SEC Form 4

FORM 4		UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940	OMB APPROVAL OMB Number: 3235-0287 Estimated average burden hours per response: 0.5
	Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person* SMITH WAYNE T (Last) (First) (Middle) 4000 MERIDIAN BOULEVARD (Street) FRANKLIN TN 37067 (City) (State) (Zip)	2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS INC [ CYH ]	5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) X Director 10% Owner X Officer (give title below) Other (specify below) Chairman, President & CEO
	3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year) 02/25/2009
	4. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)	6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line) X Form filed by One Reporting Person Form filed by More than One Reporting Person

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1. Title of Security (Instr. 3)	2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed Of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)			5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4)	6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
			Code	V	Amount	(A) or (D)	Price
Common Stock	02/25/2009	02/25/2009	M		100,000	A	$0.00	913,996	D
Common Stock	02/27/2009	02/27/2009	J		100,000	D	$0.00	813,996	D
Common Stock								2,000	I	Spouse
Common Stock								100,000(1)	I	by GRAT

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)	2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)		6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)		7. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 3 and 4)		8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)	9. Number of derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)	10. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
				Code	V	(A)	(D)	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares
Performance Based Restricted Stock	$0.00	02/25/2009	02/25/2009	M			100,000	(2)	(2)	Common Stock	100,000	$0.00	0	D
Performance Based Restricted Stock	$0.00							(3)	(3)	Common Stock	100,000		100,000	D
Stock Options (Right to Buy)	$32.28							02/27/2009	02/26/2018	Common Stock	200,000		200,000	D
Stock Options (Right to Buy)	$40.41							07/25/2008	07/25/2015	Common Stock	500,000		500,000	D
Stock Options (Right to Buy)	$13							06/08/2001	06/08/2010	Common Stock	250,000		250,000	D
Stock Options (Right to Buy)	$20.3							05/22/2004	05/22/2013	Common Stock	750,000		750,000	D
Stock Options (Right to Buy)	$32.37							02/28/2006	02/28/2013	Common Stock	100,000		100,000	D
Stock Options (Right to Buy)	$38.3							03/01/2007	03/01/2014	Common Stock	100,000		100,000	D
Stock Options (Right to Buy)	$37.21							02/28/2008	02/28/2015	Common Stock	100,000		100,000	D
Performance Based Restricted Stock	$0.00	02/25/2009	02/25/2009	A		250,000		(4)	(4)	Common Stock	250,000	$0.00	250,000	D
Stock Options (Right to Buy)	$18.18	02/25/2009	02/25/2009	A		50,000		02/25/2010(5)	02/25/2019	Common Stock	50,000	$0.00	50,000	D

Explanation of Responses:

1. These shares were previously reported as directly beneficially owned but were contributed to a grantor retained annuity trust on February 27, 2009.

2. The performance objectives governing these shares of Performance Based Restricted Stock have been met, and, accordingly, these shares will now be reported in Table 1 as directly owned shares of Restricted Stock. The restrictions lapse in 1/3 increments on the first, second and third anniversary of the date of grant.

3. The restrictions on theses shares will lapse on 7/25/09, provided that performance objectives for the period 7/1/08 to 6/30/09 are met.

4. Each performance based restricted share represents a contingent right to receive one share of CYH common stock. There are two elements to the lapsing of the restriction; first, the Company must achieve specified targeted amount of earnings per share from continuing operations, or net revenue from continuing operations, and if the performance objective is met, the vesting restrictions will lapse in 1/3 increments on the first, second and third anniversary of the date of grant. If the objectives are not met, the shares will be forfeited.

5. Vesting occurs in 1/3 increments on the first, second and third anniversary of the date of grant.

Remarks:

	Rachel A. Seifert, Attorney in Fact for Wayne T. Smith	02/27/2005
	** Signature of Reporting Person	Date
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