16, 2017, HealthSouth paid a dividend on its common stock of $0.25 per share. The transaction reported on this Form 4 is an award of RSUs associated with that dividend payment.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Patrick Darby, attorney-in-fact for Charles M. Elson</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2017-10-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
