UNITED STATES
                       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): August 17, 2004


                             HEALTHSOUTH Corporation
                             -----------------------
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

                                    Delaware
                                    --------
                 (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)

        1-10315                                          63-0860407
------------------------                      ---------------------------------
(Commission File Number)                      (IRS Employer Identification No.)


               One HEALTHSOUTH Parkway, Birmingham, Alabama 35243
          ------------------------------------------------------------
          (Address of Principal Executive Offices, Including Zip Code)


                                 (205) 967-7116
              ----------------------------------------------------
              (Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)



<PAGE>

ITEM 5.  Other Events and Required FD Disclosure.

         On August 17, 2004, HEALTHSOUTH Corporation issued a press release
entitled: "HEALTHSOUTH Corporation Appoints Two New Members to Board of
Directors."

         A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99 and
incorporated herein by reference.



ITEM 7.  Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits.

(c) Exhibits.

See Exhibit Index.


<PAGE>



                                   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 hereunto duly authorized.

                                     HEALTHSOUTH CORPORATION


                                     By: /s/    Gregory L. Doody
                                         -----------------------------
                                         Name:  Gregory L. Doody
                                         Title: Executive Vice President,
                                                   General Counsel and Secretary



Dated: August 17, 2004


<PAGE>


                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.                       Description
-----------                       -----------

99                Press release of HEALTHSOUTH Corporation dated
                  August 17, 2004.




<PAGE>


                                                                      EXHIBIT 99

News From

HEALTHSOUTH(R)

                                                           FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
                                                                 August 17, 2004

               HEALTHSOUTH CORPORATION APPOINTS TWO NEW MEMBERS TO
                               BOARD OF DIRECTORS

BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA -- HealthSouth Corporation (OTC Pink Sheets: HLSH) today
announced the appointment of Lee Higdon, 58, and John E. Maupin, Jr., D.D.S, 57,
to its board of directors and to the special committee of its board of
directors, effective immediately. Higdon is president of the College of
Charleston in Charleston, S.C. Maupin is president and CEO of Meharry Medical
College in Nashville, Tenn.

"Lee and John bring extensive financial, administrative, and healthcare
experience to the board," said Bob May, HealthSouth chairman of the board. "We
are very pleased to have them join us as new independent directors, and we look
forward to their help in continuing to develop HealthSouth's platform for future
growth and success."

Prior to moving to Charleston in 2001, Higdon served as president of Babson
College in Wellesley, Mass., a leading school of entrepreneurship. He also
served as dean of the Darden Graduate School of Business Administration of the
University of Virginia, which was ranked among the top five business schools by
Business Week and among the top 10 by U.S. News & World Report during his
tenure.

His financial experience includes a 20-year tenure at Salomon Brothers, where he
became vice chairman and member of the executive committee, managing the Global
Investment Banking Division. As a leading investment banker, he initiated and
executed four transactions recognized by Institutional Investor as "Deals of the
Year."

Higdon sits on the boards of directors of Crompton Corporation, Eaton Vance
Corp. and Newmont Mining. He was formerly a board member of Mt. Holyoke College,
Bestfoods Corporation, Georgetown University, Brooklyn Museum of Art and
Africare. He received an A.B. degree in history from Georgetown University. He
earned his masters degree in 1972 from the University of Chicago where he
majored in finance.

Maupin served from 1989 to 1994 as executive vice president and chief operating
officer for the Morehouse School of Medicine and was executive director and
chief executive officer for Southside Healthcare, Inc. prior to joining
Morehouse. He also served as deputy commissioner for medical services and
assistant commission of clinical health services for the City of Baltimore
Health Department.

Maupin serves on the board of LifePoint Hospitals, Inc. and Pinnacle Financial
Partners, Inc. In addition, he has served on numerous national scientific and
advisory boards, including the National Advisory Research Council of the
National Center for Research Resources, National Institute of Health. He
currently serves as president of the Association of Minority Health Professions
Schools, a member of the U.S. Department of Education's national Committee on
Foreign Medical Education Accreditation, and a member of the board of overseers
for the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center. He received a masters of business
administration degree from Loyola College and a D.D.S. degree from Meharry
Medical College.

ABOUT HEALTHSOUTH
HealthSouth is the nation's largest provider of outpatient surgery, diagnostic
imaging and rehabilitative healthcare services, with locations nationwide and
abroad. HealthSouth can be found on the Web at www.healthsouth.com.

Statements contained in this press release which are not historical facts are
forward-looking statements. In addition, HealthSouth, through its senior
management, may from time to time make forward-looking public statements
concerning the matters described herein. Such forward-looking statements are
necessarily estimates based upon current information, involve a number of risks
and uncertainties and are made pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. HealthSouth's actual results
may differ materially from the results anticipated in these forward-looking
statements as a result of a variety of factors. While it is impossible to
identify all such factors, factors which could cause actual results to differ
materially from those estimated by HealthSouth include, but are not limited to:
the investigations by the Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange
Commission into HealthSouth's financial reporting and related activity calling
into question the accuracy of the Company's previously filed financial
statements; HealthSouth's statement that as a result of the investigations, the
Company's previously filed financial statements should no longer be relied upon
and may result in the Company restating its prior financial statements; the
withdrawal by HealthSouth's former accountants of their audit reports on all of
the Company's previously filed financial statements; the outcome of pending
litigation relating to these matters; significant changes in HealthSouth's
management team; HealthSouth's ability to successfully amend, restructure and/or
renegotiate its existing indebtedness or cure or receive a waiver of the events
of default under such agreements, the failure of which may result in HealthSouth
filing a voluntary petition for bankruptcy; HealthSouth's ability to continue to
operate in the ordinary course and manage it's relationships with its creditors,
including it's lenders, bondholders, vendors and suppliers, employees and
customers; changes, delays in or suspension of reimbursement for HealthSouth's
services by governmental or private payors; changes in the regulation of the
healthcare industry at either or both of the federal and state levels; changes
to or delays in the implementation of the prospective payment system for
inpatient rehabilitation services; competitive pressures in the healthcare
industry and HealthSouth's response thereto; HealthSouth's ability to obtain and
retain favorable arrangements with third-party payors; general conditions in the
economy and capital markets; and other factors which may be identified from time
to time in the Company's SEC filings and other public announcements.

                                       ###

           For more information contact Andy Brimmer at 205-410-2777.
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UNITED STATES
                       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): August 17, 2004

                             HEALTHSOUTH Corporation
                             -----------------------
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

                                    Delaware
                                    --------
                 (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)

        1-10315                                          63-0860407
------------------------                      ---------------------------------
(Commission File Number)                      (IRS Employer Identification No.)

               One HEALTHSOUTH Parkway, Birmingham, Alabama 35243
          ------------------------------------------------------------
          (Address of Principal Executive Offices, Including Zip Code)

                                 (205) 967-7116
              ----------------------------------------------------
              (Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
ITEM 5.  Other Events and Required FD Disclosure.

         On August 17, 2004, HEALTHSOUTH Corporation issued a press release
entitled: "HEALTHSOUTH Corporation Appoints Two New Members to Board of
Directors."

         A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99 and
incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 7.  Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits.

(c) Exhibits.

See Exhibit Index.
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 hereunto duly authorized.

                                     HEALTHSOUTH CORPORATION

                                     By: /s/    Gregory L. Doody
                                         -----------------------------
                                         Name:  Gregory L. Doody
                                         Title: Executive Vice President,
                                                   General Counsel and Secretary

Dated: August 17, 2004
EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.                       Description
-----------                       -----------

99                Press release of HEALTHSOUTH Corporation dated
                  August 17, 2004.
EXHIBIT 99

News From

HEALTHSOUTH(R)

                                                           FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
                                                                 August 17, 2004

               HEALTHSOUTH CORPORATION APPOINTS TWO NEW MEMBERS TO
                               BOARD OF DIRECTORS

BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA -- HealthSouth Corporation (OTC Pink Sheets: HLSH) today
announced the appointment of Lee Higdon, 58, and John E. Maupin, Jr., D.D.S, 57,
to its board of directors and to the special committee of its board of
directors, effective immediately. Higdon is president of the College of
Charleston in Charleston, S.C. Maupin is president and CEO of Meharry Medical
College in Nashville, Tenn.

"Lee and John bring extensive financial, administrative, and healthcare
experience to the board," said Bob May, HealthSouth chairman of the board. "We
are very pleased to have them join us as new independent directors, and we look
forward to their help in continuing to develop HealthSouth's platform for future
growth and success."

Prior to moving to Charleston in 2001, Higdon served as president of Babson
College in Wellesley, Mass., a leading school of entrepreneurship. He also
served as dean of the Darden Graduate School of Business Administration of the
University of Virginia, which was ranked among the top five business schools by
Business Week and among the top 10 by U.S. News & World Report during his
tenure.

His financial experience includes a 20-year tenure at Salomon Brothers, where he
became vice chairman and member of the executive committee, managing the Global
Investment Banking Division. As a leading investment banker, he initiated and
executed four transactions recognized by Institutional Investor as "Deals of the
Year."

Higdon sits on the boards of directors of Crompton Corporation, Eaton Vance
Corp. and Newmont Mining. He was formerly a board member of Mt. Holyoke College,
Bestfoods Corporation, Georgetown University, Brooklyn Museum of Art and
Africare. He received an A.B. degree in history from Georgetown University. He
earned his masters degree in 1972 from the University of Chicago where he
majored in finance.

Maupin served from 1989 to 1994 as executive vice president and chief operating
officer for the Morehouse School of Medicine and was executive director and
chief executive officer for Southside Healthcare, Inc. prior to joining
Morehouse. He also served as deputy commissioner for medical services and
assistant commission of clinical health services for the City of Baltimore
Health Department.

Maupin serves on the board of LifePoint Hospitals, Inc. and Pinnacle Financial
Partners, Inc. In addition, he has served on numerous national scientific and
advisory boards, including the National Advisory Research Council of the
National Center for Research Resources, National Institute of Health. He
currently serves as president of the Association of Minority Health Professions
Schools, a member of the U.S. Department of Education's national Committee on
Foreign Medical Education Accreditation, and a member of the board of overseers
for the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center. He received a masters of business
administration degree from Loyola College and a D.D.S. degree from Meharry
Medical College.

ABOUT HEALTHSOUTH
HealthSouth is the nation's largest provider of outpatient surgery, diagnostic
imaging and rehabilitative healthcare services, with locations nationwide and
abroad. HealthSouth can be found on the Web at www.healthsouth.com.

Statements contained in this press release which are not historical facts are
forward-looking statements. In addition, HealthSouth, through its senior
management, may from time to time make forward-looking public statements
concerning the matters described herein. Such forward-looking statements are
necessarily estimates based upon current information, involve a number of risks
and uncertainties and are made pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. HealthSouth's actual results
may differ materially from the results anticipated in these forward-looking
statements as a result of a variety of factors. While it is impossible to
identify all such factors, factors which could cause actual results to differ
materially from those estimated by HealthSouth include, but are not limited to:
the investigations by the Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange
Commission into HealthSouth's financial reporting and related activity calling
into question the accuracy of the Company's previously filed financial
statements; HealthSouth's statement that as a result of the investigations, the
Company's previously filed financial statements should no longer be relied upon
and may result in the Company restating its prior financial statements; the
withdrawal by HealthSouth's former accountants of their audit reports on all of
the Company's previously filed financial statements; the outcome of pending
litigation relating to these matters; significant changes in HealthSouth's
management team; HealthSouth's ability to successfully amend, restructure and/or
renegotiate its existing indebtedness or cure or receive a waiver of the events
of default under such agreements, the failure of which may result in HealthSouth
filing a voluntary petition for bankruptcy; HealthSouth's ability to continue to
operate in the ordinary course and manage it's relationships with its creditors,
including it's lenders, bondholders, vendors and suppliers, employees and
customers; changes, delays in or suspension of reimbursement for HealthSouth's
services by governmental or private payors; changes in the regulation of the
healthcare industry at either or both of the federal and state levels; changes
to or delays in the implementation of the prospective payment system for
inpatient rehabilitation services; competitive pressures in the healthcare
industry and HealthSouth's response thereto; HealthSouth's ability to obtain and
retain favorable arrangements with third-party payors; general conditions in the
economy and capital markets; and other factors which may be identified from time
to time in the Company's SEC filings and other public announcements.

                                       ###

           For more information contact Andy Brimmer at 205-410-2777.