e10vq
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UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
Form 10-Q
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2010
Commission file number 001-15925
COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
     
Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  13-3893191
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)
     
4000 Meridian Boulevard
Franklin, Tennessee

(Address of principal executive offices)
  37067
(Zip Code)
(Registrant’s telephone number)
615-465-7000
     Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes þ   No o
     Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes þ   No o
     Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
             
Large accelerated filer þ    Accelerated filer o    Non-accelerated filer   o
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
  Smaller reporting company o 
     Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes þ   No o
     As of October 20, 2010, there were outstanding 92,547,041 shares of the Registrant’s Common Stock, $0.01 par value.
 
 

 


 

Community Health Systems, Inc.
Form 10-Q
For the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010
         
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PART I FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements
COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands, except share data)
(Unaudited)
                 
    September 30,     December 31,  
    2010     2009  
ASSETS
               
Current assets
               
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 567,749     $ 344,541  
Patient accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $1,554,149 and $1,417,188 at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively
    1,651,406       1,617,903  
Supplies
    313,770       302,609  
Prepaid income taxes
    100,868       45,414  
Deferred income taxes
    78,621       80,714  
Prepaid expenses and taxes
    99,650       89,475  
Other current assets
    171,906       194,339  
 
           
Total current assets
    2,983,970       2,674,995  
 
           
Property and equipment
    8,135,499       7,787,256  
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization
    (1,991,929 )     (1,655,010 )
 
           
Property and equipment, net
    6,143,570       6,132,246  
 
           
Goodwill
    4,174,040       4,157,927  
 
           
Other assets, net
    1,117,913       1,056,304  
 
           
Total assets
  $ 14,419,493     $ 14,021,472  
 
           
 
               
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
               
Current liabilities
               
Current maturities of long-term debt
  $ 60,654     $ 66,470  
Accounts payable
    516,152       428,565  
Deferred income taxes
    28,522       28,397  
Accrued interest
    82,056       145,201  
Accrued liabilities
    892,620       789,163  
 
           
Total current liabilities
    1,580,004       1,457,796  
 
           
Long-term debt
    8,816,223       8,844,638  
 
           
Deferred income taxes
    474,748       475,812  
 
           
Other long-term liabilities
    1,038,229       858,952  
 
           
Total liabilities
    11,909,204       11,637,198  
 
           
Redeemable noncontrolling interests in equity of consolidated subsidiaries
    384,056       368,857  
 
           
EQUITY
               
Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders’ equity
               
Preferred stock, $.01 par value per share, 100,000,000 shares authorized; none issued
           
Common stock, $.01 par value per share, 300,000,000 shares authorized; 93,715,641 shares issued and 92,740,092 shares outstanding at September 30, 2010, and 94,013,537 shares issued and 93,037,988 shares outstanding at December 31, 2009
    937       940  
Additional paid-in capital
    1,126,498       1,158,359  
Treasury stock, at cost, 975,549 shares at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009
    (6,678 )     (6,678 )
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
    (288,660 )     (221,385 )
Retained earnings
    1,229,872       1,019,399  
 
           
Total Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders’ equity
    2,061,969       1,950,635  
Noncontrolling interests in equity of consolidated subsidiaries
    64,264       64,782  
 
           
Total equity
    2,126,233       2,015,417  
 
           
Total liabilities and equity
  $ 14,419,493     $ 14,021,472  
 
           
See accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

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COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(In thousands, except share and per share data)
(Unaudited)
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
    2010     2009     2010     2009  
Net operating revenues
  $ 3,252,055     $ 3,086,757     $ 9,583,801     $ 9,016,467  
 
                       
 
                               
Operating costs and expenses:
                               
Salaries and benefits
    1,303,389       1,239,147       3,853,982       3,614,267  
Provision for bad debts
    403,077       378,357       1,162,601       1,078,587  
Supplies
    443,113       428,120       1,312,167       1,253,713  
Other operating expenses
    606,073       567,624       1,778,153       1,680,414  
Rent
    64,465       62,683       192,116       184,211  
Depreciation and amortization
    151,119       143,558       452,179       421,566  
 
                       
Total operating costs and expenses
    2,971,236       2,819,489       8,751,198       8,232,758  
 
                       
 
                               
Income from operations
    280,819       267,268       832,603       783,709  
Interest expense, net
    164,011       161,823       486,308       487,209  
Loss (gain) from early extinguishment of debt
          21             (2,385 )
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates
    (9,535 )     (7,001 )     (33,100 )     (31,701 )
 
                       
Income from continuing operations before income taxes
    126,343       112,425       379,395       330,586  
Provision for income taxes
    41,489       37,064       123,203       109,907  
 
                       
Income from continuing operations
    84,854       75,361       256,192       220,679  
 
                       
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
                               
Income from operations of hospitals sold and hospitals held for sale
                      1,977  
Loss on sale of hospitals, net
                      (405 )
 
                       
Income from discontinued operations
                      1,572  
 
                       
Net income
    84,854       75,361       256,192       222,251  
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
    14,453       15,649       45,719       44,189  
 
                       
Net income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc.
  $ 70,401     $ 59,712     $ 210,473     $ 178,062  
 
                       
 
                               
Basic earnings per share attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. common stockholders:
                               
Continuing operations
  $ 0.77     $ 0.66     $ 2.29     $ 1.96  
Discontinued operations
                      0.01  
 
                       
Net income
  $ 0.77     $ 0.66     $ 2.29     $ 1.97  
 
                       
 
                               
Diluted earnings per share attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. common stockholders:
                               
Continuing operations
  $ 0.76     $ 0.65     $ 2.26     $ 1.94  
Discontinued operations
                      0.01  
 
                       
Net income
  $ 0.76     $ 0.65     $ 2.26     $ 1.95  
 
                       
 
                               
Weighted-average number of shares outstanding:
                               
Basic
    91,484,466       90,923,052       92,035,722       90,423,600  
 
                       
Diluted
    92,462,702       92,019,282       93,219,909       91,119,859  
 
                       
See accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

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COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
                 
    Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,  
    2010     2009  
Cash flows from operating activities
               
Net income
  $ 256,192     $ 222,251  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
               
Depreciation and amortization
    452,179       421,898  
Stock-based compensation expense
    29,899       35,121  
Loss on sale of hospitals and partnership interest, net
          405  
(Excess tax benefit) income tax payable increase relating to stock-based compensation
    (10,109 )     3,544  
Gain on early extinguishment of debt
          (2,385 )
Other non-cash expenses, net
    8,237       13,410  
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions and divestitures:
               
Patient accounts receivable
    (25,579 )     (10,235 )
Supplies, prepaid expenses and other current assets
    4,755       18,278  
Accounts payable, accrued liabilities and income taxes
    172,687       194,955  
Other
    10,116       3,518  
 
           
Net cash provided by operating activities
    898,377       900,760  
 
           
 
               
Cash flows from investing activities
               
Acquisitions of facilities and other related equipment
    (67,541 )     (211,941 )
Purchases of property and equipment
    (381,853 )     (398,138 )
Proceeds from disposition of hospitals and other ancillary operations
          89,514  
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment
    2,845       2,521  
Increase in other non-operating assets
    (98,502 )     (111,476 )
 
           
Net cash used in investing activities
    (545,051 )     (629,520 )
 
           
 
               
Cash flows from financing activities
               
Proceeds from exercise of stock options
    53,839       9,952  
Excess tax benefit (income tax payable increase) relating to stock-based compensation
    10,109       (3,544 )
Deferred financing costs
          (82 )
Stock buy-back
    (107,932 )      
Proceeds from noncontrolling investors in joint ventures
    5,155       26,314  
Redemption of noncontrolling investments in joint ventures
    (2,467 )     (2,387 )
Distributions to noncontrolling investors in joint ventures
    (41,870 )     (43,744 )
Borrowings under credit agreement
          200,000  
Repayments of long-term indebtedness
    (46,952 )     (245,589 )
 
           
Net cash used in financing activities
    (130,118 )     (59,080 )
 
           
 
               
Net change in cash and cash equivalents
    223,208       212,160  
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
    344,541       220,655  
 
           
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
  $ 567,749     $ 432,815  
 
           
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
               
Interest payments
  $ 549,453     $ 556,881  
 
           
Income taxes paid, net
  $ 128,925     $ 1,096  
 
           
See accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

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COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
1. BASIS OF PRESENTATION
     The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of Community Health Systems, Inc. and its subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009 and for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2010 and September 30, 2009, have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”). In the opinion of management, such information contains all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair presentation of the results for such periods. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated. The results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full fiscal year ending December 31, 2010. Certain information and disclosures normally included in the notes to consolidated financial statements have been condensed or omitted as permitted by the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The Company believes the disclosures are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto for the year ended December 31, 2009, contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K.
     Noncontrolling interests in less-than-wholly-owned consolidated subsidiaries of the parent are presented as a component of total equity on the condensed consolidated balance sheets to distinguish between the interests of the parent company and the interests of the noncontrolling owners. Noncontrolling interests that are redeemable or may become redeemable at a fixed or determinable price at the option of the holder or upon the occurrence of an event outside of the control of the Company are presented in mezzanine equity on the condensed consolidated balance sheets.
     Throughout these notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements, Community Health Systems, Inc. (the “Parent”), and its consolidated subsidiaries are referred to on a collective basis as the “Company.” This drafting style is not meant to indicate that the publicly-traded Parent or any subsidiary of the Parent owns or operates any asset, business, or property. The hospitals, operations and businesses described in this filing are owned and operated, and management services provided, by distinct and indirect subsidiaries of Community Health Systems, Inc. References to the Company may include one or more of its subsidiaries.
2. ACCOUNTING FOR STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION
     Stock-based compensation awards are granted under the Community Health Systems, Inc. Amended and Restated 2000 Stock Option and Award Plan (the “2000 Plan”) and the Community Health Systems, Inc. 2009 Stock Option and Award Plan (the “2009 Plan”).
     The 2000 Plan allows for the grant of incentive stock options intended to qualify under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code (“IRC”), as well as stock options which do not so qualify, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance-based shares or units and other share awards. Prior to being amended in 2009, the 2000 Plan also allowed for the grant of phantom stock. Persons eligible to receive grants under the 2000 Plan include the Company’s directors, officers, employees and consultants. To date, all options granted under the 2000 Plan have been “nonqualified” stock options for tax purposes. Generally, vesting of these granted options occurs in one-third increments on each of the first three anniversaries of the award date. Options granted prior to 2005 have a 10-year contractual term, options granted in 2005 through 2007 have an eight-year contractual term and options granted in 2008 through 2010 have a 10-year contractual term. The exercise price of all options granted under the 2000 Plan is equal to the fair value of the Company’s common stock on the option grant date. As of September 30, 2010, 433,838 shares of unissued common stock were reserved for future grants under the 2000 Plan.
     The 2009 Plan, which was adopted by the Board of Directors of the Parent as of March 24, 2009 and approved by stockholders on May 19, 2009, provides for the grant of incentive stock options intended to qualify under Section 422 of the IRC and for the grant of stock options which do not so qualify, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance-based shares or units and other share awards. Persons eligible to receive grants under the 2009 Plan include the Company’s directors, officers, employees and consultants. The duration of any option granted under the 2009 Plan will be determined by the Company’s compensation committee. Generally, however, no option may be exercised more than 10 years from the date of grant, provided that the compensation committee may provide that a stock option may, upon the death of the grantee, be exercised for up to one year following the date of death even if such period extends beyond 10 years. As of September 30, 2010, no grants had been made under the 2009 Plan, with 3,500,000 shares of unissued common stock remaining reserved for future grants.

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COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) — (Continued)
     The following table reflects the impact of total compensation expense related to stock-based equity plans on the reported operating results for the respective periods (in thousands):
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
    2010     2009     2010     2009  
Effect on income from continuing operations before income taxes
  $ (9,481 )   $ (10,316 )   $ (29,899 )   $ (35,121 )
 
                       
 
                               
Effect on net income
  $ (5,964 )   $ (6,267 )   $ (18,806 )   $ (21,336 )
 
                       
     At September 30, 2010, $55.5 million of unrecognized stock-based compensation expense was expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 24 months. Of that amount, $12.3 million related to outstanding unvested stock options expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 24 months and $43.2 million related to outstanding unvested restricted stock, restricted stock units and phantom shares expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 24 months. There were no modifications to awards during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010.
     The fair value of stock options was estimated using the Black Scholes option pricing model with the following assumptions and weighted-average fair values during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009:
                                 
    Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
    September 30,   September 30,
    2010   2009   2010   2009
Expected volatility
    38.0 %     45.4 %     33.7 %     40.5 %
Expected dividends
                       
Expected term
  3.0 years     4.0 years     3.1 years     4.0 years  
Risk-free interest rate
    0.77 %     1.83 %     1.44 %     1.64 %
     In determining expected term, the Company examined concentrations of option holdings and historical patterns of option exercises and forfeitures, as well as forward looking factors, in an effort to determine if there were any discernable employee populations. From this analysis, the Company identified two employee populations, one consisting primarily of certain senior executives and the other consisting of all other recipients.
     The expected volatility rate was estimated based on historical volatility. In determining expected volatility, the Company also reviewed the market-based implied volatility of actively traded options of its common stock and determined that historical volatility did not differ significantly from the implied volatility.
     The expected term computation is based on historical exercise and cancellation patterns and forward-looking factors, where present, for each population identified. The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of the grant. The pre-vesting forfeiture rate is based on historical rates and forward-looking factors for each population identified. The Company adjusts the estimated forfeiture rate to its actual experience.

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COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) — (Continued)
     Options outstanding and exercisable under the 2000 Plan as of September 30, 2010, and changes during each of the three-month periods following December 31, 2009 were as follows (in thousands, except share and per share data):
                                 
                    Weighted -        
            Weighted -     Average     Aggregate  
            Average     Remaining     Intrinsic  
            Exercise     Contractual     Value as of  
    Shares     Price     Term     September 30, 2010  
Outstanding at December 31, 2009
    8,954,081     $ 30.19                  
Granted
    1,255,500       33.90                  
Exercised
    (891,366 )     26.93                  
Forfeited and cancelled
    (69,012 )     28.09                  
 
                             
Outstanding at March 31, 2010
    9,249,203       31.02                  
Granted
    57,000       39.66                  
Exercised
    (1,183,524 )     25.02                  
Forfeited and cancelled
    (118,851 )     29.14                  
 
                             
Outstanding at June 30, 2010
    8,003,828       31.99                  
Granted
    57,000       30.76                  
Exercised
    (10,812 )     20.71                  
Forfeited and cancelled
    (66,508 )     29.80                  
 
                             
Outstanding at September 30, 2010
    7,983,508     $ 32.02     5.9 years   $ 21,938  
 
                       
 
                               
Exercisable at September 30, 2010
    5,533,875     $ 33.27     4.6 years   $ 12,898  
 
                       
     The weighted-average grant date fair value of stock options granted during the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 was $8.52 and $10.93, respectively, and $8.20 and $6.39 during the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively. The aggregate intrinsic value (the number of in-the-money stock options multiplied by the difference between the Company’s closing stock price on the last trading day of the reporting period ($30.97) and the exercise price of the respective stock options) in the table above represents the amount that would have been received by the option holders had all option holders exercised their options on September 30, 2010. This amount changes based on the market value of the Company’s common stock. The aggregate intrinsic value of options exercised during the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 was $0.1 million and $3.4 million, respectively. The aggregate intrinsic value of options exercised during the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 was $28.3 million and $6.9 million, respectively. The aggregate intrinsic value of options vested and expected to vest approximates that of the outstanding options.
     The Company has also awarded restricted stock under the 2000 Plan to its directors and employees of certain subsidiaries. The restrictions on these shares generally lapse in one-third increments on each of the first three anniversaries of the award date. Certain of the restricted stock awards granted to the Company’s senior executives contain a performance objective that must be met in addition to any vesting requirements. If the performance objective is not attained, the awards will be forfeited in their entirety. Once the performance objective has been attained, restrictions will lapse in one-third increments on each of the first three anniversaries of the award date. Notwithstanding the above-mentioned performance objectives and vesting requirements, the restrictions will lapse earlier in the event of death, disability or termination of employment by the Company for any reason other than for cause of the holder of the restricted stock, or change in control of the Company. Restricted stock awards subject to performance standards are not considered outstanding for purposes of determining earnings per share until the performance objectives have been satisfied.

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COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) — (Continued)
     Restricted stock outstanding under the 2000 Plan as of September 30, 2010, and changes during each of the three-month periods following December 31, 2009 were as follows:
                 
            Weighted -
            Average
            Grant Date
    Shares   Fair Value
Unvested at December 31, 2009
    1,897,541     $ 24.09  
Granted
    1,047,000       33.90  
Vested
    (826,174 )     26.97  
Forfeited
    (2,000 )     29.22  
 
               
Unvested at March 31, 2010
    2,116,367       27.81  
Granted
    7,000       39.66  
Vested
    (11,500 )     32.75  
Forfeited
           
 
               
Unvested at June 30, 2010
    2,111,867       27.83  
Granted
    19,000       30.76  
Vested
    (6,001 )     31.28  
Forfeited
    (2,834 )     26.21  
 
               
Unvested at September 30, 2010
    2,122,032       27.85  
 
               
     On February 25, 2009, under the 2000 Plan, each of the Company’s outside directors received a grant of shares of phantom stock equal in value to $130,000 divided by the closing price of the Company’s common stock on that date ($18.18), or 7,151 shares per director (a total of 42,906 shares of phantom stock). Pursuant to a March 24, 2009 amendment to the 2000 Plan, future grants of this type will be denominated as “restricted stock unit” awards. On May 19, 2009, the newly elected outside director received a grant of 7,151 restricted stock units under the 2000 Plan, having a value at the time of $180,706 based upon the closing price of the Company’s common stock on that date of $25.27. On February 24, 2010, six of the Company’s seven outside directors each received a grant of 4,130 restricted stock units under the 2000 Plan, having a value at the time of $140,000 based upon the closing price of the Company’s common stock on that date of $33.90. One outside director, who did not stand for reelection in 2010, did not receive a grant on February 24, 2010. Vesting of these shares of phantom stock and restricted stock units occurs in one-third increments on each of the first three anniversaries of the award date. During the three months ended September 30, 2010, no shares vested. During the nine months ended September 30, 2010, 21,449 shares vested at a weighted-average grant date fair value of $18.97. None of these grants were canceled during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010. As of September 30, 2010, there were 53,388 shares of phantom stock and restricted stock units unvested at a weighted-average grant date fair value of $26.11.
     Under the Directors’ Fees Deferral Plan, the Company’s outside directors may elect to receive share equivalent units in lieu of cash for their directors’ fees. These share equivalent units are held in the plan until the director electing to receive the share equivalent units retires or otherwise terminates his/her directorship with the Company. Share equivalent units are converted to shares of common stock of the Company at the time of distribution based on the closing market price of the Company’s common stock on that date. The following table represents the amount of directors’ fees which were deferred during each of the respective periods, and the number of share equivalent units into which such directors’ fees would have converted had each of the directors who had deferred such fees retired or terminated his/her directorship with the Company as of the end of the respective periods (in thousands, except units):
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
    2010     2009     2010     2009  
Directors’ fees earned and deferred into plan
  $ 45     $ 20     $ 135     $ 60  
 
                       
Share equivalent units
    1,453       626       4,003       2,722  
 
                       

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COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) — (Continued)
     At September 30, 2010, a total of 17,597 share equivalent units were deferred in the plan with an aggregate fair value of $0.5 million, based on the closing market price of the Company’s common stock at September 30, 2010 of $30.97.
3. COST OF REVENUE
     The majority of the Company’s operating costs and expenses are “cost of revenue” items. Operating costs that could be classified as general and administrative by the Company include the Company’s corporate office costs, which were $36.8 million and $39.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively, and $117.0 million and $120.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Included in these amounts is stock-based compensation expense of $9.5 million and $10.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively, and $29.9 million and $35.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively.
4. USE OF ESTIMATES
     The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the condensed consolidated financial statements. Actual results could differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.
5. ACQUISITIONS AND DIVESTITURES
Acquisitions
     Effective July 7, 2010, one or more subsidiaries of the Company completed the acquisition of Marion Regional Healthcare System in Marion, South Carolina. This healthcare system includes Marion Regional Hospital (124 licensed beds), an acute care hospital, along with a related skilled nursing facility and other ancillary services. The total consideration for fixed assets and working capital was approximately $28.3 million, of which $24.4 million was paid in cash and approximately $3.9 million was assumed in liabilities. This acquisition transaction was accounted for as a purchase business combination.
     On December 31, 2009, one or more subsidiaries of the Company completed an affiliation transaction providing $54.2 million of financing to Rockwood Clinic, P.S., a multi-specialty clinic with 32 locations across the inland northwest region of eastern Washington and western Idaho. This transaction was accounted for as a purchase business combination.
     Effective June 1, 2009, one or more subsidiaries of the Company acquired from Akron General Medical Center the remaining 20% noncontrolling interest in Massillon Community Health System, LLC not then owned by a subsidiary of the Company. This entity indirectly owns and operates Affinity Medical Center of Massillon, Ohio. The purchase price for this noncontrolling interest was $1.1 million in cash. Affinity Medical Center is now wholly-owned by these subsidiaries of the Company.
     Effective April 30, 2009, one or more subsidiaries of the Company acquired Wyoming Valley Health Care System in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. This healthcare system includes Wilkes-Barre General Hospital (392 licensed beds), an acute care hospital located in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, and First Hospital Wyoming Valley, a behavioral health facility located in Kingston, Pennsylvania, as well as other outpatient and ancillary services. The total consideration for fixed assets and working capital of Wyoming Valley Health Care System was approximately $179.1 million, of which $153.7 million was paid in cash, net of $14.2 million of cash in acquired bank accounts, and approximately $25.4 million was assumed in liabilities. This acquisition transaction was accounted for as a purchase business combination.
     Effective April 1, 2009, one or more subsidiaries of the Company acquired from Share Foundation the remaining 50% equity interest in MCSA L.L.C., an entity in which one or more subsidiaries of the Company previously had a 50% unconsolidated noncontrolling interest. One or more subsidiaries of the Company provided MCSA L.L.C. certain management services. This acquisition resulted in these subsidiaries of the Company owning a 100% equity interest in that entity. MCSA L.L.C. owns and operates Medical Center of South Arkansas (166 licensed beds) in El Dorado, Arkansas. The purchase price was $26.0 million in cash. As of the acquisition date, one or more subsidiaries of the Company had a liability to MCSA L.L.C. of $14.1 million, as a result of a cash management agreement previously entered into with the hospital. Upon completion of the acquisition, this liability was eliminated in consolidation.

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COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) — (Continued)
     Effective February 1, 2009, one or more subsidiaries of the Company completed the acquisition of Siloam Springs Memorial Hospital (73 licensed beds), located in Siloam Springs, Arkansas, from the City of Siloam Springs. The total consideration for this hospital consisted of approximately $0.1 million paid in cash for working capital and approximately $1.0 million of assumed liabilities. In connection with this acquisition, a subsidiary of the Company entered into a lease agreement for the existing hospital and agreed to build a replacement facility at this location, with construction required to commence by February 2011 and be completed by February 2013. As security for this obligation, a subsidiary of the Company deposited $1.6 million into an escrow account at closing and agreed to deposit an additional $1.6 million by February 1, 2010, which the Company’s subsidiary deposited in January 2010. If the construction of the replacement facility is not completed within the agreed time frame, the escrow balance will be remitted to the City of Siloam Springs. If the construction of the replacement facility is completed within the agreed time frame, the escrow balance will be returned to the Company’s subsidiary.
     Approximately $2.5 million and $0.6 million of acquisition costs related to prospective and closed acquisitions were expensed during the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively, and approximately $4.3 million and $3.6 million were expensed during the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively.
Discontinued Operations
     Effective March 31, 2009, the Company, through its subsidiaries Triad-Denton Hospital LLC and Triad-Denton Hospital LP, completed the settlement of pending litigation which resulted in the sale of its ownership interest in a partnership, which owned and operated Presbyterian Hospital of Denton (255 licensed beds) in Denton, Texas, to Texas Health Resources for $103.0 million in cash. Also included as part of the settlement, these subsidiaries of the Company transferred certain hospital related assets. The Company has classified the results of operations for this hospital as discontinued operations in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of income for the nine months ended September 30, 2009.
     Net operating revenues and income from discontinued operations for the respective periods are as follows (in thousands):
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
    2010     2009     2010     2009  
Net operating revenues
  $     $     $     $ 42,113  
 
                       
 
                               
Income from operations of hospitals sold or held for sale before income taxes
                      3,024  
Loss on sale of hospitals, net
                      (644 )
 
                       
Income from discontinued operations, before taxes
                      2,380  
Provision for income taxes
                      808  
 
                       
Income from discontinued operations, net of taxes
  $     $     $     $ 1,572  
 
                       
     Interest expense and loss on early extinguishment of debt were allocated to discontinued operations based on sale proceeds available for debt repayment.
6. INCOME TAXES
     The total amount of unrecognized benefit that would affect the effective tax rate, if recognized, was approximately $8.5 million as of September 30, 2010. It is the Company’s policy to recognize interest and penalties related to unrecognized benefits in its condensed consolidated statements of income as income tax expense. During the nine months ended September 30, 2010, the Company decreased liabilities by $0.5 million and interest and penalties by approximately $0.3 million. A total of approximately $1.7 million of interest and penalties is included in the amount of the liability for uncertain tax positions at September 30, 2010.
     The Company believes that it is reasonably possible that approximately $1.4 million of its current unrecognized tax benefit may be recognized within the next 12 months as a result of a lapse of the statute of limitations and settlements with taxing authorities.

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COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) — (Continued)
     The Company, or one of its subsidiaries, files income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction and various state jurisdictions. The Company has extended the federal statute of limitations for Triad Hospitals, Inc. (“Triad”) for the tax periods ended December 31, 1999, December 31, 2000, April 30, 2001, June 30, 2001, December 31, 2001, December 31, 2002 and December 31, 2003. The Company is currently under examination by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) regarding the federal tax return of Triad for the tax periods ended December 31, 2004, December 31, 2005, December 31, 2006 and July 25, 2007. The Company believes the results of this examination will not be material to its consolidated results of operations or consolidated financial position. With few exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to state income tax examinations for years prior to 2006 and federal income tax examinations with respect to Community Health Systems, Inc. federal returns for years prior to 2007. The Company’s federal income tax returns for the 2007 and 2008 tax years are currently under examination by the IRS. The Company believes the results of this examination will not be material to its consolidated results of operations or consolidated financial position.
     Prior to January 1, 2009, income attributable to noncontrolling interests was deducted from earnings before arriving at income from continuing operations. With the adoption of certain updates to U.S. GAAP related to consolidations effective January 1, 2009, the income attributable to noncontrolling interests has been reclassified below net income and therefore is no longer deducted in arriving at income from continuing operations. However, the provision for income taxes does not change because those less than wholly-owned consolidated subsidiaries attribute their taxable income to their respective investors. Accordingly, the Company will not pay tax on the income attributable to the noncontrolling interests. As a result of separately reporting income that is taxed to others, the Company’s effective tax rate on continuing operations before income taxes, as reported on the face of the financial statements, is 32.8% and 33.0% for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively, and 32.5% and 33.2% for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively. However, the actual effective tax rate that is attributable to the Company’s share of income from continuing operations before income taxes (income from continuing operations before income taxes, as presented on the face of the condensed consolidated statement of income, less income from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests of $14.5 million and $15.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively, and $45.7 million and $43.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively) is 37.1% and 38.3% for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively, and 36.9% and 38.3% for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively.
     Cash paid for income taxes, net of refunds received, resulted in net cash paid of $49.2 million and $1.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Cash paid for income taxes, net of refunds received, resulted in net cash paid of $128.9 million and $1.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively.
7. GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS
     The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for the nine months ended September 30, 2010, are as follows (in thousands):
         
Balance as of December 31, 2009
  $ 4,157,927  
Goodwill acquired as part of acquisitions during 2010
    13,268  
Consideration adjustments and purchase price allocation adjustments for prior year’s acquisitions
    2,845  
 
     
Balance as of September 30, 2010
  $ 4,174,040  
 
     
     Goodwill is allocated to each identified reporting unit, which is defined as an operating segment or one level below the operating segment (referred to as a component of the entity). Management has determined that the Company’s operating segments meet the criteria to be classified as reporting units. At September 30, 2010, the hospital operations reporting unit, the home care agency operations reporting unit, and the hospital management services reporting unit had approximately $4.1 billion, $34.3 million and $33.3 million, respectively, of goodwill.
     Goodwill is evaluated for impairment at the same time every year and when an event occurs or circumstances change that, more likely than not, reduce the fair value of the reporting unit below its carrying value. There is a two-step method for determining goodwill impairment. Step one is to compare the fair value of the reporting unit with the unit’s carrying amount, including goodwill. If this test indicates the fair value is less than the carrying value, then step two is required to compare the implied fair value of the reporting unit’s goodwill with the carrying value of the reporting unit’s goodwill. The Company has selected September 30 as its annual testing date. The Company performed its last annual goodwill evaluation as of September 30, 2009, which evaluation took place during the fourth quarter of 2009. No impairment was indicated by this evaluation.

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COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) — (Continued)
     The Company estimates the fair value of the related reporting units using both a discounted cash flow model, as well as an EBITDA multiple model. The cash flow forecasts are adjusted by an appropriate discount rate based on the Company’s estimate of a market participant’s weighted-average cost of capital. These models are both based on the Company’s best estimate of future revenues and operating costs and are reconciled to the Company’s consolidated market capitalization, with consideration of the amount a potential acquirer would be required to pay, in the form of a control premium, in order to gain sufficient ownership to set policies, direct operations and control management decisions.
     The gross carrying amount of the Company’s other intangible assets subject to amortization was $77.0 million at September 30, 2010 and $76.2 million at December 31, 2009, and the net carrying amount was $38.6 million at September 30, 2010 and $47.0 million at December 31, 2009. The carrying amount of the Company’s other intangible assets not subject to amortization was $44.1 million and $44.4 million at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively. Other intangible assets are included in other assets, net on the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheets. Substantially all of the Company’s intangible assets are contract-based intangible assets related to operating licenses, management contracts, or non-compete agreements entered into in connection with prior acquisitions.
     The weighted-average amortization period for the intangible assets subject to amortization is approximately eight years. There are no expected residual values related to these intangible assets. Amortization expense on these intangible assets was $3.1 million and $3.0 million during the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively, and $9.4 million and $9.7 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Amortization expense on intangible assets is estimated to be $3.0 million for the remainder of 2010, $7.1 million in 2011, $5.7 million in 2012, $4.4 million in 2013, $2.8 million in 2014 and $15.6 million in 2015 and thereafter.
8. EARNINGS PER SHARE
     The following table sets forth the components of the numerator and denominator for the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share for income from continuing operations, discontinued operations and net income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. common stockholders (in thousands, except share data):

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COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) — (Continued)
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
    2010     2009     2010     2009  
Numerator:
                               
Income from continuing operations, net of taxes
  $ 84,854     $ 75,361     $ 256,192     $ 220,679  
Less: Income from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests, net of taxes
    14,453       15,649       45,719       43,834  
 
                       
Income from continuing operations attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. common stockholders — basic and diluted
  $ 70,401     $ 59,712     $ 210,473     $ 176,845  
 
                       
 
                               
Income from discontinued operations, net of taxes
  $     $     $     $ 1,572  
Less: Income from discontinued operations attributable to noncontrolling interests, net of taxes
                      355  
 
                       
Income from discontinued operations attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. common stockholders — basic and diluted
  $     $     $     $ 1,217  
 
                       
 
                               
Denominator:
                               
Weighted-average number of shares outstanding — basic
    91,484,466       90,923,052       92,035,722       90,423,600  
 
                               
Effect of dilutive securities:
                               
Restricted stock awards
    570,002       464,808       472,296       413,503  
Employee stock options
    393,041       616,829       695,934       274,813  
Other equity based awards
    15,193       14,593       15,957       7,943  
 
                       
Weighted-average number of shares outstanding — diluted
    92,462,702       92,019,282       93,219,909       91,119,859  
 
                       
 
                               
Dilutive securities outstanding not included in the computation of earnings per share because their effect is antidilutive:
                               
 
                               
Employee stock options
    6,029,836       5,703,459       4,964,658       7,472,007  
9. STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
     Authorized capital shares of the Company include 400,000,000 shares of capital stock consisting of 300,000,000 shares of common stock and 100,000,000 shares of preferred stock. Each of the aforementioned classes of capital stock has a par value of $0.01 per share. Shares of preferred stock, none of which were outstanding as of September 30, 2010, may be issued in one or more series having such rights, preferences and other provisions as determined by the Board of Directors without approval by the holders of common stock.
     On September 15, 2010, the Company commenced a new open market repurchase program for up to 4,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, not to exceed $100 million in repurchases. This program will conclude at the earliest of three years from the commencement date, when the maximum number of shares has been repurchased or when the maximum dollar amount has been expended. During both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, the Company repurchased and retired 256,272 shares at a weighted-average price of $30.76 per share, which is the cumulative number of shares that have been repurchased under this program through September 30, 2010.
     On December 9, 2009, the Company commenced the predecessor open market repurchase program for up to 3,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, not to exceed $100 million in repurchases. This program has concluded since purchases approximately totaled the permitted maximum dollar amount. During the three months ended September 30, 2010, the Company repurchased and retired 2,608,528 shares at a weighted-average price of $33.62 per share under this program. During the nine months ended September 30, 2010, the Company repurchased and retired 2,964,528 shares at a weighted-average price of $33.69 per share, which is the cumulative number of shares that have been repurchased under this program.

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COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
     The following schedule presents the reconciliation of the carrying amount of total equity, equity attributable to the Company, and equity attributable to the noncontrolling interests for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2010 (in thousands):
                                                                   
              Community Health Systems, Inc. Stockholders                
                                      Accumulated                        
    Redeemable               Additional             Other                     Total  
    Noncontrolling       Common     Paid-in     Treasury     Comprehensive     Retained     Noncontrolling     Stockholders’  
    Interests       Stock     Capital     Stock     Income (Loss)     Earnings     Interests     Equity  
Balance, December 31, 2009
  $ 368,857       $ 940     $ 1,158,359     $ (6,678 )   $ (221,385 )   $ 1,019,399     $ 64,782     $ 2,015,417  
Comprehensive income (loss):
                                                                 
Net income
    34,168                                 210,473       11,551       222,024  
Net change in fair value of interest rate swaps
                              (76,336 )                 (76,336 )
Net change in fair value of available-for-sale securities
                              3,027                   3,027  
Amortization and recognition of unrecognized pension cost components
                              6,034                   6,034  
 
                                                 
Total comprehensive income (loss)
    34,168                           (67,275 )     210,473       11,551       154,749  
Net distributions to noncontrolling interests
    (25,634 )                                     (11,031 )     (11,031 )
Purchase of subsidiary shares from noncontrolling interests
    (949 )             (1,507 )                             (1,507 )
Other reclassifications of noncontrolling interests
    1,038                                       (1,038 )     (1,038 )
Adjustment to redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interests
    6,576               (6,576 )                             (6,576 )
Repurchases of common stock
            (32 )     (107,932 )                             (107,964 )
Issuance of common stock in connection with the exercise of stock options
            21       53,839                               53,860  
Cancellation of restricted stock for tax withholdings on vested shares
            (3 )     (9,693 )                             (9,696 )
Tax benefit from exercise of options
                  10,109                               10,109  
Share-based compensation
            11       29,899                               29,910  
 
                                                 
Balance, September 30, 2010
  $ 384,056       $ 937     $ 1,126,498     $ (6,678 )   $ (288,660 )   $ 1,229,872     $ 64,264     $ 2,126,233  
 
                                                 
     The following schedule discloses the effects of changes in the Company’s ownership interest in its less-than-wholly-owned subsidiaries on Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders’ equity:
         
    Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,  
    2010  
Net income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc.
  $ 210,473  
Transfers to the noncontrolling interests:
       
Decrease in Community Health Systems, Inc. paid-in capital for purchase of subsidiary partnership interests
    (1,507 )
 
     
Net transfers to noncontrolling interests
    (1,507 )
 
     
Change to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders’ equity from net income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. and transfers to noncontrolling interests
  $ 208,966  
 
     

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COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) — (Continued)
10. COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
     The following table presents the components of comprehensive income, net of related taxes (in thousands):
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
    2010     2009     2010     2009  
Net income
  $ 84,854     $ 75,361     $ 256,192     $ 222,251  
Net change in fair value of interest rate swaps
    (31,285 )     (23,163 )     (76,336 )     50,886  
Net change in fair value of available-for-sale securities
    2,396       732       3,027       283  
Amortization and recognition of unrecognized pension cost components
    801       754       6,034       2,164  
 
                       
Comprehensive income
    56,766       53,684       188,917       275,584  
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests
    14,453       15,649       45,719       44,189  
 
                       
Comprehensive income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc.
  $ 42,313     $ 38,035     $ 143,198     $ 231,395  
 
                       
     The net change in fair value of the interest rate swaps, the net change in fair value of available-for-sale securities and the amortization and recognition of unrecognized pension cost components are included in accumulated other comprehensive loss on the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets.
11. EQUITY INVESTMENTS
     As of September 30, 2010, the Company owned equity interests of 27.5% in four hospitals in Las Vegas, Nevada, and 26.1% in one hospital in Las Vegas, Nevada, in which Universal Health Systems, Inc. owns the majority interest, and an equity interest of 38.0% in three hospitals in Macon, Georgia in which HCA Inc. owns the majority interest. Effective April 1, 2009, one or more subsidiaries of the Company acquired from Share Foundation the remaining 50% equity interest in MCSA L.L.C., an entity in which one or more subsidiaries of the Company previously had a 50% unconsolidated noncontrolling interest. One or more subsidiaries of the Company provided MCSA L.L.C. certain management services. This acquisition resulted in these subsidiaries of the Company owning 100% equity interest in that entity. MCSA L.L.C. owns and operates Medical Center of South Arkansas in El Dorado, Arkansas. The results of operations for MCSA L.L.C. were included in the consolidated financial statements effective April 1, 2009.
     Summarized combined financial information for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, for these unconsolidated entities in which the Company owns an equity interest is as follows (in thousands):
                                 
    Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
    September 30,   September 30,
    2010   2009   2010   2009
Revenues
  $ 347,591     $ 340,219     $ 1,063,656     $ 1,064,602  
Operating costs and expenses
    314,965       316,079       960,943       949,881  
Net income
    32,581       24,120       102,626       114,700  
     The summarized financial information for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 was derived from the unaudited financial information provided to the Company by those unconsolidated entities.
     The Company’s investment in all of its unconsolidated affiliates was $410.2 million and $399.4 million at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively, and is included in other assets, net in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets. Included in the Company’s results of operations is the Company’s equity in pre-tax earnings from all of its investments in unconsolidated affiliates, which was $9.5 million and $7.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively, and $33.1 million and $31.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

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COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
12. LONG-TERM DEBT
Credit Facility and Notes
     In connection with the consummation of the acquisition of Triad on July 25, 2007, the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc. (“CHS”) obtained approximately $7.2 billion of senior secured financing under a new credit facility (the “Credit Facility”) with a syndicate of financial institutions led by Credit Suisse, as administrative agent and collateral agent and issued approximately $3.0 billion aggregate principal amount of 8.875% senior notes due 2015 (the “Notes”). The Company used the net proceeds of $3.0 billion from the Notes offering and the net proceeds of approximately $6.1 billion of term loans under the Credit Facility to acquire the outstanding shares of Triad, to refinance certain of Triad’s indebtedness and the Company’s indebtedness, to complete certain related transactions, to pay certain costs and expenses of the transactions and for general corporate uses. Specifically, the Company repaid its outstanding debt under the previously outstanding credit facility, the 6.50% senior subordinated notes due 2012 and certain of Triad’s existing indebtedness. During the third quarter of 2007, the Company recorded a pre-tax write-off of approximately $13.9 million in deferred loan costs relative to the early extinguishment of the debt under the previously outstanding credit facility and incurred tender and solicitation fees of approximately $13.4 million on the early repayment of the Company’s $300 million aggregate principal amount of 6.50% senior subordinated notes due 2012 through a cash tender offer and consent solicitation.
     The Credit Facility consists of an approximately $6.1 billion funded term loan facility with a maturity of seven years, a $400 million delayed draw term loan facility with a maturity of seven years and a $750 million revolving credit facility with a maturity of six years. As of December 31, 2007, the $400 million delayed draw term loan facility had been reduced to $300 million at the request of CHS. During the fourth quarter of 2008, $100 million of the delayed draw term loan was drawn by CHS, reducing the delayed draw term loan availability to $200 million at December 31, 2008. In January 2009, CHS drew down the remaining $200 million of the delayed draw term loan. The revolving credit facility also includes a subfacility for letters of credit and a swingline subfacility.
     The Credit Facility requires quarterly amortization payments of each term loan facility equal to 0.25% of the outstanding amount of the term loans, if any, with the outstanding principal balance payable on July 25, 2014.
     The term loan facility must be prepaid in an amount equal to (1) 100% of the net cash proceeds of certain asset sales and dispositions by the Company and its subsidiaries, subject to certain exceptions and reinvestment rights, (2) 100% of the net cash proceeds of issuances of certain debt obligations or receivables based financing by the Company and its subsidiaries, subject to certain exceptions, and (3) 50%, subject to reduction to a lower percentage based on the Company’s leverage ratio (as defined in the Credit Facility generally as the ratio of total debt on the date of determination to the Company’s EBITDA, as defined, for the four quarters most recently ended prior to such date), of excess cash flow (as defined) for any year, commencing in 2008, subject to certain exceptions. Voluntary prepayments and commitment reductions are permitted in whole or in part, without any premium or penalty, subject to minimum prepayment or reduction requirements.
     The obligor under the Credit Facility is CHS. All of the obligations under the Credit Facility are unconditionally guaranteed by the Company and certain existing and subsequently acquired or organized domestic subsidiaries. All obligations under the Credit Facility and the related guarantees are secured by a perfected first priority lien or security interest in substantially all of the assets of the Company, CHS and each subsidiary guarantor, including equity interests held by the Company, CHS or any subsidiary guarantor, but excluding, among others, the equity interests of non-significant subsidiaries, syndication subsidiaries, securitization subsidiaries and joint venture subsidiaries.
     The loans under the Credit Facility bear interest on the outstanding unpaid principal amount at a rate equal to an applicable percentage plus, at CHS’s option, either (a) an Alternate Base Rate (as defined) determined by reference to the greater of (1) the Prime Rate (as defined) announced by Credit Suisse or (2) the Federal Funds Effective Rate (as defined) plus one-half of 1.0%, or (b) a reserve adjusted London Interbank Offered Rate for dollars (Eurodollar Rate) (as defined). The applicable percentage for term loans is 1.25% for Alternate Base Rate loans and 2.25% for Eurodollar rate loans. The applicable percentage for revolving loans is 1.25% for Alternate Base Rate revolving loans and 2.25% for Eurodollar revolving loans, in each case subject to reduction based on the Company’s leverage ratio. Loans under the swingline subfacility bear interest at the rate applicable to Alternate Base Rate loans under the revolving credit facility.

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COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) — (Continued)
     CHS has agreed to pay letter of credit fees equal to the applicable percentage then in effect with respect to Eurodollar rate loans under the revolving credit facility times the maximum aggregate amount available to be drawn under all letters of credit outstanding under the subfacility for letters of credit. The issuer of any letter of credit issued under the subfacility for letters of credit will also receive a customary fronting fee and other customary processing charges. CHS was initially obligated to pay commitment fees of 0.50% per annum (subject to reduction based upon the Company’s leverage ratio) on the unused portion of the revolving credit facility. For purposes of this calculation, swingline loans are not treated as usage of the revolving credit facility. With respect to the delayed draw term loan facility, CHS was also obligated to pay commitment fees of 0.50% per annum for the first nine months after the closing of the Credit Facility, 0.75% per annum for the next three months after such nine-month period and thereafter, 1.0% per annum. In each case, the commitment fee was paid on the unused amount of the delayed draw term loan facility. After the draw down of the remaining $200 million of the delayed draw term loan in January 2009, CHS no longer pays any commitment fees for the delayed draw term loan facility. CHS paid arrangement fees on the closing of the Credit Facility and pays an annual administrative agent fee.
     The Credit Facility contains customary representations and warranties, subject to limitations and exceptions, and customary covenants restricting the Company’s and its subsidiaries’ ability, subject to certain exceptions, to, among other things (1) declare dividends, make distributions or redeem or repurchase capital stock, (2) prepay, redeem or repurchase other debt, (3) incur liens or grant negative pledges, (4) make loans and investments and enter into acquisitions and joint ventures, (5) incur additional indebtedness or provide certain guarantees, (6) make capital expenditures, (7) engage in mergers, acquisitions and asset sales, (8) conduct transactions with affiliates, (9) alter the nature of the Company’s businesses, (10) grant certain guarantees with respect to physician practices, (11) engage in sale and leaseback transactions or (12) change the Company’s fiscal year. The Company is also required to comply with specified financial covenants (consisting of a leverage ratio and an interest coverage ratio) and various affirmative covenants.
     Events of default under the Credit Facility include, but are not limited to, (1) CHS’s failure to pay principal, interest, fees or other amounts under the credit agreement when due (taking into account any applicable grace period), (2) any representation or warranty proving to have been materially incorrect when made, (3) covenant defaults subject, with respect to certain covenants, to a grace period, (4) bankruptcy events, (5) a cross default to certain other debt, (6) certain undischarged judgments (not paid within an applicable grace period), (7) a change of control, (8) certain ERISA-related defaults and (9) the invalidity or impairment of specified security interests, guarantees or subordination provisions in favor of the administrative agent or lenders under the Credit Facility.
     The Notes were issued by CHS in connection with the Triad acquisition in the principal amount of approximately $3.0 billion. The Notes will mature on July 15, 2015. The Notes bear interest at the rate of 8.875% per annum, payable semiannually in arrears on January 15 and July 15, commencing January 15, 2008. Interest on the Notes accrues from the date of original issuance. Interest is calculated on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months.
     Except as set forth below, CHS is not entitled to redeem the Notes prior to July 15, 2011.
     On and after July 15, 2011, CHS is entitled, at its option, to redeem all or a portion of the Notes upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days notice, at the redemption prices (expressed as a percentage of principal amount on the redemption date), plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date (subject to the right of holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date), if redeemed during the 12-month period commencing on July 15 of the years set forth below:
         
Period   Redemption Price
2011
    104.438 %
2012
    102.219 %
2013 and thereafter
    100.000 %
     CHS is entitled, at its option, to redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, at any time prior to July 15, 2011, upon not less than 30 or more than 60 days notice, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of Notes redeemed plus the Applicable Premium (as defined), and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, as of the applicable redemption date.

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COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
     Pursuant to a registration rights agreement entered into at the time of the issuance of the Notes, as a result of an exchange offer made by CHS, substantially all of the Notes issued in July 2007 were exchanged in November 2007 for new notes (the “Exchange Notes”) having terms substantially identical in all material respects to the Notes (except that the Exchange Notes were issued under a registration statement pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended). References to the Notes shall also be deemed to include the Exchange Notes unless the context provides otherwise.
     During the year ended December 31, 2009, the Company repurchased on the open market and cancelled $126.5 million of principal amount of the Notes. This resulted in a net gain from early extinguishment of debt of $2.7 million with an after-tax impact of $1.7 million.
     On April 2, 2009, the Company paid down $110.4 million of its term loans under the Credit Facility. Of this amount, $85.0 million was paid down as required under the terms of the Credit Facility with the net proceeds received from the sale of the ownership interest in the partnership that owned and operated Presbyterian Hospital of Denton. This resulted in a loss from early extinguishment of debt of $1.1 million with an after-tax impact of $0.7 million recorded in discontinued operations for the year ended December 31, 2009. The remaining $25.4 million was paid on the term loans as required under the terms of the Credit Facility with the net proceeds received from the sale of various other assets. This resulted in a loss from early extinguishment of debt of $0.3 million with an after-tax impact of $0.2 million recorded in continuing operations for the year ended December 31, 2009.
     As of September 30, 2010, the availability for additional borrowings under the Credit Facility was $750 million pursuant to the revolving credit facility, of which $81.9 million was set aside for outstanding letters of credit. CHS also has the ability to add up to $300 million of borrowing capacity from receivable transactions (including securitizations) under the Credit Facility, which has not yet been accessed. CHS also has the ability to amend the Credit Facility to provide for one or more tranches of term loans in an aggregate principal amount of $600 million, which CHS has not yet accessed. As of September 30, 2010, the weighted-average interest rate under the Credit Facility, excluding swaps, was 2.9%.
     The Company paid interest of $229.3 million and $221.8 million on borrowings during the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively, and $549.5 million and $557.0 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively.
13. FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
     The fair value of financial instruments has been estimated by the Company using available market information as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, and valuation methodologies considered appropriate. The estimates presented are not necessarily indicative of amounts the Company could realize in a current market exchange (in thousands):
                                 
    September 30, 2010   December 31, 2009
    Carrying   Estimated Fair   Carrying   Estimated Fair
    Amount   Value   Amount   Value
Assets:
                               
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 567,749     $ 567,749     $ 344,541     $ 344,541  
Available-for-sale securities
    29,855       29,855       28,025       28,025  
Trading securities
    28,782       28,782       22,777       22,777  
Liabilities:
                               
Credit facilities
    6,011,243       5,710,681       6,043,847       5,681,216  
Tax-exempt bonds
                8,000       8,000  
Senior notes
    2,784,331       2,954,871       2,784,331       2,881,783  
Other debt
    38,751       38,751       38,015       38,015  
     Cash and cash equivalents. The carrying amount approximates fair value due to the short-term maturity of these instruments (less than three months).
     Available-for-sale securities. Estimated fair value is based on closing price as quoted in public markets.

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COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
     Trading securities. Estimated fair value is based on closing price as quoted in public markets.
     Credit facilities. Estimated fair value is based on information from the Company’s bankers regarding relevant pricing for trading activity among the Company’s lending institutions.
     Tax-exempt bonds. The carrying amount approximated fair value as a result of a weekly interest rate reset feature of these formerly publicly-traded instruments.
     Senior notes. Estimated fair value is based on the average bid and ask price as quoted by the bank who served as underwriter in the sale of these notes.
     Other debt. The carrying amount of all other debt approximates fair value due to the nature of these obligations.
     Interest rate swaps. The fair value of interest rate swap agreements is the amount at which they could be settled, based on estimates calculated by the Company using a discounted cash flow analysis based on observable market inputs and validated by comparison to estimates obtained from the counterparty. The Company incorporates credit valuation adjustments (“CVAs”) to appropriately reflect both its own nonperformance or credit risk and the respective counterparty’s nonperformance or credit risk in the fair value measurements. In adjusting the fair value of its interest rate swap agreements for the effect of nonperformance or credit risk, the Company has considered the impact of any netting features included in the agreements.
     The Company assesses the effectiveness of its hedge instruments on a quarterly basis. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, the Company completed an assessment of the cash flow hedge instruments and determined the hedges to be highly effective. The Company has also determined that the ineffective portion of the hedges do not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position, operations or cash flows. The counterparties to the interest rate swap agreements expose the Company to credit risk in the event of nonperformance. However, at September 30, 2010, since all of the swap agreements entered into by the Company were in net liability positions so that the Company would be required to make the net settlement payments to the counterparties, the Company does not anticipate nonperformance by those counterparties. The Company does not hold or issue derivative financial instruments for trading purposes.

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COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) — (Continued)
     Interest rate swaps consisted of the following at September 30, 2010:
                                         
            Notional            
            Amount   Fixed Interest   Termination   Fair Value
    Swap #   (in 000’s)   Rate   Date   (in 000’s)
 
    1     $ 100,000       4.9360 %   October 4, 2010   $ (39 )
 
    2       100,000       4.7090 %   January 24, 2011     (1,395 )
 
    3       300,000       5.1140 %   August 8, 2011     (11,336 )
 
    4       100,000       4.7185 %   August 19, 2011     (3,547 )
 
    5       100,000       4.7040 %   August 19, 2011     (3,547 )
 
    6       100,000       4.6250 %   August 19, 2011     (3,465 )
 
    7       200,000       4.9300 %   August 30, 2011     (7,685 )
 
    8       200,000       3.0920 %   September 18, 2011     (4,543 )
 
    9       100,000       3.0230 %   October 23, 2011     (2,397 )
 
    10       200,000       4.4815 %   October 26, 2011     (7,925 )
 
    11       200,000       4.0840 %   December 3, 2011     (7,815 )
 
    12       100,000       3.8470 %   January 4, 2012     (3,899 )
 
    13       100,000       3.8510 %   January 4, 2012     (3,913 )
 
    14       100,000       3.8560 %   January 4, 2012     (3,920 )
 
    15       200,000       3.7260 %   January 8, 2012     (7,600 )
 
    16       200,000       3.5065 %   January 16, 2012     (7,156 )
 
    17       250,000       5.0185 %   May 30, 2012     (17,896 )
 
    18       150,000       5.0250 %   May 30, 2012     (10,771 )
 
    19       200,000       4.6845 %   September 11, 2012     (15,694 )
 
    20       100,000       3.3520 %   October 23, 2012     (5,562 )
 
    21       125,000       4.3745 %   November 23, 2012     (5,930 )
 
    22       75,000       4.3800 %   November 23, 2012     (9,542 )
 
    23       150,000       5.0200 %   November 30, 2012     (14,009 )
 
    24       200,000       2.2420 %   February 28, 2013     (7,309 )
 
    25       100,000       5.0230 %   May 30, 2013     (11,060 )
 
    26       300,000       5.2420 %   August 6, 2013     (36,926 )
 
    27       100,000       5.0380 %   August 30, 2013     (11,952 )
 
    28       50,000       3.5860 %   October 23, 2013     (3,960 )
 
    29       50,000       3.5240 %   October 23, 2013     (4,048 )
 
    30       100,000       5.0500 %   November 30, 2013     (12,775 )
 
    31       200,000       2.0700 %   December 19, 2013     (7,211 )
 
    32       100,000       5.2310 %   July 25, 2014     (15,224 )
 
    33       100,000       5.2310 %   July 25, 2014     (15,224 )
 
    34       200,000       5.1600 %   July 25, 2014     (29,924 )
 
    35       75,000       5.0405 %   July 25, 2014     (10,881 )
 
    36       125,000       5.0215 %   July 25, 2014     (18,048 )
 
    37       100,000       2.6210 %   July 25, 2014     (5,602 )
 
    38       100,000       3.1100 %   July 25, 2014     (7,011 (1)
 
    39       100,000       3.2580 %   July 25, 2014     (7,378 (2)
 
    40       200,000       2.6930 %   October 26, 2014     (7,751 (3)
 
    41       300,000       3.4470 %   August 8, 2016     (21,349 (4)
 
    42       200,000       3.4285 %   August 19, 2016     (13,920 (5)
 
    43       100,000       3.4010 %   August 19, 2016     (6,832 (6)
 
    44       200,000       3.5000 %   August 30, 2016     (14,447 (7)
 
    45       100,000       3.0050 %   November 30, 2016     (6,889 )

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COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) — (Continued)
 
(1)   This interest rate swap becomes effective October 4, 2010, concurrent with the termination of swap #1.
 
(2)   This interest rate swap becomes effective January 24, 2011, concurrent with the termination of swap #2.
 
(3)   This interest rate swap becomes effective October 26, 2011, concurrent with the termination of swap #10.
 
(4)   This interest rate swap becomes effective August 8, 2011, concurrent with the termination of swap #3.
 
(5)   This interest rate swap becomes effective August 19, 2011, concurrent with the termination of swap #4 and #6.
 
(6)   This interest rate swap becomes effective August 19, 2011, concurrent with the termination of swap #5.
 
(7)   This interest rate swap becomes effective August 30, 2011, concurrent with the termination of swap #7.
     The Company is exposed to certain risks relating to its ongoing business operations. The risk managed by using derivative instruments is interest rate risk. Interest rate swaps are entered into to manage interest rate fluctuation risk associated with the term loans in the Credit Facility. Companies are required to recognize all derivative instruments as either assets or liabilities at fair value in the condensed consolidated balance sheet. The Company designates its interest rate swaps as cash flow hedges. For derivative instruments that are designated and qualify as cash flow hedges, the effective portion of the gain or loss on the derivative is reported as a component of other comprehensive income and reclassified into earnings in the same period or periods during which the hedged transactions affect earnings. Gains and losses on the derivative representing either hedge ineffectiveness or hedge components excluded from the assessment of effectiveness are recognized in current earnings.
     Assuming no change in September 30, 2010 interest rates, approximately $209.3 million of interest expense resulting from the spread between the fixed and floating rates defined in each interest rate swap agreement will be recognized during the next 12 months. If interest rate swaps do not remain highly effective as a cash flow hedge, the derivatives’ gains or losses resulting from the change in fair value reported through other comprehensive income will be reclassified into earnings.
     The following tabular disclosure provides the amount of pre-tax loss recognized in the condensed consolidated balance sheets as a component of other comprehensive income during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 (in thousands):
                                 
     
    Amount of Pre-Tax Loss Recognized in OCI on Derivative (Effective Portion)
Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging   Three Months Ended September 30,   Nine Months Ended September 30,
Relationships   2010   2009   2010   2009
Interest rate swaps
  $ (102,522 )   $ (85,506 )   $ (281,086 )   $ (42,207 )
     The following tabular disclosure provides the location of the effective portion of the pre-tax loss reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss (“OCL”) into interest expense on the condensed consolidated statements of income during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 (in thousands):
                                 
     
     
Location of Loss Reclassified from   Amount of Pre-Tax Loss Reclassified from Accumulated OCL into Income (Effective Portion)
Accumulated OCL into Income   Three Months Ended September 30,   Nine Months Ended September 30,
(Effective Portion)   2010   2009   2010   2009
Interest expense, net
  $ 53,639     $ 49,314     $ 161,811     $ 121,716  
     The fair value of derivative instruments in the condensed consolidated balance sheets as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009 was as follows (in thousands):
                                                                   
    Asset Derivatives     Liability Derivatives
    September 30, 2010   December 31, 2009     September 30, 2010   December 31, 2009
    Balance           Balance             Balance           Balance    
    Sheet           Sheet             Sheet           Sheet    
    Location   Fair Value   Location   Fair Value     Location   Fair Value   Location   Fair Value
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments
  Other assets, net   $     Other assets, net   $       Other long- term liabilities   $ 435,307     Other long- term liabilities   $ 316,033  

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COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
14. FAIR VALUE
Fair Value Hierarchy
     Fair value is a market-based measurement, not an entity-specific measurement. Therefore, a fair value measurement should be determined based on the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. As a basis for considering market participant assumptions in fair value measurements, the Company utilizes the U.S. GAAP fair value hierarchy that distinguishes between market participant assumptions based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity (observable inputs that are classified within Levels 1 and 2 of the hierarchy) and the reporting entity’s own assumption about market participant assumptions (unobservable inputs classified within Level 3 of the hierarchy).
     The inputs used to measure fair value are classified into the following fair value hierarchy:
     Level 1: Quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
     Level 2: Observable market-based inputs or unobservable inputs that are corroborated by market data.
     Level 3: Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities. Level 3 includes values determined using pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies, or similar techniques reflecting the Company’s own assumptions.
     In instances where the determination of the fair value hierarchy measurement is based on inputs from different levels of the fair value hierarchy, the level in the fair value hierarchy within which the entire fair value measurement falls is based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. The Company’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment of factors specific to the asset or liability.
     The following table sets forth, by level within the fair value hierarchy, the financial assets and liabilities recorded at fair value on a recurring basis as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009 (in thousands):
                                 
    As of                    
    September 30,                    
    2010     Level 1     Level 2     Level 3  
Available-for-sale securities
  $ 29,855     $ 29,855     $     $  
Trading securities
    28,782       28,782              
 
                       
Total assets
  $ 58,637     $ 58,637     $     $  
 
                       
 
                               
Fair value of interest rate swap agreements
  $ 435,307     $     $ 435,307     $  
 
                       
Total liabilities
  $ 435,307     $     $ 435,307     $  
 
                       
                                 
    As of                    
    December 31,                    
    2009     Level 1     Level 2     Level 3  
Available-for-sale securities
  $ 28,025     $ 28,025     $     $  
Trading securities
    22,777       22,777              
 
                       
Total assets
  $ 50,802     $ 50,802     $     $  
 
                       
 
                               
Fair value of interest rate swap agreements
  $ 316,033     $     $ 316,033     $  
 
                       
Total liabilities
  $ 316,033     $     $ 316,033     $  
 
                       

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COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
     Available-for-sale securities and trading securities classified as Level 1 are measured using quoted market prices.
     The valuation of the Company’s interest rate swap agreements is determined using market valuation techniques, including discounted cash flow analysis on the expected cash flows of each agreement. This analysis reflects the contractual terms of the agreement, including the period to maturity, and uses observable market-based inputs, including forward interest rate curves. The fair value of interest rate swap agreements is determined by netting the discounted future fixed cash payments and the discounted expected variable cash receipts. The variable cash receipts are based on the expectation of future interest rates based on observable market forward interest rate curves and the notional amount being hedged.
     The Company incorporates CVAs to appropriately reflect both its own nonperformance or credit risk and the respective counterparty’s nonperformance or credit risk in the fair value measurements. In adjusting the fair value of its interest rate swap agreements for the effect of nonperformance or credit risk, the Company has considered the impact of any netting features included in the agreements. The CVA on the Company’s interest rate swap agreements at September 30, 2010 resulted in a decrease in the fair value of the related liability of $18.3 million and an after-tax adjustment of $11.7 million to other comprehensive income. The CVA on the Company’s interest rate swap agreements at December 31, 2009 resulted in a decrease in the fair value of the related liability of $5.9 million and an after-tax adjustment of $3.8 million to other comprehensive income.
     The majority of the inputs used to value its interest rate swap agreements, including the forward interest rate curves and market perceptions of the Company’s credit risk used in the CVAs, are observable inputs available to a market participant. As a result, the Company has determined that the interest rate swap valuations are classified in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.
15. RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
     In August 2010, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2010-24, which provides clarification to companies in the healthcare industry on the accounting for professional liability insurance. This ASU states that receivables related to insurance recoveries should not be netted against the related claim liability and such claim liabilities should be determined without considering insurance recoveries. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2010 and will be adopted by the Company in the first quarter of 2011. The Company is currently assessing the potential impact that the adoption of this ASU will have on its consolidated results of operations and consolidated financial position.
     In August 2010, the FASB issued ASU 2010-23, which requires a company in the healthcare industry to use its direct and indirect costs of providing charity care as the measurement basis for charity care disclosures. This ASU also requires additional disclosures of the method used to identify such costs. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2010 and will be adopted by the Company in the first quarter of 2011. This ASU will have no impact on the Company’s consolidated results of operations and consolidated financial position.
16. SEGMENT INFORMATION
     The Company operates in three distinct operating segments, represented by hospital operations (which includes its general acute care hospitals and related healthcare entities that provide inpatient and outpatient healthcare services), home care agency operations (which provide in-home outpatient care), and hospital management services (which provides executive management and consulting services to non-affiliated acute care hospitals). Only the hospital operations segment meets the criteria as a separate reportable segment. The financial information for the home care agencies and management services segments do not meet the quantitative thresholds for a separate identifiable reportable segment and are combined into the corporate and all other reportable segment.

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COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) — (Continued)
     The distribution between reportable segments of the Company’s revenues and income from continuing operations before income taxes is summarized in the following tables (in thousands):
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
    2010     2009     2010     2009  
Revenues:
                               
Hospital operations
  $ 3,178,950     $ 3,018,042     $ 9,380,025     $ 8,816,074  
Corporate and all other
    73,105       68,715       203,776       200,393  
 
                       
 
  $ 3,252,055     $ 3,086,757     $ 9,583,801     $ 9,016,467  
 
                       
 
                               
Income from continuing operations before income taxes:
                               
Hospital operations
  $ 159,893     $ 147,700     $ 488,910     $ 438,735  
Corporate and all other
    (33,550 )     (35,275 )     (109,515 )     (108,149 )
 
                       
 
  $ 126,343     $ 112,425     $ 379,395     $ 330,586  
 
                       
17. CONTINGENCIES
     The Company is a party to various legal proceedings incidental to its business. In the opinion of management, any ultimate liability with respect to these actions will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position, cash flows or results of operations.
     In a letter dated October 4, 2007, the Civil Division of the Department of Justice notified the Company that, as a result of an investigation into the way in which different state Medicaid programs apply to the federal government for matching or supplemental funds that are ultimately used to pay for a small portion of the services provided to Medicaid and indigent patients, it believes the Company and three of its New Mexico hospitals have caused the State of New Mexico to submit improper claims for federal funds in violation of the Federal False Claims Act. In a letter dated January 22, 2008, the Civil Division notified the Company that based on its investigation, it has calculated that these three hospitals received ineligible federal participation payments from August 2000 to June 2006 of approximately $27.5 million. The Civil Division also advised the Company that were it to proceed to trial, it would seek treble damages plus an appropriate penalty for each of the violations of the False Claims Act. This investigation has culminated in the federal government’s intervention in a qui tam lawsuit styled U.S. ex rel. Baker vs. Community Health Systems, Inc. The federal government filed its complaint in intervention on June 30, 2009. The relator filed a second amended complaint on July 1, 2009. Both of these complaints expand the time period during which alleged improper payments were made. The Company filed motions to dismiss all of the federal government’s and the relator’s claims on August 28, 2009. On March 19, 2010, the court granted in part and denied in part the Company’s motion to dismiss as to the relator’s complaint. On July 7, 2010, the court denied the Company’s motion to dismiss the federal government’s complaint in intervention. The Company has filed its answer and pretrial discovery will begin. The Company is vigorously defending this action.
     On June 12, 2008, two of the Company’s hospitals received letters from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of New York requesting documents in an investigation it was conducting into billing practices with respect to kyphoplasty procedures performed during the period January 1, 2002, through June 9, 2008. On September 16, 2008, one of the Company’s hospitals in South Carolina also received an inquiry. Kyphoplasty is a surgical spine procedure that returns a compromised vertebrae (either from trauma or osteoporotic disease process) to its previous height, reducing or eliminating severe pain. The Company has been informed that similar investigations have been initiated at unaffiliated facilities in Alabama, South Carolina, Indiana and other states. The Company believes that this investigation is related to a qui tam settlement between the same U.S. Attorney’s office and the manufacturer and distributor of the Kyphon product, which is used in performing the kyphoplasty procedure. The Company is cooperating with the investigation by collecting and producing material responsive to the requests. The Company is continuing to evaluate and discuss this matter with the federal government.

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COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) — (Continued)
18. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
     Effective October 1, 2010, one or more subsidiaries of the Company completed the acquisition of Forum Health, a healthcare system of two acute care hospitals and other healthcare providers, based in Youngstown, Ohio. This healthcare system includes Northside Medical Center (398 licensed beds) located in Youngstown, Ohio and Trumbull Memorial Hospital (346 licensed beds) located in Warren, Ohio. This healthcare system also includes Hillside Rehabilitation Hospital (69 licensed beds) located in Warren, Ohio, as well as several outpatient clinics and other ancillary facilities. The total cash consideration paid at closing for this acquisition, including for working capital, was $121.2 million.
     Effective October 1, 2010, one or more subsidiaries of the Company completed the acquisition of Bluefield Regional Medical Center (265 licensed beds) located in Bluefield, West Virginia. The total cash consideration paid at closing for this hospital, including for working capital, was approximately $33.6 million.
     Between October 1, 2010 and October 5, 2010, the Company repurchased and retired 195,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at a weighted-average price of $30.88 per share under the September 15, 2010 open market repurchase program. Through October 29, 2010, the cumulative number of shares repurchased under this program is 451,272 shares.
19. SUPPLEMENTAL CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL INFORMATION
     In connection with the consummation of the Triad acquisition, CHS obtained approximately $7.2 billion of senior secured financing under the Credit Facility and issued the Notes in the aggregate principal amount of approximately $3.0 billion. The Notes are senior unsecured obligations of CHS and are guaranteed on a senior basis by the Company and by certain of its existing and subsequently acquired or organized 100% owned domestic subsidiaries.
     The Notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a joint and several basis. The following condensed consolidating financial statements present Community Health Systems, Inc. (as parent guarantor), CHS (as the issuer), the subsidiary guarantors, the subsidiary non-guarantors and eliminations. These condensed consolidating financial statements have been prepared and presented in accordance with SEC Regulation S-X Rule 3-10 “Financial Statements of Guarantors and Issuers of Guaranteed Securities Registered or Being Registered.”
     The accounting policies used in the preparation of this financial information are consistent with those elsewhere in the consolidated financial statements of the Company, except as noted below:
    Intercompany receivables and payables are presented gross in the supplemental consolidating balance sheets.
    Cash flows from intercompany transactions are presented in cash flows from financing activities, as changes in intercompany balances with affiliates, net.
    Income tax expense is allocated from the parent guarantor to the income producing operations (other guarantors and non-guarantors) and the issuer through stockholders’ equity. As this approach represents an allocation, the income tax expense allocation is considered non-cash for statement of cash flow purposes.
    Interest expense, net has been presented to reflect net interest expense and interest income from outstanding long-term debt and intercompany balances.
     The Company’s intercompany activity consists primarily of daily cash transfers for purposes of cash management, the allocation of certain expenses and expenditures paid for by the parent on behalf of its subsidiaries, and the push down of investment in its subsidiaries. The Company’s subsidiaries generally do not purchase services from each other; thus, the intercompany transactions do not represent revenue generating transactions. All intercompany transactions eliminate in consolidation.
     From time to time, the Company sells and/or repurchases noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries, which may change subsidiaries between guarantors and non-guarantors. Amounts for prior periods are restated to reflect the status of guarantors or non-guarantors as of September 30, 2010.

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COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) — (Continued)
Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet
September 30, 2010
                                                 
    Parent             Other     Non-              
    Guarantor     Issuer     Guarantors     Guarantors     Eliminations     Consolidated  
    (In thousands)  
ASSETS
Current assets:
                                               
Cash and cash equivalents
  $     $     $ 471,774     $ 95,975     $     $ 567,749  
Patient accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts
                913,585       737,821             1,651,406  
Supplies
                186,207       127,563             313,770  
Deferred income taxes
    78,621                               78,621  
Prepaid expenses and taxes
    100,868       155       97,857       1,638             200,518  
Other current assets
          71       104,031       67,804             171,906  
 
                                   
Total current assets
    179,489       226       1,773,454       1,030,801             2,983,970  
 
                                   
Intercompany receivable
    1,024,757       9,016,383       2,192,435       2,860,533       (15,094,108 )      
 
                                   
Property and equipment, net
                3,686,030       2,457,540             6,143,570  
 
                                   
Goodwill
                2,362,595       1,811,445             4,174,040  
 
                                   
Other assets, net of accumulated amortization
          124,787       409,383       583,743             1,117,913  
 
                                   
Net investment in subsidiaries
    1,380,531       6,387,510       3,672,193             (11,440,234 )      
 
                                   
Total assets
  $ 2,584,777     $ 15,528,906     $ 14,096,090     $ 8,744,062     $ (26,534,342 )   $ 14,419,493  
 
                                   
 
                                               
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current liabilities:
                                               
Current maturities of long-term debt
  $     $ 45,504     $ 12,881     $ 2,269     $     $ 60,654  
Accounts payable
                381,935       134,217             516,152  
Deferred income taxes
    28,522                               28,522  
Accrued interest
          81,909       144       3             82,056  
Accrued liabilities
    8,283       567       552,214       331,556             892,620  
 
                                   
Total current liabilities
    36,805       127,980       947,174       468,045             1,580,004  
 
                                   
Long-term debt
          8,750,830       34,776       30,617             8,816,223  
 
                                   
Intercompany payable
          4,834,260       11,018,010       7,275,516       (23,127,786 )      
 
                                   
Deferred income taxes
    474,748                               474,748  
 
                                   
Other long-term liabilities
    11,255       435,307       315,415       276,252             1,038,229  
 
                                   
Total liabilities
    522,808       14,148,377       12,315,375       8,050,430       (23,127,786 )     11,909,204  
 
                                   
Redeemable noncontrolling interests in equity of consolidated subsidiaries
                (1,436 )     385,492             384,056  
 
                                   
Equity:
                                               
Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders’ equity:
                                               
Preferred stock
                                   
Common stock
    937             1       2       (3 )     937  
Additional paid-in capital
    1,126,498       614,262       660,167       89,113       (1,363,542 )     1,126,498  
Treasury stock, at cost
    (6,678 )                             (6,678 )
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income
    (288,660 )     (288,660 )     (10,065 )           298,725       (288,660 )
Retained earnings
    1,229,872       1,054,927       1,133,766       153,043       (2,341,736 )     1,229,872  
 
                                   
Total Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders’ equity
    2,061,969       1,380,529       1,783,869       242,158       (3,406,556 )     2,061,969  
Noncontrolling interests in equity of consolidated subsidiaries
                (1,718 )     65,982             64,264  
 
                                   
Total equity
    2,061,969       1,380,529       1,782,151       308,140       (3,406,556 )     2,126,233  
 
                                   
Total liabilities and equity
  $ 2,584,777     $ 15,528,906     $ 14,096,090     $ 8,744,062     $ (26,534,342 )   $ 14,419,493  
 
                                   

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COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) — (Continued)
Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet
December 31, 2009
                                                 
    Parent             Other     Non-              
    Guarantor     Issuer     Guarantors     Guarantors     Eliminations     Consolidated  
    (In thousands)  
ASSETS
Current assets:
                                               
Cash and cash equivalents
  $     $     $ 239,709     $ 104,832     $     $ 344,541  
Patient accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts
                868,629       749,274             1,617,903  
Supplies
                177,987       124,622             302,609  
Deferred income taxes
    80,714                               80,714  
Prepaid expenses and taxes
    45,414       114       72,714       16,647             134,889  
Other current assets
          26       120,096       74,217             194,339  
 
                                   
Total current assets
    126,128       140       1,479,135       1,069,592             2,674,995  
 
                                   
Intercompany receivable
    1,119,696       9,000,138       1,464,924       2,341,547       (13,926,305 )      
 
                                   
Property and equipment, net
                3,637,007       2,495,239             6,132,246  
 
                                   
Goodwill
                2,362,622       1,795,305             4,157,927  
 
                                   
Other assets, net of accumulated amortization
          143,292       385,250       527,762             1,056,304  
 
                                   
Net investment in subsidiaries
    1,239,622       5,651,521       3,356,053             (10,247,196 )      
 
                                   
Total assets
  $ 2,485,446     $ 14,795,091     $ 12,684,991     $ 8,229,445     $ (24,173,501 )   $ 14,021,472  
 
                                   
 
                                               
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current liabilities:
                                               
Current maturities of long-term debt
  $     $ 43,471     $ 17,598     $ 5,401     $     $ 66,470  
Accounts payable
                223,727       204,838             428,565  
Deferred income taxes
    28,397                               28,397  
Accrued interest
          145,033       166       2             145,201  
Accrued liabilities
    8,283       567       506,414       273,899             789,163  
 
                                   
Total current liabilities
    36,680       189,071       747,905       484,140             1,457,796  
 
                                   
Long-term debt
          8,785,466       39,643       19,529             8,844,638  
 
                                   
Intercompany payable
    10,000       4,267,190       10,029,764       6,916,943       (21,223,897 )      
 
                                   
Deferred income taxes
    475,812                               475,812  
 
                                   
Other long-term liabilities
    12,319       316,033       336,504       194,096             858,952  
 
                                   
Total liabilities
    534,811       13,557,760       11,153,816       7,614,708       (21,223,897 )     11,637,198  
 
                                   
Redeemable noncontrolling interests in equity of consolidated subsidiaries
                299       368,558             368,857  
 
                                   
Equity:
                                               
Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders’ equity:
                                               
Preferred stock
                                   
Common stock
    940             1       2       (3 )     940  
Additional paid-in capital
    1,158,359       560,147       595,298       69,557       (1,225,002 )     1,158,359  
Treasury stock, at cost
    (6,678 )                             (6,678 )
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income
    (221,385 )     (221,385 )     (19,124 )           240,509       (221,385 )
Retained earnings
    1,019,399       898,569       954,958       111,581       (1,965,108 )     1,019,399  
 
                                   
Total Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders’ equity
    1,950,635       1,237,331       1,531,133       181,140       (2,949,604 )     1,950,635  
Noncontrolling interests in equity of consolidated subsidiaries
                (257 )     65,039             64,782  
 
                                   
Total equity
    1,950,635       1,237,331       1,530,876       246,179       (2,949,604 )     2,015,417  
 
                                   
Total liabilities and equity
  $ 2,485,446     $ 14,795,091     $ 12,684,991     $ 8,229,445     $ (24,173,501 )   $ 14,021,472  
 
                                   

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COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) — (Continued)
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Income
Three Months Ended September 30, 2010
                                                 
    Parent             Other     Non-              
    Guarantor     Issuer     Guarantors     Guarantors     Eliminations     Consolidated  
    (In thousands)  
Net operating revenues
  $     $     $ 1,798,784     $ 1,453,271     $     $ 3,252,055  
 
                                   
Operating costs and expenses:
                                               
Salaries and benefits
                679,371       624,018             1,303,389  
Provision for bad debts
                227,517       175,560             403,077  
Supplies
                246,668       196,445             443,113  
Other operating expenses
                314,307       291,766             606,073  
Rent
                28,056       36,409             64,465  
Depreciation and amortization
                86,847       64,272             151,119  
 
                                   
Total operating costs and expenses
                1,582,766       1,388,470             2,971,236  
 
                                   
Income from operations
                216,018       64,801             280,819  
 
                                               
Interest expense, net
          30,632       117,712       15,667             164,011  
Loss (gain) from early extinguishment of debt
                                   
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates
    (70,401 )     (82,058 )     (31,318 )           174,242       (9,535 )
 
                                   
Income from continuing operations before income taxes
    70,401       51,426       129,624       49,134       (174,242 )     126,343  
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes
          (18,975 )     47,781       12,683             41,489  
 
                                   
Income from continuing operations
    70,401       70,401       81,843       36,451       (174,242 )     84,854  
 
                                               
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
                                               
Income from operations of hospitals sold and hospitals held for sale
                                   
Loss on sale of hospitals, net
                                   
 
                                   
Income from discontinued operations
                                   
 
                                   
Net income
    70,401       70,401       81,843       36,451       (174,242 )     84,854  
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
                (215 )     14,668             14,453  
 
                                   
Net income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc.
  $ 70,401     $ 70,401     $ 82,058     $ 21,783     $ (174,242 )   $ 70,401  
 
                                   

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COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) — (Continued)
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Income
Three Months Ended September 30, 2009
                                                 
    Parent             Other     Non-              
    Guarantor     Issuer     Guarantors     Guarantors     Eliminations     Consolidated  
    (In thousands)  
Net operating revenues
  $     $     $ 1,725,377     $ 1,361,380     $     $ 3,086,757  
 
                                   
Operating costs and expenses:
                                               
Salaries and benefits
                668,647       570,500             1,239,147  
Provision for bad debts
                219,046       159,311             378,357  
Supplies
                238,433       189,687             428,120  
Other operating expenses
                297,127       270,497             567,624  
Rent
                27,961       34,722             62,683  
Depreciation and amortization
                82,084       61,474             143,558  
 
                                   
Total operating costs and expenses
                1,533,298       1,286,191             2,819,489  
 
                                   
Income from operations
                192,079       75,189             267,268  
 
                                               
Interest expense, net
          21,494       124,548       15,781             161,823  
Loss (gain) from early extinguishment of debt
          21                         21  
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates
    (59,712 )     (62,325 )     (34,456 )           149,492       (7,001 )
 
                                   
Income from continuing operations before income taxes
    59,712       40,810       101,987       59,408       (149,492 )     112,425  
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes
          (18,902 )     39,227       16,739             37,064  
 
                                   
Income from continuing operations
    59,712       59,712       62,760       42,669       (149,492 )     75,361  
 
                                               
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
                                               
Income from operations of hospitals sold and hospitals held for sale
                                   
Loss on sale of hospitals, net
                                   
 
                                   
Income from discontinued operations
                                   
 
                                   
Net income
    59,712       59,712       62,760       42,669       (149,492 )     75,361  
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
                (187 )     15,836             15,649  
 
                                   
Net income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc.
  $ 59,712     $ 59,712     $ 62,947     $ 26,833     $ (149,492 )   $ 59,712  
 
                                   

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COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) — (Continued)
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Income
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010
                                                 
    Parent             Other     Non-              
    Guarantor     Issuer     Guarantors     Guarantors     Eliminations     Consolidated  
    (In thousands)  
Net operating revenues
  $     $     $ 5,447,105     $ 4,136,696     $     $ 9,583,801  
 
                                   
Operating costs and expenses:
                                               
Salaries and benefits
                2,057,248       1,796,734             3,853,982  
Provision for bad debts
                697,381       465,220             1,162,601  
Supplies
                738,818       573,349             1,312,167  
Other operating expenses
                951,479       826,674             1,778,153  
Rent
                91,219       100,897             192,116  
Depreciation and amortization
                261,892       190,287             452,179  
 
                                   
Total operating costs and expenses
                4,798,037       3,953,161             8,751,198  
 
                                   
Income from operations
                649,068       183,535             832,603  
 
                                               
Interest expense, net
          88,079       358,043       40,186             486,308  
Loss (gain) from early extinguishment of debt
                                   
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates
    (210,473 )     (244,338 )     (93,457 )           515,168       (33,100 )
 
                                   
Income from continuing operations before income taxes
    210,473       156,259       384,482       143,349       (515,168 )     379,395  
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes
          (54,214 )     141,888       35,529             123,203  
 
                                   
Income from continuing operations
    210,473       210,473       242,594       107,820       (515,168 )     256,192  
 
                                               
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
                                               
Income from operations of hospitals sold and hospitals held for sale
                                   
Loss on sale of hospitals, net
                                   
 
                                   
Income from discontinued operations
                                   
 
                                   
Net income
    210,473       210,473       242,594       107,820       (515,168 )     256,192  
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
                (1,083 )     46,802             45,719  
 
                                   
Net income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc.
  $ 210,473     $ 210,473     $ 243,677     $ 61,018     $ (515,168 )   $ 210,473  
 
                                   

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COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) — (Continued)
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Income
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2009
                                                 
    Parent             Other     Non-              
    Guarantor     Issuer     Guarantors     Guarantors     Eliminations     Consolidated  
                    (In thousands)                  
Net operating revenues
  $     $     $ 5,136,432     $ 3,880,035     $     $ 9,016,467  
 
                                   
Operating costs and expenses:
                                               
Salaries and benefits
                1,988,559       1,625,708             3,614,267  
Provision for bad debts
                661,431       417,156             1,078,587  
Supplies
                705,159       548,554             1,253,713  
Other operating expenses
                894,322       786,092             1,680,414  
Rent
                87,896       96,315             184,211  
Depreciation and amortization
                246,176       175,390             421,566  
 
                                   
Total operating costs and expenses
                4,583,543       3,649,215             8,232,758  
 
                                   
Income from operations
                552,889       230,820             783,709  
 
                                               
Interest expense, net
          70,607       377,877       38,725             487,209  
Loss (gain) from early extinguishment of debt
          (2,385 )                       (2,385 )
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates
    (178,062 )     (184,250 )     (124,845 )           455,456       (31,701 )
 
                                   
Income from continuing operations before income taxes
    178,062       116,028       299,857       192,095       (455,456 )     330,586  
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes
          (62,034 )     116,264       55,677             109,907  
 
                                   
Income from continuing operations
    178,062       178,062       183,593       136,418       (455,456 )     220,679  
 
                                               
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
                                               
(Loss) income from operations of hospitals sold and hospitals held for sale
                (198 )     2,175             1,977  
Loss on sale of hospitals, net
                      (405 )           (405 )
 
                                   
(Loss) income from discontinued operations
                (198 )     1,770             1,572  
 
                                   
Net income
    178,062       178,062       183,395       138,188       (455,456 )     222,251  
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
                (2,914 )     47,103             44,189  
 
                                   
Net income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc.
  $ 178,062     $ 178,062     $ 186,309     $ 91,085     $ (455,456 )   $ 178,062  
 
                                   

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COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) — (Continued)
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010
                                                 
    Parent             Other     Non-              
    Guarantor     Issuer     Guarantors     Guarantors     Eliminations     Consolidated  
    (In thousands)  
Cash flows from operating activities:
                                               
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
  $ (148,324 )   $ (101,499 )   $ 788,364     $ 359,836     $     $ 898,377  
 
                                   
 
                                               
Cash flows from investing activities:
                                               
Acquisitions of facilities and other related equipment
                (39,040 )     (28,501 )           (67,541 )
Purchases of property and equipment
                (211,023 )     (170,830 )           (381,853 )
Proceeds from disposition of hospitals and other ancillary operations
                                   
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment
                2,398       447             2,845  
Increase in other non-operating assets
                (64,177 )     (34,325 )           (98,502 )
 
                                   
Net cash used in investing activities
                (311,842 )     (233,209 )           (545,051 )
 
                                   
 
                                               
Cash flows from financing activities:
                                               
Proceeds from exercise of stock options
    53,839                               53,839  
Excess tax benefit (income tax payable increase) relating to stock-based compensation
    10,109                               10,109  
Deferred financing costs
                                   
Stock buy-back
    (107,932 )                             (107,932 )
Proceeds from noncontrolling investors in joint ventures
                      5,155             5,155  
Redemption of noncontrolling investments in joint ventures
                      (2,467 )           (2,467 )
Distributions to noncontrolling investors in joint ventures
                      (41,870 )           (41,870 )
Changes in intercompany balances with affiliates, net
    192,308       134,102       (230,672 )     (95,738 )            
Borrowings under credit agreement
                                   
Repayments of long-term indebtedness
          (32,603 )     (12,785 )     (1,564 )           (46,952 )
 
                                   
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities
    148,324       101,499       (243,457 )     (136,484 )           (130,118 )
 
                                   
Net change in cash and cash equivalents
                233,065       (9,857 )           223,208  
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
                238,709       105,832             344,541  
 
                                   
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
  $     $     $ 471,774     $ 95,975     $     $ 567,749  
 
                                   

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COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) — (Continued)
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2009
                                                 
    Parent             Other     Non-              
    Guarantor     Issuer     Guarantors     Guarantors     Eliminations     Consolidated  
    (In thousands)  
Cash flows from operating activities:
                                               
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
  $ (6,213 )   $ (113,793 )   $ 535,800     $ 484,966     $     $ 900,760  
 
                                   
 
                                               
Cash flows from investing activities:
                                               
Acquisitions of facilities and other related equipment
                (198,644 )     (13,297 )           (211,941 )
Purchases of property and equipment
                (279,965 )     (118,173 )           (398,138 )
Proceeds from disposition of hospitals and other ancillary operations
                      89,514             89,514  
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment
                512       2,009             2,521  
Increase in other non-operating assets
                (68,801 )     (42,675 )           (111,476 )
 
                                   
Net cash used in investing activities
                (546,898 )     (82,622 )           (629,520 )
 
                                   
 
                                               
Cash flows from financing activities:
                                               
Proceeds from exercise of stock options
    9,952                               9,952  
Excess tax benefit (income tax payable increase) relating to stock-based compensation
    (3,544 )                             (3,544 )
Deferred financing costs
          (82 )                       (82 )
Stock buy-back
                                   
Proceeds from noncontrolling investors in joint ventures
                      26,314             26,314  
Redemption of noncontrolling investments in joint ventures
                      (2,387 )           (2,387 )
Distributions to noncontrolling investors in joint ventures
                      (43,744 )           (43,744 )
Changes in intercompany balances with affiliates, net
    (195 )     149,957       202,754       (352,516 )            
Borrowings under credit agreement
          200,000       3,287       2,897       (6,184 )     200,000  
Repayments of long-term indebtedness
          (236,082 )     (8,569 )     (7,122 )     6,184       (245,589 )
 
                                   
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities
    6,213       113,793       197,472       (376,558 )           (59,080 )
 
                                   
Net change in cash and cash equivalents
                186,374       25,786             212,160  
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
                158,176       62,479             220,655  
 
                                   
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
  $     $     $ 344,550     $ 88,265     $     $ 432,815  
 
                                   

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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
     You should read this discussion together with our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes included herein.
     Throughout this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, Community Health Systems, Inc., the parent company, and its consolidated subsidiaries are referred to on a collective basis using words like “we,” “our,” “us” and the “Company”. This drafting style is not meant to indicate that the publicly-traded parent company or any subsidiary of the parent company owns or operates any asset, business, or property. The hospitals, operations and businesses described in this filing are owned and operated, and management services provided, by distinct and indirect subsidiaries of Community Health Systems, Inc. References to the Company may include one or more of its subsidiaries.
Executive Overview
     We are the largest publicly-traded operator of hospitals in the United States in terms of number of facilities and net operating revenues. We provide healthcare services through these hospitals that we own and operate in non-urban and selected urban markets. We generate revenue primarily by providing a broad range of general hospital healthcare services to patients in the communities in which we are located. We currently own and operate 126 general acute care hospitals. In addition, we own and operate home care agencies, located primarily in markets where we also operate a hospital, and through our wholly-owned subsidiary, Quorum Health Resources, LLC, or QHR, we provide management and consulting services to non-affiliated general acute care hospitals located throughout the United States. For the hospitals and home care agencies that we own and operate, we are paid for our services by governmental agencies, private insurers and directly by the patients we serve. For our management and consulting services, we are paid by the non-affiliated hospitals utilizing our services.
     Our net operating revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2010 increased to approximately $3.3 billion, as compared to approximately $3.1 billion for the three months ended September 30, 2009. Income from continuing operations, before noncontrolling interests, for the three months ended September 30, 2010 increased 12.6% over the three months ended September 30, 2009. This increase in income from continuing operations during the three months ended September 30, 2010, as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2009, is due primarily to the execution of our revenue growth initiatives at those hospitals owned throughout both periods, general rate and reimbursement increases and our effective management of operating expenses. Our successful physician recruiting efforts have also been a key driver in the execution of our operating strategies. Total inpatient admissions for the three months ended September 30, 2010 decreased 3.0%, compared to the three months ended September 30, 2009, and adjusted admissions for the three months ended September 30, 2010 decreased 0.2%, compared to the three months ended September 30, 2009. These decreases are primarily reflective of a less severe flu season as compared to the prior year period, lower birth rates driven by the downturn in the economy, reductions in one day stays and certain service closures.
     Our net operating revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 increased to approximately $9.6 billion, as compared to approximately $9.0 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2009. Income from continuing operations, before noncontrolling interests, for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 increased 16.1% over the nine months ended September 30, 2009. This increase in income from continuing operations during the nine months ended September 30, 2010, as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2009, is due primarily to the growth in revenues from the execution of our revenue growth initiatives at those hospitals owned throughout both periods as well as recently acquired hospitals, general rate and reimbursement increases and our effective management of operating expenses. Our successful physician recruiting efforts have also been a key driver in the execution of our operating strategies. Total inpatient admissions for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 decreased 0.5%, compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2009, and adjusted admissions for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 increased 1.7%, compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2009. This increase in adjusted admissions was due primarily to acquisitions during the past twelve months, offsetting decreases in admissions from a less severe flu season as compared to the prior year period, lower birth rates driven by the downturn in the economy, reductions in one day stays and certain service closures.
     Self-pay revenues represented approximately 11.8% and 11.3% of our net operating revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively, and 11.6% and 11.2% of our net operating revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively. The value of charity care services relative to total net operating revenues was approximately 4.3% and 4.0% for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively, and approximately 4.2% and 3.8% for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

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     The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, or PPACA, was signed into law on March 23, 2010. In addition, the Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act of 2010, or Reconciliation Act, which contains a number of amendments to PPACA, was signed into law on March 30, 2010. These healthcare acts, referred to collectively as the Reform Legislation, will ultimately increase the number of persons with access to health insurance in the United States by requiring substantially all U.S. citizens to maintain medical insurance coverage. The Reform Legislation should result in a reduction in uninsured patients, which should reduce our expense from uncollectible accounts receivable; however, this legislation makes a number of other changes to Medicare and Medicaid, such as reductions to the Medicare annual market basket update for federal fiscal years 2010 through 2019, a productivity offset to the Medicare market basket update beginning October 1, 2011, and a reduction to the Medicare and Medicaid disproportionate share payments, that could adversely impact the reimbursement received under these programs. The various provisions in the Reform Legislation that directly or indirectly affect reimbursement are scheduled to take effect over a number of years, and we cannot predict their impact at this time. Other provisions of the Reform Legislation, such as requirements related to employee health insurance coverage, should increase our operating costs.
     Also included in the Reform Legislation are provisions aimed at reducing fraud, waste and abuse in the healthcare industry. These provisions allocate significant additional resources to federal enforcement agencies and expand the use of private contractors to recover potentially inappropriate Medicare and Medicaid payments. The Reform Legislation amends several existing federal laws, including the Medicare Anti-Kickback Statute and the False Claims Act, making it easier for government agencies and private plaintiffs to prevail in lawsuits brought against healthcare providers. These amendments also make it easier for potentially severe fines and penalties to be imposed on healthcare providers accused of violating applicable laws and regulations.
     In a number of markets, we have partnered with local physicians in the ownership of our facilities. Such investments have been permitted under an exception to the physician self-referral law, or Stark Law, that allows physicians to invest in an entire hospital (as opposed to individual hospital departments). The Reform Legislation changes the “whole hospital” exception to the Stark Law. The Reform Legislation permits existing physician investments in a whole hospital to continue under a “grandfather” clause if the arrangement satisfies certain requirements and restrictions, but physicians became prohibited, from the time the Reform Legislation became effective, from increasing the aggregate percentage of their ownership in the hospital. The Reform Legislation also restricts the ability of existing physician-owned hospitals to expand the capacity of their facilities. Physician investments in hospitals that are under development are protected by the grandfather clause only if the physician investments have been made and the hospital has a Medicare provider agreement as of a specific date. Ambiguities in the Reform Legislation created uncertainty regarding the precise cut-off date for satisfying the grandfathering provision. However, recently proposed regulations clarify the manner in which the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, or CMS, intends to interpret the law. We are monitoring developments in this area.
     The impact of the Reform Legislation on each of our hospitals will vary depending on payor mix and a variety of other factors. We anticipate that many of the provisions in the Reform Legislation will be subject to further clarification and modification through the rule-making process, the development of agency guidance and judicial interpretations. Moreover, a number of state attorneys general are challenging the legality of certain aspects of the Reform Legislation. We cannot predict the impact the Reform Legislation may have on our business, results of operations, cash flow, capital resources and liquidity. Furthermore, we cannot predict whether we will be able to modify certain aspects of our operations to offset any potential adverse consequences from the Reform Legislation.
     As a result of our current levels of cash, available borrowing capacity, long-term outlook on our debt repayments and our continued projection of our ability to generate cash flows, we do not anticipate a significant impact on our ability to invest the necessary capital in our business over the next twelve months and into the foreseeable future. We believe there continues to be ample opportunity for growth in substantially all of our markets by decreasing the need for patients to travel outside their communities for healthcare services. Furthermore, we continue to benefit from synergies from the 2007 acquisition of Triad Hospitals, Inc., or Triad, as well as our more recent acquisitions and will continue to strive to improve operating efficiencies and procedures in order to improve our profitability at all of our hospitals.

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Sources of Consolidated Net Operating Revenues
     The following table presents the approximate percentages of net operating revenues derived from Medicare, Medicaid, managed care, self-pay and other sources for the periods indicated. The data for the periods presented are not strictly comparable due to the effect that hospital acquisitions have had on these statistics.
                                 
    Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
    September 30,   September 30,
    2010   2009   2010   2009
Medicare
    26.9 %     26.8 %     27.3 %     27.3 %
Medicaid
    11.1 %     10.3 %     10.7 %     9.3 %
Managed Care and other third party payors
    50.2 %     51.6 %     50.4 %     52.2 %
Self-pay
    11.8 %     11.3 %     11.6 %     11.2 %
 
                               
Total
    100.0 %     100.0 %     100.0 %     100.0 %
 
                               
     As shown above, we receive a substantial portion of our revenues from the Medicare and Medicaid programs. Included in Managed Care and other third party payors is net operating revenues from insurance companies with which we have insurance provider contracts, Medicare Managed Care, insurance companies for which we do not have insurance provider contracts, workers’ compensation carriers, and non-patient service revenue, such as rental income and cafeteria sales. In the future, we generally expect revenues received from the Medicare and Medicaid programs to increase due to the general aging of the population. In addition, the Reform Legislation will increase the number of insured patients which should reduce revenues from self-pay patients and reduce the provision for bad debts. The Reform Legislation, however, imposes significant reductions in amounts the government pays Medicare Managed Care plans. Other provisions in the Reform Legislation impose minimum medical-loss ratios and require insurers to meet specific benefit requirements. In addition, specified managed care programs, insurance companies, and employers are actively negotiating the amounts paid to hospitals. The trend toward increased enrollment in managed care may adversely affect our net operating revenue growth. There can be no assurance that we will retain our existing reimbursement arrangements or that these third party payors will not attempt to further reduce the rates they pay for our services.
     Net operating revenues include amounts estimated by management to be reimbursable by Medicare and Medicaid under prospective payment systems and provisions of cost-based reimbursement and other payment methods. In addition, we are reimbursed by non-governmental payors using a variety of payment methodologies. Amounts we receive for treatment of patients covered by these programs are generally less than the standard billing rates. We account for the differences between the estimated program reimbursement rates and the standard billing rates as contractual allowance adjustments, which we deduct from gross revenues to arrive at net operating revenues. Final settlements under some of these programs are subject to adjustment based on administrative review and audit by third parties. We account for adjustments to previous program reimbursement estimates as contractual allowance adjustments and report them in the periods that such adjustments become known. Contractual allowance adjustments related to final settlements and previous program reimbursement estimates impacted net operating revenues and net income by an insignificant amount in each of the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2010 and 2009.
     Currently, several states utilize supplemental reimbursement programs for the purpose of providing reimbursement to providers to offset a portion of the cost of providing care to Medicaid and indigent patients. These programs are designed with input from CMS and are funded with a combination of state and federal resources, including, in certain instances, fees or taxes levied on the providers. Similar programs are also being considered by other states. After these supplemental programs are signed into law, we recognize revenue and related expenses in the period in which amounts are estimable and collection is reasonably assured. Reimbursement under these programs is reflected in net operating revenues and included as Medicaid revenue in the table above, and fees, taxes or other program related costs are reflected in other operating costs and expenses.
     The payment rates under the Medicare program for hospital inpatient and outpatient acute care services are based on a prospective payment system, depending upon the diagnosis of a patient’s condition. These rates are indexed for inflation annually, although increases have historically been less than actual inflation. On August 16, 2010, CMS issued the final rule to adjust this index by 2.6% for hospital inpatient acute care services that are reimbursed under the prospective payment system. The final rule also makes other payment adjustments that, coupled with the 0.25% reduction to hospital inpatient rates implemented pursuant to the Reform Legislation referred to below, yield a net 0.4% reduction in reimbursement for hospital inpatient acute care services beginning October 1, 2010. The Reform Legislation implemented a 0.25% reduction to hospital inpatient rates effective April 1, 2010 and 0.25% reductions to hospital outpatient rates effective January 1, 2010 and January 1, 2011. Reductions in the rate of increase or overall reductions in Medicare reimbursement may cause a decline in the growth of our net operating revenues.

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Results of Operations
     Our hospitals offer a variety of services involving a broad range of inpatient and outpatient medical and surgical services. These include general acute care services, emergency room services, general and specialty surgery, critical care, internal medicine, obstetrics and diagnostic services. The strongest demand for hospital services generally occurs during January through April and the weakest demand for these services occurs during the summer months. Accordingly, eliminating the effect of new acquisitions, our net operating revenues and earnings are historically highest during the first quarter and lowest during the third quarter.
     The following tables summarize, for the periods indicated, selected operating data.
                                 
    Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
    September 30,   September 30,
    2010   2009   2010   2009
    (Expressed as a percentage of net operating revenues)
Consolidated
                               
Net operating revenues
    100.0 %     100.0 %     100.0 %     100.0 %
Operating expenses (a)
    (86.7 )     (86.7 )     (86.6 )     (86.7 )
Depreciation and amortization
    (4.7 )     (4.7 )     (4.7 )     (4.7 )
 
                               
Income from operations
    8.6       8.6       8.7       8.6  
Interest expense, net
    (5.0 )     (5.2 )     (5.0 )     (5.3 )
Loss (gain) from early extinguishment of debt
                       
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates
    0.3       0.2       0.3       0.4  
 
                               
Income from continuing operations before income taxes
    3.9       3.6       4.0       3.7  
Provision for income taxes
    (1.3 )     (1.2 )     (1.3 )     (1.2 )
 
                               
Income from continuing operations
    2.6       2.4       2.7       2.5  
Income from discontinued operations, net of taxes
                       
 
                               
Net income
    2.6       2.4       2.7       2.5  
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
    (0.4 )     (0.5 )     (0.5 )     (0.5 )
 
                               
Net income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc.
    2.2 %     1.9 %     2.2 %     2.0 %
 
                               
                 
    Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
    September 30, 2010   September 30, 2010
Percentage increase (decrease) from same period prior year:
               
Net operating revenues
    5.4 %     6.3 %
Admissions
    (3.0 )     (0.5 )
Adjusted admissions (b)
    (0.2 )     1.7  
Average length of stay
           
Net income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. (c)
    17.9       18.2  
Same-store percentage increase (decrease) from same period prior year (d):
               
Net operating revenues
    3.8 %     3.6 %
Admissions
    (3.6 )     (2.4 )
Adjusted admissions (b)
    (1.3 )     (0.7 )
 
(a)   Operating expenses include salaries and benefits, provision for bad debts, supplies, rent and other operating expenses.
 
(b)   Adjusted admissions is a general measure of combined inpatient and outpatient volume. We computed adjusted admissions by multiplying admissions by gross patient revenues and then dividing that number by gross inpatient revenues.
 
(c)   Includes income or loss from discontinued operations, if any.
 
(d)   Includes acquired hospitals to the extent we operated them in both periods.

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Three Months Ended September 30, 2010 Compared to Three Months Ended September 30, 2009
     Net operating revenues increased $165.3 million to approximately $3.3 billion for the three months ended September 30, 2010, from approximately $3.1 billion for the three months ended September 30, 2009. Growth from hospitals owned throughout both periods contributed $118.4 million of that increase and hospitals acquired in 2009 and 2010 contributed $46.9 million. On a same-store basis, net operating revenues increased 3.8%. The increased net operating revenues contributed by hospitals that we owned throughout both periods were primarily attributable to general rate and reimbursement increases.
     On a consolidated basis, inpatient admissions decreased by 3.0% and adjusted admissions decreased by 0.2%. On a same-store basis, inpatient admissions decreased by 3.6% during the three months ended September 30, 2010. This decrease in inpatient admissions was due primarily to a decrease in admissions from a less severe flu season as compared to the prior year period, lower birth rates driven by the downturn in the economy, reductions in one day stays and certain service closures during the three months ended September 30, 2010, as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2009.
     Operating expenses, excluding depreciation and amortization, as a percentage of net operating revenues, remained consistent at 86.7% for each of the three-month periods ended September 30, 2010 and 2009. Salaries and benefits, as a percentage of net operating revenues, remained consistent at 40.1% for each of the three-month periods ended September 30, 2010 and 2009. Provision for bad debts as a percentage of net operating revenues, increased 0.1% to 12.4% for the three months ended September 30, 2010, compared to 12.3% for the three months ended September 30, 2009. Supplies, as a percentage of net operating revenues, decreased 0.3% to 13.6% for the three months ended September 30, 2010, as compared to 13.9% for the three months ended September 30, 2009. This decrease in supplies is due primarily to improved pricing under our group purchasing program. Other operating expenses, as a percentage of net operating revenues, increased 0.2% to 18.6% for the three months ended September 30, 2010, as compared to 18.4% for the three months ended September 30, 2009. This increase is due primarily to an increase in costs associated with new provider tax or hospital fee programs offset by decreases in costs associated with contract labor and malpractice claims. Rent, as a percentage of net operating revenues, remained consistent at 2.0% for each of the three-month periods ended September 30, 2010 and 2009. Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates, as a percentage of net operating revenues, increased 0.1% to 0.3% for the three months ended September 30, 2010, compared to 0.2% for the three months ended September 30, 2009.
     Depreciation and amortization, as a percentage of net operating revenues, remained consistent at 4.7% for each of the three-month periods ended September 30, 2010 and 2009.
     Interest expense, net, increased by $2.2 million from $161.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2009 to $164.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2010. An increase in interest rates during the three months ended September 30, 2010, compared to the three months ended September 30, 2009, resulted in an increase in interest expense of $1.4 million. Additionally, interest expense increased by $1.7 million as a result of less interest being capitalized during the three months ended September 30, 2010, as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2009, as the current year period had fewer major construction projects. These increases were offset by a decrease in interest expense of $0.9 million due to a decrease in our average outstanding debt during the three months ended September 30, 2010, compared to September 30, 2009.
     The net of the above mentioned changes resulted in income from continuing operations before income taxes increasing $13.9 million from $112.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2009 to $126.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2010.
     Provision for income taxes increased from $37.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2009 to $41.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2010, due primarily to an increase in income from continuing operations before income taxes in the comparable period in 2009, as discussed above. Our effective tax rates were 32.8% and 33.0% for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively. The decrease in our effective tax rate is primarily the result of a decrease in our effective state tax rate.
     Each of income from continuing operations and net income, as a percentage of net operating revenues, increased from 2.4% for the three months ended September 30, 2009 to 2.6% for the three months ended September 30, 2010. The increase in both income from continuing operations and net income, as a percentage of net operating revenues, is primarily a result of the 0.2% decrease of our interest expense as a percentage of net operating revenues.
     Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests as a percentage of net operating revenues decreased 0.1% to 0.4% for the three months ended September 30, 2010, as compared to 0.5% for the three months ended September 30, 2009.

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     Net income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. was $70.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2010, compared to $59.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2009, representing an increase of 17.9%. The increase in net income is reflective of the impact of the growth in revenue, our ability to maintain operating expenses as a percentage of net operating revenues, and a decrease in non-operating expenses discussed above.
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010 Compared to Nine Months Ended September 30, 2009
     Net operating revenues increased $567.3 million to approximately $9.6 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2010, from approximately $9.0 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2009. Growth from hospitals owned throughout both periods contributed $325.2 million of that increase and hospitals acquired in 2009 and 2010 contributed $242.1 million. On a same-store basis, net operating revenues increased 3.6%. The increased net operating revenues contributed by hospitals that we owned throughout both periods were primarily attributable to general rate and reimbursement increases.
     On a consolidated basis, inpatient admissions decreased by 0.5% and adjusted admissions increased by 1.7%. On a same-store basis, inpatient admissions decreased by 2.4% during the nine months ended September 30, 2010. This decrease in inpatient admissions was due primarily to a decrease in admissions from a less severe flu season as compared to the prior year period, lower birth rates driven by the downturn in the economy, reductions in one day stays and certain service closures during the nine months ended September 30, 2010, as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2009.
     Operating expenses, excluding depreciation and amortization, as a percentage of net operating revenues, decreased 0.1% to 86.6% for the nine months ended September 30, 2010, compared to 86.7% for the nine months ended September 30, 2009. Salaries and benefits, as a percentage of net operating revenues, increased 0.1% to 40.2% for the nine months ended September 30, 2010, compared to 40.1% for the nine months ended September 30, 2009. Provision for bad debts, as a percentage of net operating revenues, increased 0.1% to 12.1% for the nine months ended September 30, 2010, compared to 12.0% for the nine months ended September 30, 2009. Supplies, as a percentage of net operating revenues, decreased 0.2% to 13.7% for the nine months ended September 30, 2010, as compared to 13.9% for the nine months ended September 30, 2009. This decrease in supplies is due primarily to improved pricing under our group purchasing program. Other operating expenses, as a percentage of net operating revenues, decreased 0.1% to 18.6% for the nine months ended September 30, 2010, as compared to 18.7% for the nine months ended September 30, 2009. Rent, as a percentage of net operating revenues, remained consistent at 2.0% for each of the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2010 and 2009. Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates, as a percentage of net operating revenues, decreased 0.1% to 0.3% for the nine months ended September 30, 2010, compared to 0.4% for the nine months ended September 30, 2009.
     Depreciation and amortization, as a percentage of net operating revenues, remained consistent at 4.7% for each of the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2010 and 2009.
     Interest expense, net, decreased by $0.9 million from $487.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 to $486.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010. A decrease in our average outstanding debt during the nine months ended September 30, 2010, compared to September 30, 2009, resulted in a decrease in interest expense of $6.3 million. As an offset to this decrease, interest expense increased by $4.4 million as a result of less interest being capitalized during the nine months ended September 30, 2010, as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2009, as the current year period had fewer major construction projects. Additionally, an increase in interest rates during the nine months ended September 30, 2010, compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2009, resulted in an increase in interest expense of $1.0 million.
     The net of the above mentioned changes resulted in income from continuing operations before income taxes increasing $48.8 million from $330.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 to $379.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010.
     Provision for income taxes increased from $109.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 to $123.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010, due primarily to an increase in income from continuing operations before income taxes in the comparable period in 2009, as discussed above. Our effective tax rates were 32.5% and 33.2% for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively. The decrease in our effective tax rate is primarily the result of a decrease in our effective state tax rate.
     Each of income from continuing operations and net income, as a percentage of net operating revenues, increased from 2.5% for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 to 2.7% for the nine months ended September 30, 2010. The increase in both income from

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continuing operations and net income, as a percentage of net operating revenues, is primarily a result of the 0.3% decrease of our interest expense as a percentage of net operating revenues.
     Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests as a percentage of net operating revenues remained consistent at 0.5% for each of the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2010 and 2009.
     Net income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. was $210.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010, compared to $178.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009, representing an increase of 18.2%. The increase in net income is reflective of the impact of the revenue growth and decrease in interest expense discussed above.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
     Net cash provided by operating activities decreased $2.4 million, from $900.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 to $898.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010. The decrease in cash flows, in comparison to the prior year period, is primarily from a decrease in cash flow from the change in accounts receivable of $15.3 million, decrease in cash flow from the change in supplies, prepaid expenses and other current assets of $13.5 million, decreases in cash flow from the change in accounts payable, accrued liabilities and income taxes of $22.3 million and a decrease in other non-cash expenses of $22.1 million. These decreases were offset by an increase in net income of $33.9 million, an increase in depreciation and amortization expense, a non-cash expense of $30.3 million, and an increase in cash flow from the change in other assets and liabilities of $6.6 million.
     The cash used in investing activities was $545.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010, compared to $629.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009. The cash used in investing activities during the nine months ended September 30, 2009 was offset by proceeds received from the sale of a hospital of $89.5 million. Other changes in cash used in investing activities were a decrease in cash used for acquisition of facilities and other related equipment of $144.4 million, a reduction in cash used for purchasing property and equipment of $16.3 million, a decrease in cash used for other non-operating assets of $13.0 million and an increase in proceeds received from the sale of property and equipment of $0.3 million.
     The cash used in financing activities was $130.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010, compared to $59.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009. This increase is due primarily to repurchases of common stock offset by proceeds from the exercise of stock options.
Capital Expenditures
     Cash expenditures related to purchases of facilities were $67.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010, compared to $211.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009. The expenditures during the nine months ended September 30, 2010 were for the purchase of a healthcare system in Marion, South Carolina, the purchase of surgery centers and physician practices, and the settlement of working capital items from a 2009 acquisition. The expenditures during the nine months ended September 30, 2009 included the purchase of a hospital in Siloam Springs, Arkansas, the purchase of a healthcare system in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, the purchase of the remaining equity in a hospital in El Dorado, Arkansas in which we previously had a noncontrolling interest, the purchase of surgery centers and physician practices, and the settlement of working capital items from a 2008 acquisition.
     Excluding the cost to construct replacement hospitals, our cash expenditures for routine capital for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 totaled $366.8 million, compared to $394.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009. These capital expenditures related primarily to the purchase of additional equipment, minor renovations and information systems infrastructure. Costs to construct replacement hospitals for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 totaled $15.1 million, compared to $3.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009.
     Pursuant to hospital purchase agreements in effect as of September 30, 2010, where required certificate of need approval has been obtained, we are required to build replacement facilities in Valparaiso, Indiana by April 2011 and in Siloam Springs, Arkansas by February 2013. Due to delays in receiving government approved building and zoning permits, the replacement facility in Valparaiso, Indiana is not expected to be completed until the fourth quarter of 2012. Also as required by an amendment to a lease agreement entered into in 2005, we plan to build a replacement facility for Barstow Community Hospital in Barstow, California. Estimated construction costs, including equipment costs, are approximately $318.5 million for these three replacement facilities. In addition, in October 2008, after the purchase of the noncontrolling owner’s interest in our Birmingham, Alabama facility, we initiated the purchase of a site, which includes a partially constructed hospital structure, for a potential replacement to our existing Birmingham facility. In September 2010, we received approval of our request for a certificate of need from the Alabama Certificate of Need

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Review Board, however, this certificate of need remains subject to an appeal process. Our estimated construction costs, including the acquisition of the site and equipment costs, are approximately $280.0 million for the Birmingham replacement facility.
Capital Resources
     Net working capital was approximately $1.4 billion at September 30, 2010, compared to approximately $1.2 billion at December 31, 2009. The $186.8 million increase was primarily attributable to an increase in cash flows from operations.
     In connection with the consummation of the Triad acquisition in July 2007, we obtained approximately $7.2 billion of senior secured financing under a credit facility, or the Credit Facility, with a syndicate of financial institutions led by Credit Suisse, as administrative agent and collateral agent. The Credit Facility consists of an approximately $6.1 billion funded term loan facility with a maturity of seven years, a $300 million delayed draw term loan facility (reduced by us from $400 million) with a maturity of seven years and a $750 million revolving credit facility with a maturity of six years. During the fourth quarter of 2008, $100 million of the delayed draw term loan had been drawn down by us reducing the delayed draw term loan availability to $200 million at December 31, 2008. In January 2009, we drew down the remaining $200 million of the delayed draw term loan. The revolving credit facility also includes a subfacility for letters of credit and a swingline subfacility. The Credit Facility requires quarterly amortization payments of each term loan facility equal to 0.25% of the outstanding amount of the term loans, if any, with the outstanding principal balance payable on July 25, 2014.
     The term loan facility must be prepaid in an amount equal to (1) 100% of the net cash proceeds of certain asset sales and dispositions by us and our subsidiaries, subject to certain exceptions and reinvestment rights, (2) 100% of the net cash proceeds of issuances of certain debt obligations or receivables based financing by us and our subsidiaries, subject to certain exceptions, and (3) 50%, subject to reduction to a lower percentage based on our leverage ratio (as defined in the Credit Facility generally as the ratio of total debt on the date of determination to our EBITDA, as defined, for the four quarters most recently ended prior to such date), of excess cash flow (as defined) for any year, commencing in 2008, subject to certain exceptions. Voluntary prepayments and commitment reductions are permitted in whole or in part, without any premium or penalty, subject to minimum prepayment or reduction requirements.
     The obligor under the Credit Facility is CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc., or CHS, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Community Health Systems, Inc. All of our obligations under the Credit Facility are unconditionally guaranteed by Community Health Systems, Inc. and certain existing and subsequently acquired or organized domestic subsidiaries. All obligations under the Credit Facility and the related guarantees are secured by a perfected first priority lien or security interest in substantially all of the assets of Community Health Systems, Inc., CHS and each subsidiary guarantor, including equity interests held by us or any subsidiary guarantor, but excluding, among others, the equity interests of non-significant subsidiaries, syndication subsidiaries, securitization subsidiaries and joint venture subsidiaries.
     The loans under the Credit Facility bear interest on the outstanding unpaid principal amount at a rate equal to an applicable percentage plus, at our option, either (a) an Alternate Base Rate (as defined) determined by reference to the greater of (1) the Prime Rate (as defined) announced by Credit Suisse or (2) the Federal Funds Effective Rate (as defined) plus one-half of 1.0%, or (b) a reserve adjusted London Interbank Offered Rate for dollars (Eurodollar rate) (as defined). The applicable percentage for term loans is 1.25% for Alternate Base Rate loans and 2.25% for Eurodollar rate loans. The applicable percentage for revolving loans was initially 1.25% for Alternate Base Rate revolving loans and 2.25% for Eurodollar revolving loans, in each case subject to reduction based on our leverage ratio. Loans under the swingline subfacility bear interest at the rate applicable to Alternate Base Rate loans under the revolving credit facility.
     We have agreed to pay letter of credit fees equal to the applicable percentage then in effect with respect to Eurodollar rate loans under the revolving credit facility times the maximum aggregate amount available to be drawn under all letters of credit outstanding under the subfacility for letters of credit. The issuer of any letter of credit issued under the subfacility for letters of credit will also receive a customary fronting fee and other customary processing charges. We were initially obligated to pay commitment fees of 0.50% per annum (subject to reduction based upon our leverage ratio), on the unused portion of the revolving credit facility. For purposes of this calculation, swingline loans are not treated as usage of the revolving credit facility. With respect to the delayed draw term loan facility, we were also obligated to pay commitment fees of 0.50% per annum for the first nine months after the close of the Credit Facility and 0.75% per annum for the next three months after such nine-month period and thereafter 1.0% per annum. In each case, the commitment fee was based on the unused amount of the delayed draw term loan facility. After the draw down of the remaining $200 million of the delayed draw term loan in January 2009, we no longer pay any commitment fees for the delayed draw term loan facility. We also paid arrangement fees on the closing of the Credit Facility and pay an annual administrative agent fee.

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     The Credit Facility contains customary representations and warranties, subject to limitations and exceptions, and customary covenants restricting our and our subsidiaries’ ability, subject to certain exception, to, among other things, (1) declare dividends, make distributions or redeem or repurchase capital stock, (2) prepay, redeem or repurchase other debt, (3) incur liens or grant negative pledges, (4) make loans and investments and enter into acquisitions and joint ventures, (5) incur additional indebtedness or provide certain guarantees, (6) make capital expenditures, (7) engage in mergers, acquisitions and asset sales, (8) conduct transactions with affiliates, (9) alter the nature of our businesses, (10) grant certain guarantees with respect to physician practices, (11) engage in sale and leaseback transactions or (12) change our fiscal year. We and our subsidiaries are also required to comply with specified financial covenants (consisting of a leverage ratio and an interest coverage ratio) and various affirmative covenants.
     Events of default under the Credit Facility include, but are not limited to, (1) our failure to pay principal, interest, fees or other amounts under the credit agreement when due (taking into account any applicable grace period), (2) any representation or warranty proving to have been materially incorrect when made, (3) covenant defaults subject, with respect to certain covenants, to a grace period, (4) bankruptcy events, (5) a cross default to certain other debt, (6) certain undischarged judgments (not paid within an applicable grace period), (7) a change of control, (8) certain ERISA-related defaults and (9) the invalidity or impairment of specified security interests, guarantees or subordination provisions in favor of the administrative agent or lenders under the Credit Facility.
     As of September 30, 2010, the availability for additional borrowings under our Credit Facility was approximately $750 million pursuant to the revolving credit facility, of which $81.9 million was set aside for outstanding letters of credit.
     During the year ended December 31, 2009, we repurchased on the open market and cancelled $126.5 million of principal amount of our $3.0 billion aggregate principal amount of 8.875% Senior Notes due 2015, or the Notes. This resulted in a net gain from early extinguishment of debt of $2.7 million with an after-tax impact of $1.7 million.
     On April 2, 2009, we paid down $110.4 million of our term loans under the Credit Facility. Of this amount, $85.0 million was paid down as required under the terms of the Credit Facility with the net proceeds received from the sale of the ownership interest in the partnership that owned and operated Presbyterian Hospital of Denton. This resulted in a loss from early extinguishment of debt of $1.1 million with an after-tax impact of $0.7 million recorded in discontinued operations for the year ended December 31, 2009. The remaining $25.4 million was paid on the term loans as required under the terms of the Credit Facility with the net proceeds received from the sale of various other assets. This resulted in a loss from early extinguishment of debt of $0.3 million with an after-tax impact of $0.2 million recorded in continuing operations for the year ended December 31, 2009.
     As of September 30, 2010, we are currently a party to the following interest rate swap agreements to limit the effect of changes in interest rates on approximately 89% of our variable rate debt. On each of these swaps, we receive a variable rate of interest based on the three-month London Interbank Offered Rate, or LIBOR, in exchange for the payment by us of a fixed rate of interest. We currently pay, on a quarterly basis, a margin above LIBOR of 225 basis points for revolving credit and term loans under the Credit Facility.

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        Notional            
        Amount   Fixed Interest   Termination   Fair Value
Swap #       (in 000’s)   Rate   Date   (in 000’s)
1  
 
  $ 100,000       4.9360 %   October 4, 2010   $ (39 )
2  
 
    100,000       4.7090 %   January 24, 2011     (1,395 )
3  
 
    300,000       5.1140 %   August 8, 2011     (11,336 )
4  
 
    100,000       4.7185 %   August 19, 2011     (3,547 )
5  
 
    100,000       4.7040 %   August 19, 2011     (3,547 )
6  
 
    100,000       4.6250 %   August 19, 2011     (3,465 )
7  
 
    200,000       4.9300 %   August 30, 2011     (7,685 )
8  
 
    200,000       3.0920 %   September 18, 2011     (4,543 )
9  
 
    100,000       3.0230 %   October 23, 2011     (2,397 )
10  
 
    200,000       4.4815 %   October 26, 2011     (7,925 )
11  
 
    200,000       4.0840 %   December 3, 2011     (7,815 )
12  
 
    100,000       3.8470 %   January 4, 2012     (3,899 )
13  
 
    100,000       3.8510 %   January 4, 2012     (3,913 )
14  
 
    100,000       3.8560 %   January 4, 2012     (3,920 )
15  
 
    200,000       3.7260 %   January 8, 2012     (7,600 )
16  
 
    200,000       3.5065 %   January 16, 2012     (7,156 )
17  
 
    250,000       5.0185 %   May 30, 2012     (17,896 )
18  
 
    150,000       5.0250 %   May 30, 2012     (10,771 )
19  
 
    200,000       4.6845 %   September 11, 2012     (15,694 )
20  
 
    100,000       3.3520 %   October 23, 2012     (5,562 )
21  
 
    125,000       4.3745 %   November 23, 2012     (5,930 )
22  
 
    75,000       4.3800 %   November 23, 2012     (9,542 )
23  
 
    150,000       5.0200 %   November 30, 2012     (14,009 )
24  
 
    200,000       2.2420 %   February 28, 2013     (7,309 )
25  
 
    100,000       5.0230 %   May 30, 2013     (11,060 )
26  
 
    300,000       5.2420 %   August 6, 2013     (36,926 )
27  
 
    100,000       5.0380 %   August 30, 2013     (11,952 )
28  
 
    50,000       3.5860 %   October 23, 2013     (3,960 )
29  
 
    50,000       3.5240 %   October 23, 2013     (4,048 )
30  
 
    100,000       5.0500 %   November 30, 2013     (12,775 )
31  
 
    200,000       2.0700 %   December 19, 2013     (7,211 )
32  
 
    100,000       5.2310 %   July 25, 2014     (15,224 )
33  
 
    100,000       5.2310 %   July 25, 2014     (15,224 )
34  
 
    200,000       5.1600 %   July 25, 2014     (29,924 )
35  
 
    75,000       5.0405 %   July 25, 2014     (10,881 )
36  
 
    125,000       5.0215 %   July 25, 2014     (18,048 )
37  
 
    100,000       2.6210 %   July 25, 2014     (5,602 )
38  
 
    100,000       3.1100 %   July 25, 2014     (7,011 (1)
39  
 
    100,000       3.2580 %   July 25, 2014     (7,378 (2)
40  
 
    200,000       2.6930 %   October 26, 2014     (7,751 (3)
41  
 
    300,000       3.4470 %   August 8, 2016     (21,349 (4)
42  
 
    200,000       3.4285 %   August 19, 2016     (13,920 (5)
43  
 
    100,000       3.4010 %   August 19, 2016     (6,832 (6)
44  
 
    200,000       3.5000 %   August 30, 2016     (14,447 (7)
45  
 
    100,000       3.0050 %   November 30, 2016     (6,889 )

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(1)   This interest rate swap becomes effective October 4, 2010, concurrent with the termination of swap #1.
 
(2)   This interest rate swap becomes effective January 24, 2011, concurrent with the termination of swap #2.
 
(3)   This interest rate swap becomes effective October 26, 2011, concurrent with the termination of swap #10.
 
(4)   This interest rate swap becomes effective August 8, 2011, concurrent with the termination of swap #3.
 
(5)   This interest rate swap becomes effective August 19, 2011, concurrent with the termination of swap #4 and #6.
 
(6)   This interest rate swap becomes effective August 19, 2011, concurrent with the termination of swap #5.
 
(7)   This interest rate swap becomes effective August 30, 2011, concurrent with the termination of swap #7.
     The Credit Facility and/or the Notes contain various covenants that limit our ability to take certain actions including, among other things, our ability to:
    incur, assume or guarantee additional indebtedness;
 
    issue redeemable stock and preferred stock;
 
    repurchase capital stock;
 
    make restricted payments, including paying dividends and making investments;
 
    redeem debt that is junior in right of payment to the notes;
 
    create liens without securing the notes;
 
    sell or otherwise dispose of assets, including capital stock of subsidiaries;
 
    enter into agreements that restrict dividends from subsidiaries;
 
    merge, consolidate, sell or otherwise dispose of substantial portions of our assets;
 
    enter into transactions with affiliates; and
 
    guarantee certain obligations.
     In addition, our Credit Facility contains restrictive covenants and requires us to maintain specified financial ratios and satisfy other financial condition tests. Our ability to meet these restricted covenants and financial ratios and tests can be affected by events beyond our control, and we cannot assure you that we will meet those tests. A breach of any of these covenants could result in a default under our Credit Facility and/or the Notes. Upon the occurrence of an event of default under our Credit Facility or the Notes, all amounts outstanding under our Credit Facility and the Notes may become due and payable and all commitments under the Credit Facility to extend further credit may be terminated.
     We believe that internally generated cash, availability for additional borrowings under our Credit Facility of $750 million (consisting of a $750 million revolving credit facility, of which $81.9 million is set aside for outstanding letters of credit as of September 30, 2010) and our ability to amend the Credit Facility to provide for one or more tranches of term loans in an aggregate principal amount of $600 million, our ability to add up to $300 million of borrowing capacity from receivable transactions (including securitizations), and our continued access to the bank credit and capital markets will be sufficient to finance acquisitions, capital expenditures and working capital requirements through the next 12 months. We believe these same sources of cash, borrowings under our Credit Facility, as well as access to bank credit and capital markets, will be available to us beyond the next 12 months and into the foreseeable future. We are currently exploring financing alternatives, including a possible amendment and partial extension of our existing Credit Facility.

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     On December 22, 2008, we filed a universal automatic shelf registration statement on Form S-3ASR that will permit us, from time to time, in one or more public offerings, to offer debt securities, common stock, preferred stock, warrants, depositary shares, or any combination of such securities. The shelf registration statement will also permit our subsidiary, CHS, to offer debt securities that would be guaranteed by us, from time to time in one or more public offerings. The terms of any such future offerings would be established at the time of the offering.
     The ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 is as follows:
         
    Nine Months
    Ended
    September 30, 2010
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges(1)
    1.67 x
 
(1)   There are no shares of preferred stock outstanding.
Off-balance Sheet Arrangements
     Our consolidated operating results for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, included $220.1 million and $214.6 million, respectively, of net operating revenues and $14.5 million and $14.4 million, respectively, of income from operations generated from six hospitals operated by us under operating lease arrangements. In accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, or U.S. GAAP, the respective assets and the future lease obligations under these arrangements are not recorded on our condensed consolidated balance sheet. Lease costs under these arrangements are included in rent expense and totaled approximately $11.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010, compared to $12.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009. The current terms of these operating leases expire between June 2012 and December 2020, not including lease extension options. If we allow these leases to expire, we would no longer generate revenue nor incur expenses from these hospitals.
     In the past, we have utilized operating leases as a financing tool for obtaining the operations of specified hospitals without acquiring, through ownership, the related assets of the hospital and without a significant outlay of cash at the front end of the lease. We utilize the same management and operating strategies to improve operations at those hospitals held under operating leases as we do at those hospitals that we own. We have not entered into any operating leases for hospital operations since December 2000.
     During the quarter ended September 30, 2010, we entered into an agreement with the lessor of Cleveland Regional Medical Center, or Cleveland Regional, our leased facility in Cleveland, TX, to exchange our ownership interest in certain real estate at Hill Regional Medical Center, or Hill Regional, in Hillsboro, TX for the lessor’s ownership interest in the real estate at Cleveland Regional. The related lease agreement was amended to incorporate Hill Regional as a leased asset with no change to the remaining lease term or payment schedule. No monetary consideration was exchanged in this transaction, and the transaction qualifies as a non-taxable, like-kind exchange under the regulations in Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code. The assets of Cleveland Regional are included in the condensed consolidated balance sheet at fair value on the date of this transaction, however, as a result of our continuing involvement in the Hill Regional assets, the exchange with the lessor does not qualify for sale treatment under U.S. GAAP. Accordingly, the transaction has been accounted for as a financing obligation and the assets of Hill Regional will remain on the condensed consolidated balance sheet as assets recorded under a financing obligation. Starting in the fourth quarter of 2010, future payments under the lease will be amortized against the financing obligation rather than recorded as rent expense.
Noncontrolling Interests
     We have sold noncontrolling interests in certain of our subsidiaries or acquired subsidiaries with existing noncontrolling interest ownership positions. As of September 30, 2010, we have hospitals in 25 of the markets we serve with noncontrolling physician ownership interests ranging from less than 1% to 40%, including one hospital that also has a non-profit entity as a partner. In addition, we own three other hospitals with noncontrolling interests owned by non-profit entities. Redeemable noncontrolling interests in equity of consolidated subsidiaries was $384.1 million and $368.9 million as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively. Noncontrolling interests in equity of consolidated subsidiaries was $64.3 million and $64.8 million as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively. The amount of net income attributable to noncontrolling interests was $14.5 million and $15.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively, and $45.7 million and $44.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively. As a result of the change in the Stark Law “whole hospital” exception included in the Reform Legislation, we will not introduce physician ownership at any of our wholly-owned facilities or increase the aggregate percentage of physician ownership in any of our existing joint ventures.

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Reimbursement, Legislative and Regulatory Changes
     The Reform Legislation was enacted in the context of other ongoing legislative and regulatory efforts, which would reduce or otherwise adversely affect the payments we receive from Medicare and Medicaid. Within the statutory framework of the Medicare and Medicaid programs, including programs currently unaffected by the Reform Legislation, there are substantial areas subject to administrative rulings, interpretations, and discretion which may further affect payments made under those programs, and the federal and state governments might, in the future, reduce the funds available under those programs or require more stringent utilization and quality reviews of hospital facilities. Additionally, there may be a continued rise in managed care programs and additional restructuring of the financing and delivery of healthcare in the United States. These events could cause our future financial results to decline. We cannot estimate the impact of Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement changes that have been enacted or are under consideration. We cannot predict whether additional reimbursement reductions will be made or whether any such changes would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial conditions, results of operations, cash flow, capital resources and liquidity.
Inflation
     The healthcare industry is labor intensive. Wages and other expenses increase during periods of inflation and when labor shortages occur in the marketplace. In addition, our suppliers pass along rising costs to us in the form of higher prices. We have implemented cost control measures, including our case and resource management program, to curb increases in operating costs and expenses. We have generally offset increases in operating costs by increasing reimbursement for services, expanding services and reducing costs in other areas. However, we cannot predict our ability to cover or offset future cost increases, particularly any increases in our cost of providing health insurance benefits to our employees as a result of the Reform Legislation.
Critical Accounting Policies
     The discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based upon our condensed consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amount of assets and liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of our condensed consolidated financial statements. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.
     Critical accounting policies are defined as those that are reflective of significant judgments and uncertainties, and potentially result in materially different results under different assumptions and conditions. We believe that our critical accounting policies are limited to those described below.
Third Party Reimbursement
     Net operating revenues include amounts estimated by management to be reimbursable by Medicare and Medicaid under prospective payment systems and provisions of cost-reimbursement and other payment methods. In addition, we are reimbursed by non-governmental payors using a variety of payment methodologies. Amounts we receive for treatment of patients covered by these programs are generally less than the standard billing rates. Contractual allowances are automatically calculated and recorded through our internally developed “automated contractual allowance system.” Within the automated system, actual Medicare DRG data and payors’ historical paid claims data are utilized to calculate the contractual allowances. This data is automatically updated on a monthly basis. All hospital contractual allowance calculations are subjected to monthly review by management to ensure reasonableness and accuracy. We account for the differences between the estimated program reimbursement rates and the standard billing rates as contractual allowance adjustments, which we deduct from gross revenues to arrive at net operating revenues. The process of estimating contractual allowances requires us to estimate the amount expected to be received based on payor contract provisions. The key assumption in this process is the estimated contractual reimbursement percentage, which is based on payor classification and historical paid claims data. Due to the complexities involved in these estimates, actual payments we receive could be different from the amounts we estimate and record. If the actual contractual reimbursement percentage under government programs and managed care contracts differed by 1% from our estimated reimbursement percentage, net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 would have changed by approximately $28.0 million, and net accounts receivable would have changed by $44.3 million. Final settlements under some of these programs are subject to adjustment based on administrative review and audit by third parties. We account for adjustments to previous program reimbursement estimates as contractual allowance adjustments and report them in the periods that such adjustments become known. Contractual allowance adjustments related to final settlements and previous program reimbursement estimates impacted net operating revenues and net income by an insignificant amount in each of the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2010 and 2009.

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Allowance for Doubtful Accounts
     Substantially all of our accounts receivable are related to providing healthcare services to our hospitals’ patients. Collection of these accounts receivable is our primary source of cash and is critical to our operating performance. Our primary collection risks relate to uninsured patients and outstanding patient balances for which the primary insurance payor has paid some but not all of the outstanding balance, with the remaining outstanding balance (generally deductibles and co-payments) owed by the patient. At the point of service, for patients required to make a co-payment, we generally collect less than 15% of the related revenue. For all procedures scheduled in advance, our policy is to verify insurance coverage prior to the date of the procedure. Insurance coverage is not verified in advance of procedures for walk-in and emergency room patients.
     We estimate the allowance for doubtful accounts by reserving a percentage of all self-pay accounts receivable without regard to aging category, based on collection history, adjusted for expected recoveries and, if present, anticipated changes in trends. For all other non-self-pay payor categories, we reserve 100% of all accounts aging over 365 days from the date of discharge. The percentage used to reserve for all self-pay accounts is based on our collection history. We believe that we collect substantially all of our third-party insured receivables, which include receivables from governmental agencies.
     Collections are impacted by the economic ability of patients to pay and the effectiveness of our collection efforts. Significant changes in payor mix, business office operations, economic conditions or trends in federal and state governmental healthcare coverage could affect our collection of accounts receivable. The process of estimating the allowance for doubtful accounts requires us to estimate the collectability of self-pay accounts receivable, which is primarily based on our collection history, adjusted for expected recoveries and, if available, anticipated changes in collection trends. Significant change in payor mix, business office operations, economic conditions, trends in federal and state governmental healthcare coverage or other third party payors could affect our estimates of accounts receivable collectability. If the actual collection percentage differed by 1% from our estimated collection percentage as a result of a change in expected recoveries, net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 would have changed by $16.3 million, and net accounts receivable would have changed by $25.9 million. We also continually review our overall reserve adequacy by monitoring historical cash collections as a percentage of trailing net revenue less provision for bad debts, as well as by analyzing current period net revenue and admissions by payor classification, aged accounts receivable by payor, days revenue outstanding, and the impact of recent acquisitions and dispositions.
     Our policy is to write-off gross accounts receivable if the balance is under $10.00 or when such amounts are placed with outside collection agencies. We believe this policy accurately reflects our ongoing collection efforts and is consistent with industry practices. We had approximately $2.0 billion and $1.9 billion at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively, being pursued by various outside collection agencies. We expect to collect less than 3%, net of estimated collection fees, of the amounts being pursued by outside collection agencies. As these amounts have been written-off, they are not included in our gross accounts receivable or our allowance for doubtful accounts. Collections on amounts previously written-off are recognized as a reduction to bad debt expense when received. However, we take into consideration estimated collections of these future amounts written-off in evaluating the reasonableness of our allowance for doubtful accounts.
     All of the following information is derived from our hospitals, excluding clinics, unless otherwise noted.
     Patient accounts receivable from our hospitals represent approximately 95% of our total consolidated accounts receivable.
     Days revenue outstanding was 47 days and 48 days at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively. Our target range for days revenue outstanding is 46 to 56 days.
     Total gross accounts receivable (prior to allowance for contractual adjustments and doubtful accounts) was approximately $6.7 billion and $6.1 billion as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively.

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     The approximate percentage of total gross accounts receivable (prior to allowances for contractual adjustments and doubtful accounts) summarized by payor category is as follows:
                 
    As of
    September 30,   December 31,
    2010   2009
Insured receivables
    62.5 %     62.4 %
Self-pay receivables
    37.5 %     37.6 %
 
               
Total
    100.0 %     100.0 %
     For the hospital segment, the combined total of the allowance for doubtful accounts and related allowances for other self-pay discounts and contractuals, as a percentage of gross self-pay receivables, was approximately 83% at September 30, 2010 and 82% at December 31, 2009. If the receivables that have been written-off but where collections are still being pursued by outside collection agencies were included in both the allowances and gross self-pay receivables specified above, the percentage of combined allowances to total self-pay receivables would have been approximately 91% and 90% at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively.
   Goodwill and Other Intangibles
     Goodwill represents the excess of cost over the fair value of net assets acquired. Goodwill is evaluated for impairment at the same time every year and when an event occurs or circumstances change that, more likely than not, reduce the fair value of the reporting unit below its carrying value. There is a two-step method for determining goodwill impairment. Step one is to compare the fair value of the reporting unit with the unit’s carrying amount, including goodwill. If this test indicates the fair value is less than the carrying value, then step two is required to compare the implied fair value of the reporting unit’s goodwill with the carrying value of the reporting unit’s goodwill. We have selected September 30 as our annual testing date. Based on the results of our most recent annual impairment test, we have concluded that we do not have any reporting units that are at risk of failing step one of the goodwill impairment test.
   Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets
     Whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying values of certain long-lived assets may be impaired, we project the undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by these assets. If the projections indicate that the reported amounts are not expected to be recovered, such amounts are reduced to their estimated fair value based on a quoted market price, if available, or an estimate based on valuation techniques available in the circumstances.
   Professional Liability Insurance Claims
     As part of our business of owning and operating hospitals, we are subject to legal actions alleging liability on our part. We accrue for losses resulting from such liability claims, as well as loss adjustment expenses that are out-of-pocket and directly related to such liability claims. These direct out-of-pocket expenses include fees of outside counsel and experts. We do not accrue for costs that are part of our corporate overhead, such as the costs of our in-house legal and risk management departments. The losses resulting from professional liability claims primarily consist of estimates for known claims, as well as estimates for incurred but not reported claims. The estimates are based on specific claim facts, our historical claim reporting and payment patterns, the nature and level of our hospital operations, and actuarially determined projections. The actuarially determined projections are based on our actual claim data, including historic reporting and payment patterns which have been gathered over approximately a 20-year period. As discussed below, since we purchase excess insurance on a claims-made basis that transfers risk to third party insurers, the liability we accrue does not include an amount for the losses covered by our excess insurance. Since we believe that the amount and timing of our future claims payments are reliably determinable, we discount the amount we accrue for losses resulting from professional liability claims using the risk-free interest rate corresponding to the timing of our expected payments.
     The net present value of the projected payments was discounted using a weighted-average risk-free rate of 1.3% and 2.6% in 2009 and 2008, respectively. This liability is adjusted for new claims information in the period such information becomes known to us. Professional malpractice expense includes the losses resulting from professional liability claims and loss adjustment expense, as well as paid excess insurance premiums, and is presented within other operating expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of income.

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     Our processes for obtaining and analyzing claims and incident data are standardized across all of our hospitals and have been consistent for many years. We monitor the outcomes of the medical care services that we provide and for each reported claim, we obtain various information concerning the facts and circumstances related to that claim. In addition, we routinely monitor current key statistics and volume indicators in our assessment of utilizing historical trends. The average lag period between claim occurrence and payment of a final settlement is between four and five years, although the facts and circumstances of individual claims could result in the timing of such payments being different from this average. Since claims are paid promptly after settlement with the claimant is reached, settled claims represent less than 1.0% of the total liability at the end of any period.
     For purposes of estimating our individual claim accruals, we utilize specific claim information, including the nature of the claim, the expected claim amount, the year in which the claim occurred and the laws of the jurisdiction in which the claim occurred. Once the case accruals for known claims are determined, information is stratified by loss layers and retentions, accident years, reported years, geography, and claims relating to the acquired Triad hospitals versus claims relating to our other hospitals. Several actuarial methods are used against this data to produce estimates of ultimate paid losses and reserves for incurred but not reported claims. Each of these methods uses our company-specific historical claims data and other information. This company-specific data includes information regarding our business, including historical paid losses and loss adjustment expenses, historical and current case loss reserves, actual and projected hospital statistical data, a variety of hospital census information, employed physician information, professional liability retentions for each policy year, geographic information and other data.
     Based on these analyses we determine our estimate of the professional liability claims. The determination of management’s estimate, including the preparation of the reserve analysis that supports such estimate, involves subjective judgment of management. Changes in reserving data or the trends and factors that influence reserving data may signal fundamental shifts in our future claim development patterns or may simply reflect single-period anomalies. Even if a change reflects a fundamental shift, the full extent of the change may not become evident until years later. Moreover, since our methods and models use different types of data and we select our liability from the results of all of these methods, we typically cannot quantify the precise impact of such factors on our estimates of the liability. Due to our standardized and consistent processes for handling claims and the long history and depth of our company-specific data, our methodologies have produced reliably determinable estimates of ultimate paid losses.
     We are primarily self-insured for these claims; however, we obtain excess insurance that transfers the risk of loss to a third-party insurer for claims in excess of our self-insured retentions. Our excess insurance is underwritten on a claims-made basis. For claims reported prior to June 1, 2002, substantially all of our professional and general liability risks were subject to a $0.5 million per occurrence self-insured retention and for claims reported from June 1, 2002 through June 1, 2003, these self-insured retentions were $2.0 million per occurrence. Substantially all claims reported after June 1, 2003 and before June 1, 2005 are self-insured up to $4 million per claim. Substantially all claims reported on or after June 1, 2005 are self-insured up to $5 million per claim. Management, on occasion, has selectively increased the insured risk at certain hospitals based upon insurance pricing and other factors and may continue that practice in the future. Excess insurance for all hospitals has been purchased through commercial insurance companies and generally covers us for liabilities in excess of the self-insured retentions. The excess coverage consists of multiple layers of insurance, the sum of which totals up to $95 million per occurrence and in the aggregate for claims reported on or after June 1, 2003 and up to $145 million per occurrence and in the aggregate for claims incurred and reported after January 1, 2008. For certain policy years, if the first aggregate layer of excess coverage becomes fully utilized, then the self-insured retention could increase to $10 million per claim for any subsequent claims in that policy year until our total aggregate coverage is met.
     Effective January 1, 2008, the former Triad hospitals are insured on a claims-made basis as described above and through commercial insurance companies as described above for substantially all claims occurring on or after January 1, 2002 and reported on or after January 1, 2008. Substantially all losses for the former Triad hospitals in periods prior to May 1, 1999 were insured through a wholly-owned insurance subsidiary of HCA Inc., or HCA, Triad’s owner prior to that time, and excess loss policies maintained by HCA. HCA has agreed to indemnify the former Triad hospitals in respect of claims covered by such insurance policies arising prior to May 1, 1999. From May 1, 1999 through December 31, 2006, the former Triad hospitals obtained insurance coverage on a claims incurred basis from HCA’s wholly-owned insurance subsidiary with excess coverage obtained from other carriers that is subject to certain deductibles. Effective for claims incurred after December 31, 2006, Triad began insuring its claims from $1 million to $5 million through its wholly-owned captive insurance company, replacing the coverage provided by HCA. Substantially all claims occurring during 2007 were self-insured up to $10 million per claim.
     There have been no significant changes in our estimate of the reserve for professional liability claims during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010.

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   Income Taxes
     We must make estimates in recording provision for income taxes, including determination of deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities and any valuation allowances that might be required against the deferred tax assets. We believe that future income will enable us to realize these deferred tax assets, subject to the valuation allowance we have established.
     The total amount of unrecognized benefit that would impact the effective tax rate, if recognized, was approximately $8.5 million as of September 30, 2010. It is our policy to recognize interest and penalties related to unrecognized benefits in our condensed consolidated statements of income as income tax expense. During the nine months ended September 30, 2010, we decreased liabilities by $0.5 million and interest and penalties by approximately $0.3 million. A total of approximately $1.7 million of interest and penalties is included in the amount of liability for uncertain tax positions at September 30, 2010.
     We believe it is reasonably possible that approximately $1.4 million of our current unrecognized tax benefit may be recognized within the next 12 months as a result of a lapse of the statute of limitations and settlements with taxing authorities.
     We, or one or more of our subsidiaries, file income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction and various state jurisdictions. We have extended the federal statute of limitations for Triad for the tax periods ended December 31, 1999, December 31, 2000, April 30, 2001, June 30, 2001, December 31, 2001, December 31, 2002 and December 31, 2003. We are currently under examination by the Internal Revenue Service, or IRS, regarding the federal tax return of Triad for the tax periods ended December 31, 2004, December 31, 2005, December 31, 2006 and July 25, 2007. We believe the results of this examination will not be material to our consolidated results of operations or consolidated financial position. With few exceptions, we are no longer subject to state income tax examinations for years prior to 2006 and federal income tax examinations with respect to Community Health Systems, Inc. federal returns for years prior to 2007. Our federal income tax returns for the 2007 and 2008 tax years are currently under examination by the IRS. We believe the results of this examination will not be material to our consolidated results of operations or consolidated financial position.
     Prior to January 1, 2009, income attributable to noncontrolling interests was deducted from earnings before arriving at income from continuing operations. With the adoption of certain updates to U.S. GAAP related to consolidations effective January 1, 2009, the income attributable to noncontrolling interests has been reclassified below net income and therefore is no longer deducted in arriving at income from continuing operations. However, the provision for income taxes does not change because those less than wholly-owned consolidated subsidiaries attribute their taxable income to their respective investors. Accordingly, we will not pay tax on the income attributable to the noncontrolling interests. As a result of separately reporting income that is taxed to others, our effective tax rate on continuing operations before income taxes, as reported on the face of the financial statements, is 32.8% and 33.0% for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively, and 32.5% and 33.2% for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively. However, the actual effective tax rate that is attributable to our share of income from continuing operations before income taxes (income from continuing operations before income taxes, as presented on the face of the condensed consolidated statement of income, less income from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests of $14.5 million and $15.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively, and $45.7 million and $43.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively) is 37.1% and 38.3% for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively, and 36.9% and 38.3% for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
     In August 2010, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, issued Accounting Standards Update, or ASU, 2010-24, which provides clarification to companies in the healthcare industry on the accounting for professional liability insurance. This ASU states that receivables related to insurance recoveries should not be netted against the related claim liability and such claim liabilities should be determined without considering insurance recoveries. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2010 and will be adopted by us in the first quarter of 2011. We are currently assessing the potential impact that the adoption of this ASU will have on our consolidated results of operations and consolidated financial position.
     In August 2010, the FASB issued ASU 2010-23, which requires a company in the healthcare industry to use its direct and indirect costs of providing charity care as the measurement basis for charity care disclosures. This ASU also requires additional disclosures of the method used to identify such costs. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2010 and will be adopted by us in the first quarter of 2011. This ASU will have no impact on our consolidated results of operations and consolidated financial position.

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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
     Some of the matters discussed in this report include forward-looking statements. Statements that are predictive in nature, that depend upon or refer to future events or conditions or that include words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “thinks,” and similar expressions, are forward-looking statements. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause our actual results and performance to be materially different from any future results or performance expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, the following:
    general economic and business conditions, both nationally and in the regions in which we operate;
 
    implementation and effect of potential and recently-adopted federal and state healthcare legislation;
 
    risks associated with our substantial indebtedness, leverage and debt service obligations;
 
    demographic changes;
 
    changes in, or the failure to comply with, governmental regulations;
 
    potential adverse impact of known and unknown government investigations, audits and Federal and State False Claims Act litigation;
 
    our ability, where appropriate, to enter into and maintain managed care provider arrangements and the terms of these arrangements;
 
    changes in, or the failure to comply with, managed care provider contracts could result in disputes and changes in reimbursement that could be applied retroactively;
 
    changes in inpatient or outpatient Medicare and Medicaid payment levels;
 
    increases in the amount and risk of collectability of patient accounts receivable;
 
    increases in wages as a result of inflation or competition for highly technical positions and rising supply costs due to market pressure from pharmaceutical companies and new product releases;
 
    liabilities and other claims asserted against us, including self-insured malpractice claims;
 
    competition;
 
    our ability to attract and retain, without significant employment costs, qualified personnel, key management, physicians, nurses and other healthcare workers;
 
    trends toward treatment of patients in less acute or specialty healthcare settings, including ambulatory surgery centers or specialty hospitals;
 
    changes in medical or other technology;
 
    changes in U.S. GAAP;
 
    the availability and terms of capital to fund additional acquisitions or replacement facilities;
 
    our ability to successfully acquire additional hospitals and complete the sale of hospitals held for sale;
 
    our ability to successfully integrate any acquired hospitals or to recognize expected synergies from such acquisitions;
 
    our ability to obtain adequate levels of general and professional liability insurance; and
 
    timeliness of reimbursement payments received under government programs.
     Although we believe that these statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, we can give no assurance that our goals will be achieved. Given these uncertainties, prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking

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statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this filing. We assume no obligation to update or revise them or provide reasons why actual results may differ.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
     We are exposed to interest rate changes, primarily as a result of our Credit Facility which bears interest based on floating rates. In order to manage the volatility relating to the market risk, we entered into interest rate swap agreements described under the heading “Liquidity and Capital Resources” in Item 2. We do not anticipate any material changes in our primary market risk exposures in 2010. We utilize risk management procedures and controls in executing derivative financial instrument transactions. We do not execute transactions or hold derivative financial instruments for trading purposes. Derivative financial instruments related to interest rate sensitivity of debt obligations are used with the goal of mitigating a portion of the exposure when it is cost effective to do so.
     A 1% change in interest rates on variable rate debt in excess of that amount covered by interest rate swaps would have resulted in interest expense fluctuating approximately $1.7 million and $0.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively, and $5.2 million and $1.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
     Our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, with the participation of other members of management, have evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended), as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on such evaluations, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of such date, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective (at the reasonable assurance level) to ensure that the information required to be included in this report has been recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms and to ensure that the information required to be included in this report was accumulated and communicated to management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
     There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended September 30, 2010, that have materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect our internal control over financial reporting.
     PART II OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
     From time to time, we receive various inquiries or subpoenas from state regulators, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, fiscal intermediaries and other government contractors, and the Department of Justice regarding various Medicare and Medicaid issues. In addition, we are subject to other claims and lawsuits arising in the ordinary course of our business. We are not aware of any pending or threatened litigation that is not covered by insurance policies or reserved for in our financial statements or which we believe would have a material adverse impact on us; however, some pending or threatened proceedings against us may involve potentially substantial amounts as well as the possibility of civil, criminal, or administrative fines, penalties, or other sanctions, which could be material. Settlements of suits involving Medicare and Medicaid issues routinely require both monetary payments as well as corporate integrity agreements. Additionally, qui tam or “whistleblower” actions initiated under the civil False Claims Act may be pending but placed under seal by the court to comply with the False Claims Act’s requirements for filing such suits. Recent amendments to the False Claims Act in the Reform Legislation and the Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act of 2009 will make many False Claims Act suits filed after the effective dates of those amendments more difficult and costly to defend. In addition, the Reform Legislation has expanded the scope of conduct that may form the basis for a claim under the False Claims Act.
Community Health Systems, Inc. Legal Proceedings
     On February 10, 2006, we received a letter from the Civil Division of the Department of Justice requesting documents in an investigation it was conducting involving the Company. The inquiry related to the way in which different state Medicaid programs apply to the federal government for matching or supplemental funds that are ultimately used to pay for a small portion of the services provided to Medicaid and indigent patients. These programs are referred to by different names, including “intergovernmental payments,” “upper payment limit programs,” and “Medicaid disproportionate share hospital payments.” The February 2006 letter focused on our hospitals in three states: Arkansas, New Mexico, and South Carolina. On August 31, 2006, we received a follow up letter from the Department of Justice requesting additional documents relating to the programs in New Mexico and the payments to

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the Company’s three hospitals in that state. Through the beginning of 2009, we provided the Department of Justice with requested documents, met with its personnel on numerous occasions, and otherwise cooperated in its investigation. During the course of the investigation, the Civil Division notified us that it believed that we and these three New Mexico hospitals caused the State of New Mexico to submit improper claims for federal funds, in violation of the Federal False Claims Act. At one point, the Civil Division calculated that the three hospitals received ineligible federal participation payments from August 2000 to June 2006 of approximately $27.5 million and said that if it proceeded to trial, it would seek treble damages plus an appropriate penalty for each of the violations of the Federal False Claims Act. This investigation has culminated in the federal government’s intervention in a qui tam lawsuit styled U.S. ex rel. Baker vs. Community Health Systems, Inc., pending in the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico. The federal government filed its complaint in intervention on June 30, 2009. The relator filed a second amended complaint on July 1, 2009. Both of these complaints expand the time period during which alleged improper payments were made. We filed motions to dismiss all of the federal government’s and the relator’s claims on August 28, 2009. On March 19, 2010, the court granted in part and denied in part our motion to dismiss as to the relator’s complaint. On July 7, 2010, the court denied our motion to dismiss the federal government’s complaint in intervention. We have filed our answer and pretrial discovery will begin. We are vigorously defending this action.
     On June 12, 2008, two of our hospitals received letters from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of New York requesting documents in an investigation it was conducting into billing practices with respect to kyphoplasty procedures performed during the period January 1, 2002, through June 9, 2008. On September 16, 2008, one of our hospitals in South Carolina also received an inquiry. Kyphoplasty is a surgical spine procedure that returns a compromised vertebrae (either from trauma or osteoporotic disease process) to its previous height, reducing or eliminating severe pain. We have been informed that similar investigations have been initiated at unaffiliated facilities in Alabama, South Carolina, Indiana and other states. We believe that this investigation is related to a qui tam settlement between the same U.S. Attorney’s office and the manufacturer and distributor of the Kyphon product, which is used in performing the kyphoplasty procedure. We are cooperating with the investigation by collecting and producing material responsive to the requests. We are continuing to evaluate and discuss this matter with the federal government.
     On April 19, 2009, we were served in Roswell, New Mexico with an answer and counterclaim in the case of Roswell Hospital Corporation d/b/a Eastern New Mexico Medical Center vs. Patrick Sisneros and Tammie McClain (sued as Jane Doe Sisneros). The case was originally filed as a collection matter. The counterclaim was filed as a putative class action and alleged theories of breach of contract, unjust enrichment, misrepresentation, prima facie tort, Fair Trade Practices Act and violation of the New Mexico RICO statute. On May 7, 2009, the hospital filed a notice of removal to federal court. On July 27, 2009, the case was remanded to state court for lack of a federal question. A motion to dismiss and a motion to dismiss misjoined counterclaim plaintiffs were filed on October 20, 2009. These motions were denied. Extensive discovery has been conducted. A motion for class certification for all uninsured patients was heard on March 3 through March 5, 2010 and on April 13, 2010, the state district court judge certified the case as a class action. Discovery is ongoing. We are vigorously defending this action.
     On December 7, 2009, we received a document subpoena from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General, or OIG, requesting documents related to our hospital in Laredo, Texas. The categories of documents requested included case management, resource management, admission criteria, patient medical records, coding, billing, compliance, the Joint Commission accreditation, physician documentation, payments to referral sources, transactions involving physicians, disproportionate share hospital status, and audits by the hospital’s Quality Improvement organization. On January 22, 2010, we received a “request for information or assistance” from the OIG’s Office of Investigation requesting patient medical records from Laredo Medical Center in Laredo, Texas for certain Medicaid patients with an extended length of stay. Additional requests for records have also been received. We are cooperating fully with these investigations.
     On September 20, 2010, we received a letter from the U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Division, advising us that an investigation is being conducted to determine whether certain hospitals have improperly submitted claims for payment for implantable cardioverter defibrillators, or ICD. The period of time covered by the investigation is 2003 to the present. The letter states that the Department of Justice’s data indicates that many of our hospitals have claims that need to be reviewed to determine if Medicare payment was appropriate. We understand that the Department of Justice has submitted similar requests to many other hospitals and hospital systems across the country as well as to the ICD manufacturers themselves. We are fully cooperating with the government in this investigation. Because we are in the early stages of this investigation, we are unable to evaluate the outcome of this investigation.
Triad Hospitals, Inc. Legal Proceedings
     In a case styled U.S. ex rel. Bartlett vs. Quorum Health Resources, Inc., et al., pending in the Western District of Pennsylvania, Johnstown Division, the relator alleges in his second amended complaint, filed in January 2006 (the first amended complaint having

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been dismissed), that Quorum conspired with an unaffiliated hospital to pay an illegal remuneration in violation of the anti-kickback statute and the Stark laws, thus causing false claims to be filed. A renewed motion to dismiss that was filed in March 2006 asserting that the second amended complaint did not cure the defects contained in the first amended complaint. In September 2006, the hospital and one of the other defendants affiliated with the hospital filed for protection under Chapter 11 of the federal bankruptcy code, which imposed an automatic stay on proceedings in the case. Relators entered into a settlement agreement with the hospital, subject to confirmation of the hospital’s reorganization plan. The District Court conducted a status conference on January 30, 2009 and later convened another conference on March 30, 2009 and heard arguments on whether to proceed with a motion to dismiss, but did not make a ruling. The government and relator have reached a settlement with the hospital. Our motion to dismiss is still pending. We believe this case is without merit and will continue to vigorously defend it.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
     Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for 2009 includes a listing of risk factors to be considered by investors in our securities. See Item 1A, Part II on our Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2010 for an update of one of the risk factors in the Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
     (a.) None.
     (b.) N/A
     (c.) The following table contains information about our purchases of common stock during the three months ended September 30, 2010.
                                 
                    Total Number of Shares     Maximum Number of  
                    Purchased as Part of     Shares That May Yet Be  
    Total Number of     Average Price     Publicly Announced     Purchased Under the  
Period   Shares Purchased     Paid per Share     Plans(a)     Plans or Programs(a)  
July 1, 2010 – July 31, 2010
    1,173,000     $ 34.00       1,173,000       1,471,000  
 
                               
August 1, 2010 – August 31, 2010
    1,421,000       33.33       1,421,000       50,000  
 
                               
September 1, 2010 – September 30, 2010
    270,800       30.77       270,800       3,729,200  
 
                       
 
                               
Total
    2,864,800     $ 33.36       2,864,800       3,729,200  
 
                       
 
(a)   On December 9, 2009, we commenced the predecessor open market repurchase program for up to 3,000,000 shares of our common stock not to exceed $100 million in purchases. This program has concluded since purchases approximately totaled the permitted maximum dollar amount. During the three months ended September 30, 2010, we repurchased and retired 2,608,528 shares at a weighted-average price of $33.62 per share under this program. During the nine months ended September 30, 2010, we repurchased and retired 2,964,528 shares at a weighted-average price of $33.69 per share, which is the cumulative number of shares that have been repurchased under this program.
 
    On September 15, 2010, we commenced a new open market repurchase program for up to 4,000,000 shares of our common stock, not to exceed $100 million in repurchases. This program will conclude at the earliest of three years from the commencement date, when the maximum number of shares has been repurchased or when the maximum dollar amount has been expended. During both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, we repurchased and retired 256,272 shares at a weighted-average price of $30.76 per share, which is the cumulative number of shares that have been repurchased under this program through September 30, 2010.

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     We have not paid any cash dividends since our inception, and do not anticipate the payment of cash dividends in the foreseeable future. As of September 30, 2010, our Credit Facility limits our ability to pay dividends and/or repurchase stock to an amount not to exceed $400 million in the aggregate (but not in excess of $200 million unless we receive confirmation from Moody’s and S&P that dividends or repurchases would not result in a downgrade, qualification or withdrawal of the then corporate credit rating). The indenture governing our Notes also limits our ability to pay dividends and/or repurchase stock. As of September 30, 2010, under the most restrictive test under these agreements, we have approximately $43.9 million remaining available with which to pay permitted dividends and/or make stock and Note repurchases.
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities
     None
Item 4. (Removed and Reserved)
Item 5. Other Information
     None

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Item 6. Exhibits
     
No.   Description
4.1
  Release of Certain Guarantors relating to CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc.’s 8 7/8% Senior Notes due 2015, dated as of September 30, 2010, by and among CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc., the guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank National Association
 
   
12
  Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges
 
   
31.1
  Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
   
31.2
  Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
   
32.1
  Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
   
32.2
  Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
   
101.INS
  XBRL Instance Document*
 
   
101.SCH
  XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document*
 
   
101.CAL
  XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document*
 
   
101.LAB
  XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document*
 
   
101.PRE
  XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document*
 
*   Pursuant to applicable securities laws and regulations, we are deemed to have complied with the reporting obligation relating to the submission of interactive data files in such exhibits and are not subject to liability under any anti-fraud provisions of the federal securities laws as long as we have made a good faith attempt to comply with the submission requirements and promptly amend the interactive data files after becoming aware that the interactive data files fail to comply with the submission requirements. Users of this data are advised pursuant to Rule 406T of Regulation S-T that this interactive data file is deemed not filed or part of a registration statement or prospectus for purposes of sections 11 or 12 of the Securities Act of 1933, is deemed not filed for purposes of section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and otherwise is not subject to liability under these sections.

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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 thereunto duly authorized.
         
  COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC.
                (Registrant)
 
 
  By:   /s/ Wayne T. Smith    
    Wayne T. Smith   
    Chairman of the Board,
President and Chief Executive Officer
(principal executive officer) 
 
 
     
  By:   /s/ W. Larry Cash    
    W. Larry Cash   
    Executive Vice President, Chief Financial
Officer and Director
(principal financial officer) 
 
 
     
  By:   /s/ T. Mark Buford    
    T. Mark Buford   
    Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer
(principal accounting officer)  
 
Date: October 29, 2010

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Index to Exhibits
     
No.   Description
4.1
  Release of Certain Guarantors relating to CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc.’s 8 7/8% Senior Notes due 2015, dated as of September 30, 2010, by and among CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc., the guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank National Association
 
   
12
  Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges
 
   
31.1
  Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
   
31.2
  Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
   
32.1
  Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
   
32.2
  Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
   
101.INS
  XBRL Instance Document*
 
   
101.SCH
  XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document*
 
   
101.CAL
  XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document*
 
   
101.LAB
  XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document*
 
   
101.PRE
  XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document*
 
*   Pursuant to applicable securities laws and regulations, we are deemed to have complied with the reporting obligation relating to the submission of interactive data files in such exhibits and are not subject to liability under any anti-fraud provisions of the federal securities laws as long as we have made a good faith attempt to comply with the submission requirements and promptly amend the interactive data files after becoming aware that the interactive data files fail to comply with the submission requirements. Users of this data are advised pursuant to Rule 406T of Regulation S-T that this interactive data file is deemed not filed or part of a registration statement or prospectus for purposes of sections 11 or 12 of the Securities Act of 1933, is deemed not filed for purposes of section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and otherwise is not subject to liability under these sections.

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