EXHIBIT 5.1

                  [LETTERHEAD OF BLANK ROME COMISKY & McCAULEY]




September 12, 1996



Genesis Health Ventures, Inc.
148 West State Street
Kennett Square, PA  19348

Gentlemen:

We have acted as counsel to Genesis Health Ventures, Inc. (the "Company") in
connection with the preparation of the Registration Statement on Form S-3
("Registration Statement") to be filed by the Company with the Securities and
Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, relating to
the registration of 159,499 shares of common stock, par value $.02 per share
("Common Stock"), which have been included in the Registration Statement for the
respective accounts of the persons identified in the Registration Statement as
Selling Stockholders. This opinion is furnished pursuant to the requirement of
Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K.

Although as counsel to the Company we have advised the Company in connection
with a variety of matters referred to us by it, our services are limited to
specific matters so referred. Consequently, we may not have knowledge of many
transactions in which the Company has engaged or its day-to-day operations.

In rendering this opinion, we have examined the following documents: (i) the
Company's Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws, as amended and restated since
the inception of the Company, (ii) the Company's Minute Books; (iii) the
Registration Statement; and (iv) a certification from the Company's transfer
agent. We have assumed and relied, as to questions of fact and mixed questions
of law and fact, on the truth, completeness, authenticity and due authorization
of all documents and records examined and the genuineness of all signatures.

We have not made any independent investigation in rendering this opinion other
than the document examination described. Our opinion is therefore qualified in
all respects by the scope of that document examination. We make no
representation as to the sufficiency of our investigation for your purposes.
This opinion is limited to the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. In
rendering this opinion we have assumed (i) compliance with all other laws,
including federal laws and (ii) compliance with all Pennsylvania securities and
antitrust laws.






Based upon and subject to the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the shares
of Common Stock are legally issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

This opinion is given as of the date hereof. We assume no obligation to update
or supplement this opinion to reflect any facts or circumstances which may
hereafter come to our attention or any changes in laws which may hereafter
occur.

This opinion is strictly limited to the matters stated herein and no other or
more extensive opinion is intended, implied or to be inferred beyond the matters
expressly stated herein.

We consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement and to the reference to us under "Item 5. Interests of Named Experts
and Counsel" in the Registration Statement.

Sincerely,


/s/ Blank Rome Comisky & McCauley
    -----------------------------
    BLANK ROME COMISKY & McCAULEY



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