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): September 12, 1997

                        Merit Behavioral Care Corporation
               (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

                                    Delaware
                 (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)


33-80987                                                   22-3236927
(Commission                                              (IRS Employer
File Number)                                          Identification No.)


                One Maynard Drive, Park Ridge, New Jersey    07656
              (Address of Principal Executive Offices)    (Zip Code)

                                (201) 391-8700
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

                                     N/A
      (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)




<PAGE>



ITEM 2.           ACQUISITION OR DISPOSITION OF ASSETS

         On September  12,  1997,  Merit  Behavioral  Care  Corporation  ("MBC")
acquired all of the outstanding  capital stock of CMG Health,  Inc. ("CMG") (the
"Acquisition"). The Acquisition was effected through a merger of an affiliate of
MBC with CMG, as a result of which CMG became a wholly owned  subsidiary of MBC.
All of the issued and  outstanding  capital stock of CMG were exchanged for: (1)
approximately  $51.5 million in cash,  (2)  approximately  750,000 shares of MBC
common  stock  and (3)  rights  to  receive  certain  additional  cash and stock
consideration   based  upon  future  events  and  the   post-closing   financial
performance of CMG. The Chase Manhattan Bank and certain other lenders  provided
the financing  required to complete the Acquisition.  The description  contained
herein of the  Acquisition  is  qualified  in its  entirety by  reference to the
Agreement  and Plan of Merger  filed as Exhibit 2.1 to MBC's  Current  Report on
Form 8-K dated July 15, 1997, which is incorporated herein by reference.

         A copy of the  press  release  issued  by MBC and  CMG  announcing  the
consummation of the Acquisition is attached hereto as an exhibit.

 ITEM 7.          FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION
                  AND EXHIBITS

                  (a)      Financial Statements of Business Acquired.

                           Not Applicable.

                  (b)      Pro Forma Financial Information.

                           Not Applicable.

                  (c)      Exhibits.

                           The  following  exhibit is filed with this  Report on
                           Form 8-K.

                           Regulation S-K
                           Exhibit Number              Exhibit

                           99.1                        Press release dated 
                                                       September 16, 1997.




<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.


                                           MERIT BEHAVIORAL CARE CORPORATION


                                           /s/ John A. Budnick
                                           ---------------------------------
                                           John A. Budnick
                                           Chief Financial Officer


Date: September 17, 1997
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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): September 12, 1997

                        Merit Behavioral Care Corporation
               (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

                                    Delaware
                 (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)

33-80987                                                   22-3236927
(Commission                                              (IRS Employer
File Number)                                          Identification No.)

                One Maynard Drive, Park Ridge, New Jersey    07656
              (Address of Principal Executive Offices)    (Zip Code)

                                (201) 391-8700
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

                                     N/A
      (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)
ITEM 2.           ACQUISITION OR DISPOSITION OF ASSETS

         On September  12,  1997,  Merit  Behavioral  Care  Corporation  ("MBC")
acquired all of the outstanding  capital stock of CMG Health,  Inc. ("CMG") (the
"Acquisition"). The Acquisition was effected through a merger of an affiliate of
MBC with CMG, as a result of which CMG became a wholly owned  subsidiary of MBC.
All of the issued and  outstanding  capital stock of CMG were exchanged for: (1)
approximately  $51.5 million in cash,  (2)  approximately  750,000 shares of MBC
common  stock  and (3)  rights  to  receive  certain  additional  cash and stock
consideration   based  upon  future  events  and  the   post-closing   financial
performance of CMG. The Chase Manhattan Bank and certain other lenders  provided
the financing  required to complete the Acquisition.  The description  contained
herein of the  Acquisition  is  qualified  in its  entirety by  reference to the
Agreement  and Plan of Merger  filed as Exhibit 2.1 to MBC's  Current  Report on
Form 8-K dated July 15, 1997, which is incorporated herein by reference.

         A copy of the  press  release  issued  by MBC and  CMG  announcing  the
consummation of the Acquisition is attached hereto as an exhibit.

 ITEM 7.          FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION
                  AND EXHIBITS

                  (a)      Financial Statements of Business Acquired.

                           Not Applicable.

                  (b)      Pro Forma Financial Information.

                           Not Applicable.

                  (c)      Exhibits.

                           The  following  exhibit is filed with this  Report on
                           Form 8-K.

                           Regulation S-K
                           Exhibit Number              Exhibit

                           99.1                        Press release dated 
                                                       September 16, 1997.
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.

                                           MERIT BEHAVIORAL CARE CORPORATION

                                           /s/ John A. Budnick
                                           ---------------------------------
                                           John A. Budnick
                                           Chief Financial Officer

Date: September 17, 1997