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<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><B>As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October&nbsp;4, 2002  </B></FONT></P>

<P ALIGN="RIGHT"><FONT SIZE=2><B> Registration No. 333-&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </B></FONT></P>

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<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=5><B>SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION<BR>  </B></FONT><FONT SIZE=2><B>WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549  </B></FONT></P>

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<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=5><B>FORM S-8<BR>  </B></FONT><FONT SIZE=2><B>REGISTRATION STATEMENT<BR>
UNDER<BR>
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933  </B></FONT></P>

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<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=5><B>COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS,&nbsp;INC.<BR>  </B></FONT><FONT SIZE=2>(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) </FONT></P>

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<TD WIDTH="49%" ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><B>Delaware<BR> </B></FONT><FONT SIZE=2>(State or other jurisdiction of<BR>
incorporation or organization)</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%"><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="49%" ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><B>13-3893191<BR> </B></FONT><FONT SIZE=2>(I.R.S. Employer<BR>
Identification&nbsp;Number)</FONT></TD>
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<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><B>155 Franklin Road, Suite 400<BR>
Brentwood, Tennessee 37027<BR>  </B></FONT><FONT SIZE=2>(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code) </FONT></P>

<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><B>COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS HOLDINGS CORP.<BR>
EMPLOYEE STOCK OPTION PLAN<BR>  </B></FONT><FONT SIZE=2>(Full title of the plan) </FONT></P>

<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><B>Rachel A. Seifert<BR>
Senior Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel<BR>
155 Franklin Road, Suite 400<BR>
Brentwood, Tennessee 37027<BR>
(615)&nbsp;373-9600<BR>  </B></FONT><FONT SIZE=2>(Name, address, and telephone number of agent for service) </FONT></P>

<P ALIGN="CENTER"><BR><FONT SIZE=2><B>CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE  </B></FONT></P>

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<TD WIDTH="31%" ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="BOTTOM"><FONT SIZE=1><B>Title of Securities<BR>
to be Registered</B></FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="BOTTOM"><FONT SIZE=1>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="18%" ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="BOTTOM"><FONT SIZE=1><B>Amount to be<BR>
Registered (1)</B></FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="BOTTOM"><FONT SIZE=1>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="15%" ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="BOTTOM"><FONT SIZE=1><B>Proposed Maximum<BR>
Offering Price<BR>
Per Share&nbsp;(2)</B></FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="BOTTOM"><FONT SIZE=1>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="17%" ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="BOTTOM"><FONT SIZE=1><B>Proposed Maximum<BR>
Aggregate Offering Price&nbsp;(2)</B></FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="BOTTOM"><FONT SIZE=1>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="15%" ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="BOTTOM"><FONT SIZE=1><B>Amount of<BR>
Registration Fee</B></FONT></TD>
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<TD WIDTH="31%"><FONT SIZE=2>Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the "Common Stock")</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%"><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="18%" ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2>153,158 shares</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%"><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="15%" ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2>$8.96</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%"><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="17%" ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2>$1,372,295.68</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%"><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="15%" ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2>$327.98</FONT></TD>
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<TD WIDTH="31%" VALIGN="BOTTOM"><FONT SIZE=2>Common Stock</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="BOTTOM"><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="18%" ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="BOTTOM"><FONT SIZE=2>349,633 shares</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="BOTTOM"><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="15%" ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="BOTTOM"><FONT SIZE=2>$6.99</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="BOTTOM"><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="17%" ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="BOTTOM"><FONT SIZE=2>$2,443,934.67</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="BOTTOM"><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="15%" ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="BOTTOM"><FONT SIZE=2>$584.10</FONT></TD>
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<TD WIDTH="31%" VALIGN="BOTTOM"><FONT SIZE=2>Total</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="BOTTOM"><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="18%" ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="BOTTOM"><FONT SIZE=2>502,791 shares</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="BOTTOM"><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="15%" ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="BOTTOM"><FONT SIZE=2>&#151;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="BOTTOM"><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="17%" ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="BOTTOM"><FONT SIZE=2>$3,816,230.35</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="BOTTOM"><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="15%" ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="BOTTOM"><FONT SIZE=2>$912.08</FONT></TD>
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<DT style='margin-bottom:-11pt;'><FONT SIZE=2>(1)</FONT></DT><DD><FONT SIZE=2>Includes
an indeterminate number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued in the event of stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions in accordance with Rule&nbsp;416
of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act").
<BR><BR></FONT></DD><DT style='margin-bottom:-11pt;'><FONT SIZE=2>(2)</FONT></DT><DD><FONT SIZE=2>Determined
using the exercise for the stock options covered by the Common Stock pursuant to Rule&nbsp;457(h) of the Securities Act. </FONT></DD></DL>
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<P><FONT SIZE=2><B>EXPLANATORY NOTE  </B></FONT></P>

<P><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Prior to our initial public offering on June&nbsp;8, 2000 ("IPO"), we adopted the Community Health Systems Holdings Corp. Employee Stock Option Plan (the
"Plan") pursuant to which a maximum of 756,636 shares of Common Stock may be issued. The purpose of this Registration Statement on Form&nbsp;S-8 is to register a total of 502,791 shares
of such Common Stock, which amount constitutes the number of shares that may be issued under the Plan. </FONT></P>

<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><A
NAME="de8555_part_i"> </A>
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<BR></FONT><FONT SIZE=2><B>PART I    <BR>  </B></FONT></P>

<P><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Holders of awards granted under the Plan will be provided with the documents containing information specified by Part&nbsp;I of this Registration Statement in
accordance with Rule&nbsp;428(b)(1) promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") under the Securities Act. These documents constitute, along with the documents incorporated by
reference into this Registration Statement pursuant to Item&nbsp;3 of Part&nbsp;II, a prospectus that meets the requirements of Section&nbsp;10(a) of the Securities Act. </FONT></P>

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NAME="de8555_part_ii"> </A>
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<BR></FONT><FONT SIZE=2><B>PART II    <BR>  </B></FONT></P>

<P><FONT SIZE=2><B>INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT  </B></FONT></P>

<UL>

<P><FONT SIZE=2><B> Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference  </B></FONT></P>

</UL>

<P><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;We file annual, quarterly and special reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any document we file at the SEC's public
reference rooms in Washington,&nbsp;D.C. and Chicago,&nbsp;IL. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference rooms or
access our SEC filings on the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov. Reports, proxy and information statements and other information concerning us can also be inspected at the offices of the New York
Stock Exchange located at 20&nbsp;Broad Street, New York, NY&nbsp;10005. </FONT></P>


<P><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The
SEC allows us to "incorporate by reference" information into this Registration Statement, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to another
document filed separately with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this Registration Statement, and later information that we file with the SEC will
automatically update this Registration Statement. We incorporate by reference the following documents and any future filings made with the SEC under Section&nbsp;13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), prior to the termination of the offerings registered on this Registration Statement: </FONT></P>

<UL>
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<DT style='margin-bottom:-11pt;'><FONT SIZE=2>(a)</FONT></DT><DD><FONT SIZE=2>Our
Annual Report on Form&nbsp;10-K for the fiscal year ended December&nbsp;31, 2001, filed with the SEC on March&nbsp;27, 2002;
<BR><BR></FONT></DD><DT style='margin-bottom:-11pt;'><FONT SIZE=2>(b)</FONT></DT><DD><FONT SIZE=2>Our
Quarterly Report on Form&nbsp;10-Q for the quarterly period ended March&nbsp;31, 2002 filed with the SEC on May&nbsp;13, 2002;
<BR><BR></FONT></DD><DT style='margin-bottom:-11pt;'><FONT SIZE=2>(c)</FONT></DT><DD><FONT SIZE=2>Our
Quarterly Report on Form&nbsp;10-Q for the quarterly period ended June&nbsp;30, 2002 filed with the SEC on August&nbsp;8, 2002;
<BR><BR></FONT></DD><DT style='margin-bottom:-11pt;'><FONT SIZE=2>(d)</FONT></DT><DD><FONT SIZE=2>Our
Form&nbsp;8-K dated February&nbsp;20, 2002 filed with the SEC on February&nbsp;20, 2002; </FONT></DD></DL>
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<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2>2</FONT></P>

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<DT style='margin-bottom:-11pt;'><FONT SIZE=2>(e)</FONT></DT><DD><FONT SIZE=2>Our
Form&nbsp;8-K dated April&nbsp;24, 2002 filed with the SEC on April&nbsp;24, 2002;
<BR><BR></FONT></DD><DT style='margin-bottom:-11pt;'><FONT SIZE=2>(f)</FONT></DT><DD><FONT SIZE=2>Our
Form&nbsp;8-K dated July&nbsp;16, 2002 filed with the SEC on July&nbsp;16, 2002;
<BR><BR></FONT></DD><DT style='margin-bottom:-11pt;'><FONT SIZE=2>(g)</FONT></DT><DD><FONT SIZE=2>Our
Form&nbsp;8-K dated July&nbsp;24, 2002 filed with the SEC on July&nbsp;24, 2002;
<BR><BR></FONT></DD><DT style='margin-bottom:-11pt;'><FONT SIZE=2>(h)</FONT></DT><DD><FONT SIZE=2>Our
Form&nbsp;8-K dated August&nbsp;8, 2002 filed with the SEC on August&nbsp;8, 2002; and
<BR><BR></FONT></DD><DT style='margin-bottom:-11pt;'><FONT SIZE=2>(i)</FONT></DT><DD><FONT SIZE=2>Our
Registration Statement on Form&nbsp;8-A filed with the SEC on June&nbsp;5, 2000, which describes the terms of the Common Stock. </FONT></DD></DL>


<P><FONT SIZE=2><B> Item 4. Description of Securities  </B></FONT></P>

</UL>

<P><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Not applicable. </FONT></P>

<UL>

<P><FONT SIZE=2><B> Item 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel  </B></FONT></P>

</UL>

<P><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Certain legal matters with respect to the issuance of the securities offered hereby will be passed upon for us by Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver&nbsp;&amp; Jacobson
(a partnership including professional corporations). </FONT></P>

<UL>

<P><FONT SIZE=2><B> Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers  </B></FONT></P>

</UL>

<P><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Our Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws provide that we shall indemnify our directors and officers to the fullest extent authorized by Delaware
law, as it now exists or may in the future be amended, against all expenses and liabilities reasonably incurred in connection with service for or on behalf of the Company, except with respect to any
matter that such director or officer has been adjudicated not to have acted in good faith or in the reasonable belief that his action was in the best interests of the Company. </FONT></P>

<P><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;We
have entered into agreements to indemnify our directors and officers in addition to the indemnification provided for in the Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws. These
agreements, among other things, indemnify our directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law for certain expenses (including attorneys' fees), liabilities, judgments, fines and
settlement amounts incurred by such person arising out of or in connection with such person's service as a director or officer of the Company or an affiliate of the Company. </FONT></P>

<P><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;We
maintain policies of insurance under which our directors and officers are insured, within the limits and subject to the limitations of the policies, against certain expenses in
connection with the defense of, and certain liabilities which might be imposed as a result of, actions, suits or proceedings to which they are parties by reason of being or having been such directors
or officers. </FONT></P>

<P><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Section&nbsp;145
of the Delaware General Corporation Law provides, in substance, that Delaware corporations shall have the power, under specified circumstances, to indemnify their
directors, officers, employees and agents in connection with actions, suits or proceedings brought against them by a third party or in the right of the corporation, by reason of the fact that they
were or are directors, officers, employees or agents, against expenses incurred in any such action, suit or proceedings. The Delaware General Corporation Law also provides that Delaware corporations
may purchase insurance on behalf of any director, officer, employee or agent. </FONT></P>

<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2>3</FONT></P>

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<P><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The
Plan provides that we will indemnify the members of the committee administering the Plan against all losses, claims, damages and liabilities, joint and several (including all legal
and other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with the preparation for, or defense of, any claim, action or proceeding, whether or not resulting in any liability), for any acts or omissions
which are within the scope of such member's duties as a member of the committee to the fullest extent permitted by law. </FONT></P>

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<P><FONT SIZE=2><B> Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed  </B></FONT></P>

</UL>

<P><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Not applicable. </FONT></P>

<UL>

<P><FONT SIZE=2><B> Item 8. Exhibits  </B></FONT></P>
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<TH WIDTH="11%" ALIGN="LEFT"><FONT SIZE=1><B>Exhibit&nbsp;No.<BR> </B></FONT><HR NOSHADE></TH>
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<TH WIDTH="86%" ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=1><B>Description of Exhibit</B></FONT><HR NOSHADE></TH>
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<TD WIDTH="11%"><FONT SIZE=2>4.1**</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%"><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="86%" VALIGN="BOTTOM"><FONT SIZE=2>Our Restated Certificate of Incorporation filed as Exhibit&nbsp;3.1 to our Form&nbsp;10-Q for the quarterly period ended June&nbsp;30, 2000.</FONT></TD>
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4.2**</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="86%" VALIGN="BOTTOM"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
Our Amended and Restated By-Laws filed as Exhibit&nbsp;3.2 to our Annual Report on Form&nbsp;10-K for the year-ended December&nbsp;31, 2000.</FONT></TD>
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<TD WIDTH="11%"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
4.3**</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="86%" VALIGN="BOTTOM"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
The Community Health Systems Holdings Corp. Employee Stock Option Plan filed as Exhibit&nbsp;10.4 to our Registration Statement on Form&nbsp;S-1 (No.&nbsp;333-31790).</FONT></TD>
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<TD WIDTH="11%"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
5.1*</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="86%" VALIGN="BOTTOM"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
Opinion of Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver &amp; Jacobson as to the legality of securities offered under the Community Health Systems Holdings Corp. Employee Stock Option Plan.</FONT></TD>
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<TD WIDTH="11%"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
23.1*</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="86%" VALIGN="BOTTOM"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
Consent of Deloitte &amp; Touche&nbsp;LLP.</FONT></TD>
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24.1*</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="86%" VALIGN="BOTTOM"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
Power of Attorney (included in the signature pages of this Registration Statement).</FONT></TD>
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<DT style='margin-bottom:-11pt;'><FONT SIZE=2>*</FONT></DT><DD><FONT SIZE=2>Filed
herewith. </FONT></DD><DT style='margin-bottom:-11pt;'><FONT SIZE=2>**</FONT></DT><DD><FONT SIZE=2>Incorporated
by reference. </FONT></DD></DL>
<UL>

<P><FONT SIZE=2><B> Item 9. Undertakings  </B></FONT></P>

</UL>

<P><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a)&nbsp;&nbsp;We
hereby undertake: </FONT></P>

<UL>
<UL>
<DL compact>
<DT style='margin-bottom:-11pt;'><FONT SIZE=2>(1)</FONT></DT><DD><FONT SIZE=2>To
file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement: </FONT></DD></DL>
</UL>
</UL>
<UL>
<UL>
<UL>
<DL compact>
<DT style='margin-bottom:-11pt;'><FONT SIZE=2>(i)</FONT></DT><DD><FONT SIZE=2>To
include any prospectus required by Section&nbsp;10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;
<BR><BR></FONT></DD><DT style='margin-bottom:-11pt;'><FONT SIZE=2>(ii)</FONT></DT><DD><FONT SIZE=2>To
reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the Registration Statement (or the most recent
post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the Registration Statement; and </FONT></DD></DL>
</UL>
</UL>
</UL>
<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2>4</FONT></P>

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<DT style='margin-bottom:-11pt;'><FONT SIZE=2>(iii)</FONT></DT><DD><FONT SIZE=2>To
include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration Statement or any material
change to such information in the Registration Statement; </FONT></DD></DL>
</UL>
</UL>
<UL>

<P><FONT SIZE=2><I>provided, however,</I></FONT><FONT SIZE=2> that the undertakings set forth in paragraphs (i)&nbsp;and (ii)&nbsp;above do not apply if the information required to be
included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports we filed under Section&nbsp;13 or Section&nbsp;15(d) of the Exchange Act that are
incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement. </FONT></P>

<DL compact>
<DT style='margin-bottom:-11pt;'><FONT SIZE=2>(2)</FONT></DT><DD><FONT SIZE=2>That,
for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating
to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
<BR><BR></FONT></DD><DT style='margin-bottom:-11pt;'><FONT SIZE=2>(3)</FONT></DT><DD><FONT SIZE=2>To
remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering. </FONT></DD></DL>
</UL>
</UL>

<P><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b)&nbsp;&nbsp;We
undertake that, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of our annual report pursuant to Section&nbsp;13(a) or
Section&nbsp;15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to Section&nbsp;15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by
reference in this Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a
new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of those securities at that time will be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering. </FONT></P>


<P><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(c)&nbsp;&nbsp;To
the extent that indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to our directors, officers and controlling persons in accordance
with the provisions described in Item 6 of this Registration Statement, or otherwise, we have been advised that, in the opinion of the SEC, indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the
Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by us of expenses incurred or paid by one of our
directors, officers or controlling persons in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by a director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, we will, unless in the opinion of our counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether indemnification is
against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of the issue. </FONT></P>

<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2>5</FONT></P>

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<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><A
NAME="page_jc8555_1_6"> </A> </FONT></P>

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<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><A
NAME="jc8555_signatures"> </A>
<A NAME="toc_jc8555_1"> </A>
<BR></FONT><FONT SIZE=2><B>SIGNATURES    <BR>  </B></FONT></P>

<P><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, we certify that we have reasonable grounds to believe that we meet all of the requirements for filing on
Form&nbsp;S-8, and have duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on our behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Brentwood, State of Tennessee, on
October&nbsp;3, 2002. </FONT></P>

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<TR VALIGN="TOP">
<TD WIDTH="44%"><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%"><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD COLSPAN=3><FONT SIZE=2>COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS,&nbsp;INC.</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR VALIGN="TOP">
<TD WIDTH="44%"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD COLSPAN=3 ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
/s/&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT><FONT SIZE=2>WAYNE T. SMITH</FONT><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT><HR NOSHADE></TD>
</TR>
<TR VALIGN="TOP">
<TD WIDTH="44%"><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%"><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="6%"><FONT SIZE=2>By:</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%"><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="45%"><FONT SIZE=2>Wayne T. Smith</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR VALIGN="TOP">
<TD WIDTH="44%"><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%"><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="6%"><FONT SIZE=2>Title:</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%"><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="45%"><FONT SIZE=2><I>Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer</I></FONT></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
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<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><A
NAME="jc8555_power_of_attorney"> </A>
<A NAME="toc_jc8555_2"> </A>
<BR></FONT><FONT SIZE=2><B>POWER OF ATTORNEY    <BR>  </B></FONT></P>

<P><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Wayne&nbsp;T. Smith, as his or her true and lawful
attorney-in-fact and agent with full powers of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and
all amendments to this Registration Statement (including post-effective amendments) and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the
SEC, 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 in and about the
premises in order to effectuate the same, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, and hereby ratifies, approves and confirms all that his or her said
attorney-in-fact and agent, each acting alone, or his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. </FONT></P>

<P><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has executed this Power of Attorney as of the date indicated. </FONT></P>


<P><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the date indicated. </FONT></P>

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<TH WIDTH="45%" ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=1><B>Signature</B></FONT><HR NOSHADE></TH>
<TH WIDTH="3%"><FONT SIZE=1>&nbsp;</FONT></TH>
<TH WIDTH="30%" ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=1><B>Title</B></FONT><HR NOSHADE></TH>
<TH WIDTH="3%"><FONT SIZE=1>&nbsp;</FONT></TH>
<TH WIDTH="20%" ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=1><B>Date</B></FONT><HR NOSHADE></TH>
</TR>
<TR VALIGN="BOTTOM">
<TD WIDTH="45%" ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="CENTER"><BR><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="30%" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="20%" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR VALIGN="TOP">
<TD WIDTH="45%" ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2>/s/&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT><FONT SIZE=2>WAYNE T. SMITH</FONT><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT><HR NOSHADE><FONT SIZE=2> Wayne T. Smith</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="30%" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2>Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer)</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="20%" ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2>October 3, 2002</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR VALIGN="TOP">
<TD WIDTH="45%" ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
/s/&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT><FONT SIZE=2>W. LARRY CASH</FONT><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT><HR NOSHADE><FONT SIZE=2> W. Larry Cash</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="30%" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Director (principal financial officer)</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="20%" ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
October 3, 2002</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR VALIGN="TOP">
<TD WIDTH="45%" ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
/s/&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT><FONT SIZE=2>T. MARK BUFORD</FONT><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT><HR NOSHADE><FONT SIZE=2> T. Mark Buford</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="30%" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
Vice President and Corporate Controller (principal accounting officer)</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="20%" ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
October 3, 2002</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR VALIGN="BOTTOM">
<TD WIDTH="45%" ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="CENTER"><BR><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="30%" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="20%" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
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<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2>6</FONT></P>

<HR NOSHADE>
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<TD WIDTH="45%" ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
/s/&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT><FONT SIZE=2>SHEILA P. BURKE</FONT><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT><HR NOSHADE><FONT SIZE=2> Sheila P. Burke</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="30%" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
Director</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="20%" ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
October 3, 2002</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR VALIGN="BOTTOM">
<TD WIDTH="45%" ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
/s/&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT><FONT SIZE=2>ROBERT J. DOLE</FONT><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT><HR NOSHADE><FONT SIZE=2> Robert J. Dole</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="30%" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
Director</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="20%" ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
October 3, 2002</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR VALIGN="BOTTOM">
<TD WIDTH="45%" ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
/s/&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT><FONT SIZE=2>J. ANTHONY FORSTMANN</FONT><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT><HR NOSHADE><FONT SIZE=2> J. Anthony Forstmann</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="30%" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
Director</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="20%" ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
October 3, 2002</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR VALIGN="BOTTOM">
<TD WIDTH="45%" ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
/s/&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT><FONT SIZE=2>THEODORE J. FORSTMANN</FONT><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT><HR NOSHADE><FONT SIZE=2> Theodore J. Forstmann</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="30%" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
Director</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="20%" ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
October3, 2002</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR VALIGN="BOTTOM">
<TD WIDTH="45%" ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
/s/&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT><FONT SIZE=2>DALE F. FREY</FONT><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT><HR NOSHADE><FONT SIZE=2> Dale F. Frey</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="30%" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
Director</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="20%" ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
October 3, 2002</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR VALIGN="BOTTOM">
<TD WIDTH="45%" ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
/s/&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT><FONT SIZE=2>SANDRA J. HORBACH</FONT><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT><HR NOSHADE><FONT SIZE=2> Sandra J. Horbach</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="30%" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
Director</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="20%" ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
October 3, 2002</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR VALIGN="BOTTOM">
<TD WIDTH="45%" ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
/s/&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT><FONT SIZE=2>HARVEY KLEIN M.D.</FONT><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT><HR NOSHADE><FONT SIZE=2> Harvey Klein, M.D.</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="30%" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
Director</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="20%" ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
October 3, 2002</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR VALIGN="BOTTOM">
<TD WIDTH="45%" ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
/s/&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT><FONT SIZE=2>THOMAS H. LISTER</FONT><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT><HR NOSHADE><FONT SIZE=2> Thomas H. Lister</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="30%" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
Director</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="20%" ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
October 3, 2002</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR VALIGN="BOTTOM">
<TD WIDTH="45%" ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
/s/&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT><FONT SIZE=2>MICHAEL A. MILES</FONT><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT><HR NOSHADE><FONT SIZE=2> Michael A. Miles</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="30%" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
Director</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="20%" ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
October 3, 2002</FONT></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
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<P><FONT SIZE=2>Constituting
a majority of the Board of Directors of Community Health Systems,&nbsp;Inc. </FONT></P>

<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2>7</FONT></P>

<HR NOSHADE>
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<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><A
NAME="ka8555_index_to_exhibits"> </A>
<A NAME="toc_ka8555_1"> </A>
<BR></FONT><FONT SIZE=2><B>Index to Exhibits    <BR>  </B></FONT></P>

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<TR VALIGN="BOTTOM">
<TH WIDTH="14%" ALIGN="LEFT"><FONT SIZE=1><B>Exhibit No.<BR> </B></FONT><HR NOSHADE></TH>
<TH WIDTH="3%"><FONT SIZE=1>&nbsp;</FONT></TH>
<TH WIDTH="84%" ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=1><B>Description of Exhibit</B></FONT><HR NOSHADE></TH>
</TR>
<TR VALIGN="TOP">
<TD WIDTH="14%"><FONT SIZE=2>4.1**</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%"><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="84%" VALIGN="BOTTOM"><FONT SIZE=2>Our Restated Certificate of Incorporation filed as Exhibit&nbsp;3.1 to our Form&nbsp;10-Q for the quarterly period ended June&nbsp;30, 2000.</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR VALIGN="TOP">
<TD WIDTH="14%"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
4.2**</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="84%" VALIGN="BOTTOM"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
Our Amended and Restated By-Laws filed as Exhibit&nbsp;3.2 to our Annual Report on Form&nbsp;10-K for the year ended December&nbsp;31, 2000.</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR VALIGN="TOP">
<TD WIDTH="14%"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
4.3**</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="84%" VALIGN="BOTTOM"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
The Community Health Systems Holdings Corp. Employee Stock Option Plan filed as Exhibit&nbsp;10.4 to our Registration Statement on Form&nbsp;S-1 (No.&nbsp;333-31790).</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR VALIGN="TOP">
<TD WIDTH="14%"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
5.1*</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="84%" VALIGN="BOTTOM"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
Opinion of Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver &amp; Jacobson as to the legality of securities offered under the Community Health Systems Holdings Corp. Employee Stock Option Plan.</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR VALIGN="TOP">
<TD WIDTH="14%"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
23.1*</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="84%" VALIGN="BOTTOM"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
Consent of Deloitte &amp; Touche LLP.</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR VALIGN="TOP">
<TD WIDTH="14%"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
24.1*</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="84%" VALIGN="BOTTOM"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
Power of Attorney (included in the signature pages of this Registration Statement).</FONT></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
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<DL compact>
<DT style='margin-bottom:-11pt;'><FONT SIZE=2>*</FONT></DT><DD><FONT SIZE=2>Filed
herewith. </FONT></DD><DT style='margin-bottom:-11pt;'><FONT SIZE=2>**</FONT></DT><DD><FONT SIZE=2>Incorporated
by reference. </FONT></DD></DL>
<HR NOSHADE>
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<BR>
<P><br><A NAME="02NYC8555_1">QuickLinks</A><br></P><!-- TOC_BEGIN -->
<FONT SIZE=2><A HREF="#toc_de8555_1">PART I</A></FONT><BR>
<FONT SIZE=2><A HREF="#toc_de8555_2">PART II</A></FONT><BR>
<!-- TOC_BEGIN -->
<FONT SIZE=2><A HREF="#toc_jc8555_1">SIGNATURES</A></FONT><BR>
<FONT SIZE=2><A HREF="#toc_jc8555_2">POWER OF ATTORNEY</A></FONT><BR>
<!-- TOC_BEGIN -->
<FONT SIZE=2><A HREF="#toc_ka8555_1">Index to Exhibits</A></FONT><BR>
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{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS INC/", "cik": "0001108109", "assigned-sic": "8062", "irs-number": "133893191", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-100349", "film-number": "02782395"}, "business-address": {"street1": "155 FRANKLIN RD", "street2": "STE 400", "city": "BRENTWOOD", "state": "TN", "zip": "37027", "phone": "6153739600"}}
QuickLinks
-- Click here to rapidly navigate through this document
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 4, 2002
Registration No. 333-
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
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
13-3893191
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)
155 Franklin Road, Suite 400
Brentwood, Tennessee 37027
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS HOLDINGS CORP.
EMPLOYEE STOCK OPTION PLAN
(Full title of the plan)
Rachel A. Seifert
Senior Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel
155 Franklin Road, Suite 400
Brentwood, Tennessee 37027
(615) 373-9600
(Name, address, and telephone number of agent for service)
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
Title of Securities
to be Registered
Amount to be
Registered (1)
Proposed Maximum
Offering Price
Per Share (2)
Proposed Maximum
Aggregate Offering Price (2)
Amount of
Registration Fee
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the "Common Stock")
153,158 shares
$8.96
$1,372,295.68
$327.98
Common Stock
349,633 shares
$6.99
$2,443,934.67
$584.10
Total
502,791 shares
—
$3,816,230.35
$912.08
(1)
Includes
an indeterminate number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued in the event of stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions in accordance with Rule 416
of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act").
(2)
Determined
using the exercise for the stock options covered by the Common Stock pursuant to Rule 457(h) of the Securities Act.
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Prior to our initial public offering on June 8, 2000 ("IPO"), we adopted the Community Health Systems Holdings Corp. Employee Stock Option Plan (the
"Plan") pursuant to which a maximum of 756,636 shares of Common Stock may be issued. The purpose of this Registration Statement on Form S-8 is to register a total of 502,791 shares
of such Common Stock, which amount constitutes the number of shares that may be issued under the Plan.
PART I
Holders of awards granted under the Plan will be provided with the documents containing information specified by Part I of this Registration Statement in
accordance with Rule 428(b)(1) promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") under the Securities Act. These documents constitute, along with the documents incorporated by
reference into this Registration Statement pursuant to Item 3 of Part II, a prospectus that meets the requirements of Section 10(a) of the Securities Act.
PART II
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference
We file annual, quarterly and special reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any document we file at the SEC's public
reference rooms in Washington, D.C. and Chicago, IL. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference rooms or
access our SEC filings on the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov. Reports, proxy and information statements and other information concerning us can also be inspected at the offices of the New York
Stock Exchange located at 20 Broad Street, New York, NY 10005.
The
SEC allows us to "incorporate by reference" information into this Registration Statement, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to another
document filed separately with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this Registration Statement, and later information that we file with the SEC will
automatically update this Registration Statement. We incorporate by reference the following documents and any future filings made with the SEC under Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), prior to the termination of the offerings registered on this Registration Statement:
(a)
Our
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2001, filed with the SEC on March 27, 2002;
(b)
Our
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2002 filed with the SEC on May 13, 2002;
(c)
Our
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2002 filed with the SEC on August 8, 2002;
(d)
Our
Form 8-K dated February 20, 2002 filed with the SEC on February 20, 2002;
2
(e)
Our
Form 8-K dated April 24, 2002 filed with the SEC on April 24, 2002;
(f)
Our
Form 8-K dated July 16, 2002 filed with the SEC on July 16, 2002;
(g)
Our
Form 8-K dated July 24, 2002 filed with the SEC on July 24, 2002;
(h)
Our
Form 8-K dated August 8, 2002 filed with the SEC on August 8, 2002; and
(i)
Our
Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed with the SEC on June 5, 2000, which describes the terms of the Common Stock.
Item 4. Description of Securities
Not applicable.
Item 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel
Certain legal matters with respect to the issuance of the securities offered hereby will be passed upon for us by Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson
(a partnership including professional corporations).
Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers
Our Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws provide that we shall indemnify our directors and officers to the fullest extent authorized by Delaware
law, as it now exists or may in the future be amended, against all expenses and liabilities reasonably incurred in connection with service for or on behalf of the Company, except with respect to any
matter that such director or officer has been adjudicated not to have acted in good faith or in the reasonable belief that his action was in the best interests of the Company.
We
have entered into agreements to indemnify our directors and officers in addition to the indemnification provided for in the Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws. These
agreements, among other things, indemnify our directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law for certain expenses (including attorneys' fees), liabilities, judgments, fines and
settlement amounts incurred by such person arising out of or in connection with such person's service as a director or officer of the Company or an affiliate of the Company.
We
maintain policies of insurance under which our directors and officers are insured, within the limits and subject to the limitations of the policies, against certain expenses in
connection with the defense of, and certain liabilities which might be imposed as a result of, actions, suits or proceedings to which they are parties by reason of being or having been such directors
or officers.
Section 145
of the Delaware General Corporation Law provides, in substance, that Delaware corporations shall have the power, under specified circumstances, to indemnify their
directors, officers, employees and agents in connection with actions, suits or proceedings brought against them by a third party or in the right of the corporation, by reason of the fact that they
were or are directors, officers, employees or agents, against expenses incurred in any such action, suit or proceedings. The Delaware General Corporation Law also provides that Delaware corporations
may purchase insurance on behalf of any director, officer, employee or agent.
3
The
Plan provides that we will indemnify the members of the committee administering the Plan against all losses, claims, damages and liabilities, joint and several (including all legal
and other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with the preparation for, or defense of, any claim, action or proceeding, whether or not resulting in any liability), for any acts or omissions
which are within the scope of such member's duties as a member of the committee to the fullest extent permitted by law.
Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed
Not applicable.
Item 8. Exhibits
Exhibit No.
Description of Exhibit
4.1**
Our Restated Certificate of Incorporation filed as Exhibit 3.1 to our Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2000.
4.2**
Our Amended and Restated By-Laws filed as Exhibit 3.2 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year-ended December 31, 2000.
4.3**
The Community Health Systems Holdings Corp. Employee Stock Option Plan filed as Exhibit 10.4 to our Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No. 333-31790).
5.1*
Opinion of Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson as to the legality of securities offered under the Community Health Systems Holdings Corp. Employee Stock Option Plan.
23.1*
Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.
24.1*
Power of Attorney (included in the signature pages of this Registration Statement).
*
Filed
herewith.
**
Incorporated
by reference.
Item 9. Undertakings
(a)  We
hereby undertake:
(1)
To
file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:
(i)
To
include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;
(ii)
To
reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the Registration Statement (or the most recent
post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the Registration Statement; and
4
(iii)
To
include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration Statement or any material
change to such information in the Registration Statement;
provided, however,
that the undertakings set forth in paragraphs (i) and (ii) above do not apply if the information required to be
included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports we filed under Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are
incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement.
(2)
That,
for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating
to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3)
To
remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
(b)  We
undertake that, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of our annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or
Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by
reference in this Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a
new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of those securities at that time will be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering.
(c)  To
the extent that indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to our directors, officers and controlling persons in accordance
with the provisions described in Item 6 of this Registration Statement, or otherwise, we have been advised that, in the opinion of the SEC, indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the
Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by us of expenses incurred or paid by one of our
directors, officers or controlling persons in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by a director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, we will, unless in the opinion of our counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether indemnification is
against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of the issue.
5
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, we certify that we have reasonable grounds to believe that we meet all of the requirements for filing on
Form S-8, and have duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on our behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Brentwood, State of Tennessee, on
October 3, 2002.
COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC.
/s/
WAYNE T. SMITH
By:
Wayne T. Smith
Title:
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 constitutes and appoints Wayne T. Smith, as his or her true and lawful
attorney-in-fact and agent with full powers of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and
all amendments to this Registration Statement (including post-effective amendments) and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the
SEC, 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 in and about the
premises in order to effectuate the same, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, and hereby ratifies, approves and confirms all that his or her said
attorney-in-fact and agent, each acting alone, or his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has executed this Power of Attorney as of the date indicated.
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the date indicated.
Signature
Title
Date
/s/
WAYNE T. SMITH
Wayne T. Smith
Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer)
October 3, 2002
/s/
W. LARRY CASH
W. Larry Cash
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Director (principal financial officer)
October 3, 2002
/s/
T. MARK BUFORD
T. Mark Buford
Vice President and Corporate Controller (principal accounting officer)
October 3, 2002
6
/s/
SHEILA P. BURKE
Sheila P. Burke
Director
October 3, 2002
/s/
ROBERT J. DOLE
Robert J. Dole
Director
October 3, 2002
/s/
J. ANTHONY FORSTMANN
J. Anthony Forstmann
Director
October 3, 2002
/s/
THEODORE J. FORSTMANN
Theodore J. Forstmann
Director
October3, 2002
/s/
DALE F. FREY
Dale F. Frey
Director
October 3, 2002
/s/
SANDRA J. HORBACH
Sandra J. Horbach
Director
October 3, 2002
/s/
HARVEY KLEIN M.D.
Harvey Klein, M.D.
Director
October 3, 2002
/s/
THOMAS H. LISTER
Thomas H. Lister
Director
October 3, 2002
/s/
MICHAEL A. MILES
Michael A. Miles
Director
October 3, 2002
Constituting
a majority of the Board of Directors of Community Health Systems, Inc.
7
Index to Exhibits
Exhibit No.
Description of Exhibit
4.1**
Our Restated Certificate of Incorporation filed as Exhibit 3.1 to our Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2000.
4.2**
Our Amended and Restated By-Laws filed as Exhibit 3.2 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2000.
4.3**
The Community Health Systems Holdings Corp. Employee Stock Option Plan filed as Exhibit 10.4 to our Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No. 333-31790).
5.1*
Opinion of Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson as to the legality of securities offered under the Community Health Systems Holdings Corp. Employee Stock Option Plan.
23.1*
Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.
24.1*
Power of Attorney (included in the signature pages of this Registration Statement).
*
Filed
herewith.
**
Incorporated
by reference.
QuickLinks
PART I
PART II
SIGNATURES
POWER OF ATTORNEY
Index to Exhibits