MAGELLAN HEALTH SERVICES INC
S-3, 1996-02-26
HOSPITALS
Previous: AIM FUNDS GROUP/DE, 24F-2NT, 1996-02-26
Next: CHEMICAL FINANCIAL CORP, S-4/A, 1996-02-26



    As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 26, 1996
                                                           Registration No. 33-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

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

                                    FORM S-3
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

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

                         MAGELLAN HEALTH SERVICES, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

         Delaware                                               58-1076937
(State or other jurisdiction of                              (I.R.S. Employer
 incorporation or organization)                             Identification No.)

                            3414 Peachtree Road, N.E.
                                   Suite 1400
                             Atlanta, Georgia 30326
                                 (404) 841-9200
                   (Address, including zip code, and telephone
                         number, including area code, of
                    registrant's principal executive offices)

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

                              STEVE J. DAVIS, ESQ.,
                EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
                               AND GENERAL COUNSEL
                         Magellan Health Services, Inc.
                            3414 Peachtree Road, N.E.
                                   Suite 1400
                             Atlanta, Georgia 30326
                                 (404) 841-9200
                    (Name , address, including zip code, and
                        telephone number, including area
                           code, of agent for service)

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

                                    Copy to:
                   CRAIG L. MCKNIGHT, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT
                           AND CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
                         Magellan Health Services, Inc.
                            3414 Peachtree Road, N.E.
                                   Suite 1400
                             Atlanta, Georgia 30326
                                 (404) 841-9200
                      ------------------------------------

          Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to public:
From time to time after the effective date of the Registration Statement, as 
determined by market conditions.

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


         If the only securities  being registered on this Form are being offered
         pursuant to dividend or interest  reinvestment plans, please check the
         following box. [ ]

         If any of the securities being registered on this form are to be 
         offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the
         Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in 
         connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the 
         following box. [X]

         If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering
         pursuant to Rule 462(b)  under the  Securities  Act,  please  check the
         following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number
         of the earlier effective  registration statement for the same offering.
         [ ]

         If this  Form is a  post-effective  amendment  filed  pursuant  to Rule
         462(c) under the  Securities  Act, check the following box and list the
         Securities Act registration  statement number of the earlier  effective
         registration statement for the same offering. [ ]

         If the delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to 
         Rule 434, please check the following box. [ ]

         The Registrant hereby amends this  Registration  Statement on such date
or dates as may be necessary to delay its  effective  date until the  Registrant
shall file a further amendment which specifically  states that this Registration
Statement shall  thereafter  become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of
the  Securities  Act of 1933 or until the  Registration  Statement  shall become
effective on such date as the Commission,  acting pursuant to said Section 8(a),
may determine.

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




<PAGE>



                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                   Proposed          Proposed
   Title of                         maximum           maximum
    Shares            Amount       offering          aggregate       Amount of
    to be              to be         price           offering      registration
 registered (1)     registered    per Unit (2)       price (2)          fee
- -----------------   ----------    ------------     ------------    -----------

Common Stock,
$.25 par value
per share......... 4,000,000         $23.0625      $92,250,000.00   $31,810.34



(1)      This Registration Statement also covers an equal number of Common Stock
         purchase rights issuable  pursuant to Magellan  Health  Services,  Inc.
         Share Purchase Rights Plan, which rights will be transferable only with
         related Shares of Common Stock.

(2)      Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the  registration  fee.
         In  accordance  with Rule 457(c) under the  Securities  Act of 1933, as
         amended,  such  amounts  are based on the  average  of the high and low
         prices per share of Common Stock of Magellan Health  Services,  Inc. on
         February 21, 1996, as reported on the American Stock Exchange.

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





<PAGE>



Information   contained  herein  is  subject  to  completion  or  amendment.   A
registration  statement  relating  to these  securities  has been filed with the
Securities  and Exchange  Commission.  These  securities may not be sold nor may
offers to buy be accepted prior to the time the registration  statement  becomes
effective.  This  prospectus  shall  not  constitute  an  offer  to  sell or the
solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of these  securities
in any State in which such offer,  solicitation  or sale would be unlawful prior
to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such State.

PROSPECTUS                                                Subject to Completion
                                4,000,000 SHARES              February 26, 1996

                         MAGELLAN HEALTH SERVICES, INC.

                                  COMMON STOCK
                                ($.25 Par Value)

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


         The 4,000,000  shares (the  "Shares") of common  stock,  $.25 par value
("Common Stock"),  of Magellan Health Services,  Inc.,  formerly Charter Medical
Corporation ("Magellan" or the "Company"),  may be offered for sale from time to
time by and for the account of Rainwater-Magellan  Holdings,  L.P. (the "Selling
Stockholder").  See "Selling  Stockholder." The Selling Stockholder acquired the
Shares,  along with a warrant to  purchase  an  additional  2,000,000  shares of
Common  Stock  (the  "Warrant")  on  January  25,  1996 in a  private  placement
transaction with the Company. Magellan will not receive any of the proceeds from
the sale of the Shares by the Selling Stockholder.

         Magellan is  registering  the Shares as required by a Stock and Warrant
Purchase  Agreement dated December 22, 1995, as amended,  among Magellan and the
Selling Stockholder (the "Stock and Warrant Purchase Agreement"), to provide the
Selling Stockholder with freely tradeable  securities.  Magellan has also agreed
to pay all fees and  expenses  incident  to such  registration,  other  than any
underwriting discounts or any selling commissions payable in respect of sales of
the Shares, which will be paid by the Selling Stockholder.  It is estimated that
the fees and expenses payable by the Company in connection with the registration
of the Shares will be  approximately  $55,000.  Magellan  has agreed to keep the
Registration  Statement (as  hereinafter  defined)  current and  effective  with
certain  exceptions  for so long as the Selling  Stockholder  and its affiliates
collectively  own at least 25% of the Shares  (including  shares  underlying the
Warrant). See "Plan of Distribution."

         The Common Stock is listed on the  American  Stock  Exchange  under the
symbol  "MGL." On February 23, 1996,  the last reported sale price of the Common
Stock on the American Stock Exchange was $23.625 per share.

         The Selling Stockholder from time to time may offer and sell the Shares
directly or through agents or  broker-dealers  on the American Stock Exchange or
otherwise  on prices and terms  related to the then  current  market price or in
privately  negotiated  transactions.  To the extent  required,  the names of any
agent or  broker-dealer  and  applicable  commissions or discounts and any other
required  information  with respect to any particular offer will be set forth in
an accompanying  Prospectus Supplement.  See "Plan of Distribution." The Selling
Stockholder  reserves  the sole right to accept or reject,  in whole or in part,
any proposed purchase of the Shares to be made directly or through agents.

         Certain  transfer  restrictions  have been placed on the Shares offered
hereby pursuant to the Stock and Warrant  Purchase  Agreement.  As a result,  no
more than 40,000 Shares may be sold by the Selling Stockholder or its affiliates
prior to January  25,  1997.  Further,  prior to January 25,  2000,  the Selling
Stockholder or its affiliates may not sell or transfer in a privately negotiated
transaction to a single purchaser and its affiliates, or any "group" (as defined
in Rule  13d-5(b)(1)  under the  Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934,  as amended)
Shares  (including  shares  underlying  the Warrant) which would equal or exceed
five percent (5%) of the Common Stock then outstanding on a fully-diluted basis.
Neither  of these  restrictions  affect the free  transferability  of the Shares
among the Selling Stockholder and its affiliates.

         The  Selling   Stockholder  and  any  agents  or  broker-dealers   that
participate  with the Selling  Stockholder in the distribution of the Shares may
be deemed to be "underwriters" within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended (the "1933 Act"), and any commissions received by them and any profit
on the  resale of the  Shares may be deemed to be  underwriting  commissions  or
discounts   under  the  1933  Act.  See  "Plan  of   Distribution"   herein  for
indemnification arrangements among Magellan and the Selling Stockholder.

         THERE ARE CERTAIN RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH AN INVESTMENT IN MAGELLAN 
COMMON STOCK.  FOR A DISCUSSION OF SUCH RISKS, SEE "RISK FACTORS" BEGINNING ON 
PAGE 5.

         THESE   SECURITIES  HAVE  NOT  BEEN  APPROVED  OR  DISAPPROVED  BY  THE
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE  COMMISSION OR ANY STATE  SECURITIES  COMMISSION NOR HAS
THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED
UPON THE  ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS  PROSPECTUS.  ANY  REPRESENTATION  TO THE
CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

               The Date of this Prospectus is February_____, 1996.


                                        3

<PAGE>



                              AVAILABLE INFORMATION

         Magellan is subject to the informational requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and,  accordingly,  files
reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange
Commission  (the  "Commission").   Such  reports,  proxy  statements  and  other
information filed with the Commission by Magellan can be inspected and copied at
the office of the Commission at Room 1024, 450 Fifth Street,  N.W.,  Washington,
D.C.  20549, or at its Regional  Offices located at 7 World Trade Center,  Suite
1300,  New York,  New York  10048,  and 500 West  Madison  Street,  Suite  1400,
Chicago,  Illinois 60661,  and copies of such materials can be obtained from the
Public  Reference  Section  of  the  Commission  at  450  Fifth  Street,   N.W.,
Washington,  D.C. 20549, at prescribed  rates. In addition,  the Common Stock of
Magellan is listed on the  American  Stock  Exchange,  and such  reports,  proxy
statements  and other  information  concerning  Magellan can be inspected at the
offices of the American Stock  Exchange,  86 Trinity  Place,  New York, New York
10006.

         Magellan has filed with the Commission a Registration Statement on Form
S-3 (together with any amendments,  the "Registration Statement") under the 1933
Act, covering the shares of Common Stock being offered by this Prospectus.  This
Prospectus, which is part of the Registration Statement, does not contain all of
the information and  undertakings  set forth in the  Registration  Statement and
reference is made to such Registration Statement,  including exhibits, which may
be inspected and copied in the manner and at the locations  specified above, for
further  information  with respect to Magellan and the Common Stock.  Statements
contained in this Prospectus  concerning the provisions of any documents are not
necessarily  complete  and, in each  instance,  reference is made to the copy of
such documents  filed as an exhibit to the  Registration  Statement or otherwise
filed with the  Commission.  Each such statement is qualified in its entirety by
such reference.

                 INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

         The  following  documents  previously  filed  with  the  Commission  by
Magellan  (Commission  File No. 1-6639) are  incorporated by reference into this
Prospectus:

         (i)      Magellan's  Annual  Report  on Form 10-K for the  fiscal  year
                  ended  September  30, 1995, as amended on Form 10-K/A filed on
                  December 28, 1995;

         (ii)     Magellan's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
                  December 31, 1995; and

         (iii)    The  description  of the Magellan  Common Stock in  Magellan's
                  registration statement on Form 8-A dated July 6, 1992.

         In  addition,  all  documents  filed by  Magellan  pursuant to Sections
13(a),  13(c),  14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act  subsequent  to the date of this
Prospectus  and prior to the  termination  of the offering  made pursuant to the
Registration  Statement shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into and
to be a part of this Prospectus  from the date of filing of such documents.  Any
statement  contained in a document so  incorporated by reference shall be deemed
to be modified or superseded for purposes of this  Prospectus to the extent that
a statement  contained in this Prospectus,  or in any other  subsequently  filed
document which is also  incorporated  by reference,  modifies or supersedes such
statement.  Any such statement so modified or superseded  shall not be deemed to
constitute a part of this Prospectus except as so modified or superseded.

         Magellan  will  provide,  without  charge,  to each person to whom this
Prospectus is delivered,  upon the written or oral request of any such person, a
copy of any or all of the documents  incorporated  by reference  (not  including
exhibits to such documents unless such exhibits are specifically incorporated by
reference in such  documents).  Requests for copies of such documents  should be
directed to Mr. Craig L. McKnight,  Executive Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer,  Magellan Health Services, Inc., 3414 Peachtree Road, N.E., Suite 1400,
Atlanta, Georgia 30326, telephone (404) 841-9200.



                                        4

<PAGE>



                                  RISK FACTORS

         In addition to the other information in this Prospectus,  the following
factors  should be  considered  carefully in  evaluating  an  investment  in the
Magellan Common Stock.

         Acquisitions;   Potential  Adverse  Reaction  to  Green  Spring  Health
Services,   Inc.  Acquisition.   The  Company  has  historically  grown  through
acquisitions  and internal  growth.  There can be no assurance  that the Company
will be able to make  successful  acquisitions  in the  future  or that any such
acquisitions,  including the acquisition of Green Spring Health  Services,  Inc.
("Green  Spring"),  will be  successfully  integrated  into its  operations.  In
addition,  future  acquisitions  could have an adverse effect upon the Company's
operating results, particularly in the fiscal quarters immediately following the
consummation  of such  transactions  while  the  acquired  operations  are being
integrated  into its  operations.  The Company's  hospitals  have contracts with
behavioral managed care companies other than Green Spring.  Such other companies
could  decide to  terminate  their  contracts  with the  Company's  hospitals in
reaction to the  Company's  acquisition  of a majority  interest in one of their
major competitors.

         Historical Operating Losses.   The Company has experienced losses from
continuing operations before  reorganization items,  extraordinary items and the
cumulative effect of a change in accounting  principle in each fiscal year since
the completion of a management  buyout in 1988.  Such losses  amounted to $167.2
million for the fiscal year ended  September  30,  1991,  $81.7  million for the
ten-month  period ended July 31, 1992,  $8.1  million for the  two-month  period
ended September 30, 1992 and $39.6 million,  $47.0 million and $43.0 million for
the fiscal years ended September 30, 1993, 1994 and 1995, respectively. Although
the Company  reported income from continuing  operations of  approximately  $9.7
million in the quarter ended  December 31, 1995,  there can be no assurance that
such profitability will continue.  The Company's history of losses could have an
adverse effect on its operations.

       Reimbursement by Third-Party Payors.  For the fiscal year ended September
30, 1995, the Company derived approximately 47% of its gross psychiatric patient
service revenue from  private-pay  sources  (including  HMOs,  PPOs,  commercial
insurance and Blue Cross),  26% from Medicare,  17% from  Medicaid,  4% from the
Civilian Health and Medical Program for the Uniformed  Services  ("CHAMPUS") and
6% from other government programs.  Changes in the mix of the Company's patients
among the  private-pay,  Medicare and Medicaid  categories,  and among different
types of private-pay  sources, can significantly affect the profitability of the
Company's  hospital  operations.  Various  cost-containment  mechanisms  by both
governmental and private third-party payors have limited the scope and amount of
reimbursable  healthcare  expenses.  Therefore,  there can be no assurance  that
payments under  governmental and private  third-party payor programs will remain
at levels  comparable to present levels or will, in the future, be sufficient to
cover the costs of  providing  care to  patients  covered by such  programs.  In
addition,  there can be no assurance that the Company's  hospitals will continue
to meet the requirements for participation in such programs.

       Previous Bankruptcy Reorganization.  The Company was reorganized pursuant
to Chapter 11 of the United States  Bankruptcy Code,  effective on July 21, 1992
(the  "Reorganization").  Prior  to  the  Reorganization,  the  Company's  total
indebtedness was approximately  $1.8 billion;  and from February 1991 until July
1992,  the Company was in default in the payment of interest and  principal,  or
both, on substantially all such  indebtedness.  The indebtedness was incurred by
Magellan in  connection  with a management  buy-out of the Company in 1988 and a
hospital-construction program. As a result of the Reorganization,  the Company's
long-term  debt was reduced by  approximately  $700  million and its  redeemable
preferred  stock of $233  million was  eliminated.  The holders of such debt and
preferred  stock  received   approximately   97%  of  Magellan's   Common  Stock
outstanding on July 21, 1992.

       Governmental Budgetary Constraints and Healthcare Reform. In the 1995 and
1996 sessions of the United States Congress, the focus of healthcare legislation
has been on budgetary and related funding mechanism issues. A number of reports,
including  the 1995  Annual  Report  of the  Board of  Trustees  of the  Federal
Hospital  Insurance  Program  (Medicare) have projected that the Medicare "trust
fund" is likely to become  insolvent by the year 2002 if the current growth rate
of approximately 10% per annum in Medicare  expenditures  continues.  Similarly,
federal and state  expenditures  under the  Medicaid  program are  projected  to
increase  significantly  during the same seven-year period. In response to these
projected expenditure increases, and as part of an effort to balance the federal
budget, both the Congress and the Clinton  Administration have made proposals to
reduce the rate of increase in projected Medicare and Medicaid  expenditures and
to change funding  mechanisms  and other aspects of both programs.  Congress has
passed

                                        5

<PAGE>



legislation that would reduce projected expenditure increases  substantially and
would make significant  changes in the Medicare and the Medicaid  programs.  The
Clinton  Administration  has proposed  alternate measures to reduce, to a lesser
extent,  projected  increases in Medicare and Medicaid  expenditures.  As of the
date of this Prospectus, neither proposal has become law.

         The Medicare  legislation that has been adopted by Congress would, with
some differences,  reduce projected expenditure increases by a variety of means,
including  reduced  payments to providers  (including  the  Company),  increased
beneficiary  premiums for physician and certain other services,  and creation of
incentives  for  Medicare  beneficiaries  to enroll in managed  care plans or to
accept Medicare coverage with a substantially  increased deductible.  Changes in
the  Medicaid  program  would  reduce the number and extent of federal  mandates
concerning how state Medicaid  programs  operate  (including  levels of benefits
provided  and levels of  payments  to  providers)  and would  change the funding
mechanism from a sharing formula  between the federal  government and a state to
"block  grant"  funding.  The  Company  cannot  predict  the  effect of any such
legislation,  if adopted,  on its operations;  but the Company anticipates that,
although  overall  Medicare and Medicaid  funding may be reduced from  projected
levels, the changes in such programs may provide opportunities to the Company to
obtain increased Medicare and Medicaid business through  risk-sharing or partial
risk-sharing contracts with managed care plans and state Medicaid programs.

         Although  the  United  States  Congress,  in  1995  and  1996,  has not
considered  healthcare reform proposals,  the Company  anticipates that numerous
healthcare reform proposals will continue to be introduced in future sessions of
Congress.  The Company cannot predict  whether any such proposal will be adopted
or the effect on the Company of any proposal that does become law.

         A number of states in which the  Company  has  operations  have  either
adopted or are  considering  the  adoption of  healthcare  reform  proposals  of
general  applicability  or  Medicaid  reform  proposals,  partly in  response to
possible  changes in Medicaid law. Where  adopted,  these state reform laws have
often not yet been fully  implemented.  The Company cannot predict the effect of
these state healthcare reform and Medicaid reform laws on its operations.

         Provider Business-Competition.  Competition among hospitals and other
healthcare  providers for patients has intensified in recent years.  During this
period,  hospital occupancy rates for inpatient  behavioral care patients in the
United States have declined as a result of cost containment pressures,  changing
technology,  changes  in  reimbursement,   changes  in  practice  patterns  from
inpatient  to  outpatient  treatment  and other  factors.  In areas in which the
Company operates, there are other hospitals or facilities that provide inpatient
or outpatient services comparable to those offered by Magellan's  hospitals.  In
recent  years,  the  competitive  position of hospitals has been affected by the
ability  of  such  hospitals  to  obtain   contracts  with  Preferred   Provider
Organizations  ("PPO's"),  Health Maintenance  Organizations ("HMO's") and other
managed care programs to provide  inpatient and other  services.  Such contracts
normally involve a discount from the hospital's established charges, but provide
a base of  patient  referrals.  These  contracts  also  frequently  provide  for
pre-admission  certification  and for  concurrent  length of stay  reviews.  The
importance  of  obtaining  contracts  with HMO's,  PPO's and other  managed care
companies  varies  from market to market,  depending  on the  individual  market
strength  of the  managed  care  companies.  In  addition,  hospitals  owned  by
governmental  agencies or other  tax-exempt  entities  benefit from  endowments,
charitable  contributions  and  tax-exemptions,  the advantages of which are not
enjoyed by the Company's hospitals.

         Managed Care Business - Competition.  The  Company,  through  its Green
Spring subsidiary,  now operates in the managed healthcare industry. The managed
healthcare  industry is being  affected by various  external  factors  including
rising healthcare costs, intense price competition,  and market consolidation by
major  managed  care  companies.  Magellan  faces  competition  from a number of
sources including other behavioral health managed care companies and traditional
full  service  managed  care  companies  that  contract  to  provide  behavioral
healthcare  benefits.  Also, to a lesser extent,  competition  exists from fully
capitated  multi-specialty  medical groups and individual practice  associations
that  directly  contract  with managed  care  companies  and other  customers to
provide and manage all  components of healthcare  for the members  including the
behavioral healthcare component.  The Company believes that the most significant
factors in a customer's  selection of a managed  behavioral  healthcare  company
include  price,  the  extent  and depth of  provider  networks  and  quality  of
services.   Management   believes  that  its  managed  care  business   competes
effectively  with respect to these factors.  However,  there can be no assurance
that Magellan will be able to compete  successfully in the managed care business
in the future.

                                        6

<PAGE>



         Limitations Imposed by the Credit Agreement and Senior Note Indenture.
In May 1994, the Company entered into a Second Amended and Restated Credit 
Agreement(the "Credit Agreement") with certain financial institutions and issued
$375 million of Senior Subordinated Notes (the "Senior Notes") to institutional
investors. The Credit Agreement and the indenture for the Senior Notes contain a
number of restrictive  covenants which, among other things, limit the ability of
the Company and certain of its subsidiaries to incur other  indebtedness,  enter
into certain joint venture  transactions,  incur liens, make certain  restricted
payments and investments, enter into certain business combination and asset sale
transactions and make capital  expenditures.  These restrictions could adversely
affect the  Company's  ability to conduct  its  operations,  finance its capital
needs or to pursue attractive  business  combinations and joint ventures if such
opportunities arise. Under the Credit Agreement, the Company also is required to
maintain certain specified financial ratios.  Failure by the Company to maintain
such financial ratios or to comply with the restrictions contained in the Credit
Agreement and the  indenture for the Senior Notes could cause such  indebtedness
(and by reason of cross-acceleration  provisions,  other indebtedness) to become
immediately  due and payable  and/or could cause the  cessation of funding under
the Credit Agreement.

         Regulation.  The federal  government  and all states in which  Magellan
operates healthcare  facilities regulate various aspects of Magellan's business.
Healthcare  facilities are subject to periodic  inspection by  governmental  and
other authorities to ensure continued  compliance with various standards,  their
continued  licensing  under state law and  certification  under the Medicare and
Medicaid  programs.  Although  Magellan  has  not  failed  to  obtain  necessary
approvals  or licenses in the past,  the failure to obtain or renew any required
regulatory  approvals  or  licenses  in the future  could  adversely  affect the
operations of Magellan.

         Magellan's  managed  care  business  operations,  in some  states,  are
subject  to  utilization   review,   licensure  and  related  state   regulation
procedures.  Green Spring provides  managed  behavioral  healthcare  services to
various Blue Cross/Blue  Shield plans that operate  Medicare and Medicaid health
maintenance  organizations  or other  at-risk  managed  care  programs  and that
participate in the Blue Cross Federal Employees health program.  As a contractor
to these Blue  Cross/Blue  Shield plans,  Green Spring is indirectly  subject to
federal  and,  with  respect  to the  Medicaid  program,  state  monitoring  and
regulation  of  performance  and  financial  reporting  requirements.   Although
Magellan  believes that it is in  compliance  with all current state and federal
regulatory  requirements  applicable  to the managed care  business it conducts,
failure to do so could adversely affect its operations.

         Dependence on Healthcare Professionals.  Physicians traditionally have
been the source of a significant portion of the Company's hospital  admissions.
Therefore,  the success of the  Company's  hospitals is dependent in part on the
number and quality of the  physicians on the medical staffs of its hospitals and
their  admission  practices.   A  small  number  of  physicians  account  for  a
significant  portion of patient  admissions at some of the Company's  hospitals.
There can be no assurance that the Company can retain its current  physicians on
staff  or that  additional  physician  relationships  will be  developed  in the
future.  Furthermore,  hospital  physicians  generally  are not employees of the
Company and in general  Magellan  does not have  contractual  arrangements  with
hospital  physicians  restricting  the  ability of such  physicians  to practice
elsewhere.

       Liability Insurance.  Effective June 1, 1995, Plymouth Insurance Company,
Ltd.  ("Plymouth"),  a wholly-owned Bermuda subsidiary of the Company,  provides
$25 million per occurrence general and hospital professional liability insurance
for the Company's hospitals.  All of the risk of losses from $1.5 million to $25
million per  occurrence  has been  reinsured  with  unaffiliated  insurers.  The
Company  also insures  with an  unaffiliated  insurer 100% of the risk of losses
between $25 million and $100 million per occurrence.  The Company's  general and
professional  liability  coverage is written on a "claims made or  circumstances
reported" basis.

         For the six years from June 1, 1989 through May 31,  1995,  the Company
had a similar general and hospital professional liability insurance program. For
those years,  the per occurrence  deductible  (with respect to which the Company
was self-insured) was $2.5 million for the years ended May 31, 1990 and 1991, $2
million for the years ended May 31, 1992 and 1993 and $1.5 million  (relating to
the Company's  general  hospitals sold on September 30, 1993) for the year ended
May 31, 1994. For psychiatric  hospitals,  Plymouth's coverage did not contain a
per occurrence deductible for the years ended May 31, 1994 and 1995. In December
1994,  the per  occurrence  deductible for the years ended May 31, 1989 and 1990
was eliminated. Plymouth provides coverage with no per occurrence deductible for
hospital system claims which had not been paid prior to December 31, 1994.

                                        7

<PAGE>



         The amount of expense relating to Magellan's  malpractice insurance may
materially increase or decrease from year to year depending, among other things,
on the nature and number of new reported claims against  Magellan and amounts of
settlements of previously reported claims. To date, Magellan has not experienced
a loss in excess of policy limits.  Magellan  believes that its coverage  limits
are adequate.

         Capitation  Arrangements.  The  Company's  managed  care  business  has
contracts with companies  holding state HMO or insurance  company  licenses on a
capitated  or  "at-risk"  basis where the risk of patient care is assumed by the
Company in  exchange  for a monthly  fee per member  regardless  of  utilization
level. As of December 31, 1995, approximately 30% of Green Spring's managed care
members were under capitated  arrangements.  During 1995,  approximately  70% of
Green Spring's  revenues were from at-risk  contracts.  Increases in utilization
levels under  capitated  contractual  arrangements  could  adversely  effect the
operations of the managed care business.

       Possible Volatility of Stock Price.  The Company believes factors such as
announcements  with  respect  to  healthcare  reform  measures,   reductions  in
government   healthcare  programs  projected   expenditures,   acquisitions  and
quarter-to-quarter and year-to-year  variations in financial results could cause
the market  price of  Magellan  Common  Stock to  fluctuate  substantially.  Any
adverse  announcement  with  respect to  healthcare  reform  measures or program
expenditures,  acquisitions  or any shortfall in revenue or earnings from levels
expected by securities  analysts could have an immediate and significant adverse
effect on the trading price of Magellan  Common Stock in any given period.  As a
result,  the market for Magellan  Common Stock may  experience  price and volume
fluctuations unrelated to the operating performance of Magellan.

                                   THE COMPANY

         Magellan is an integrated national behavioral  healthcare company.  The
Company  operates  through  three  principal  subsidiaries  engaging  in (i) the
provider  business,  (ii) the managed care  business and (iii) the public sector
business.

         Charter  Behavioral  Health Systems,  Inc., the Company's  wholly-owned
subsidiary  that  engages  in the  provider  business,  operated  99 acute  care
psychiatric  hospitals and three residential treatment centers with an aggregate
capacity of 9,070  licensed  beds as of December 31, 1995.  Ninety-three  of the
Company's  hospitals  operate partial  hospitalization  programs and the Company
operates 141 outpatient centers, staffed by mental health professionals.

         Green Spring, the Company's  majority-owned  subsidiary that engages in
the managed care business,  provides  managed  behavioral  healthcare  services,
which include  utilization  management,  care management and employee assistance
programs  through a network of more than 30,000  providers  nationwide  covering
approximately 12 million members as of December 31, 1995.

         Magellan Public  Solutions,  Inc. ("Public  Solutions"),  the Company's
wholly-owned  subsidiary  that engages in the public sector  business,  provides
specialty  home-based  behavioral  healthcare  services,  behavioral services in
correctional  facilities  and  troubled  and  delinquent  adolescent  facilities
services pursuant to contractual arrangements with governmental agencies.

         Magellan's  business  strategy is to provide access to a full continuum
of behavioral  healthcare and managed care services and to perform such services
in a cost effective manner with predictable  results.  The Company's  integrated
national  behavioral  healthcare  system has the  capability  to deliver  and to
manage the  delivery of  behavioral  healthcare  services  for large  public and
private payors who need assistance in managing the risk of behavioral healthcare
costs.

         Magellan  was  incorporated  in 1969  under  the  laws of the  State of
Delaware.  Magellan  Common Stock is traded on the American Stock Exchange under
the symbols "MGL." Unless the context otherwise requires, references to Magellan
include  Magellan  Health  Services,  Inc.  and  its  subsidiaries.   Magellan's
principal  executive  offices are located at 3414 Peachtree  Road,  N.E.,  Suite
1400, Atlanta, Georgia 30326, and its telephone number is (404) 841-9200.



                                        8

<PAGE>



                               RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

         Green Spring Acquisition.  On December 13, 1995, the Company acquired a
51% ownership  interest in Green Spring for approximately  $73.2 million in cash
and  Common  Stock  and  the  contribution  of  Group  Practice  Affiliates,   a
wholly-owned  Magellan  subsidiary,  which became a  wholly-owned  subsidiary of
Green  Spring.  On December 20, 1995,  the Company  acquired an  additional  10%
ownership interest in Green Spring for approximately  $16.7 million in cash as a
result of an  exercise  by a minority  stockholder  of its  Exchange  Option (as
hereinafter  defined)  for a  portion  of the  stockholders'  interest  in Green
Spring. The Company currently has a 61% ownership interest in Green Spring.

         The  Green  Spring  acquisition  created  the  first  fully  integrated
national  behavioral  healthcare  system and gives the Company the capability to
provide case management and delivery services to large private organizations and
a public sector  marketplace  seeking increased  privatization of services.  The
Company changed its name to Magellan Health Services,  Inc. on December 21, 1995
to reflect  the  broader  range of services it expects to provide as a result of
the Green Spring acquisition and the creation of Public Solutions.

         The  minority  stockholders  of  Green  Spring  consist  of  four  Blue
Cross/Blue  Shield  organizations  (the "Blues") that are key customers of Green
Spring. In addition, two other Blues organizations that formerly owned a portion
of Green Spring will continue as customers of Green  Spring.  As of December 31,
1995, the minority  stockholders of Green Spring have the option,  under certain
circumstances, to exchange their ownership interests ("Exchange Option")in Green
Spring for  approximately  2.8 million shares of Magellan  Common Stock or $65.1
million in  subordinated  notes.  The  Company  may elect to pay cash in lieu of
issuing the subordinated notes. The Exchange Option expires December 13, 1998.

         Sale of Common  Stock and  Warrant.  On January 25,  1996,  the Company
completed  the sale to the  Selling  Stockholder  of the  Shares,  along  with a
warrant to purchase an additional 2,000,000 shares of Common Stock,  pursuant to
the Stock and Warrant Purchase Agreement. The Warrant, which expires in January,
2000,  entitles the Selling  Stockholder to purchase such  additional  shares of
Common Stock at a per share price of $26.15,  subject to adjustment  for certain
dilutive events. The aggregate purchase price for the Shares and the Warrant was
$69,732,000.  Upon  completion  of the  acquisition  of the Shares (and prior to
exercise of the Warrant),  the Selling  Stockholder owned approximately 12.2% of
the outstanding voting securities of Magellan.

         The Stock and Warrant Purchase Agreement places certain restrictions on
 the sale or transfer of the Shares. As a result, no more than 40,000 Shares may
 be sold by the Selling Stockholder or its affiliates prior to January 25,
1997.  Further,  prior to January  25,  2000,  the  Selling  Stockholder  or its
affiliates may not sell or transfer in a privately  negotiated  transaction to a
single  purchaser  and  its  affiliates  or a  "group"  (  as  defined  in  Rule
13d-5(b)(1)  under the Exchange Act) Shares  (including  shares  underlying  the
Warrant)  which would equal or exceed five percent (5%) of the Common Stock then
outstanding on a fully-diluted  basis.  Neither of these restrictions affect the
free  transferability  of the  Shares  among  the  Selling  Stockholder  and its
affiliates.  In  addition,  the Stock and Warrant  Purchase  Agreement  contains
certain standstill covenants on the part of the Selling Stockholder which, among
other  things,   prohibit  the  Selling  Stockholder  and  its  affiliates  from
purchasing  additional  shares of Common Stock so that they  collectively own in
excess of 20% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock prior to January,  1998.
The Stock and Warrant  Purchase  Agreement  also grants the Selling  Stockholder
certain board representation rights. See "Selling Stockholder".

         The Company  used $68.0  million of the  proceeds  from the sale of the
Shares and the Warrant to the Selling Stockholder to repay indebtedness incurred
under the  Company's  Credit  Agreement,  which  indebtedness  was  incurred  in
connection  with the  investments  in Green Spring  during the first  quarter of
fiscal 1996.



                                        9

<PAGE>



                                 USE OF PROCEEDS

         The Company will not receive any of the  proceeds  from the sale of the
Shares.  All of the proceeds from the sale of the Shares will be received by the
Selling Stockholder.

                                    DILUTION

         No dilution will occur from sales of the Shares under this Registration
Statement.  At December 31, 1995,  the net tangible  book value of the Company's
Common Stock was a deficit of $72.0  million or $2.51 per share.  "Net  tangible
book value" per share represents  stockholders' equity less intangible assets of
the Company, divided by the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding. Giving
effect to the sale by the  Company of the Shares and the  Warrant to the Selling
Stockholder  at the  offering  price of  $17.43  per  share,  the pro  forma net
tangible  book value of the Common  Stock at December  31, 1995 was a deficit of
$3.4 million or $0.10 per share.  This represented an immediate  increase in net
tangible book value of $2.41 per share to existing stockholders and an immediate
dilution of $17.53 per share book value to the Selling Stockholder.

                 PRICE RANGE OF COMMON STOCK AND DIVIDEND POLICY

         The Common Stock is listed for trading on the American  Stock  Exchange
(ticker  symbol  "MGL").  As of January 31, 1996,  there were 12,221  holders of
record of the Company's  Common Stock.  The following  table sets forth the high
and low sales prices of the  Company's  Common Stock as reported by the American
Stock Exchange for the periods indicated:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                    Common Stock Sales Prices
                                                         ------------------------------------------
                  Calendar Year                             High                       Low
- --------------------------------------------------       ----------------          ----------------
<S>     <C>                                              <C>                       <C>  

1993
       Fourth Quarter.............................       $    27                   $        21

1994
       First Quarter..............................       $    28                   $      21 3/8
       Second Quarter.............................          26 1/8                        21 3/4
       Third Quarter..............................          28 1/2                        21 1/4
       Fourth Quarter.............................          28 1/2                          19

1995
       First Quarter..............................       $  21 1/4                 $      13 7/8
       Second Quarter.............................          19 5/8                        15 5/8
       Third Quarter..............................          23 1/4                        16 1/4
       Fourth Quarter.............................          24 1/4                        17 3/8

1996
       First Quarter (through February 23, 1996)..       $  24 7/8                  $     21 3/8
</TABLE>


         The Company has not declared any cash  dividends  during the past three
fiscal  years.  The  Company is  prohibited  from paying  dividends  (other than
dividends payable in shares of Common Stock) on its Common Stock under the terms
of the Credit Agreement,  except for cash dividends that, in the aggregate, from
May 1994, do not exceed 6% of the net cash  proceeds  from  issuances of capital
stock,  reduced  by the  aggregate  cost of stock  purchases  since May 1994 and
certain other limited circumstances.



                                       10

<PAGE>



                                 CAPITALIZATION

         The  following  table sets  forth the  consolidated  capitalization  of
Magellan  as of  December  31,  1995 and as  adjusted to reflect the sale by the
Company of the  Shares  and the  Warrant  on  January  25,  1996 to the  Selling
Stockholder.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                          December 31, 1995
                                                              ----------------------------------------
                                                                  Actual                 As Adjusted
                                                              --------------           ---------------
                                                               (in thousands, except per share data)
<S>     <C>    <C>                                           <C>                      <C>   

Revolving Credit Agreement.................................  $      148,593            $     80,593
11.25% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2004..................         375,000                 375,000
Other long-term debt.......................................          97,528                  97,528
Stockholders' equity:    
       Preferred stock, without par value;
         10,000 authorized; none issued and outstanding....              --                      --
       Common Stock, $.25 par value; 80,000
         authorized; 28,664 issued and outstanding;
         32,664 issued and outstanding, as adjusted........           7,166                   8,166
       Additional paid-in capital..........................         259,370                 326,993
       Accumulated deficit.................................        (152,092)               (152,092)
       Warrants outstanding................................              64                      64
       Common Stock in Treasury, 462 shares...............           (9,238                  (9,238)
       Cumulative foreign currency adjustments.............          (1,090                  (1,090)
                                                             --------------            ------------
            Total stockholders' equity....................          104,180                 172,803
                                                             --------------            ------------
            Total capitalization...........................  $      725,301            $    725,924
                                                             ==============            ============
</TABLE>



                         SELECTED FINANCIAL INFORMATION

         The following table sets forth selected  historical  financial data and
selected pro forma  financial data for Magellan for the year ended September 30,
1995 and the three months  ended  December  31,  1995.  The selected  historical
financial  data for the year ended  September 30, 1995 has been derived from the
historical  financial  statements  of Magellan  audited by Arthur  Andersen LLP,
independent public accountants.  The selected historical  financial data for the
three months ended  December  31, 1995 has been derived from  unaudited  interim
statements  of  operations  of  Magellan.  In the  opinion  of  management,  the
unaudited interim  financial  information  includes all adjustments  (consisting
only  of  normal  recurring   adjustments)   necessary  to  present  fairly  the
information  set forth  therein.  The  selected pro forma  financial  data gives
effect to the January 25, 1996 sale of the Shares to the Selling Stockholder, as
if such sale had occurred on October 1, 1994.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                         Fiscal year ended                Three months ended
                                                        September 30, 1995                December 31, 1995
                                                  ------------------------------    -------------------------------
                                                    Actual        Pro Forma (1)       Actual          Pro Forma (1)
                                                  -----------   ----------------    ----------      ---------------
<S>                                               <C>           <C>                 <C>             <C>

Net income (loss).............................    $ (42,963)    $   (39,731)         $  9,748       $    10,493
Average number of common shares outstanding...       27,870          31,870            27,994            31,994
Income (loss) per common share................        (1.54)          (1.25)             0.35              0.33
</TABLE>


         (1) The  adjustments to pro forma net income (loss),  income (loss) per
         common share and average  number of common  shares  outstanding  result
         from the issuance of the  4,000,000  shares to the Selling  Stockholder
         and a related  adjustment to reduce interest  expense,  net of tax, for
         the use of $68.0  million of the  proceeds  from the  issuance  of such
         shares to reduce outstanding  borrowings under the Credit Agreement for
         the fiscal year ended  September  30, 1995 and the three  months  ended
         December 31, 1995.



                                       11

<PAGE>



                               SELLING STOCKHOLDER

         The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the
ownership of the Shares as of December 22, 1995, and as adjusted to reflect the
sale of the Shares offered hereby, by the Selling Stockholder.  The Selling
Stockholder has sole voting and investment power with respect to the Shares.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                         Ownership of                   Number of             Ownership of
                         Common Stock Before          Shares Being        Common Stock After
                         the Offering                  Offered (1)         the Offering (2)
                         ------------                  -----------         ----------------

                         Number of                                      Number of
     Name                 Shares        Percent                           Shares      Percent
     ----                 ------        -------                           ------      -------
<S>                      <C>            <C>           <C>               <C>           <C>

Rainwater-Magellan
  Holdings, L.P.  (3)    4,000,000      12.25%        4,000,000 (4)        None            --

</TABLE>

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


(1)      The  Shares  being   offered   hereby  were  acquired  by  the  Selling
         Stockholder  pursuant  to the terms of the Stock and  Warrant  Purchase
         Agreement. Under the terms of the Stock and Warrant Purchase Agreement,
         the Selling  Stockholder  obtained  registration rights with respect to
         the Shares.  Magellan has  registered  the Shares for sale  pursuant to
         this  Prospectus  as  required  by  the  Stock  and  Warrant   Purchase
         Agreement.

(2)      Assumes that all Shares being offered are sold.

(3)      Under the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, Rainwater, 
         Inc., the general partner of the Selling Stockholder, and Richard
         E. Rainwater, the sole shareholder and a director of Rainwater, Inc. 
         are also deemed to be beneficial owners of the Shares.  Darla Moore,
         Vice President and Director of Rainwater, Inc. was appointed to the
         Board of Directors of Magellan on February 22, 1996 pursuant to the 
         Stock and Warrant Purchase Agreement.

(4)      No more than 40,000  Shares may be sold by the Selling  Stockholder  or
         its affiliates prior to January 25, 1997. Further, prior to January 25,
         2000,  the  Selling  Stockholder  or its  affiliates  may  not  sell or
         transfer in a privately  negotiated  transaction to a single  purchaser
         and its affiliates or any "group" (as defined in Rule 13d-5(b)(1) under
         the Exchange  Act) Shares  (including  shares  underlying  the Warrant)
         which would equal or exceed five  percent (5%) of the Common Stock then
         outstanding on a fully-diluted basis.


                              PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

         The Shares may be sold from time to time by the Selling  Stockholder on
the American  Stock  Exchange or any national  securities  exchange or automated
interdealer  quotation  system on which  shares of Common Stock are then listed,
through negotiated transactions or otherwise. Certain transfer restrictions have
been  placed on the Shares  offered  hereby  pursuant  to the Stock and  Warrant
Purchase  Agreement,  which in general  restrict the sale of the Shares prior to
January 25, 1997. See "Recent Developments -- Sale of Common Stock and Warrant".
The  Shares  will be sold at  prices  and on terms  then  prevailing,  at prices
related to the then current  market price or at negotiated  prices.  The Selling
Stockholder  may effect  sales of the Shares  directly or by or through  agents,
brokers,  dealers or  underwriters  and the Shares may be sold by one or more of
the following methods: (a) underwritten public offerings, (b) ordinary brokerage
transactions,  (c) purchases by a broker-dealer  as principal and resale by such
broker-dealer  for its own account pursuant to this  Prospectus,  (d) in "block"
sales, and (e) privately negotiated transactions. At the time a particular offer
is made, a Prospectus  Supplement,  if required,  will be distributed  that sets
forth  the  name  or  names  of  agents,  broker-dealers  or  underwriters,  any
commissions  and other terms  constituting  compensation  and any other required
information.   In  effecting  sales,   broker-dealers  engaged  by  any  Selling
Stockholder   and/or  the  purchasers  of  the  Shares  may  arrange  for  other
broker-dealers  to  participate.   Broker-dealers   will  receive   commissions,
concessions or discounts from the Selling  Stockholder  and/or the purchasers of
the  Shares in amounts to be  negotiated  prior to the sale.  Sales will be made
only through  broker-dealers  registered as such in a subject jurisdiction or in
transactions  exempt from such registration.  As of the date of this Prospectus,
there are no selling arrangements between the Selling Stockholder and any broker
or dealer.



                                       12

<PAGE>



         In  offering  the  Shares  covered  by  this  Prospectus,  the  Selling
Stockholder and any brokers,  dealers or agents who participate in a sale of the
Shares by the Selling  Stockholder may be considered  "underwriters"  within the
meaning  of  Section  2(11) of the 1933 Act,  and any  profits  realized  by the
Selling  Stockholder and the compensation of any broker/dealers may be deemed to
be underwriting discounts and commissions.

         As required by the Stock and Warrant Purchase  Agreement,  Magellan has
filed the  Registration  Statement,  of which this Prospectus forms a part, with
respect to the sale of the Shares.  Magellan has agreed to keep the Registration
Statement  current and effective,  with certain  exceptions,  for so long as the
Selling  Stockholder  and its  affiliates  collectively  own at least 25% of the
Shares  (including  shares  underlying the Warrant) issued pursuant to the Stock
and Warrant Purchase Agreement.

         Magellan  will not  receive  any of the  proceeds  from the sale of the
Shares by the Selling  Stockholder.  Magellan will bear the costs of registering
the Shares under the 1933 Act,  including  the  registration  fee under the 1933
Act,  its  legal  and  accounting  fees  and  any  printing  fees.  The  Selling
Stockholder will bear the cost of underwriting  commissions and/or discounts, if
any, and selling commissions.

         Pursuant  to the  terms of the Stock and  Warrant  Purchase  Agreement,
Magellan and the Selling  Stockholder  have agreed to  indemnify  each other and
certain other related  parties for certain  liabilities,  including  liabilities
under the 1933 Act, in connection with the registration of the Shares.

                                  LEGAL MATTERS

         The  legality  of the  Shares  will be  passed  upon  for  the  Selling
Stockholder by Steve J. Davis,  Esq.,  Executive Vice President,  Administrative
Services and General Counsel of the Company, 3414 Peachtree Road, N.E., Atlanta,
Georgia 30326.

                                     EXPERTS

         The audited, consolidated financial statements and schedule of Magellan
Health Services, Inc. and subsidiaries included in the Magellan Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the year ended  September  30, 1995  incorporated  by reference in
this Prospectus and elsewhere in this  Registration  Statement have been audited
by Arthur Andersen LLP,  independent public  accountants,  as indicated in their
reports  thereto,  and are incorporated by reference herein in reliance upon the
authority of said firm, as experts in giving said reports.

         Future  consolidated  financial  statements  and  schedules of Magellan
Health  Services,  Inc.  and  subsidiaries  and the  reports  thereon  of Arthur
Andersen  LLP  also  will be  incorporated  by  reference  in this  Registration
Statement of which this  Prospectus  is a part in reliance upon the authority of
that firm as experts in giving those reports to the extent said firm has audited
those financial statements and consented to the use of their reports thereon.


                                       13

<PAGE>



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


     No person  has been  authorized  in
connection with the offering made hereby
to give any  information  or to make any
representation  not  contained  in  this
Prospectus  and, if given or made,  such               4,000,000 SHARES
information or  representation  must not
be relied upon as having been authorized
by Magellan, or the Selling Stockholder.
This  Prospectus  does not constitute an                MAGELLAN HEALTH
offer  to sell or a  solicitation  of an                SERVICES, INC.
offer  to  buy  any  of  the  securities
offered  hereby in any  jurisdiction  in
which it is  unlawful to make such offer
or solicitation. Neither the delivery of                 COMMON STOCK
this   Prospectus   nor  any  sale  made
hereunder      shall,      under     any
circumstances,  create  any  implication
that the information contained herein is
correct as of any time subsequent to the
date hereof.




     ---------------------------             ---------------------------    
                                                       PROSPECTUS
                                             ---------------------------




     TABLE OF CONTENTS   

Available Information.................4
Incorporation of Certain Documents
  by Reference........................4
Risk Factors..........................5
The Company...........................8
Recent Developments...................9
Use of Proceeds......................10
Dilution ............................10
Price Range of Common Stock
  and Dividend Policy................10
Capitalization.......................11
Selected Financial Information.......11
Selling Stockholder..................12
Plan of Distribution.................12
Legal Matters........................13
Experts  ............................13



                                                  February     , 1996




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


<PAGE>




                                     PART II

                     INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution
<TABLE>

         <S>                                                                        <C>               
         Securities and Exchange Commission Registration Fee               $        31,810.34
         Legal Fees and Expenses                                                    10,000.00
         Accounting Fees and Expenses                                                4,000.00
         Blue Sky Fees and Expenses (including legal fees and expenses)              1,000.00
         Printing                                                                    5,000.00
         Miscellaneous                                                               3,189.66
                                                                           ------------------

                  Total                                                    $        55,000.00
                                                                            =================
</TABLE>

         All of the above items,  except for  registration  fee, are  estimates.
Although  the Selling  Stockholder  will not bear any of the  expenses set forth
above, the Selling  Stockholder  will bear the cost of underwriting  commissions
and/or discounts, if any, and selling commissions.

Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers

         The  Company is a Delaware  corporation.  Section  145 of the  Delaware
General  Corporation Law (the "DGCL")  provides that a Delaware  corporation has
the power to indemnify its officers and directors in certain circumstances.

         Subsection  (a) of Section 145 of the DGCL  empowers a  corporation  to
indemnify any director or officer, or former director or officer,  who was or is
a party  or is  threatened  to be made a party  to any  threatened,  pending  or
completed  action or suit by or in the  right of the  corporation  to  procure a
judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that such person acted in any of the
capacities  set  forth  above,  against  expenses  (including  attorneys'  fees)
actually and reasonably incurred in connection with the defense or settlement of
such action or suit  provided  that such director or officer acted in good faith
and in a manner  he  reasonably  believed  to be in or not  opposed  to the best
interests  of the  corporation,  except that no  indemnification  may be made in
respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such director or officer shall
have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent
that the Court of Chancery or the court in which such action or suit was brought
shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but
in view of all the circumstances of the case, such director or officer is fairly
and  reasonably  entitled to indemnity for such  expenses  which the court shall
deem proper.

         Section 145 further  provides  that to the extent a director or officer
of a  corporation  has been  successful  in the defense of any  action,  suit or
proceeding referred to in subsections (a) or (b) or in the defense of any claim,
issue or matter therein,  he shall be indemnified  against  expenses  (including
attorneys'  fees)  actually  and  reasonably   incurred  by  him  in  connection
therewith;  provided that indemnification provided for by Section 145 or granted
pursuant  thereto shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which the
indemnified party may be entitled.  Section 145 also empowers the corporation to
purchase  and  maintain  insurance  on behalf of a  director  or  officer of the
corporation against any liability asserted against him or incurred by him in any
such  capacity  or  arising  out  of his  status  as  such  whether  or not  the
corporation would have the power to indemnify him against such liabilities under
Section 145.

         Article  VII of the Bylaws of  Magellan  provide,  in  substance,  that
Magellan  shall  indemnify  directors  and officers  against all  liability  and
related expenses  incurred in connection with the affairs of Magellan if: (a) in
the case of actions not by or in the right of Magellan,  the director or officer
acted in good  faith  and in a manner  he  reasonably  believed  to be in or not
opposed  to the best  interests  of  Magellan,  and (with  respect to a criminal
proceeding) had no

                                       15

<PAGE>



reasonable  cause to believe his conduct  was  unlawful;  and (b) in the case of
actions by or in the right of Magellan,  the  director or officer  acted in good
faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best
interests  of Magellan,  provided  that no  indemnification  shall be made for a
claim as to which the director or officer is adjudged  liable to Magellan unless
(and only to the extent that) an appropriate  court  determines that, in view of
all the  circumstances,  such  person  is  fairly  and  reasonably  entitled  to
indemnity.

         In  addition,   Section   102(b)(8)   of  the  DGCL  permits   Delaware
corporations  to include a  provision  in their  certificates  of  incorporation
eliminating or limiting the personal  liability of a director to the corporation
or its  stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary as a director,
provided  that such  provisions  shall not eliminate or limit the liability of a
director (i) for any breach of the director's duty of loyalty to the corporation
or its  stockholders,  (ii)  for  acts or  omissions  not in good  faith or that
involve  intentional  misconduct  or a knowing  violation of the law,  (iii) for
unlawful payment of dividends or other unlawful  distributions,  or (iv) for any
transactions  from which the  director  derived an  improper  personal  benefit.
Article  Twelve of Magellan's  Certificate  of  Incorporation  sets forth such a
provision.

         Magellan maintains  directors' and officers'  liability  insurance with
various providers in the aggregate amount of $60 million.

         The  Selling  Stockholder  has agreed to  indemnify  the  Company,  its
directors  and  officers  (who  sign the  Registration  Statement,  and  certain
controlling persons against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the
1933 Act  subject  to such  limitations  as set forth in the  Stock and  Warrant
Purchase Agreement.

         The foregoing summaries are necessarily subject to the complete text of
the statutes,  Certificate  of  Incorporation,  Bylaws,  insurance  policies and
agreements  referred to above and are  qualified in their  entirety by reference
thereto.

         For the undertaking with respect to indemnification, see Item 17.

Item 16. Exhibits

         4.1      Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as filed
                  in Delaware on October  16,  1992,  which was filed as Exhibit
                  3(a) to the Company's  Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
                  ended  September  30,  1992,  and is  incorporated  herein  by
                  reference.
         4.2      Certificate  of Ownership and Merger merging  Magellan  Health
                  Services,  Inc. (a Delaware  corporation) into Charter Medical
                  Corporation (a Delaware corporation),  as filed in Delaware on
                  December  21,  1995,  which was filed as  Exhibit  3(c) to the
                  Company's  Annual  Report  on Form  10-K  for the  year  ended
                  September 30, 1995, and is incorporated herein by reference.
         4.3      Form of Share Purchase Rights Plan among the Company and First
                  Union National Bank of North Carolina,  N.A.,  which was filed
                  as Exhibit 2.5 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form
                  8-A  dated  July  6,  1992,  and  is  incorporated  herein  by
                  reference.
         4.4      Stockholders' Agreement,  dated December 13, 1995, among Green
                  Spring Health  Services,  Inc.,  Blue Cross and Blue Shield of
                  New   Jersey,   Inc.,   Health   Care   Service   Corporation,
                  Independence  Blue Cross,  Pierce County Medical Bureau,  Inc.
                  and the  Company,  which  was  filed  as  Exhibit  4(d) to the
                  Company's  Quarterly  Report  on Form  10-Q for the  quarterly
                  period ended December 31, 1995, and is incorporated  herein by
                  reference.
         4.5      Exchange Agreement,  dated December 13, 1995, among Blue Cross
                  and Blue  Shield of New  Jersey,  Inc.,  Health  Care  Service
                  Corporation,  Independence  Blue Cross,  Pierce County Medical
                  Bureau, Inc. and the Company,  which was filed as Exhibit 4(e)
                  to the  Company's  Quarterly  Report  on  Form  10-Q  for  the
                  quarterly  period ended December 31, 1995, and is incorporated
                  herein by reference.


                                       16

<PAGE>



         4.6      Stock and Warrant Purchase Agreement, dated December 22, 1995,
                  between the Company and Richard E. Rainwater,  which was filed
                  as Exhibit 4(f) to the Company's  quarterly report on Form 10-
                  Q for the  quarterly  period ended  December 31, 1995,  and is
                  incorporated herein by reference.
         4.7      Amendment No. 1 to Stock and Warrant Purchase Agreement, dated
                  January 25, 1996, between the
                  Company and Rainwater-Magellan Holdings, L.P.
         5.1      Opinion of Steve J. Davis as to the legality of the Common 
                  Stock to be registered.
         23.1     Consent of Steve J. Davis (included in Exhibit 5.1)
         23.2     Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP.
         24.1     Powers of Attorney.

Item 17. Undertakings

         The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

         (1) To file,  during any period in which offers or sales are being made
of securities registered hereby, a post-effective amendment to this Registration
Statement:

                  (i)  To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)3 
                       of the 1933 Act;

                  (ii) To reflect in the  prospectus any facts or events arising
after the  effective  date of the  Registration  Statement  (or the most  recent
post-effective  amendment  thereof)  which,  individually  or in the  aggregate,
represent a fundamental  change in the information set forth in the Registration
Statement;

                  (iii) To include any material  information with respect to the
plan of distribution not previously  disclosed in the Registration  Statement or
any  material  change  to  such  information  in  the  Registration   Statement.
Notwithstanding the foregoing,  any increase or decrease in volume of securities
offered (if the total dollar value of  securities  offered would not exceed that
which  was  registered)  and any  deviation  from  the  low or  high  and of the
estimated  maximum  offering  range may be reflected  in the form of  prospectus
filed with the  Commission  pursuant  to Rule 424(b) if, in the  aggregate,  the
changes in volume  and price  represent  no more than 20  percent  change in the
maximum  aggregate  offering price set forth in the "Calculation of Registration
Fee" table in the effective registration statement.

                  Provided,   however,   that  the  undertakings  set  forth  in
paragraphs  (i) and (ii)  above  not  apply if the  information  required  to be
included in a  post-effective  amendment  by those  paragraphs  is  contained in
periodic  reports filed with or furnished to the  Commission  by the  registrant
pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,
as  amended  ("Exchange  Act"),  that  are  incorporated  by  reference  in this
Registration Statement.

         (2) That, for the purpose of determining  any liability  under the 1933
Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration
statement relating to the securities  offered therein,  and the offering of such
securities  at that time shall be deemed to be the  initial  bona fide  offering
thereof.

         (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective  amendment
any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of
the offering.

         The  undersigned  registrant  hereby  undertakes  that for  purposes of
determining  any liability  under the 1933 Act, each filing of the  registrant's
annual  report  pursuant to Section  13(a) or Section  15(d) of the Exchange Act
that is incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement shall be deemed
to be a new registration  statement  relating to the securities offered therein,
and the  offering  of such  securities  at that  time  shall be deemed to be the
initial bona fide offering thereof.



                                       17

<PAGE>



         Insofar as indemnification  for liabilities  arising under the 1933 Act
may  be  permitted  to  directors,  officers  and  controlling  persons  of  the
registrant,  the  registrant  has  been  advised  that  in  the  opinion  of the
Commission  such  indemnification  is against  public policy as expressed in the
1933  Act  and is,  therefore,  unenforceable.  In the  event  that a claim  for
indemnification  against  such  liabilities  (other  than  the  payment  by  the
registrant of expenses  incurred or paid by a director,  officer or  controlling
person of the  registrant  in the  successful  defense  of any  action,  suit or
proceeding) is asserted by such director,  officer or controlling persons of the
registrant in connection with the securities  being  registered,  the registrant
will,  unless in the  opinion of its  counsel  the  matter  has been  settled by
controlling  precedent,  submit  to a  court  of  appropriate  jurisdiction  the
question  of whether  such  indemnification  by it is against  public  policy as
expressed in the 1933 Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such
issue.

                                       18

<PAGE>



                                   SIGNATURES

         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-3 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement  to be  signed  on its  behalf  by  the  undersigned,  thereunto  duly
authorized,  in the  City of  Atlanta,  State  of  Georgia,  on the  26th day of
February, 1996.


                                        MAGELLAN HEALTH SERVICES, INC.



                                        By:/s/ Howard A. McLure
                                        ---------------------------------------
                                        Howard A. McLure
                                        Vice President and Controller
                                        (Principal Accounting Officer)


         Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act of  1933,  this
Registration  Statement  has been  signed by the  following  persons on February
26th, 1996 in the capacities and on the date indicated.

         Each person whose  signature  appears  below  constitutes  and appoints
Howard A. McLure as his true and lawful  attorney-in-fact  and agent,  with full
power of substitution  and  resubstitution,  for him and in his name,  place and
stead, in any and all capacities to sign on his behalf  individually and in each
capacity stated below any amendment,  including  post-effective  amendments,  to
this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and
other  documents  in  connection  therewith,  with the  Securities  and Exchange
Commission,  granting unto said  attorney-in-fact  and agent,  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 he might or could do in person,  hereby  ratifying  and
confirming all that said  attorney-in-fact  and agent and either of them, or his
substitute, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.




/s/ E. Mac Crawford                            Date:     February 26, 1996
- -------------------------------------               ---------------------------
E. Mac Crawford
President and Chairman of the Board
(Principal Executive Officer)



/s/ Craig L. McKnight                     
- -------------------------------------         Date:     February 26, 1996      
Craig L. McKnight                                  --------------------------- 
Executive Vice President and         
 Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer)





                                       19

<PAGE>



/s/ Howard A. McLure                                                    
- -------------------------------------         Date:     February 26, 1996      
Howard A. McLure                                   --------------------------- 
Vice President and Controller        
(Principal Accounting Officer)



/s/ Edwin M. Banks                   
- -------------------------------------         Date:     February 26, 1996      
Edwin M. Banks                                     --------------------------- 
Director                             



/s/ G. Fred DiBona, Jr.              
- -------------------------------------         Date:     February 26, 1996      
G. Fred DiBona, Jr.                                --------------------------- 
Director                                                                       
                                     


/s/ Andre C. Dimitriadis             
- -------------------------------------         Date:     February 26, 1996      
Andre C. Dimitriadis                               --------------------------- 
Director                             



/s/ A. D. Frazier, Jr.               
- -------------------------------------         Date:     February 26, 1996      
A. D. Frazier, Jr.                                 --------------------------- 
Director                             



/s/ Raymond H. Kiefer                
- -------------------------------------         Date:     February 26, 1996     
Raymond H. Kiefer                                  ---------------------------
Director                             



/s/ Gerald L. McManis                
- -------------------------------------         Date:     February 26, 1996     
Gerald L. McManis                                  ---------------------------
Director                             



/s/ Darla Moore                      
- -------------------------------------         Date:     February 26, 1996     
Darla Moore                                        ---------------------------
Director                             



                                       20

<PAGE>



                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS


Exhibit

4.1  Restated  Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as filed in Delaware
     on  October  16,  1992,  which was filed as Exhibit  3(a) to the  Company's
     Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended  September  30, 1992,  and is
     incorporated herein by reference. IBR
4.2  Certificate of Ownership and Merger merging Magellan Health Services,  Inc.
     (a Delaware  corporation)  into  Charter  Medical  Corporation  (a Delaware
     corporation), as filed in Delaware on December 21, 1995, which was filed as
     Exhibit 3(c) to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
     September 30, 1995, and is incorporated herein by reference. IBR
4.3  Form of Share  Purchase  Rights  Plan  among the  Company  and First  Union
     National Bank of North  Carolina,  N.A.,  which was filed as Exhibit 2.5 to
     the Company's Registration Statement on Form 8-A dated July 6, 1992, and is
     incorporated herein by reference. IBR
4.4  Stockholders' Agreement, dated December 13, 1995, among Green Spring Health
     Services, Inc., Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Jersey, Inc., Health Care
     Service Corporation, Independence Blue Cross, Pierce County Medical Bureau,
     Inc.  and the  Company,  which was filed as Exhibit  4(d) to the  Company's
     Quarterly  Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly  period ended December 31,
     1995, and is incorporated herein by reference. IBR
4.5  Exchange  Agreement,  dated  December 13,  1995,  among Blue Cross and Blue
     Shield of New Jersey, Inc., Health Care Service  Corporation,  Independence
     Blue Cross, Pierce County Medical Bureau,  Inc. and the Company,  which was
     filed as Exhibit 4(e) to the  Company's  Quarterly  Report on Form 10-Q for
     the quarterly period ended December 31, 1995, and is incorporated herein by
     reference. IBR
4.6  Stock and Warrant Purchase Agreement,  dated December 22, 1995, between the
     Company and Richard E.  Rainwater,  which was filed as Exhibit  4(f) to the
     Company's  quarterly  report on Form 10-Q for the  quarterly  period  ended
     December 31, 1995, and is incorporated herein by reference. IBR
4.7  Amendment No. 1 to Stock and Warrant Purchase Agreement,  dated January 25,
     1996, between the Company and Rainwater-Magellan Holdings, L.P.
5.1  Opinion of Steve J. Davis as to the legality of the Common Stock to be 
     registered.
23.1 Consent of Steve J. Davis (included in Exhibit 5.1)
23.2 Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP.
24.1 Powers of Attorney.




                                       21

<PAGE>



                 AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO STOCK AND WARRANT PURCHASE AGREEMENT
                 -------------------------------------------------------


        THIS AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO STOCK AND WARRANT PURCHASE AGREEMENT (this
"Amendment")  dated as of January 25, 1996,  is executed,  agreed to and adopted
for good and valuable  consideration  by MAGELLAN HEALTH  SERVICES,  INC. (f/k/a
Charter  Medical  Corporation),  a  Delaware  corporation  (the  "Company")  and
RAINWATER-MAGELLAN  HOLDINGS, L.P., a limited partnership formed pursuant to the
provisions of the Texas Revised Limited Partnership Act ("Buyer");


                              W I T N E S S E T H:
                              --------------------

        WHEREAS, the Company and Richard E. Rainwater (the "Initial Buyer") have
previously  entered into that certain Stock and Warrant Purchase Agreement dated
as of December 22, 1995 (the "Purchase Agreement"); and

        WHEREAS,  in accordance with Section 10.3 of the Purchase  Agreement and
pursuant  to that  certain  Assignment  and  Assumption  Agreement  of even date
herewith (the  "Assignment"),  the Initial Buyer assigned its rights,  interests
and  obligations  under the Purchase  Agreement to Buyer,  and Buyer assumed the
Initial Buyer's liabilities, covenants and obligations thereunder; and

        WHEREAS,  the Assignment  provides that the Purchase  Agreement shall be
amended to reflect the substitution of Buyer under the Purchase Agreement; and

        WHEREAS,  the  parties  hereto  desire to  further  amend  the  Purchase
Agreement to make certain clarifications therein; and

        NOW,  THEREFORE,  in  consideration  of the  premises and other good and
valuable   consideration,   the   adequacy  and  receipt  of  which  are  hereby
acknowledged, the parties hereby agree as follows:

        1.     Defined Terms.  Capitalized terms used in this Amendment and not
defined herein shall have the respective meanings given to them in the Purchase
Agreement.

        2.     Amendments to the Purchase Agreement.

        (a) Annex I to the  Purchase  Agreement  shall be amended to replace the
Initial  Buyer with  Buyer  under the column  headed  "Name of Buyer."  The term
"Buyer" wherever referred to in the Purchase Agreement or in any Exhibit,  Annex
or Schedule thereto is amended to refer to  Rainwater-Magellan  Holdings,  L.P.,
and the term  "party" or  "parties"  shall,  in  addition  to  referring  to the
Company, refer to Rainwater-Magellan Holdings, L.P.

        (b)    Section 1.3 of the Purchase Agreement is hereby amended to read 
in its entirety as follows:

        "The parties  hereto  acknowledge  that the  allocation  of the Purchase
        Price  between  the  Shares and the  Warrants  was made by them in arm's
        length  negotiation  and agree that as of the date hereof the  aggregate
        Purchase Price for the Securities shall be allocated  $2,000,000 for the
        Warrants and $67,732,000 for the Shares."





                                      

<PAGE>



        (c) The first  sentence  of Section  5.4 of the  Purchase  Agreement  is
amended by adding the following at the end:

        "or the Company's Board of Directors will elect an Initial Designee 
        acceptable to the Company to fill a vacancy in the Board of Directors."

        (d)  Section  5.5 of the  Purchase  Agreement  is hereby  amended to (i)
correct the reference to "March 31, 1995"  appearing in the  thirteenth  line of
such  Section,  to "March 31,  1996" and (ii) to delete the period at the end of
such section and insert the following proviso:

        ";  provided  that, if Buyer shall have incurred only one HSR Act filing
        fee as of the  Closing,  then  the  Company's  obligation  to  reimburse
        Rainwater,  Inc.  for a  second  HSR  filing  fee and  related  expenses
        pursuant to clause (ii)(A) above,  shall survive such Closing so that if
        Buyer is required to make an  additional  filing for HSR Act approval in
        connection with an exercise of the Warrants, the Company shall reimburse
        Buyer or Rainwater,  Inc. (as  applicable)  for such filing fee together
        with all  other  fees and  expenses  (including  fees  and  expenses  of
        counsel) incurred in connection with such filing."

        (e) Section 10.2 of the Purchase  Agreement is hereby  amended to delete
the period at the end of such section and insert the following:

        ", including, but not limited to, that certain letter of intent (and 
        attached term sheet) by and between the Company and Rainwater, Inc. 
        dated December 15, 1995, and that certain Confidentiality Agreement by 
        and between the Company and Rainwater, Inc. dated as of November 20, 
        1995."

        3.     Effect of Amendment.  Except as heretofore expressly set forth 
in this Amendment, all terms and provisions of the Purchase Agreement shall 
remain in full force and effect as originally executed.

        4.     Counterparts.  This Amendment may be executed in any number of 
counterparts, and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be deemed to
be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and
the same instrument.





               [Remainder of this page intentionally left blank.]








                                        -2-

<PAGE>



        IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the parties have executed this Amendment as of the
date first above written.

                                 MAGELLAN HEALTH SERVICES, INC.



                                 By:   /s/ Craig L. McKnight
                                    ----------------------------------------
                                    Craig L. McKnight, Executive Vice President
                                    and Chief Financial Officer





                                   RAINWATER-MAGELLAN HOLDINGS, L.P.

                                   By:   Rainwater, Inc., General Partner



                                   By:   /s/ Kenneth A. Hersh
                                      -----------------------------------------
                                      Kenneth A. Hersh, Vice President



















40334 00002 CORP 106126



                                    -3-

<PAGE>




                                        February 22, 1996



Magellan Health Services, Inc.
3414 Peachtree Road, N.E.
Suite 1400
Atlanta, Georgia  30326

     Re: Form S-3 Registration  Statement relating to 4,000,000 shares of Common
         Stock, par value $.25 per share, of Magellan Health Services, Inc.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         I have acted as counsel for Magellan Health Services,  Inc., a Delaware
corporation  (the  "Company"),   in  connection  with  the  preparation  of  the
Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the "Registration Statement") filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
relating  to the  offering  from  time to time of up to  4,000,000  shares  (the
"Shares")  of Common  Stock,  par  value  $.25 per  share,  of the  Company,  by
Rainwater-Magellan Holdings, L.P.

         As  such  counsel,  I have  examined  and  relied  upon  such  records,
documents, certificates and other instruments as in my judgment are necessary or
appropriate  to form the basis for the opinions  hereinafter  set forth.  In all
such  examinations,  I have assumed the  genuineness  of  signatures on original
documents and the conformity to such original  documents of all copies submitted
to me as certified,  conformed or photographic copies, and as to certificates of
public officials,  I have assumed the same to have been properly given and to be
accurate.

         Based upon the foregoing, I am of the opinion that the Shares have been
duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable.

         I  consent  to  the  filing  of  this  opinion  as an  exhibit  to  the
Registration  Statement  and to the  reference  to me under the  caption  "Legal
Matters" in the Prospectus that forms a part of the Registration Statement.

                                        Very truly yours,


                                        /s/ Steve J. Davis
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        Steve J. Davis
                                        Executive Vice President, Administrative
                                        Services and General Counsel





<PAGE>




                    CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS





         As   independent   public   accountants,   we  hereby  consent  to  the
incorporation by reference in this  Registration  Statement of our reports dated
November 9, 1995 (except with respect to the matters discussed in Note 13, as to
which the date is December  20,  1995)  included in  Magellan  Health  Services,
Inc.'s  Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended  September  30,1995
and to all references to our firm included in this Registration Statement.



                                                      /s/ Arthur Andersen LLP
                                                      -----------------------


Atlanta, Georgia
February 23, 1996



<PAGE>




                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


         KNOW ALL BY THESE  PRESENTS THAT I, E. MAC CRAWFORD,  President,  Chief
Executive Officer,  and Chairman of the Board of Magellan Health Services,  Inc.
(the  "Company"),  do  hereby  appoint  Howard A.  McLure,  Vice  President  and
Controller  of the  Company  and  Steve  J.  Davis,  Executive  Vice  President,
Administrative  Services and General Counsel of the Company, or any one of them,
my true and  lawful  attorney-in-fact  for me and in my name for the  purpose of
executing on my behalf (i) the Company's  Registration Statement on Form S-3, or
any amendments or supplements  thereto, for the registration of shares of Common
Stock of the Company to be issued in  connection  with the  investment in Common
Stock of the Company by Rainwater-Magellan  Holdings, L.P.; (ii) any application
for registration or qualification (or exemption  therefrom) of such shares under
the Blue Sky or other  federal or state  securities  laws and  regulations;  and
(iii) any other document or instrument deemed necessary or appropriate by any of
them in connection with such application for  registration or qualification  (or
exemption  therefrom);  and for the  purpose  of causing  any such  registration
statement  or any  subsequent  amendment  or  supplement  to  such  registration
statement to be filed with the  Securities and Exchange  Commission  pursuant to
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

         IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  I have hereunto set my hand as of the 22nd day of
February, 1996.


                                             /s/ E. Mac Crawford
                                             -----------------------------------
                                             E. MAC CRAWFORD
                                             President, Chief Executive Officer,
                                             and Chairman of the Board


<PAGE>




                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


         KNOW ALL BY THESE  PRESENTS THAT I, CRAIG L.  McKNIGHT,  Executive Vice
President and Chief  Financial  Officer of Magellan Health  Services,  Inc. (the
"Company"), do hereby appoint Howard A. McLure, Vice President and Controller of
the  Company  and  Steve J.  Davis,  Executive  Vice  President,  Administrative
Services  and General  Counsel of the Company,  or any one of them,  my true and
lawful attorney-in-fact for me and in my name for the purpose of executing on my
behalf (i) the Company's  Registration  Statement on Form S-3, or any amendments
or supplements  thereto,  for the  registration of shares of Common Stock of the
Company to be issued in  connection  with the  investment in Common Stock of the
Company  by  Rainwater-Magellan   Holdings,   L.P.;  (ii)  any  application  for
registration or qualification (or exemption  therefrom) of such shares under the
Blue Sky or other federal or state  securities laws and  regulations;  and (iii)
any other document or instrument  deemed necessary or appropriate by any of them
in connection  with such  application  for  registration  or  qualification  (or
exemption  therefrom);  and for the  purpose  of causing  any such  registration
statement  or any  subsequent  amendment  or  supplement  to  such  registration
statement to be filed with the  Securities and Exchange  Commission  pursuant to
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

         IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  I have hereunto set my hand as of the 22nd day of
February, 1996.


                                             /s/ Craig L. McKnight
                                             ---------------------
                                             CRAIG L. McKNIGHT
                                             Executive Vice President and Chief
                                             Financial Officer


<PAGE>




                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


         KNOW ALL BY THESE  PRESENTS  THAT I,  EDWIN M.  BANKS,  a  Director  of
Magellan  Health  Services,  Inc. (the  "Company"),  do hereby appoint Howard A.
McLure,  Vice  President  and  Controller  of the  Company  and Steve J.  Davis,
Executive Vice  President,  Administrative  Services and General  Counsel of the
Company, or any one of them, my true and lawful  attorney-in-fact  for me and in
my name for the purpose of executing on my behalf (i) the Company's Registration
Statement  on Form  S-3,  or any  amendments  or  supplements  thereto,  for the
registration of shares of Common Stock of the Company to be issued in connection
with the  investment  in  Common  Stock  of the  Company  by  Rainwater-Magellan
Holdings,  L.P.;  (ii) any application for  registration  or  qualification  (or
exemption therefrom) of such shares under the Blue Sky or other federal or state
securities  laws and  regulations;  and (iii) any other  document or  instrument
deemed  necessary  or  appropriate  by any  of  them  in  connection  with  such
application for registration or qualification (or exemption therefrom);  and for
the  purpose  of  causing  any such  registration  statement  or any  subsequent
amendment  or  supplement  to such  registration  statement to be filed with the
Securities  and Exchange  Commission  pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended.

         IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  I have hereunto set my hand as of the 22nd day of
February, 1996.


                                             /s/ Edwin M. Banks
                                             ----------------------------------
                                             EDWIN M. BANKS
                                             Director


<PAGE>




                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


         KNOW ALL BY THESE  PRESENTS THAT I, G. FRED DiBONA,  JR., a Director of
Magellan  Health  Services,  Inc. (the  "Company"),  do hereby appoint Howard A.
McLure,  Vice  President  and  Controller  of the  Company  and Steve J.  Davis,
Executive Vice  President,  Administrative  Services and General  Counsel of the
Company, or any one of them, my true and lawful  attorney-in-fact  for me and in
my name for the purpose of executing on my behalf (i) the Company's Registration
Statement  on Form  S-3,  or any  amendments  or  supplements  thereto,  for the
registration of shares of Common Stock of the Company to be issued in connection
with the  investment  in  Common  Stock  of the  Company  by  Rainwater-Magellan
Holdings,  L.P.;  (ii) any application for  registration  or  qualification  (or
exemption therefrom) of such shares under the Blue Sky or other federal or state
securities  laws and  regulations;  and (iii) any other  document or  instrument
deemed  necessary  or  appropriate  by any  of  them  in  connection  with  such
application for registration or qualification (or exemption therefrom);  and for
the  purpose  of  causing  any such  registration  statement  or any  subsequent
amendment  or  supplement  to such  registration  statement to be filed with the
Securities  and Exchange  Commission  pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended.

         IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  I have hereunto set my hand as of the 22nd day of
February, 1996.


                                             /s/ G. Fred DiBona, Jr.
                                             ----------------------------------
                                             G. FRED DiBONA, JR.
                                             Director


<PAGE>




                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


         KNOW ALL BY THESE PRESENTS THAT I, ANDRE C. DIMITRIADIS,  a Director of
Magellan  Health  Services,  Inc. (the  "Company"),  do hereby appoint Howard A.
McLure,  Vice  President  and  Controller  of the  Company  and Steve J.  Davis,
Executive Vice  President,  Administrative  Services and General  Counsel of the
Company, or any one of them, my true and lawful  attorney-in-fact  for me and in
my name for the purpose of executing on my behalf (i) the Company's Registration
Statement  on Form  S-3,  or any  amendments  or  supplements  thereto,  for the
registration of shares of Common Stock of the Company to be issued in connection
with the  investment  in  Common  Stock  of the  Company  by  Rainwater-Magellan
Holdings,  L.P.;  (ii) any application for  registration  or  qualification  (or
exemption therefrom) of such shares under the Blue Sky or other federal or state
securities  laws and  regulations;  and (iii) any other  document or  instrument
deemed  necessary  or  appropriate  by any  of  them  in  connection  with  such
application for registration or qualification (or exemption therefrom);  and for
the  purpose  of  causing  any such  registration  statement  or any  subsequent
amendment  or  supplement  to such  registration  statement to be filed with the
Securities  and Exchange  Commission  pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended.

         IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  I have hereunto set my hand as of the 22nd day of
February, 1996.


                                             /s/ Andre C. Dimitriadis
                                             ----------------------------------
                                             ANDRE C. DIMITRIADIS
                                             Director


<PAGE>




                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


         KNOW ALL BY THESE  PRESENTS THAT I, A. D.  FRAZIER,  JR., a Director of
Magellan  Health  Services,  Inc. (the  "Company"),  do hereby appoint Howard A.
McLure,  Vice  President  and  Controller  of the  Company  and Steve J.  Davis,
Executive Vice  President,  Administrative  Services and General  Counsel of the
Company, or any one of them, my true and lawful  attorney-in-fact  for me and in
my name for the purpose of executing on my behalf (i) the Company's Registration
Statement  on Form  S-3,  or any  amendments  or  supplements  thereto,  for the
registration of shares of Common Stock of the Company to be issued in connection
with the  investment  in  Common  Stock  of the  Company  by  Rainwater-Magellan
Holdings,  L.P.;  (ii) any application for  registration  or  qualification  (or
exemption therefrom) of such shares under the Blue Sky or other federal or state
securities  laws and  regulations;  and (iii) any other  document or  instrument
deemed  necessary  or  appropriate  by any  of  them  in  connection  with  such
application for registration or qualification (or exemption therefrom);  and for
the  purpose  of  causing  any such  registration  statement  or any  subsequent
amendment  or  supplement  to such  registration  statement to be filed with the
Securities  and Exchange  Commission  pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended.

         IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  I have hereunto set my hand as of the 22nd day of
February, 1996.


                                             /s/ A. D. Frazier, Jr.
                                             ----------------------------------
                                             A. D. FRAZIER, JR.
                                             Director


<PAGE>




                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


         KNOW ALL BY THESE  PRESENTS  THAT I, RAYMOND H.  KIEFER,  a Director of
Magellan  Health  Services,  Inc. (the  "Company"),  do hereby appoint Howard A.
McLure,  Vice  President  and  Controller  of the  Company  and Steve J.  Davis,
Executive Vice  President,  Administrative  Services and General  Counsel of the
Company, or any one of them, my true and lawful  attorney-in-fact  for me and in
my name for the purpose of executing on my behalf (i) the Company's Registration
Statement  on Form  S-3,  or any  amendments  or  supplements  thereto,  for the
registration of shares of Common Stock of the Company to be issued in connection
with the  investment  in  Common  Stock  of the  Company  by  Rainwater-Magellan
Holdings,  L.P.;  (ii) any application for  registration  or  qualification  (or
exemption therefrom) of such shares under the Blue Sky or other federal or state
securities  laws and  regulations;  and (iii) any other  document or  instrument
deemed  necessary  or  appropriate  by any  of  them  in  connection  with  such
application for registration or qualification (or exemption therefrom);  and for
the  purpose  of  causing  any such  registration  statement  or any  subsequent
amendment  or  supplement  to such  registration  statement to be filed with the
Securities  and Exchange  Commission  pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended.

         IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  I have hereunto set my hand as of the 22nd day of
February, 1996.


                                             /s/ Raymond H. Kiefer
                                             ----------------------------------
                                             RAYMOND H. KIEFER
                                             Director


<PAGE>




                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


         KNOW ALL BY THESE  PRESENTS  THAT I, GERALD L.  McMANIS,  a Director of
Magellan  Health  Services,  Inc. (the  "Company"),  do hereby appoint Howard A.
McLure,  Vice  President  and  Controller  of the  Company  and Steve J.  Davis,
Executive Vice  President,  Administrative  Services and General  Counsel of the
Company, or any one of them, my true and lawful  attorney-in-fact  for me and in
my name for the purpose of executing on my behalf (i) the Company's Registration
Statement  on Form  S-3,  or any  amendments  or  supplements  thereto,  for the
registration of shares of Common Stock of the Company to be issued in connection
with the  investment  in  Common  Stock  of the  Company  by  Rainwater-Magellan
Holdings,  L.P.;  (ii) any application for  registration  or  qualification  (or
exemption therefrom) of such shares under the Blue Sky or other federal or state
securities  laws and  regulations;  and (iii) any other  document or  instrument
deemed  necessary  or  appropriate  by any  of  them  in  connection  with  such
application for registration or qualification (or exemption therefrom);  and for
the  purpose  of  causing  any such  registration  statement  or any  subsequent
amendment  or  supplement  to such  registration  statement to be filed with the
Securities  and Exchange  Commission  pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended.

         IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  I have hereunto set my hand as of the 22nd day of
February, 1996.


                                             /s/ Gerald L. McManis
                                             ----------------------------------
                                             GERALD L. McMANIS
                                             Director


<PAGE>



                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


         KNOW ALL BY THESE  PRESENTS THAT I, DARLA MOORE, a Director of Magellan
Health Services, Inc. (the "Company"),  do hereby appoint Howard A. McLure, Vice
President  and  Controller  of the Company and Steve J.  Davis,  Executive  Vice
President,  Administrative  Services and General Counsel of the Company,  or any
one of them, my true and lawful  attorney-in-fact  for me and in my name for the
purpose of executing on my behalf (i) the  Company's  Registration  Statement on
Form S-3, or any  amendments or supplements  thereto,  for the  registration  of
shares of Common  Stock of the  Company  to be  issued  in  connection  with the
investment in Common Stock of the Company by Rainwater-Magellan  Holdings, L.P.;
(ii) any application for registration or qualification (or exemption  therefrom)
of such shares under the Blue Sky or other federal or state  securities laws and
regulations;  and (iii) any other  document or  instrument  deemed  necessary or
appropriate by any of them in connection with such  application for registration
or qualification  (or exemption  therefrom);  and for the purpose of causing any
such  registration  statement or any subsequent  amendment or supplement to such
registration  statement to be filed with the Securities and Exchange  Commission
pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

         IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  I have hereunto set my hand as of the 22nd day of
February, 1996.


                                             /s/ Darla Moore
                                             ----------------------------------
                                             DARLA MOORE
                                             Director


<PAGE>





© 2022 IncJournal is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission