<PAGE>
      AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON MAY 17, 2002
                                                           REGISTRATION NO. ____

================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                                   -----------
                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                                   -----------
                           HORIZON HEALTH CORPORATION
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

         DELAWARE                                                75-2293354
(State or other jurisdiction of                               (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)                               Identification No.)

                             1500 WATERS RIDGE DRIVE
                          LEWISVILLE, TEXAS 75057-6011
                    (Address of principal executive offices)

                           HORIZON HEALTH CORPORATION
                             1998 STOCK OPTION PLAN
                            (Full title of the plan)

                                 JAMES W. MCATEE
                      PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
                           HORIZON HEALTH CORPORATION
                             1500 WATERS RIDGE DRIVE
                          LEWISVILLE, TEXAS 75057-6011
                                 (972) 420-8200
            (Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)

                                   COPIES TO:

                           STRASBURGER & PRICE, L.L.P.
                           901 MAIN STREET, SUITE 4300
                               DALLAS, TEXAS 75202
                                 (214) 651-4300
                         ATTN: DAVID K. MEYERCORD, ESQ.

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE


<Table>
<Caption>
                                                             PROPOSED MAXIMUM     PROPOSED MAXIMUM
                                          AMOUNT TO BE      OFFERING PRICE PER   AGGREGATE OFFERING        AMOUNT OF
TITLE OF SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED     REGISTERED (1)         SHARE (2)            PRICE (3)         REGISTRATION FEE
------------------------------------     --------------     ------------------   ------------------    ----------------
<S>                                      <C>                <C>                  <C>                   <C>

Common Stock, $.01 par value             800,000 shares            $19.65             $5,895,000            $542.34
</Table>

(1)   Represents the maximum aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that can
      be purchased by employees under the stock option plan described herein.

(2)   Estimated solely for purposes of computing the amount of the registration
      fee in accordance with Rule 457(h) under the Securities Act of 1933, as
      amended, based on the average of the high and low prices for the Common
      Stock on the Nasdaq Stock Market on May 13, 2002.

(3)   Fee based on additional 300,000 shares being registered under this
      registration statement. Filing fees for 500,000 shares previously
      registered were paid with the filing of a Registration Statement on Form
      S-8 for the stock option plan on August 28, 2000 (Registration Number
      333-44690).


<PAGE>

                                  INTRODUCTION

      This Registration Statement on Form S-8 is filed by Horizon Health
Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), relating to an additional
300,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock, $.01 par value, issuable upon
exercise of stock options granted to optionees pursuant to the Horizon Health
Corporation 1998 Stock Option Plan ("Plan") and consists of only those items
required by General Instruction E to Form S-8. On January 16, 2002, the
stockholders of the Company approved an amendment to the Plan increasing the
number of shares available for stock options granted under the Plan by an
additional 300,000 shares. As amended, a total of 800,000 shares are issuable
upon the grant of stock options under the Plan.

      500,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock, $.01 par value, were
previously registered on the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-8
(Registration No. 333-44690), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
on August 28, 2000, for issuance upon the exercise of stock options granted to
optionees under the Plan.

                                     PART I
              INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

      Pursuant to General Instruction E to Form S-8, Part I is not filed as part
of this Registration Statement.

                                     PART II
               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

      Pursuant to General Instruction E to Form S-8, the contents of the
Company's Registration Statement on Form S-8 (Registration No. 333-44690), as
amended, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 28, 2000,
are incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement.

      For the purposes of this Registration Statement, any statement contained
in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated herein by reference,
shall be deemed to be modified or superseded to the extent that a statement
contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is
deemed to be incorporated herein by reference modifies or supersedes such
statement in such document. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be
deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this
Registration Statement.

ITEM 8. EXHIBITS.

<Table>
<Caption>
EXHIBIT
  NO.                                   DESCRIPTION
-------                                 -----------

<S>      <C>
5.1      Opinion of Strasburger & Price, L.L.P. regarding legality of shares
         being registered (filed herewith).

23.1     Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (filed herewith).

23.2     Consent of Strasburger & Price, L.L.P. (contained in opinion filed as
         Exhibit 5.1).

24.1     Power of Attorney (contained on signature page of this Registration
         Statement).
</Table>




                                       2
<PAGE>

                                   SIGNATURES

      THE REGISTRANT. Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of
1933, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it
meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this
Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized, in the City of Lewisville, State of Texas, on May 15, 2002.

                                        HORIZON HEALTH CORPORATION



                                        By: /s/ James W. McAtee
                                            ------------------------------------
                                            James W. McAtee
                                            Principal Executive Officer


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

      Each individual whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints
James W. McAtee and Ronald C. Drabik, and each of them, such person's true and
lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of substitution and
resubstitution, for such person and in such person's name, place, and stead, in
any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective
amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same with all
exhibits thereto, and all documents in connection therewith, with the Securities
and Exchange Commission, granting unto such attorneys-in-fact and agents, and
each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and
thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to
all intents and purposes as such person might or could do in person, hereby
ratifying and confirming all that such attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of
them, or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by
virtue hereof.

      PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED,
THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT HAS BEEN SIGNED BY THE FOLLOWING PERSONS IN THE
CAPACITIES AND ON THE DATES INDICATED.

<Table>
<Caption>
SIGNATURE                                   CAPACITY                                        DATE
---------                                   --------                                        ----
<S>                                         <C>                                             <C>

   /s/ James W. McAtee                      President and Principal Executive Officer;      May 15, 2002
--------------------------------------      Director
    James W. McAtee

   /s/ Ronald C. Drabik                     Senior Vice President, Principal Financial      May 15, 2002
--------------------------------------      and Accounting Officer and Treasurer
   Ronald C. Drabik

   /s/ Jack R. Anderson                     Director                                        May 15, 2002
--------------------------------------
      Jack R. Anderson

   /s/ George E. Bello                      Director                                        May 15, 2002
--------------------------------------
       George E. Bello

   /s/ James E. Buncher                     Director                                        May 15, 2002
--------------------------------------
    James E. Buncher

   /s/ William H. Longfield                 Director                                        May 15, 2002
--------------------------------------
   William H. Longfield

   /s/ James Ken Newman                     Director                                        May 15, 2002
--------------------------------------
    James Ken Newman

   /s/ Donald E. Steen                      Director                                        May 15, 2002
--------------------------------------
      Donald E. Steen
</Table>



                                       3
<PAGE>


                               INDEX TO EXHIBITS

<Table>
<Caption>
EXHIBIT
NUMBER                   DESCRIPTION
-------                  -----------
<S>                      <C>

   5.1                   Opinion of Strasburger & Price, L.L.P. regarding
                         legality of shares being registered (filed herewith).

   23.1                  Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (filed herewith).

   23.2                  Consent of Strasburger & Price, L.L.P. (contained in
                         opinion filed as Exhibit 5.1).

   24.1                  Power of Attorney (contained on signature page of this
                         Registration Statement).
</Table>




                                       4
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{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "HORIZON HEALTH CORP /DE/", "cik": "0000935007", "assigned-sic": "8090", "irs-number": "752293354", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "0831"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-88556", "film-number": "02656234"}, "business-address": {"street1": "1500 WATERS RIDGE DR", "street2": "STE 320", "city": "LEWISVILLE", "state": "TX", "zip": "75057", "phone": "9724208200"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "1500 WATERS RIDGE DR", "city": "LEWISVILLE", "state": "TX", "zip": "75057"}, "former-company": {"former-conformed-name": "HORIZON MENTAL HEALTH MANAGEMENT INC", "date-changed": "19950106"}}
AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON MAY 17, 2002
                                                           REGISTRATION NO. ____

================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                                   -----------
                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                                   -----------
                           HORIZON HEALTH CORPORATION
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

         DELAWARE                                                75-2293354
(State or other jurisdiction of                               (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)                               Identification No.)

                             1500 WATERS RIDGE DRIVE
                          LEWISVILLE, TEXAS 75057-6011
                    (Address of principal executive offices)

                           HORIZON HEALTH CORPORATION
                             1998 STOCK OPTION PLAN
                            (Full title of the plan)

                                 JAMES W. MCATEE
                      PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
                           HORIZON HEALTH CORPORATION
                             1500 WATERS RIDGE DRIVE
                          LEWISVILLE, TEXAS 75057-6011
                                 (972) 420-8200
            (Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)

                                   COPIES TO:

                           STRASBURGER & PRICE, L.L.P.
                           901 MAIN STREET, SUITE 4300
                               DALLAS, TEXAS 75202
                                 (214) 651-4300
                         ATTN: DAVID K. MEYERCORD, ESQ.

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
PROPOSED MAXIMUM     PROPOSED MAXIMUM
                                          AMOUNT TO BE      OFFERING PRICE PER   AGGREGATE OFFERING        AMOUNT OF
TITLE OF SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED     REGISTERED (1)         SHARE (2)            PRICE (3)         REGISTRATION FEE
------------------------------------     --------------     ------------------   ------------------    ----------------
Common Stock, $.01 par value             800,000 shares            $19.65             $5,895,000            $542.34
(1)   Represents the maximum aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that can
      be purchased by employees under the stock option plan described herein.

(2)   Estimated solely for purposes of computing the amount of the registration
      fee in accordance with Rule 457(h) under the Securities Act of 1933, as
      amended, based on the average of the high and low prices for the Common
      Stock on the Nasdaq Stock Market on May 13, 2002.

(3)   Fee based on additional 300,000 shares being registered under this
      registration statement. Filing fees for 500,000 shares previously
      registered were paid with the filing of a Registration Statement on Form
      S-8 for the stock option plan on August 28, 2000 (Registration Number
      333-44690).
INTRODUCTION

      This Registration Statement on Form S-8 is filed by Horizon Health
Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), relating to an additional
300,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock, $.01 par value, issuable upon
exercise of stock options granted to optionees pursuant to the Horizon Health
Corporation 1998 Stock Option Plan ("Plan") and consists of only those items
required by General Instruction E to Form S-8. On January 16, 2002, the
stockholders of the Company approved an amendment to the Plan increasing the
number of shares available for stock options granted under the Plan by an
additional 300,000 shares. As amended, a total of 800,000 shares are issuable
upon the grant of stock options under the Plan.

      500,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock, $.01 par value, were
previously registered on the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-8
(Registration No. 333-44690), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
on August 28, 2000, for issuance upon the exercise of stock options granted to
optionees under the Plan.

                                     PART I
              INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

      Pursuant to General Instruction E to Form S-8, Part I is not filed as part
of this Registration Statement.

                                     PART II
               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

      Pursuant to General Instruction E to Form S-8, the contents of the
Company's Registration Statement on Form S-8 (Registration No. 333-44690), as
amended, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 28, 2000,
are incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement.

      For the purposes of this Registration Statement, any statement contained
in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated herein by reference,
shall be deemed to be modified or superseded to the extent that a statement
contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is
deemed to be incorporated herein by reference modifies or supersedes such
statement in such document. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be
deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this
Registration Statement.

ITEM 8. EXHIBITS.
EXHIBIT
  NO.                                   DESCRIPTION
-------                                 -----------
5.1      Opinion of Strasburger & Price, L.L.P. regarding legality of shares
         being registered (filed herewith).

23.1     Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (filed herewith).

23.2     Consent of Strasburger & Price, L.L.P. (contained in opinion filed as
         Exhibit 5.1).

24.1     Power of Attorney (contained on signature page of this Registration
         Statement).
2
SIGNATURES

      THE REGISTRANT. Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of
1933, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it
meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this
Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized, in the City of Lewisville, State of Texas, on May 15, 2002.

                                        HORIZON HEALTH CORPORATION

                                        By: /s/ James W. McAtee
                                            ------------------------------------
                                            James W. McAtee
                                            Principal Executive Officer

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

      Each individual whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints
James W. McAtee and Ronald C. Drabik, and each of them, such person's true and
lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of substitution and
resubstitution, for such person and in such person's name, place, and stead, in
any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective
amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same with all
exhibits thereto, and all documents in connection therewith, with the Securities
and Exchange Commission, granting unto such attorneys-in-fact and agents, and
each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and
thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to
all intents and purposes as such person might or could do in person, hereby
ratifying and confirming all that such attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of
them, or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by
virtue hereof.

      PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED,
THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT HAS BEEN SIGNED BY THE FOLLOWING PERSONS IN THE
CAPACITIES AND ON THE DATES INDICATED.
SIGNATURE                                   CAPACITY                                        DATE
---------                                   --------                                        ----
/s/ James W. McAtee                      President and Principal Executive Officer;      May 15, 2002
--------------------------------------      Director
    James W. McAtee

   /s/ Ronald C. Drabik                     Senior Vice President, Principal Financial      May 15, 2002
--------------------------------------      and Accounting Officer and Treasurer
   Ronald C. Drabik

   /s/ Jack R. Anderson                     Director                                        May 15, 2002
--------------------------------------
      Jack R. Anderson

   /s/ George E. Bello                      Director                                        May 15, 2002
--------------------------------------
       George E. Bello

   /s/ James E. Buncher                     Director                                        May 15, 2002
--------------------------------------
    James E. Buncher

   /s/ William H. Longfield                 Director                                        May 15, 2002
--------------------------------------
   William H. Longfield

   /s/ James Ken Newman                     Director                                        May 15, 2002
--------------------------------------
    James Ken Newman

   /s/ Donald E. Steen                      Director                                        May 15, 2002
--------------------------------------
      Donald E. Steen
3
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
EXHIBIT
NUMBER                   DESCRIPTION
-------                  -----------
5.1                   Opinion of Strasburger & Price, L.L.P. regarding
                         legality of shares being registered (filed herewith).

   23.1                  Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (filed herewith).

   23.2                  Consent of Strasburger & Price, L.L.P. (contained in
                         opinion filed as Exhibit 5.1).

   24.1                  Power of Attorney (contained on signature page of this
                         Registration Statement).
4