Community Health Systems, Inc. (NYSE: CYH) announced today that a subsidiary has acquired substantially all of the assets of MetroSouth Medical Center in Blue Island, Illinois. Located approximately 20 miles south of Chicago, the 330-bed hospital offers a full spectrum of healthcare services. MetroSouth Medical Center becomes the ninth Community Health Systems, Inc. affiliated hospital in Illinois and the third one serving communities around the greater Chicago region.

Commenting on today's announcement, Wayne T. Smith, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Community Health Systems, Inc., said, "We are pleased to expand our operations into another Illinois community and look forward to applying our operational strategies and clinical initiatives to advance the quality care provided by MetroSouth Medical Center's dedicated medical staff and employees."

Located in the Nashville, Tennessee, suburb of Franklin, Community Health Systems, Inc. is one of the largest publicly-traded hospital companies in the United States and a leading operator of general acute care hospitals in non-urban and mid-size markets throughout the country. Through its subsidiaries, the Company currently owns, leases or operates 134 hospitals in 29 states with an aggregate of approximately 20,000 licensed beds. Its hospitals offer a broad range of inpatient and surgical services, outpatient treatment and skilled nursing care. In addition, through its subsidiary, Quorum Health Resources, LLC, the Company provides management and consulting services to non-affiliated general acute care hospitals located throughout the United States. Shares in Community Health Systems, Inc. are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "CYH."

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements contained in this news release regarding expected operating results, acquisition transactions or divestitures and other events are forward-looking statements that involve risk and uncertainties. Actual future events or results may differ materially from these statements. Readers are referred to the documents filed by Community Health Systems, Inc. with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company's annual report on Form 10-K, current reports on Form 8-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. These filings identify important risk factors and other uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements, or to make any other forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Community Health Systems, Inc.
Investor Relations:
W. Larry Cash, 615-465-7000
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
or
Media Relations:
Tomi Galin, 615-628-6607
Vice President, Corporate Communications