HEALTHSOUTH CORP
S-8, 1997-12-15
SPECIALTY OUTPATIENT FACILITIES, NEC
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      As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 15, 1997
                                             REGISTRATION NO. 333-______________

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

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                              --------------------

                                    FORM S-8
                          REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                              --------------------

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

            DELAWARE                                    63-0860407
  (State or Other Jurisdiction           (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)
of Incorporation or Organization)


               ONE HEALTHSOUTH PARKWAY, BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA 35243
               (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)



                             1997 STOCK OPTION PLAN

                            (Full Title of the Plan)

                               RICHARD M. SCRUSHY
                              Chairman of the Board
                           and Chief Executive Officer
                             HEALTHSOUTH Corporation
                             One HealthSouth Parkway
                            Birmingham, Alabama 35243
                     (Name and address of agent for service)
                                 (205) 967-7116
          (Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)


                                    Copy to:
                                              
                             WILLIAM W. HORTON, ESQ.
                   Senior Vice President and Corporate Counsel
                             HEALTHSOUTH Corporation
                             One HealthSouth Parkway
                            Birmingham, Alabama 35243
                                 (205) 967-7116

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

        APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC:
  AS SOON AS PRACTICABLE AFTER EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT.

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

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

         TITLE OF                                              PROPOSED MAXIMUM             PROPOSED MAXIMUM             AMOUNT OF
        SECURITIES                 AMOUNT TO BE                 OFFERING PRICE             AGGREGATE OFFERING          REGISTRATION
     TO BE REGISTERED             REGISTERED (1)                 PER SHARE (2)                  PRICE (2)                 FEE (2)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<S>                              <C>                                  <C>                      <C>                      <C>        
     Common Stock, Par           5,000,000 shares                     N/A                      $132,812,500             $39,180
   Value $.01 Per Share

====================================================================================================================================
</TABLE>

(1)      Maximum number of shares of HEALTHSOUTH  Corporation Common Stock which
         may be issued by  HEALTHSOUTH  Corporation  pursuant  to its 1997 Stock
         Option Plan.
(2)      In accordance with Rule 457(h)  promulgated under the Securities Act of
         1933,  these  calculations are based upon a price of $26.5625 per share
         of HEALTHSOUTH  Common Stock,  which represents the average of its high
         and low prices as reported  on the New York Stock  Exchange on December
         11, 1997.

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


<PAGE>


                                     PART I

              INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

NOTE: THE DOCUMENT(S)  CONTAINING THE EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN INFORMATION REQUIRED
BY  ITEM  1 OF  FORM  S-8  AND  THE  STATEMENT  OF  AVAILABILITY  OF  REGISTRANT
INFORMATION  AND ANY OTHER  INFORMATION  REQUIRED  BY ITEM 2 OF FORM S-8 WILL BE
SENT OR GIVEN TO EMPLOYEES AS SPECIFIED BY RULE 428 UNDER THE  SECURITIES ACT OF
1933, AS AMENDED (THE  "SECURITIES  ACT").  IN ACCORDANCE  WITH RULE 428 AND THE
REQUIREMENTS  OF PART I OF FORM S-8, SUCH DOCUMENTS ARE NOT BEING FILED WITH THE
REGISTRATION  STATEMENT OR AS PROSPECTUSES OR PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENTS PURSUANT TO
RULE 424 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT. THE REGISTRANT  SHALL MAINTAIN A FILE OF SUCH
DOCUMENTS IN ACCORDANCE  WITH THE  PROVISIONS  OF RULE 428.  UPON  REQUEST,  THE
REGISTRANT  SHALL FURNISH TO THE COMMISSION OR ITS STAFF A COPY OR COPIES OF ALL
OF THE DOCUMENTS INCLUDED IN SUCH FILE.


<PAGE>



                                     PART II
                           INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT


ITEM 3.           INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.

         There  are  hereby  incorporated  by  reference  in  this  Registration
Statement,  and  specifically  made  a  part  hereof,  the  following  documents
heretofore  filed by HEALTHSOUTH  Corporation  ("HEALTHSOUTH"  or the "Company")
(Commission  File No. 1-10315) with the Securities and Exchange  Commission (the
"Commission"),  pursuant to the  Securities  Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange
Act"):

                  1.  HEALTHSOUTH's  Annual  Report on Form 10-K for the  fiscal
         year ended December 31, 1996, as amended.

                  2.  HEALTHSOUTH's  Quarterly  Reports  on  Form  10-Q  for the
         quarterly periods ended March 31, 1997, June 30, 1997 and September 30,
         1997, as amended.

                  3. HEALTHSOUTH's Current Report on Form 8-K filed February 19,
         1997   (relating  to  the   acquisition   of   Horizon/CMS   Healthcare
         Corporation).

                  4.  HEALTHSOUTH's  Current  Report on Form 8-K filed March 13,
         1997  (reporting the  consummation of the acquisition of Health Images,
         Inc.).

                  5.  HEALTHSOUTH's  Current Report on Form 8-K filed August 26,
         1997, as amended (containing audited consolidated  financial statements
         of  HEALTHSOUTH at December 31, 1996 and for the three years then ended
         reflecting the combined  operations of  HEALTHSOUTH  and Health Images,
         Inc.)

                  6. HEALTHSOUTH's Current Report on Form 8-K filed November 13,
         1997,  as amended  (containing  information  relating to the  Company's
         acquisition of Horizon/CMS Healthcare Corporation).

                  7. The description of HEALTHSOUTH's capital stock contained in
         HEALTH  SOUTH's  Registration  Statement  on Form 8-A filed  August 26,
         1989.

         All documents filed by the Company  pursuant to Sections 13(a),  13(c),
14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the  effective  date of this  Registration
Statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective  amendment indicating that
all the  securities  offered  hereby have been sold, or  deregistering  all such
securities  then  remaining  unsold,  shall  be  deemed  to be  incorporated  by
reference in this  Registration  Statement and to be a part hereof from the date
of filing of such documents.  Any statement contained in a document incorporated
or deemed to be incorporated by reference  herein shall be deemed to be modified
or superseded for purposes of this  Registration  Statement to the extent that a
statement  contained  herein or in any other  subsequently  filed document which
also  is or is  deemed  to be  incorporated  by  reference  herein  modifies  or
supersedes such statement.  Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be
deemed,  except as so  modified  or  superseded,  to  constitute  a part of this
Registration Statement.

                                      II-1

<PAGE>



ITEM 4.           DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES.

         Not applicable.


ITEM 5.           INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.

         Not applicable.


ITEM 6.           INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

     Section  102(b)(7) of the Delaware General  Corporation Law ("DGCL") grants
corporations  the right to limit or eliminate  the  personal  liability of their
directors in certain  circumstances  in accordance with  provisions  therein set
forth.  Article Nine of the HEALTHSOUTH  Restated  Certificate of  Incorporation
filed in the Office of the  Secretary of the State of Delaware on March 13, 1997
(the "HEALTHSOUTH  Certificate"),  contains a provision  eliminating or limiting
director  liability to HEALTHSOUTH  and its  stockholders  for monetary  damages
arising  from acts or omissions in the  director's  capacity as a director.  The
provision  does not,  however,  eliminate or limit the  personal  liability of a
director (i) for any breach of such director's duty of loyalty to HEALTHSOUTH or
its stockholders,  (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve
intentional  misconduct or a knowing  violation of law, (iii) under the Delaware
statutory  provision  making  directors  personally  liable,  under a negligence
standard, for unlawful dividends or unlawful stock purchases or redemptions,  or
(iv) for any transaction  from which the director  derived an improper  personal
benefit.  This  provision  offers persons who serve on the Board of Directors of
HEALTHSOUTH  protection  against  awards  of  monetary  damages  resulting  from
breaches of their duty of care (except as indicated  above). As a result of this
provision,  the ability of HEALTHSOUTH or a stockholder  thereof to successfully
prosecute  an  action  against  a  director  for a breach of his duty of care is
limited.  However,  the provision does not affect the  availability of equitable
remedies such as an injunction or rescission  based upon a director's  breach of
his duty of care.  The Commission has taken the position that the provision will
have no effect on claims arising under the Federal securities laws.

         Section  145 of the DGCL  grants  corporations  the right to  indemnify
their  directors,   officers,  employees  and  agents  in  accordance  with  the
provisions  therein set forth.  Article Nine of the HEALTHSOUTH  Certificate and
Article IX of the  HEALTHSOUTH  Bylaws  provide  for  mandatory  indemnification
rights, subject to limited exceptions,  to any director,  officer,  employee, or
agent of  HEALTHSOUTH  who,  by reason of the fact that he or she is a director,
officer, employee, or agent of HEALTHSOUTH, is involved in a legal proceeding of
any nature.  Such  indemnification  rights  include  reimbursement  for expenses
incurred by such director,  officer,  employee, or agent in advance of the final
disposition of such proceeding in accordance  with the applicable  provisions of
the DGCL.

         HEALTHSOUTH  has entered into  agreements with all of its Directors and
its executive  officers  pursuant to which  HEALTHSOUTH  has agreed to indemnify
such  Directors and executive  officers  against  liability  incurred by them by
reason of their  services of a Director to the fullest  extent  allowable  under
applicable law.

                                      II-2

<PAGE>


ITEM 7.           EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.

         Not applicable.


ITEM 8.           EXHIBITS.

         Exhibits are numbered in accordance with Item 601 of Regulation S-K.

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

           4             1997 Stock Option Plan.

           5             Opinion of Haskell Slaughter & Young, L.L.C.

         23.1            Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.

         23.2            Consent of Haskell Slaughter & Young, L.L.C. (contained
                         within Opinion of Counsel included as Exhibit 5).

          24             Powers of Attorney (See Signature Page).


ITEM 9.           UNDERTAKINGS.

         The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

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

                           (i) 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;

                  (2) That, for the purpose of determining  any liability  under
         the Securities 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 Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the
Registrant's  annual  report  pursuant to Section  13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Exchange Act (and, where  applicable,  each filing of an employee benefit plan's
annual  report   pursuant  to  Section  15(d)  of  the  Exchange  Act)  that  is
incorporated by reference in

                                      II-3

<PAGE>


the 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.

         Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act may be  permitted to  directors,  officers  and  controlling  persons of the
Registrant pursuant to the foregoing  provisions,  or otherwise,  the Registrant
has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such  indemnification  is
against  public  policy as expressed in the  Securities  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 person 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 whether such  indemnification  by it is against public
policy as  expressed  in the  Securities  Act and will be  governed by the final
adjudication of such issue.

                                      II-4

<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-8 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement  to be  signed  on its  behalf  by  the  undersigned,  thereunto  duly
authorized, in the City of Birmingham, State of Alabama, on December 15, 1997.

                             HEALTHSOUTH Corporation


                             By                    RICHARD M. SCRUSHY
                               -------------------------------------------------
                                                   Richard M. Scrushy
                                                  Chairman of the Board
                                               and Chief Executive Officer

         KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE  PRESENTS,  that each person  whose name  appears
below  constitutes  and appoints  Richard M. Scrushy and Michael D. Martin,  and
each of them, his attorney-in-fact, with power of substitution for him or her in
any  and  all  capacities,  to  sign  any  amendments,  supplements,  subsequent
registration  statements  relating  to the  offering  to  which  this  statement
relates,  or other instruments he or she deems necessary or appropriate,  and to
file the  same,  with  exhibits  thereto,  and  other  documents  in  connection
therewith,  with the Securities and Exchange  Commission,  hereby  ratifying and
confirming all that said  attorney-in-fact  or his substitute may do or cause to
be done by virtue hereof.

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

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
               Signature                                      Capacity                                Date
               ---------                                      --------                                ----

<S>                                                 <C>                                        <C> 
/s/       RICHARD M. SCRUSHY                                                                    December 15, 1997
- --------------------------------------                  Chairman of the Board
         (Richard M. Scrushy)                        and Chief Executive Officer
                                                              and Director

/s/        MICHAEL D. MARTIN                                                                    December 15, 1997
- --------------------------------------               Executive Vice President and
          (Michael D. Martin)                          Chief Financial Officer
                                                     (Principal Financial Officer)

/s/        WILLIAM T. OWENS                                                                     December 15, 1997
- --------------------------------------           Senior Vice President and Controller
          (William T. Owens)                       (Principal Accounting Officer)


/s/       JOHN S. CHAMBERLIN                                  Director                          December 15, 1997
- --------------------------------------
         (John S. Chamberlin)


/s/         C. SAGE GIVENS                                    Director                          December 15, 1997
- --------------------------------------
           (C. Sage Givens)


/s/      CHARLES W. NEWHALL III                               Director                          December 15, 1997
- --------------------------------------
       (Charles W. Newhall III)


/s/        GEORGE H. STRONG                                   Director                          December 15, 1997
- --------------------------------------
          (George H. Strong)

</TABLE>

                                      II-5

<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>




<S>                                                           <C>                               <C> 
/s/      PHILLIP C. WATKINS, M.D.                             Director                          December 15, 1997
- --------------------------------------
      (Phillip C. Watkins, M.D.)


/s/        JAMES P. BENNETT                                   Director                          December 15, 1997
- --------------------------------------
          (James P. Bennett)


/s/         LARRY R. HOUSE                                    Director                          December 15, 1997
- --------------------------------------
           (Larry R. House)


/s/        ANTHONY J. TANNER                                  Director                          December 15, 1997
- --------------------------------------
          (Anthony J. Tanner)


/s/         P. DARYL BROWN                                    Director                          December 15, 1997
- --------------------------------------
           (P. Daryl Brown)


/s/         JOEL C. GORDON                                    Director                          December 15, 1997
- --------------------------------------
           (Joel C. Gordon)


/s/         NEAL M. ELLIOT                                    Director                          December 15, 1997
- --------------------------------------
           (Neal M. Elliot)

</TABLE>

                                      II-6


                             HEALTHSOUTH CORPORATION

                             1997 STOCK OPTION PLAN


         1.  PURPOSE OF THE PLAN.  The  purpose of the 1997  Stock  Option  Plan
(hereinafter  called  the  "Plan")  of  HEALTHSOUTH   Corporation,   a  Delaware
corporation (hereinafter called the "Corporation"),  is to provide incentive for
future  endeavor  and to  advance  the  interests  of the  Corporation  and  its
stockholders  by encouraging  ownership of the Common Stock,  par value $.01 per
share  (hereinafter  called  the  "Common  Stock"),  of the  Corporation  by its
Directors, executives and other key employees, upon whose judgment, interest and
continuing  special  efforts  the  Corporation  is  largely  dependent  for  the
successful  conduct of its operations,  and to enable the Corporation to compete
effectively  with other  enterprises  for the  services  of such new  Directors,
executives  and employees as may be needed for the continued  improvement of the
Corporation's  business,  through the grant of options to purchase shares of the
Common Stock.  It is intended that certain  Options issued under the Plan and so
designated  pursuant  to Section  6(c)  hereof by the  Committee  (as defined in
Section 5 hereof) shall qualify as "incentive stock options" (hereinafter called
"ISOs")  under Section  422(b) of the Internal  Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
from time to time (hereinafter  called the "Code"),  and, where applicable,  the
terms of the Plan shall be interpreted in accordance with such intention.  Other
Options  may be  issued  under  the  Plan and  designated  by the  Committee  as
non-qualified  stock options  (hereinafter  called  "NQSOs").  Any Option issued
under the Plan and not  expressly  designated  as an ISO  shall be  conclusively
deemed to be an NQSO.

         2. PARTICIPANTS.  Options may be granted under the Plan to Directors of
the  Corporation and to such executives and key employees of the Corporation and
its subsidiaries as shall be determined by the Committee  appointed by the Board
of Directors as set forth in Section 5 of the Plan; provided,  however,  that no
Option may be granted to any person if such grant  would cause the Plan to cease
to be an  "employee  benefit  plan"  as  defined  in Rule  405 of  Regulation  C
promulgated  under the Securities Act of 1933; and provided  further that no ISO
may be granted to any person  ineligible to be granted ISOs under Section 422(b)
of the Code.

         3. TERM OF THE PLAN. The Plan shall become effective as of May 1, 1997,
subject to the approval by the holders of a majority of the shares of issued and
outstanding  Common  Stock of the  Corporation  at the 1997  Annual  Meeting  of
Stockholders of the Corporation. The Plan shall terminate on the earliest of (a)
April 30,  2007,  (b) such  time as all  shares of  Common  Stock  reserved  for
issuance  under the Plan have been  acquired  through  the  exercise  of Options
granted  under the Plan,  or (c) such  earlier time as the Board of Directors of
the Corporation may determine. Any Option outstanding under the Plan at the time
of its  termination  shall  remain in effect  in  accordance  with its terms and
conditions  and those of the Plan.  No Option  shall be  granted  under the Plan
after April 30, 2007.

         4. STOCK SUBJECT TO THE PLAN.  Subject to the provisions of Section 13,
the aggregate  number of shares of Common Stock for which Options may be granted
under the Plan shall not exceed  5,000,000  shares,  and the  maximum  number of
shares of Common Stock for which any individual may be granted Options under the
Plan during any calendar year is 1,000,000.  If, on or prior to the  termination
of the Plan as  provided  in Section 3, an Option  granted  under the Plan shall
have expired or terminated for any reason without having been exercised in full,
the  unpurchased  shares  covered  thereby shall again become  available for the
grant of  Options  under the Plan.  Shares  covered by  Options  surrendered  in
connection with the exercise of other Options  pursuant to Section 9(e) shall be
deemed, for purposes of this Section 4, to have been exercised,  and such shares
shall not again become available for the grant of Options under the Plan.

         The shares to be  delivered  upon  exercise  of Options  under the Plan
shall be made  available,  at the  discretion of the Board of Directors,  either
from  authorized but previously  unissued shares as permitted by the 


<PAGE>


Certificate of  Incorporation  of the Corporation or from shares  re-acquired by
the Corporation,  including shares of Common Stock purchased in the open market,
and shares held in the treasury of the Corporation.

         5.  ADMINISTRATION  OF THE PLAN. With respect to the  participation  of
executives and key employees of the Corporation and its subsidiaries who are not
also Directors of the  Corporation,  the Plan shall be administered by the Audit
and  Compensation  Committee  of the  Board  of  Directors  of  the  Corporation
(hereinafter  called the "Committee").  The acts of a majority of the Committee,
at any  meeting  thereof  at which a quorum is  present,  or acts  reduced to or
approved in writing by a majority of the members of the Committee,  shall be the
valid acts of the Committee.  The Committee  shall  determine the executives and
key  employees  of the  Corporation  and its  subsidiaries  who shall be granted
Options and the number of shares of Common Stock to be subject to each Option.

         With  respect to the  participation  of  non-employee  Directors of the
Corporation,  each non-employee  Director shall receive,  as an annual grant, an
NQSO to purchase  25,000  shares of Common  Stock on the date of approval of the
Plan by the  stockholders of the Corporation and in each year  thereafter,  such
Option to be granted as of the first  business  day in January of each  calendar
year,  commencing  with January 1998. The purchase price of the shares of Common
Stock covered by each such NQSO granted to a non-employee Director shall be 100%
of the fair  market  value  (but in no event  less  than the par  value) of such
shares at the time the Option is granted,  determined in accordance with Section
7(c) hereof.  Grants to any non-employee Director shall be in lieu of any grants
under other stock option plans of the Corporation.

         The  interpretation and construction of any provision of the Plan or of
any Option  granted under it by the  Committee  shall be final,  conclusive  and
binding  upon all parties,  including  the  Corporation,  its  stockholders  and
Directors,  and  the  executives  and  employees  of  the  Corporation  and  its
subsidiaries.  No member of the Board of  Directors  or the  Committee  shall be
liable to the Corporation,  any stockholder, any optionholder or any employee of
the Corporation or its subsidiaries for any action or determination made in good
faith with respect to the Plan or any Option  granted under it. No member of the
Board of Directors may vote on any Option to be granted to him.

         The  expenses  of  administering   the  Plan  shall  be  borne  by  the
Corporation.

         6. GRANT OF OPTIONS.  (a) Options may be granted  under the Plan by the
Committee in  accordance  with the  provisions of Section 5 at any time prior to
the  termination  of the Plan.  In making  any  determination  as to  Directors,
executives  and key  employees  to whom  Options  shall be granted and as to the
number of shares to be covered by such Options,  the  Committee  shall take into
account the duties of the  respective  Directors,  executives and key employees,
their present and potential contribution to the success of the Corporation,  and
such other factors as the Committee  shall deem relevant in connection  with the
accomplishment of the purposes of the Plan.

                  (b)  Each  Option  granted  under  the Plan  shall be  granted
pursuant to and subject to the terms and conditions of a stock option  agreement
to be entered into between the Corporation  and the  optionholder at the time of
such  grant.  Each  such  stock  option  agreement  shall  be  in  a  form  from
time-to-time  adopted for use under the Plan by the  Committee  (such form being
hereinafter called a "Stock Option Agreement").  Any such Stock Option Agreement
shall incorporate by reference all of the terms and provisions of the Plan as in
effect at the time of grant and may contain such other terms and  provisions  as
shall be approved and adopted by the Committee.

                  (c) At the time of the grant of each  Option  under this Plan,
the Committee shall determine whether such Option is to be designated as an ISO.
If an Option is to be  designated  as an ISO,  then the  provisions  

                                       A-2

<PAGE>


of Sections  6(d),  7(b) and 8(b) shall apply to such Options.  The Stock Option
Agreement relating to the grant of any option designated as an ISO shall reflect
such designation.

                  (d)  Notwithstanding  any contrary provision contained in this
Agreement,  the aggregate fair market value  (determined as of the time each ISO
is granted) of the shares of Common  Stock with  respect to which ISOs issued to
any one person  hereunder are exercisable for the first time during any calendar
year shall not exceed $100,000.

         7. OPTION PRICE.  (a) The purchase  price of the shares of Common Stock
covered by each Option granted under the Plan shall be at least 100% of the fair
market  value (but in no event  less than the par  value) of such  shares at the
time the Option is granted, or such higher purchase price as shall be determined
by the Committee.

                  (b)   Notwithstanding  any  contrary  provision  contained  in
Section  7(a) hereof,  no Option  granted to any person who, at the time of such
grant,  owns, taking into account the attribution rules of Section 424(d) of the
Code,  stock  possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all
classes  of the  Corporation's  stock or of the  stock  of any of its  corporate
subsidiaries,  may be  designated as an ISO unless at the time of such grant the
purchase  price of the shares of Common Stock covered by such Option is at least
110% of the fair market  value (but in no event less than the par value) of such
shares.

                  (c)  If  the  Common  Stock  is not  listed  upon  a  national
securities exchange or exchanges,  such fair market value shall be as determined
by the Board of  Directors  of the  Corporation  (which  determination  shall be
conclusive and binding for all purposes) or, if  applicable,  shall be deemed to
be the last  reported  sale price for the Common  Stock as quoted by brokers and
dealers  trading in the Common Stock in the  over-the-counter  market (or if the
Common Stock shall be quoted by the National  Association of Securities  Dealers
Automated  Quotation  system,  then such NASDAQ quote)  immediately prior to the
commencement of the meeting of the Committee at which the Option is granted.  If
the Common  Stock is listed upon a national  securities  exchange or  exchanges,
such fair  market  value shall be deemed to be the last  reported  sale price at
which the shares of Common  Stock were  traded on such  securities  exchange  or
exchanges  immediately prior to the commencement of the meeting of the Committee
at which the Option is  granted,  or if no sale of the Common  Stock was made on
any national  securities exchange on such date, then the closing price per share
of the  Common  Stock  on such  securities  exchange  or  exchanges  on the next
preceding day on which there was a sale of the Common Stock.

                  (d) The exercise price of any outstanding Options shall not be
reduced  during  the term of such  Options  except by  reason  of an  adjustment
pursuant to Section 13 hereof, nor shall the Committee or the Board of Directors
cancel outstanding  Options and reissue new Options at a lower exercise price in
substitution for the canceled Options.

         8. TERM OF OPTIONS.  (a) The expiration date of an Option granted under
the Plan shall be as determined by the Committee at the time of grant,  provided
that each such Option  shall  expire not more than ten years after the date such
Option was granted.

                  (b)   Notwithstanding  any  contrary  provision  contained  in
Section  8(a) hereof,  no Option  granted to any person who, at the time of such
grant,  owns, taking into account the attribution rules of Section 424(d) of the
Code,  stock possessing  more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all
classes  of the  Corporation's  stock or of the  stock  of any of its  corporate
subsidiaries,  may be  designated as an ISO unless by its terms each such Option
shall expire not more than five years after the date such Option was granted.

                                       A-3

<PAGE>


         9.  EXERCISE OF OPTIONS.  (a) Each Option shall become  exercisable  in
whole or in part or in  installments  at such time or times as the Committee may
prescribe  at the time the Option is  granted  and  specify in the Stock  Option
Agreement. No Option shall be exercisable after the expiration of ten years from
the date on which it was granted.

                  (b)  Notwithstanding  any contrary provision contained herein,
unless otherwise  expressly  provided in the Stock Option Agreement,  any Option
granted  hereunder  which is, by its terms,  exercisable in  installments  shall
become  immediately  exercisable  in full  upon the  occurrence  of a Change  in
Control of the  Corporation.  For  purposes  of this  Section  9(b),  "Change in
Control" shall mean

                  (i) the acquisition  (other than from the  Corporation) by any
         person,  entity or "group" (within the meaning of Sections  13(d)(3) or
         14(d)(2) of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,  but  excluding,  for
         this purpose,  the  Corporation  or its  subsidiaries,  or any employee
         benefit plan of the  Corporation  or its  subsidiaries  which  acquires
         beneficial  ownership  of  voting  securities  of the  Corporation)  of
         beneficial  ownership  (within  the  meaning of Rule 13d-3  promulgated
         under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) of 25% or more of either the
         then-outstanding shares of Common Stock or the combined voting power of
         the Corporation's  then-outstanding  voting securities entitled to vote
         generally in the election of Directors; or

                  (ii) individuals who, as of May 1, 1997,  constitute the Board
         of  Directors  of the  Corporation  (as of such  date,  the  "Incumbent
         Board")  cease for any reason to  constitute at least a majority of the
         Board of  Directors;  provided,  however,  that any  person  becoming a
         Director  subsequent to such date whose  election,  or  nomination  for
         election,  was  approved  by a  vote  of at  least  a  majority  of the
         Directors then constituting the Incumbent Board (other than an election
         or nomination of an individual whose initial assumption of office is in
         connection with an actual or threatened  election  contest  relating to
         the election of Directors of the Corporation) shall be, for purposes of
         this Section  9(b)(ii),  considered as though such person were a member
         of the Incumbent Board; or

                  (iii)  approval by the  stockholders  of the  Corporation of a
         reorganization,  merger,  consolidation or share exchange, in each case
         with  respect  to  which  persons  who  were  the  stockholders  of the
         Corporation   immediately   prior  to  such   reorganization,   merger,
         consolidation  or share exchange do not,  immediately  thereafter,  own
         more than 75% of the combined  voting power  entitled to vote generally
         in the election of directors of the reorganized,  merged,  consolidated
         or other surviving entity's  then-outstanding  voting securities,  or a
         liquidation  or  dissolution  of the  Corporation or the sale of all or
         substantially all of the assets of the Corporation.

                  (c) Options may be exercised by giving  written  notice to the
Corporation  of  intention to  exercise,  specifying  the number of shares to be
purchased  pursuant to such exercise in accordance with the procedures set forth
in the Stock Option Agreement.  All shares purchased upon exercise of any Option
shall  be paid  for in full at the  time of  purchase  in  accordance  with  the
procedures  set forth in the Stock  Option  Agreement.  Except  as  provided  in
Sections  9(d) and 9(e) hereof,  such  payment  shall be made in cash or through
delivery of shares of Common Stock or a combination  of cash and Common Stock as
provided in the Stock Option Agreement.  Any shares so delivered shall be valued
at their fair market value  determined  as of the date of exercise of the Option
under the method set forth in Section 7(c) hereof.

                                      A-4

<PAGE>


                  (d) Payment  for shares  purchased  upon  exercise of any such
Option  may be  made by  delivery  to the  Corporation  of a  properly  executed
exercise notice together with  irrevocable  instructions to a broker to promptly
deliver to the Corporation an amount of sale or loan proceeds  sufficient to pay
the exercise price.  Additionally,  the Corporation will accept,  in payment for
shares  purchased  upon  exercise of any such Option,  proceeds of a margin loan
obtained  by the  exercising  optionholder  from a  broker,  provided  that  the
exercising  optionholder has, at the same time as delivery to the Corporation of
a properly  executed exercise notice,  delivered to the Corporation  irrevocable
instructions to the Corporation to deliver share  certificates  directly to such
broker upon payment for such shares.

                  (e) With respect to Directors and officers of the  Corporation
who are subject to reporting  requirements under Section 16(a) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934,  payment for shares  purchased upon exercise of any Option
granted  hereunder may be made by surrender of outstanding  Options issued under
this Plan or any other stock option plan of the Corporation  having a Spread (as
defined  below)  equal  to the  exercise  price  of  the  Options  sought  to be
exercised.  For purposes of this Section 9(e),  the "Spread" with respect to any
unexercised  Option shall be equal to (i) the average  price per share of Common
Stock  on the  date of  exercise,  as  determined  by the  Corporation  from any
commercially  available reporting service reflecting trading of the Common Stock
on a national  securities  exchange,  on the National  Association of Securities
Dealers  Automated  Quotation  System,  or in the over the  counter  market,  as
applicable,  less (ii) the exercise  price of the  surrender of the Option.  All
Options  so   surrendered   will  be  deemed  to  have  been  exercised  by  the
optionholder.  Such surrender  shall be evidenced in a form  satisfactory to the
Secretary of the Corporation.

         10.  NONTRANSFERABILITY  OF OPTIONS. (a) Options granted under the Plan
shall be  assignable  or  transferable  only by will or  pursuant to the laws of
descent and  distribution  and shall be  exercisable  during the  optionholder's
lifetime  only  by  him,  except  to the  extent  set  forth  in  the  following
paragraphs.

                  (b) Upon written  notice to the Secretary of the  Corporation,
an optionholder may, except as otherwise  prohibited by applicable law, transfer
options  granted  under the Plan to one or more  members of such  optionholder's
immediate  family,  to  a  partnership   consisting  only  of  members  of  such
optionholder's  immediate family,  or to a trust all of whose  beneficiaries are
members of the optionholder's immediate family. For purposes of this section, an
optionholder's "immediate family" shall be deemed to include such optionholder's
spouse, children and grandchildren only.

                  (c) Upon written  notice to the Secretary of the  Corporation,
an optionholder may transfer  options to a charitable,  educational or religious
entity which has been determined by the United States  Internal  Revenue Service
to be exempt from federal income taxation under the provisions of Section 501(c)
of the Internal  Revenue Code of 1986, as amended,  or any  successor  statutory
provision.

         11. STOCKHOLDER  RIGHTS OF OPTIONHOLDER.  No holder of any Option shall
have any rights to dividends or other  rights of a  stockholder  with respect to
shares  subject to an Option prior to the purchase of such shares upon  exercise
of the Option.

         12.  TERMINATION  OF OPTION.  With respect to any Option which,  by its
terms, is not exercisable for one year from the date on which it is granted,  if
an optionholder's  employment by, or other relationship with, the Corporation or
any of its subsidiaries terminates within one year after the date an unexercised
Option containing such terms is granted under the Plan for any reason other than
death,  the Option shall terminate on the date of termination of such employment
or other relationship. With respect to all Options granted under the Plan, if an
optionholder's  employment by, or other  relationship  with, the  Corporation is
terminated by reason 

                                      A-5

<PAGE>


of his  death,  the  Option  shall  terminate  one year after the date of death,
unless the Option  otherwise  expires.  If an  optionholder's  employment by, or
other relationship with, the Corporation terminates for any reason other than as
set forth above in this  Section 12, the Option  shall  terminate  three  months
after the date of termination of such  employment or other  relationship  unless
the Option earlier expires,  provided that (a) if the  optionholder  dies within
such three-month  period,  the Option shall terminate one year after the date of
his death unless the Option earlier expires;  (b) the Board of Directors may, at
any time prior to any termination of such employment or other relationship under
the  circumstances  covered by this Section 12, determine in its discretion that
the Option shall  terminate on the date of  termination  of such  employment  or
other  relationship  with the  Corporation;  and (c) the  exercise of any Option
after termination of such employment or other  relationship with the Corporation
shall  be  subject  to  satisfaction  of  the  conditions   precedent  that  the
optionholder  refrain from  engaging,  directly or  indirectly,  in any activity
which is  competitive  with any activity of the  Corporation  or any  subsidiary
thereof and from otherwise acting,  either prior to or after termination of such
employment or other relationship,  in any manner inimical or in any way contrary
to the best interests of the  Corporation and that the  optionholder  furnish to
the  Corporation  such  information  with  respect  to the  satisfaction  of the
foregoing  condition  precedent  as the  Board  of  Directors  shall  reasonably
request.  For purposes of this Section 12, a "relationship with the Corporation"
shall be limited to any relationship that does not cause the Plan to cease to be
an  "employee  benefit  plan" as defined in Rule 405 of  Regulation  C under the
Securities Act of 1933. The mere ownership of stock in the Corporation shall not
be deemed to be a "relationship with the Corporation".

         Nothing in the Plan or in the Stock Option  Agreement shall confer upon
any  optionholder  the right to continue in the employ of the Corporation or any
of its subsidiaries or in any other relationship thereto or interfere in any way
with  the  right  of the  Corporation  to  terminate  such  employment  or other
relationship at any time.

         A holder of an Option under the Plan may make written  designation of a
beneficiary  on  forms  prescribed  by  and  filed  with  the  Secretary  of the
Corporation.  Such beneficiary, or if no such designation of any beneficiary has
been made, the legal  representative  of such  optionholder or such other person
entitled  thereto  as  determined  by a court  of  competent  jurisdiction,  may
exercise,  in accordance  with and subject to the provisions of this Section 12,
any unterminated  and unexpired Option granted to such  optionholder to the same
extent that the  optionholder  himself could have  exercised such Option were he
alive or able; provided, however, that no Option granted under the Plan shall be
exercisable  for  more  shares  than  the  optionholder   could  have  purchased
thereunder  on the date his  employment  by,  or other  relationship  with,  the
Corporation and its subsidiaries was terminated.

         13. ADJUSTMENT OF AND CHANGES IN CAPITALIZATION.  In the event that the
outstanding shares of Common Stock shall be changed in number or class by reason
of split-ups, combinations, mergers, consolidations or recapitalizations,  or by
reason of stock dividends, the number or class of shares which thereafter may be
purchased  through  exercise  of  Options  granted  under the Plan,  both in the
aggregate  and as to any  individual,  and the number  and class of shares  then
subject to Options  theretofore  granted  and the price per share  payable  upon
exercise of such Option shall be adjusted so as to reflect  such change,  all as
determined  by the Board of  Directors  of the  Corporation.  In the event there
shall be any other  change in the  number or kind of the  outstanding  shares of
Common Stock,  or of any stock or other  securities into which such Common Stock
shall have been changed, or for which it shall have been exchanged,  then if the
Board of Directors  shall,  in its sole  discretion,  determine that such change
equitably requires an adjustment in any Option theretofore  granted or which may
be granted under the Plan, such adjustment shall be made in accordance with such
determination.

                                      A-6

<PAGE>


         Notice  of any  adjustment  shall be given by the  Corporation  to each
holder of an  Option  which  shall  have been so  adjusted  and such  adjustment
(whether or not such  notice is given)  shall be  effective  and binding for all
purposes of the Plan.

         Fractional  shares resulting from any adjustment in Options pursuant to
this  Section 13 may be settled in cash or  otherwise  as the Board of Directors
may determine.

         14.  SECURITIES ACTS  REQUIREMENTS.  No Option granted  pursuant to the
Plan shall be exercisable in whole or in part, and the Corporation  shall not be
obligated to sell any shares of Common Stock subject to any such Option, if such
exercise and sale would, in the opinion of counsel for the Corporation,  violate
the  Securities  Act of 1933 or other Federal or state  statutes  having similar
requirements,  as they may be in  effect  at that  time.  Each  Option  shall be
subject to the further requirement that, at any time that the Board of Directors
or the  Committee,  as the case may be,  shall  determine,  in their  respective
discretion,  that the listing,  registration or  qualification  of the shares of
Common Stock subject to such Option under any securities  exchange  requirements
or under any  applicable  law, or the  consent or  approval of any  governmental
regulatory  body,  is necessary or desirable as a condition of, or in connection
with,  the  granting of such Option or the issuance of shares  thereunder,  such
Option  may  not  be  exercised  in  whole  or  in  part  unless  such  listing,
registration,  qualification,  consent or approval  shall have been  effected or
obtained free of any  conditions not acceptable to the Board of Directors or the
Committee, as the case may be.

         As a condition to the issuance of any shares upon exercise of an Option
under the Plan, the Board of Directors or the Committee, as the case may be, may
require  the  optionholder  to  furnish  a  written  representation  that  he is
acquiring the shares for investment and not with a view to  distribution  of the
shares to the public and a written agreement  restricting the transferability of
the shares  solely to the  Corporation,  and may affix a  restrictive  legend or
legends  on  the  face  of  the  certificate   representing  such  shares.  Such
representation, agreement and/or legend shall be required only in cases where in
the opinion of the Board of Directors or the Committee,  as the case may be, and
counsel for the Corporation, it is necessary to enable the Corporation to comply
with the  provisions  of the  Securities  Act of 1933 or other  Federal or state
statutes  having  similar  requirements,  and any  stockholder  who  gives  such
representation and agreement shall be released from it and the legend removed at
such time as the  shares to which  they  applied  are  registered  or  qualified
pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933 or other Federal or state statutes having
similar  requirements,  or at such other time as, in the opinion of the Board of
Directors or the Committee, as the case may be, and counsel for the Corporation,
the  representation and agreement and legend cease to be necessary to enable the
Corporation to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933 or other
Federal or state statutes having similar requirements.

         15.  AMENDMENT  OF THE PLAN.  The Plan may, at any time or from time to
time, be terminated,  modified or amended by the stockholders of the Corporation
by the affirmative  vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding  shares
of the  Corporation's  Common Stock  entitled to vote. The Board of Directors of
the Corporation may, insofar as permitted by law, from time to time with respect
to any shares of Common  Stock at the time not  subject to  Options,  suspend or
discontinue the Plan or revise or amend it in any respect whatsoever;  provided,
however, that, without approval of the stockholders of the Corporation,  no such
revision or amendment  shall  increase the number of shares subject to the Plan,
decrease  the price at which the  Options  may be  granted,  permit  exercise of
Options  unless  full  payment  is made at the time of  exercise  (except  as so
provided in Section 9 hereof),  extend the period  during  which  Options may be
exercised,  or change the  provisions  relating  to  adjustment  to be made upon
changes in capitalization.

                                      A-7

<PAGE>


         16. CHANGES IN LAW.  Subject to the provisions of Section 15, the Board
of Directors shall have the power to amend the Plan and any outstanding  Options
granted thereunder in such respects as the Board of Directors shall, in its sole
discretion,  deem  advisable  in  order to  incorporate  in the Plan or any such
Option any new provision or change  designed to comply with or take advantage of
requirements  or  provisions  of the  Code or any  other  statute,  or  Rules or
Regulations  of the  Internal  Revenue  Service  or any other  Federal  or state
governmental agency enacted or promulgated after the adoption of the Plan.

         17.  LEGAL  MATTERS.  Every  right of  action  by or on  behalf  of the
Corporation or by any stock holder against any past, present or future member of
the Board of Directors, officer or employee of the Corporation arising out of or
in connection with this Plan shall,  irrespective of the place where such action
may be brought and  irrespective of the place of residence of any such Director,
officer or employee,  cease and be barred by the  expiration of three years from
whichever  is the later of (a) the date of the act or  omission  in  respect  of
which such right of action  arises,  or (b) the first date upon which  there has
been  made  generally   available  to  stockholders  an  annual  report  of  the
Corporation  and a  proxy  statement  for the  Annual  Meeting  of  Stockholders
following  the issuance of such annual  report,  which  annual  report and proxy
statement  alone or together set forth,  for the related  period,  the aggregate
number of shares for which Options were granted; and any and all right of action
by any  employee  or  executive  of the  Corporation  (past,  present or future)
against the  Corporation  arising out of or in connection  with this Plan shall,
irrespective of the place where such action may be brought,  cease and be barred
by the expiration of three years from the date of the act or omission in respect
of which such right of action arises.

         This Plan and all determinations made and actions taken pursuant hereto
shall be governed by the law of Delaware,  applied  without giving effect to any
conflicts-of-law principles, and construed accordingly.

                                       A-8



                                                                       EXHIBIT 5

                [LETTERHEAD OF HASKELL SLAUGHTER & YOUNG, L.L.C.]


                                December 15, 1997


HEALTHSOUTH Corporation
One HealthSouth Parkway
Birmingham, Alabama 35243

       Re:   REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-8 REGARDING 1997 STOCK OPTION PLAN

Gentlemen:

          We have  served as counsel  for  HEALTHSOUTH  Corporation,  a Delaware
corporation  (the  "Company"),  in connection  with the  registration  under the
Securities  Act of 1993,  as amended,  of an aggregate of 5,000,000  shares (the
"Shares") of the Company's authorized Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, to
be issued to participants of the above-referenced  plan (the "Plan"), pursuant
to the  Company's  Registration  Statement  on Form S-8  relating  thereto  (the
"Registration  Statement").  This  opinion is  furnished  to you pursuant to the
requirements of Form S-8.

          In  connection  with this  opinion,  we have examined and are familiar
with originals or copies (certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction)
of such documents, corporate records and


<PAGE>


HEALTHSOUTH Corporation
December 15, 1997
Page 2



other  instruments  relating  to  the  incorporation  of the Company  and to the
authorization  and  issuance  of the  Shares  as we have  deemed  necessary  and
appropriate.

          Based  upon  the   foregoing,   and  having   regard  for  such  legal
considerations we have deemed relevant, it is our opinion that:

           1.     The Shares have been duly authorized.

           2.     Upon issuance, sale and delivery of the Shares as contemplated
in the Registration Statement and the Plans,  the Shares will be legally issued,
fully paid and nonassessable.

           We hereby  consent to the filing of this opinion as an Exhibit to the
Registration Statement

                                          Very truly yours,

                                          HASKELL SLAUGHTER & YOUNG, L.L.C.

                                          By: /s/ Donald T. Locke
                                              -------------------------
                                                  Donald T. Locke



                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.1

                         Consent of Ernst & Young LLP,
                              Independent Auditors

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement (Form
S-8)  pertaining to the  HEALTHSOUTH  Corporation  1997 Stock Option Plan of our
report dated February 24, 1997, except for the first paragraph of Note 15, as to
which the date is March 12,  1997,  with respect to the  consolidated  financial
statements and schedule of HEALTHSOUTH Corporation included in its Annual Report
(Form  10-K/A) for the year ended  December 31, 1996 and our report dated August
20, 1997, with respect to the consolidated  financial  statements of HEALTHSOUTH
Corporation  included in its Current Report on Form 8-K/A dated August 26, 1997,
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

                 
                                                        ERNST & YOUNG LLP

Birmingham, Alabama
December 11, 1997


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