UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (D) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported):

September 1, 2011

MAGELLAN HEALTH SERVICES, INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (860) 507-1900

N/A

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

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

o            Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o            Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o            Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o            Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 8.01.       Other Events

On September 2, 2011, Magellan Health Services, Inc. (the “Company”) announced that the  Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals has recommended that the Company be awarded a contract to manage behavioral health care for Medicaid recipients and other beneficiaries through the Louisiana Behavioral Health Partnership.   The contract with the Company begins on March 1, 2012, and extends until February 28, 2014, with an optional one-year extension through February 28, 2015. The contract is expected to generate annual revenue of approximately $150 million.

Under Louisiana law, the bidders who were not awarded the contract have the right to file a protest seeking to overturn the award. There can be no assurance that a protest will not be filed, or that such a protest will not be successful.  The mere filing of a protest may delay the implementation of the contract.  Additionally, the Louisiana Department of Administration must approve the evaluation process and final contract.  The contract must also be approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Cautionary Statement:  This Form 8-K contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. All statements, other than statements of historical information provided herein, may be deemed to be forward-looking statements including, without limitation, statements regarding the contract to provide behavioral health care services to Medicaid recipients and beneficiaries in the state of Louisiana, and the anticipated start date, revenues, and earnings associated with such contract. These statements are based on management’s analysis, judgment, belief, and expectation only as of the date hereof, and are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. Without limiting the foregoing, the words “believes,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “expects,” “may,” “should,” “could,” “estimate,” “intend,” and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Actual results could differ materially due to, among other things, the possible election of certain of the Company’s customers to manage the health care services of their members directly; changes in rates paid to and/or by the Company by customers and/or providers; higher utilization of health care services by the Company’s risk members; delays, higher costs or inability to implement new business or other Company initiatives; the impact of changes in the contracting model for Medicaid contracts; termination or non-renewal of customer contracts; the impact of new or amended laws or regulations; governmental inquiries; litigation; competition; operational issues; health care reform; and general business conditions. Additional factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the risks discussed in the “Risk Factors” section included within the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly revise these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that arise after the date of this release.

Attached and incorporated herein by reference as Exhibit 99.1 is a copy of the press release dated September  2, 2011.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits

(a)  Financial Statements of business acquired:              Not applicable.

(b)  Pro forma financial information:                  Not applicable.

(d)           Exhibits:

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

MAGELLAN HEALTH SERVICES, INC.

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