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<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always"><A HREF="#G28087toc">Table of Contents</A></H5><P>
<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">


<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 16, 2011</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="right" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt">Registration No.&nbsp;333- &#095;&#095;&#095;&#095;&#095;&#095;&#095;
</DIV>


<DIV style="width: 100%; border-bottom: 2pt solid black; font-size: 1pt">&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV style="width: 100%; border-bottom: 1pt solid black; font-size: 1pt">&nbsp;</DIV>




<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 14pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>UNITED STATES<BR>
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 12pt"><B>Washington, D.C. 20549</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 12pt"><B><DIV align="center"><DIV style="FONT-size: 3pt; margin-top: 16pt; width: 26%; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV></DIV></B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 18pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>FORM S-8</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B><DIV align="center"><DIV style="FONT-size: 3pt; margin-top: 16pt; width: 26%; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV></DIV></B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 24pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC.</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)</DIV>


<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
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<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="47%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="47%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR></TR>
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<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><B>Delaware</B>
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><B>13-3893191</B></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top">(State or Other Jurisdiction of
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top">Incorporation or Organization)</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><B>4000 Meridian Boulevard</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><B>Franklin, Tennessee</B>
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><B>37067</B></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top">(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">(Zip Code)</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><DIV align="center"><DIV style="FONT-size: 3pt; margin-top: 16pt; width: 26%; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV></DIV></DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>Community Health Systems, Inc. 2009 Stock Option and Award Plan</B><BR>
(Full Title of the Plan)</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><DIV align="center"><DIV style="FONT-size: 3pt; margin-top: 16pt; width: 26%; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV></DIV></DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>Rachel A. Seifert<BR>
Executive Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel<BR>
Community Health Systems, Inc.<BR>
4000 Meridian Boulevard<BR>
Franklin, Tennessee 37067</B><BR>
(Name and Address of Agent for Service)</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>(615)&nbsp;465-7000</B><BR>
(Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent For Service)</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><DIV align="center"><DIV style="FONT-size: 3pt; margin-top: 16pt; width: 26%; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV></DIV></DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">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 definition of &#147;large accelerated
filer,&#148; &#147;accelerated filer&#148; and &#147;smaller reporting company&#148; in Rule&nbsp;12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
</DIV>

<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
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<TR valign="bottom" style="font-size: 6pt">
    <TD width="65%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="30%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
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<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Large accelerated filer <FONT face="Wingdings">&#254;</FONT>
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Accelerated filer <FONT face="Wingdings">&#111;</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Non-accelerated filer <FONT face="Wingdings">&#111;</FONT> (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Smaller reporting company <FONT face="Wingdings">&#111;</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>



<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE</B></DIV>

<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="49%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD><!-- VRule -->
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="9%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD><!-- VRule -->
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="7%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD><!-- VRule -->
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="7%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD><!-- VRule -->
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="8%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR style="font-size: 1px" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="left" colspan="14" style="border-bottom: 3px double #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>

    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>Proposed Maximum</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>Proposed Maximum</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>Amount</B></TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>

    <TD nowrap align="left"><B>Title Of Each Class Of Securities</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>Amount To Be</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>Offering Price</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>Aggregate</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>Of</B></TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>

    <TD nowrap align="left"><B>To Be Registered</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>Registered</B><SUP style="FONT-size: 85%; vertical-align: text-top"><B>(1)</B></SUP></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>Per Share</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>Offering Price</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>Registration Fee</B><SUP style="FONT-size: 85%; vertical-align: text-top"><B>(2)</B></SUP></TD>
</TR>

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    <TD width="1%" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
                      <TD style="border-top: 2px solid #000000"><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share</DIV></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000; border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">1,200,000</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000; border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">$17.47<SUP style="FONT-size: 85%; vertical-align: text-top">(3)</SUP></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000; border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">$20,964,000<SUP style="FONT-size: 85%; vertical-align: text-top">(3)</SUP></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000; border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>

<TD align="center" valign="top" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000" nowrap>$2,434</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 1px" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="left" colspan="14" style="border-top: 3px double #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left">
<DIV style="font-size: 3pt; margin-top: 6pt; width: 18%; border-top: 0px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
</DIV>

<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">
<TR>
    <TD width="3%"></TD>
    <TD width="1%"></TD>
    <TD width="96%"></TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="top">
    <TD nowrap align="left">(1)</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>This Registration Statement covers 1,200,000 additional shares of common stock, par value
$0.01 per share, of Community Health Systems, Inc. (the &#147;Registrant&#148; or the &#147;Corporation&#148;)
available for issuance pursuant to awards under the Corporation&#146;s 2009 Stock Option and Award
Plan (the &#147;Plan&#148;). This Registration Statement also covers any additional shares of common
stock of the Registrant that become issuable pursuant to awards by reason of any stock
dividend, stock split, recapitalization or other similar transaction that results in an
increase in the number of the outstanding shares of common stock of the Registrant.</TD>
</TR>

<TR style="font-size: 3pt"><TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR>

<TR valign="top">
    <TD nowrap align="left">(2)</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Pursuant to General Instruction E to Form S-8, a filing fee is only being paid with respect
to the registration of additional securities for the Plan. A Registration Statement on Form
S-8 has been filed previously on December&nbsp;14, 2009 (Registration No.&nbsp;333-163689) for the
existing securities under the Plan.</TD>
</TR>

<TR style="font-size: 3pt"><TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR>

<TR valign="top">
    <TD nowrap align="left">(3)</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Calculated solely for purposes of this offering under Rules 457(c) and 457(h) of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, on the basis of the average of the high and low selling
prices per share of common stock of the Registrant on September 12, 2011, as reported on the New York Stock Exchange.</TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>



<DIV style="width: 100%; border-bottom: 1pt solid black; margin-top: 10pt; font-size: 1pt">&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV style="width: 100%; border-bottom: 2pt solid black; font-size: 1pt">&nbsp;</DIV>








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<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">




<!-- TOC -->
<A name="G28087toc"><DIV align="CENTER" style="page-break-before:always"><U><B>TABLE OF CONTENTS</B></U></DIV></A>

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</TR>
<TR><TD colspan="9"><A HREF="#G28087000"> PART II</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD></TD><TD colspan="8"><A HREF="#G28087001">Item&nbsp;3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD></TD><TD colspan="8"><A HREF="#G28087002">Item&nbsp;8. Exhibits</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD colspan="9"><A HREF="#G28087003"> SIGNATURES</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD colspan="9"><A HREF="#G28087004"> EXHIBIT INDEX</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD colspan="9"><A HREF="g28087exv5.htm">EX-5</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD colspan="9"><A HREF="g28087exv23w1.htm">EX-23.1</A></TD></TR>
</TABLE>
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<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always"><A HREF="#G28087toc">Table of Contents</A></H5><P>







<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><B>EXPLANATORY NOTE</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<U>Incorporation by Reference</U>. This Registration Statement is filed pursuant to General
Instruction E to Form S-8. The contents of the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (Registration
No.&nbsp;333-163689) are incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof.
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<U>Registration of Additional Shares of Common Stock Under the Plan</U>. This Registration
Statement on Form S-8 is filed by the Registrant to register an additional 1,200,000 shares of
common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Community Health Systems, Inc., which may be awarded
under the Community Health Systems, Inc. 2009 Stock Option and Award Plan pursuant to an amendment
and restatement of such plan authorized by the stockholders of the Registrant on May&nbsp;17, 2011.
</DIV>

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->-2-<!-- /Folio -->
</DIV>

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<P><HR noshade><P>
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always"><A HREF="#G28087toc">Table of Contents</A></H5><P>

<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">
<!-- link1 " PART II" -->
<DIV align="left"><A NAME="G28087000"></A></DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><B>PART II</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="Center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt"><B>INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT</B>
</DIV>
<!-- link2 "Item&nbsp;3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference" -->
<DIV align="left"><A NAME="G28087001"></A></DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>Item&nbsp;3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The contents of each of the Registration Statements on Form S-8 previously filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the &#147;Commission&#148;) on December&nbsp;14, 2009 (Registration No.
333-163689) by Community Health Systems, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the &#147;Corporation&#148; or the
&#147;Registrant&#148;), are incorporated herein by reference. In addition, the following new documents
filed with the Commission by the Corporation are incorporated herein by reference:
</DIV>

<DIV style="margin-top: 6pt">
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">

<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="1%" nowrap align="left">(a)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>the Registrant&#146;s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December&nbsp;31, 2010,
filed with the Commission on February&nbsp;25, 2011;</TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>
</DIV>

<DIV style="margin-top: 6pt">
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">

<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="1%" nowrap align="left">(b)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>the Registrant&#146;s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March&nbsp;31, 2011,
filed with the Commission on April&nbsp;29, 2011, and the Registrant&#146;s Quarterly Report on Forms
10-Q and 10-Q/A for the fiscal quarter ended June&nbsp;30, 2011, filed with the Commission on
August&nbsp;1, 2011 and August&nbsp;3, 2011, respectively;</TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>
</DIV>

<DIV style="margin-top: 6pt">
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">

<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="1%" nowrap align="left">(c)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>the Registrant&#146;s Current Reports on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on each of January
10, 2011, January&nbsp;14, 2011, April&nbsp;11, 2011, April&nbsp;18, 2011, April&nbsp;20, 2011, April&nbsp;22, 2011,
May&nbsp;2, 2011, May&nbsp;10, 2011, and May&nbsp;18, 2011; and</TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>
</DIV>

<DIV style="margin-top: 6pt">
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">

<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="1%" nowrap align="left">(d)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>the description of the Registrant&#146;s common stock contained in the Corporation&#146;s Registration
Statement on Form 8-A, File No.&nbsp;001-15925, filed with the Commission on June&nbsp;5, 2000.</TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;All documents filed by the Registrant pursuant to Sections&nbsp;13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, subsequent to the effective date of this Registration
Statement, prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement
indicating that all securities offered hereby have been sold or deregistering all securities then
remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference herein and to be part hereof from
the date of filing of such documents. In no event, however, will any information that the
Registrant discloses under Item&nbsp;2.02 or Item&nbsp;7.01 (and any related exhibits) of any Current Report
on Form 8-K that the Registrant may from time to time furnish to the Commission be incorporated by
reference into, or otherwise become a part of, this Registration Statement. Any statement
contained in any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be
deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that
a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed
to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement
so modified or superseded shall not be deemed to constitute a part of this Registration Statement,
except as so modified or superseded.
</DIV>
<!-- link2 "Item&nbsp;8. Exhibits" -->
<DIV align="left"><A NAME="G28087002"></A></DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>Item&nbsp;8. Exhibits.</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="8%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="90%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="left" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>Exhibit No.</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="left" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>Description</B></TD>
</TR>

<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">5
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Opinion of Kirkland &#038; Ellis LLP.*</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">10
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Community Health Systems, Inc. 2009 Stock Option and
Award Plan (incorporated by reference to the
Registrant&#146;s Definitive Proxy Statement on Form&nbsp;DEF 14A
filed with the Commission on April&nbsp;7, 2011).</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">23.1
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Consent of Deloitte &#038; Touche LLP.*</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">23.2
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Consent of Kirkland &#038; Ellis LLP (included in Exhibit&nbsp;5).*</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">24
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Power of Attorney (included on signature page).*</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>



<DIV align="left">
<DIV style="font-size: 3pt; margin-top: 16pt; width: 18%; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
</DIV>

<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">
<TR>
    <TD width="3%"></TD>
    <TD width="1%"></TD>
    <TD width="96%"></TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="top">
    <TD nowrap align="left">*</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Filed herewith.</TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>



<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->-3-<!-- /Folio -->
</DIV>

<!-- PAGEBREAK -->
<P><HR noshade><P>
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always"><A HREF="#G28087toc">Table of Contents</A></H5><P>

<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">
<!-- link1 " SIGNATURES" -->
<DIV align="left"><A NAME="G28087003"></A></DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><B>SIGNATURES</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for
filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by
the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Franklin, State of Tennessee on this
16<SUP style="font-size: 85%; vertical-align: text-top">th</SUP> day of September, 2011.
</DIV>

<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-size: 10pt">
<TR>
    <TD width="48%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="35%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="15%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
    <TD valign="top" align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="3" align="left"><B>COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC.</B><BR>
&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR>
    <TD align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">By:&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000" align="left">/s/ Wayne T. Smith</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR>
    <TD align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="2" align="left">Wayne T. Smith,&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR>
    <TD align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="2" align="left">Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
    <TD colspan="5">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><B>POWER OF ATTORNEY</B>
</DIV>



<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below hereby
constitutes and appoints, Wayne T. Smith, his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent,
with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place
and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective
amendments) to this registration statement on Form S-8 and to file the same, with all exhibits
thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and
every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done, as fully to all intents and purposes as he
or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact
and agent, or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
</DIV>

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->-4-<!-- /Folio -->
</DIV>

<!-- PAGEBREAK -->
<P><HR noshade><P>
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always"><A HREF="#G28087toc">Table of Contents</A></H5><P>

<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration
Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the date indicated.
</DIV>
<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="30%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="40%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="20%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="left" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>Signature</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="left" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>Title</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="left" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>Date</B></TD>
</TR>

<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/s/ Wayne T. Smith
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Chairman of the Board, President
and
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">September 16, 2011</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px"><DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
Wayne T. Smith
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">
Chief Executive Officer (Principal
Executive Officer)
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/s/ W. Larry Cash
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Executive Vice President, Chief
Financial Officer
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">September 16, 2011</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px"><DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
W. Larry Cash
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">
(Principal
Financial and
Accounting Officer)
and Director
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/s/ John A. Clerico
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Director
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">September 16, 2011</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px"><DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
John A. Clerico
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/s/ James S. Ely III
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Director
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">September 16, 2011</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px"><DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
James S. Ely III
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/s/ John A. Fry
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Director
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">September 16, 2011</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px"><DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
John A. Fry
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/s/ William Norris Jennings, M.D.
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Director
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">September 16, 2011</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px"><DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
William Norris Jennings, M.D.
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/s/ Julia B. North
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Director
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">September 16, 2011</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px"><DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
Julia B. North
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/s/ H. Mitchell Watson, Jr.
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Director
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">September 16, 2011</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px"><DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
H. Mitchell Watson, Jr.
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>



<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->-5-<!-- /Folio -->
</DIV>

<!-- PAGEBREAK -->
<P><HR noshade><P>
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always"><A HREF="#G28087toc">Table of Contents</A></H5><P>

<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">



<!-- link1 " EXHIBIT INDEX" -->
<DIV align="left"><A NAME="G28087004"></A></DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><B>EXHIBIT INDEX</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="8%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="90%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="left" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>Exhibit No.</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="left" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>Description</B></TD>
</TR>

<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">5
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Opinion of Kirkland &#038; Ellis LLP.*</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">10
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Community Health Systems, Inc. 2009 Stock Option and Award
Plan (incorporated by reference to the Registrant&#146;s Definitive
Proxy Statement on Form&nbsp;DEF 14A filed with the Commission on
April&nbsp;7, 2011).</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">23.1
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Consent of Deloitte &#038; Touche LLP.*</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">23.2
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Consent of Kirkland &#038; Ellis LLP (included in Exhibit&nbsp;5).*</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">24
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Power of Attorney (included on signature page).*</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>



<DIV align="left">
<DIV style="font-size: 3pt; margin-top: 16pt; width: 18%; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
</DIV>

<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">
<TR>
    <TD width="3%"></TD>
    <TD width="1%"></TD>
    <TD width="96%"></TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="top">
    <TD nowrap align="left">*</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Filed herewith</TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>




<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->&nbsp;<!-- /Folio -->
</DIV>



</BODY>
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sv8
Table of Contents
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 16, 2011
Registration No. 333- _______
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
Delaware
13-3893191
(State or Other Jurisdiction of
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
Incorporation or Organization)
4000 Meridian Boulevard
Franklin, Tennessee
37067
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
(Zip Code)
Community Health Systems, Inc. 2009 Stock Option and Award Plan
(Full Title of the Plan)
Rachel A. Seifert
Executive Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel
Community Health Systems, Inc.
4000 Meridian Boulevard
Franklin, Tennessee 37067
(Name and Address of Agent for Service)
(615) 465-7000
(Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent For Service)
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 definition of "large accelerated
filer," "accelerated filer" and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer
þ
Accelerated filer
o
Non-accelerated filer
o
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Smaller reporting company
o
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
Proposed Maximum
Proposed Maximum
Amount
Title Of Each Class Of Securities
Amount To Be
Offering Price
Aggregate
Of
To Be Registered
Registered
(1)
Per Share
Offering Price
Registration Fee
(2)
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share
1,200,000
$17.47
(3)
$20,964,000
(3)
$2,434
(1)
This Registration Statement covers 1,200,000 additional shares of common stock, par value
$0.01 per share, of Community Health Systems, Inc. (the "Registrant" or the "Corporation")
available for issuance pursuant to awards under the Corporation's 2009 Stock Option and Award
Plan (the "Plan"). This Registration Statement also covers any additional shares of common
stock of the Registrant that become issuable pursuant to awards by reason of any stock
dividend, stock split, recapitalization or other similar transaction that results in an
increase in the number of the outstanding shares of common stock of the Registrant.
(2)
Pursuant to General Instruction E to Form S-8, a filing fee is only being paid with respect
to the registration of additional securities for the Plan. A Registration Statement on Form
S-8 has been filed previously on December 14, 2009 (Registration No. 333-163689) for the
existing securities under the Plan.
(3)
Calculated solely for purposes of this offering under Rules 457(c) and 457(h) of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, on the basis of the average of the high and low selling
prices per share of common stock of the Registrant on September 12, 2011, as reported on the New York Stock Exchange.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART II
Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference
Item 8. Exhibits
SIGNATURES
EXHIBIT INDEX
EX-5
EX-23.1
Table of Contents
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Incorporation by Reference
. This Registration Statement is filed pursuant to General
Instruction E to Form S-8. The contents of the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (Registration
No. 333-163689) are incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof.
Registration of Additional Shares of Common Stock Under the Plan
. This Registration
Statement on Form S-8 is filed by the Registrant to register an additional 1,200,000 shares of
common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Community Health Systems, Inc., which may be awarded
under the Community Health Systems, Inc. 2009 Stock Option and Award Plan pursuant to an amendment
and restatement of such plan authorized by the stockholders of the Registrant on May 17, 2011.
-2-
Table of Contents
PART II
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.
The contents of each of the Registration Statements on Form S-8 previously filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") on December 14, 2009 (Registration No.
333-163689) by Community Health Systems, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Corporation" or the
"Registrant"), are incorporated herein by reference. In addition, the following new documents
filed with the Commission by the Corporation are incorporated herein by reference:
(a)
the Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010,
filed with the Commission on February 25, 2011;
(b)
the Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2011,
filed with the Commission on April 29, 2011, and the Registrant's Quarterly Report on Forms
10-Q and 10-Q/A for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2011, filed with the Commission on
August 1, 2011 and August 3, 2011, respectively;
(c)
the Registrant's Current Reports on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on each of January
10, 2011, January 14, 2011, April 11, 2011, April 18, 2011, April 20, 2011, April 22, 2011,
May 2, 2011, May 10, 2011, and May 18, 2011; and
(d)
the description of the Registrant's common stock contained in the Corporation's Registration
Statement on Form 8-A, File No. 001-15925, filed with the Commission on June 5, 2000.
All documents filed by the Registrant pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, subsequent to the effective date of this Registration
Statement, prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement
indicating that all securities offered hereby have been sold or deregistering all securities then
remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference herein and to be part hereof from
the date of filing of such documents. In no event, however, will any information that the
Registrant discloses under Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 (and any related exhibits) of any Current Report
on Form 8-K that the Registrant may from time to time furnish to the Commission be incorporated by
reference into, or otherwise become a part of, this Registration Statement. Any statement
contained in any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be
deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that
a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed
to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement
so modified or superseded shall not be deemed to constitute a part of this Registration Statement,
except as so modified or superseded.
Item 8. Exhibits.
Exhibit No.
Description
5
Opinion of Kirkland & Ellis LLP.*
10
Community Health Systems, Inc. 2009 Stock Option and
Award Plan (incorporated by reference to the
Registrant's Definitive Proxy Statement on Form DEF 14A
filed with the Commission on April 7, 2011).
23.1
Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.*
23.2
Consent of Kirkland & Ellis LLP (included in Exhibit 5).*
24
Power of Attorney (included on signature page).*
*
Filed herewith.
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Table of Contents
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for
filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by
the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Franklin, State of Tennessee on this
16
th
day of September, 2011.
COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC.
By:
/s/ Wayne T. Smith
Wayne T. Smith,
Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below hereby
constitutes and appoints, Wayne T. Smith, his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent,
with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place
and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective
amendments) to this registration statement on Form S-8 and to file the same, with all exhibits
thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and
every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done, as fully to all intents and purposes as he
or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact
and agent, or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
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Table of Contents
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration
Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the date indicated.
Signature
Title
Date
/s/ Wayne T. Smith
Chairman of the Board, President
and
September 16, 2011
Wayne T. Smith
Chief Executive Officer (Principal
Executive Officer)
/s/ W. Larry Cash
Executive Vice President, Chief
Financial Officer
September 16, 2011
W. Larry Cash
(Principal
Financial and
Accounting Officer)
and Director
/s/ John A. Clerico
Director
September 16, 2011
John A. Clerico
/s/ James S. Ely III
Director
September 16, 2011
James S. Ely III
/s/ John A. Fry
Director
September 16, 2011
John A. Fry
/s/ William Norris Jennings, M.D.
Director
September 16, 2011
William Norris Jennings, M.D.
/s/ Julia B. North
Director
September 16, 2011
Julia B. North
/s/ H. Mitchell Watson, Jr.
Director
September 16, 2011
H. Mitchell Watson, Jr.
-5-
Table of Contents
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit No.
Description
5
Opinion of Kirkland & Ellis LLP.*
10
Community Health Systems, Inc. 2009 Stock Option and Award
Plan (incorporated by reference to the Registrant's Definitive
Proxy Statement on Form DEF 14A filed with the Commission on
April 7, 2011).
23.1
Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.*
23.2
Consent of Kirkland & Ellis LLP (included in Exhibit 5).*
24
Power of Attorney (included on signature page).*
*
Filed herewith