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UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
 
 
 
Form 10-K
 
     
(Mark One)    
þ
  ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
    For the year ended December 31, 2010
OR
o
  TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
    For the transition period from          to          
 
Commission file number 001-15925
 
 
 
 
COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
     
Delaware
  13-3893191
(State of incorporation)   (IRS Employer
Identification No.)
4000 Meridian Boulevard
Franklin, Tennessee
(Address of principal executive offices)
  37067
(Zip Code)
 
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:
(615) 465-7000
 
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
 
     
Title of Each Class   Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered
 
Common Stock, $.01 par value   New York Stock Exchange
 
 
 
 
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.  YES þ     NO o
 
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Act.  YES o     NO þ
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  YES þ     NO o
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).  YES þ     NO o
 
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§ 229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of the registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of the Form 10-K or any amendment to the Form 10-K. þ
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
 
Large accelerated filer þ Accelerated filer o Non-accelerated filer o Smaller reporting company o
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).  YES o     NO þ
 
The aggregate market value of the voting stock held by non-affiliates of the Registrant was $3,231,059,649. Market value is determined by reference to the closing price on June 30, 2010 of the Registrant’s Common Stock as reported by the New York Stock Exchange. The Registrant does not (and did not at June 30, 2010) have any non-voting common stock outstanding. As of February 17, 2011, there were 92,752,536 shares of common stock, par value $.01 per share, outstanding.
 
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
 
The information required for Part III of this annual report is incorporated by reference from portions of the Registrant’s definitive proxy statement for its 2011 annual meeting of stockholders to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days after the end of the Registrant’s fiscal year ended December 31, 2010.
 


 

 
TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
FORM 10-K ANNUAL REPORT
 
COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC.
Year ended December 31, 2010
 
             
        Page
 
  Business     1  
  Risk Factors     24  
  Unresolved Staff Comments     32  
  Properties     32  
  Legal Proceedings     37  
  (Removed and Reserved)     39  
 
PART II
  Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities     39  
  Selected Financial Data     41  
  Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations     42  
  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk     65  
  Financial Statements and Supplementary Data     66  
  Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure     123  
  Controls and Procedures     123  
  Other Information     123  
 
PART III
  Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant     126  
  Executive Compensation     126  
  Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters     126  
  Certain Relationships and Related Transactions     126  
  Principal Accountant Fees and Services     126  
 
PART IV
  Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules     126  
 EX-4.23
 EX-4.24
 EX-10.14
 EX-12
 EX-21
 EX-23.1
 EX-31.1
 EX-31.2
 EX-32.1
 EX-32.2
 EX-101 INSTANCE DOCUMENT
 EX-101 SCHEMA DOCUMENT
 EX-101 CALCULATION LINKBASE DOCUMENT
 EX-101 LABELS LINKBASE DOCUMENT
 EX-101 PRESENTATION LINKBASE DOCUMENT
 EX-101 DEFINITION LINKBASE DOCUMENT


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PART I
 
Item 1.   Business of Community Health Systems, Inc.
 
Overview of Our Company
 
We are the largest publicly-traded operator of hospitals in the United States in terms of number of facilities and net operating revenues. We were incorporated in 1996 as a Delaware corporation. We provide healthcare services through the hospitals that we own and operate in non-urban and selected urban markets throughout the United States. As of December 31, 2010, we owned or leased 130 hospitals, including four stand-alone rehabilitation or psychiatric hospitals. These hospitals are geographically diversified across 29 states, with an aggregate of 19,372 licensed beds. We generate revenues by providing a broad range of general and specialized hospital healthcare services to patients in the communities in which we are located. Services provided by our hospitals include general acute care, emergency room, general and specialty surgery, critical care, internal medicine, obstetrics, diagnostic, psychiatric and rehabilitation services. As part of providing these services, we also own physician practices, imaging centers and ambulatory surgery centers. Through our management and operation of these businesses, we provide standardization and centralization of operations across key business areas; strategic assistance to expand and improve services and facilities; implementation of quality of care improvement programs; and assistance in the recruitment of additional physicians to the markets in which our hospitals are located. In a number of our markets, we have partnered with local physicians or not-for-profit providers, or both, in the ownership of our facilities. In addition to our hospitals and related businesses, we also own and operate 64 licensed home care agencies and 25 hospice agencies, located primarily in markets where we also operate a hospital. Also, through our wholly-owned subsidiary, Quorum Health Resources, LLC, or QHR, we provide management and consulting services to non-affiliated general acute care hospitals located throughout the United States. The home care agencies and the hospital management services businesses constitute operating segments, but are not considered reportable segments since they do not meet the quantitative thresholds for a separate identifiable reportable segment. The financial information for our reportable operating segments is presented in Note 14 of the Notes to our Consolidated Financial Statements included under Item 8 of this Report.
 
Our strategy has also included growth by acquisition. We generally target hospitals in growing, non-urban and selected urban healthcare markets for acquisition because of their favorable demographic and economic trends and competitive conditions. Because these service areas have smaller populations, there are generally fewer hospitals and other healthcare service providers in these communities and generally a lower level of managed care presence in these markets. We believe that smaller populations support less direct competition for hospital-based services. Also, we believe that these communities generally view the local hospital as an integral part of the community.
 
During 2010, we fully resumed our acquisition strategy by acquiring five hospitals. We had limited our acquisition activity after our acquisition of Triad Hospitals, Inc., or Triad, in 2007.
 
Throughout this Form 10-K, we refer to Community Health Systems, Inc., or the Parent Company, and its consolidated subsidiaries in a simplified manner and on a collective basis, using words like “we” and “our.” This drafting style is suggested by the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, and is not meant to indicate that the publicly-traded Parent Company or any other subsidiary of the Parent Company owns or operates any asset, business or property. The hospitals, operations and businesses described in this filing are owned and operated, and management services provided, by distinct and indirect subsidiaries of Community Health Systems, Inc.
 
Available Information
 
Our Internet address is www.chs.net and the investor relations section of our website is located at www.chs.net/investor/index.html. We make available free of charge, through the investor relations section of our website, annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K as well as amendments to those reports, as soon as reasonably practical after they are filed with the SEC. Our filings are also available to the public at the website maintained by the SEC, www.sec.gov.


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We also make available free of charge, through the investor relations section of our website, our Governance Principles, our Code of Conduct and the charters of our Audit and Compliance Committee, Compensation Committee and Governance and Nominating Committee.
 
We have included the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer certifications regarding the public disclosure required by Sections 302 and 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 as Exhibits 31.1, 31.2, 32.1 and 32.2 of this report.
 
Our Business Strategy
 
With the objective of increasing shareholder value and improving care, the key elements of our business strategy are to:
 
  •  increase revenue at our facilities;
 
  •  improve profitability;
 
  •  improve quality; and
 
  •  grow through selective acquisitions.
 
Increase Revenue at Our Facilities
 
Overview.  We seek to increase revenue at our facilities by providing a broader range of services in a more attractive care setting, as well as by supporting and recruiting physicians. We identify the healthcare needs of the community by analyzing demographic data and patient referral trends. We also work with local hospital boards, management teams, and medical staffs to determine the number and type of additional physician specialties needed. Our initiatives to increase revenue include:
 
  •  recruiting and/or employing additional primary care physicians and specialists;
 
  •  expanding the breadth of services offered at our hospitals and in the communities in which we operate through targeted capital expenditures and physician alignment to support the addition of more complex services, including orthopedics, cardiovascular services and urology; and
 
  •  providing the capital to invest in technology and the physical plant at the facilities, particularly in our emergency rooms, surgery departments, critical care departments and diagnostic services.
 
Physician Recruiting.  The primary method of adding or expanding medical services is the recruitment of new physicians into the community. A core group of primary care physicians is necessary as an initial contact point for all local healthcare. The addition of specialists who offer services, including general surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, cardiovascular services, orthopedics and urology, completes the full range of medical and surgical services required to meet a community’s core healthcare needs. At the time we acquire a hospital and from time to time thereafter, we identify the healthcare needs of the community by analyzing demographic data and patient referral trends. As a result of this analysis, we are able to determine what we believe to be the optimum mix of primary care physicians and specialists. We employ recruiters at the corporate level to support the local hospital managers in their recruitment efforts. We have increased the number of physicians affiliated with us through our recruiting efforts, net of turnover, by approximately 935 in 2010, 772 in 2009 and 686 in 2008. The percentage of recruited or other physicians commencing practice with us that were specialists was over 50% in 2010. Additionally, in response to the recent trend in physicians seeking employment, we have begun employing more physicians, including, in some instances, acquiring physician practices. However, most of the physicians in our communities remain in private practice and are not our employees. We have been successful in recruiting physicians because of the practice opportunities afforded physicians in our markets, as well as lower managed care penetration as compared to larger urban areas.
 
Emergency Room Initiatives.  Approximately 60% of our hospital admissions originate in the emergency room. Therefore, we systematically take steps to increase patient flow in our emergency rooms as a means of optimizing utilization rates for our hospitals. Furthermore, our patients’ impression of our overall operations is


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substantially influenced by our emergency rooms since generally that is our patients’ first experience with our hospitals. The steps we take to increase patient flow in our emergency rooms include renovating and expanding our emergency room facilities, improving service and reducing waiting times, as well as publicizing our emergency room capabilities in the local community. We have expanded or renovated 13 of our emergency rooms during the past three years, including four in 2010. We have also implemented marketing campaigns that emphasize the speed, convenience and quality of our emergency rooms to enhance each community’s awareness of our emergency room services.
 
One component of upgrading our emergency rooms is the implementation of specialized computer software programs designed to assist physicians in making diagnoses and determining treatments. The software also benefits patients and hospital personnel by assisting in proper documentation of patient records and tracking patient flow. It enables our nurses to provide more consistent patient care and provides clear instructions to patients at time of discharge to help them better understand their treatments.
 
Expansion of Services.  In an effort to better meet the healthcare needs of the communities we serve and to capture a greater portion of the healthcare spending in our markets, we have added a broad range of services to our facilities and in certain markets, acquired physician practices to broaden our service offerings. These services range from various types of diagnostic equipment capabilities to additional and renovated emergency rooms, surgical and critical care suites and specialty services. For example, we spent approximately $119.6 million on 35 major construction projects that were completed in 2010. The 2010 projects included new emergency rooms, cardiac cathertization laboratories, intensive care units, hospital additions and surgical suites. These projects improved various diagnostic and other inpatient and outpatient service capabilities. We continue to believe that appropriate capital investments in our facilities combined with the development of our service capabilities will reduce the migration of patients to competing providers while providing an attractive return on investment. We also employ a small group of clinical consultants at our corporate headquarters to assist the hospitals in their development of surgery, emergency, critical care, cardiovascular and hospitalist services. In addition to spending capital on expanding services at our existing hospitals, we also build replacement facilities in certain markets to better meet the healthcare needs in those communities. In 2010, we spent $34.7 million on construction projects related to three replacement hospitals that we are required to build pursuant to either a hospital purchase agreement or an amendment to a lease agreement. In addition, in September 2010, we received approval of our request for a certificate of need from the Alabama Certificate of Need Review Board for the construction of a replacement hospital in Birmingham, Alabama. This certificate of need remains subject to an appeal process. The total cost of these four replacement hospitals is estimated to be $598.5 million.
 
Managed Care Strategy.  Managed care has seen growth across the U.S. as health plans expand service areas and membership in an attempt to control rising medical costs. As we service primarily non-urban markets, we do not have significant relationships with managed care organizations, including Medicare Advantage. We have responded with a proactive and carefully considered strategy developed specifically for each of our facilities. Our experienced corporate managed care department reviews and approves all managed care contracts, which are organized and monitored using a central database. The primary mission of this department is to select and evaluate appropriate managed care opportunities, manage existing reimbursement arrangements and negotiate increases. Generally, we do not intend to enter into capitated or risk sharing contracts. However, some purchased hospitals have risk sharing contracts at the time we acquire them. We seek to discontinue these contracts to eliminate risk retention related to payment for patient care. We do not believe that we have, at the present time, any risk sharing contracts that would have a material impact on our results of operations.
 
Improve Profitability
 
Overview.  To improve efficiencies and increase operating margins, we implement cost containment programs and adhere to operating philosophies that include:
 
  •  standardizing and centralizing our operations;


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  •  optimizing resource allocation by utilizing our company-devised case and resource management program, which assists in improving clinical care and containing expenses;
 
  •  capitalizing on purchasing efficiencies through the use of company-wide standardized purchasing contracts and terminating or renegotiating specified vendor contracts;
 
  •  installing a standardized management information system, resulting in more efficient billing and collection procedures; and
 
  •  monitoring and enhancing productivity of our human resources.
 
In addition, each of our hospital management teams is supported by our centralized operational, reimbursement, regulatory and compliance expertise, as well as by our senior management team, which has an average of over 25 years of experience in the healthcare industry.
 
Standardization and Centralization.  Our standardization and centralization initiatives encompass nearly every aspect of our business, from developing standard policies and procedures with respect to patient accounting and physician practice management to implementing standard processes to initiate, evaluate and complete construction projects. Our standardization and centralization initiatives are a key element in improving our operating results.
 
  •  Billing and Collections.  We have adopted standard policies and procedures with respect to billing and collections. We have also automated and standardized various components of the collection cycle, including statement and collection letters and the movement of accounts through the collection cycle. Upon completion of an acquisition, our management information system team converts the hospital’s existing information system to our standardized system. This enables us to quickly implement our business controls and cost containment initiatives.
 
  •  Physician Support.  We support our newly recruited physicians to enhance their transition into our communities. All newly recruited physicians who enter into contracts with us are required to attend a three-day introductory seminar that covers issues involved in starting up a practice. We have also implemented physician practice management seminars, webinars and other training. We host these seminars monthly.
 
  •  Procurement and Materials Management.  We have standardized and centralized our operations with respect to medical supplies, equipment and pharmaceuticals used in our hospitals. We have a participation agreement with HealthTrust Purchasing Group, L.P., or HealthTrust, a group purchasing organization, or GPO. HealthTrust contracts with certain vendors who supply a substantial portion of our medical supplies, equipment and pharmaceuticals. Our agreement with HealthTrust extends to January 2012, with automatic renewal terms of one year unless either party terminates by giving notice of non-renewal.
 
  •  Facilities Management.  We have standardized interiors, lighting and furniture programs. We have also implemented a standard process to initiate, evaluate and complete construction projects. Our corporate staff monitors all construction projects, and reviews and pays all construction project invoices. Our initiatives in this area have reduced our construction costs while maintaining the same level of quality and have shortened the time it takes us to complete these projects.
 
  •  Other Initiatives.  We have also improved margins by implementing standard programs with respect to ancillary services in areas, including emergency rooms, pharmacy, laboratory, imaging, home care, skilled nursing, centralized outpatient scheduling and health information management. We have improved quality and reduced costs associated with these services by improving contract terms and standardizing information systems. We work to identify and communicate best practices and monitor these improvements throughout the Company.
 
  •  Internal Controls Over Financial Reporting.  We have centralized many of our significant internal controls over financial reporting and standardized those other controls that are performed at our hospital


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  locations. We continuously monitor compliance with and evaluate the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting.
 
Case and Resource Management.  Our case and resource management program is a company-devised program developed with the goal of improving clinical care and cost containment. The program focuses on:
 
  •  appropriately treating patients along the care continuum;
 
  •  reducing inefficiently applied processes, procedures and resources;
 
  •  developing and implementing standards for operational best practices; and
 
  •  using on-site clinical facilitators to train and educate care practitioners on identified best practices.
 
Our case and resource management program integrates the functions of utilization review, discharge planning, overall clinical management and resource management into a single effort to improve the quality and efficiency of care. Issues evaluated in this process include patient treatment, patient length of stay and utilization of resources.
 
Under our case and resource management program, patient care begins with a clinical assessment of the appropriate level of care, discharge planning and medical necessity for planned services. Beginning when a patient presents to the hospital, we conduct ongoing reviews for medical necessity using appropriateness criteria. We reassess and adjust discharge plan options as the needs of the patient change. We closely monitor cases to prevent delayed service or inappropriate utilization of resources. Once the patient attains clinical improvement, we work with the attending physician to evaluate further needs for acute care treatment through discussions with the facility’s physician advisor. Finally, we refer the patient to the appropriate post-hospitalization resources.
 
Improve Quality
 
We have implemented various programs to ensure continuous improvement in the quality of care provided. We have developed training programs for all senior hospital management, chief nursing officers, quality directors, physicians and other clinical staff. We share information among our hospital management to implement best practices and assist in complying with regulatory requirements. We have standardized accreditation documentation and requirements. All hospitals conduct patient, physician and staff satisfaction surveys to help identify methods of improving the quality of care.
 
Each of our hospitals is governed by a board of trustees, which includes members of the hospital’s medical staff. The board of trustees establishes policies concerning the hospital’s medical, professional, and ethical practices, monitors these practices, and is responsible for ensuring that these practices conform to legally required standards. We maintain quality assurance programs to support and monitor quality of care standards and to meet Medicare and Medicaid accreditation and regulatory requirements. Patient care evaluations and other quality of care assessment activities are reviewed and monitored continuously.
 
To ensure the experience of our emergency room patients meets our service and quality expectations, we have implemented a program to contact each patient as a follow-up to the services they received. We verify that patients were able to obtain any prescriptions and outpatient appointments recommended at discharge. We also ensure that their symptoms have abated and that they understood the discharge instructions given at the hospital. Through this program, we placed in excess of one million follow-up calls in 2010.
 
Grow Through Selective Acquisitions
 
Acquisition Criteria.  Each year we intend to acquire, on a selective basis, two to four hospitals that fit our acquisition criteria. Generally, we pursue acquisition candidates that:
 
  •  have a service area population between 20,000 and 400,000 with a stable or growing population base;
 
  •  are the sole or primary provider of acute care services in the community;
 
  •  are located in an area with the potential for service expansion;


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  •  are not located in an area that is dependent upon a single employer or industry; and
 
  •  have financial performance that we believe will benefit from our management’s operating skills.
 
In each year since 1997, we have met or exceeded our acquisition goals. Occasionally, we have pursued acquisition opportunities outside of our specified criteria when such opportunities have had uniquely favorable characteristics. In the fourth quarter of 2008, we completed the acquisition of a two hospital system located in Spokane, Washington. In 2009, we acquired two hospitals located in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania and one hospital in Siloam Springs, Arkansas and purchased the remaining equity in a hospital located in El Dorado, Arkansas in which we previously had a noncontrolling interest. In 2010, we acquired five hospitals located in Marion, South Carolina, Youngstown, Ohio, Warren, Ohio and Bluefield, West Virginia.
 
Disciplined Acquisition Approach.  We have been disciplined in our approach to acquisitions. We have a dedicated team of internal and external professionals who complete a thorough review of the hospital’s financial and operating performance, the demographics and service needs of the market and the physical condition of the facilities. Based on our historical experience, we then build a pro forma financial model that reflects what we believe can be accomplished under our ownership. Whether we buy or lease the existing facility or agree to construct a replacement hospital, we believe we have been disciplined in our approach to pricing. We typically begin the acquisition process by entering into a non-binding letter of intent with an acquisition candidate. After we complete business and financial due diligence and financial modeling, we decide whether or not to enter into a definitive agreement. Once an acquisition is completed, we have an organized and systematic approach to transitioning and integrating the new hospital into our system of hospitals.
 
Acquisition Efforts.  Most of our acquisition targets are municipal or other not-for-profit hospitals. We believe that our access to capital, ability to recruit physicians and reputation for providing quality care make us an attractive partner for these communities. In addition, we have found that communities located in states where we already operate a hospital are more receptive to us, when they consider selling their hospital, because they are aware of our operating track record with respect to our hospitals within the state.
 
At the time we acquire a hospital, we may commit to an amount of capital expenditures, such as a replacement facility, renovations, or equipment over a specified period of time. As obligations under two hospital purchase agreements in effect as of December 31, 2010, we are required to build a replacement facility in Valparaiso, Indiana by April 2011 and in Siloam Springs, Arkansas by February 2013. Due to delays in receiving government approved building and zoning permits, the replacement facility in Valparaiso, Indiana is not expected to be completed until the fourth quarter of 2012. Also, as required by an amendment to a lease agreement entered into in 2005, we agreed to build a replacement hospital at our Barstow, California location. Estimated construction costs, including equipment costs, are approximately $318.5 million for these three replacement facilities, of which approximately $47.4 million has been incurred to date. In addition, in October 2008, after the purchase of the noncontrolling owner’s interest in our Birmingham, Alabama facility, we initiated the purchase of a site, which includes a partially constructed hospital structure, for a potential replacement to our existing Birmingham facility. In September 2010, we received approval of our request for a certificate of need from the Alabama Certificate of Need Review Board; however, this certificate of need remains subject to an appeal process. Our estimated construction costs, including the acquisition of the site and equipment costs, are approximately $280.0 million for the Birmingham replacement facility, of which approximately $1.3 million has been incurred to date. Under other purchase agreements in effect as of December 31, 2010, we have committed to spend $540.5 million, generally over a five to seven year period after acquisition, for costs such as capital improvements, equipment, selected leases and physician recruiting. Through December 31, 2010, we have incurred approximately $184.5 million related to these commitments.


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On December 9, 2010, we announced that we made an offer to acquire Tenet Healthcare Corporation, or Tenet, for $6.00 per share, including $5.00 per share in cash and $1.00 per share in our common stock, which represented a premium of 40% over Tenet’s closing stock price on December 9, 2010. The total value of the transaction at this offering price would be approximately $7.3 billion, including $3.3 billion of acquired equity and approximately $4.0 billion of assumed long-term debt. The offer was made in a letter to Tenet’s Board of Directors on November 12, 2010, and rejected by Tenet on December 6, 2010. On December 20, 2010, we announced our intention to nominate directors for election at the 2011 Annual Meeting of Tenet, and on January 14, 2011, a full slate of 10 independent director nominees was nominated. Tenet’s entire Board is up for reelection at the 2011 Annual Meeting, which has been scheduled for November 3, 2011. There can be no assurance that such a transaction will be completed or, if completed, on what terms.
 
Industry Overview
 
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, or CMS, reported that in 2009 total U.S. healthcare expenditures grew by 4.0% to approximately $2.5 trillion. CMS also projected total U.S. healthcare spending to grow by 5.1% in 2010 and by an average of 6.3% annually from 2009 through 2019. By these estimates, healthcare expenditures will account for approximately $4.6 trillion, or 19.6% of the total U.S. gross domestic product, by 2019.
 
Hospital services, the market in which we operate, is the largest single category of healthcare at 30% of total healthcare spending in 2009, or approximately $759.1 billion, as reported by CMS. CMS projects the hospital services category to grow by at least 4.2% per year through 2019. It expects growth in hospital healthcare spending to continue due to the aging of the U.S. population and consumer demand for expanded medical services. As hospitals remain the primary setting for healthcare delivery, CMS expects hospital services to remain the largest category of healthcare spending.
 
U.S. Hospital Industry.  The U.S. hospital industry is broadly defined to include acute care, rehabilitation, and psychiatric facilities that are either public (government owned and operated), not-for-profit private (religious or secular), or for-profit institutions (investor owned). According to the American Hospital Association, there are approximately 5,000 inpatient hospitals in the U.S. which are not-for-profit owned, investor owned, or state or local government owned. Of these hospitals, approximately 40% are located in non-urban communities. We believe that a majority of these hospitals are owned by not-for-profit or governmental entities. These facilities offer a broad range of healthcare services, including internal medicine, general surgery, cardiology, oncology, orthopedics, OB/GYN, and emergency services. In addition, hospitals also offer other ancillary services, including psychiatric, diagnostic, rehabilitation, home care, and outpatient surgery services.
 
Urban vs. Non-Urban Hospitals
 
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 21% of the U.S. population lives in communities designated as non-urban. In these non-urban communities, hospitals are typically the primary source of healthcare. In many cases a single hospital is the only provider of general healthcare services in these communities.
 
Factors Affecting Performance.  Among the many factors that can influence a hospital’s financial and operating performance are:
 
  •  facility size and location;
 
  •  facility ownership structure (i.e., tax-exempt or investor owned);
 
  •  a facility’s ability to participate in group purchasing organizations; and
 
  •  facility payor mix.


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Patients needing the most complex care are more often served by the larger and/or more specialized urban hospitals. We believe opportunities exist in selected urban markets to create networks between urban hospitals and non-urban hospitals in order to expand the breadth of services offered in the non-urban hospitals while improving physician alignment in those markets and making it more attractive to managed care.
 
Hospital Industry Trends
 
Demographic Trends.  According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are presently approximately 39.6 million Americans aged 65 or older in the U.S. who comprise approximately 12.9% of the total U.S. population. By the year 2030, the number of Americans aged 65 or older is expected to climb to 72.1 million, or 19.3% of the total population. Due to the increasing life expectancy of Americans, the number of people aged 85 years and older is also expected to increase from 5.6 million to 8.7 million by the year 2030. This increase in life expectancy will increase demand for healthcare services and, as importantly, the demand for innovative, more sophisticated means of delivering those services. Hospitals, as the largest category of care in the healthcare market, will be among the main beneficiaries of this increase in demand. Based on data compiled for us, the populations of the service areas where our hospitals are located grew by 25.0% from 1990 to 2009 and are expected to grow by 4.6% from 2009 to 2014. The number of people aged 65 or older in these service areas grew by 26.6% from 1990 to 2009 and is expected to grow by 15.2% from 2009 to 2014.
 
Consolidation.  In addition to our own acquisitions in recent years, consolidation activity in the hospital industry, primarily through mergers and acquisitions involving both for-profit and not-for-profit hospital systems, is continuing. Reasons for this activity included:
 
  •  excess capacity of available capital;
 
  •  valuation levels;
 
  •  financial performance issues, including challenges associated with changes in reimbursement and collectability of self-pay revenue;
 
  •  the desire to enhance the local availability of healthcare in the community;
 
  •  the need and ability to recruit primary care physicians and specialists;
 
  •  the need to achieve general economies of scale and to gain access to standardized and centralized functions, including favorable supply agreements and access to malpractice coverage; and
 
  •  regulatory changes.
 
The healthcare industry is also undergoing consolidation, first, in anticipation of, and second, in reaction to, efforts to reform the payment system. Hospital systems are acquiring physician practices and other outpatient and sub acute providers to position themselves for readmission, bundling and other payment restructuring. Similarly, payors are consolidating and acquiring disease management service providers in an effort to offer more competitive programs.


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Selected Operating Data
 
The following table sets forth operating statistics for our hospitals for each of the years presented, which are included in our continuing operations. Statistics for 2010 include a full year of operations for 125 hospitals and partial periods for five hospitals acquired during the year. Statistics for 2009 include a full year of operations for 121 hospitals and partial periods for three hospitals acquired during the year and one hospital in which we previously had a noncontrolling interest and purchased the remaining interest during the year. Statistics for 2008 include a full year of operations for 119 hospitals and partial periods for two hospitals acquired during the year. Statistics for hospitals which have been sold are excluded from all periods presented.
 
                         
    Year Ended December 31,  
    2010     2009     2008  
    (Dollars in thousands)  
 
Consolidated Data
                       
Number of hospitals (at end of period)
    130       125       121  
Licensed beds (at end of period)(1)
    19,372       18,140       17,411  
Beds in service (at end of period)(2)
    16,622       15,897       15,194  
Admissions(3)
    693,382       692,569       668,526  
Adjusted admissions(4)
    1,308,334       1,275,888       1,207,756  
Patient days(5)
    2,948,876       2,937,194       2,835,795  
Average length of stay (days)(6)
    4.3       4.2       4.2  
Occupancy rate (beds in service)(7)
    50.0 %     51.3 %     52.3 %
Net operating revenues
  $ 12,986,500     $ 12,107,613     $ 10,919,095  
Net inpatient revenues as a % of total net operating revenues
    48.9 %     50.1 %     50.2 %
Net outpatient revenues as a % of total net operating revenues
    48.9 %     47.6 %     47.5 %
Net income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. 
  $ 279,983     $ 243,150     $ 218,304  
Net income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. as a % of total net operating revenues
    2.2 %     2.0 %     2.0 %
                         
Liquidity Data
                       
Adjusted EBITDA(8)
  $ 1,770,199     $ 1,671,397     $ 1,513,329  
Adjusted EBITDA as a % of total net operating revenues(8)
    13.6 %     13.8 %     13.9 %
Net cash flows provided by operating activities
  $ 1,188,730     $ 1,076,429     $ 1,056,581  
Net cash flows provided by operating activities as a % of total net operating revenues
    9.2 %     8.9 %     9.7 %
Net cash flows used in investing activities
  $ (1,044,310 )   $ (867,182 )   $ (665,471 )
Net cash flows used in financing activities
  $ (189,792 )   $ (85,361 )   $ (304,029 )
 
 
See pages 10 and 11 for footnotes.


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    Year Ended December 31,     (Decrease)
 
    2010     2009     Increase  
    (Dollars in thousands)        
 
Same-Store Data(9)
                       
Admissions(3)
    675,086       692,569       (2.5 )%
Adjusted admissions(4)
    1,269,467       1,275,888       (0.5 )%
Patient days(5)
    2,858,532       2,937,194          
Average length of stay (days)(6)
    4.2       4.2          
Occupancy rate (beds in service)(7)
    49.8 %     51.3 %        
Net operating revenues
  $ 12,582,406     $ 12,105,938       3.9 %
Income from operations
  $ 1,139,501     $ 1,083,805       5.1 %
Income from operations as a % of net operating revenues
    9.1 %     9.0 %        
Depreciation and amortization
  $ 595,482     $ 566,219          
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates
  $ 45,220     $ 36,409          
 
 
(1) Licensed beds are the number of beds for which the appropriate state agency licenses a facility regardless of whether the beds are actually available for patient use.
 
(2) Beds in service are the number of beds that are readily available for patient use.
 
(3) Admissions represent the number of patients admitted for inpatient treatment.
 
(4) Adjusted admissions is a general measure of combined inpatient and outpatient volume. We computed adjusted admissions by multiplying admissions by gross patient revenues and then dividing that number by gross inpatient revenues.
 
(5) Patient days represent the total number of days of care provided to inpatients.
 
(6) Average length of stay (days) represents the average number of days inpatients stay in our hospitals.
 
(7) We calculated occupancy rate percentages by dividing the average daily number of inpatients by the weighted- average number of beds in service.
 
(8) EBITDA consists of net income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization. Adjusted EBITDA is EBITDA adjusted to exclude discontinued operations, gain/loss from early extinguishment of debt and net income attributable to noncontrolling interests. We have from time to time sold noncontrolling interests in certain of our subsidiaries or acquired subsidiaries with existing noncontrolling interest ownership positions. We believe that it is useful to present adjusted EBITDA because it excludes the portion of EBITDA attributable to these third-party interests and clarifies for investors our portion of EBITDA generated by continuing operations. We use adjusted EBITDA as a measure of liquidity. We have included this measure because we believe it provides investors with additional information about our ability to incur and service debt and make capital expenditures. Adjusted EBITDA is the basis for a key component in the determination of our compliance with some of the covenants under our senior secured credit facility, as well as to determine the interest rate and commitment fee payable under the senior secured credit facility (although adjusted EBITDA does not include all of the adjustments described in the senior secured credit facility).
 
Adjusted EBITDA is not a measurement of financial performance or liquidity under generally accepted accounting principles. It should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for net income, operating income, cash flows from operating, investing or financing activities, or any other measure calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. The items excluded from adjusted EBITDA are significant components in understanding and evaluating financial performance and liquidity. Our calculation of adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies.


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The following table reconciles adjusted EBITDA, as defined, to our net cash provided by operating activities as derived directly from our Consolidated Financial Statements for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008 (in thousands):
 
                         
    Year Ended December 31,  
    2010     2009     2008  
 
Adjusted EBITDA
  $ 1,770,199     $ 1,671,397     $ 1,513,329  
Interest expense, net
    (651,926 )     (648,964 )     (652,468 )
Provision for income taxes
    (159,993 )     (141,325 )     (125,273 )
Deferred income taxes
    97,370       34,268       159,870  
Income from operations of hospitals sold or held for sale
          1,977       9,427  
Income tax expense on the (gain) loss on sale of hospitals
                (8,107 )
Depreciation and amortization of discontinued operations
          332       7,308  
Stock compensation expense
    38,779       44,501       52,105  
(Excess tax benefits) income tax payable increase
                       
relating to stock-based compensation
    (10,219 )     3,472       (1,278 )
Other non-cash expenses, net
    12,503       22,870       3,577  
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions and divestitures:
                       
Patient accounts receivable
    (27,049 )     58,390       (49,578 )
Supplies, prepaid expenses and other current assets
    (39,904 )     (34,535 )     (34,397 )
Accounts payable, accrued liabilities and income taxes
    161,952       86,098       119,869  
Other
    (2,982 )     (22,052 )     62,197  
                         
Net cash provided by operating activities
  $ 1,188,730     $ 1,076,429     $ 1,056,581  
                         
 
 
(9) Includes acquired hospitals to the extent we operated them during comparable periods in both years.
 
Sources of Revenue
 
We receive payment for healthcare services provided by our hospitals from:
 
  •  the federal Medicare program;
 
  •  state Medicaid or similar programs;
 
  •  healthcare insurance carriers, health maintenance organizations or “HMOs,” preferred provider organizations or “PPOs,” and other managed care programs; and
 
  •  patients directly.
 
The following table presents the approximate percentages of net operating revenues received from Medicare, Medicaid, managed care, self-pay and other sources for the periods indicated. The data for the years presented are not strictly comparable due to the effect that hospital acquisitions have had on these statistics.
 
                         
    Year Ended December 31,  
Net Operating Revenues by Payor Source   2010     2009     2008  
 
Medicare
    27.2 %     27.1 %     27.5 %
Medicaid
    10.6 %     9.8 %     9.1 %
Managed Care and other third-party payors
    50.6 %     51.9 %     52.7 %
Self-pay
    11.6 %     11.2 %     10.7 %
                         
Total
    100.0 %     100.0 %     100.0 %
                         


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As shown above, we receive a substantial portion of our revenues from the Medicare and Medicaid programs. Included in Managed Care and other third-party payors is net operating revenues from insurance companies with which we have insurance provider contracts, Medicare Managed Care, insurance companies for which we do not have insurance provider contracts, workers’ compensation carriers and non-patient service revenue, such as rental income and cafeteria sales. In the future, we generally expect revenues received from the Medicare and Medicaid programs to increase due to the general aging of the population. In addition, the Reform Legislation (as defined below) will increase the number of insured patients which should reduce revenues from self-pay patients and reduce the provision for bad debts. The Reform Legislation, however, imposes significant reductions in amounts the government pays Medicare Managed Care plans. Other provisions in the Reform Legislation impose minimum medical-loss ratios and require insurers to meet specific benefit requirements. In addition, specified managed care programs, insurance companies, and employers are actively negotiating the amounts paid to hospitals. The trend toward increased enrollment in managed care may adversely affect our net operating revenue growth. There can be no assurance that we will retain our existing reimbursement arrangements or that these third-party payors will not attempt to further reduce the rates they pay for our services.
 
Medicare is a federal program that provides medical insurance benefits to persons age 65 and over, some disabled persons, and persons with end-stage renal disease. Medicaid is a federal-state funded program, administered by the states, which provides medical benefits to individuals who are unable to afford healthcare. All of our hospitals are certified as providers of Medicare and Medicaid services. Amounts received under the Medicare and Medicaid programs are generally significantly less than a hospital’s customary charges for the services provided. Since a substantial portion of our revenue comes from patients under Medicare and Medicaid programs, our ability to operate our business successfully in the future will depend in large measure on our ability to adapt to changes in these programs.
 
In addition to government programs, we are paid by private payors, which include insurance companies, HMOs, PPOs, other managed care companies, employers, and by patients directly. Blue Cross payors are included in the “Managed Care and other third-party payors” line in the above table. Patients are generally not responsible for any difference between customary hospital charges and amounts paid for hospital services by Medicare and Medicaid programs, insurance companies, HMOs, PPOs, and other managed care companies, but are responsible for services not covered by these programs or plans, as well as for deductibles and co-insurance obligations of their coverage. The amount of these deductibles and co-insurance obligations has increased in recent years. Collection of amounts due from individuals is typically more difficult than collection of amounts due from government or business payors. To further reduce their healthcare costs, an increasing number of insurance companies, HMOs, PPOs, and other managed care companies are negotiating discounted fee structures or fixed amounts for hospital services performed, rather than paying healthcare providers the amounts billed. We negotiate discounts with managed care companies, which are typically smaller than discounts under governmental programs. If an increased number of insurance companies, HMOs, PPOs, and other managed care companies succeed in negotiating discounted fee structures or fixed amounts, our results of operations may be negatively affected. For more information on the payment programs on which our revenues depend, see “Payment” on page 19.
 
As of December 31, 2010, Indiana, Texas and Pennsylvania represented our only areas of geographic concentration. Net operating revenues as a percentage of consolidated net operating revenues generated in Indiana were 10.3% in 2010 and 10.9% in both 2009 and 2008. Net operating revenues as a percentage of consolidated net operating revenues generated in Texas were 13.0% in 2010, 13.2% in 2009 and 13.3% in 2008. Net operating revenues as a percentage of consolidated net operating revenues generated in Pennsylvania were 10.0% in 2010, 9.9% in 2009 and 8.9% in 2008.
 
Hospital revenues depend upon inpatient occupancy levels, the volume of outpatient procedures, and the charges or negotiated payment rates for hospital services provided. Charges and payment rates for routine inpatient services vary significantly depending on the type of service performed and the geographic location of


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the hospital. In recent years, we have experienced a significant increase in revenue received from outpatient services. We attribute this increase to:
 
  •  advances in technology, which have permitted us to provide more services on an outpatient basis; and
 
  •  pressure from Medicare or Medicaid programs, insurance companies, and managed care plans to reduce hospital stays and to reduce costs by having services provided on an outpatient rather than on an inpatient basis.
 
Government Regulation
 
Overview.  The healthcare industry is required to comply with extensive government regulation at the federal, state, and local levels. Under these regulations, hospitals must meet requirements to be certified as hospitals and qualified to participate in government programs, including the Medicare and Medicaid programs. These requirements relate to the adequacy of medical care, equipment, personnel, operating policies and procedures, maintenance of adequate records, hospital use, rate-setting, compliance with building codes, and environmental protection laws. There are also extensive regulations governing a hospital’s participation in these government programs. If we fail to comply with applicable laws and regulations, we can be subject to criminal penalties and civil sanctions, our hospitals can lose their licenses and we could lose our ability to participate in these government programs. In addition, government regulations may change. If that happens, we may have to make changes in our facilities, equipment, personnel, and services so that our hospitals remain certified as hospitals and qualified to participate in these programs. We believe that our hospitals are in substantial compliance with current federal, state, and local regulations and standards.
 
Hospitals are subject to periodic inspection by federal, state, and local authorities to determine their compliance with applicable regulations and requirements necessary for licensing and certification. All of our hospitals are licensed under appropriate state laws and are qualified to participate in Medicare and Medicaid programs. In addition, most of our hospitals are accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. This accreditation indicates that a hospital satisfies the applicable health and administrative standards to participate in Medicare and Medicaid programs.
 
Healthcare Reform.  The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, or ARRA, was signed into law on February 17, 2009, providing for a temporary increase in the federal matching assistance percentage (FMAP), a temporary increase in federal Medicaid Disproportionate Share Hospital, or DSH, allotments, subsidization of health insurance premiums (COBRA) for up to nine months, and grants and loans for infrastructure and incentive payments for providers who adopt and use health information technology. This act also provides penalties by reducing reimbursement from Medicare in the form of reductions to scheduled market basket increases beginning in federal fiscal year 2015 if eligible hospitals and professionals fail to demonstrate meaningful use of electronic health record technology. The 2010 Department of Defense Appropriations Act was signed into law on December 19, 2009 and expanded the subsidization of health insurance premiums (COBRA) to 15 months and extended the eligibility period for individuals losing their jobs through February 28, 2010.
 
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, or PPACA, was signed into law on March 23, 2010. In addition, the Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act of 2010, or Reconciliation Act, which contains a number of amendments to PPACA, was signed into law on March 30, 2010. These healthcare acts, referred to collectively as the Reform Legislation, include a mandate that requires substantially all U.S. citizens to maintain medical insurance coverage which will ultimately increase the number of persons with access to health insurance in the United States. The Reform Legislation should result in a reduction in uninsured patients, which should reduce our expense from uncollectible accounts receivable; however, this legislation makes a number of other changes to Medicare and Medicaid, such as reductions to the Medicare annual market basket update for federal fiscal years 2010 through 2019, a productivity offset to the Medicare market basket update beginning October 1, 2011, and a reduction to the Medicare and Medicaid disproportionate share payments, that could adversely impact the reimbursement received under these programs. The various provisions in the Reform Legislation that directly or indirectly affect reimbursement are scheduled to take effect over a number of years, and we cannot predict their impact at this time. Other provisions of the Reform


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Legislation, such as requirements related to employee health insurance coverage, should increase our operating costs.
 
Also included in the Reform Legislation are provisions aimed at reducing fraud, waste and abuse in the healthcare industry. These provisions allocate significant additional resources to federal enforcement agencies and expand the use of private contractors to recover potentially inappropriate Medicare and Medicaid payments. The Reform Legislation amends several existing federal laws, including the Medicare Anti-Kickback Statute and the False Claims Act, making it easier for government agencies and private plaintiffs to prevail in lawsuits brought against healthcare providers. These amendments also make it easier for potentially severe fines and penalties to be imposed on healthcare providers accused of violating applicable laws and regulations.
 
In a number of markets, we have partnered with local physicians in the ownership of our facilities. Such investments have been permitted under an exception to the physician self-referral law, or Stark Law, that allows physicians to invest in an entire hospital (as opposed to individual hospital departments). The Reform Legislation changes the “whole hospital” exception to the Stark Law. The Reform Legislation permits existing physician investments in a whole hospital to continue under a “grandfather” clause if the arrangement satisfies certain requirements and restrictions, but physicians became prohibited, from the time the Reform Legislation became effective, from increasing the aggregate percentage of their ownership in the hospital. The Reform Legislation also restricts the ability of existing physician-owned hospitals to expand the capacity of their facilities. Physician investments in hospitals that are under development are protected by the grandfather clause only if the physician investments have been made and the hospital has a Medicare provider agreement as of a specific date.
 
The impact of the Reform Legislation on each of our hospitals will vary depending on payor mix and a variety of other factors. We anticipate that many of the provisions in the Reform Legislation will be subject to further clarification and modification through the rule-making process, the development of agency guidance and judicial interpretations. Moreover, a number of state attorneys general are challenging the legality of certain aspects of the Reform Legislation. Currently, rulings in four separate Federal District Courts, regarding the constitutionality of the Reform Legislation, have been split, with two courts ruling in favor of the legislation and two courts ruling that part or all of the Reform Legislation was unconstitutional. These decisions are likely to be appealed and may ultimately end up before the United States Supreme Court. We cannot predict the impact the Reform Legislation may have on our business, results of operations, cash flow, capital resources and liquidity or the ultimate outcome of the judicial rulings. Furthermore, we cannot predict whether we will be able to modify certain aspects of our operations to offset any potential adverse consequences from the Reform Legislation.
 
Fraud and Abuse Laws.  Participation in the Medicare program is heavily regulated by federal statute and regulation. If a hospital fails substantially to comply with the requirements for participating in the Medicare program, the hospital’s participation in the Medicare program may be terminated and/or civil or criminal penalties may be imposed. For example, a hospital may lose its ability to participate in the Medicare program if it performs any of the following acts:
 
  •  making claims to Medicare for services not provided or misrepresenting actual services provided in order to obtain higher payments;
 
  •  paying money to induce the referral of patients where services are reimbursable under a federal health program; or
 
  •  paying money to limit or reduce the services provided to Medicare beneficiaries.
 
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, or HIPAA, broadened the scope of the fraud and abuse laws. Under HIPAA, any person or entity that knowingly and willfully defrauds or attempts to defraud a healthcare benefit program, including private healthcare plans, may be subject to fines, imprisonment or both. Additionally, any person or entity that knowingly and willfully falsifies or conceals a material fact or makes any material false or fraudulent statements in connection with the delivery or payment of healthcare services by a healthcare benefit plan is subject to a fine, imprisonment or both.


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Another law regulating the healthcare industry is a section of the Social Security Act, known as the “anti-kickback” statute. This law prohibits some business practices and relationships under Medicare, Medicaid, and other federal healthcare programs. These practices include the payment, receipt, offer, or solicitation of remuneration of any kind in exchange for items or services that are reimbursed under most federal or state healthcare programs. Violations of the anti-kickback statute may be punished by criminal and civil fines, exclusion from federal healthcare programs, and damages up to three times the total dollar amount involved.
 
The Office of Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services, or OIG, is responsible for identifying and investigating fraud and abuse activities in federal healthcare programs. As part of its duties, the OIG provides guidance to healthcare providers by identifying types of activities that could violate the anti-kickback statute. The OIG also publishes regulations outlining activities and business relationships that would be deemed not to violate the anti-kickback statute. These regulations are known as “safe harbor” regulations. However, the failure of a particular activity to comply with the safe harbor regulations does not necessarily mean that the activity violates the anti-kickback statute.
 
The OIG has identified the following incentive arrangements as potential violations of the anti-kickback statute:
 
  •  payment of any incentive by the hospital when a physician refers a patient to the hospital;
 
  •  use of free or significantly discounted office space or equipment for physicians in facilities usually located close to the hospital;
 
  •  provision of free or significantly discounted billing, nursing, or other staff services;
 
  •  free training for a physician’s office staff, including management and laboratory techniques (but excluding compliance training);
 
  •  guarantees which provide that if the physician’s income fails to reach a predetermined level, the hospital will pay any portion of the remainder;
 
  •  low-interest or interest-free loans, or loans which may be forgiven if a physician refers patients to the hospital;
 
  •  payment of the costs of a physician’s travel and expenses for conferences;
 
  •  payment of services which require few, if any, substantive duties by the physician, or payment for services in excess of the fair market value of the services rendered; or
 
  •  purchasing goods or services from physicians at prices in excess of their fair market value.
 
We have a variety of financial relationships with physicians who refer patients to our hospitals. Physicians own interests in a number of our facilities. Physicians may also own our stock. We also have contracts with physicians providing for a variety of financial arrangements, including employment contracts, leases, management agreements, and professional service agreements. We provide financial incentives to recruit physicians to relocate to communities served by our hospitals. These incentives include relocation, reimbursement for certain direct expenses, income guarantees and, in some cases, loans. Although we believe that we have structured our arrangements with physicians in light of the “safe harbor” rules, we cannot assure you that regulatory authorities will not determine otherwise. If that happens, we could be subject to criminal and civil penalties and/or exclusion from participating in Medicare, Medicaid, or other government healthcare programs.
 
The Social Security Act also includes a provision commonly known as the “Stark Law.” This law prohibits physicians from referring Medicare patients to healthcare entities in which they or any of their immediate family members have ownership interests or other financial arrangements. These types of referrals are commonly known as “self referrals.” Sanctions for violating the Stark Law include denial of payment, civil money penalties, assessments equal to twice the dollar value of each service, and exclusion from government payor programs. There are ownership and compensation arrangement exceptions to the self-referral prohibition. One exception allows a physician to make a referral to a hospital if the physician owns an interest in the entire hospital, as opposed to an ownership interest in a department of the hospital. Another exception allows


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a physician to refer patients to a healthcare entity in which the physician has an ownership interest if the entity is located in a rural area, as defined in the statute. There are also exceptions for many of the customary financial arrangements between physicians and providers, including employment contracts, leases, and recruitment agreements. From time to time, the federal government has issued regulations which interpret the provisions included in the Stark Law. The Reform Legislation changed the “whole hospital” exception to the Stark Law. The Reform Legislation permitted existing physician investments in a whole hospital to continue under a “grandfather” clause if the arrangement satisfies certain requirements and restrictions, but physicians became prohibited, from the time the Reform Legislation became effective, from increasing the aggregate percentage of their ownership in the hospital. The Reform Legislation also restricted the ability of existing physician-owned hospitals to expand the capacity of their aggregate licensed beds, operating rooms and procedure rooms. Physician investments in hospitals that are under development are protected by the grandfather clause only if the physician investments have been made and the hospital has a Medicare provider agreement as of a specific date. The whole hospital exception, as amended, also contains additional disclosure requirements. For example, a grandfathered physician-owned hospital is required to submit an annual report to the Department of Health and Human Services, or DHHS, listing each investor in the hospital, including all physician owners. In addition, grandfathered physician-owned hospitals must have procedures in place that require each referring physician owner to disclose to patients, with enough notice for the patient to make a meaningful decision regarding receipt of care, the physician’s ownership interest and, if applicable, any ownership interest held by the treating physician. A grandfathered physician-owned hospital also must disclose on its web site and in any public advertising the fact that it has physician ownership. The Reform Legislation requires grandfathered physician-owned hospitals to comply with these new requirements by September 23, 2011 and requires audits of the hospitals’ compliance beginning no later than May 1, 2012.
 
In addition to the restrictions and disclosure requirements applicable to physician-owned hospitals set forth in the Reform Legislation, CMS regulations require physician-owned hospitals and their physician owners to disclose certain ownership information to patients. Physician-owned hospitals that receive referrals from physician owners must disclose in writing to patients that such hospitals are owned by physicians and that patients may receive a list of the hospitals’ physician investors upon request. Additionally, a physician-owned hospital must require all physician owners who are members of the hospital’s medical staff to agree, as a condition of continued medical staff membership or admitting privileges, to disclose in writing to all patients whom they refer to the hospital their (or an immediate family member’s) ownership interest in the hospital. A hospital is considered to be physician-owned if any physician, or an immediate family member of a physician, holds debt, stock or other types of investment in the hospital or in any owner of the hospital, excluding physician ownership through publicly-traded securities that meet certain conditions. If a hospital fails to comply with these regulations, the hospital could lose its Medicare provider agreement and be unable to participate in Medicare.
 
Sanctions for violating the Stark Law include denial of payment, civil monetary penalties of up to $15,000 per claim submitted and exclusion from the federal healthcare programs. The statute also provides for a penalty of up to $100,000 for a scheme intended to circumvent the Stark Law prohibitions.
 
Evolving interpretations of current, or the adoption of new, federal or state laws or regulations could affect many of the arrangements entered into by each of our hospitals. In addition, law enforcement authorities, including the OIG, the courts and Congress are increasing scrutiny of arrangements between healthcare providers and potential referral sources to ensure that the arrangements are not designed as a mechanism to improperly pay for patient referrals and or other business. Investigators also have demonstrated a willingness to look behind the formalities of a business transaction to determine the underlying purpose of payments between healthcare providers and potential referral sources.
 
Many states in which we operate have also adopted laws that prohibit payments to physicians in exchange for referrals similar to the federal anti-kickback statute or that otherwise prohibit fraud and abuse activities. Many states have also passed self-referral legislation similar to the Stark Law, prohibiting the referral of patients to entities with which the physician has a financial relationship. Often these state laws are broad in scope and may apply regardless of the source of payment for care. These statutes typically provide criminal


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and civil penalties, as well as loss of licensure. Little precedent exists for the interpretation or enforcement of these state laws.
 
Our operations could be adversely affected by the failure of our arrangements to comply with the anti-kickback statute, the Stark Law, billing laws and regulations, current state laws or other legislation or regulations in these areas adopted in the future. We are unable to predict whether other legislation or regulations at the federal or state level in any of these areas will be adopted, what form such legislation or regulations may take or how they may affect our operations. We are continuing to enter into new financial arrangements with physicians and other providers in a manner structured to comply in all material respects with these laws. We cannot assure you, however, that governmental officials responsible for enforcing these laws or whistleblowers will not assert that we are in violation of them or that such statutes or regulations ultimately will be interpreted by the courts in a manner consistent with our interpretation.
 
We strive to comply with the Stark Law and regulations; however, the government may interpret the law and regulations differently. If we are found to have violated the Stark Law or regulations, we could be subject to significant sanctions, including damages, penalties, and exclusion from federal healthcare programs.
 
Federal False Claims Act and Similar State Laws.  Another trend affecting the healthcare industry today is the increased use of the federal False Claims Act, or FCA, and, in particular, actions being brought by individuals on the government’s behalf under the FCA’s “qui tam” or whistleblower provisions. Whistleblower provisions allow private individuals to bring actions on behalf of the government alleging that the defendant has defrauded the federal government. If the government intervenes in the action and prevails, the party filing the initial complaint may share in any settlement or judgment. If the government does not intervene in the action, the whistleblower plaintiff may pursue the action independently and may receive a larger share of any settlement or judgment. When a private party brings a qui tam action under the FCA, the defendant generally will not be made aware of the lawsuit until the government commences its own investigation or makes a determination whether it will intervene. Further, every entity that receives at least $5 million annually in Medicaid payments must have written policies for all employees, contractors or agents, providing detailed information about false claims, false statements and whistleblower protections under certain federal laws, including the FCA, and similar state laws.
 
When a defendant is determined by a court of law to be liable under the FCA, the defendant must pay three times the actual damages sustained by the government, plus mandatory civil penalties of between $5,500 and $11,000 for each separate false claim. Settlements entered into prior to litigation usually involve a less severe calculation of damages. There are many potential bases for liability under the FCA. Liability often arises when an entity knowingly submits a false claim for reimbursement to the federal government. The FCA broadly defines the term “knowingly.” Although simple negligence will not give rise to liability under the FCA, submitting a claim with reckless disregard to its truth or falsity can constitute “knowingly” submitting a false claim and result in liability. In some cases, whistleblowers, the federal government and courts have taken the position that providers who allegedly have violated other statutes, such as the anti-kickback statute or the Stark Law, have thereby submitted false claims under the FCA. The Reform Legislation clarifies this issue with respect to the anti-kickback statute by providing that submission of a claim for an item or service generated in violation of the anti-kickback statute constitutes a false or fraudulent claim under the FCA. The Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act of 2009 expanded the scope of the FCA by, among other things, creating liability for knowingly and improperly avoiding repayment of an overpayment received from the government and broadening protections for whistleblowers. Under the Reform Legislation, the FCA is implicated by the knowing failure to report and return an overpayment within 60 days of identifying the overpayment or by the date a corresponding cost report is due, whichever is later. Further, the FCA will cover payments involving federal funds in connection with the new health insurance exchanges to be created pursuant to the Reform Legislation.
 
A number of states, including states in which we operate, have adopted their own false claims provisions as well as their own whistleblower provisions whereby a private party may file a civil lawsuit in state court. The Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 creates an incentive for states to enact false claims laws that are


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comparable to the FCA. From time to time, companies in the healthcare industry, including ours, may be subject to actions under the FCA or similar state laws.
 
Corporate Practice of Medicine; Fee-Splitting.  Some states have laws that prohibit unlicensed persons or business entities, including corporations, from employing physicians. Some states also have adopted laws that prohibit direct or indirect payments or fee-splitting arrangements between physicians and unlicensed persons or business entities. Possible sanctions for violations of these restrictions include loss of a physician’s license, civil and criminal penalties and rescission of business arrangements. These laws vary from state to state, are often vague and have seldom been interpreted by the courts or regulatory agencies. We structure our arrangements with healthcare providers to comply with the relevant state law. However, we cannot be assured that governmental officials responsible for enforcing these laws will not assert that we, or transactions in which we are involved, are in violation of these laws. These laws may also be interpreted by the courts in a manner inconsistent with our interpretations.
 
Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act.  The Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act imposes requirements as to the care that must be provided to anyone who comes to facilities providing emergency medical services seeking care before they may be transferred to another facility or otherwise denied care. Sanctions for failing to fulfill these requirements include exclusion from participation in Medicare and Medicaid programs and civil money penalties. In addition, the law creates private civil remedies which enable an individual who suffers personal harm as a direct result of a violation of the law to sue the offending hospital for damages and equitable relief. A medical facility that suffers a financial loss as a direct result of another participating hospital’s violation of the law also has a similar right. Although we believe that our practices are in compliance with the law, we can give no assurance that governmental officials responsible for enforcing the law or others will not assert we are in violation of these laws.
 
Conversion Legislation.  Many states, including some where we have hospitals and others where we may in the future acquire hospitals, have adopted legislation regarding the sale or other disposition of hospitals operated by not-for-profit entities. In other states that do not have specific legislation, the attorneys general have demonstrated an interest in these transactions under their general obligations to protect charitable assets from waste. These legislative and administrative efforts primarily focus on the appropriate valuation of the assets divested and the use of the proceeds of the sale by the not-for-profit seller. While these reviews and, in some instances, approval processes can add additional time to the closing of a hospital acquisition, we have not had any significant difficulties or delays in completing the process. There can be no assurance, however, that future actions on the state level will not seriously delay or even prevent our ability to acquire hospitals. If these activities are widespread, they could limit our ability to acquire hospitals.
 
Certificates of Need.  The construction of new facilities, the acquisition of existing facilities and the addition of new services at our facilities may be subject to state laws that require prior approval by state regulatory agencies. These CON laws generally require that a state agency determine the public need and give approval prior to the construction or acquisition of facilities or the addition of new services. As of December 31, 2010, we operated 56 hospitals in 16 states that have adopted CON laws for acute care facilities. If we fail to obtain necessary state approval, we will not be able to expand our facilities, complete acquisitions or add new services in these states. Violation of these state laws may result in the imposition of civil sanctions or the revocation of a hospital’s licenses.
 
HIPAA Administrative Simplification and Privacy and Security Requirements.  HIPAA requires the use of uniform electronic data transmission standards for healthcare claims and payment transactions submitted or received electronically. These provisions are intended to encourage electronic commerce in the healthcare industry. The DHHS has established electronic data transmission standards that all healthcare providers must use when submitting or receiving certain healthcare transactions electronically. In addition, HIPAA requires that each provider use a National Provider Identifier. In January 2009, CMS published a final rule making changes to the formats used for certain electronic transactions and requiring the use of updated standard code sets for certain diagnoses and procedures known as ICD-10 code sets. Although use of the ICD-10 code sets is not mandatory until October 1, 2013, we will be modifying our payment systems and processes to prepare for their implementation. Use of the ICD-10 code sets will require significant changes; however, we believe that


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the cost of compliance with these regulations has not had and is not expected to have a material adverse effect on our business, financial position or results of operations. The Reform Legislation requires the DHHS to adopt standards for additional electronic transactions and to establish operating rules to promote uniformity in the implementation of each standardized electronic transaction.
 
As required by HIPAA, DHHS has issued privacy and security regulations that extensively regulate the use and disclosure of individually identifiable health-related information and require healthcare providers to implement administrative, physical and technical practices to protect the security of individually identifiable health information that is electronically maintained or transmitted. ARRA broadens the scope of the HIPAA privacy and security regulations. In addition, ARRA extends the application of certain provisions of the security and privacy regulations to business associates (entities that handle identifiable health-related information on behalf of covered entities) and subjects business associates to civil and criminal penalties for violation of the regulations. On July 14, 2010, the DHHS issued a proposed rule that would implement these ARRA provisions. If finalized, these changes would likely require amendments to existing agreements with business associates and would subject business associates and their subcontractors to direct liability under the HIPAA privacy and security regulations. We have developed and utilize a HIPAA compliance plan as part of our effort to comply with HIPAA privacy and security requirements. The privacy regulations and security regulations have and will continue to impose significant costs on our facilities in order to comply with these standards.
 
As required by ARRA, the DHHS published an interim final rule on August 24, 2009, that requires covered entities to report breaches of unsecured protected health information to affected individuals without unreasonable delay, but not to exceed 60 days of discovery of the breach by the covered entity or its agents. Notification must also be made to the DHHS and, in certain situations involving large breaches, to the media. Various state laws and regulations may also require us to notify affected individuals in the event of a data breach involving individually identifiable information.
 
Violations of the HIPAA privacy and security regulations may result in civil and criminal penalties, and ARRA has strengthened the enforcement provisions of HIPAA, which may result in increased enforcement activity. Under ARRA, the DHHS is required to conduct periodic compliance audits of covered entities and their business associates. ARRA broadens the applicability of the criminal penalty provisions to employees of covered entities and requires the DHHS to impose penalties for violations resulting from willful neglect. ARRA significantly increases the amount of the civil penalties, with penalties of up to $50,000 per violation for a maximum civil penalty of $1,500,000 in a calendar year for violations of the same requirement. Further, ARRA authorizes state attorneys general to bring civil actions seeking either injunction or damages in response to violations of HIPAA privacy and security regulations that threaten the privacy of state residents. Our facilities also are subject to any federal or state privacy-related laws that are more restrictive than the privacy regulations issued under HIPAA. These laws vary and could impose additional penalties.
 
There are numerous other laws and legislative and regulatory initiatives at the federal and state levels addressing privacy and security concerns. For example, in October 2007, the Federal Trade Commission issued a final rule requiring financial institutions and creditors, which arguably included hospitals and other healthcare providers, to implement written identity theft prevention programs to detect, prevent, and mitigate identity theft in connection with certain accounts. The enforcement date for this rule has been postponed until December 31, 2010. In addition, Congress recently has passed legislation that would restrict the definition of a “creditor” and may exempt many hospitals from complying with the rule.
 
Payment
 
Medicare.  Under the Medicare program, we are paid for inpatient and outpatient services performed by our hospitals.
 
Payments for inpatient acute services are generally made pursuant to a prospective payment system, commonly known as “PPS.” Under PPS, our hospitals are paid a predetermined amount for each hospital discharge based on the patient’s diagnosis. Specifically, each discharge is assigned to a diagnosis-related group, commonly known as a “DRG,” based upon the patient’s condition and treatment during the relevant inpatient stay. For the federal fiscal year 2008 (i.e., the federal fiscal year beginning October 1, 2007), each


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DRG was assigned a payment rate using 67% of the national average cost per case and 33% of the national average charge per case and 50% of the change to severity adjusted DRG weights. Severity adjusted DRG’s more accurately reflect the costs a hospital incurs for caring for a patient and accounts more fully for the severity of each patient’s condition. Commencing with the federal fiscal year 2009 (i.e., the federal fiscal year beginning October 1, 2008), each DRG is assigned a payment rate using 100% of the national average cost per case and 100% of the severity adjusted DRG weights. DRG payments are based on national averages and not on charges or costs specific to a hospital. However, DRG payments are adjusted by a predetermined geographic adjustment factor assigned to the geographic area in which the hospital is located. While a hospital generally does not receive payment in addition to a DRG payment, hospitals may qualify for an “outlier” payment when the relevant patient’s treatment costs are extraordinarily high and exceed a specified regulatory threshold.
 
The DRG rates are adjusted by an update factor on October 1 of each year, the beginning of the federal fiscal year. The index used to adjust the DRG rates, known as the “market basket index,” gives consideration to the inflation experienced by hospitals in purchasing goods and services. DRG payment rates were increased by the full “market basket index,” for the federal fiscal years 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011, or 3.3%, 3.6%, 2.1% and 2.6%, respectively. In addition, the DRG payment rates were reduced by 0.25% on April 1, 2010 and by 0.25% on October 1, 2010, as mandated by the Reform Legislation. The DRG payment rates were also reduced by 2.9% for federal fiscal year 2011 for behavioral changes in coding practices relative to MS-DRGs. The Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 imposed a two percentage point reduction to the market basket index beginning October 1, 2007, and each year thereafter, if patient quality data is not submitted. We are complying with this data submission requirement. Future legislation may decrease the rate of increase for DRG payments or even decrease such payment rates, but we are not able to predict the amount of any reduction or the effect that any reduction will have on us.
 
In addition, hospitals may qualify for Medicare disproportionate share payments when their percentage of low income patients exceeds specified regulatory thresholds. A majority of our hospitals qualify to receive Medicare disproportionate share payments. For the majority of our hospitals that qualify to receive Medicare disproportionate share payments, these payments were increased by the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 effective April 1, 2004. These Medicare disproportionate share payments as a percentage of net operating revenues were 1.6%, 1.6% and 1.8% for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively.
 
Beginning August 1, 2000, we began receiving Medicare reimbursement for outpatient services through a PPS. Under the Balanced Budget Refinement Act of 1999, non-urban hospitals with 100 beds or less were held harmless through December 31, 2004 under this Medicare outpatient PPS. The Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 extended the hold harmless provision for non-urban hospitals with 100 beds or less and for non-urban sole community hospitals with more than 100 beds through December 31, 2005. The Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 extended the hold harmless provision for non-urban hospitals with 100 beds or less that are not sole community hospitals through December 31, 2008; however, that Act reduced the amount these hospitals would receive in hold harmless payment by 10% in 2007 and 15% in 2008. Of our 121 hospitals in continuing operations at December 31, 2008, 31 qualified for this relief. The Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act extended the hold harmless provision for non-urban hospitals with 100 beds or less, including non-urban sole community hospitals, through December 31, 2009, at 85% of the hold harmless amount. Of our 125 hospitals at December 31, 2009, 44 qualified for this relief. The Reform Legislation extended the hold harmless provision for non-urban hospitals with 100 beds or less, including non-urban sole community hospitals, through December 31, 2010. Of our 130 hospitals at December 31, 2010, 46 qualified for this relief. The Medicare and Medicaid Extenders Act of 2010 extended the hold harmless provision for non-urban hospitals with 100 beds or less, including non-urban sole community hospitals, through December 31, 2011. The outpatient conversion factor was increased 3.3% effective January 1, 2008; however, coupled with adjustments to other variables with the outpatient PPS, an approximate 3.0% to 3.4% net increase in outpatient payments occurred. The outpatient conversion factor was increased 3.6% effective January 1, 2009; however, coupled with adjustments to other variables with outpatient PPS, an approximate 3.5% to 3.9% net increase in outpatient payments occurred. The outpatient conversion


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factor was increased 2.1% effective January 1, 2010; however, coupled with adjustments to other variables with outpatient PPS, an approximate 1.8% to 2.2% net increase in outpatient payments occurred. The outpatient conversion factor was increased to 2.35% effective January 1, 2011; however, coupled with adjustments to other variables with outpatient PPS, an approximate 2.1% to 2.5% net increase in outpatient payments is expected to occur. The Medicare Improvements and Extension Act of the Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006 imposed a two percentage point reduction to the market basket index beginning January 1, 2009, and each year thereafter, if patient quality data is not submitted. We are complying with this data submission requirement.
 
DHHS established a PPS for home health services (i.e., home care) effective October 1, 2000. The home health agency PPS per episodic payment rate increased by 3% on January 1, 2008; however, coupled with adjustments to other variables with home health agency PPS, an approximate 1.5% to 1.9% net increase in home health agency payments occurred. The home health agency PPS per episodic payment rate increased by 2.9% on January 1, 2009; however, coupled with adjustments to other variables with home health agency PPS, an approximate 0.2% net increase in home health agency payments occurred. The home health agency PPS per episodic payment rate increased by 2.0% on January 1, 2010; however, coupled with adjustments to other variables with home health agency PPS, an approximate 2.3% net increase in home health agency payments occurred. The home health agency PPS per episodic payment rate increased 1.1% on January 1, 2011; however, coupled with adjustments to other variables with home health agency PPS, an approximate 4.9% net decrease in home health agency payments is expected to occur. Reform Legislation increases the home health agency PPS per episodic payment rate by 3.0% for home health services provided to patients in rural areas on or after April 1, 2010 through December 31, 2016. The Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 imposed a two percentage point reduction to the market basket index beginning January 1, 2007, and each year thereafter, if patient quality data is not submitted. We are complying with this data submission requirement.
 
Medicaid.  Most state Medicaid payments are made under a PPS or under programs which negotiate payment levels with individual hospitals. Medicaid is currently funded jointly by state and federal government. The federal government and many states are currently considering significantly reducing Medicaid funding, while at the same time expanding Medicaid benefits. Currently, several states utilize supplemental reimbursement programs for the purpose of providing reimbursement to providers to offset a portion of the cost of providing care to Medicaid and indigent patients. These programs are designed with input from CMS and are funded with a combination of state and federal resources, including, in certain instances, fees or taxes levied on the providers. Similar programs are also being considered by other states. We can provide no assurance that reductions to Medicaid fundings will not have a material adverse effect on our consolidated results of operations.
 
Annual Cost Reports.  Hospitals participating in the Medicare and some Medicaid programs, whether paid on a reasonable cost basis or under a PPS, are required to meet specified financial reporting requirements. Federal and, where applicable, state regulations require submission of annual cost reports identifying medical costs and expenses associated with the services provided by each hospital to Medicare beneficiaries and Medicaid recipients.
 
Annual cost reports required under the Medicare and some Medicaid programs are subject to routine governmental audits. These audits may result in adjustments to the amounts ultimately determined to be due to us under these reimbursement programs. Finalization of these audits often takes several years. Providers can appeal any final determination made in connection with an audit. DRG outlier payments have been and continue to be the subject of CMS audit and adjustment. The DHHS OIG is also actively engaged in audits and investigations into alleged abuses of the DRG outlier payment system.
 
Commercial Insurance.  Our hospitals provide services to individuals covered by private healthcare insurance. Private insurance carriers pay our hospitals or in some cases reimburse their policyholders based upon the hospital’s established charges and the coverage provided in the insurance policy. Commercial insurers are trying to limit the costs of hospital services by negotiating discounts, including PPS, which would reduce payments by commercial insurers to our hospitals. Reductions in payments for services provided by our hospitals to individuals covered by commercial insurers could adversely affect us.


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Supply Contracts
 
In March 2005, we began purchasing items, primarily medical supplies, medical equipment and pharmaceuticals, under an agreement with HealthTrust, a GPO in which we are a noncontrolling partner. Triad was also a noncontrolling partner in HealthTrust and we acquired their ownership interest and contractual rights when we acquired Triad. As of December 31, 2010, we have a 17% ownership interest in HealthTrust. By participating in this organization we are able to procure items at competitively priced rates for our hospitals. There can be no assurance that our arrangement with HealthTrust will continue to provide the discounts that we have historically received.
 
Competition
 
The hospital industry is highly competitive. An important part of our business strategy is to continue to acquire hospitals in non-urban markets and selected urban markets. However, other for-profit hospital companies and not-for-profit hospital systems generally attempt to acquire the same type of hospitals as we do. In addition, some hospitals are sold through an auction process, which may result in higher purchase prices than we believe are reasonable.
 
In addition to the competition we face for acquisitions, we must also compete with other hospitals and healthcare providers for patients. The competition among hospitals and other healthcare providers for patients has intensified in recent years. Our hospitals are located in non-urban and selected urban service areas. Those hospitals in non-urban service areas face no direct competition because there are no other hospitals in their primary service areas. However, these hospitals do face competition from hospitals outside of their primary service area, including hospitals in urban areas that provide more complex services. Patients in those service areas may travel to these other hospitals for a variety of reasons, including the need for services we do not offer or physician referrals. Patients who are required to seek services from these other hospitals may subsequently shift their preferences to those hospitals for services we do provide. Those hospitals in selected urban service areas may face competition from hospitals that are more established than our hospitals. Certain of these competing facilities offer services, including extensive medical research and medical education programs, which are not offered by our facilities. In addition, in certain markets where we operate, there are large teaching hospitals that provide highly specialized facilities, equipment and services that may not be available at our hospitals.
 
Some of our hospitals operate in primary service areas where they compete with another hospital. Some of these competing hospitals use equipment and services more specialized than those available at our hospitals and/or are owned by tax-supported governmental agencies or not-for-profit entities supported by endowments and charitable contributions. These hospitals can make capital expenditures without paying sales, property and income taxes. We also face competition from other specialized care providers, including outpatient surgery, orthopedic, oncology, and diagnostic centers.
 
The number and quality of the physicians on a hospital’s staff is an important factor in a hospital’s competitive position. Physicians decide whether a patient is admitted to the hospital and the procedures to be performed. Admitting physicians may be on the medical staffs of other hospitals in addition to those of our hospitals. We attempt to attract our physicians’ patients to our hospitals by offering quality services and facilities, convenient locations, and state-of-the-art equipment.
 
Compliance Program
 
We take an operations team approach to compliance and utilize corporate experts for program design efforts and facility leaders for employee-level implementation. Compliance is another area that demonstrates our utilization of standardization and centralization techniques and initiatives which yield efficiencies and consistency throughout our facilities. We recognize that our compliance with applicable laws and regulations depends on individual employee actions as well as company operations. Our approach focuses on integrating compliance responsibilities with operational functions. This approach is intended to reinforce our company-wide commitment to operate strictly in accordance with the laws and regulations that govern our business.


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Our company-wide compliance program has been in place since 1997. Currently, the program’s elements include leadership, management and oversight at the highest levels, a Code of Conduct, risk area specific policies and procedures, employee education and training, an internal system for reporting concerns, auditing and monitoring programs, and a means for enforcing the program’s policies.
 
Since its initial adoption, the compliance program continues to be expanded and developed to meet the industry’s expectations and our needs. Specific written policies, procedures, training and educational materials and programs, as well as auditing and monitoring activities have been prepared and implemented to address the functional and operational aspects of our business. Included within these functional areas are materials and activities for business sub-units, including laboratory, radiology, pharmacy, emergency, surgery, observation, home care, skilled nursing, and clinics. Specific areas identified through regulatory interpretation and enforcement activities have also been addressed in our program. Claims preparation and submission, including coding, billing, and cost reports, comprise the bulk of these areas. Financial arrangements with physicians and other referral sources, including compliance with anti-kickback and the Stark Law, emergency department treatment and transfer requirements, and other patient disposition issues are also the focus of policy and training, standardized documentation requirements, and review and audit. Another focus of the program is the interpretation and implementation of the HIPAA standards for privacy and security.
 
We have a Code of Conduct which applies to all directors, officers, employees and consultants, and a confidential disclosure program to enhance the statement of ethical responsibility expected of our employees and business associates who work in the accounting, financial reporting, and asset management areas of our Company. Our Code of Conduct is posted on our website at www.chs.net/company_overview/code_conduct.html.
 
Employees
 
At December 31, 2010, we employed approximately 64,000 full-time employees and 23,000 part-time employees. Of these employees, approximately 6,000 are union members. We currently believe that our labor relations are good.
 
Professional Liability Claims
 
As part of our business of owning and operating hospitals, we are subject to legal actions alleging liability on our part. To cover claims arising out of the operations of hospitals, we maintain professional malpractice liability insurance and general liability insurance on a claims made basis in excess of those amounts for which we are self-insured, in amounts we believe to be sufficient for our operations. We also maintain umbrella liability coverage for claims which, due to their nature or amount, are not covered by our other insurance policies. However, our insurance coverage does not cover all claims against us or may not continue to be available at a reasonable cost for us to maintain adequate levels of insurance. For a further discussion of our insurance coverage, see our discussion of professional liability claims in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in Item 7 of this Report.
 
Environmental Matters
 
We are subject to various federal, state, and local laws and regulations governing the use, discharge, and disposal of hazardous materials, including medical waste products. Compliance with these laws and regulations is not expected to have a material adverse effect on us. It is possible, however, that environmental issues may arise in the future which we cannot now predict.
 
We are insured for damages of personal property or environmental injury arising out of environmental impairment for both above ground and underground storage tank issues under one insurance policy for all of our hospitals. Our policy coverage is $5 million per occurrence with a $50,000 deductible and a $20 million annual aggregate. This policy also provides pollution legal liability coverage.


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Item 1A.   Risk Factors
 
The following risk factors could materially and adversely affect our future operating results and could cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted in the forward-looking statements we make about our business.
 
Our level of indebtedness could adversely affect our ability to raise additional capital to fund our operations, limit our ability to react to changes in the economy or our industry and prevent us from meeting our obligations under the agreements relating to our indebtedness.
 
We are significantly leveraged. The chart below shows our level of indebtedness and other information as of December 31, 2010. In connection with the consummation of our acquisition of Triad in July 2007, approximately $7.2 billion of senior secured financing under a new credit facility, or Credit Facility, was obtained by our wholly-owned subsidiary, CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc., or CHS. CHS also issued 8.875% senior notes, or the Notes, having an aggregate principal amount of approximately $3.0 billion. Both the indebtedness under the Credit Facility and the Notes are senior obligations of CHS and are guaranteed on a senior basis by us and by certain of our domestic subsidiaries. We used the net proceeds from the Notes offering and the net proceeds of the approximately $6.1 billion term loans under the Credit Facility to pay the consideration under the merger agreement with Triad, to refinance certain of our existing indebtedness and the indebtedness of Triad, to complete certain related transactions, to pay certain costs and expenses of the transactions and for general corporate uses. As of December 31, 2010, a $750 million revolving credit facility was available to us for working capital and general corporate purposes under the Credit Facility, with $81.9 million of the revolving credit facility being set aside for outstanding letters of credit. On November 5, 2010, we entered into an amendment and restatement of our existing Credit Facility, which extended by two and a half years, until January 25, 2017, the maturity date of $1.5 billion of the existing term loans under the Credit Facility. The remaining approximately $4.5 billion in term loans mature in 2014. With the exception of some small principal payments of our term loans under our Credit Facility, representing less than 1% of the outstanding balance each year through 2013, approximately $4.5 billion of term loans under our Credit Facility mature in 2014, our Notes are due in 2015, and the remaining $1.5 billion in term loans mature in 2017.
 
         
    December 31, 2010  
    ($ in millions)  
 
Senior secured credit facility term loans
  $ 5,999.3  
Notes
    2,784.3  
Other
    87.9  
         
Total debt
  $ 8,871.5  
         
Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders’ equity
  $ 2,189.5  
         
 
The following table shows the ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the periods indicated:
 
                                         
    Year Ended December 31,
    2006   2007   2008   2009   2010
 
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges(1)
    3.37 x       1.20 x       1.45 x       1.59 x       1.67 x  
 
 
(1) There are no shares of preferred stock outstanding.
 
As of December 31, 2010, our approximately $5.4 billion notional amount of interest rate swap agreements represented approximately 89% of our variable rate debt. On a prospective basis, a 1% change in interest rates on the remaining unhedged variable rate debt existing as of December 31, 2010, would result in interest expense fluctuating approximately $6.5 million per year.
 
The Credit Facility and/or the Notes contain various covenants that limit our ability to take certain actions, including our ability to:
 
  •  incur, assume or guarantee additional indebtedness;


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  •  issue redeemable stock and preferred stock;
 
  •  repurchase capital stock;
 
  •  make restricted payments, including paying dividends and making investments;
 
  •  redeem debt that is junior in right of payment to the Notes;
 
  •  create liens;
 
  •  sell or otherwise dispose of assets, including capital stock of subsidiaries;
 
  •  enter into agreements that restrict dividends from subsidiaries;
 
  •  merge, consolidate, sell or otherwise dispose of substantial portions of our assets;
 
  •  enter into transactions with affiliates; and
 
  •  guarantee certain obligations.
 
In addition, our Credit Facility contains restrictive covenants and requires us to maintain specified financial ratios and satisfy other financial condition tests. Our ability to meet these restrictive covenants and financial ratios and tests can be affected by events beyond our control, and we cannot assure you that we will meet those tests.
 
The counterparty to the interest rate swap agreements exposes us to credit risk in the event of non-performance. However, at December 31, 2010, we do not anticipate non-performance by the counterparty due to the net settlement feature of the agreements and our liability position with respect to all of our counterparties.
 
A breach of any of these covenants could result in a default under our Credit Facility and/or the Notes. Upon the occurrence of an event of default under our Credit Facility or the Notes, all amounts outstanding under our Credit Facility and the Notes may become due and payable and all commitments under the Credit Facility to extend further credit may be terminated.
 
Our leverage could have important consequences for you, including the following:
 
  •  it may limit our ability to obtain additional debt or equity financing for working capital, capital expenditures, debt service requirements, acquisitions and general corporate or other purposes;
 
  •  a substantial portion of our cash flows from operations will be dedicated to the payment of principal and interest on our indebtedness and will not be available for other purposes, including our operations, capital expenditures, and future business opportunities;
 
  •  the debt service requirements of our indebtedness could make it more difficult for us to satisfy our financial obligations;
 
  •  some of our borrowings, including borrowings under our Credit Facility, are at variable rates of interest, exposing us to the risk of increased interest rates;
 
  •  it may limit our ability to adjust to changing market conditions and place us at a competitive disadvantage compared to our competitors that have less debt; and
 
  •  we may be vulnerable in a downturn in general economic conditions or in our business, or we may be unable to carry out capital spending that is important to our growth.
 
Despite current indebtedness levels, we may still be able to incur substantially more debt. This could further exacerbate the risks described above.
 
We may be able to incur substantial additional indebtedness in the future. The terms of the indenture governing the Notes do not fully prohibit us from doing so. For example, under the indenture for the Notes, we may incur up to approximately $7.8 billion pursuant to a credit facility or a qualified receivables transaction, less certain amounts repaid with the proceeds of asset dispositions. As of December 31, 2010, our


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Credit Facility provided for commitments of up to approximately $6.7 billion in the aggregate. Additionally, our Credit Facility also gives us the ability to provide for one or more additional tranches of term loans in aggregate principal amount of up to $1.0 billion without the consent of the existing lenders if specified criteria are satisfied and $300 million of borrowing capacity from receivable transactions (including securitizations). If new debt is added to our current debt levels, the related risks that we now face could intensify.
 
If competition decreases our ability to acquire additional hospitals on favorable terms, we may be unable to execute our acquisition strategy.
 
An important part of our business strategy is to acquire two to four hospitals each year. However, not-for-profit hospital systems and other for-profit hospital companies generally attempt to acquire the same type of hospitals as we do. Some of these other purchasers have greater financial resources than we do. Our principal competitors for acquisitions have included Health Management Associates, Inc. and LifePoint Hospitals, Inc. On some occasions, we also compete with HCA Inc., or HCA, and Universal Health Services, Inc., or UHS. In addition, some hospitals are sold through an auction process, which may result in higher purchase prices than we believe are reasonable. Therefore, we may not be able to acquire additional hospitals on terms favorable to us.
 
If we fail to improve the operations of acquired hospitals, we may be unable to achieve our growth strategy.
 
Many of the hospitals we have acquired, had, or future acquisitions may have, significantly lower operating margins than we do and/or operating losses prior to the time we acquired or will acquire them. In the past, we have occasionally experienced temporary delays in improving the operating margins or effectively integrating the operations of these acquired hospitals. In the future, if we are unable to improve the operating margins of acquired hospitals, operate them profitably, or effectively integrate their operations, we may be unable to achieve our growth strategy.
 
If we acquire hospitals with unknown or contingent liabilities, we could become liable for material obligations.
 
Hospitals that we acquire may have unknown or contingent liabilities, including liabilities for failure to comply with healthcare laws and regulations. Although we generally seek indemnification from prospective sellers covering these matters, we may nevertheless have material liabilities for past activities of acquired hospitals.
 
State efforts to regulate the construction, acquisition or expansion of hospitals could prevent us from acquiring additional hospitals, renovating our facilities or expanding the breadth of services we offer.
 
Some states require prior approval for the construction or acquisition of healthcare facilities and for the expansion of healthcare facilities and services. In giving approval, these states consider the need for additional or expanded healthcare facilities or services. In some states in which we operate, we are required to obtain CONs for capital expenditures exceeding a prescribed amount, changes in bed capacity or services, and some other matters. Other states may adopt similar legislation. We may not be able to obtain the required CONs or other prior approvals for additional or expanded facilities in the future. In addition, at the time we acquire a hospital, we may agree to replace or expand the facility we are acquiring. If we are not able to obtain required prior approvals, we would not be able to replace or expand the facility and expand the breadth of services we offer. Furthermore, if a CON or other prior approval, upon which we relied to invest in construction of a replacement or expanded facility, were to be revoked or lost through an appeal process, then we may not be able to recover the value of our investment.


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State efforts to regulate the sale of hospitals operated by not-for-profit entities could prevent us from acquiring additional hospitals and executing our business strategy.
 
Many states, including some where we have hospitals and others where we may in the future acquire hospitals, have adopted legislation regarding the sale or other disposition of hospitals operated by not-for-profit entities. In other states that do not have specific legislation, the attorneys general have demonstrated an interest in these transactions under their general obligations to protect the use of charitable assets. These legislative and administrative efforts focus primarily on the appropriate valuation of the assets divested and the use of the proceeds of the sale by the non-profit seller. While these review and, in some instances, approval processes can add additional time to the closing of a hospital acquisition, we have not had any significant difficulties or delays in completing acquisitions. However, future actions on the state level could seriously delay or even prevent our ability to acquire hospitals.
 
If we are unable to effectively compete for patients, local residents could use other hospitals.
 
The hospital industry is highly competitive. In addition to the competition we face for acquisitions and physicians, we must also compete with other hospitals and healthcare providers for patients. The competition among hospitals and other healthcare providers for patients has intensified in recent years. The majority of our hospitals are located in non-urban service areas. In over 60% of our markets, we are the sole provider of general healthcare services. In most of our other markets, the primary competitor is a not-for-profit hospital. These not-for-profit hospitals generally differ in each jurisdiction. However, our hospitals face competition from hospitals outside of their primary service area, including hospitals in urban areas that provide more complex services. Patients in our primary service areas may travel to these other hospitals for a variety of reasons. These reasons include physician referrals or the need for services we do not offer. Patients who seek services from these other hospitals may subsequently shift their preferences to those hospitals for the services we provide.
 
Some of our hospitals operate in primary service areas where they compete with one other hospital; 23 of our hospitals compete with more than one other hospital in their respective primary service areas. Some of these competing hospitals use equipment and services more specialized than those available at our hospitals. In addition, some competing hospitals are owned by tax-supported governmental agencies or not-for-profit entities supported by endowments and charitable contributions. These hospitals can make capital expenditures without paying sales, property and income taxes. We also face competition from other specialized care providers, including outpatient surgery, orthopedic, oncology and diagnostic centers.
 
We expect that these competitive trends will continue. Our inability to compete effectively with other hospitals and other healthcare providers could cause local residents to use other hospitals.
 
The failure to obtain our medical supplies at favorable prices could cause our operating results to decline.
 
We have a five-year participation agreement with HealthTrust, a GPO. This agreement extends to January 2012, with automatic renewal terms of one year, unless either party terminates by giving notice of non-renewal. GPOs attempt to obtain favorable pricing on medical supplies with manufacturers and vendors who sometimes negotiate exclusive supply arrangements in exchange for the discounts they give. To the extent these exclusive supply arrangements are challenged or deemed unenforceable, we could incur higher costs for our medical supplies obtained through HealthTrust. These higher costs could cause our operating results to decline.
 
There can be no assurance that our arrangement with HealthTrust will provide the discounts we expect to achieve.


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If the fair value of our reporting units declines, a material non-cash charge to earnings from impairment of our goodwill could result.
 
At December 31, 2010, we had approximately $4.2 billion of goodwill recorded on our books. We expect to recover the carrying value of this goodwill through our future cash flows. On an ongoing basis, we evaluate, based on the fair value of our reporting units, whether the carrying value of our goodwill is impaired. If the carrying value of our goodwill is impaired, we may incur a material non-cash charge to earnings.
 
A significant decline in operating results or other indicators of impairment at one or more of our facilities could result in a material, non-cash charge to earnings to impair the value of long-lived assets.
 
Our operations are capital intensive and require significant investment in long-lived assets, such as property, equipment and other long-lived intangible assets, including capitalized internal-use software. If one of our facilities experiences declining operating results or is adversely impacted by one or more of these risk factors, we may not be able to recover the carrying value of those assets through our future operating cash flows. On an ongoing basis, we evaluate whether changes in future undiscounted cash flows reflect an impairment in the fair value of our long-lived assets. If the carrying value of those assets is impaired, we may incur a material non-cash charge to earnings.
 
Risks related to our industry
 
We are subject to uncertainties regarding healthcare reform.
 
In recent years, Congress and some state legislatures have introduced an increasing number of proposals to make major changes in the healthcare system, including an increased emphasis on the linkage between quality of care criteria and payment levels such as the submission of patient quality data to the Secretary of Health and Human Services. In addition, CMS conducts ongoing reviews of certain state reimbursement programs.
 
ARRA was signed into law on February 17, 2009, providing for a temporary increase in the federal matching assistance percentage (FMAP), a temporary increase in federal Medicaid DSH allotments, subsidization of health insurance premiums (COBRA) for up to nine months, and grants and loans for infrastructure and incentive payments for providers who adopt and use health information technology. This act also provides penalties by reducing reimbursement from Medicare in the form of reductions to scheduled market basket increases beginning in federal fiscal year 2015 if eligible hospitals and professionals fail to demonstrate meaningful use of electronic health record technology. The 2010 Department of Defense Appropriations Act was signed into law on December 19, 2009 and expanded the subsidization of health insurance premiums (COBRA) to 15 months and extended the eligibility period for individuals losing their jobs through February 28, 2010.
 
PPACA was signed into law on March 23, 2010. In addition, the Reconciliation Act, which contains a number of amendments to PPACA, was signed into law on March 30, 2010. These healthcare acts, referred to collectively as the Reform Legislation, include a mandate that requires substantially all U.S. citizens to maintain medical insurance coverage which will ultimately increase the number of persons with access to health insurance in the United States. The Reform Legislation should result in a reduction in uninsured patients, which should reduce our expense from uncollectible accounts receivable; however, this legislation makes a number of other changes to Medicare and Medicaid, such as reductions to the Medicare annual market basket update for federal fiscal years 2010 through 2019, a productivity offset to the Medicare market basket update beginning October 1, 2011, and a reduction to the Medicare and Medicaid disproportionate share payments, that could adversely impact the reimbursement received under these programs. The various provisions in the Reform Legislation that directly or indirectly affect reimbursement are scheduled to take effect over a number of years, and we cannot predict their impact at this time. Other provisions of the Reform Legislation, such as requirements related to employee health insurance coverage, should increase our operating costs.


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Also included in the Reform Legislation are provisions aimed at reducing fraud, waste and abuse in the healthcare industry. These provisions allocate significant additional resources to federal enforcement agencies and expand the use of private contractors to recover potentially inappropriate Medicare and Medicaid payments. The Reform Legislation amends several existing federal laws, including the Medicare Anti-Kickback Statute and the False Claims Act, making it easier for government agencies and private plaintiffs to prevail in lawsuits brought against healthcare providers. These amendments also make it easier for potentially severe fines and penalties to be imposed on healthcare providers accused of violating applicable laws and regulations.
 
In a number of markets, we have partnered with local physicians in the ownership of our facilities. Such investments have been permitted under an exception to the physician self-referral law, or the Stark Law, that allows physicians to invest in an entire hospital (as opposed to individual hospital departments). The Reform Legislation changes the “whole hospital” exception to the Stark Law. The Reform Legislation permits existing physician investments in a whole hospital to continue under a “grandfather” clause if the arrangement satisfies certain requirements and restrictions, but physicians became prohibited, from the time the Reform Legislation became effective, from increasing the aggregate percentage of their ownership in the hospital. The Reform Legislation also restricts the ability of existing physician-owned hospitals to expand the capacity of their facilities. Physician investments in hospitals that are under development are protected by the grandfather clause only if the physician investments have been made and the hospital has a Medicare provider agreement as of a specific date.
 
The impact of the Reform Legislation on each of our hospitals will vary depending on payor mix and a variety of other factors. We anticipate that many of the provisions in the Reform Legislation will be subject to further clarification and modification through the rule-making process, the development of agency guidance and judicial interpretations. Moreover, a number of state attorneys general are challenging the legality of certain aspects of the Reform Legislation. Currently, rulings in four separate Federal District Courts, regarding the constitutionality of the Reform Legislation, have been split, with two courts ruling in favor of the legislation and two courts ruling that part or all of the Reform Legislation was unconstitutional. These decisions are likely to be appealed and may ultimately end up before the United States Supreme Court. We cannot predict the impact the Reform Legislation may have on our business, results of operations, cash flow, capital resources and liquidity or the ultimate outcome of the judicial rulings. Furthermore, we cannot predict whether we will be able to modify certain aspects of our operations to offset any potential adverse consequences from the Reform Legislation.
 
If federal or state healthcare programs or managed care companies reduce the payments we receive as reimbursement for services we provide, our net operating revenues may decline.
 
In 2010, 37.8% of our net operating revenues came from the Medicare and Medicaid programs. Federal healthcare expenditures continue to increase and state governments continue to face budgetary shortfalls as a result of the current economic downturn and accelerating Medicaid enrollment. As a result, federal and state governments have made, and continue to make, significant changes in the Medicare and Medicaid programs. Some of these changes have decreased, or could decrease, the amount of money we receive for our services relating to these programs.
 
In addition, insurance and managed care companies and other third parties from whom we receive payment for our services increasingly are attempting to control healthcare costs by requiring that hospitals discount payments for their services in exchange for exclusive or preferred participation in their benefit plans. We believe that this trend may continue and our inability to negotiate increased reimbursement rates or maintain existing rates may reduce the payments we receive for our services.
 
If we fail to comply with extensive laws and government regulations, including fraud and abuse laws, we could suffer penalties or be required to make significant changes to our operations.
 
The healthcare industry is required to comply with many laws and regulations at the federal, state, and local government levels. These laws and regulations require that hospitals meet various requirements, including


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those relating to the adequacy of medical care, equipment, personnel, operating policies and procedures, maintenance of adequate records, compliance with building codes, environmental protection and privacy. These laws include the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 and a section of the Social Security Act, known as the “anti-kickback” statute. If we fail to comply with applicable laws and regulations, including fraud and abuse laws, we could suffer civil or criminal penalties, including the loss of our licenses to operate and our ability to participate in the Medicare, Medicaid, and other federal and state healthcare programs.
 
In addition, there are heightened coordinated civil and criminal enforcement efforts by both federal and state government agencies relating to the healthcare industry, including the hospital segment. Recent enforcement actions have focused on financial arrangements between hospitals and physicians, billing for services without adequately documenting the medical necessity for such services, and billing for services outside the coverage guidelines for such services. Specific to our hospitals, the Department of Justice has alleged that we and three of our New Mexico hospitals have caused the state of New Mexico to submit improper claims for federal funds in violation of the Civil False Claims Act. For a further discussion of this matter, see “Legal Proceedings” in Item 3 of this Report.
 
In the future, different interpretations or enforcement of these laws and regulations could subject our current practices to allegations of impropriety or illegality or could require us to make changes in our facilities, equipment, personnel, services, capital expenditure programs, and operating expenses.
 
A shortage of qualified nurses could limit our ability to grow and deliver hospital healthcare services in a cost-effective manner.
 
Hospitals are currently experiencing a shortage of nursing professionals, a trend which we expect to continue for some time. If the supply of qualified nurses declines in the markets in which our hospitals operate, it may result in increased labor expenses and lower operating margins at those hospitals. In addition, in some markets like California, there are requirements to maintain specified nurse-staffing levels. To the extent we cannot meet those levels, the healthcare services that we provide in these markets may be reduced.
 
If we become subject to significant legal actions, we could be subject to substantial uninsured liabilities or increased insurance costs.
 
In recent years, physicians, hospitals, and other healthcare providers have become subject to an increasing number of legal actions alleging malpractice, product liability, or related legal theories. Even in states that have imposed caps on damages, litigants are seeking recoveries under new theories of liability that might not be subject to the caps on damages. Many of these actions involve large claims and significant defense costs. To protect us from the cost of these claims, we maintain professional malpractice liability insurance and general liability insurance coverage in excess of those amounts for which we are self-insured. This insurance coverage is in amounts that we believe to be sufficient for our operations. However, our insurance coverage does not cover all claims against us or may not continue to be available at a reasonable cost for us to maintain adequate levels of insurance. As a percentage of net operating revenues, our expense related to malpractice and other professional liability claims, including the cost of excess insurance, decreased in 2008 by 0.2%, increased in 2009 by 0.2% and decreased in 2010 by 0.2%. If these costs rise rapidly, our profitability could decline. For a further discussion of our insurance coverage, see our discussion of professional liability claims in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in Item 7 of this Report.
 
If we experience growth in self-pay volume and revenues, our financial condition or results of operations could be adversely affected.
 
Like others in the hospital industry, we have experienced an increase in our provision for bad debts as a percentage of net operating revenues due to a growth in self-pay volume and revenues. Although we continue to seek ways of improving point of service collection efforts and implementing appropriate payment plans with our patients, if we experience growth in self-pay volume and revenues, our results of operations could be adversely affected. Further, our ability to improve collections for self-pay patients may be limited by statutory,


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regulatory and investigatory initiatives, including private lawsuits directed at hospital charges and collection practices for uninsured and underinsured patients.
 
Currently, the global economies, and in particular the United States, are experiencing a period of economic uncertainty and the related financial markets are experiencing a high degree of volatility. This current financial turmoil is adversely affecting the banking system and financial markets and resulting in a tightening in the credit markets, a low level of liquidity in many financial markets and extreme volatility in fixed income, credit, currency and equity markets. This uncertainty poses a risk as it could potentially lead to higher levels of uninsured patients, result in higher levels of patients covered by lower paying government programs and/or result in fiscal uncertainties at both government payors and private insurers.
 
If our implementation of electronic health record systems is not effective or exceeds our budget and timeline, our operations could be adversely affected.
 
ARRA created an incentive payment program for eligible hospitals and health care professionals to adopt and meaningfully use certified electronic health records, or EHR, technology. The implementation of EHR that meets the meaningful use criteria requires a significant capital investment, and our current plan to implement EHR anticipates maximizing the incentive payment program created by ARRA. If our hospitals and employed professionals are unable to meet the requirements for participation in the incentive payment program, we will not be eligible to receive incentive payments that could offset some of the costs of implementing EHR systems. As additional incentive, beginning in federal fiscal year 2015, if eligible hospitals and professionals fail to demonstrate meaningful use of certified EHR technology, they will be penalized with reduced reimbursement from Medicare in the form of reductions to scheduled market basket increases. If we fail to implement EHR systems effectively and in a timely manner, there could be a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position and consolidated results of operations.
 
This Report includes forward-looking statements which could differ from actual future results.
 
Some of the matters discussed in this Report include forward-looking statements. Statements that are predictive in nature, that depend upon or refer to future events or conditions or that include words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “thinks,” and similar expressions are forward-looking statements. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause our actual results and performance to be materially different from any future results or performance expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These factors include the following:
 
  •  general economic and business conditions, both nationally and in the regions in which we operate;
 
  •  implementation and effect of potential and recently-adopted federal and state healthcare legislation;
 
  •  risks associated with our substantial indebtedness, leverage and debt service obligations;
 
  •  demographic changes;
 
  •  changes in, or the failure to comply with, governmental regulations;
 
  •  potential adverse impact of known and unknown government investigations, audits and Federal and State False Claims Act litigation;
 
  •  our ability, where appropriate, to enter into and maintain managed care provider arrangements and the terms of these arrangements;
 
  •  changes in, or the failure to comply with, managed care provider contracts could result in disputes and changes in reimbursement that could be applied retroactively;
 
  •  changes in inpatient or outpatient Medicare and Medicaid payment levels;
 
  •  increases in the amount and risk of collectability of patient accounts receivable;
 
  •  increases in wages as a result of inflation or competition for highly technical positions and rising supply costs due to market pressure from pharmaceutical companies and new product releases;


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  •  liabilities and other claims asserted against us, including self-insured malpractice claims;
 
  •  competition;
 
  •  our ability to attract and retain, without significant employment costs, qualified personnel, key management, physicians, nurses and other healthcare workers;
 
  •  trends toward treatment of patients in less acute or specialty healthcare settings, including ambulatory surgery centers or specialty hospitals;
 
  •  changes in medical or other technology;
 
  •  changes in U.S. GAAP;
 
  •  the availability and terms of capital to fund additional acquisitions or replacement facilities;
 
  •  our ability to successfully acquire additional hospitals;
 
  •  our ability to successfully integrate any acquired hospitals or to recognize expected synergies from such acquisitions;
 
  •  our ability to obtain adequate levels of general and professional liability insurance; and
 
  •  timeliness of reimbursement payments received under government programs.
 
Although we believe that these statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, we can give no assurance that our goals will be achieved. Given these uncertainties, prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this filing. We assume no obligation to update or revise them or provide reasons why actual results may differ.
 
Item 1B.   Unresolved Staff Comments
 
None
 
Item 2.   Properties
 
Corporate Headquarters
 
We own our corporate headquarters building located in Franklin, Tennessee.
 
Hospitals
 
Our hospitals are general care hospitals offering a wide range of inpatient and outpatient medical services. These services generally include general acute care, emergency room, general and specialty surgery, critical care, internal medicine, obstetrics, diagnostic, psychiatric and rehabilitation services. In addition, some of our hospitals provide skilled nursing and home care services based on individual community needs.


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For each of our hospitals owned or leased as of December 31, 2010, the following table shows its location, the date of its acquisition or lease inception and the number of licensed beds:
 
                     
              Date of
   
        Licensed
    Acquisition/Lease
  Ownership
Hospital   City   Beds(1)     Inception   Type
 
Alabama
                   
LV Stabler Memorial Hospital
  Greenville     72     October, 1994   Owned
South Baldwin Regional Medical Center
  Foley     112     June, 2000   Leased
Cherokee Medical Center
  Centre     60     April, 2006   Owned
DeKalb Regional Medical Center
  Fort Payne     134     April, 2006   Owned
Trinity Medical Center
  Birmingham     534     July, 2007   Owned
Flowers Hospital
  Dothan     235     July, 2007   Owned
Medical Center Enterprise
  Enterprise     131     July, 2007   Owned
Gadsden Regional Medical Center
  Gadsden     346     July, 2007   Owned
Crestwood Medical Center
  Huntsville     150     July, 2007   Owned
Alaska
                   
Mat-Su Regional Medical Center
  Palmer     74     July, 2007   Owned
Arizona
                   
Payson Regional Medical Center
  Payson     44     August, 1997   Leased
Western Arizona Regional Medical Center
  Bullhead City     139     July, 2000   Owned
Northwest Medical Center
  Tucson     300     July, 2007   Owned
Northwest Medical Center Oro Valley
  Oro Valley     144     July, 2007   Owned
Arkansas
                   
Harris Hospital
  Newport     133     October, 1994   Owned
Helena Regional Medical Center
  Helena     155     March, 2002   Leased
Forrest City Medical Center
  Forrest City     118     March, 2006   Leased
Northwest Medical Center — Bentonville
  Bentonville     128     July, 2007   Owned
Northwest Medical Center — Springdale
  Springdale     222     July, 2007   Owned
Willow Creek Women’s Hospital(2)
  Johnson     64     July, 2007   Owned
Siloam Springs Memorial Hospital
  Siloam Springs     73     February, 2009   Leased
Medical Center of South Arkansas
  El Dorado     166     April, 2009   Leased
California
                   
Barstow Community Hospital
  Barstow     56     January, 1993   Leased
Fallbrook Hospital
  Fallbrook     47     November, 1998   Operated(3)
Watsonville Community Hospital
  Watsonville     106     September, 1998   Owned
Florida
                   
Lake Wales Medical Center
  Lake Wales     160     December, 2002   Owned
North Okaloosa Medical Center
  Crestview     110     March, 1996   Owned
Georgia
                   
Fannin Regional Hospital
  Blue Ridge     50     January, 1986   Owned
Trinity Hospital of Augusta
  Augusta     231     July, 2007   Leased
Illinois
                   
Crossroads Community Hospital
  Mt. Vernon     57     October, 1994   Owned
Gateway Regional Medical Center
  Granite City     382     January, 2002   Owned
Heartland Regional Medical Center
  Marion     92     October, 1996   Owned
Red Bud Regional Hospital
  Red Bud     31     September, 2001   Owned


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              Date of
   
        Licensed
    Acquisition/Lease
  Ownership
Hospital   City   Beds(1)     Inception   Type
 
Galesburg Cottage Hospital
  Galesburg     173     July, 2004   Owned
Vista Medical Center East
  Waukegan     336     July, 2006   Owned
Vista Medical Center West (psychiatric and
                   
rehabilitation beds)
  Waukegan     71     July, 2006   Owned
Union County Hospital
  Anna     25     November, 2006   Leased
Indiana
                   
Porter Hospital
  Valparaiso     301     May, 2007   Owned
Bluffton Regional Medical Center
  Bluffton     79     July, 2007   Owned
Dupont Hospital
  Fort Wayne     131     July, 2007   Owned
Lutheran Hospital
  Fort Wayne     396     July, 2007   Owned
Lutheran Musculoskeletal Center(4)
  Fort Wayne     39     July, 2007   Owned
Lutheran Rehabilitation Hospital (rehabilitation)
  Fort Wayne     36     July, 2007   Owned
St. Joseph’s Hospital
  Fort Wayne     191     July, 2007   Owned
Dukes Memorial Hospital
  Peru     25     July, 2007   Owned
Kosciusko Community Hospital
  Warsaw     72     July, 2007   Owned
Kentucky
                   
Parkway Regional Hospital
  Fulton     70     May, 1992   Owned
Three Rivers Medical Center
  Louisa     90     May, 1993   Owned
Kentucky River Medical Center
  Jackson     55     August, 1995   Leased
Louisiana
                   
Byrd Regional Hospital
  Leesville     60     October, 1994   Owned
Northern Louisiana Medical Center
  Ruston     159     April, 2007   Owned
Women & Children’s Hospital
  Lake Charles     88     July, 2007   Owned
Mississippi
                   
Wesley Medical Center
  Hattiesburg     211     July, 2007   Owned
River Region Health System
  Vicksburg     341     July, 2007   Owned
Missouri
                   
Moberly Regional Medical Center
  Moberly     103     November, 1993   Owned
Northeast Regional Medical Center
  Kirksville     115     December, 2000   Leased
Nevada
                   
Mesa View Regional Hospital
  Mesquite     25     July, 2007   Owned
New Jersey
                   
Memorial Hospital of Salem County
  Salem     140     September, 2002   Owned
New Mexico
                   
Mimbres Memorial Hospital
  Deming     49     March, 1996   Owned
Eastern New Mexico Medical Center
  Roswell     162     April, 1998   Owned
Alta Vista Regional Hospital
  Las Vegas     54     April, 2000   Owned
Carlsbad Medical Center
  Carlsbad     112     July, 2007   Owned
Lea Regional Medical Center
  Hobbs     201     July, 2007   Owned
Mountain View Regional Medical Center
  Las Cruces     168     July, 2007   Owned
North Carolina
                   
Martin General Hospital
  Williamston     49     November, 1998   Leased

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              Date of
   
        Licensed
    Acquisition/Lease
  Ownership
Hospital   City   Beds(1)     Inception   Type
 
Ohio
                   
Affinity Medical Center
  Massillon     266     July, 2007   Owned
Northside Medical Center
  Youngstown     355     October, 2010   Owned
Trumbull Memorial Hospital
  Warren     311     October, 2010   Owned
Hillside Rehabilitation Hospital (rehabilitation)
  Warren     69     October, 2010   Owned
Oklahoma
                   
Ponca City Medical Center
  Ponca City     140     May, 2006   Owned
Claremore Regional Hospital
  Claremore     81     July, 2007   Owned
Deaconess Hospital
  Oklahoma City     313     July, 2007   Owned
SouthCrest Hospital
  Tulsa     180     July, 2007   Owned
Woodward Regional Hospital
  Woodward     87     July, 2007   Leased
Oregon
                   
McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center
  Springfield     114     July, 2007   Owned
Pennsylvania
                   
Berwick Hospital
  Berwick     101     March, 1999   Owned
Brandywine Hospital
  Coatesville     243     June, 2001   Owned
Jennersville Regional Hospital
  West Grove     59     October, 2001   Owned
Easton Hospital
  Easton     254     October, 2001   Owned
Lock Haven Hospital
  Lock Haven     47     August, 2002   Owned
Pottstown Memorial Medical Center
  Pottstown     221     July, 2003   Owned
Phoenixville Hospital
  Phoenixville     153     August, 2004   Owned
Chestnut Hill Hospital
  Philadelphia     160     February, 2005   Owned
Sunbury Community Hospital
  Sunbury     89     October, 2005   Owned
Wilkes-Barre General Hospital
  Wilkes-Barre     392     April, 2009   Owned
First Hospital Wyoming Valley (psychiatric)
  Wilkes-Barre     135     April, 2009   Owned
South Carolina
                   
Marlboro Park Hospital
  Bennettsville     102     August, 1996   Leased
Chesterfield General Hospital
  Cheraw     59     August, 1996   Leased
Springs Memorial Hospital
  Lancaster     231     November, 1994   Owned
Carolinas Hospital System — Florence
  Florence     420     July, 2007   Owned
Mary Black Memorial Hospital
  Spartanburg     209     July, 2007   Owned
Marion Regional Hospital
  Mullins     124     July, 2010   Owned
Tennessee
                   
Lakeway Regional Hospital
  Morristown     135     May, 1993   Owned
Regional Hospital of Jackson
  Jackson     154     January, 2003   Owned
Dyersburg Regional Medical Center
  Dyersburg     225     January, 2003   Owned
Haywood Park Community Hospital
  Brownsville     62     January, 2003   Owned
Henderson County Community Hospital
  Lexington     45     January, 2003   Owned
McKenzie Regional Hospital
  McKenzie     45     January, 2003   Owned
McNairy Regional Hospital
  Selmer     45     January, 2003   Owned
Volunteer Community Hospital
  Martin     100     January, 2003   Owned
Heritage Medical Center
  Shelbyville     60     July, 2005   Owned
Sky Ridge Medical Center
  Cleveland     351     October, 2005   Owned

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              Date of
   
        Licensed
    Acquisition/Lease
  Ownership
Hospital   City   Beds(1)     Inception   Type
 
Gateway Medical Center
  Clarksville     270     July, 2007   Owned
Texas
                   
Big Bend Regional Medical Center
  Alpine     25     October, 1999   Owned
Cleveland Regional Medical Center
  Cleveland     107     August, 1996   Owned
Scenic Mountain Medical Center
  Big Spring     150     October, 1994   Owned
Hill Regional Hospital
  Hillsboro     92     October, 1994   Leased
Lake Granbury Medical Center
  Granbury     83     January, 1997   Leased
South Texas Regional Medical Center
  Jourdanton     67     November, 2001   Owned
Laredo Medical Center
  Laredo     326     October, 2003   Owned
Weatherford Regional Medical Center
  Weatherford     99     November, 2006   Leased
Abilene Regional Medical Center
  Abilene     231     July, 2007   Owned
Brownwood Regional Medical Center
  Brownwood     194     July, 2007   Owned
College Station Medical Center
  College Station     141     July, 2007   Owned
Navarro Regional Hospital
  Corsicana     162     July, 2007   Owned
Longview Regional Medical Center
  Longview     131     July, 2007   Owned
Woodland Heights Medical Center
  Lufkin     149     July, 2007   Owned
San Angelo Community Medical Center
  San Angelo     171     July, 2007   Owned
DeTar Healthcare System
  Victoria     308     July, 2007   Owned
Cedar Park Regional Medical Center
  Cedar Park     77     December, 2007   Owned
Utah
                   
Mountain West Medical Center
  Tooele     44     October, 2000   Owned
Virginia
                   
Southern Virginia Regional Medical Center
  Emporia     80     March, 1999   Owned
Southampton Memorial Hospital
  Franklin     105     March, 2000   Owned
Southside Regional Medical Center
  Petersburg     300     August, 2003   Owned
Washington
                   
Deaconess Medical Center
  Spokane     388     October, 2008   Owned
Valley Hospital and Medical Center
  Spokane Valley     123     October, 2008   Owned
West Virginia
                   
Plateau Medical Center
  Oak Hill     25     July, 2002   Owned
Greenbrier Valley Medical Center
  Ronceverte     122     July, 2007   Owned
Bluefield Regional Medical Center
  Bluefield     240     October, 2010   Owned
Wyoming
                   
Evanston Regional Hospital
  Evanston     42     November, 1999   Owned
                     
Total Licensed Beds at December 31, 2010
        19,372          
                     
 
 
(1) Licensed beds are the number of beds for which the appropriate state agency licenses a facility regardless of whether the beds are actually available for patient use.
 
(2) In 2008, we segregated this entity from Northwest Medical Center — Bentonville for reporting purposes.
 
(3) We operate this hospital under a lease-leaseback and operating agreement. We recognize all operating statistics, revenues and expenses associated with this hospital in our consolidated financial statements.
 
(4) In 2008, we segregated this entity from Lutheran Hospital for reporting purposes.

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The real property of substantially all of our wholly-owned hospitals is encumbered by mortgages under the Credit Facility.
 
The following table lists the hospitals owned by joint venture entities in which we do not have a consolidating ownership interest, along with our percentage ownership interest in the joint venture entity as of December 31, 2010. Information on licensed beds was provided by the majority owner and manager of each joint venture. A subsidiary of HCA is the majority owner of Macon Healthcare LLC, and a subsidiary of UHS is the majority owner of Summerlin Hospital Medical Center LLC and Valley Health System LLC.
 
                     
Joint Venture   Facility Name   City   State   Licensed Beds  
 
Macon Healthcare LLC
  Coliseum Medical Center (38%)   Macon   GA     250  
Macon Healthcare LLC
  Coliseum Psychiatric Center (38%)   Macon   GA     60  
Macon Healthcare LLC
  Coliseum Northside Hospital (38%)   Macon   GA     103  
Summerlin Hospital Medical Center LLC
  Summerlin Hospital Medical Center (26.1%)   Las Vegas   NV     454  
Valley Health System LLC
  Desert Springs Hospital (27.5%)   Las Vegas   NV     286  
Valley Health System LLC
  Valley Hospital Medical Center (27.5%)   Las Vegas   NV     404  
Valley Health System LLC
  Spring Valley Hospital Medical Center (27.5%)   Las Vegas   NV     231  
Valley Health System LLC
  Centennial Hills Hospital Medical Center (27.5%)   Las Vegas   NV     165  
 
Item 3.   Legal Proceedings
 
From time to time, we receive various inquiries or subpoenas from state regulators, fiscal intermediaries, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the Department of Justice regarding various Medicare and Medicaid issues. In addition, we are subject to other claims and lawsuits arising in the ordinary course of our business. We are not aware of any pending or threatened litigation that is not covered by insurance policies or reserved for in our financial statements or which we believe would have a material adverse impact on us; however, some pending or threatened proceedings against us may involve potentially substantial amounts as well as the possibility of civil, criminal, or administrative fines, penalties, or other sanctions, which could be material. Settlements of suits involving Medicare and Medicaid issues routinely require both monetary payments as well as corporate integrity agreements. Additionally, qui tam or “whistleblower” actions initiated under the civil False Claims Act may be pending but placed under seal by the court to comply with the False Claims Act’s requirements for filing such suits.
 
Community Health Systems, Inc. Legal Proceedings
 
On February 10, 2006, we received a letter from the Civil Division of the Department of Justice requesting documents in an investigation it was conducting involving the Company. The inquiry related to the way in which different state Medicaid programs apply to the federal government for matching or supplemental funds that are ultimately used to pay for a small portion of the services provided to Medicaid and indigent patients. These programs are referred to by different names, including “intergovernmental payments,” “upper payment limit programs,” and “Medicaid disproportionate share hospital payments.” The February 2006 letter focused on our hospitals in three states: Arkansas, New Mexico, and South Carolina. On August 31, 2006, we received a follow up letter from the Department of Justice requesting additional documents relating to the programs in New Mexico and the payments to the Company’s three hospitals in that state. Through the beginning of 2009, we provided the Department of Justice with requested documents, met with its personnel on numerous occasions, and otherwise cooperated in its investigation. During the course of the investigation, the Civil Division notified us that it believed that we and these three New Mexico hospitals caused the State of New Mexico to submit improper claims for federal funds, in violation of the Federal False Claims Act. At one point, the Civil Division calculated that the three hospitals received ineligible federal participation


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payments from August 2000 to June 2006 of approximately $27.5 million and said that if it proceeded to trial, it would seek treble damages plus an appropriate penalty for each of the violations of the Federal False Claims Act. This investigation has culminated in the federal government’s intervention in a qui tam lawsuit styled U.S. ex rel. Baker vs. Community Health Systems, Inc., pending in the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico. The federal government filed its complaint in intervention on June 30, 2009. The relator filed a second amended complaint on July 1, 2009. Both of these complaints expand the time period during which alleged improper payments were made. We filed motions to dismiss all of the federal government’s and the relator’s claims on August 28, 2009. On March 19, 2010, the court granted in part and denied in part our motion to dismiss as to the relator’s complaint. On July 7, 2010, the court denied our motion to dismiss the federal government’s complaint in intervention. We have filed our answer and pretrial discovery has begun. We are vigorously defending this action.
 
On June 12, 2008, two of our hospitals received letters from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of New York requesting documents in an investigation it was conducting into billing practices with respect to kyphoplasty procedures performed during the period January 1, 2002 through June 9, 2008. On September 16, 2008, one of our hospitals in South Carolina also received an inquiry. Kyphoplasty is a surgical spine procedure that returns a compromised vertebrae (either from trauma or osteoporotic disease process) to its previous height, reducing or eliminating severe pain. We have been informed that similar investigations have been initiated at unaffiliated facilities in Alabama, South Carolina, Indiana and other states. We believe that this investigation is related to a qui tam settlement between the same U.S. Attorney’s office and the manufacturer and distributor of the Kyphon product, which is used in performing the kyphoplasty procedure. We are cooperating with the investigation by collecting and producing material responsive to the requests. We are continuing to evaluate and discuss this matter with the federal government.
 
On April 19, 2009, we were served in Roswell, New Mexico with an answer and counterclaim in the case of Roswell Hospital Corporation d/b/a Eastern New Mexico Medical Center vs. Patrick Sisneros and Tammie McClain (sued as Jane Doe Sisneros). The case was originally filed as a collection matter. The counterclaim was filed as a putative class action and alleged theories of breach of contract, unjust enrichment, misrepresentation, prima facie tort, Fair Trade Practices Act and violation of the New Mexico RICO statute. On May 7, 2009, the hospital filed a notice of removal to federal court. On July 27, 2009, the case was remanded to state court for lack of a federal question. A motion to dismiss and a motion to dismiss misjoined counterclaim plaintiffs were filed on October 20, 2009. These motions were denied. Extensive discovery has been conducted. A motion for class certification for all uninsured patients was heard on March 3 through March 5, 2010 and on April 13, 2010, the state district court judge certified the case as a class action. Discovery is ongoing. A hearing is set for March 1, 2011 to assess the sufficiency of the methodology used to determine class damages. We are vigorously defending this action.
 
On December 7, 2009, we received a document subpoena from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General, or OIG, requesting documents related to our hospital in Laredo, Texas. The categories of documents requested included case management, resource management, admission criteria, patient medical records, coding, billing, compliance, the Joint Commission accreditation, physician documentation, payments to referral sources, transactions involving physicians, disproportionate share hospital status, and audits by the hospital’s Quality Improvement organization. On January 22, 2010, we received a “request for information or assistance” from the OIG’s Office of Investigation requesting patient medical records from Laredo Medical Center in Laredo, Texas for certain Medicaid patients with an extended length of stay. Additional requests for records have also been received, including a request containing follow-up questions received on January 5, 2011. We are cooperating fully with these investigations.
 
On September 20, 2010, we received a letter from the U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Division, advising us that an investigation is being conducted to determine whether certain hospitals have improperly submitted claims for payment for implantable cardioverter defibrillators, or ICD. The period of time covered by the investigation is 2003 to the present. The letter states that the Department of Justice’s data indicates that many of our hospitals have claims that need to be reviewed to determine if Medicare payment was appropriate. We understand that the Department of Justice has submitted similar requests to many other hospitals and hospital systems across the country as well as to the ICD manufacturers themselves. We are fully cooperating


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with the government in this investigation. Because we are in the early stages of this investigation, we are unable to evaluate the outcome of this investigation.
 
On November 15, 2010, we were served with substantially identical Civil Investigative Demands (CIDs) from the Office of Attorney General, State of Texas for all our 18 affiliated Texas hospitals. The subject of the requests appears to concern emergency department procedures and billing. We are cooperating fully with these requests. Because we are in the early stages of this investigation, we are unable to evaluate the outcome of this investigation.
 
Triad Hospitals, Inc. Legal Proceedings
 
In a case styled U.S. ex rel. Bartlett vs. Quorum Health Resources, Inc., et al., pending in the Western District of Pennsylvania, Johnstown Division, the relator alleges in his second amended complaint, filed in January 2006 (the first amended complaint having been dismissed), that Quorum conspired with an unaffiliated hospital to pay an illegal remuneration in violation of the anti-kickback statute and the Stark Law, thus causing false claims to be filed. A renewed motion to dismiss that was filed in March 2006 asserting that the second amended complaint did not cure the defects contained in the first amended complaint. In September 2006, the hospital and one of the other defendants affiliated with the hospital filed for protection under Chapter 11 of the federal bankruptcy code, which imposed an automatic stay on proceedings in the case. Relators entered into a settlement agreement with the hospital, subject to confirmation of the hospital’s reorganization plan. The District Court conducted a status conference on January 30, 2009 and later convened another conference on March 30, 2009 and heard arguments on whether to proceed with a motion to dismiss, but did not make a ruling. The government and relator have reached a settlement with the hospital. Our motion to dismiss is still pending. We believe this case is without merit and will continue to vigorously defend it.
 
Item 4.   (Removed and Reserved).
 
PART II
 
Item 5.   Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
 
We completed an initial public offering of our common stock on June 14, 2000. Our common stock began trading on June 9, 2000 and is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol CYH. At February 17, 2011, there were approximately 39 record holders of our common stock. The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the high and low sale prices per share of our common stock as reported by the New York Stock Exchange.
 
                 
    High     Low  
 
Year Ended December 31, 2009
               
First Quarter
  $ 21.60     $ 12.96  
Second Quarter
    28.79       13.95  
Third Quarter
    35.50       24.42  
Fourth Quarter
    38.00       29.35  
Year Ended December 31, 2010
               
First Quarter
  $ 40.84     $ 31.00  
Second Quarter
    42.30       33.21  
Third Quarter
    34.11       25.63  
Fourth Quarter
    38.00       29.08  


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Corporate Performance Graph
 
The following graph sets forth the cumulative return of our common stock during the five year period ended December 31, 2010, as compared to the cumulative return of the Standard & Poor’s 500 Stock Index (S&P 500) and the cumulative return of the Dow Jones Healthcare Index. The graph assumes an initial investment of $100 in our common stock and in each of the foregoing indices and the reinvestment of dividends where applicable.
 
(PERFORMANCE GRAPH)
 
We have not paid any cash dividends since our inception, and do not anticipate the payment of cash dividends in the foreseeable future. Our Credit Facility limits our ability to pay dividends and/or repurchase stock to an amount not to exceed $50 million in the aggregate after November 5, 2010, the date of our amendment and restatement of our Credit Facility. In addition, our Credit Facility allows us to repurchase stock in an amount not to exceed the aggregate amount of proceeds from the exercise of stock options. The indenture governing our Notes also limits our ability to pay dividends and/or repurchase stock. As of December 31, 2010, under the most restrictive test under these agreements, we have approximately $96.9 million remaining available with which to pay permitted dividends and/or make stock and Note repurchases.
 
The following table contains information about our purchases of common stock during the three months ended December 31, 2010:
 
                                 
                Total Number
       
                of Shares
    Maximum
 
                Purchased as
    Number of
 
    Total
    Average
    Part of
    Shares That May
 
    Number of
    Price
    Publicly
    Yet Be Purchased
 
    Shares
    Paid per
    Announced
    Under the Plans
 
Period   Purchased     Share     Plans(a)     or Programs(a)  
 
October 1, 2010 — October 31, 2010
    195,000     $ 30.88       195,000       3,548,728  
November 1, 2010 — November 30, 2010
                      3,548,728  
December 1, 2010 — December 31, 2010
                      3,548,728  
                                 
Total
    195,000     $ 30.88       195,000       3,548,728  
                                 


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(a) On September 15, 2010, we commenced a new open market repurchase program for up to 4,000,000 shares of our common stock, not to exceed $100 million in repurchases. This program will conclude at the earliest of three years from the commencement date, when the maximum number of shares has been repurchased or when the maximum dollar amount has been expended. During the three months ended December 31, 2010, we repurchased and retired 195,000 shares at a weighted-average price of $30.88 per share. During the year ended December 31, 2010, we repurchased and retired 451,272 shares at a weighted-average price of $30.81 per share, which is the cumulative number of shares that have been repurchased under this program through December 31, 2010.
 
Item 6.   Selected Financial Data
 
The following table summarizes specified selected financial data and should be read in conjunction with our related Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. The amounts shown below have been adjusted for discontinued operations.
 
Community Health Systems, Inc.

Five Year Summary of Selected Financial Data
 
                                         
    Year Ended December 31,  
    2010     2009     2008     2007(1)     2006  
    (In thousands, except share and per share data)  
 
Consolidated Statement of Income Data
                                       
Net operating revenues
  $ 12,986,500     $ 12,107,613     $ 10,919,095     $ 7,095,861     $ 4,180,136  
Income from operations
    1,114,928       1,068,665       971,880       471,612       385,057  
Income from continuing operations
    348,441       304,805       233,727       67,431       177,695  
Net income
    348,441       306,377       252,734       44,691       171,058  
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
    68,458       63,227       34,430       14,402       2,795  
Net income attributable to Community Health
                                       
Systems, Inc. 
    279,983       243,150       218,304       30,289       168,263  
Basic earnings per share attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. common stockholders(2):
                                       
Continuing operations
  $ 3.05     $ 2.67     $ 2.13     $ 0.58     $ 1.87  
Discontinued operations
          0.01       0.21       (0.25 )     (0.10 )
                                         
Net income
  $ 3.05     $ 2.68     $ 2.34     $ 0.32     $ 1.77  
                                         
Diluted earnings per share attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. common stockholders(2):
                                       
Continuing operations
  $ 3.01     $ 2.64     $ 2.11     $ 0.57     $ 1.85  
Discontinued operations
          0.01       0.21       (0.25 )     (0.10 )
                                         
Net income
  $ 3.01     $ 2.66     $ 2.32     $ 0.32     $ 1.75  
                                         
Weighted-average number of shares outstanding
                                       
Basic
    91,718,791       90,614,886       93,371,782       93,517,337       94,983,646  
Diluted(3)
    92,946,048       91,517,274       94,288,829       94,642,294       96,232,910  


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    Year Ended December 31,  
    2010     2009     2008     2007(1)     2006  
    (In thousands, except share and per share data)  
 
Consolidated Balance Sheet Data
                                       
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 299,169     $ 344,541     $ 220,655     $ 133,574     $ 40,566  
Total assets
    14,698,123       14,021,472       13,818,254       13,493,644       4,506,579  
Long-term obligations
    10,418,234       10,179,402       10,287,535       9,974,516       2,207,623  
Redeemable noncontrolling interests in equity of consolidated subsidiaries
    387,472       368,857       348,816       346,999       23,478  
Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders’ equity
    2,189,464       1,950,635       1,611,029       1,687,293       1,718,697  
Noncontrolling interests in equity of consolidated subsidiaries
    60,913       64,782       61,457       51,419       5,057  
 
 
(1) Includes the results of operations of the former Triad hospitals from July 25, 2007, the date of acquisition.
 
(2) Total per share amounts may not add due to rounding.
 
(3) See Note 12 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, included in Item 8 of this Form 10-K.
 
Item 7.   Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
 
You should read this discussion together with our Consolidated Financial Statements and the accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements and “Selected Financial Data” included elsewhere in this Form 10-K.
 
Executive Overview
 
We are the largest publicly-traded operator of hospitals in the United States in terms of number of facilities and net operating revenues. We provide healthcare services through these hospitals that we own and operate in non-urban and selected urban markets. We generate revenue primarily by providing a broad range of general hospital healthcare services to patients in the communities in which we are located. We currently own and operate 130 hospitals comprised of 126 general acute care hospitals and four rehabilitation or psychiatric hospitals. In addition, we own and operate home care agencies, located primarily in markets where we also operate a hospital, and through our wholly-owned subsidiary, Quorum Health Resources, LLC, or QHR, we provide management and consulting services to non-affiliated general acute care hospitals located throughout the United States. For the hospitals and home care agencies that we own and operate, we are paid for our services by governmental agencies, private insurers and directly by the patients we serve. For our management and consulting services, we are paid by the non-affiliated hospitals utilizing our services.
 
In 2010, we increased our acquisition activity and acquired five hospitals located in Marion, South Carolina, Youngstown and Warren, Ohio and Bluefield, West Virginia. In 2009, we acquired one hospital located in Siloam Springs, Arkansas and two hospitals located in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania and the remaining interest in a hospital located in El Dorado, Arkansas. In addition, on December 31, 2009, we entered into an agreement with a multi-specialty physician clinic that has 32 locations across the Inland Northwest region of the state of Washington. This agreement will allow our affiliated hospitals in Spokane, Washington to work with this clinic to offer a fully integrated healthcare delivery system in that market.
 
Our net operating revenues for the year ended December 31, 2010 increased to approximately $13.0 billion, as compared to approximately $12.1 billion for the year ended December 31, 2009. Income from continuing operations, before noncontrolling interests, for the year ended December 31, 2010 increased 14.3% over the year ended December 31, 2009. Despite low volume, this increase in income from continuing operations during the year ended December 31, 2010, as compared to the year ended December 31, 2009, is due primarily to the execution of our revenue growth initiatives at those hospitals owned throughout both years, general rate and reimbursement increases and our effective management of operating expenses. Our successful physician recruiting efforts have also been a key driver in the execution of our operating strategies. Total inpatient admissions for the year ended December 31, 2010 increased 0.1% compared to the year ended December 31, 2009 and adjusted admissions for the year ended December 31, 2010 increased 2.5% compared

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to the year ended December 31, 2009. This increase in adjusted admissions was due primarily to acquisitions during the past year, offsetting decreases in admissions at those hospitals owned throughout both years from a less severe flu season as compared to the prior year period, lower birth rates coinciding with the downturn in the economy, reductions in one day stays and certain service closures.
 
Self-pay revenues represented approximately 11.6% of our net operating revenues in 2010 compared to 11.2% in 2009. The value of charity care services relative to total net operating revenues was approximately 4.1% and 3.9% in 2010 and 2009, respectively.
 
PPACA was signed into law on March 23, 2010. In addition, the Reconciliation Act, which contains a number of amendments to PPACA, was signed into law on March 30, 2010. These healthcare acts, referred to collectively as the Reform Legislation, include a mandate that requires substantially all U.S. citizens to maintain medical insurance coverage which will ultimately increase the number of persons with access to health insurance in the United States. The Reform Legislation should result in a reduction in uninsured patients, which should reduce our expense from uncollectible accounts receivable; however, this legislation makes a number of other changes to Medicare and Medicaid, such as reductions to the Medicare annual market basket update for federal fiscal years 2010 through 2019, a productivity offset to the Medicare market basket update beginning October 1, 2011, and a reduction to the Medicare and Medicaid disproportionate share payments, that could adversely impact the reimbursement received under these programs. The various provisions in the Reform Legislation that directly or indirectly affect reimbursement are scheduled to take effect over a number of years, and we cannot predict their impact at this time. Other provisions of the Reform Legislation, such as requirements related to employee health insurance coverage, should increase our operating costs.
 
Also included in the Reform Legislation are provisions aimed at reducing fraud, waste and abuse in the healthcare industry. These provisions allocate significant additional resources to federal enforcement agencies and expand the use of private contractors to recover potentially inappropriate Medicare and Medicaid payments. The Reform Legislation amends several existing federal laws, including the Medicare Anti-Kickback Statute and the False Claims Act, making it easier for government agencies and private plaintiffs to prevail in lawsuits brought against healthcare providers. These amendments also make it easier for potentially severe fines and penalties to be imposed on healthcare providers accused of violating applicable laws and regulations.
 
In a number of markets, we have partnered with local physicians in the ownership of our facilities. Such investments have been permitted under an exception to the physician self-referral law, or the Stark Law, that allows physicians to invest in an entire hospital (as opposed to individual hospital departments). The Reform Legislation changes the “whole hospital” exception to the Stark Law. The Reform Legislation permits existing physician investments in a whole hospital to continue under a “grandfather” clause if the arrangement satisfies certain requirements and restrictions, but physicians became prohibited, from the time the Reform Legislation became effective, from increasing the aggregate percentage of their ownership in the hospital. The Reform Legislation also restricts the ability of existing physician-owned hospitals to expand the capacity of their facilities. Physician investments in hospitals that are under development are protected by the grandfather clause only if the physician investments have been made and the hospital has a Medicare provider agreement as of a specific date.
 
The impact of the Reform Legislation on each of our hospitals will vary depending on payor mix and a variety of other factors. We anticipate that many of the provisions in the Reform Legislation will be subject to further clarification and modification through the rule-making process, the development of agency guidance and judicial interpretations. Moreover, a number of state attorneys general are challenging the legality of certain aspects of the Reform Legislation. Currently, rulings in four separate Federal District Courts, regarding the constitutionality of the Reform Legislation, have been split, with two courts ruling in favor of the legislation and two courts ruling that part or all of the Reform Legislation was unconstitutional. These decisions are likely to be appealed and may ultimately end up before the United States Supreme Court. We cannot predict the impact the Reform Legislation may have on our business, results of operations, cash flow, capital resources and liquidity or the ultimate outcome of the judicial rulings. Furthermore, we cannot predict


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whether we will be able to modify certain aspects of our operations to offset any potential adverse consequences from the Reform Legislation.
 
As a result of our current levels of cash, available borrowing capacity, long-term outlook on our debt repayments and our continued projection of our ability to generate cash flows, we do not anticipate a significant impact on our ability to invest the necessary capital in our business over the next twelve months and into the foreseeable future. We believe there continues to be ample opportunity for growth in substantially all of our markets by decreasing the need for patients to travel outside their communities for healthcare services. Furthermore, we continue to benefit from synergies from the acquisition of Triad as well as our more recent acquisitions and will continue to strive to improve operating efficiencies and procedures in order to improve our profitability at all of our hospitals.
 
Acquisitions
 
Effective October 1, 2010, we completed the acquisition of Forum Health based in Youngstown, Ohio, a healthcare system of two acute care hospitals, one rehabilitation hospital and other healthcare providers. This healthcare system includes Northside Medical Center (355 licensed beds) located in Youngstown, Ohio and Trumbull Memorial Hospital (311 licensed beds) located in Warren, Ohio. This healthcare system also includes Hillside Rehabilitation Hospital (69 licensed beds) located in Warren, Ohio, as well as several outpatient clinics and other ancillary facilities. The total cash consideration paid for fixed assets and working capital was approximately $93.4 million and $27.8 million, respectively, with additional consideration including $40.3 million assumed in liabilities, for a total consideration of $161.5 million. This acquisition transaction was accounted for as a purchase business combination. Based upon our preliminary purchase price allocation relating to this acquisition as of December 31, 2010, approximately $8.1 million of goodwill has been recorded. The preliminary allocation of the purchase price has been determined by us based on available information and is subject to settling amounts related to purchased working capital and final appraisals of tangible and intangible assets. Adjustments to the purchase price allocation are not expected to be material.
 
Effective October 1, 2010, we completed the acquisition of Bluefield Regional Medical Center (240 licensed beds) located in Bluefield, West Virginia. The total cash consideration paid for fixed assets was approximately $35.4 million, with additional consideration including $8.9 million assumed in liabilities as well as a credit applied at closing of $1.8 million for negative acquired working capital, for a total consideration of $42.5 million. This acquisition transaction was accounted for as a purchase business combination. Based upon our preliminary purchase price allocation relating to this acquisition as of December 31, 2010, approximately $2.2 million of goodwill has been recorded. The preliminary allocation of the purchase price has been determined by us based on available information and is subject to settling amounts related to purchased working capital and final appraisals of tangible and intangible assets. Adjustments to the purchase price allocation are not expected to be material.
 
Effective July 7, 2010, we completed the acquisition of Marion Regional Healthcare System located in Marion, South Carolina. This healthcare system includes Marion Regional Hospital (124 licensed beds), an acute care hospital, along with a related skilled nursing facility and other ancillary services. The total cash consideration paid for fixed assets and working capital was approximately $18.6 million and $5.8 million, respectively, with additional consideration including $3.9 million assumed in liabilities, for a total consideration of $28.3 million. This acquisition transaction was accounted for as a purchase business combination. Based upon our preliminary purchase price allocation relating to this acquisition as of December 31, 2010, no goodwill has been recorded. The preliminary allocation of the purchase price has been determined by us based on available information and is subject to settling amounts related to purchased working capital and final appraisals of tangible and intangible assets. Adjustments to the purchase price allocation are not expected to be material.
 
During 2010, we paid approximately $67.4 million to acquire the operating assets and related businesses of certain physician practices, clinics, and other ancillary businesses that operate within the communities served by our hospitals. In connection with these acquisitions, we allocated approximately $35.6 million of the consideration paid to property and equipment and the remainder, approximately $35.4 million consisting of intangible assets that do not qualify for separate recognition, was allocated to goodwill. These acquisition transactions were accounted for as purchase business combinations.


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On December 9, 2010, we announced that we made an offer to acquire Tenet for $6.00 per share, including $5.00 per share in cash and $1.00 per share in our common stock, which represented a premium of 40% over Tenet’s closing stock price on December 9, 2010. The total value of the transaction at this offering price would be approximately $7.3 billion, including $3.3 billion of acquired equity and approximately $4.0 billion of assumed long-term debt. The offer was made in a letter to Tenet’s Board of Directors on November 12, 2010, and rejected by Tenet on December 6, 2010. On December 20, 2010, we announced our intention to nominate directors for election at the 2011 Annual Meeting of Tenet, and on January 14, 2011, a full slate of 10 independent director nominees was nominated. Tenet’s entire Board is up for reelection at the 2011 Annual Meeting, which has been scheduled for November 3, 2011. There can be no assurance that such a transaction will be completed or, if completed, on what terms.
 
Sources of Revenue
 
The following table presents the approximate percentages of net operating revenues derived from Medicare, Medicaid, managed care, self-pay and other sources for the periods indicated. The data for the years presented are not strictly comparable due to the effect that hospital acquisitions have had on these statistics.
 
                         
    Year Ended December 31,  
    2010     2009     2008  
 
Medicare
    27.2 %     27.1 %     27.5 %
Medicaid
    10.6 %     9.8 %     9.1 %
Managed Care and other third-party payors
    50.6 %     51.9 %     52.7 %
Self-pay
    11.6 %     11.2 %     10.7 %
                         
Total
    100.0 %     100.0 %     100.0 %
                         
 
Net operating revenues include amounts estimated by management to be reimbursable by Medicare and Medicaid under prospective payment systems and provisions of cost-based reimbursement and other payment methods. In addition, we are reimbursed by non-governmental payors using a variety of payment methodologies. Amounts we receive for treatment of patients covered by these programs are generally less than the standard billing rates. We account for the differences between the estimated program reimbursement rates and the standard billing rates as contractual allowance adjustments, which we deduct from gross revenues to arrive at net operating revenues. Final settlements under some of these programs are subject to adjustment based on administrative review and audit by third parties. We account for adjustments to previous program reimbursement estimates as contractual allowance adjustments and report them in the periods that such adjustments become known. Contractual allowance adjustments related to final settlements and previous program reimbursement estimates impacted net operating revenues and net income by an insignificant amount in each of the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008. In the future, we expect the percentage of revenues received from the Medicare program to increase due to the general aging of the population.
 
Currently, several states utilize supplemental reimbursement programs for the purpose of providing reimbursement to providers to offset a portion of the cost of providing care to Medicaid and indigent patients. These programs are designed with input from CMS and are funded with a combination of state and federal resources, including, in certain instances, fees or taxes levied on the providers. Similar programs are also being considered by other states. After these supplemental programs are signed into law, we recognize revenue and related expenses in the period in which amounts are estimable and collection is reasonably assured. Reimbursement under these programs is reflected in net operating revenues and included as Medicaid revenue in the table above, and fees, taxes or other program related costs are reflected in other operating costs and expenses.
 
The payment rates under the Medicare program for hospital inpatient and outpatient acute care services are based on a prospective payment system, depending upon the diagnosis of a patient’s condition. These rates are indexed for inflation annually, although increases have historically been less than actual inflation. On August 16, 2010, CMS issued the final rule to adjust this index by 2.6% for hospital inpatient acute care services that are reimbursed under the prospective payment system. The final rule also makes other payment adjustments that, coupled with the 0.25% reduction to hospital inpatient rates implemented pursuant to the


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Reform Legislation referred to below, yield a net 0.4% reduction in reimbursement for hospital inpatient acute care services beginning October 1, 2010. The Reform Legislation implemented a 0.25% reduction to hospital inpatient rates effective April 1, 2010 and 0.25% reductions to hospital outpatient rates effective January 1, 2010 and January 1, 2011. Reductions in the rate of increase or overall reductions in Medicare reimbursement may cause a decline in the growth of our net operating revenues.
 
In addition, specified managed care programs, insurance companies and employers are actively negotiating the amounts paid to hospitals. The trend toward increased enrollment in managed care may adversely affect our net operating revenue growth.
 
Results of Operations
 
Our hospitals offer a variety of services involving a broad range of inpatient and outpatient medical and surgical services. These include general acute care, emergency room, general and specialty surgery, critical care, internal medicine, obstetrics, diagnostic, psychiatric and rehabilitation services. The strongest demand for hospital services generally occurs during January through April and the weakest demand for these services occurs during the summer months. Accordingly, eliminating the effect of new acquisitions, our net operating revenues and earnings are historically highest during the first quarter and lowest during the third quarter.
 
The following tables summarize, for the periods indicated, selected operating data.
 
                         
    Year Ended December 31,  
    2010     2009     2008  
    (Expressed as a percentage of net operating revenues)  
 
Consolidated
                       
Net operating revenues
    100.0 %     100.0 %     100.0 %
Operating expenses(a)
    (86.7 )     (86.5 )     (86.5 )
Depreciation and amortization
    (4.7 )     (4.7 )     (4.6 )
                         
Income from operations
    8.6       8.8       8.9  
Interest expense, net
    (5.0 )     (5.4 )     (6.0 )
Gain from early extinguishment of debt(b)
                 
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates
    0.3       0.3       0.4  
                         
Income from continuing operations before income taxes
    3.9       3.7       3.3  
Provision for income taxes
    (1.2 )     (1.2 )     (1.2 )
                         
Income from continuing operations
    2.7       2.5       2.1  
Income from discontinued operations, net of taxes
                0.2  
                         
Net income
    2.7       2.5       2.3  
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
    (0.5 )     (0.5 )     (0.3 )
                         
Net income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. 
    2.2 %     2.0 %     2.0 %
                         
 


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    Year Ended December 31,  
    2010     2009  
    (Expressed in percentages)  
 
Percentage increase from same period prior year:
               
Net operating revenues
    7.3 %     10.9 %
Admissions
    0.1       3.6  
Adjusted admissions(c)
    2.5       5.6  
Average length of stay
    2.4        
Net income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc.(d)
    15.1       11.4  
Same-store percentage increase (decrease) from same period prior year(e):
               
Net operating revenues
    3.9 %     5.9 %
Admissions
    (2.5 )     (1.5 )
Adjusted admissions(c)
    (0.5 )     0.7  
 
 
(a) Operating expenses include salaries and benefits, provision for bad debts, supplies, rent and other operating expenses.
 
(b) Gain from early extinguishment of debt was less than 0.1% for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008.
 
(c) Adjusted admissions is a general measure of combined inpatient and outpatient volume. We computed adjusted admissions by multiplying admissions by gross patient revenues and then dividing that number by gross inpatient revenues.
 
(d) Includes income from discontinued operations, if any.
 
(e) Includes acquired hospitals to the extent we operated them in both years.
 
Year Ended December 31, 2010 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2009
 
Net operating revenues increased by 7.3% to approximately $13.0 billion in 2010, from approximately $12.1 billion in 2009. Growth from hospitals owned throughout both periods contributed $476 million of that increase and $402 million was contributed by hospitals acquired in 2010 and 2009. On a same-store basis, net operating revenues increased 3.9%. The increased net operating revenues contributed by hospitals that we owned throughout both periods were primarily attributable to general rate and reimbursement increases.
 
On a consolidated basis, inpatient admissions increased by 0.1% and adjusted admissions increased by 2.5%. On a same-store basis, inpatient admissions decreased by 2.5% during the year ended December 31, 2010. This decrease in inpatient admissions was due primarily to a decrease in admissions from a less severe flu season as compared to the prior year period, lower birth rates coinciding with the downturn in the economy, reductions in one day stays and certain service closures during the year ended December 31, 2010, as compared to the year ended December 31, 2009.
 
Operating expenses, excluding depreciation and amortization, as a percentage of net operating revenues, increased from 86.5% in 2009 to 86.7% in 2010. Salaries and benefits, as a percentage of net operating revenues, increased from 40.0% in 2009 to 40.3% in 2010 from the impact of recent acquisitions and an increase in the number of employed physicians, which offset efficiencies gained at hospitals owned throughout both periods. Provision for bad debts, as a percentage of net revenues, increased from 12.1% in 2009 to 12.2% in 2010, which is reflective of stabilization in the economy and unemployment rates. Supplies, as a percentage of net operating revenues, decreased from 13.9% in 2009 to 13.6% in 2010. This decrease in supplies expenses is due primarily to greater utilization of and improved pricing under our purchasing program. Other operating expenses, as a percentage of net operating revenues, increased from 18.5% in 2009 to 18.6% in 2010. Rent, as a percentage of net operating revenues, remained consistent at 2.0% for 2009 and 2010. Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates, as a percentage of net operating revenues, remained consistent at 0.3% for 2009 and 2010.
 
Depreciation and amortization remained consistent at 4.7% of net operating revenues for 2009 and 2010.

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Interest expense, net, increased by $2.9 million from $649.0 million in 2009, to $651.9 million in 2010. An increase in interest rates during 2010, including the pricing increase on $1.5 billion of existing term loans under the amended Credit Facility beginning November 5, 2010, compared to 2009, resulted in an increase in interest expense of $5.4 million. Additionally, interest expense increased by $4.8 million as a result of less interest being capitalized during 2010, as compared to 2009, as the current year period had fewer major construction projects. These increases were offset by a decrease in interest expense of $7.3 million due to a decrease in our average outstanding debt during 2010, compared to 2009.
 
Impairment of long-lived and other assets of $12.5 million in 2009 resulted from our assessment of the recoverability of these assets. No impairment of long-lived and other assets was recognized in 2010.
 
The net results of the above mentioned changes resulted in income from continuing operations before income taxes increasing $62.3 million from $446.1 million in 2009 to $508.4 million for 2010.
 
Provision for income taxes from continuing operations increased from $141.3 million in 2009 to $160.0 million in 2010 due to the increase in income from continuing operations before income taxes. Our effective tax rates were 31.5% and 31.7% for the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively. The decrease in our effective tax rate is primarily a result of a decrease in our effective state tax rate.
 
Each of income from continuing operations and net income, as a percentage of net operating revenues, increased from 2.5% in 2009 to 2.7% in 2010. The increase is primarily due to the decrease in interest expense as a percentage of net operating revenues, discussed above.
 
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests as a percentage of net operating revenues remained consistent at 0.5% for the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009.
 
Net income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. was $280.0 million in 2010 compared to $243.2 million in 2009, an increase of 15.1%. The increase in net income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. is reflective of the increase in net operating revenues while maintaining substantially the same profit margin levels as discussed above.
 
Year Ended December 31, 2009 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2008
 
Net operating revenues increased by 10.9% to approximately $12.1 billion in 2009, from approximately $10.9 billion in 2008. Growth from hospitals owned throughout both periods contributed $639 million of that increase and $550 million was contributed by hospitals acquired in 2009 and 2008. On a same-store basis, net operating revenues increased 5.9%. The increase from hospitals that we owned throughout both periods was primarily attributable to higher acuity level of services provided and outpatient growth, along with rate increases and favorable payor mix. These improvements were partially offset by the stronger flu and respiratory season during the year ended December 31, 2008, as compared to the year ended December 31, 2009, and the extra day from the leap year in 2008.
 
On a consolidated basis, inpatient admissions increased by 3.6% and adjusted admissions increased by 5.6%. On a same-store basis, inpatient admissions decreased by 1.5% during the year ended December 31, 2009. This decrease in inpatient admissions was due primarily to the strong flu and respiratory season during the year ended December 31, 2008, which did not recur during 2009, the 2008 period having one additional day because it was a leap year, and the impact of closing certain less profitable services.
 
Operating expenses, excluding depreciation and amortization, as a percentage of net operating revenues, remained consistent at 86.5% for 2008 and 2009. Salaries and benefits, as a percentage of net operating revenues, remained consistent at 40.0% for 2008 and 2009. Provision for bad debts, as a percentage of net revenues, increased from 11.2% in 2008 to 12.1% in 2009. This increase in the provision for bad debts primarily represents an increase in self-pay revenues over the comparable period of 2008 due to increased charges and the impact of current economic conditions on individuals’ ability to pay. Supplies, as a percentage of net operating revenues, decreased from 14.0% in 2008 to 13.9% in 2009. Other operating expenses, as a percentage of net operating revenues, decreased from 19.2% in 2008 to 18.5% in 2009. This decrease in other


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operating expenses is due primarily to reductions in contract labor. Rent, as a percentage of net operating revenues, decreased from 2.1% in 2008 to 2.0% in 2009. Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates, as a percentage of net operating revenues, decreased from 0.4% in 2008 to 0.3% in 2009.
 
Depreciation and amortization increased from 4.6% of net operating revenues in 2008 to 4.7% of net operating revenues in 2009. The increase in depreciation and amortization as a percentage of net operating revenues is primarily due to the opening of three replacement hospitals in the second and third quarters of 2008.
 
Interest expense, net, decreased by $3.5 million from $652.5 million in 2008, to $649.0 million in 2009. A decrease in interest rates during the year ended December 31, 2009, compared to the year ended December 31, 2008, accounted for $9.9 million of this decrease. In addition, we incurred an additional $1.8 million of interest expense in 2008, which was not incurred in 2009, since 2008 was a leap year. These decreases were offset by an increase in our average outstanding debt during the year ended December 31, 2009, compared to December 31, 2008, which resulted in a $2.8 million increase in interest expense. Additionally, interest expense increased by $5.4 million as a result of more of the interest during the year ended December 31, 2008 being capitalized interest due to more major construction projects during that period, compared to the year ended December 31, 2009.
 
Impairment of long-lived and other assets of $12.5 million in 2009 and $5.0 million in 2008 resulted from our assessment of the recoverability of these assets.
 
The net results of the above mentioned changes resulted in income from continuing operations before income taxes increasing $87.1 million from $359.0 million in 2008 to $446.1 million for 2009.
 
Provision for income taxes from continuing operations increased from $125.3 million in 2008 to $141.3 million in 2009 due to the increase in income from continuing operations before income taxes. Our effective tax rates were 31.7% and 34.9% for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively. The decrease in our effective tax rate is primarily a result of the recognition of a tax benefit of $3.0 million from adjustments and revaluation of deferred income tax accounts and a decrease in our effective state tax rate.
 
Income from continuing operations as a percentage of net operating revenues increased from 2.1% in 2008 to 2.5% in 2009. Net income as a percentage of net operating revenues increased from 2.3% in 2008 to 2.5% in 2009. The increase in income from continuing operations as a percentage of net operating revenues is primarily due to the decrease in interest expense as a percentage of net operating revenues, discussed above.
 
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests as a percentage of net operating revenues increased from 0.3% for the year ended December 31, 2008 to 0.5% for the year ended December 31, 2009. The increase in net income attributable to noncontrolling interests is due primarily to additional syndications entered into throughout 2008 and 2009.
 
Net income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. was $243.2 million in 2009 compared to $218.3 million for 2008, an increase of 11.4%. The increase in net income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. is reflective of the increase in net operating revenues while maintaining substantially the same profit margin levels as discussed above.
 
Liquidity and Capital Resources
 
2010 Compared to 2009
 
Net cash provided by operating activities increased $112.3 million, from approximately $1.1 billion for the year ended December 31, 2009 to approximately $1.2 billion for the year ended December 31, 2010. The increase is primarily due to an increase in cash flows from net income of $42.1 million, an increase in non-cash depreciation and amortization expense of $43.3 million, an increase in other non-cash expenses of $22.8 million, an increase in cash flows from accounts payable, accrued liabilities and income taxes of $75.9 million, primarily as a result of the timing of payments, and an increase in cash flows generated from the change in all other assets and liabilities of $19.0 million. These increases in cash flows were offset by decreases in cash flows from supplies, prepaid expenses and other current assets of $5.4 million and decreases


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in cash generated from accounts receivable of $85.4 million, primarily a result of our two-day improvement in account receivable days outstanding in 2010 compared to a five-day improvement in 2009.
 
The cash used in investing activities increased $177.1 million, from $867.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 to approximately $1.0 billion for the year ended December 31, 2010. The increase in cash used in investing activities, in comparison to the prior year, is primarily attributable to an increase in the cash used for the purchase of property and equipment of $90.5 million, a reduction in the amount of proceeds from the disposition of hospitals and other ancillary operations of $89.5 million due to the sale of one hospital in 2009 and no hospital divestitures in 2010, and a net increase in other non-operating assets of $17.0 million. These increases in cash used in investing activities were offset by a reduction in acquisitions of facilities and other related equipment of $15.5 million and an increase in the amount of the proceeds from the sale of property and equipment of $4.4 million. We anticipate being able to fund future routine capital expenditures with cash flows generated from operations.
 
In 2010, our net cash used in financing activities increased $104.4 million from $85.4 million in 2009 to $189.8 million in 2010. The increase in cash used in financing activities, in comparison to the prior year, is primarily due to repurchases of our common stock of $114.0 million, an increase in deferred financing costs of $13.2 million associated with the amendment and extension of a portion of our credit agreement, and a reduction in the proceeds from noncontrolling investors in joint ventures of $22.6 million as the Reform Legislation significantly limits the selling of noncontrolling interests to physician investors. These increases were offset by an increase in the proceeds from the exercise of stock options of $44.2 million and an increase in the excess tax benefit relating to stock-based compensation of $13.7 million. The net increase in all other financing activities was $12.5 million. This included an increase in borrowings under our Credit Facility, but was mostly offset by repayments of our long-term debt.
 
In 2010, we used $113.9 million for the repurchase and retirement of 3,415,800 shares of our outstanding common stock on the open market. We believed this to be a prudent use of cash as a result of our low market valuation when compared with historical valuations of both our stock and other healthcare providers’ stock. Our Credit Facility limits our ability to pay dividends and/or repurchase stock to an amount not to exceed $50 million in the aggregate after November 5, 2010, the date of the amendment and restatement of our Credit Facility. In addition, our Credit Facility allows us to repurchase stock in an amount not to exceed the aggregate amount of proceeds from the exercise of stock options. The indenture governing our Notes also limits our ability to pay dividends and/or repurchase stock. As of December 31, 2010, under the most restrictive test under these agreements, we have approximately $96.9 million remaining available with which to pay permitted dividends and/or make stock and Note repurchases.
 
With the exception of some small principal payments of our term loans under our Credit Facility, representing less than 1% of the outstanding balance each year through 2013, approximately $4.5 billion of term loans under our Credit Facility mature in 2014, our Notes are due in 2015, and the remaining $1.5 billion in term loans mature in 2017. We believe this four to five-year period before final maturity allows sufficient time for the current financial environment to improve and permits us to make favorable changes, including refinancing, to our debt structure. We do not anticipate the need to use funds currently available under our Credit Facility for purposes of funding our operations, although these funds could be used for the purpose of making further acquisitions or for restructuring our existing debt. Furthermore, we anticipate we will remain in compliance with our debt covenants through the next 12 months and beyond into the foreseeable future.


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As described in Notes 6, 9 and 15 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, at December 31, 2010, we had certain cash obligations, which are due as follows (in thousands):
 
                                         
                            2017
 
    Total     2011     2012-2014     2015-2016     and thereafter  
 
Long-term debt
  $ 6,038,459     $ 57,562     $ 4,522,058     $ 31,737     $ 1,427,102  
Notes
    2,784,331                   2,784,331        
Interest on Credit Facility and Notes(1)
    2,144,685       422,198       1,207,858       511,924       2,705  
Capital lease obligations, including interest
    82,115       10,328       20,314       11,182       40,291  
                                         
Total long-term debt
    11,049,590       490,088       5,750,230       3,339,174       1,470,098  
Operating leases
    828,787       172,764       359,337       142,581       154,105  
Replacement facilities and other capital commitments(2)
    627,175       259,008       323,690       8,273       36,204  
Open purchase orders(3)
    209,158       209,158                    
Liability for uncertain tax positions, including interest and penalties
    6,054       5,298       756              
                                         
Total
  $ 12,720,764     $ 1,136,316     $ 6,434,013     $ 3,490,028     $ 1,660,407  
                                         
 
 
(1) Estimate of interest payments assumes the interest rates at December 31, 2010 remain constant during the period presented for the Credit Facility, which is variable rate debt. The interest rate used to calculate interest payments for the Credit Facility was the London Interbank Offered Rate, or LIBOR, as of December 31, 2010 plus the spread. The Notes are fixed at an interest rate of 8.875% per annum.
 
(2) Pursuant to purchase agreements in effect as of December 31, 2010 and where CON approval has been obtained, we have commitments to build the following replacement facilities and the following capital commitments. As required by an amendment to our lease agreement entered into in 2005, we agreed to build a replacement hospital at our Barstow, California location by November 2012. As part of an acquisition in 2007, we agreed to build a replacement hospital in Valparaiso, Indiana by April 2011. As part of an acquisition in 2009, we agreed to build a replacement hospital in Siloam Springs, Arkansas by February 2013. Construction costs, including equipment costs, for these three replacement facilities are currently estimated to be approximately $318.5 million of which approximately $47.4 million has been incurred to date. In addition, under other purchase agreements, we have committed to spend approximately $540.5 million for costs such as capital improvements, equipment, selected leases and physician recruiting. These commitments are required to be fulfilled generally over a five to seven year period after acquisition. Through December 31, 2010, we have incurred approximately $184.5 million related to these commitments.
 
(3) Open purchase orders represent our commitment for items ordered but not yet received.
 
At December 31, 2010, we had issued letters of credit primarily in support of potential insurance related claims and specified outstanding bonds of approximately $81.9 million.
 
Our debt as a percentage of total capitalization decreased from 82% at December 31, 2009 to 80% at December 31, 2010.
 
2009 Compared to 2008
 
Net cash provided by operating activities increased $19.8 million, from approximately $1.1 billion for the year ended December 31, 2008 to approximately $1.1 billion for the year ended December 31, 2009. The increase is due to an increase in cash flows from net income of $53.6 million and an increase in non-cash


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depreciation and amortization expense of $59.8 million and an increase in cash generated from accounts receivable of $108.0 million, a result of the reduction in days revenue outstanding. These increases in cash flows outstanding were offset by decreases in cash flows from accounts payable, accrued liabilities and income taxes of $33.8 million, primarily as a result of the timing of payments and an increase in cash paid for income taxes during 2009. Also, other non-cash expenses decreased $83.5 million, primarily attributable to a reduction in deferred income tax expense resulting in a reduction to cash flows, and cash flows generated from the change in all other assets and liabilities decreased $84.3 million.
 
The cash used in investing activities was $867.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2009, compared to $665.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2008. The increase in cash used in investing activities, in comparison to the prior year, is primarily attributable to an increase in acquisitions of facilities and other related equipment of $101.9 million, a reduction in the amount of proceeds from the disposition of hospitals and other ancillary operations of $276.1 million due to the sale of one hospital in 2009 versus the sale of 11 hospitals in 2008, a reduction in the amount of the proceeds from sale of property and equipment of $9.4 million. This increase in cash used in investing activities was offset by a reduction in the amount of purchases of property and equipment of $115.3 million and a net decrease in other non-operating assets of $70.4 million, primarily attributable to a decrease in cash invested in our captive insurance subsidiary, a decrease in cash used for physician recruiting and a decrease in cash used for software related expenditures. We anticipate being able to fund future routine capital expenditures with cash flows generated from operations.
 
In 2009, our net cash used in financing activities decreased $218.6 million from $304.0 million in 2008 to $85.4 million in 2009, primarily due to an increase in borrowing under our Credit Facility. In January 2009, we drew down the remaining $200 million of the delayed draw term loan.
 
Capital Expenditures
 
Cash expenditures for purchases of facilities were $248.3 million in 2010, $263.8 million in 2009 and $161.9 million in 2008. Our expenditures in 2010 included $181.1 million for the purchase of five hospitals and $67.2 million for the purchase of clinics, surgery centers and physician practices. Our expenditures in 2009 included $182.2 million for the purchase of three hospitals and the remaining equity in a hospital in which we previously had a noncontrolling interest, $72.3 million for the purchase of clinics, surgery centers and physician practices, and $9.3 million for the settlement of acquired working capital. Our expenditures in 2008 included $149.1 million for the purchase of two hospitals and $12.8 million for the purchase of physician practices and a home care agency.
 
Excluding the cost to construct replacement hospitals, our cash expenditures for routine capital for 2010 totaled $631.7 million compared to $572.1 million in 2009, and $569.4 million in 2008. These capital expenditures related primarily to the purchase of additional equipment, minor renovations and information systems infrastructure. Costs to construct replacement hospitals totaled $35.7 million in 2010, $4.8 million in 2009 and $122.8 million in 2008. The costs to construct replacement hospitals for the year ended December 31, 2010 represent both planning and construction costs for the four replacement hospitals. The costs to construct replacement hospitals for the year ended December 31, 2009 represent planning costs for future construction projects since there were no replacement hospitals under construction at year ended December 31, 2009. In 2008, we completed construction of and opened three replacement hospitals, accounting for the higher costs incurred during the year ended December 31, 2008.
 
Pursuant to hospital purchase agreements in effect as of December 31, 2010, as part of an acquisition in 2007, we agreed to build a replacement hospital in Valparaiso, Indiana by April 2011, and as part of an acquisition in 2009, we agreed to build a replacement hospital in Siloam Springs, Arkansas by February 2013. Also, as required by an amendment to a lease agreement entered into in 2005, we agreed to build a replacement facility at Barstow Community Hospital in Barstow, California. Estimated construction costs, including equipment costs, are approximately $318.5 million for these three replacement facilities. In addition, in October 2008, after the purchase of the noncontrolling owner’s interest in our Birmingham, Alabama facility, we initiated the purchase of a site, which includes a partially constructed hospital structure, for a


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potential replacement to our existing Birmingham facility. In September 2010, we received approval of our request for a certificate of need from the Alabama Certificate of Need Review Board; however, this certificate of need remains subject to an appeal process. Our estimated construction costs, including the acquisition of the site and equipment costs, are approximately $280.0 million for the Birmingham replacement facility. We expect total capital expenditures of approximately $750 million to $850 million in 2011 (which includes amounts which are required to be expended pursuant to the terms of hospital purchase agreements), including approximately $580 million to $660 million for renovation and equipment cost and approximately $170 million to $190 million for construction and equipment cost of the replacement hospitals.
 
Capital Resources
 
Net working capital was approximately $1.229 billion at December 31, 2010, compared to $1.217 billion at December 31, 2009, an increase of $12.0 million. Contributing to the increase in net working capital were increases in patient accounts receivable of approximately $65.6 million, supplies of approximately $17.1 million, prepaid taxes of approximately $73.1 million, deferred tax assets of approximately $35.1 million, net working capital acquired as part of our business acquisitions of approximately $5.1 million and decreases in deferred tax liabilities of approximately $19.6 million. These increases in working capital were offset by decreases in cash of approximately $45.4 million, increases in accounts payable of approximately $86.7 million and employee compensation liabilities of approximately $82.8 million. All other changes in working capital items contributed approximately $11.3 million of net working capital.
 
In connection with the consummation of the Triad acquisition in July 2007, we obtained approximately $7.2 billion of senior secured financing under a Credit Facility with a syndicate of financial institutions led by Credit Suisse, as administrative agent and collateral agent. The Credit Facility consisted of an approximately $6.1 billion funded term loan facility with a maturity of seven years, a $300 million delayed draw term loan facility (reduced by us from $400 million) with a maturity of seven years and a $750 million revolving credit facility with a maturity of six years. During the fourth quarter of 2008, $100 million of the delayed draw term loan had been drawn down by us, reducing the delayed draw term loan availability to $200 million at December 31, 2008. In January 2009, we drew down the remaining $200 million of the delayed draw term loan. The revolving credit facility also includes a subfacility for letters of credit and a swingline subfacility. The Credit Facility requires quarterly amortization payments of each term loan facility equal to 0.25% of the outstanding amount of the term loans. On November 5, 2010, we entered into an amendment and restatement of our existing Credit Facility. The amendment extends by two and a half years, until January 25, 2017, the maturity date of $1.5 billion of the existing term loans under the Credit Facility and increases the pricing on these term loans to LIBOR plus 350 basis points. If more than $50 million of our Notes remain outstanding on April 15, 2015, without having been refinanced, then the maturity date for the extended term loans will be accelerated to April 15, 2015. The maturity date of the balance of the term loans of approximately $4.5 billion remains unchanged at July 25, 2014. The amendment also increases our ability to issue additional indebtedness under the uncommitted incremental facility to $1.0 billion from $600 million, permits us to issue Term A term loans under the incremental facility, and provides up to $2.0 billion of borrowing capacity from receivable transactions, an increase of $0.5 billion, of which $1.7 billion would be required to be used for repayment of existing term loans.
 
The term loan facility must be prepaid in an amount equal to (1) 100% of the net cash proceeds of certain asset sales and dispositions by us and our subsidiaries, subject to certain exceptions and reinvestment rights, (2) 100% of the net cash proceeds of issuances of certain debt obligations or receivables based financing by us and our subsidiaries, subject to certain exceptions, and (3) 50%, subject to reduction to a lower percentage based on our leverage ratio (as defined in the Credit Facility generally as the ratio of total debt on the date of determination to our EBITDA, as defined, for the four quarters most recently ended prior to such date), of excess cash flow (as defined) for any year, commencing in 2008, subject to certain exceptions. Voluntary prepayments and commitment reductions are permitted in whole or in part, without any premium or penalty, subject to minimum prepayment or reduction requirements.
 
The obligor under the Credit Facility is CHS. All of our obligations under the Credit Facility are unconditionally guaranteed by Community Health Systems, Inc. and certain existing and subsequently acquired


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or organized domestic subsidiaries. All obligations under the Credit Facility and the related guarantees are secured by a perfected first priority lien or security interest in substantially all of the assets of Community Health Systems, Inc., CHS and each subsidiary guarantor, including equity interests held by us or any subsidiary guarantor, but excluding, among others, the equity interests of non-significant subsidiaries, syndication subsidiaries, securitization subsidiaries and joint venture subsidiaries.
 
The loans under the Credit Facility bear interest on the outstanding unpaid principal amount at a rate equal to an applicable percentage plus, at our option, either (a) an Alternate Base Rate (as defined) determined by reference to the greater of (1) the Prime Rate (as defined) announced by Credit Suisse or (2) the Federal Funds Effective Rate (as defined) plus one-half of 1.0% or (3) the adjusted LIBOR rate on such day for a three-month interest period commencing on the second business day after such day plus 1%, or (b) a reserve adjusted LIBOR for dollars (Eurodollar rate) (as defined). The applicable percentage for Alternate Base Rate loans is 1.25% for term loans due 2014 and 2.25% for term loans due 2017. The applicable percentage for Eurodollar rate loans is 2.25% for term loans due 2014 and 3.5% for term loans due 2017. The applicable percentage for revolving loans was initially 1.25% for Alternate Base Rate revolving loans and 2.25% for Eurodollar revolving loans, in each case subject to reduction based on our leverage ratio. Loans under the swingline subfacility bear interest at the rate applicable to Alternate Base Rate loans under the revolving credit facility.
 
We have agreed to pay letter of credit fees equal to the applicable percentage then in effect with respect to Eurodollar rate loans under the revolving credit facility times the maximum aggregate amount available to be drawn under all letters of credit outstanding under the subfacility for letters of credit. The issuer of any letter of credit issued under the subfacility for letters of credit will also receive a customary fronting fee and other customary processing charges. We were initially obligated to pay commitment fees of 0.50% per annum (subject to reduction based upon our leverage ratio), on the unused portion of the revolving credit facility. For purposes of this calculation, swingline loans are not treated as usage of the revolving credit facility. With respect to the delayed draw term loan facility, we were also obligated to pay commitment fees of 0.50% per annum for the first nine months after the close of the Credit Facility and 0.75% per annum for the next three months after such nine-month period and thereafter 1.0% per annum. In each case, the commitment fee was based on the unused amount of the delayed draw term loan facility. After the draw down of the remaining $200 million of the delayed draw term loan in January 2009, we no longer pay any commitment fees for the delayed draw term loan facility. We also paid arrangement fees on the closing of the Credit Facility and pay an annual administrative agent fee.
 
The Credit Facility contains customary representations and warranties, subject to limitations and exceptions, and customary covenants restricting our and our subsidiaries’ ability, subject to certain exception, to, among other things, (1) declare dividends, make distributions or redeem or repurchase capital stock, (2) prepay, redeem or repurchase other debt, (3) incur liens or grant negative pledges, (4) make loans and investments and enter into acquisitions and joint ventures, (5) incur additional indebtedness or provide certain guarantees, (6) make capital expenditures, (7) engage in mergers, acquisitions and asset sales, (8) conduct transactions with affiliates, (9) alter the nature of our businesses, (10) grant certain guarantees with respect to physician practices, (11) engage in sale and leaseback transactions or (12) change our fiscal year. We and our subsidiaries are also required to comply with specified financial covenants (consisting of a leverage ratio and an interest coverage ratio) and various affirmative covenants.
 
Events of default under the Credit Facility include, but are not limited to, (1) our failure to pay principal, interest, fees or other amounts under the credit agreement when due (taking into account any applicable grace period), (2) any representation or warranty proving to have been materially incorrect when made, (3) covenant defaults subject, with respect to certain covenants, to a grace period, (4) bankruptcy events, (5) a cross default to certain other debt, (6) certain undischarged judgments (not paid within an applicable grace period), (7) a change of control, (8) certain ERISA-related defaults and (9) the invalidity or impairment of specified security interests, guarantees or subordination provisions in favor of the administrative agent or lenders under the Credit Facility.


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As of December 31, 2010, the availability for additional borrowings under our Credit Facility was approximately $750 million pursuant to the revolving credit facility, of which $81.9 million was set aside for outstanding letters of credit. We believe that these funds, along with internally generated cash and continued access to the bank credit and capital markets, will be sufficient to finance future acquisitions, capital expenditures and working capital requirements through the next 12 months and into the foreseeable future.
 
During the year ended December 31, 2008, we repurchased on the open market and cancelled $110.5 million of principal amount of the Notes. This resulted in a net gain from early extinguishment of debt of $2.5 million with an after-tax impact of $1.6 million. During the year ended December 31, 2009, we repurchased on the open market and cancelled $126.5 million of principal amount of the Notes. This resulted in a net gain from early extinguishment of debt of $2.7 million with an after-tax impact of $1.7 million.
 
On April 2, 2009, we paid down $110.4 million of our term loans under the Credit Facility. Of this amount, $85.0 million was paid down as required under the terms of the Credit Facility with the net proceeds received from the sale of the ownership interest in the partnership that owned and operated Presbyterian Hospital of Denton. This resulted in a loss from early extinguishment of debt of $1.1 million with an after-tax impact of $0.7 million recorded in discontinued operations for the year ended December 31, 2009. The remaining $25.4 million was paid on the term loans as required under the terms of the Credit Facility with the net proceeds received from the sale of various other assets. This resulted in a loss from early extinguishment of debt of $0.3 million with an after-tax impact of $0.2 million recorded in continuing operations for the year ended December 31, 2009.
 
As of December 31, 2010, we are currently a party to the following interest rate swap agreements to limit the effect of changes in interest rates on approximately 89% of our variable rate debt. On each of these swaps, we receive a variable rate of interest based on the three-month LIBOR, in exchange for the payment by us of a fixed rate of interest. We currently pay, on a quarterly basis, a margin above LIBOR of 225 basis points for revolving credit and term loans due 2014 and 350 basis points for term loans due 2017 under the Credit Facility.


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    Notional
    Fixed
             
    Amount
    Interest
    Termination
    Fair Value
 
Swap #   (in 000’s)     Rate     Date     (in 000’s)  
 
1
  $ 100,000       4.7090 %     January 24, 2011     $ (294 )
2
    300,000       5.1140 %     August 8, 2011       (8,430 )
3
    100,000       4.7185 %     August 19, 2011       (2,674 )
4
    100,000       4.7040 %     August 19, 2011       (2,664 )
5
    100,000       4.6250 %     August 19, 2011       (2,602 )
6
    200,000       4.9300 %     August 30, 2011       (5,833 )
7
    200,000       3.0920 %     September 18, 2011       (3,632 )
8
    100,000       3.0230 %     October 23, 2011       (1,952 )
9
    200,000       4.4815 %     October 26, 2011       (6,328 )
10
    200,000       4.0840 %     December 3, 2011       (6,267 )
11
    100,000       3.8470 %     January 4, 2012       (3,112 )
12
    100,000       3.8510 %     January 4, 2012       (3,126 )
13
    100,000       3.8560 %     January 4, 2012       (3,131 )
14
    200,000       3.7260 %     January 8, 2012       (6,074 )
15
    200,000       3.5065 %     January 16, 2012       (5,723 )
16
    250,000       5.0185 %     May 30, 2012       (14,971 )
17
    150,000       5.0250 %     May 30, 2012       (9,074 )
18
    200,000       4.6845 %     September 11, 2012       (13,217 )
19
    100,000       3.3520 %     October 23, 2012       (4,639 )
20
    125,000       4.3745 %     November 23, 2012       (8,095 )
21
    75,000       4.3800 %     November 23, 2012       (5,087 )
22
    150,000       5.0200 %     November 30, 2012       (12,124 )
23
    200,000       2.2420 %     February 28, 2013       (5,961 )
24
    100,000       5.0230 %     May 30, 2013       (9,655 )
25
    300,000       5.2420 %     August 6, 2013       (31,963 )
26
    100,000       5.0380 %     August 30, 2013       (10,396 )
27
    50,000       3.5860 %     October 23, 2013       (3,367 )
28
    50,000       3.5240 %     October 23, 2013       (3,281 )
29
    100,000       5.0500 %     November 30, 2013       (11,036 )
30
    200,000       2.0700 %     December 19, 2013       (4,898 )
31
    100,000       5.2310 %     July 25, 2014       (12,977 )
32
    100,000       5.2310 %     July 25, 2014       (12,977 )
33
    200,000       5.1600 %     July 25, 2014       (25,460 )
34
    75,000       5.0405 %     July 25, 2014       (9,225 )
35
    125,000       5.0215 %     July 25, 2014       (15,293 )
36
    100,000       2.6210 %     July 25, 2014       (3,883 )
37
    100,000       3.1100 %     July 25, 2014       (5,590 )
38
    100,000       3.2580 %     July 25, 2014       (5,909 )(1)
39
    200,000       2.6930 %     October 26, 2014       (4,594 )(2)
40
    300,000       3.4470 %     August 8, 2016       (12,337 )(3)
41
    200,000       3.4285 %     August 19, 2016       (7,832 )(4)
42
    100,000       3.4010 %     August 19, 2016       (3,778 )(5)
43
    200,000       3.5000 %     August 30, 2016       (8,325 )(6)
44
    100,000       3.0050 %     November 30, 2016       (2,740 )


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(1) This interest rate swap becomes effective January 24, 2011, concurrent with the termination of swap #1.
 
(2) This interest rate swap becomes effective October 26, 2011, concurrent with the termination of swap #9.
 
(3) This interest rate swap becomes effective August 8, 2011, concurrent with the termination of swap #2.
 
(4) This interest rate swap becomes effective August 19, 2011, concurrent with the termination of swap #3 and #5.
 
(5) This interest rate swap becomes effective August 19, 2011, concurrent with the termination of swap #4.
 
(6) This interest rate swap becomes effective August 30, 2011, concurrent with the termination of swap #6.
 
The Credit Facility and/or the Notes contain various covenants that limit our ability to take certain actions including; among other things, our ability to:
 
  •  incur, assume or guarantee additional indebtedness;
 
  •  issue redeemable stock and preferred stock;
 
  •  repurchase capital stock;
 
  •  make restricted payments, including paying dividends and making investments;
 
  •  redeem debt that is junior in right of payment to the Notes;
 
  •  create liens without securing the Notes;
 
  •  sell or otherwise dispose of assets, including capital stock of subsidiaries;
 
  •  enter into agreements that restrict dividends from subsidiaries;
 
  •  merge, consolidate, sell or otherwise dispose of substantial portions of our assets;
 
  •  enter into transactions with affiliates; and
 
  •  guarantee certain obligations.
 
In addition, our Credit Facility contains restrictive covenants and requires us to maintain specified financial ratios and satisfy other financial condition tests. Our ability to meet these restricted covenants and financial ratios and tests can be affected by events beyond our control, and we cannot assure you that we will meet those tests. A breach of any of these covenants could result in a default under our Credit Facility and/or the Notes. Upon the occurrence of an event of default under our Credit Facility or the Notes, all amounts outstanding under our Credit Facility and the Notes may become due and payable and all commitments under the Credit Facility to extend further credit may be terminated.
 
We believe that internally generated cash flows, availability for additional borrowings under our Credit Facility of $750 million (consisting of a $750 million revolving credit facility, of which $81.9 million is set aside for outstanding letters of credit as of December 31, 2010) and our ability to amend the Credit Facility to provide for one or more tranches of term loans in an aggregate principal amount of $1.0 billion, our ability to add up to $300 million of borrowing capacity from receivable transactions (including securitizations) and our continued access to the bank credit and capital markets will be sufficient to finance acquisitions, capital expenditures and working capital requirements through the next 12 months. We believe these same sources of cash, borrowings under our Credit Facility as well as access to bank credit and capital markets will be available to us beyond the next 12 months and into the foreseeable future.


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On December 22, 2008, we filed a universal automatic shelf registration statement on Form S-3ASR that will permit us, from time to time, in one or more public offerings, to offer debt securities, common stock, preferred stock, warrants, depositary shares, or any combination of such securities. The shelf registration statement will also permit our subsidiary, CHS, to offer debt securities that would be guaranteed by us, from time to time in one or more public offerings. The terms of any such future offerings would be established at the time of the offering.
 
Off-balance sheet arrangements
 
Our consolidated operating results for the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, included $281.0 million and $286.6 million, respectively, of net operating revenues and $26.6 million and $18.1 million, respectively, of income from continuing operations, generated from seven hospitals operated by us under operating lease arrangements. In accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, or U.S. GAAP, the respective assets and the future lease obligations under these arrangements are not recorded in our consolidated balance sheet. Lease payments under these arrangements are included in rent expense and totaled approximately $12.4 million and $16.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively. The current terms of these operating leases expire between June 2012 and December 2020, not including lease extension options. If we allow these leases to expire, we would no longer generate revenues nor incur expenses from these hospitals.
 
In the past, we have utilized operating leases as a financing tool for obtaining the operations of specified hospitals without acquiring, through ownership, the related assets of the hospital and without a significant outlay of cash at the front end of the lease. We utilize the same operating strategies to improve operations at those hospitals held under operating leases as we do at those hospitals that we own. We have not entered into any operating leases for hospital operations since December 2000.
 
During 2010, we entered into an agreement with the lessor of Cleveland Regional Medical Center, or Cleveland Regional, our leased facility in Cleveland, TX, to exchange our ownership interest in certain real estate at Hill Regional Medical Center, or Hill Regional, in Hillsboro, TX for the lessor’s ownership interest in the real estate at Cleveland Regional. The related lease agreement was amended to incorporate Hill Regional as a leased asset with no change to the remaining lease term or payment schedule. No monetary consideration was exchanged in this transaction, and the transaction qualifies as a non-taxable, like-kind exchange under the regulations in Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code. The assets of Cleveland Regional are included in the consolidated balance sheet at fair value on the date of this transaction; however, as a result of our continuing involvement in the Hill Regional assets, the exchange with the lessor does not qualify for sale treatment under U.S. GAAP. Accordingly, the transaction has been accounted for as a financing obligation and the assets of Hill Regional will remain on the consolidated balance sheet as assets recorded under a financing obligation. Future payments under the lease will be amortized against the financing obligation rather than recorded as rent expense.
 
As described more fully in Note 15 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, at December 31, 2010, we have certain cash obligations for replacement facilities and other construction commitments of $627.2 million and open purchase orders for $209.2 million.
 
Noncontrolling Interests
 
We have sold noncontrolling interests in certain of our subsidiaries or acquired subsidiaries with existing noncontrolling interest ownership positions. As of December 31, 2010, we have hospitals in 25 of the markets we serve, with noncontrolling physician ownership interests ranging from less than 1% to 40%, including one hospital that also had a non-profit entity as a partner. In addition, we have three other hospitals with noncontrolling interests owned by non-profit entities. During 2010 (prior to the enactment of the Reform Legislation), we sold noncontrolling interests in two of our hospitals and additional noncontrolling interests in hospitals with existing physician ownership, for total consideration of $7.2 million. During 2009, we sold


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noncontrolling interests in six of our hospitals, including additional noncontrolling interests in hospitals with existing physician ownership, for total consideration of $19.3 million. During 2008, we sold noncontrolling interests in seven of our hospitals, including additional noncontrolling interests in hospitals with existing physician ownership, for total consideration of $82.1 million. Effective June 1, 2009, we acquired from Akron General Medical Center the remaining 20% noncontrolling interest in Massillon Community Health System, LLC not then owned by us. This entity indirectly owns and operates Affinity Medical Center of Massillon, Ohio. The purchase price for this noncontrolling interest was $1.1 million in cash. Affinity Medical Center is now wholly-owned by us. Effective June 30, 2008, we acquired the remaining 35% noncontrolling interest in Affinity Health Systems, LLC which indirectly owns and operates Trinity Medical Center (560 licensed beds) in Birmingham, Alabama, from Baptist Health Systems, Inc. of Birmingham, Alabama, or Baptist, giving us 100% ownership of that facility. The purchase price to acquire this interest was $51.5 million in cash and the cancellation of a promissory note issued by Baptist to Affinity Health Systems, LLC in the original principal amount of $32.8 million. Effective November 14, 2008, we acquired from Willamette Community Health Solutions all of its noncontrolling interest in MWMC Holdings, LLC, which indirectly owns a controlling interest in and operates McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center of Springfield, Oregon. This acquisition resulted from a put right held by Willamette Community Health Solutions in connection with the 2003 transaction establishing the joint venture. The purchase price for this noncontrolling interest was $22.7 million in cash. Physicians affiliated with Oregon Health Resources, Inc. continue to own a noncontrolling interest in the hospital. Redeemable noncontrolling interests in equity of consolidated subsidiaries was $387.5 million and $368.9 million as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively, and noncontrolling interests in equity of consolidated subsidiaries was $60.9 million and $64.8 million as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively, and the amount of net income attributable to noncontrolling interests was $68.5 million, $63.2 million and $34.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively. As a result of the change in the Stark Law “whole hospital” exception included in the Reform Legislation, we will not introduce physician ownership at any of our wholly-owned facilities or increase the aggregate percentage of physician ownership in any of our existing joint ventures.
 
Reimbursement, Legislative and Regulatory Changes
 
The Reform Legislation was enacted in the context of other ongoing legislative and regulatory efforts, which would reduce or otherwise adversely affect the payments we receive from Medicare and Medicaid. Within the statutory framework of the Medicare and Medicaid programs, including programs currently unaffected by the Reform Legislation, there are substantial areas subject to administrative rulings, interpretations, and discretion which may further affect payments made under those programs, and the federal and state governments might, in the future, reduce the funds available under those programs or require more stringent utilization and quality reviews of hospital facilities. Additionally, there may be a continued rise in managed care programs and additional restructuring of the financing and delivery of healthcare in the United States. These events could cause our future financial results to decline. We cannot estimate the impact of Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement changes that have been enacted or are under consideration. We cannot predict whether additional reimbursement reductions will be made or whether any such changes would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial conditions, results of operations, cash flow, capital resources and liquidity.
 
Inflation
 
The healthcare industry is labor intensive. Wages and other expenses increase during periods of inflation and when labor shortages occur in the marketplace. In addition, our suppliers pass along rising costs to us in the form of higher prices. We have implemented cost control measures, including our case and resource management program, to curb increases in operating costs and expenses. We have generally offset increases in operating costs by increasing reimbursement for services, expanding services and reducing costs in other areas. However, we cannot predict our ability to cover or offset future cost increases, particularly any increases in our cost of providing health insurance benefits to our employees as a result of the Reform Legislation.


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Critical Accounting Policies
 
The discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based upon our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amount of assets and liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of our consolidated financial statements. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.
 
Critical accounting policies are defined as those that are reflective of significant judgments and uncertainties, and potentially result in materially different results under different assumptions and conditions. We believe that our critical accounting policies are limited to those described below. For a detailed discussion on the application of these and other accounting policies, see Note 1 in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included under Item 8 of this Report.
 
Third-party Reimbursement
 
Net operating revenues include amounts estimated by management to be reimbursable by Medicare and Medicaid under prospective payment systems and provisions of cost-reimbursement and other payment methods. In addition, we are reimbursed by non-governmental payors using a variety of payment methodologies. Amounts we receive for treatment of patients covered by these programs are generally less than the standard billing rates. Contractual allowances are automatically calculated and recorded through our internally developed “automated contractual allowance system.” Within the automated system, actual Medicare DRG data and payors’ historical paid claims data are utilized to calculate the contractual allowances. This data is automatically updated on a monthly basis. All hospital contractual allowance calculations are subjected to monthly review by management to ensure reasonableness and accuracy. We account for the differences between the estimated program reimbursement rates and the standard billing rates as contractual allowance adjustments, which we deduct from gross revenues to arrive at net operating revenues. The process of estimating contractual allowances requires us to estimate the amount expected to be received based on payor contract provisions. The key assumption in this process is the estimated contractual reimbursement percentage, which is based on payor classification and historical paid claims data. Due to the complexities involved in these estimates, actual payments we receive could be different from the amounts we estimate and record. If the actual contractual reimbursement percentage under government programs and managed care contracts differed by 1% at December 31, 2010 from our estimated reimbursement percentage, net income for the year ended December 31, 2010 would have changed by approximately $30.5 million, and net accounts receivable at December 31, 2010 would have changed by $48.3 million. Final settlements under some of these programs are subject to adjustment based on administrative review and audit by third parties. We account for adjustments to previous program reimbursement estimates as contractual allowance adjustments and report them in the periods that such adjustments become known. Contractual allowance adjustments related to final settlements and previous program reimbursement estimates impacted net operating revenues and net income by an insignificant amount in each of the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008.
 
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts
 
Substantially all of our accounts receivable are related to providing healthcare services to our hospitals’ patients. Collection of these accounts receivable is our primary source of cash and is critical to our operating performance. Our primary collection risks relate to uninsured patients and outstanding patient balances for which the primary insurance payor has paid some but not all of the outstanding balance, with the remaining outstanding balance (generally deductibles and co-payments) owed by the patient. At the point of service, for patients required to make a co-payment, we generally collect less than 15% of the related revenue. For all procedures scheduled in advance, our policy is to verify insurance coverage prior to the date of the procedure. Insurance coverage is not verified in advance of procedures for walk-in and emergency room patients.
 
We estimate the allowance for doubtful accounts by reserving a percentage of all self-pay accounts receivable without regard to aging category, based on collection history, adjusted for expected recoveries and,


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if present, anticipated changes in trends. For all other non-self-pay payor categories, we reserve 100% of all accounts aging over 365 days from the date of discharge. The percentage used to reserve for all self-pay accounts is based on our collection history. We believe that we collect substantially all of our third-party insured receivables, which include receivables from governmental agencies.
 
Collections are impacted by the economic ability of patients to pay and the effectiveness of our collection efforts. Significant changes in payor mix, business office operations, economic conditions or trends in federal and state governmental healthcare coverage could affect our collection of accounts receivable. The process of estimating the allowance for doubtful accounts requires us to estimate the collectability of self-pay accounts receivable, which is primarily based on our collection history, adjusted for expected recoveries and, if available, anticipated changes in collection trends. Significant change in payor mix, business office operations, economic conditions, trends in federal and state governmental healthcare coverage or other third-party payors could affect our estimates of accounts receivable collectability. If the actual collection percentage at December 31, 2010 differed by 1% from our estimated collection percentage as a result of a change in expected recoveries, net income for the year ended December 31, 2010 would have changed by $16.8 million, and net accounts receivable at December 31, 2010 would have changed by $26.6 million. We also continually review our overall reserve adequacy by monitoring historical cash collections as a percentage of trailing net revenue less provision for bad debts, as well as by analyzing current period net revenue and admissions by payor classification, aged accounts receivable by payor, days revenue outstanding and the impact of recent acquisitions and dispositions.
 
Our policy is to write-off gross accounts receivable if the balance is under $10.00 or when such amounts are placed with outside collection agencies. We believe this policy accurately reflects our ongoing collection efforts and is consistent with industry practices. We had approximately $2.1 billion and $1.9 billion at December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively, being pursued by various outside collection agencies. We expect to collect less than 3%, net of estimated collection fees, of the amounts being pursued by outside collection agencies. As these amounts have been written-off, they are not included in our gross accounts receivable or our allowance for doubtful accounts. Collections on amounts previously written-off are recognized as a reduction to bad debt expense when received. However, we take into consideration estimated collections of these future amounts written-off in evaluating the reasonableness of our allowance for doubtful accounts.
 
All of the following information is derived from our hospitals, excluding clinics, unless otherwise noted.
 
Patient accounts receivable from our hospitals represent approximately 95% of our total consolidated accounts receivable.
 
Days revenue outstanding was 46 days at December 31, 2010 and 48 days at December 31, 2009. Our target range for days revenue outstanding is from 46 to 56 days.
 
Total gross accounts receivable (prior to allowance for contractual adjustments and doubtful accounts) was approximately $7.2 billion as of December 31, 2010 and approximately $6.1 billion as of December 31, 2009.
 
The approximate percentage of total gross accounts receivable (prior to allowances for contractual adjustments and doubtful accounts) summarized by payor is as follows:
 
                 
    December 31,  
    2010     2009  
 
Insured receivables
    63.9 %     62.4 %
Self-pay receivables
    36.1 %     37.6 %
                 
Total
    100.0 %     100.0 %
                 
 
For the hospital segment, the combined total of the allowance for doubtful accounts and related allowances for other self-pay discounts and contractuals, as a percentage of gross self-pay receivables, was approximately 84% at December 31, 2010 and 82% at December 31, 2009. If the receivables that have been written-off, but where collections are still being pursued by outside collection agencies, were included in both


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the allowances and gross self-pay receivables specified above, the percentage of combined allowances to total self-pay receivables would have been approximately 91% and 90% at December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively.
 
Goodwill and Other Intangibles
 
Goodwill represents the excess of cost over the fair value of net assets acquired. Goodwill is evaluated for impairment at the same time every year and when an event occurs or circumstances change that, more likely than not, reduce the fair value of the reporting unit below its carrying value. There is a two-step method for determining goodwill impairment. Step one is to compare the fair value of the reporting unit with the unit’s carrying amount, including goodwill. If this test indicates the fair value is less than the carrying value, then step two is required to compare the implied fair value of the reporting unit’s goodwill with the carrying value of the reporting unit’s goodwill. We have selected September 30 as our annual testing date. Based on the results of our most recent annual impairment test, we have concluded that we do not have any reporting units that are at risk of failing step one of the goodwill impairment test.
 
Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets
 
Whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying values of certain long-lived assets may be impaired, we project the undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by these assets. If the projections indicate that the reported amounts are not expected to be recovered, such amounts are reduced to their estimated fair value based on a quoted market price, if available, or an estimate based on valuation techniques available in the circumstances.
 
Professional Liability Claims
 
As part of our business of owning and operating hospitals, we are subject to legal actions alleging liability on our part. We accrue for losses resulting from such liability claims, as well as loss adjustment expenses that are out-of-pocket and directly related to such liability claims. These direct out-of-pocket expenses include fees of outside counsel and experts. We do not accrue for costs that are part of our corporate overhead, such as the costs of our in-house legal and risk management departments. The losses resulting from professional liability claims primarily consist of estimates for known claims, as well as estimates for incurred but not reported claims. The estimates are based on specific claim facts, our historical claim reporting and payment patterns, the nature and level of our hospital operations, and actuarially determined projections. The actuarially determined projections are based on our actual claim data, including historic reporting and payment patterns which have been gathered over approximately a 20-year period. As discussed below, since we purchase excess insurance on a claims-made basis that transfers risk to third party insurers, the liability we accrue does not include an amount for the losses covered by our excess insurance. Since we believe that the amount and timing of our future claims payments are reliably determinable, we discount the amount we accrue for losses resulting from professional liability claims using the risk-free interest rate corresponding to the timing of our expected payments.
 
The net present value of the projected payments was discounted using a weighted-average risk-free rate of 1.3%, 1.4% and 2.6% in 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively. This liability is adjusted for new claims information in the period such information becomes known to us. Professional malpractice expense includes the losses resulting from professional liability claims and loss adjustment expense, as well as paid excess insurance premiums, and is presented within other operating expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of income.
 
Our processes for obtaining and analyzing claims and incident data are standardized across all of our hospitals and have been consistent for many years. We monitor the outcomes of the medical care services that we provide and for each reported claim, we obtain various information concerning the facts and circumstances related to that claim. In addition, we routinely monitor current key statistics and volume indicators in our assessment of utilizing historical trends. The average lag period between claim occurrence and payment of a final settlement is between four and five years, although the facts and circumstances of individual claims could


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result in the timing of such payments being different from this average. Since claims are paid promptly after settlement with the claimant is reached, settled claims represent less than 1.0% of the total liability at the end of any period.
 
For purposes of estimating our individual claim accruals, we utilize specific claim information, including the nature of the claim, the expected claim amount, the year in which the claim occurred and the laws of the jurisdiction in which the claim occurred. Once the case accruals for known claims are determined, information is stratified by loss layers and retentions, accident years, reported years, geography, and claims relating to the acquired Triad hospitals versus claims relating to our other hospitals. Several actuarial methods are used against this data to produce estimates of ultimate paid losses and reserves for incurred but not reported claims. Each of these methods uses our company-specific historical claims data and other information. This company-specific data includes information regarding our business, including historical paid losses and loss adjustment expenses, historical and current case loss reserves, actual and projected hospital statistical data, a variety of hospital census information, employed physician information, professional liability retentions for each policy year, geographic information and other data.
 
Based on these analyses we determine our estimate of the professional liability claims. The determination of management’s estimate, including the preparation of the reserve analysis that supports such estimate, involves subjective judgment of management. Changes in reserving data or the trends and factors that influence reserving data may signal fundamental shifts in our future claim development patterns or may simply reflect single-period anomalies. Even if a change reflects a fundamental shift, the full extent of the change may not become evident until years later. Moreover, since our methods and models use different types of data and we select our liability from the results of all of these methods, we typically cannot quantify the precise impact of such factors on our estimates of the liability. Due to our standardized and consistent processes for handling claims and the long history and depth of our company-specific data, our methodologies have produced reliably determinable estimates of ultimate paid losses.
 
The following table presents the amounts of our accrual for professional liability claims and approximate amounts of our activity for each of the respective years (excludes premiums for excess insurance coverage) (in thousands):
 
                         
    Year Ended December 31,  
    2010     2009     2008  
 
Accrual for professional liability claims, beginning of year
  $ 431,225     $ 350,579     $ 300,184  
                         
Expense (income) related to:
                       
Current accident year
    141,923       136,424       110,010  
Prior accident years
    (10,583 )     (6,702 )     (15,826 )
(Income) expense from discounting
    (2,678 )     11,515       11,499  
                         
Total incurred loss and loss expense(1)
    128,662       141,237       105,683  
                         
Paid claims and expenses related to:
                       
Current accident year
    (1,980 )     (1,387 )     (688 )
Prior accident years
    (68,700 )     (59,204 )     (54,600 )
                         
Total paid claims and expenses
    (70,680 )     (60,591 )     (55,288 )
                         
Accrual for professional liability claims, end of year
  $ 489,207     $ 431,225     $ 350,579  
                         
 
 
(1) Total expense, including premiums for insured coverage, was $164.2 million in 2010, $176.4 million in 2009 and $136.6 million in 2008.
 
The increase in current accident year claims expense in each year from 2007 to 2010 is consistent with the increase in net operating revenues during these periods. Income/expense related to prior accident years reflects changes in estimates resulting from the filing of claims for prior year incidents, claim settlements, updates from litigation, and our ongoing investigation of open claims. Expense/income from discounting


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reflects the changes in the weighted-average risk-free interest rate used and timing of estimated payments for discounting in each year.
 
We are primarily self-insured for these claims; however, we obtain excess insurance that transfers the risk of loss to a third-party insurer for claims in excess of our self-insured retentions. Our excess insurance is underwritten on a claims-made basis. For claims reported prior to June 1, 2002, substantially all of our professional and general liability risks were subject to a $0.5 million per occurrence self-insured retention and for claims reported from June 1, 2002 through June 1, 2003, these self-insured retentions were $2.0 million per occurrence. Substantially all claims reported after June 1, 2003 and before June 1, 2005 are self-insured up to $4 million per claim. Substantially all claims reported on or after June 1, 2005 are self-insured up to $5 million per claim. Management, on occasion, has selectively increased the insured risk at certain hospitals based upon insurance pricing and other factors and may continue that practice in the future. Excess insurance for all hospitals has been purchased through commercial insurance companies and generally covers us for liabilities in excess of the self-insured retentions. The excess coverage consists of multiple layers of insurance, the sum of which totals up to $95 million per occurrence and in the aggregate for claims reported on or after June 1, 2003 and up to $145 million per occurrence and in the aggregate for claims incurred and reported after January 1, 2008. For certain policy years, if the first aggregate layer of excess coverage becomes fully utilized, then the self-insured retention could increase to $10 million per claim for any subsequent claims in that policy year until our total aggregate coverage is met.
 
Effective January 1, 2008, the former Triad hospitals are insured on a claims-made basis as described above and through commercial insurance companies as described above for substantially all claims occurring on or after January 1, 2002 and reported on or after January 1, 2008. Substantially all losses for the former Triad hospitals in periods prior to May 1, 1999 were insured through a wholly-owned insurance subsidiary of HCA Inc., or HCA, Triad’s owner prior to that time, and excess loss policies maintained by HCA. HCA has agreed to indemnify the former Triad hospitals in respect of claims covered by such insurance policies arising prior to May 1, 1999. From May 1, 1999 through December 31, 2006, the former Triad hospitals obtained insurance coverage on a claims incurred basis from HCA’s wholly-owned insurance subsidiary, with excess coverage obtained from other carriers that is subject to certain deductibles. Effective for claims incurred after December 31, 2006, Triad began insuring its claims from $1 million to $5 million through its wholly-owned captive insurance company, replacing the coverage provided by HCA. Substantially all claims occurring during 2007 were self-insured up to $10 million per claim.
 
Income Taxes
 
We must make estimates in recording provision for income taxes, including determination of deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities and any valuation allowances that might be required against the deferred tax assets. We believe that future income will enable us to realize certain deferred tax assets, subject to the valuation allowance we have established. Our deferred tax assets and liabilities have been adjusted in 2010 for the effects of our filed 2009 tax return, having the effect of increasing total deferred tax assets by $12.5 million, increasing total deferred tax liabilities by $11.4 million, and decreasing prepaid income taxes by $1.1 million. The effects of the adjustments did not impact income tax expense, and their effects on previously issued consolidated financial statements were not material.
 
The total amount of unrecognized benefit that would impact the effective tax rate, if recognized, was approximately $7.5 million as of December 31, 2010. It is our policy to recognize interest and penalties related to unrecognized benefits in our consolidated statements of income as income tax expense. A total of approximately $1.4 million of interest and penalties is included in the amount of liability for uncertain tax positions at December 31, 2010. During the year ended December 31, 2010, we released $1.4 million for income taxes and $0.5 million for accrued interest of our liability for uncertain tax positions, as a result of the expiration of the statute of limitations pertaining to tax positions taken in prior years.
 
We believe it is reasonably possible that approximately $3.1 million of our current unrecognized tax benefit may be recognized within the next twelve months as a result of a lapse of the statute of limitations and settlements with taxing authorities.


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We, or one of our subsidiaries, file income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction and various state jurisdictions. We have extended the federal statute of limitations for Triad for the tax periods ended December 31, 1999, December 31, 2000, April 30, 2001, June 30, 2001, December 31, 2001, December 31, 2002 and December 31, 2003. We are currently under examination by the IRS regarding the federal tax return of Triad for the tax periods ended December 31, 2004, December 31, 2005, December 31, 2006 and July 25, 2007. We believe the results of this examination will not be material to our consolidated results of operations or consolidated financial position. With few exceptions, we are no longer subject to state income tax examinations for years prior to 2007 and federal income tax examinations with respect to Community Health Systems, Inc. federal returns for years prior to 2007. Our federal income tax returns for the 2007 and 2008 tax years are currently under examination by the IRS. We believe the results of this examination will not be material to our consolidated results of operations or consolidated financial position.
 
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
 
On January 1, 2010, we adopted the revisions to U.S. GAAP related to the accounting and consolidation requirements for variable interest entities, which did not have a material effect on our consolidated results of operations or financial position. These revisions significantly changed the criteria in determining the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity (“VIE”) from a more quantitative model to both a quantitative and qualitative evaluation of the enterprise that has (1) the power to direct the activities that most significantly affect the VIE’s economic performance and (2) the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive returns that could be potentially significant to the VIE. Additionally, this guidance required ongoing reassessments of whether an enterprise is the primary beneficiary of a VIE and required enhanced disclosures that would provide users of financial statements with more transparent information about an enterprise’s involvement in a VIE. The adoption of these changes had no impact on our consolidated financial statements.
 
In August 2010, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, issued Accounting Standards Update, or ASU, 2010-24, which provides clarification to companies in the healthcare industry on the accounting for professional liability insurance. This ASU states that receivables related to insurance recoveries should not be netted against the related claim liability and such claim liabilities should be determined without considering insurance recoveries. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2010 and will be adopted by us in the first quarter of 2011. The adoption of this ASU will not have a material impact on our consolidated financial position and will have no impact on our consolidated results of operations.
 
In August 2010, the FASB issued ASU 2010-23, which requires a company in the healthcare industry to use its direct and indirect costs of providing charity care as the measurement basis for charity care disclosures. This ASU also requires additional disclosures of the method used to identify such costs. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2010 and will be adopted by us in the first quarter of 2011. The adoption of this ASU will have no impact on our consolidated results of operations and consolidated financial position.
 
Item 7A.   Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
 
We are exposed to interest rate changes, primarily as a result of our Credit Facility which bears interest based on floating rates. In order to manage the volatility relating to the market risk, we entered into interest rate swap agreements described under the heading “Liquidity and Capital Resources.” We do not anticipate any material changes in our primary market risk exposures in 2011. We utilize risk management procedures and controls in executing derivative financial instrument transactions. We do not execute transactions or hold derivative financial instruments for trading purposes. Derivative financial instruments related to interest rate sensitivity of debt obligations are used with the goal of mitigating a portion of the exposure when it is cost effective to do so.
 
A 1% change in interest rates on variable rate debt in excess of that amount covered by interest rate swaps would have resulted in interest expense fluctuating approximately $6.8 million in 2010, $2.5 million in 2009 and $13 million in 2008.


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Item 8.   Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.
 
Index to Financial Statements
 
         
    Page
 
Community Health Systems, Inc. Consolidated Financial Statements:
       
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
    67  
Consolidated Statements of Income for the Years Ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008
    68  
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2010 and 2009
    69  
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the Years Ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008
    70  
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008
    71  
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
    72  


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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
 
To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of
Community Health Systems, Inc.
Franklin, Tennessee
 
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Community Health Systems, Inc. and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, and the related consolidated statements of income, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2010. These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits.
 
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
 
In our opinion, such consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Community Health Systems, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2010, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
 
As discussed in Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company adopted revisions to accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America related to business combinations effective January 1, 2009.
 
We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2010, based on the criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated February 25, 2011 expressed an unqualified opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
 
 
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
Nashville, Tennessee
February 25, 2011


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COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
 
                         
    Year Ended December 31,  
    2010     2009     2008  
    (In thousands, except share and per share data)  
 
Net operating revenues
  $ 12,986,500     $ 12,107,613     $ 10,919,095  
                         
Operating costs and expenses:
                       
Salaries and benefits
    5,237,971       4,842,330       4,367,664  
Provision for bad debts
    1,588,516       1,460,307       1,218,612  
Supplies
    1,771,129       1,685,493       1,531,376  
Other operating expenses
    2,406,596       2,237,475       2,099,010  
Rent
    257,521       247,132       231,167  
Depreciation and amortization
    609,839       566,211       499,386  
                         
Total operating costs and expenses
    11,871,572       11,038,948       9,947,215  
                         
Income from operations
    1,114,928       1,068,665       971,880  
Interest expense, net of interest income of $1,757, $3,561, and $7,057 in 2010, 2009, and 2008, respectively
    651,926       648,964       652,468  
Gain from early extinguishment of debt
          (2,385 )     (2,525 )
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates
    (45,432 )     (36,521 )     (42,063 )
Impairment of long-lived and other assets
          12,477       5,000  
                         
Income from continuing operations before income taxes
    508,434       446,130       359,000  
Provision for income taxes
    159,993       141,325       125,273  
                         
Income from continuing operations
    348,441       304,805       233,727  
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
                       
Income from operations of hospitals sold and hospitals held for sale
          1,977       9,427  
(Loss) gain on sale of hospitals, net
          (405 )     9,580  
                         
Income from discontinued operations
          1,572       19,007  
                         
Net income
    348,441       306,377       252,734  
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
    68,458       63,227       34,430  
                         
Net income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. 
  $ 279,983     $ 243,150     $ 218,304  
                         
Basic earnings per share attributable to Community
                       
Health Systems, Inc. common stockholders(1):
                       
Continuing operations
  $ 3.05     $ 2.67     $ 2.13  
Discontinued operations
          0.01       0.21  
                         
Net income
  $ 3.05     $ 2.68     $ 2.34  
                         
Diluted earnings per share attributable to Community
                       
Health Systems, Inc. common stockholders(1):
                       
Continuing operations
  $ 3.01     $ 2.64     $ 2.11  
Discontinued operations
          0.01       0.21  
                         
Net income
  $ 3.01     $ 2.66     $ 2.32  
                         
Weighted-average number of shares outstanding:
                       
Basic
    91,718,791       90,614,886       93,371,782  
                         
Diluted
    92,946,048       91,517,274       94,288,829  
                         
 
 
(1) Total per share amounts may not add due to rounding.
 
See notes to consolidated financial statements.


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COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
 
 
                 
    December 31,  
    2010     2009  
    (In thousands, except share data)  
 
ASSETS
Current assets:
               
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 299,169     $ 344,541  
Patient accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $1,639,198
               
and $1,417,188 at December 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively
    1,714,542       1,617,903  
Supplies
    329,114       302,609  
Prepaid income taxes
    118,464       45,414  
Deferred income taxes
    115,819       80,714  
Prepaid expenses and taxes
    100,754       89,475  
Other current assets
    193,331       194,339  
                 
Total current assets
    2,871,193       2,674,995  
                 
Property and equipment:
               
Land and improvements
    547,201       537,307  
Buildings and improvements
    5,214,091       4,806,542  
Equipment and fixtures
    2,802,920       2,443,407  
                 
      8,564,212       7,787,256  
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization
    (2,106,746 )     (1,655,010 )
                 
Property and equipment, net
    6,457,466       6,132,246  
                 
Goodwill
    4,199,905       4,157,927  
                 
Other assets, net of accumulated amortization of $258,547 and $197,880 in 2010 and 2009, respectively
    1,169,559       1,056,304  
                 
Total assets
  $ 14,698,123     $ 14,021,472  
                 
 
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current liabilities:
               
Current maturities of long-term debt
  $ 63,139     $ 66,470  
Accounts payable
    526,338       428,565  
Deferred income taxes
    8,882       28,397  
Accrued liabilities:
               
Employee compensation
    596,026       500,101  
Interest
    146,415       145,201  
Other
    301,240       289,062  
                 
Total current liabilities
    1,642,040       1,457,796  
                 
Long-term debt
    8,808,382       8,844,638  
                 
Deferred income taxes
    608,177       475,812  
                 
Other long-term liabilities
    1,001,675       858,952  
                 
Total liabilities
    12,060,274       11,637,198  
                 
Redeemable noncontrolling interests in equity of consolidated subsidiaries
    387,472       368,857  
                 
Commitments and contingencies (Note 15)
               
EQUITY
               
Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders’ equity
               
Preferred stock, $.01 par value per share, 100,000,000 shares authorized; none issued
           
Common stock, $.01 par value per share, 300,000,000 shares authorized; 93,644,862 shares issued and 92,669,313 shares outstanding at December 31, 2010 and 94,013,537 shares issued and 93,037,988 shares outstanding at December 31, 2009
    936       940  
Additional paid-in capital
    1,126,751       1,158,359  
Treasury stock, at cost, 975,549 shares at December 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009
    (6,678 )     (6,678 )
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
    (230,927 )     (221,385 )
Retained earnings
    1,299,382       1,019,399  
                 
Total Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders’ equity
    2,189,464       1,950,635  
Noncontrolling interests in equity of consolidated subsidiaries
    60,913       64,782  
                 
Total equity
    2,250,377       2,015,417  
                 
Total liabilities and equity
  $ 14,698,123     $ 14,021,472  
                 
 
See notes to consolidated financial statements.


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COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
 
                                                                                   
            Community Health Systems, Inc. Stockholders              
                                          Accumulated
                   
    Redeemable
                  Additional
                Other
                   
    Noncontrolling
      Common Stock     Paid-in
    Treasury Stock     Comprehensive
    Retained
    Noncontrolling
       
    Interests       Shares     Amount     Capital     Shares     Amount     Income (Loss)     Earnings     Interests     Total  
    (In thousands, except share data)  
BALANCE, December 31, 2007
  $ 346,999         96,611,085     $ 966     $ 1,216,797       (975,549 )   $ (6,678 )   $ (81,737 )   $ 557,945     $ 51,419     $ 1,738,712  
Comprehensive income (loss):
                                                                                 
Net income
    30,017                                             218,304       4,410       222,714  
Net change in fair value of interest rate swaps, net of tax benefit of $112,915
                                          (200,737 )                 (200,737 )
Net change in fair value of available-for-sale securities
                                          (2,613 )                 (2,613 )
Amortization and recognition of unrecognized pension cost components, net of tax benefit of $7,262
                                          (10,488 )                 (10,488 )
                                                                                   
Total comprehensive income (loss)
    30,017                                                 (213,838 )     218,304       4,410       8,876  
Contributions from noncontrolling interests, net of distributions
    7,056                                                   29,931       29,931  
Purchase of subsidiary shares from noncontrolling interests
    (73,581 )                                                 (22,497 )     (22,497 )
Sale of less than wholly-owned subsidiaries
                                                      (1,806 )     (1,806 )
Adjustment to redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interests
    38,325                     (38,325 )                                   (38,325 )
Repurchases of common stock
            (4,786,609 )     (48 )     (90,141 )                                   (90,189 )
Issuance of common stock in connection with the exercise of stock options
            281,831       3       1,803                                     1,806  
Cancellation of restricted stock for tax withholdings on vested shares
            (310,806 )     (3 )     (5,455 )                                   (5,458 )
Income tax payable increase from exercise of stock options
                        (672 )                                   (672 )
Share-based compensation
            687,665       7       52,101                                     52,108  
                                                                                   
BALANCE, December 31, 2008
    348,816         92,483,166       925       1,136,108       (975,549 )     (6,678 )     (295,575 )     776,249       61,457       1,672,486  
Comprehensive income (loss):
                                                                                 
Net income
    46,716                                             243,150       16,511       259,661  
Net change in fair value of interest rate swaps, net of tax of $42,876
                                          76,225                   76,225  
Net change in fair value of available-for-sale securities
                                          412                   412  
Amortization and recognition of unrecognized pension cost components, net of tax benefit of $3,262
                                          (2,447 )                 (2,447 )
                                                                                   
Total comprehensive income (loss)
    46,716                                       74,190       243,150       16,511       333,851  
Distributions to noncontrolling interests, net of contributions
    (27,072 )                                                 (13,582 )     (13,582 )
Purchase of subsidiary shares from noncontrolling interests
    (5,439 )                   3,106                               396       3,502  
Sale of less than wholly-owned subsidiaries
    (21,691 )                                                        
Adjustment to redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interests
    27,527                     (27,527 )                                   (27,527 )
Issuance of common stock in connection with the exercise of stock options
            680,898       7       12,760                                     12,767  
Cancellation of restricted stock for tax withholdings on vested shares
            (328,470 )     (3 )     (7,117 )                                   (7,120 )
Income tax payable increase from exercise of stock options
                        (3,472 )                                   (3,472 )
Share-based compensation
            1,177,943       11       44,501                                     44,512  
                                                                                   
BALANCE, December 31, 2009
  $ 368,857         94,013,537     $ 940     $ 1,158,359       (975,549 )   $ (6,678 )   $ (221,385 )   $ 1,019,399     $ 64,782     $ 2,015,417  
Comprehensive income (loss):
                                                                                 
Net income
    50,292                                             279,983       18,166       298,149  
Net change in fair value of interest rate swaps, net of tax benefit of $8,818
                                          (15,676 )                 (15,676 )
Net change in fair value of available-for-sale securities
                                          3,716                   3,716  
Amortization and recognition of unrecognized pension cost components, net of tax of $1,142
                                          2,418                   2,418  
                                                                                   
Total comprehensive income (loss)
    50,292                                       (9,542 )     279,983       18,166       288,607  
Distributions to noncontrolling interests, net of contributions
    (40,068 )                                                 (20,046 )     (20,046 )
Purchase of subsidiary shares from noncontrolling interests
    (3,754 )                   (3,529 )                                   (3,529 )
Other reclassifications of noncontrolling interests
    1,989                                                   (1,989 )     (1,989 )
Sale of less than wholly-owned subsidiaries
                                                             
Adjustment to redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interests
    10,156                     (10,156 )                                   (10,156 )
Issuance of common stock in connection with the exercise of stock options
            2,194,862       22       56,916                                     56,938  
Cancellation of restricted stock for tax withholdings on vested shares
            (295,171 )     (3 )     (9,876 )                                   (9,879 )
Repurchases of common stock
            (3,415,800 )     (34 )     (113,961 )                                   (113,995 )
Excess tax benefit from exercise of stock options
                        10,219                                     10,219  
Share-based compensation
            1,147,434       11       38,779                                     38,790  
                                                                                   
BALANCE, December 31, 2010
  $ 387,472         93,644,862     $ 936     $ 1,126,751       (975,549 )   $ (6,678 )   $ (230,927 )   $ 1,299,382     $ 60,913     $ 2,250,377  
                                                                                   
 
See notes to consolidated financial statements.


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COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
 
                         
    Year Ended December 31,  
    2010     2009     2008  
    (In thousands)  
 
Cash flows from operating activities:
                       
Net income
  $ 348,441     $ 306,377     $ 252,734  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
                       
Depreciation and amortization
    609,839       566,543       506,694  
Deferred income taxes
    97,370       34,268       159,870  
Stock-based compensation expense
    38,779       44,501       52,105  
Loss (gain) on sale of hospitals and partnership interest, net
          405       (17,687 )
(Excess tax benefit) income tax payable increase relating to stock-based compensation
    (10,219 )     3,472       (1,278 )
Gain on early extinguishment of debt
          (2,385 )     (2,525 )
Impairment of long-lived and other assets
          12,477       5,000  
Other non-cash expenses, net
    12,503       22,870       3,577  
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions and divestitures:
                       
Patient accounts receivable
    (27,049 )     58,390       (49,578 )
Supplies, prepaid expenses and other current assets
    (39,904 )     (34,535 )     (34,397 )
Accounts payable, accrued liabilities and income taxes
    161,952       86,098       119,869  
Other
    (2,982 )     (22,052 )     62,197  
                         
Net cash provided by operating activities
    1,188,730       1,076,429       1,056,581  
                         
Cash flows from investing activities:
                       
Acquisitions of facilities and other related equipment
    (248,251 )     (263,773 )     (161,907 )
Purchases of property and equipment
    (667,378 )     (576,888 )     (692,233 )
Proceeds from disposition of hospitals and other ancillary operations
          89,514       365,636  
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment
    8,401       4,019       13,483  
Increase in other non-operating assets
    (137,082 )     (120,054 )     (190,450 )
                         
Net cash used in investing activities
    (1,044,310 )     (867,182 )     (665,471 )
                         
Cash flows from financing activities:
                       
Proceeds from exercise of stock options
    56,916       12,759       1,806  
Excess tax benefit (income tax payable increase) relating to stock-based compensation
    10,219       (3,472 )     1,278  
Deferred financing costs
    (13,260 )     (82 )     (3,136 )
Stock buy-back
    (113,961 )           (90,188 )
Proceeds from noncontrolling investors in joint ventures
    7,201       29,838       14,329  
Redemption of noncontrolling investments in joint ventures
    (7,318 )     (7,268 )     (77,587 )
Distributions to noncontrolling investors in joint ventures
    (68,113 )     (58,963 )     (46,890 )
Borrowings under credit agreement
          200,000       131,277  
Repayments of long-term indebtedness
    (61,476 )     (258,173 )     (234,918 )
                         
Net cash used in financing activities
    (189,792 )     (85,361 )     (304,029 )
                         
Net change in cash and cash equivalents
    (45,372 )     123,886       87,081  
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
    344,541       220,655       133,574  
                         
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
  $ 299,169     $ 344,541     $ 220,655  
                         
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
                       
Interest payments
  $ 650,712     $ 656,997     $ 653,648  
                         
Income taxes paid (refunds received), net
  $ 128,186     $ 57,299     $ (64,954 )
                         
 
See notes to consolidated financial statements.


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COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
1.   Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
 
Business.  Community Health Systems, Inc. is a holding company and operates no business in its own name. On a consolidated basis, Community Health Systems, Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively the “Company”) own, lease and operate acute care hospitals in non-urban and selected urban markets. As of December 31, 2010, the Company owned or leased 130 hospitals, including four stand-alone rehabilitation or psychiatric hospitals, licensed for 19,372 beds in 29 states. Throughout these notes to the consolidated financial statements, Community Health Systems, Inc. (the “Parent”) and its consolidated subsidiaries are referred to on a collective basis as the “Company.” This drafting style is not meant to indicate that the publicly-traded Parent or any subsidiary of the Parent owns or operates any asset, business, or property. The hospitals, operations and businesses described in this filing are owned and operated, and management services provided, by distinct and indirect subsidiaries of Community Health Systems, Inc.
 
As of December 31, 2010, Indiana, Texas and Pennsylvania represent the only areas of geographic concentration. Net operating revenues generated by the Company’s hospitals in Indiana, as a percentage of consolidated net operating revenues, were 10.3% in 2010 and 10.9% in both 2009 and 2008. Net operating revenues generated by the Company’s hospitals in Texas, as a percentage of consolidated net operating revenues, were 13.0% in 2010, 13.2% in 2009 and 13.3% in 2008. Net operating revenues generated by the Company’s hospitals in Pennsylvania, as a percentage of consolidated net operating revenues, were 10.0% in 2010, 9.9% in 2009 and 8.9% in 2008.
 
Use of Estimates.  The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates under different assumptions or conditions.
 
Principles of Consolidation.  The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Parent, its subsidiaries, all of which are controlled by the Parent through majority voting control, and variable interest entities for which the Company is the primary beneficiary. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. Noncontrolling interests in less-than-wholly-owned consolidated subsidiaries of the Parent are presented as a component of total equity to distinguish between the interests of the Parent and the interests of the noncontrolling owners. Revenues, expenses and income from continuing operations from these subsidiaries are included in the consolidated amounts as presented on the consolidated statements of income, along with a net income measure that separately presents the amounts attributable to the controlling interests and the amounts attributable to the noncontrolling interests for each of the periods presented. Noncontrolling interests that are redeemable or may become redeemable at a fixed or determinable price at the option of the holder or upon the occurrence of an event outside of the control of the Company are presented in mezzanine equity on the consolidated balance sheets.
 
Cost of Revenue.  Substantially all of the Company’s operating expenses are “cost of revenue” items. Operating costs that could be classified as general and administrative by the Company would include the Company’s corporate office costs at its Franklin, Tennessee office and former Plano, Texas office, which were $155.4 million, $157.9 million and $167.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively. Included in these amounts is stock-based compensation of $38.8 million, $44.5 million and $52.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively.
 
Cash Equivalents.  The Company considers highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents.
 
Supplies.  Supplies, principally medical supplies, are stated at the lower of cost (first-in, first-out basis) or market.


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COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
Marketable Securities.  The Company’s marketable securities are classified as trading or available-for-sale. Available-for-sale securities are carried at fair value as determined by quoted market prices, with unrealized gains and losses reported as a separate component of stockholders’ equity. Trading securities are reported at fair value with unrealized gains and losses included in earnings. Interest and dividends on securities classified as available-for-sale or trading are included in net operating revenues and were not material in all periods presented. Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) included an unrealized gain of $3.7 million and $0.4 million at December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively, related to these available-for-sale securities.
 
Property and Equipment.  Property and equipment are recorded at cost. Depreciation is recognized using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the land and improvements (2 to 15 years; weighted-average useful life is 14 years), buildings and improvements (5 to 40 years; weighted-average useful life is 24 years) and equipment and fixtures (4 to 18 years; weighted-average useful life is 8 years). Costs capitalized as construction in progress were $221.2 million and $130.5 million at December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Expenditures for renovations and other significant improvements are capitalized; however, maintenance and repairs which do not improve or extend the useful lives of the respective assets are charged to operations as incurred. Interest capitalized related to construction in progress was $11.9 million, $16.7 million and $22.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively. Purchases of property and equipment accrued in accounts payable and not yet paid were $59.5 million and $53.2 million at December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively.
 
The Company also leases certain facilities and equipment under capital leases (see Note 9). Such assets are amortized on a straight-line basis over the lesser of the term of the lease or the remaining useful lives of the applicable assets.
 
Goodwill.  Goodwill represents the excess cost over the fair value of net assets acquired. Goodwill arising from business combinations is not amortized. Goodwill is required to be evaluated for impairment at the same time every year and when an event occurs or circumstances change such that it is reasonably possible that an impairment may exist. The Company has selected September 30th as its annual testing date.
 
Other Assets.  Other assets primarily consist of costs associated with the issuance of debt, which are included in interest expense over the life of the related debt using the effective interest method, and costs to recruit physicians to the Company’s markets, which are deferred and expensed over the term of the respective physician recruitment contract, which is generally three years, and included in amortization expense. Other assets also includes capitalized internal-use software costs, which are expensed over the expected useful life, which is generally three years for routine software and eight years for major software projects, and included in amortization expense.
 
Third-Party Reimbursement.  Net patient service revenue is reported at the estimated net realizable amount from patients, third-party payors and others for services rendered. Net operating revenues include amounts estimated by management to be reimbursable by Medicare and Medicaid under prospective payment systems, provisions of cost-reimbursement and other payment methods. Approximately 37.8%, 36.9% and 36.6% of net operating revenues for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively, are related to services rendered to patients covered by the Medicare and Medicaid programs. Revenues from Medicare outlier payments are included in the amounts received from Medicare and were approximately 0.42%, 0.43% and 0.55% of net operating revenues for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008. In addition, the Company is reimbursed by non-governmental payors using a variety of payment methodologies. Amounts received by the Company for treatment of patients covered by such programs are generally less than the standard billing rates. The differences between the estimated program reimbursement rates and the standard billing rates are accounted for as contractual adjustments, which are deducted from gross revenues to arrive at net operating revenues. These net operating revenues are an estimate of the net realizable amount due from these payors. The process of estimating contractual allowances requires the Company to estimate the amount expected to be received based on payor contract provisions. The key assumption in this process is the


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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
estimated contractual reimbursement percentage, which is based on payor classification and historical paid claims data. Due to the complexities involved in these estimates, actual payments the Company receives could be different from the amounts it estimates and records. Final settlements under some of these programs are subject to adjustment based on administrative review and audit by third parties. Adjustments to previous program reimbursement estimates are accounted for as contractual allowance adjustments and reported in the periods that such adjustments become known. Contractual allowance adjustments related to final settlements and previous program reimbursement estimates impacted net operating revenues and net income by an insignificant amount in each of the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008.
 
Amounts due to third-party payors were $80.5 million and $78.1 million as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively, and are included in accrued liabilities-other in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. Amounts due from third-party payors were $118.7 million and $96.0 million as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively, and are included in other current assets in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. Substantially all Medicare and Medicaid cost reports are final settled through 2006.
 
Net Operating Revenues.  Net operating revenues are recorded net of provisions for contractual allowance of approximately $36.5 billion, $31.5 billion and $26.6 billion in 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively. Net operating revenues are recognized when services are provided and are reported at the estimated net realizable amount from patients, third-party payors and others for services rendered. Also included in the provision for contractual allowance shown above is the value of administrative and other discounts provided to self-pay patients eliminated from net operating revenues which was $706.5 million, $544.2 million and $456.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively. In the ordinary course of business, the Company renders services to patients who are financially unable to pay for hospital care. Included in the provision for contractual allowance shown above is the value (at the Company’s standard charges) of these services to patients who are unable to pay that is eliminated from net operating revenues when it is determined they qualify under the Company’s charity care policy. The value of these services was $529.9 million, $472.4 million and $384.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively.
 
Currently, several states utilize supplemental reimbursement programs for the purpose of providing reimbursement to providers to offset a portion of the cost of providing care to Medicaid and indigent patients. These programs are designed with input from Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and are funded with a combination of state and federal resources, including, in certain instances, fees or taxes levied on the providers. Similar programs are also being considered by other states. After these supplemental programs are signed into law, the Company recognizes revenue and related expenses in the period in which amounts are estimable and collection is reasonably assured. Reimbursement under these programs is reflected in net operating revenues and fees, taxes or other program-related costs are reflected in other operating costs and expenses.
 
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts.  Accounts receivable are reduced by an allowance for amounts that could become uncollectible in the future. Substantially all of the Company’s receivables are related to providing healthcare services to its hospitals’ patients.
 
The Company estimates the allowance for doubtful accounts by reserving a percentage of all self-pay accounts receivable without regard to aging category, based on collection history, adjusted for expected recoveries and, if present, anticipated changes in trends. For all other non-self-pay payor categories, the Company reserves 100% of all accounts aging over 365 days from the date of discharge. The percentage used to reserve for all self-pay accounts is based on the Company’s collection history. The Company collects substantially all of its third-party insured receivables, which include receivables from governmental agencies.
 
Collections are impacted by the economic ability of patients to pay and the effectiveness of the Company’s collection efforts. Significant changes in payor mix, business office operations, economic


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COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
conditions or trends in federal and state governmental healthcare coverage could affect the Company’s collection of accounts receivable. The process of estimating the allowance for doubtful accounts requires the Company to estimate the collectability of self-pay accounts receivable, which is primarily based on its collection history, adjusted for expected recoveries and, if available, anticipated changes in collection trends. Significant change in payor mix, business office operations, economic conditions, trends in federal and state governmental healthcare coverage or other third-party payors could affect the Company’s estimates of accounts receivable collectability. The Company also continually reviews its overall reserve adequacy by monitoring historical cash collections as a percentage of trailing net revenue less provision for bad debts, as well as by analyzing current period net revenue and admissions by payor classification, aged accounts receivable by payor, days revenue outstanding, and the impact of recent acquisitions and dispositions.
 
Physician Income Guarantees.  The Company enters into physician recruiting agreements under which it supplements physician income to a minimum amount over a period of time, typically one year, while the physicians establish themselves in the community. As part of the agreements, the physicians are committed to practice in the community for a period of time, typically three years, which extends beyond their income guarantee period. The Company records an asset and liability for the estimated fair value of minimum revenue guarantees on new agreements. Adjustments to the ultimate value of the guarantee paid to physicians are recognized in the period that the change in estimate is identified. The Company amortizes an asset over the life of the agreement. As of December 31, 2010 and 2009, the unamortized portion of these physician income guarantees was $37.2 million and $41.2 million, respectively.
 
Concentrations of Credit Risk.  The Company grants unsecured credit to its patients, most of whom reside in the service area of the Company’s facilities and are insured under third-party payor agreements. Because of the economic diversity of the Company’s facilities and non-governmental third-party payors, Medicare represents the only significant concentration of credit risk from payors. Accounts receivable, net of contractual allowances, from Medicare were $270.8 million and $241.3 million as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively, representing 8.1% and 7.9% of consolidated net accounts receivable, before allowance for doubtful accounts, as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively.
 
Professional Liability Claims.  The Company accrues for estimated losses resulting from professional liability. The accrual, which includes an estimate for incurred but not reported claims, is based on historical loss patterns and actuarially-determined projections and is discounted to its net present value. To the extent that subsequent claims information varies from management’s estimates, the liability is adjusted when such information becomes available.
 
Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets.  Whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying values of certain long-lived assets may be impaired, the Company projects the undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by these assets. If the projections indicate that the reported amounts are not expected to be recovered, such amounts are reduced to their estimated fair value based on a quoted market price, if available, or an estimate based on valuation techniques available in the circumstances.
 
Income Taxes.  The Company accounts for income taxes under the asset and liability method, in which deferred income tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the tax consequences of “temporary differences” by applying enacted statutory tax rates applicable to future years to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and the tax bases of existing assets and liabilities. The effect on deferred taxes of a change in tax rates is recognized in the consolidated statement of income during the period in which the tax rate change becomes law.
 
Comprehensive Income (Loss).  Comprehensive income (loss) is the change in equity of a business enterprise during a period from transactions and other events and circumstances from non-owner sources.


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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) consisted of the following (in thousands):
 
                                 
                Change in
    Accumulated
 
    Change in Fair
    Change in Fair
    Unrecognized
    Other
 
    Value of Interest
    Value of Available
    Pension Cost
    Comprehensive
 
    Rate Swaps     for Sale Securities     Components     Income (Loss)  
 
Balance as of December 31, 2008
  $ (278,485 )   $ (1,592 )   $ (15,498 )   $ (295,575 )
2009 Activity, net of tax
    76,225       412       (2,447 )     74,190  
                                 
Balance as of December 31, 2009
    (202,260 )     (1,180 )     (17,945 )     (221,385 )
2010 Activity, net of tax
    (15,676 )     3,716       2,418       (9,542 )
                                 
Balance as of December 31, 2010
  $ (217,936 )   $ 2,536     $ (15,527 )   $ (230,927 )
                                 
 
Segment Reporting.  A public company is required to report annual and interim financial and descriptive information about its reportable operating segments. Operating segments, as defined, are components of an enterprise about which separate financial information is available that is evaluated regularly by the chief operating decision maker in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance. Aggregation of similar operating segments into a single reportable operating segment is permitted if the businesses have similar economic characteristics and meet the criteria established by U.S. GAAP.
 
The Company operates in three distinct operating segments, represented by the hospital operations (which includes the Company’s acute care hospitals and related healthcare entities that provide inpatient and outpatient healthcare services), the home care agencies operations (which provide in-home outpatient care), and the hospital management services business (which provides executive management and consulting services to non-affiliated general acute care hospitals). U.S. GAAP requires (1) that financial information be disclosed for operating segments that meet a 10% quantitative threshold of the consolidated totals of net revenue, profit or loss, or total assets; and (2) that the individual reportable segments disclosed contribute at least 75% of total consolidated net revenue. Based on these measures, only the hospital operations segment meets the criteria as a separate reportable segment. Financial information for the home care agencies and hospital management services segments do not meet the quantitative thresholds and are therefore combined with corporate into the all other reportable segment.
 
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities.  The Company records derivative instruments (including certain derivative instruments embedded in other contracts) on the consolidated balance sheet as either an asset or liability measured at its fair value. Changes in a derivative’s fair value are recorded each period in earnings or other comprehensive income (“OCI”), depending on whether the derivative is designated and is effective as a hedged transaction, and on the type of hedge transaction. Changes in the fair value of derivative instruments recorded to OCI are reclassified to earnings in the period affected by the underlying hedged item. Any portion of the fair value of a derivative instrument determined to be ineffective under the standard is recognized in current earnings.
 
The Company has entered into several interest rate swap agreements. See Note 7 for further discussion about the swap transactions.
 
New Accounting Pronouncements.  On January 1, 2010, the Company adopted the revisions to U.S. GAAP related to the accounting and consolidation requirements for variable interest entities, which did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated results of operations or financial position. These revisions significantly changed the criteria in determining the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity (“VIE”) from a more quantitative model to both a quantitative and qualitative evaluation of the enterprise that has (1) the power to direct the activities that most significantly affect the VIE’s economic performance and (2) the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive returns that could be potentially significant to the VIE. Additionally, this guidance required ongoing reassessments of whether an enterprise is the primary beneficiary of a VIE and required enhanced disclosures that would provide users of financial statements with


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more transparent information about an enterprise’s involvement in a VIE. The adoption of these changes had no impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
 
In August 2010, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2010-24, which provides clarification to companies in the healthcare industry on the accounting for professional liability insurance. This ASU states that receivables related to insurance recoveries should not be netted against the related claim liability and such claim liabilities should be determined without considering insurance recoveries. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2010 and will be adopted by the Company in the first quarter of 2011. The adoption of this ASU will not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position and will have no impact on the Company’s consolidated results of operations.
 
In August 2010, the FASB issued ASU 2010-23, which requires a company in the healthcare industry to use its direct and indirect costs of providing charity care as the measurement basis for charity care disclosures. This ASU also requires additional disclosures of the method used to identify such costs. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2010 and will be adopted by the Company in the first quarter of 2011. The adoption of this ASU will have no impact on the Company’s consolidated results of operations and consolidated financial position.
 
2.   Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation
 
Stock-based compensation awards are granted under the Community Health Systems, Inc. Amended and Restated 2000 Stock Option and Award Plan (the “2000 Plan”) and the Community Health Systems, Inc. 2009 Stock Option and Award Plan (the “2009 Plan”).
 
The 2000 Plan allows for the grant of incentive stock options intended to qualify under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code (“IRC”), as well as stock options which do not so qualify, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance-based shares or units and other share awards. Prior to being amended in 2009, the 2000 Plan also allowed for the grant of phantom stock. Persons eligible to receive grants under the 2000 Plan include the Company’s directors, officers, employees and consultants. To date, all options granted under the 2000 Plan have been “nonqualified” stock options for tax purposes. Generally, vesting of these granted options occurs in one-third increments on each of the first three anniversaries of the award date. Options granted prior to 2005 have a 10-year contractual term, options granted in 2005 through 2007 have an eight-year contractual term and options granted in 2008 through 2010 have a 10-year contractual term. The exercise price of all options granted under the 2000 Plan is equal to the fair value of the Company’s common stock on the option grant date. As of December 31, 2010, 1,266,046 shares of unissued common stock were reserved for future grants under the 2000 Plan.
 
The 2009 Plan, which was adopted by the Board of Directors of the Parent as of March 24, 2009 and approved by stockholders on May 19, 2009, provides for the grant of incentive stock options intended to qualify under Section 422 of the IRC and for the grant of stock options which do not so qualify, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance-based shares or units and other share awards. Persons eligible to receive grants under the 2009 Plan include the Company’s directors, officers, employees and consultants. The duration of any option granted under the 2009 Plan will be determined by the Company’s compensation committee. Generally, however, no option may be exercised more than 10 years from the date of grant, provided that the compensation committee may provide that a stock option may, upon the death of the grantee, be exercised for up to one year following the date of death even if such period extends beyond 10 years. As of December 31, 2010, no grants had been made under the 2009 Plan, with 3,500,000 shares of unissued common stock reserved for future grants.


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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
The following table reflects the impact of total compensation expense related to stock-based equity plans on the reported operating results for the respective periods (in thousands):
 
                         
    Year Ended December 31,  
    2010     2009     2008  
 
Effect on income from continuing operations before income taxes
  $ (38,779 )   $ (44,501 )   $ (52,105 )
                         
Effect on net income
  $ (24,625 )   $ (26,986 )   $ (31,655 )
                         
 
At December 31, 2010, $47.9 million of unrecognized stock-based compensation expense was expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 23 months. Of that amount, $10.7 million related to outstanding unvested stock options expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 22 months and $37.2 million relates to outstanding unvested restricted stock, restricted stock units and phantom shares expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 23 months. There were no modifications to awards during the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008.
 
The fair value of stock options was estimated using the Black Scholes option pricing model with the following assumptions and weighted-average fair values during the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008:
 
                         
    Year Ended December 31,
    2010   2009   2008
 
Expected volatility
    33.7 %     40.7 %     24.9 %
Expected dividends
    0       0       0  
Expected term
    3.1 years       4 years       4 years  
Risk-free interest rate
    1.41 %     1.64 %     2.53 %
 
In determining the expected term, the Company examined concentrations of option holdings and historical patterns of option exercises and forfeitures, as well as forward looking factors, in an effort to determine if there were any discernable employee populations. From this analysis, the Company identified two employee populations, one consisting primarily of certain senior executives and the other consisting of all other recipients.
 
The expected volatility rate was estimated based on historical volatility. In determining expected volatility, the Company also reviewed the market-based implied volatility of actively traded options of its common stock and determined that historical volatility utilized to estimate the expected volatility rate did not differ significantly from the implied volatility.
 
The expected term computation is based on historical exercise and cancellation patterns and forward-looking factors, where present, for each population identified. The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of the grant. The pre-vesting forfeiture rate is based on historical rates and forward-looking factors for each population identified. The Company adjusts the estimated forfeiture rate to its actual experience.


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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
Options outstanding and exercisable under the 2000 Plan as of December 31, 2010, and changes during each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2010 were as follows (in thousands, except share and per share data):
 
                                 
                Weighted -
    Aggregate
 
          Weighted -
    Average
    Intrinsic
 
          Average
    Remaining
    Value as of
 
          Exercise
    Contractual
    December 31,
 
    Shares     Price     Term     2010  
 
Outstanding at December 31, 2007
    8,439,015     $ 30.90                  
Granted
    1,251,000       31.89                  
Exercised
    (281,831 )     22.10                  
Forfeited and cancelled
    (644,100 )     35.71                  
                                 
Outstanding at December 31, 2008
    8,764,084       30.97                  
Granted
    1,313,000       19.43                  
Exercised
    (680,898 )     18.74                  
Forfeited and cancelled
    (442,105 )     31.27                  
                                 
Outstanding at December 31, 2009
    8,954,081       30.19                  
Granted
    1,447,500       33.89                  
Exercised
    (2,194,862 )     25.88                  
Forfeited and cancelled
    (372,387 )     29.80                  
                                 
Outstanding at December 31, 2010
    7,834,332     $ 32.08       5.7 years     $ 46,809  
                                 
Exercisable at December 31, 2010
    5,453,388     $ 33.29       4.4 years     $ 27,500  
                                 
 
The weighted-average grant date fair value of stock options granted during the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, was $8.47, $6.61 and $7.56, respectively. The aggregate intrinsic value (the number of in-the-money stock options multiplied by the difference between the Company’s closing stock price on the last trading day of the reporting period ($37.37) and the exercise price of the respective stock options) in the table above represents the amount that would have been received by the option holders had all option holders exercised their options on December 31, 2010. This amount changes based on the market value of the Company’s common stock. The aggregate intrinsic value of options exercised during the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008 was $28.9 million, $7.6 million and $3.4 million, respectively. The aggregate intrinsic value of options vested and expected to vest approximates that of the outstanding options.
 
The Company has also awarded restricted stock under the 2000 Plan to its directors and employees of certain subsidiaries. The restrictions on these shares generally lapse in one-third increments on each of the first three anniversaries of the award date. Certain of the restricted stock awards granted to the Company’s senior executives contain a performance objective that must be met in addition to any vesting requirements. If the performance objective is not attained, the awards will be forfeited in their entirety. Once the performance objective has been attained, restrictions will lapse in one-third increments on each of the first three anniversaries of the award date. Notwithstanding the above-mentioned performance objectives and vesting requirements, the restrictions will lapse earlier in the event of death, disability or termination of employment by the Company for any reason other than for cause of the holder of the restricted stock, or change in control of the Company. Restricted stock awards subject to performance standards are not considered outstanding for purposes of determining earnings per share until the performance objectives have been satisfied.


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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
Restricted stock outstanding under the 2000 Plan as of December 31, 2010, and changes during each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2010 was as follows:
 
                 
          Weighted -
 
          Average
 
          Grant Date
 
          Fair
 
    Shares     Value  
 
Unvested at December 31, 2007
    1,956,543     $ 38.04  
Granted
    795,500       31.99  
Vested
    (960,001 )     37.64  
Forfeited
    (107,835 )     35.62  
                 
Unvested at December 31, 2008
    1,684,207       35.57  
Granted
    1,188,814       18.45  
Vested
    (965,478 )     37.08  
Forfeited
    (10,002 )     32.52  
                 
Unvested at December 31, 2009
    1,897,541       24.09  
Granted
    1,099,000       33.83  
Vested
    (860,749 )     27.04  
Forfeited
    (10,501 )     27.84  
                 
Unvested at December 31, 2010
    2,125,291     $ 27.92  
                 
 
On February 25, 2009, under the 2000 Plan, each of the Company’s outside directors received a grant of shares of phantom stock equal in value to $130,000 divided by the closing price of the Company’s common stock on that date ($18.18), or 7,151 shares per director (a total of 42,906 shares of phantom stock). Pursuant to a March 24, 2009 amendment to the 2000 Plan, future grants of this type will be denominated as “restricted stock unit” awards. On May 19, 2009, the newly elected outside director received a grant of 7,151 restricted stock units under the 2000 Plan, having a value at the time of $180,706 based upon the closing price of the Company’s common stock on that date of $25.27. On February 24, 2010, six of the Company’s seven outside directors each received a grant of 4,130 restricted stock units under the 2000 Plan, having a value at the time of $140,000 based upon the closing price of the Company’s common stock on that date of $33.90. One outside director, who did not stand for reelection in 2010, did not receive a grant on February 24, 2010. Vesting of these shares of phantom stock and restricted stock units occurs in one-third increments on each of the first three anniversaries of the award date. During the year ended December 31, 2010, 21,449 shares vested at a weighted-average grant date fair value of $18.97. No shares vested during the year ended December 31, 2009. None of these grants were canceled during the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009. As of December 31, 2010, there were 53,388 shares of phantom stock and restricted stock units unvested at a weighted-average grant date fair value of $26.11. As of December 31, 2009, there were 50,057 shares of phantom stock and restricted stock units unvested at a weighted-average grant date fair value of $19.19.
 
Under the Directors’ Fees Deferral Plan, the Company’s outside directors may elect to receive share equivalent units in lieu of cash for their directors’ fees. These share equivalent units are held in the plan until the director electing to receive the share equivalent units retires or otherwise terminates his/her directorship with the Company. Share equivalent units are converted to shares of common stock of the Company at the time of distribution based on the closing market price of the Company’s common stock on that date. The following table represents the amount of directors’ fees which were deferred during each of the respective periods, and the number of share equivalent units into which such directors’ fees would have converted had


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each of the directors who had deferred such fees retired or terminated his/her directorship with the Company as of the end of the respective periods (in thousands, except share equivalent units):
 
                         
    Year Ended December 31,  
    2010     2009     2008  
 
Directors’ fees earned and deferred into plan
  $ 180     $ 80     $ 91  
                         
Share equivalent units
    5,207       3,284       3,410  
                         
 
At December 31, 2010, a total of 18,801 share equivalent units were deferred in the plan with an aggregate fair value of $0.7 million, based on the closing market price of the Company’s common stock at December 31, 2010 of $37.37.
 
3.   Acquisitions and Divestitures
 
Acquisitions
 
Effective October 1, 2010, one or more subsidiaries of the Company completed the acquisition of Forum Health based in Youngstown, Ohio, a healthcare system of two acute care hospitals, a rehabilitation hospital and other healthcare providers. This healthcare system includes Northside Medical Center (355 licensed beds) located in Youngstown, Ohio and Trumbull Memorial Hospital (311 licensed beds) located in Warren, Ohio. This healthcare system also includes Hillside Rehabilitation Hospital (69 licensed beds) located in Warren, Ohio, as well as several outpatient clinics and other ancillary facilities. The total cash consideration paid for fixed assets and working capital was approximately $93.4 million and $27.8 million, respectively, with additional consideration including $40.3 million assumed in liabilities, for a total consideration of $161.5 million. This acquisition transaction was accounted for as a purchase business combination. Based upon the Company’s preliminary purchase price allocation relating to this acquisition as of December 31, 2010, approximately $8.1 million of goodwill has been recorded. The preliminary allocation of the purchase price has been determined by the Company based on available information and is subject to settling amounts related to purchased working capital and final appraisals of tangible and intangible assets. Adjustments to the purchase price allocation are not expected to be material.
 
Effective October 1, 2010, one or more subsidiaries of the Company completed the acquisition of Bluefield Regional Medical Center (240 licensed beds) located in Bluefield, West Virginia. The total cash consideration paid for fixed assets was approximately $35.4 million, with additional consideration including $8.9 million assumed in liabilities as well as a credit applied at closing of $1.8 million for negative acquired working capital, for a total consideration of $42.5 million. This acquisition transaction was accounted for as a purchase business combination. Based upon the Company’s preliminary purchase price allocation relating to this acquisition as of December 31, 2010, approximately $2.2 million of goodwill has been recorded. The preliminary allocation of the purchase price has been determined by the Company based on available information and is subject to settling amounts related to purchased working capital and final appraisals of tangible and intangible assets. Adjustments to the purchase price allocation are not expected to be material.
 
Effective July 7, 2010, one or more subsidiaries of the Company completed the acquisition of Marion Regional Healthcare System located in Marion, South Carolina. This healthcare system includes Marion Regional Hospital (124 licensed beds), an acute care hospital, along with a related skilled nursing facility and other ancillary services. The total cash consideration paid for fixed assets and working capital was approximately $18.6 million and $5.8 million, respectively, with additional consideration including $3.9 million assumed in liabilities, for a total consideration of $28.3 million. This acquisition transaction was accounted for as a purchase business combination. Based upon the Company’s preliminary purchase price allocation relating to this acquisition as of December 31, 2010, no goodwill has been recorded. The preliminary allocation of the purchase price has been determined by the Company based on available information and is subject to settling


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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
amounts related to purchased working capital and final appraisals of tangible and intangible assets. Adjustments to the purchase price allocation are not expected to be material.
 
On December 31, 2009, one or more subsidiaries of the Company completed an affiliation transaction providing $54.2 million of financing to Rockwood Clinic, P.S., a multi-specialty clinic with 32 locations across the inland northwest region of eastern Washington and western Idaho. This transaction was accounted for as a purchase business combination.
 
Effective June 1, 2009, one or more subsidiaries of the Company acquired from Akron General Medical Center the remaining 20% noncontrolling interest in Massillon Community Health System, LLC not then owned by a subsidiary of the Company. This entity indirectly owns and operates Affinity Medical Center of Massillon, Ohio. The purchase price for this noncontrolling interest was $1.1 million in cash. Affinity Medical Center is now wholly-owned by these subsidiaries of the Company.
 
Effective April 30, 2009, one or more subsidiaries of the Company acquired Wyoming Valley Health Care System in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. This healthcare system includes Wilkes-Barre General Hospital (392 licensed beds), an acute care hospital located in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, and First Hospital Wyoming Valley, a behavioral health facility located in Kingston, Pennsylvania, as well as other outpatient and ancillary services. The total consideration for fixed assets and working capital of Wyoming Valley Health Care System was approximately $179.1 million, of which $153.7 million was paid in cash, net of $14.2 million of cash in acquired bank accounts, and approximately $25.4 million was assumed in liabilities. This acquisition transaction was accounted for as a purchase business combination.
 
Effective April 1, 2009, one or more subsidiaries of the Company acquired from Share Foundation the remaining 50% equity interest in MCSA L.L.C., an entity in which one or more subsidiaries of the Company previously had a 50% unconsolidated noncontrolling interest. One or more subsidiaries of the Company provided MCSA L.L.C. certain management services. This acquisition resulted in these subsidiaries of the Company owning a 100% equity interest in that entity. MCSA L.L.C. owns and operates Medical Center of South Arkansas (166 licensed beds) in El Dorado, Arkansas. The purchase price was $26.0 million in cash. As of the acquisition date, one or more subsidiaries of the Company had a liability to MCSA L.L.C. of $14.1 million, as a result of a cash management agreement previously entered into with the hospital. Upon completion of the acquisition, this liability was eliminated in consolidation.
 
Effective February 1, 2009, one or more subsidiaries of the Company completed the acquisition of Siloam Springs Memorial Hospital (73 licensed beds), located in Siloam Springs, Arkansas, from the City of Siloam Springs. The total consideration for this hospital consisted of approximately $0.1 million paid in cash for working capital and approximately $1.0 million of assumed liabilities. In connection with this acquisition, a subsidiary of the Company entered into a lease agreement for the existing hospital and agreed to build a replacement facility at this location, with construction required to commence by February 2011 and be completed by February 2013. As security for this obligation, a subsidiary of the Company deposited $1.6 million into an escrow account at closing and agreed to deposit an additional $1.6 million by February 1, 2010, which the Company’s subsidiary deposited in January 2010. If the construction of the replacement facility is not completed within the agreed time frame, the escrow balance will be remitted to the City of Siloam Springs. If the construction of the replacement facility is completed within the agreed time frame, the escrow balance will be returned to the Company’s subsidiary.
 
Effective November 14, 2008, one or more subsidiaries of the Company acquired from Willamette Community Health Solutions all of its noncontrolling interest in MWMC Holdings, LLC, which indirectly owns a controlling interest in and operates McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center of Springfield, Oregon. This acquisition resulted from a put right held by Willamette Community Health Solutions in connection with the 2003 transaction establishing the joint venture. The purchase price for this noncontrolling interest was


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$22.7 million in cash. Physicians affiliated with Oregon Healthcare Resources, Inc. continue to own a noncontrolling interest in the hospital, with the balance owned by these subsidiaries of the Company.
 
Effective October 1, 2008, one or more subsidiaries of the Company completed the acquisition of Deaconess Medical Center (388 licensed beds) and Valley Hospital and Medical Center (123 licensed beds) both located in Spokane, Washington, from Empire Health Services. The total consideration for these two hospitals was approximately $193.1 million, of which $158.1 million was paid in cash and approximately $35.0 million was assumed in liabilities. This acquisition transaction was accounted for using the purchase method of accounting.
 
Effective June 30, 2008, one or more subsidiaries of the Company acquired the remaining 35% noncontrolling interest in Affinity Health Systems, LLC, which indirectly owns and operates Trinity Medical Center (560 licensed beds) in Birmingham, Alabama, from Baptist Health Systems, Inc. of Birmingham, Alabama (“Baptist”), giving these subsidiaries 100% ownership of that facility. The purchase price for this noncontrolling interest was $51.5 million in cash and the cancellation of a promissory note issued by Baptist to Affinity Health Systems, LLC in the original principal amount of $32.8 million. Noncontrolling interests in Affinity Health Systems, LLC were subsequently sold to physicians on the hospital’s medical staff.
 
Prior to January 1, 2009, U.S. GAAP for business combinations required certain acquisition-related costs be recognized as part of the consideration paid for a business, resulting in adjustments to the value of the acquired assets when recorded. As a result of revisions to U.S. GAAP adopted as of January 1, 2009, such acquisition-related costs must be expensed for business combinations that close subsequent to December 31, 2008. Approximately $8.9 million and $6.7 million of acquisition costs related to prospective and closed acquisitions were expensed during the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively.
 
The table below summarizes the allocations of the purchase price (including assumed liabilities) for the above acquisition transactions (in thousands):
 
                 
    2010   2009
 
Current assets
  $ 46,842     $ 83,975  
Property and equipment
    169,209       192,668  
Goodwill
    10,537       12,233  
Intangible assets
    1,730       11,244  
Other long-term assets
          841  
Liabilities
    51,124       53,756  
 
The operating results of the foregoing transactions have been included in the consolidated statements of income from their respective dates of acquisition, including net operating revenues of $139.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2010 from hospital acquisitions that closed during 2010 and net operating revenues of $308.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 from hospital acquisitions that closed during 2009. The following pro forma combined summary of operations of the Company gives effect to using historical


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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
information of the operations of the acquisitions in 2010 and 2009 discussed above as if the transactions had occurred as of January 1, 2010 and 2009 (in thousands, except per share data):
 
                 
    Year Ended December 31,  
    2010     2009  
    (Unaudited)  
 
Pro forma net operating revenues
  $ 13,365,340     $ 12,934,977  
Pro forma net income
    276,910       224,517  
Pro forma net income per share:
               
Basic
  $ 3.02     $ 2.48  
                 
Diluted
  $ 2.98     $ 2.45  
                 
 
Pro forma adjustments to net income include adjustments to depreciation and amortization expense, net of the related tax effect, based on the estimated fair value assigned to the long-lived assets acquired, and to interest expense, net of the related tax effect, assuming the increase in long-term debt used to fund the acquisitions had occurred as of January 1, 2009. These pro forma results are not necessarily indicative of the actual results of operations.
 
Additionally, during 2010, the Company paid approximately $67.4 million to acquire the operating assets and related businesses of certain physician practices, clinics and other ancillary businesses that operate within the communities served by its hospitals. In connection with these acquisitions, the Company allocated approximately $35.6 million of the consideration paid to property and equipment and the remainder, approximately $35.4 million consisting of intangible assets that do not qualify for separate recognition, was allocated to goodwill. These acquisition transactions were accounted for as purchase business combinations.
 
Discontinued Operations
 
Effective March 31, 2009, the Company, through its subsidiaries Triad-Denton Hospital LLC and Triad-Denton Hospital LP, completed the settlement of pending litigation, which resulted in the sale of its ownership interest in a partnership, which owned and operated Presbyterian Hospital of Denton (255 licensed beds) in Denton, Texas, to Texas Health Resources for $103.0 million in cash. Also as part of the settlement, these subsidiaries transferred certain hospital related assets to Texas Health Resources.
 
Effective March 1, 2008, one or more subsidiaries of the Company sold Woodland Medical Center (100 licensed beds) located in Cullman, Alabama; Parkway Medical Center (108 licensed beds) located in Decatur, Alabama; Hartselle Medical Center (150 licensed beds) located in Hartselle, Alabama; Jacksonville Medical Center (89 licensed beds) located in Jacksonville, Alabama; National Park Medical Center (166 licensed beds) located in Hot Springs, Arkansas; St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center (170 licensed beds) located in Russellville, Arkansas; Mineral Area Regional Medical Center (135 licensed beds) located in Farmington, Missouri; Willamette Valley Medical Center (80 licensed beds) located in McMinnville, Oregon; and White County Community Hospital (60 licensed beds) located in Sparta, Tennessee, to Capella Healthcare, Inc., headquartered in Franklin, Tennessee. The proceeds from this sale were $315.0 million in cash.
 
Effective February 21, 2008, one or more subsidiaries of the Company sold THI Ireland Holdings Limited, a private limited company incorporated in the Republic of Ireland, which leased and managed the operations of Beacon Medical Center (122 licensed beds) located in Dublin, Ireland, to Beacon Medical Group Limited, headquartered in Dublin, Ireland. The proceeds from this sale were $1.5 million in cash.
 
Effective February 1, 2008, one or more subsidiaries of the Company sold Russell County Medical Center (78 licensed beds) located in Lebanon, Virginia to Mountain States Health Alliance, headquartered in Johnson City, Tennessee. The proceeds from this sale were $48.6 million in cash.


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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
In connection with management’s decision to sell the previously mentioned facilities, the Company has classified the results of operations of the above mentioned hospitals as discontinued operations in the accompanying consolidated statements of income. As of December 31, 2010, no hospitals are held for sale.
 
Net operating revenues and income from discontinued operations for the respective periods are as follows (in thousands):
 
                         
    Year Ended December 31,  
    2010     2009     2008  
 
Net operating revenues
  $   —     $ 42,113     $ 237,315  
                         
Income from operations of hospitals sold or held for
sale before income taxes
          3,024       15,956  
(Loss) gain on sale of hospitals, net
          (644 )     17,687  
                         
Income from discontinued operations, before taxes
          2,380       33,643  
Provision for income taxes
          808       14,636  
                         
Income from discontinued operations, net of taxes
  $     $ 1,572     $ 19,007  
                         
 
Interest expense and loss from early extinguishment of debt were allocated to discontinued operations based on sales proceeds available for debt repayment.
 
4.   Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
 
The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill are as follows (in thousands):
 
                 
    Year Ended December 31,  
    2010     2009  
 
Balance, beginning of year
  $ 4,157,927     $ 4,166,091  
Goodwill acquired as part of acquisitions during the year
    45,975       25,813  
Consideration adjustments and purchase price allocation adjustments
for prior year’s acquisitions
    (3,997 )     (144 )
Adjustments for acquisition-related deferred taxes
          (33,833 )
                 
Balance, end of year
  $ 4,199,905     $ 4,157,927  
                 
 
The Company’s goodwill was adjusted in 2009 for the effects of its deferred tax analysis that reduced goodwill and acquisition-related deferred taxes by $33.8 million.
 
Goodwill is allocated to each identified reporting unit, which is defined as an operating segment or one level below the operating segment (referred to as a component of the entity). Management has determined that the Company’s operating segments meet the criteria to be classified as reporting units. At December 31, 2010, the hospital operations reporting unit, the home care agency operations reporting unit, and the hospital management services reporting unit had approximately $4.1 billion, $35.9 million and $33.3 million, respectively, of goodwill. At December 31, 2009, the hospital operations reporting unit, the home care agency operations reporting unit, and the hospital management services reporting unit had approximately $4.1 billion, $34.3 million, and $33.3 million, respectively, of goodwill.
 
Goodwill is evaluated for impairment at the same time every year and when an event occurs or circumstances change that, more likely than not, reduce the fair value of the reporting unit below its carrying value. There is a two-step method for determining goodwill impairment. Step one is to compare the fair value of the reporting unit with the unit’s carrying amount, including goodwill. If this test indicates the fair value is less than the carrying value, then step two is required to compare the implied fair value of the reporting unit’s


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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
goodwill with the carrying value of the reporting unit’s goodwill. The Company has selected September 30th as its annual testing date. The Company performed its last annual goodwill evaluation as of September 30, 2010, which evaluation took place during the fourth quarter of 2010. No impairment was indicated by this evaluation.
 
The Company estimates the fair value of the related reporting units using both a discounted cash flow model as well as an EBITDA multiple model. The cash flow forecasts are adjusted by an appropriate discount rate based on the Company’s estimate of a market participant’s weighted-average cost of capital. These models are both based on the Company’s best estimate of future revenues and operating costs and are reconciled to the Company’s consolidated market capitalization, with consideration of the amount a potential acquirer would be required to pay, in the form of a control premium, in order to gain sufficient ownership to set policies, direct operations and control management decisions.
 
Approximately $3.0 million of intangible assets were acquired during the year ended December 31, 2010. The gross carrying amount of the Company’s other intangible assets subject to amortization was $60.5 million and $76.2 million at December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively, and the net carrying amount was $36.1 million and $47.0 million at December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively. The carrying amount of the Company’s other intangible assets not subject to amortization was $44.4 million at both December 31, 2010 and 2009. Other intangible assets are included in other assets, net on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. Substantially all of the Company’s intangible assets are contract-based intangible assets related to operating licenses, management contracts, or non-compete agreements entered into in connection with prior acquisitions.
 
The weighted-average amortization period for the intangible assets subject to amortization is approximately eight years. There are no expected residual values related to these intangible assets. Amortization expense on these intangible assets was $12.2 million, $13.0 million and $6.2 million during the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively. Amortization expense on intangible assets is estimated to be $7.3 million in 2011, $5.9 million in 2012, $4.5 million in 2013, $2.8 million in 2014, $2.5 million in 2015 and $13.1 million thereafter.
 
The gross carrying amount of capitalized software for internal use was approximately $356.5 million and $211.8 million at December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively, and the net carrying amount considering accumulated amortization was approximately $209.4 million and $109.0 million at December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively. The estimated amortization period for capitalized internal-use software is generally three years, except for capitalized costs related to significant system conversions, which is generally eight years. There is no expected residual value for capitalized internal-use software. At December 31, 2010, there was approximately $58.7 million of capitalized costs for internal-use software that is currently in the development stage and will begin amortization once the software project is complete and ready for its intended use. Amortization expense for capitalized internal-use software was $48.2 million, $32.5 million and $20.5 million during the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively. Amortization expense for capitalized internal-use software is estimated to be $63.2 million in 2011, $58.7 million in 2012, $36.9 million in 2013, $13.7 million in 2014, $13.7 million in 2015 and $23.2 million thereafter.


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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
5.   Income Taxes
 
The provision for income taxes for income from continuing operations consists of the following (in thousands):
 
                         
    Year Ended December 31,  
    2010     2009     2008  
 
Current:
                       
Federal
  $ 51,566     $ 93,496     $ 2,129  
State
    11,057       13,561       3,515  
                         
      62,623       107,057       5,644  
Deferred:
                       
Federal
    92,348       15,667       106,664  
State
    5,022       18,601       12,965  
                         
      97,370       34,268       119,629  
                         
Total provision for income taxes for income from continuing operations
  $ 159,993     $ 141,325     $ 125,273  
                         
 
The following table reconciles the differences between the statutory federal income tax rate and the effective tax rate (dollars in thousands):
 
                                                 
    Year Ended December 31,  
    2010     2009     2008  
    Amount     %     Amount     %     Amount     %  
 
Provision for income taxes at statutory federal rate
  $ 177,952       35.0 %   $ 156,146       35.0 %   $ 125,650       35.0 %
State income taxes, net of federal income tax benefit
    8,681       1.7       9,090       2.0       10,720       2.9  
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
    (23,960 )     (4.7 )     (22,006 )     (4.9 )     (12,216 )     (3.4 )
Change in valuation allowance
    (910 )     (0.2 )     1,113       0.3       (110 )     0.0  
Federal and state tax credits
    (2,246 )     (0.4 )     (4,241 )     (1.0 )     (2,270 )     (0.6 )
Deferred tax revaluation
                (2,996 )     (0.7 )           0.0  
Other
    476       0.1       4,219       1.0       3,499       1.0  
                                                 
Provision for income taxes and effective tax rate for income from continuing operations
  $ 159,993       31.5 %   $ 141,325       31.7 %   $ 125,273       34.9 %
                                                 


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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
Deferred income taxes are based on the estimated future tax effects of differences between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities under the provisions of the enacted tax laws. Deferred income taxes as of December 31, 2010 and 2009 consist of (in thousands):
 
                                 
    December 31,  
    2010     2009  
    Assets     Liabilities     Assets     Liabilities  
 
Net operating loss and credit carryforwards
  $ 131,093     $     $ 121,568     $  
Property and equipment
          685,089             585,001  
Self-insurance liabilities
    91,246             109,152        
Intangibles
          169,860             171,070  
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates
          48,353             45,570  
Other liabilities
          27,045             15,395  
Long-term debt and interest
          29,191             21,499  
Accounts receivable
    60,026             44,691        
Accrued expenses
    53,842             67,092        
Other comprehensive income
    156,597             129,264        
Stock-based compensation
    25,472             23,242        
Deferred compensation
    41,703                    
Other
    24,963             35,159        
                                 
      584,942       959,538       530,168       838,535  
Valuation allowance
    (126,644 )           (115,128 )      
                                 
Total deferred income taxes
  $ 458,298     $ 959,538     $ 415,040     $ 838,535  
                                 
 
The Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities have been adjusted in 2010 for the effects of its filed 2009 tax return, having the effect of increasing total deferred tax assets by $12.5 million, increasing total deferred tax liabilities by $11.4 million, and decreasing prepaid income taxes by $1.1 million. The effects of the adjustments did not impact income tax expense, and their effects on previously issued consolidated financial statements were not material.
 
The Company believes that the net deferred tax assets will ultimately be realized, except as noted below. Its conclusion is based on its estimate of future taxable income and the expected timing of temporary difference reversals. The Company has state net operating loss carry forwards of approximately $1.8 billion, which expire from 2011 to 2030. With respect to the deferred tax liability pertaining to intangibles, as included above, goodwill purchased in connection with certain of the Company’s business acquisitions is amortizable for income tax reporting purposes. However, for financial reporting purposes, there is no corresponding amortization allowed with respect to such purchased goodwill.
 
The valuation allowance increased by $11.5 million during the year ended December 31, 2010 and decreased by $9.9 million during the year ended December 31, 2009. In addition to amounts previously discussed, the change in valuation allowance relates to a redetermination of the amount of, and realizability of, net operating losses in certain state income tax jurisdictions.


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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
The total amount of unrecognized benefit that would impact the effective tax rate, if recognized, was approximately $7.5 million as of December 31, 2010. It is the Company’s policy to recognize interest and penalties related to unrecognized benefits in its consolidated statements of income as income tax expense. A total of approximately $1.4 million of interest and penalties is included in the amount of liability for uncertain tax positions at December 31, 2010. During the year ended December 31, 2010, the Company released $1.4 million for income taxes and $0.5 million for accrued interest of its liability for uncertain tax positions, as a result of the expiration of the statute of limitations pertaining to tax positions taken in prior years.
 
The Company believes that it is reasonably possible that approximately $3.1 million of its current unrecognized tax benefit may be recognized within the next 12 months as a result of a lapse of the statute of limitations and settlements with taxing authorities.
 
The following is a tabular reconciliation of the total amount of unrecognized tax benefit for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008 (in thousands):
 
                         
    Year Ended December 31,  
    2010     2009     2008  
 
Unrecognized tax benefit, beginning of year
  $ 9,234     $ 15,630     $ 14,880  
Gross (decreases) increases — purchase business combination
          (4,173 )     8,325  
Gross increases — tax positions in prior period
    70             223  
Reductions — tax positions in prior period
    (1,833 )            
Lapse of statute of limitations
          (663 )     (7,460 )
Settlements
    (13 )     (1,560 )     (338 )
                         
Unrecognized tax benefit, end of year
  $ 7,458     $ 9,234     $ 15,630  
                         
 
The Company or one of its subsidiaries files income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction and various state jurisdictions. The Company has extended the federal statute of limitations for Triad Hospitals, Inc. (“Triad”) for the tax periods ended December 31, 1999, December 31, 2000, April 30, 2001, June 30, 2001, December 31, 2001, December 31, 2002 and December 31, 2003. The Company is currently under examination by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) regarding the federal tax return of Triad for the tax periods ended December 31, 2004, December 31, 2005, December 31, 2006 and July 25, 2007. The Company believes the results of this examination will not be material to its consolidated results of operations or consolidated financial position. With few exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to state income tax examinations for years prior to 2007 and federal income tax examinations with respect to Community Health Systems, Inc. federal returns for years prior to 2007. The Company’s federal income tax returns for the 2007 and 2008 tax years are currently under examination by the IRS. The Company believes the results of this examination will not be material to its consolidated results of operations or consolidated financial position.
 
The Company paid income taxes, net of refunds received, of $128.2 million and $57.3 million during the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009. Cash paid for income taxes, net of refunds received, resulted in a net cash refund of $65.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2008.


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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
6.   Long-Term Debt
 
Long-term debt consists of the following (in thousands):
 
                 
    December 31,  
    2010     2009  
 
Credit Facility:
               
Term loans
  $ 5,999,337     $ 6,043,847  
Tax-exempt bonds
          8,000  
Senior notes
    2,784,331       2,784,331  
Capital lease obligations (see Note 9)
    51,731       36,915  
Other
    36,122       38,015  
                 
Total debt
    8,871,521       8,911,108  
Less current maturities
    (63,139 )     (66,470 )
                 
Total long-term debt
  $ 8,808,382     $ 8,844,638  
                 
 
Credit Facility and Notes
 
In connection with the consummation of the acquisition of Triad in July 2007, the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc. (“CHS”) obtained approximately $7.2 billion of senior secured financing under a new credit facility (the “Credit Facility”) with a syndicate of financial institutions led by Credit Suisse, as administrative agent and collateral agent and issued approximately $3.0 billion aggregate principal amount of 8.875% senior notes due 2015 (the “Notes”). The Company used the net proceeds of $3.0 billion from the Notes offering and the net proceeds of approximately $6.1 billion of term loans under the Credit Facility to acquire the outstanding shares of Triad, to refinance certain of Triad’s indebtedness and the Company’s indebtedness, to complete certain related transactions, to pay certain costs and expenses of the transactions and for general corporate uses. Specifically, the Company repaid its outstanding debt under the previously outstanding credit facility, the 6.50% senior subordinated notes due 2012 and certain of Triad’s existing indebtedness.
 
The Credit Facility consisted of an approximately $6.1 billion funded term loan facility with a maturity of seven years, a $400 million delayed draw term loan facility with a maturity of seven years and a $750 million revolving credit facility with a maturity of six years. As of December 31, 2007, the $400 million delayed draw term loan facility had been reduced to $300 million at the request of CHS. During the fourth quarter of 2008, $100 million of the delayed draw term loan was drawn by CHS, reducing the delayed draw term loan availability to $200 million at December 31, 2008. In January 2009, CHS drew down the remaining $200 million of the delayed draw term loan. The revolving credit facility also includes a subfacility for letters of credit and a swingline subfacility. The Credit Facility requires quarterly amortization payments of each term loan facility equal to 0.25% of the outstanding amount of the term loans. On November 5, 2010, CHS entered into an amendment and restatement of its existing Credit Facility. The amendment extends by two and a half years, until January 25, 2017, the maturity date of $1.5 billion of the existing term loans under the Credit Facility and increases the pricing on these term loans to LIBOR plus 350 basis points. If more than $50 million of the Notes remain outstanding on April 15, 2015, without having been refinanced, then the maturity date for the extended term loans will be accelerated to April 15, 2015. The maturity date of the balance of the term loans of approximately $4.5 billion remains unchanged at July 25, 2014. The amendment also increases CHS’s ability to issue additional indebtedness under the uncommitted incremental facility to $1.0 billion from $600 million, permits CHS to issue Term A term loans under the incremental facility, and provides up to $2.0 billion of borrowing capacity from receivable transactions, an increase of $0.5 billion, of which $1.7 billion would be required to be used for repayment of existing term loans.


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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
The term loan facility must be prepaid in an amount equal to (1) 100% of the net cash proceeds of certain asset sales and dispositions by the Company and its subsidiaries, subject to certain exceptions and reinvestment rights, (2) 100% of the net cash proceeds of issuances of certain debt obligations or receivables based financing by the Company and its subsidiaries, subject to certain exceptions, and (3) 50%, subject to reduction to a lower percentage based on the Company’s leverage ratio (as defined in the Credit Facility generally as the ratio of total debt on the date of determination to the Company’s EBITDA, as defined, for the four quarters most recently ended prior to such date), of excess cash flow (as defined) for any year, commencing in 2008, subject to certain exceptions. Voluntary prepayments and commitment reductions are permitted in whole or in part, without any premium or penalty, subject to minimum prepayment or reduction requirements.
 
The obligor under the Credit Facility is CHS. All of the obligations under the Credit Facility are unconditionally guaranteed by the Company and certain existing and subsequently acquired or organized domestic subsidiaries. All obligations under the Credit Facility and the related guarantees are secured by a perfected first priority lien or security interest in substantially all of the assets of the Company, CHS and each subsidiary guarantor, including equity interests held by the Company, CHS or any subsidiary guarantor, but excluding, among others, the equity interests of non-significant subsidiaries, syndication subsidiaries, securitization subsidiaries and joint venture subsidiaries.
 
The loans under the Credit Facility bear interest on the outstanding unpaid principal amount at a rate equal to an applicable percentage plus, at CHS’s option, either (a) an Alternate Base Rate (as defined) determined by reference to the greater of (1) the Prime Rate (as defined) announced by Credit Suisse or (2) the Federal Funds Effective Rate (as defined) plus one-half of 1.0% or (3) the adjusted London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) on such day for a three-month interest period commencing on the second business day after such day plus 1%, or (b) a reserve adjusted LIBOR for dollars (Eurodollar rate) (as defined). The applicable percentage for Alternate Base Rate loans is 1.25% for term loans due 2014 and is 2.25% for term loans due 2017. The applicable percentage for Eurodollar rate loans is 2.25% for term loans due 2014 and 3.5% for term loans due 2017. The applicable percentage for revolving loans is 1.25% for Alternate Base Rate revolving loans and 2.25% for Eurodollar revolving loans, in each case subject to reduction based on the Company’s leverage ratio. Loans under the swingline subfacility bear interest at the rate applicable to Alternate Base Rate loans under the revolving credit facility.
 
CHS has agreed to pay letter of credit fees equal to the applicable percentage then in effect with respect to Eurodollar rate loans under the revolving credit facility times the maximum aggregate amount available to be drawn under all letters of credit outstanding under the subfacility for letters of credit. The issuer of any letter of credit issued under the subfacility for letters of credit will also receive a customary fronting fee and other customary processing charges. CHS was initially obligated to pay commitment fees of 0.50% per annum (subject to reduction based upon the Company’s leverage ratio) on the unused portion of the revolving credit facility. For purposes of this calculation, swingline loans are not treated as usage of the revolving credit facility. With respect to the delayed draw term loan facility, CHS was also obligated to pay commitment fees of 0.50% per annum for the first nine months after the closing of the Credit Facility, 0.75% per annum for the next three months after such nine-month period and thereafter, 1.0% per annum. In each case, the commitment fee was paid on the unused amount of the delayed draw term loan facility. After the draw down of the remaining $200 million of the delayed draw term loan in January 2009, CHS no longer pays any commitment fees for the delayed draw term loan facility. CHS paid arrangement fees on the closing of the Credit Facility and pays an annual administrative agent fee.


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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
The Credit Facility contains customary representations and warranties, subject to limitations and exceptions, and customary covenants restricting the Company’s and its subsidiaries’ ability, subject to certain exceptions, to, among other things (1) declare dividends, make distributions or redeem or repurchase capital stock, (2) prepay, redeem or repurchase other debt, (3) incur liens or grant negative pledges, (4) make loans and investments and enter into acquisitions and joint ventures, (5) incur additional indebtedness or provide certain guarantees, (6) make capital expenditures, (7) engage in mergers, acquisitions and asset sales, (8) conduct transactions with affiliates, (9) alter the nature of the Company’s businesses, (10) grant certain guarantees with respect to physician practices, (11) engage in sale and leaseback transactions or (12) change the Company’s fiscal year. The Company is also required to comply with specified financial covenants (consisting of a leverage ratio and an interest coverage ratio) and various affirmative covenants.
 
Events of default under the Credit Facility include, but are not limited to, (1) CHS’s failure to pay principal, interest, fees or other amounts under the credit agreement when due (taking into account any applicable grace period), (2) any representation or warranty proving to have been materially incorrect when made, (3) covenant defaults subject, with respect to certain covenants, to a grace period, (4) bankruptcy events, (5) a cross default to certain other debt, (6) certain undischarged judgments (not paid within an applicable grace period), (7) a change of control, (8) certain ERISA-related defaults and (9) the invalidity or impairment of specified security interests, guarantees or subordination provisions in favor of the administrative agent or lenders under the Credit Facility.
 
The Notes were issued by CHS in connection with the Triad acquisition in the principal amount of approximately $3.0 billion. The Notes will mature on July 15, 2015. The Notes bear interest at the rate of 8.875% per annum, payable semiannually in arrears on January 15 and July 15, commencing January 15, 2008. Interest on the Notes accrues from the date of original issuance. Interest is calculated on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months.
 
Except as set forth below, CHS is not entitled to redeem the Notes prior to July 15, 2011.
 
On and after July 15, 2011, CHS is entitled, at its option, to redeem all or a portion of the Notes upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days notice, at the redemption prices (expressed as a percentage of principal amount on the redemption date), plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date (subject to the right of holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date), if redeemed during the 12-month period commencing on July 15 of the years set forth below:
 
         
    Redemption
Period   Price
 
2011
    104.438 %
2012
    102.219 %
2013 and thereafter
    100.000 %
 
CHS is entitled, at its option, to redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, at any time prior to July 15, 2011, upon not less than 30 or more than 60 days notice, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of Notes redeemed plus the Applicable Premium (as defined), and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, as of the applicable redemption date.
 
Pursuant to a registration rights agreement entered into at the time of the issuance of the Notes, as a result of an exchange offer made by CHS, substantially all of the Notes issued in July 2007 were exchanged in November 2007 for new notes (the “Exchange Notes”) having terms substantially identical in all material respects to the Notes (except that the Exchange Notes were issued under a registration statement pursuant to the 1933 Act). References to the Notes shall also be deemed to include the Exchange Notes unless the context provides otherwise.


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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
During the year ended December 31, 2008, the Company repurchased on the open market and cancelled $110.5 million of principal amount of the Notes. This resulted in a net gain from early extinguishment of debt of $2.5 million with an after-tax impact of $1.6 million. During the year ended December 31, 2009, the Company repurchased on the open market and cancelled $126.5 million of principal amount of the Notes. This resulted in a net gain from early extinguishment of debt of $2.7 million with an after-tax impact of $1.7 million.
 
On April 2, 2009, the Company paid down $110.4 million of its term loans under the Credit Facility. Of this amount, $85.0 million was paid down as required under the terms of the Credit Facility with the net proceeds received from the sale of the ownership interest in the partnership that owned and operated Presbyterian Hospital of Denton. This resulted in a loss from early extinguishment of debt of $1.1 million with an after-tax impact of $0.7 million recorded in discontinued operations for the year ended December 31, 2009. The remaining $25.4 million was paid on the term loans as required under the terms of the Credit Facility with the net proceeds received from the sale of various other assets. This resulted in a loss from early extinguishment of debt of $0.3 million with an after-tax impact of $0.2 million recorded in continuing operations for the year ended December 31, 2009.
 
As of December 31, 2010, the availability for additional borrowings under the Credit Facility was $750 million pursuant to the revolving credit facility, of which $81.9 million was set aside for outstanding letters of credit. CHS has the ability to amend the Credit Facility to provide for one or more tranches of term loans in an aggregate principal amount of $1.0 billion, which CHS has not yet accessed. CHS also has the ability to add up to $300 million of borrowing capacity from receivable transactions (including securitizations) under the Credit Facility, which has not yet been accessed. As of December 31, 2010, the weighted-average interest rate under the Credit Facility, excluding swaps, was 3.2%.
 
The Term Loans are scheduled to be paid with principal payments for future years as follows (in thousands):
 
         
Year   Amount  
 
2011
  $ 49,954  
2012
    49,874  
2013
    49,874  
2014
    4,413,385  
2015
    15,000  
Thereafter
    1,421,250  
         
Total
  $ 5,999,337  
         
 
As of December 31, 2010 and 2009, the Company had letters of credit issued, primarily in support of potential insurance-related claims and certain bonds, of approximately $81.9 million and $90.0 million, respectively.
 
Tax-Exempt Bonds.  Tax-exempt bonds bore interest at floating rates, which averaged 0.95% during the year ended December 31, 2009 and 0.82% through the payoff of the full amount of these bonds in May 2010.
 
Other Debt.  As of December 31, 2010, other debt consisted primarily of an industrial revenue bond, the mortgage obligation on the Company’s corporate headquarters and other obligations maturing in various installments through 2019.


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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
To limit the effect of changes in interest rates on a portion of the Company’s long-term borrowings, the Company is a party to 38 separate interest swap agreements in effect at December 31, 2010, with an aggregate notional amount of approximately $5.4 billion, and six forward-starting interest swap agreements with an aggregate notional amount of approximately $1.1 billion that will become effective upon the termination of six current agreements. On each of these swaps, the Company receives a variable rate of interest based on the three-month LIBOR in exchange for the payment of a fixed rate of interest. The Company currently pays, on a quarterly basis, a margin above LIBOR of 225 basis points for the outstanding balance of revolver loans and term loans due in 2014 and 350 basis points for term loans due in 2017 under the Credit Facility. See Note 7 for additional information regarding these swaps.
 
As of December 31, 2010, the scheduled maturities of long-term debt outstanding, including capital lease obligations for each of the next five years and thereafter are as follows (in thousands):
 
         
Year   Amount  
 
2011
  $ 63,139  
2012
    56,937  
2013
    54,145  
2014
    4,416,581  
2015
    2,802,578  
Thereafter
    1,478,141  
         
Total
  $ 8,871,521  
         
 
The Company paid interest of $650.7 million, $657.0 million and $653.6 million on borrowings during the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively.
 
7.   Fair Values of Financial Instruments
 
The fair value of financial instruments has been estimated by the Company using available market information as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, and valuation methodologies considered appropriate. The estimates presented are not necessarily indicative of amounts the Company could realize in a current market exchange (in thousands):
 
                                 
    December 31,  
    2010     2009  
    Carrying
    Estimated Fair
    Carrying
    Estimated Fair
 
    Amount     Value     Amount     Value  
 
Assets:
                               
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 299,169     $ 299,169     $ 344,541     $ 344,541  
Available-for-sale securities
    31,570       31,570       28,025       28,025  
Trading securities
    35,092       35,092       22,777       22,777  
Liabilities:
                               
Credit Facility
    5,999,337       5,882,124       6,043,847       5,681,216  
Tax-exempt bonds
                8,000       8,000  
Senior notes
    2,784,331       2,923,548       2,784,331       2,881,783  
Other debt
    36,122       36,122       38,015       38,015  
 
Cash and cash equivalents.  The carrying amount approximates fair value due to the short-term maturity of these instruments (less than three months).


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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
Available-for-sale securities.  Estimated fair value is based on closing price as quoted in public markets.
 
Trading securities.  Estimated fair value is based on closing price as quoted in public markets.
 
Credit facilities.  Estimated fair value is based on information from the Company’s bankers regarding relevant pricing for trading activity among the Company’s lending institutions.
 
Tax-exempt bonds.  The carrying amount approximated fair value as a result of a weekly interest rate reset feature of these formerly publicly-traded instruments.
 
Senior notes.  Estimated fair value is based on the average bid and ask price as quoted by the bank who served as underwriters in the sale of these notes.
 
Other debt.  The carrying amount of all other debt approximates fair value due to the nature of these obligations.
 
Interest Rate Swaps.  The fair value of interest rate swap agreements is the amount at which they could be settled, based on estimates calculated by the Company using a discounted cash flow analysis based on observable market inputs and validated by comparison to estimates obtained from the counterparty. The Company incorporates credit valuation adjustments (“CVAs”) to appropriately reflect both its own nonperformance or credit risk and the respective counterparty’s nonperformance or credit risk in the fair value measurements. In adjusting the fair value of its interest rate swap agreements for the effect of nonperformance or credit risk, the Company has considered the impact of any netting features included in the agreements.
 
The Company assesses the effectiveness of its hedge instruments on a quarterly basis. For the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, the Company completed an assessment of the cash flow hedge instruments and determined the hedges to be highly effective. The Company has also determined that the ineffective portion of the hedges do not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position, operations or cash flows. The counterparties to the interest rate swap agreements expose the Company to credit risk in the event of non-performance. However, at December 31, 2010, each swap agreement entered into by the Company was in a net liability position so that the Company would be required to make the net settlement payments to the counterparties; the Company does not anticipate non-performance by those counterparties. The Company does not hold or issue derivative financial instruments for trading purposes.


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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
Interest rate swaps consisted of the following at December 31, 2010:
 
                                 
    Notional
    Fixed
          Fair
 
    Amount
    Interest
    Termination
    Value
 
Swap #   (in 000’s)     Rate     Date     (in 000’s)  
 
1
  $ 100,000       4.7090 %     January 24, 2011     $ (294 )
2
    300,000       5.1140 %     August 8, 2011       (8,430 )
3
    100,000       4.7185 %     August 19, 2011       (2,674 )
4
    100,000       4.7040 %     August 19, 2011       (2,664 )
5
    100,000       4.6250 %     August 19, 2011       (2,602 )
6
    200,000       4.9300 %     August 30, 2011       (5,833 )
7
    200,000       3.0920 %     September 18, 2011       (3,632 )
8
    100,000       3.0230 %     October 23, 2011       (1,952 )
9
    200,000       4.4815 %     October 26, 2011       (6,328 )
10
    200,000       4.0840 %     December 3, 2011       (6,267 )
11
    100,000       3.8470 %     January 4, 2012       (3,112 )
12
    100,000       3.8510 %     January 4, 2012       (3,126 )
13
    100,000       3.8560 %     January 4, 2012       (3,131 )
14
    200,000       3.7260 %     January 8, 2012       (6,074 )
15
    200,000       3.5065 %     January 16, 2012       (5,723 )
16
    250,000       5.0185 %     May 30, 2012       (14,971 )
17
    150,000       5.0250 %     May 30, 2012       (9,074 )
18
    200,000       4.6845 %     September 11, 2012       (13,217 )
19
    100,000       3.3520 %     October 23, 2012       (4,639 )
20
    125,000       4.3745 %     November 23, 2012       (8,095 )
21
    75,000       4.3800 %     November 23, 2012       (5,087 )
22
    150,000       5.0200 %     November 30, 2012       (12,124 )
23
    200,000       2.2420 %     February 28, 2013       (5,961 )
24
    100,000       5.0230 %     May 30, 2013       (9,655 )
25
    300,000       5.2420 %     August 6, 2013       (31,963 )
26
    100,000       5.0380 %     August 30, 2013       (10,396 )
27
    50,000       3.5860 %     October 23, 2013       (3,367 )
28
    50,000       3.5240 %     October 23, 2013       (3,281 )
29
    100,000       5.0500 %     November 30, 2013       (11,036 )
30
    200,000       2.0700 %     December 19, 2013       (4,898 )
31
    100,000       5.2310 %     July 25, 2014       (12,977 )
32
    100,000       5.2310 %     July 25, 2014       (12,977 )
33
    200,000       5.1600 %     July 25, 2014       (25,460 )
34
    75,000       5.0405 %     July 25, 2014       (9,225 )
35
    125,000       5.0215 %     July 25, 2014       (15,293 )
36
    100,000       2.6210 %     July 25, 2014       (3,883 )
37
    100,000       3.1100 %     July 25, 2014       (5,590 )
38
    100,000       3.2580 %     July 25, 2014       (5,909 )(1)
39
    200,000       2.6930 %     October 26, 2014       (4,594 )(2)
40
    300,000       3.4470 %     August 8, 2016       (12,337 )(3)
41
    200,000       3.4285 %     August 19, 2016       (7,832 )(4)
42
    100,000       3.4010 %     August 19, 2016       (3,778 )(5)
43
    200,000       3.5000 %     August 30, 2016       (8,325 )(6)
44
    100,000       3.0050 %     November 30, 2016       (2,740 )
 
 
(1) This interest rate swap becomes effective January 24, 2011, concurrent with the termination of swap #1.
 
(2) This interest rate swap becomes effective October 26, 2011, concurrent with the termination of swap #9.
 
(3) This interest rate swap becomes effective August 8, 2011, concurrent with the termination of swap #2.


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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
 
(4) This interest rate swap becomes effective August 19, 2011, concurrent with the termination of swap #3 and #5.
 
(5) This interest rate swap becomes effective August 19, 2011, concurrent with the termination of swap #4.
 
(6) This interest rate swap becomes effective August 30, 2011, concurrent with the termination of swap #6.
 
The Company is exposed to certain risks relating to its ongoing business operations. The risk managed by using derivative instruments is interest rate risk. Interest rate swaps are entered into to manage interest rate fluctuation risk associated with the term loans in the Credit Facility. Companies are required to recognize all derivative instruments as either assets or liabilities at fair value in the consolidated statement of financial position. The Company designates its interest rate swaps as cash flow hedges. For derivative instruments that are designated and qualify as cash flow hedges, the effective portion of the gain or loss on the derivative is reported as a component of OCI and reclassified into earnings in the same period or periods during which the hedged transactions affects earnings. Gains and losses on the derivative representing either hedge ineffectiveness or hedge components excluded from the assessment of effectiveness are recognized in current earnings.
 
Assuming no change in December 31, 2010 interest rates, approximately $203.1 million of interest expense resulting from the spread between the fixed and floating rates defined in each interest rate swap agreement will be recognized during the next 12 months. If interest rate swaps do not remain highly effective as a cash flow hedge, the derivatives’ gains or losses resulting from the change in fair value reported through OCI will be reclassified into earnings.
 
The following tabular disclosure provides the amount of pre-tax loss recognized in the consolidated balance sheets as a component of OCI during the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009 (in thousands):
 
                 
    Amount of Pre-Tax Loss
    Recognized in OCI on
    Derivative (Effective
    Portion)
    Year Ended December 31,
Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging Relationships   2010   2009
 
Interest rate swaps
  $ (239,893 )   $ (57,576 )
 
The following tabular disclosure provides the location of the effective portion of the pre-tax loss reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss (“AOCL”) into interest expense on the consolidated statements of income during the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009 (in thousands):
 
                 
Location of Loss
  Amount of Pre-Tax Loss Reclassified from AOCL into Income (Effective Portion)
Reclassified from AOCL into
  Year Ended December 31,
Income (Effective Portion)   2010   2009
 
Interest expense, net
  $ (215,399 )   $ (176,677 )
 
The fair values of derivative instruments in the consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2010 and 2009 were as follows (in thousands):
 
                                                   
    Asset Derivatives       Liability Derivatives  
    December 31, 2010     December 31, 2009       December 31, 2010     December 31, 2009  
    Balance
        Balance
          Balance
        Balance
     
    Sheet
        Sheet
          Sheet
        Sheet
     
    Location   Fair Value     Location   Fair Value       Location   Fair Value     Location   Fair Value  
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments
  Other
assets,
net
  $      —     Other
assets,
net
  $      —       Other
long-term
liabilities
  $ 340,526     Other
long-term
liabilities
  $ 316,033  


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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
8.   Fair Value
 
Fair Value Hierarchy
 
Fair value is a market-based measurement, not an entity-specific measurement. Therefore, a fair value measurement should be determined based on the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. As a basis for considering market participant assumptions in fair value measurements, the Company utilizes the U.S. GAAP fair value hierarchy that distinguishes between market participant assumptions based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity (observable inputs that are classified within Levels 1 and 2 of the hierarchy) and the reporting entity’s own assumption about market participant assumptions (unobservable inputs classified within Level 3 of the hierarchy).
 
The inputs used to measure fair value are classified into the following fair value hierarchy:
 
Level 1:  Quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
 
Level 2:  Observable market-based inputs or unobservable inputs that are corroborated by market data.
 
Level 3:  Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities. Level 3 includes values determined using pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies, or similar techniques reflecting the Company’s own assumptions.
 
In instances where the determination of the fair value hierarchy measurement is based on inputs from different levels of the fair value hierarchy, the level in the fair value hierarchy within which the entire fair value measurement falls is based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. The Company’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment of factors specific to the asset or liability.
 
The following table sets forth, by level within the fair value hierarchy, the financial assets and liabilities recorded at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2010 and 2009 (in thousands):
 
                                 
    December 31,
                   
    2010     Level 1     Level 2     Level 3  
 
Available-for-sale securities
  $ 31,570     $ 31,570     $     $   —  
Trading securities
    35,092       35,092              
                                 
Total assets
  $ 66,662     $ 66,662     $     $  
                                 
Fair value of interest rate swap agreements
  $ 340,526     $     $ 340,526     $  
                                 
Total liabilities
  $ 340,526     $     $ 340,526     $  
                                 
 
                                 
    December 31,
                   
    2009     Level 1     Level 2     Level 3  
 
Available-for-sale securities
  $ 28,025     $ 28,025     $     $   —  
Trading securities
    22,777       22,777              
                                 
Total assets
  $ 50,802     $ 50,802     $     $  
                                 
Fair value of interest rate swap agreements
  $ 316,033     $     $ 316,033     $  
                                 
Total liabilities
  $ 316,033     $     $ 316,033     $  
                                 
 
Available-for-sale securities and trading securities classified as Level 1 are measured using quoted market prices.


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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
The valuation of the Company’s interest rate swap agreements is determined using market valuation techniques, including discounted cash flow analysis on the expected cash flows of each agreement. This analysis reflects the contractual terms of the agreement, including the period to maturity, and uses observable market-based inputs, including forward interest rate curves. The fair value of interest rate swap agreements are determined by netting the discounted future fixed cash payments and the discounted expected variable cash receipts. The variable cash receipts are based on the expectation of future interest rates based on observable market forward interest rate curves and the notional amount being hedged.
 
The Company incorporates CVAs to appropriately reflect both its own nonperformance or credit risk and the respective counterparty’s nonperformance or credit risk in the fair value measurements. In adjusting the fair value of its interest rate swap agreements for the effect of nonperformance or credit risk, the Company has considered the impact of any netting features included in the agreements. The CVA on the Company’s interest rate swap agreements at December 31, 2010 resulted in a decrease in the fair value of the related liability of $3.9 million and an after-tax adjustment of $2.5 million to OCI. The CVA on the Company’s interest rate swap agreements at December 31, 2009 resulted in a decrease in the fair value of the related liability of $5.9 million and an after-tax adjustment of $3.8 million to OCI.
 
The majority of the inputs used to value its interest rate swap agreements, including the forward interest rate curves and market perceptions of the Company’s credit risk used in the CVAs, are observable inputs available to a market participant. As a result, the Company has determined that the interest rate swap valuations are classified in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.
 
9.   Leases
 
The Company leases hospitals, medical office buildings, and certain equipment under capital and operating lease agreements. During 2010, 2009 and 2008, the Company entered into capital lease obligations of $22.7 million, $3.3 million and $6.1 million, respectively. All lease agreements generally require the Company to pay maintenance, repairs, property taxes and insurance costs.
 
During 2010, the Company entered into an agreement with the lessor of Cleveland Regional Medical Center (“Cleveland Regional”), its leased facility in Cleveland, TX, to exchange its ownership interest in certain real estate at Hill Regional Medical Center (“Hill Regional”), in Hillsboro, TX for the lessor’s ownership interest in the real estate at Cleveland Regional. The related lease agreement was amended to incorporate Hill Regional as a leased asset with no change to the remaining lease term or payment schedule. No monetary consideration was exchanged in this transaction, and the transaction qualifies as a non-taxable, like-kind exchange under the regulations in Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code. The assets of Cleveland Regional were included in the consolidated balance sheet at fair value on the date of this transaction; however, as a result of our continuing involvement in the Hill Regional assets, the exchange with the lessor does not qualify for sale treatment under U.S. GAAP. Accordingly, the transaction has been accounted for as a financing obligation and the assets of Hill Regional will remain on the consolidated balance sheet as assets recorded under a financing obligation. Future payments under the lease will be amortized against the financing obligation rather than recorded as rent expense. The disclosures below for capital leases include the amounts related to the Hill Regional financing obligation.


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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
Commitments relating to noncancellable operating and capital leases for each of the next five years and thereafter are as follows (in thousands):
 
                 
Year Ended December 31,   Operating(1)     Capital  
 
2011
  $ 172,764     $ 10,328  
2012
    145,460       7,641  
2013
    116,244       6,608  
2014
    97,633       6,065  
2015
    79,839       5,725  
Thereafter
    216,847       45,748  
                 
Total minimum future payments
  $ 828,787     $ 82,115  
                 
Less imputed interest
            (30,384 )
                 
              51,731  
Less current portion
            (5,577 )
                 
Long-term capital lease obligations
          $ 46,154  
                 
 
 
(1) Minimum lease payments have not been reduced by minimum sublease rentals due in the future of $34.0 million.
 
Assets capitalized under capital leases as reflected in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets were $27.9 million of land and improvements, $166.7 million of buildings and improvements and $87.6 million of equipment and fixtures as of December 31, 2010 and $23.6 million of land and improvements, $149.3 million of buildings and improvements and $65.7 million of equipment and fixtures as of December 31, 2009. The accumulated depreciation related to assets under capital leases was $106.7 million and $96.1 million as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Depreciation of assets under capital leases is included in depreciation and amortization expense and amortization of debt discounts on capital lease obligations is included in interest expense in the consolidated statements of income.
 
10.   Employee Benefit Plans
 
The Company maintains various benefit plans, including defined contribution plans, defined benefit plans and deferred compensation plans, for which the Company’s subsidiary, CHS, is the plan sponsor. On January 1, 2009, the plan sponsor merged the Triad Hospitals, Inc. Retirement Savings Plan, the Abilene Physicians Group 401(k) Plan and Trust and the Regional Employee Assistance Program 401(k) Plan with and into the CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc. 401(k) Plan. Contemporaneously, the plan sponsor also established the CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc. Retirement Savings Plan, and the accounts of substantially all participants in the CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc. 401(k) Plan were transferred subsequently to the CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc. Retirement Savings Plan. Employees of certain subsidiaries whose employment is covered by collective bargaining agreements have remained participants in the CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc. 401(k) Plan. The plan sponsor also established the CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc. Spokane 401(k) Plan on January 1, 2009 for the exclusive benefit of certain employees of the Deaconess Medical Center and Valley Hospital and Medical Center and their beneficiaries. Effective October 1, 2010, the plan sponsor established the CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc. Standard 401(k) Plan for the benefit of employees at the three hospitals acquired in Youngstown, Ohio and Warren, Ohio and their beneficiaries. Total expense to the Company under the 401(k) plans was $95.8 million, $69.5 million and $72.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively.


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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
The Company maintains unfunded deferred compensation plans that allow participants to defer receipt of a portion of their compensation. The liability under the deferred compensation plans was $73.2 million and $57.6 million as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively. The Company had assets of $75.0 million and $57.5 million as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively, in a non-qualified plan trust generally designated to pay benefits of the deferred compensation plans, consisting of trading securities of $35.1 million and $22.8 million as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively, and company-owned life insurance contracts of $39.9 million and $34.7 million as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively.
 
The Company maintains the Community Health Systems Retirement Income Plan, which is a defined benefit, non-contributory pension plan that covers certain employees at three of its hospitals (“Pension Plan”). The Pension Plan provides benefits to covered individuals satisfying certain age and service requirements. Employer contributions to the Pension Plan are in accordance with the minimum funding requirements of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended. The Company expects to contribute $1.7 million to the Pension Plan in 2011. The Company also provides an unfunded Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (“SERP”) for certain members of its executive management. The Company uses a December 31 measurement date for the benefit obligations and a January 1 measurement date for its net periodic costs for both the Pension Plan and SERP. Variances from actuarially assumed rates will result in increases or decreases in benefit obligations, net periodic cost and funding requirements in future periods. The Company had available-for-sale securities in a rabbi trust generally designated to pay benefits of the SERP in the amounts of $31.6 million and $28.0 million as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively. These amounts are included in other assets, net on the consolidated balance sheets.
 
A summary of the benefit obligations and funded status for the Company’s Pension and SERP Plans at December 31, 2010 and 2009 follows (in thousands):
 
                                 
    Pension Plan     SERP  
    2010     2009     2010     2009  
 
Change in benefit obligation:
                               
Benefit obligation, beginning of year
  $ 42,245     $ 37,625     $ 61,079     $ 41,145  
Service cost
    1,169       3,886       4,661       4,437  
Interest cost
    2,051       2,200       3,728       2,469  
Curtailment
    (7,407 )                  
Plan amendment
                (24 )      
Actuarial loss (gain)
    2,082       (1,232 )     4,396       13,028  
Benefits paid
    (458 )     (234 )            
                                 
Benefit obligation, end of year
    39,682       42,245       73,840       61,079  
Change in plan assets:
                               
Fair value of assets, beginning of year
    28,583       13,826              
Actual return on plan assets
    3,895       5,046              
Employer contributions
    2,334       9,945              
Benefits paid
    (458 )     (234 )            
                                 
Fair value of assets, end of year
    34,354       28,583              
                                 
Unfunded status
  $ (5,328 )   $ (13,662 )   $ (73,840 )   $ (61,079 )
                                 


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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
A summary of the amounts recognized in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets at December 31, 2010 and 2009 follows (in thousands):
 
                                 
    Pension Plan     SERP  
    2010     2009     2010     2009  
 
Noncurrent asset
  $     $     $     $  
Current liability
                (1,546 )      
Noncurrent liability
    (5,328 )     (13,662 )     (72,294 )     (61,079 )
                                 
Net amount recognized in the consolidated balance sheets
  $ (5,328 )   $ (13,662 )   $ (73,840 )   $ (61,079 )
                                 
 
A summary of the amounts recognized in AOCL at December 31, 2010 and 2009 follows (in thousands):
 
                                 
    Pension Plan     SERP  
    2010     2009     2010     2009  
 
Prior service (credit) cost
  $ (1,217 )   $ 1,515     $ 8,781     $ 10,501  
Net actuarial loss
    1,474       3,518       20,087       17,150  
                                 
Total amount recognized in AOCL
  $ 257     $ 5,033     $ 28,868     $ 27,651  
                                 
 
A summary of the plans’ benefit obligation in excess of the fair value of plan assets at December 31, 2010 and 2009 follows (in thousands):
 
                                 
    Pension Plan   SERP
    2010   2009   2010   2009
 
Projected benefit obligation
  $ 39,682     $ 42,245     $ 73,840     $ 61,079  
Accumulated benefit obligation
    39,380       33,485       47,304       39,334  
Fair value of plan assets
    34,354       28,583              
 
A summary of the weighted-average assumptions used by the Company to determine benefit obligations as of December 31 follows:
 
                                 
    Pension Plan     SERP  
    2010     2009     2010     2009  
 
Discount rate
    5.50 %     6.02 %     4.75 %     6.00 %
Annual salary increases
    4.50 %     4.00 %     4.00 %     5.00 %


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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
A summary of net periodic cost and other amounts recognized in OCI for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008 follows (in thousands):
 
                                                 
    Pension Plan     SERP  
    2010     2009     2008     2010     2009     2008  
 
Service cost
  $ 1,169     $ 3,886     $ 3,457     $ 4,661     $ 4,437     $ 3,232  
Interest cost
    2,051       2,200       1,834       3,728       2,469       1,716  
Expected return on plan assets
    (2,497 )     (1,683 )     (1,426 )                  
Amortization of unrecognized prior service (credit) cost
    (38 )     689       689       1,697       1,704       884  
Amortization of net loss
          426             1,459       1       122  
Curtailment credit
    (1,910 )                              
                                                 
Net periodic cost
    (1,225 )     5,518       4,554       11,545       8,611       5,954  
Prior service (credit) cost arising during period
    (2,770 )                 (24 )           7,387  
Net (gain) loss arising during period
    (2,044 )     (4,595 )     10,849       4,396       13,028       212  
Amortization of:
                                               
Prior service cost (credit)
    38       (689 )     (689 )     (1,697 )     (1,704 )     (884 )
Net actuarial gain
          (426 )           (1,459 )     (1 )     (122 )
                                                 
Total amount recognized in OCI
    (4,776 )     (5,710 )     10,160       1,216       11,323       6,593  
                                                 
Total recognized in net periodic cost and OCI
  $ (6,001 )   $ (192 )   $ 14,714     $ 12,761     $ 19,934     $ 12,547  
                                                 
 
A summary of the expected amortization amounts to be included in net periodic cost for 2011 are as follows (in thousands):
 
                 
    Pension Plan   SERP
 
Prior service (credit) cost
  $ (141 )   $ 1,696  
Actuarial loss
          1,533  
 
A summary of the weighted-average assumptions used by the Company to determine net periodic cost for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008 follows:
 
                                                 
    Pension Plan   SERP
    2010   2009   2008   2010   2009   2008
 
Discount rate
    5.99 %     5.96 %     6.55 %     6.00 %     6.00 %     6.00 %
Rate of compensation increase
    4.50 %     4.00 %     4.00 %     5.00 %     5.00 %     5.00 %
Expected long term rate of return on
assets
    8.50 %     8.50 %     8.50 %     N/A       N/A       N/A  


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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
The Company’s weighted-average asset allocations by asset category at December 31, 2010 and 2009 follows:
 
                                 
    Pension Plan   SERP
    2010   2009   2010   2009
 
Equity securities
    100 %     100 %     N/A       N/A  
Debt securities
    0 %     0 %     N/A       N/A  
                                 
Total
    100 %     100 %     N/A       N/A  
                                 
 
The Pension Plan assets are invested in mutual funds with an underlying investment allocation of 60% equity securities and 40% debt securities. All assets are measured at fair value using quoted prices in active markets and therefore are classified as Level 1 measurements in the fair value hierarchy. The expected long-term rate of return for the Pension Plan assets is based on current expected long-term inflation and historical rates of return on equities and fixed income securities, taking into account the investment policy under the plan. The expected long-term rate of return is weighted based on the target allocation for each asset category. Equity securities are expected to return between 7% and 11% and debt securities are expected to return between 4% and 7%. The Company expects the Pension Plan asset managers will provide a premium of approximately 0% to 1.5% per annum to the respective market benchmark indices.
 
The Company’s investment policy related to the Pension Plan is to provide for growth of capital with a moderate level of volatility by investing in accordance with the target asset allocations stated above. The Company reviews its investment policy, including its target asset allocations, on a semi-annual basis to determine whether any changes in market conditions or amendments to its pension plans require a revision to its investment policy.
 
The estimated future benefit payments reflecting future service as of December 31, 2010 for the Pension Plan and SERP plan follows (in thousands):
 
                 
Year Ending   Pension Plan   SERP
 
2011
  $ 858     $ 1,546  
2012
    1,200       1,965  
2013
    1,478        
2014
    1,735       11,070  
2015
    1,749       2,696  
2016-2020
    13,650       82,988  
 
11.   Stockholders’ Equity
 
Authorized capital shares of the Company include 400,000,000 shares of capital stock consisting of 300,000,000 shares of common stock and 100,000,000 shares of preferred stock. Each of the aforementioned classes of capital stock has a par value of $0.01 per share. Shares of preferred stock, none of which were outstanding as of December 31, 2010, may be issued in one or more series having such rights, preferences and other provisions as determined by the Board of Directors without approval by the holders of common stock.
 
On September 15, 2010, the Company commenced a new open market repurchase program for up to 4,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, not to exceed $100 million in repurchases. This program will conclude at the earliest of three years from the commencement date, when the maximum number of shares has been repurchased or when the maximum dollar amount has been expended. During the year ended December 31, 2010, the Company repurchased and retired 451,272 shares at a weighted-average price of $30.81 per share, which is the cumulative number of shares that have been repurchased under this program through December 31, 2010.


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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
On December 9, 2009, the Company commenced the predecessor open market repurchase program for up to 3,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, not to exceed $100 million in repurchases. This program concluded in September 2010 when purchases approximately totaled the permitted maximum dollar amount. During the year ended December 31, 2010, the Company repurchased and retired 2,964,528 shares at a weighted-average price of $33.69 per share, which is the cumulative number of shares that were repurchased under this program.
 
On December 13, 2006, the Company commenced an open market repurchase program for up to 5,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, not to exceed $200 million in repurchases. This program had an expiration date of the earlier of three years or when the maximum number of shares had been repurchased. This repurchase program expired on December 13, 2009. During the year ended December 31, 2008, the Company repurchased and retired 4,786,609 shares, which is the cumulative number of shares that were repurchased under this program, at a weighted-average price of $18.80 per share. During the year ended December 31, 2009, the Company did not repurchase any shares under this program.
 
The following schedule discloses the effects of changes in the Company’s ownership interest in its less-than-wholly-owned subsidiaries on Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders’ equity (in thousands):
 
                         
    Year Ended December 31,  
    2010     2009     2008  
 
Net income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. 
  $ 279,983     $ 243,150     $ 218,304  
Transfers (to) from the noncontrolling interests:
                       
Net (decrease) increase in Community Health Systems, Inc. paid-in capital for purchase of subsidiary partnership interests
    (3,529 )     3,106        
                         
Net transfers (to) from the noncontrolling interests
    (3,529 )     3,106        
                         
Change to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders’ equity from net income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. and transfers (to) from noncontrolling interests
  $ 276,454     $ 246,256     $ 218,304  
                         


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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
12.   Earnings Per Share
 
The following table sets forth the components of the numerator and denominator for the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share for income from continuing operations, discontinued operations and net income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. common stockholders (in thousands, except share data):
 
                         
    Year Ended December 31,  
    2010     2009     2008  
 
Numerator:
                       
Income from continuing operations, net of taxes
  $ 348,441     $ 304,805     $ 233,727  
Less: Income from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests, net of taxes
    68,458       62,872       34,902  
                         
Income from continuing operations attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. common stockholders — basic and diluted
  $ 279,983     $ 241,933     $ 198,825  
                         
                         
Income from discontinued operations, net of taxes
  $     $ 1,572     $ 19,007  
Less: Income (loss) from discontinued operations attributable to noncontrolling interests, net of taxes
          355       (472 )
                         
Income from discontinued operations attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. common stockholders — basic and diluted
  $     $ 1,217     $ 19,479  
                         
Denominator:
                       
Weighted-average number of shares outstanding — basic
    91,718,791       90,614,886       93,371,782  
Effect of dilutive securities:
                       
Restricted stock awards
    542,488       469,134       269,165  
Employee stock options
    667,606       422,637       647,882  
Other equity-based awards
    17,163       10,617        
                         
Weighted-average number of shares outstanding — diluted
    92,946,048       91,517,274       94,288,829  
                         
Dilutive securities outstanding not included in the computation of earning per share because their effect is antidilutive:
                       
Employee stock options
    4,882,338       6,820,393       5,001,223  
 
13.   Equity Investments
 
As of December 31, 2010, the Company owned equity interests of 27.5% in four hospitals in Las Vegas, Nevada, and 26.1% in one hospital in Las Vegas, Nevada, in which Universal Health Systems, Inc. owns the majority interest, and an equity interest of 38.0% in three hospitals in Macon, Georgia, in which HCA Inc. (“HCA”) owns the majority interest. Effective April 1, 2009, one or more subsidiaries of the Company acquired from Share Foundation the remaining 50% equity interest in MCSA L.L.C., an entity in which one or more subsidiaries of the Company previously had a 50% unconsolidated noncontrolling interest. One or more subsidiaries of the Company provided MCSA L.L.C. certain management services. This acquisition resulted in these subsidiaries of the Company owning 100% equity interest in that entity. MCSA L.L.C. owns and operates Medical Center of South Arkansas in El Dorado, Arkansas. The results of operations for MCSA L.L.C. were included in the consolidated financial statements effective April 1, 2009.


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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
Summarized combined financial information for the unconsolidated entities in which the Company owned an equity interest is as follows (in thousands):
 
                 
    December 31,  
    2010     2009  
 
Current assets
  $ 220,881     $ 206,809  
Noncurrent assets
    771,646       739,768  
                 
Total assets
  $ 992,527     $ 946,577  
                 
                 
Current liabilities
  $ 83,985     $ 83,562  
Noncurrent liabilities
    3,536       1,448  
Members’ equity
    905,006       861,567  
                 
Total liabilities and members’ equity
  $ 992,527     $ 946,577  
                 
 
                         
    Year Ended December 31,  
    2010     2009     2008  
 
Revenues
  $ 1,418,432     $ 1,401,095     $ 1,426,463  
Operating costs and expenses
  $ 1,268,075     $ 1,252,714     $ 1,284,645  
Income from continuing operations before taxes
  $ 150,640     $ 148,343     $ 140,802  
 
The summarized financial information as of and for the year ended December 31, 2010 was derived from the unaudited financial information provided to the Company by those unconsolidated entities. The summarized financial information for the prior years reflects the final audited financial information of the equity investee.
 
The Company’s investment in all of its unconsolidated affiliates was $409.5 million and $399.4 million at December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively, and is included in other assets, net in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. Included in the Company’s results of operations is the Company’s equity in pre-tax earnings from all of its investments in unconsolidated affiliates, which was $45.4 million, $36.5 million and $42.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively.
 
14.   Segment Information
 
The Company operates in three distinct operating segments, represented by hospital operations (which includes its general acute care hospitals and related healthcare entities that provide inpatient and outpatient healthcare services), home care agency operations (which provide in-home outpatient care), and hospital management services (which provides executive management and consulting services to non-affiliated acute care hospitals). Only the hospital operations segment meets the criteria as a separate reportable segment. The financial information for the home care agencies and management services segments do not meet the quantitative thresholds for a separate identifiable reportable segment and are combined into the corporate and all other reportable segment.
 
The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those described in the summary of significant accounting policies in Note 1. Expenditures for segment assets are reported on an accrual basis, which includes amounts that are reflected in accounts payable. Substantially all depreciation and amortization as reflected in the consolidated statements of income relates to the hospital operations segment.


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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
The distribution between reportable segments of the Company’s net operating revenues, income from continuing operations before income taxes, expenditures for segment assets and total assets is summarized in the following tables (in thousands):
 
                         
    Year Ended December 31,  
    2010     2009     2008  
 
Net operating revenues:
                       
Hospital operations
  $ 12,706,763     $ 11,839,515     $ 10,680,497  
Corporate and all other
    279,737       268,098       238,598  
                         
    $ 12,986,500     $ 12,107,613     $ 10,919,095  
                         
Income from continuing operations before income taxes:
                       
Hospital operations
  $ 651,843     $ 588,857     $ 494,922  
Corporate and all other
    (143,409 )     (142,727 )     (135,922 )
                         
    $ 508,434     $ 446,130     $ 359,000  
                         
Expenditures for segment assets:
                       
Hospital operations
  $ 646,509     $ 543,969     $ 643,180  
Corporate and all other
    20,869       15,105       41,443  
                         
    $ 667,378     $ 559,074     $ 684,623  
                         
 
                         
    December 31,        
    2010     2009        
 
Total assets:
                       
Hospital operations
  $ 13,398,314     $ 12,715,228          
Corporate and all other
    1,299,809       1,306,244          
                         
    $ 14,698,123     $ 14,021,472          
                         
 
15.   Commitments and Contingencies
 
Construction and Other Capital Commitments.  Pursuant to hospital purchase agreements in effect as of December 31, 2010, and where required certificate of need approval has been obtained, the Company is required to build replacement facilities. As required by an amendment to a lease agreement entered into in 2005, the Company agreed to build a replacement facility at its Barstow, California location. Construction costs for this replacement facility are estimated to be approximately $73.5 million. Of this amount, approximately $15.3 million has been expended through December 31, 2010. This project is expected to be completed in 2012. The Company has agreed, as part of an acquisition in 2007, to build a replacement hospital in Valparaiso, Indiana with an aggregate estimated construction cost, including equipment costs, of approximately $210.0 million. Of this amount, approximately $30.9 million has been expended through December 31, 2010. This project is expected to be completed in 2012. The Company has agreed, as part of an acquisition in 2009, to build a replacement hospital in Siloam Springs, Arkansas with an aggregate estimated construction cost, including equipment costs, of approximately $35.0 million. Of this amount, approximately $1.2 million has been expended through December 31, 2010. This project is required to be completed in 2013. In October 2008, after the purchase of the noncontrolling owner’s interest in the Company’s Birmingham, Alabama facility, the Company initiated the purchase of a site, which includes a partially constructed hospital structure, for a potential replacement to the existing Birmingham facility. In September 2010, the Company received approval of its request for a certificate of need from the Alabama Certificate of Need Review Board; however,


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this certificate of need remains subject to an appeal process. The Company’s estimated construction costs, including the acquisition of the site and equipment costs, are approximately $280.0 million for the Birmingham replacement facility. Of this amount, approximately $1.3 million has been expended through December 31, 2010. In addition, under other purchase agreements, the Company had committed to spend approximately $540.5 million for costs such as capital improvements, equipment, selected leases and physician recruiting. These commitments are required to be fulfilled generally over a five to seven year period after acquisition. Through December 31, 2010, the Company has spent approximately $184.5 million related to these commitments.
 
Physician Recruiting Commitments.  As part of its physician recruitment strategy, the Company provides income guarantee agreements to certain physicians who agree to relocate to its communities and commit to remain in practice there. Under such agreements, the Company is required to make payments to the physicians in excess of the amounts they earned in their practice up to the amount of the income guarantee. These income guarantee periods are typically for 12 months. Such payments are recoverable by the Company from physicians who do not fulfill their commitment period, which is typically three years, to the respective community. At December 31, 2010, the maximum potential amount of future payments under these guarantees in excess of the liability recorded is $37.9 million.
 
Professional Liability Claims.  As part of the Company’s business of owning and operating hospitals, it is subject to legal actions alleging liability on its part. The Company accrues for losses resulting from such liability claims, as well as loss adjustment expenses that are out-of-pocket and directly related to such liability claims. These direct out-of-pocket expenses include fees of outside counsel and experts. The Company does not accrue for costs that are part of corporate overhead, such as the costs of in-house legal and risk management departments. The losses resulting from professional liability claims primarily consist of estimates for known claims, as well as estimates for incurred but not reported claims. The estimates are based on specific claim facts, historical claim reporting and payment patterns, the nature and level of hospital operations and actuarially determined projections. The actuarially determined projections are based on the Company’s actual claim data, including historic reporting and payment patterns which have been gathered over an approximate 20-year period. As discussed below, since the Company purchases excess insurance on a claims-made basis that transfers risk to third-party insurers, the liability it accrues does not include an amount for the losses covered by its excess insurance. Since the Company believes that the amount and timing of its future claims payments are reliably determinable, it discounts the amount accrued for losses resulting from professional liability claims using the risk-free interest rate corresponding to the timing of expected payments.
 
The net present value of the projected payments was discounted using a weighted-average risk-free rate of 1.3%, 1.4% and 2.6% in 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively. This liability is adjusted for new claims information in the period such information becomes known. The Company’s estimated liability for the self-insured portion of professional and general liability claims was $489.2 million and $431.2 million as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively. The estimated undiscounted claims liability was $513.2 million and $452.7 million as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively. The current portion of the liability for self-insured portion of professional and general liability claims was $82.9 million and $77.1 million as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively, and is included in other accrued liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. Professional malpractice expense includes the losses resulting from professional liability claims and loss adjustment expense, as well as paid excess insurance premiums, and is presented within other operating expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of income.
 
The Company’s processes for obtaining and analyzing claims and incident data are standardized across all of its hospitals and have been consistent for many years. The Company monitors the outcomes of the medical care services that it provides and for each reported claim, the Company obtains various information concerning the facts and circumstances related to that claim. In addition, the Company routinely monitors current key statistics and volume indicators in its assessment of utilizing historical trends. The average lag period between


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claim occurrence and payment of a final settlement is between four and five years, although the facts and circumstances of individual claims could result in the timing of such payments being different from this average. Since claims are paid promptly after settlement with the claimant is reached, settled claims represent less than 1.0% of the total liability at the end of any period.
 
For purposes of estimating its individual claim accruals, the Company utilizes specific claim information, including the nature of the claim, the expected claim amount, the year in which the claim occurred and the laws of the jurisdiction in which the claim occurred. Once the case accruals for known claims are determined, information is stratified by loss layers and retentions, accident years, reported years, geography, and claims relating to the acquired Triad hospitals versus claims relating to the Company’s other hospitals. Several actuarial methods are used against this data to produce estimates of ultimate paid losses and reserves for incurred but not reported claims. Each of these methods uses company-specific historical claims data and other information. This company-specific data includes information regarding the Company’s business, including historical paid losses and loss adjustment expenses, historical and current case loss reserves, actual and projected hospital statistical data, a variety of hospital census information, employed physician information, professional liability retentions for each policy year, geographic information and other data.
 
Based on these analyses the Company determines its estimate of the professional liability claims. The determination of management’s estimate, including the preparation of the reserve analysis that supports such estimate, involves subjective judgment of the management. Changes in reserving data or the trends and factors that influence reserving data may signal fundamental shifts in the Company’s future claim development patterns or may simply reflect single-period anomalies. Even if a change reflects a fundamental shift, the full extent of the change may not become evident until years later. Moreover, since the Company’s methods and models use different types of data and the Company selects its liability from the results of all of these methods, it typically cannot quantify the precise impact of such factors on its estimates of the liability. Due to the Company’s standardized and consistent processes for handling claims and the long history and depth of company-specific data, the Company’s methodologies have produced reliably determinable estimates of ultimate paid losses.
 
The Company is primarily self-insured for these claims; however, the Company obtains excess insurance that transfers the risk of loss to a third-party insurer for claims in excess of self-insured retentions. The Company’s excess insurance is underwritten on a claims-made basis. For claims reported prior to June 1, 2002, substantially all of the Company’s professional and general liability risks were subject to a $0.5 million per occurrence self-insured retention and for claims reported from June 1, 2002 through June 1, 2003, these self-insured retentions were $2.0 million per occurrence. Substantially all claims reported after June 1, 2003 and before June 1, 2005 are self-insured up to $4 million per claim. Substantially all claims reported on or after June 1, 2005 are self-insured up to $5 million per claim. Management on occasion has selectively increased the insured risk at certain hospitals based upon insurance pricing and other factors and may continue that practice in the future. Excess insurance for all hospitals has been purchased through commercial insurance companies and generally covers the Company for liabilities in excess of the self-insured retentions. The excess coverage consists of multiple layers of insurance, the sum of which totals up to $95 million per occurrence and in the aggregate for claims reported on or after June 1, 2003 and up to $145 million per occurrence and in the aggregate for claims incurred and reported after January 1, 2008. For certain policy years, if the first aggregate layer of excess coverage becomes fully utilized, then the Company’s self-insured retention could increase to $10 million per claim for any subsequent claims in that policy year until the Company’s total aggregate coverage is met.
 
Effective January 1, 2008, the former Triad hospitals are insured on a claims-made basis as described above and through commercial insurance companies as described above for substantially all claims occurring on or after January 1, 2002 and reported on or after January 1, 2008. Substantially all losses for the former Triad hospitals in periods prior to May 1999 were insured through a wholly-owned insurance subsidiary of


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HCA, Triad’s owner prior to that time, and excess loss policies maintained by HCA. HCA has agreed to indemnify the former Triad hospitals in respect of claims covered by such insurance policies arising prior to May 1999. After May 1999 through December 31, 2006, the former Triad hospitals obtained insurance coverage on a claims incurred basis from HCA’s wholly-owned insurance subsidiary, with excess coverage obtained from other carriers that is subject to certain deductibles. Effective for claims incurred after December 31, 2006, Triad began insuring its claims from $1 million to $5 million through its wholly-owned captive insurance company, replacing the coverage provided by HCA. Substantially all claims occurring during 2007 were self-insured up to $10 million per claim.
 
Legal Matters.  The Company is a party to various legal proceedings incidental to its business. In the opinion of management, any ultimate liability with respect to these actions will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position, cash flows or results of operations. With respect to all litigation matters, the Company considers the likelihood of a negative outcome. If the Company determines the likelihood of a negative outcome is probable and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated, the Company records an estimated loss for the expected outcome of the litigation. If the likelihood of a negative outcome is reasonably possible and the Company is able to determine an estimate of the possible loss or a range of loss, the Company discloses that fact together with the estimate of the possible loss or range of loss. However, it is difficult to predict the outcome or estimate a possible loss or range of loss in some instances because litigation is subject to significant uncertainties. For all of the legal matters below, the Company believes that a negative outcome is reasonably possible, but we are unable to determine an estimate of the possible loss or a range of loss.
 
In a letter dated October 4, 2007, the Civil Division of the Department of Justice notified the Company that, as a result of an investigation into the way in which different state Medicaid programs apply to the federal government for matching or supplemental funds that are ultimately used to pay for a small portion of the services provided to Medicaid and indigent patients, it believes the Company and three of its New Mexico hospitals have caused the State of New Mexico to submit improper claims for federal funds in violation of the Federal False Claims Act. In a letter dated January 22, 2008, the Civil Division notified the Company that based on its investigation, it has calculated that these three hospitals received ineligible federal participation payments from August 2000 to June 2006 of approximately $27.5 million. The Civil Division also advised the Company that were it to proceed to trial, it would seek treble damages plus an appropriate penalty for each of the violations of the False Claims Act. This investigation has culminated in the federal government’s intervention in a qui tam lawsuit styled U.S. ex rel. Baker vs. Community Health Systems, Inc. The federal government filed its complaint in intervention on June 30, 2009. The relator filed a second amended complaint on July 1, 2009. Both of these complaints expand the time period during which alleged improper payments were made. The Company filed motions to dismiss all of the federal government’s and the relator’s claims on August 28, 2009. On March 19, 2010, the court granted in part and denied in part the Company’s motion to dismiss as to the relator’s complaint. On July 7, 2010, the court denied the Company’s motion to dismiss the federal government’s complaint in intervention. The Company has filed its answer and pretrial discovery has begun. The Company is vigorously defending this action.
 
On June 12, 2008, two of the Company’s hospitals received letters from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of New York requesting documents in an investigation it was conducting into billing practices with respect to kyphoplasty procedures performed during the period January 1, 2002, through June 9, 2008. On September 16, 2008, one of the Company’s hospitals in South Carolina also received an inquiry. Kyphoplasty is a surgical spine procedure that returns a compromised vertebrae (either from trauma or osteoporotic disease process) to its previous height, reducing or eliminating severe pain. The Company has been informed that similar investigations have been initiated at unaffiliated facilities in Alabama, South Carolina, Indiana and other states. The Company believes that this investigation is related to a qui tam settlement between the same U.S. Attorney’s office and the manufacturer and distributor of the Kyphon product, which is used in performing the kyphoplasty procedure. The Company is cooperating with the


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investigation by collecting and producing material responsive to the requests. The Company is continuing to evaluate and discuss this matter with the federal government.
 
16.   Subsequent Events
 
The Company evaluated all material events occurring subsequent to the balance sheet date for events requiring disclosure or recognition in the consolidated financial statements.
 
Effective February 1, 2011, the Company sold Willamette Community Medical Group, which is a physician clinic operating as Oregon Medical Group, located in Springfield, Oregon, with a carrying amount of net assets, including an allocation of reporting unit goodwill, of $19.6 million to Oregon Healthcare Resources, LLC, for $14.6 million in cash.
 
The Company has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Mercy Health Partners in Northeast Pennsylvania. The health system includes two acute care hospitals, Mercy Hospital in Scranton, Pennsylvania (198 licensed beds) and Mercy Tyler Hospital in Tunkhannock, Pennsylvania (48 licensed beds). The system also includes Mercy Special Care Hospital (67 licensed beds), a long-term acute care hospital located in Nanticoke, Pennsylvania, and other outpatient and ancillary services. The transaction, subject to customary federal and state regulatory approvals, is expected to be completed during the three months ended June 30, 2011.


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17.   Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)
 
                                         
    Quarter        
    1st     2nd     3rd     4th     Total  
    (In thousands, except share and per share data)  
 
Year ended December 31, 2010:
                                       
Net operating revenues
  $ 3,160,722     $ 3,171,024     $ 3,252,055     $ 3,402,699     $ 12,986,500  
Income from continuing operations before income taxes
    125,144       127,908       126,343       129,039       508,434  
Income from continuing operations
    84,996       86,342       84,854       92,249       348,441  
Income from discontinued operations
                             
Net income attributable to Community
                                       
Health Systems, Inc. 
  $ 70,007     $ 70,065     $ 70,401     $ 69,510       279,983  
Basic earnings per share attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. common stockholders(1):
                                       
Continuing operations
  $ 0.76     $ 0.75     $ 0.77     $ 0.77     $ 3.05  
Discontinued operations
                             
                                         
Net income
  $ 0.76     $ 0.75     $ 0.77     $ 0.77     $ 3.05  
                                         
Diluted earnings per share attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. common stockholders(1):
                                       
Continuing operations
  $ 0.75     $ 0.74     $ 0.76     $ 0.76     $ 3.01  
Discontinued operations
                             
                                         
Net income
  $ 0.75     $ 0.74     $ 0.76     $ 0.76     $ 3.01  
                                         
Weighted-average number of shares:
                                       
Basic
    91,615,275       93,358,771       91,484,466       90,422,331       91,718,791  
Diluted
    92,836,451       94,711,919       92,462,702       91,778,801       92,946,048  
                                         
Year ended December 31, 2009:
                                       
Net operating revenues
  $ 2,912,749     $ 3,016,961     $ 3,086,757     $ 3,091,146     $ 12,107,613  
Income from continuing operations before taxes
    106,454       111,707       112,425       115,544       446,130  
Income from continuing operations
    70,820       74,498       75,361       84,126       304,805  
Income (loss) on discontinued operations
    2,080       (508 )                 1,572  
Net income attributable to Community
                                       
Health Systems, Inc. 
  $ 58,915     $ 59,435     $ 59,712     $ 65,088     $ 243,150  
Basic earnings per share attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. common stockholders(1):
                                       
Continuing operations
  $ 0.63     $ 0.66     $ 0.66     $ 0.71     $ 2.67  
Discontinued operations
    0.02       (0.01 )                 0.01  
                                         
Net income
  $ 0.65     $ 0.66     $ 0.66     $ 0.71     $ 2.68  
                                         
Diluted earnings per share attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. common stockholders(1):
                                       
Continuing operations
  $ 0.63     $ 0.66     $ 0.65     $ 0.70     $ 2.64  
Discontinued operations
    0.02       (0.01 )                 0.01  
                                         
Net income
  $ 0.65     $ 0.65     $ 0.65     $ 0.70     $ 2.66  
                                         
Weighted-average number of shares:
                                       
Basic
    90,604,767       90,358,583       90,923,052       91,178,060       90,614,886  
Diluted
    90,885,140       91,071,147       92,010,742       92,698,828       91,517,274  
 
 
(1) Total per share amounts may not add due to rounding.


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18.   Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Financial Information
 
In connection with the consummation of the Triad acquisition, CHS obtained approximately $7.2 billion of senior secured financing under the Credit Facility and issued the Notes in the aggregate principal amount of approximately $3.0 billion. The Notes are senior unsecured obligations of CHS and are guaranteed on a senior basis by the Company and by certain of its existing and subsequently acquired or organized 100% owned domestic subsidiaries.
 
The Notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a joint and several basis. The following condensed consolidating financial statements present Community Health Systems, Inc. (as parent guarantor), CHS (as the issuer), the subsidiary guarantors, the subsidiary non-guarantors and eliminations. These condensed consolidating financial statements have been prepared and presented in accordance with SEC Regulation S-X Rule 3-10 “Financial Statements of Guarantors and Issuers of Guaranteed Securities Registered or Being Registered.”
 
The accounting policies used in the preparation of this financial information are consistent with those elsewhere in the consolidated financial statements of the Company, except as noted below:
 
  •  Intercompany receivables and payables are presented gross in the supplemental consolidating balance sheets.
 
  •  Cash flows from intercompany transactions are presented in cash flows from financing activities, as changes in intercompany balances with affiliates, net.
 
  •  Income tax expense is allocated from the parent guarantor to the income producing operations (other guarantors and non-guarantors) and the issuer through stockholders’ equity. As this approach represents an allocation, the income tax expense allocation is considered non-cash for statement of cash flow purposes.
 
  •  Interest expense, net has been presented to reflect net interest expense and interest income from outstanding long-term debt and intercompany balances.
 
The Company’s intercompany activity consists primarily of daily cash transfers for purposes of cash management, the allocation of certain expenses and expenditures paid for by the parent on behalf of its subsidiaries, and the push down of investment in its subsidiaries. The Company’s subsidiaries generally do not purchase services from one another; thus, the intercompany transactions do not represent revenue generating transactions. All intercompany transactions eliminate in consolidation.
 
From time to time, the Company sells and/or repurchases noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries, which may change subsidiaries between guarantors and non-guarantors. Amounts for prior periods are restated to reflect the status of guarantors or non-guarantors as of December 31, 2010. Subsequent to the issuance of the supplemental condensed consolidating financial information for the year ended December 31, 2009, the Company determined that interest expense amounts had been incorrectly allocated between Issuer and Other Guarantor entities. For the year ended December 31, 2009, Other Guarantors interest expense, as previously reported, was overstated by $221 million (Issuer interest expense was understated by the same amounts), and net income, as previously reported, for Other Guarantors was understated by $136 million. There was no impact to Issuer net income as there is an offsetting impact in equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates. Consequently, Issuer and Other Guarantors intercompany receivables and payables, income tax expense and equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates, as previously reported, were also impacted by these misstatements in lesser amounts. The information below gives effect to the correction of these matters. The combined guarantor entities’ (Parent, Issuer and Other Guarantors) financial position and results of operations were not impacted by these misstatements. The aforementioned misstatements do not impact the Company’s consolidated balance sheet, consolidated statement of income or consolidated statement of cash flows. Management believes the effects of these misstatements are not material to the Company’s previously issued consolidated financial statements.


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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Income
Year Ended December 31, 2010
 
                                                 
    Parent
          Other
    Non-
             
    Guarantor     Issuer     Guarantors     Guarantors     Eliminations     Consolidated  
    (In thousands)  
 
Net operating revenues
  $     $     $ 7,373,647     $ 5,612,853     $     $ 12,986,500  
                                                 
Operating costs and expenses:
                                               
Salaries and benefits
                2,825,326       2,412,645             5,237,971  
Provision for bad debts
                939,842       648,674             1,588,516  
Supplies
                1,002,942       768,187             1,771,129  
Other operating expenses
                1,321,455       1,085,141             2,406,596  
Rent
                121,939       135,582             257,521  
Depreciation and amortization
                354,032       255,807             609,839  
                                                 
Total operating costs and expenses
                6,565,536       5,306,036             11,871,572  
                                                 
Income from operations
                808,111       306,817             1,114,928  
Interest expense, net
          113,464       483,934       54,528             651,926  
Gain from early extinguishment of debt
                                   
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates
    (279,983 )     (307,981 )     (159,000 )           701,532       (45,432 )
Impairment of long-lived and other assets
                                   
                                                 
Income from continuing operations before income taxes
    279,983       194,517       483,177       252,289       (701,532 )     508,434  
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes
          (85,466 )     177,809       67,650             159,993  
                                                 
Income from continuing operations
    279,983       279,983       305,368       184,639       (701,532 )     348,441  
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
                                               
Income from operations of hospitals sold and hospitals held for sale
                                   
(Loss) gain on sale of hospitals, net
                                   
                                                 
Income from discontinued operations
                                   
                                                 
Net income
    279,983       279,983       305,368       184,639       (701,532 )     348,441  
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
                      68,458             68,458  
                                                 
Net income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. 
  $ 279,983     $ 279,983     $ 305,368     $ 116,181     $ (701,532 )   $ 279,983  
                                                 


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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Income
Year Ended December 31, 2009
 
                                                 
    Parent
          Other
    Non-
             
    Guarantor     Issuer     Guarantors     Guarantors     Eliminations     Consolidated  
    (In thousands)  
 
Net operating revenues
  $     $     $ 6,875,156     $ 5,232,457     $     $ 12,107,613  
                                                 
Operating costs and expenses:
                                               
Salaries and benefits
                2,664,062       2,178,268             4,842,330  
Provision for bad debts
                875,956       584,351             1,460,307  
Supplies
                948,339       737,154             1,685,493  
Other operating expenses
                1,194,907       1,042,568             2,237,475  
Rent
                117,514       129,618             247,132  
Depreciation and amortization
                330,615       235,596             566,211  
                                                 
Total operating costs and expenses
                6,131,393       4,907,555             11,038,948  
                                                 
Income from operations
                743,763       324,902             1,068,665  
Interest expense, net
          110,507       485,024       53,433             648,964  
Gain from early extinguishment of debt
          (2,385 )                       (2,385 )
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates
    (243,150 )     (255,230 )     (163,639 )           625,498       (36,521 )
Impairment of long-lived and other assets
                12,477                   12,477  
                                                 
Income from continuing operations before income taxes
    243,150       147,108       409,901       271,469       (625,498 )     446,130  
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes
          (96,042 )     157,402       79,965             141,325  
                                                 
Income from continuing operations
    243,150       243,150       252,499       191,504       (625,498 )     304,805  
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
                                               
Income from operations of hospitals sold and hospitals held for sale
                (50 )     2,027             1,977  
(Loss) gain on sale of hospitals, net
                      (405 )           (405 )
                                                 
Income from discontinued operations
                (50 )     1,622             1,572  
                                                 
Net income
    243,150       243,150       252,449       193,126       (625,498 )     306,377  
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
                      63,227             63,227  
                                                 
Net income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. 
  $ 243,150     $ 243,150     $ 252,449     $ 129,899     $ (625,498 )   $ 243,150  
                                                 


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COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Income
Year Ended December 31, 2008
 
                                                 
    Parent
          Other
    Non-
             
    Guarantor     Issuer     Guarantors     Guarantors     Eliminations     Consolidated  
    (In thousands)  
 
Net operating revenues
  $     $     $ 6,094,603     $ 4,824,492     $     $ 10,919,095  
                                                 
Operating costs and expenses:
                                               
Salaries and benefits
                2,314,844       2,052,820             4,367,664  
Provision for bad debts
                727,009       491,603             1,218,612  
Supplies
                825,002       706,374             1,531,376  
Other operating expenses
                1,075,368       1,023,642             2,099,010  
Rent
                111,866       119,301             231,167  
Depreciation and amortization
                285,942       213,444             499,386  
                                                 
Total operating costs and expenses
                5,340,031       4,607,184             9,947,215  
                                                 
Income from operations
                754,572       217,308             971,880  
Interest expense, net
          65,135       527,234       60,099             652,468  
Gain from early extinguishment of debt
          (2,525 )                       (2,525 )
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates
    (218,304 )     (218,045 )     (133,987 )           528,273       (42,063 )
Impairment of long-lived and other assets
                      5,000             5,000  
                                                 
Income from continuing operations before income taxes
    218,304       155,435       361,325       152,209       (528,273 )     359,000  
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes
          (62,869 )     139,110       49,032             125,273  
                                                 
Income from continuing operations
    218,304       218,304       222,215       103,177       (528,273 )     233,727  
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
                                               
Income from operations of hospitals sold and hospitals held for sale
                899       8,528             9,427  
(Loss) gain on sale of hospitals, net
                      9,580             9,580  
                                                 
Income from discontinued operations
                899       18,108             19,007  
                                                 
Net income
    218,304       218,304       223,114       121,285       (528,273 )     252,734  
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
                      34,430             34,430  
                                                 
Net income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. 
  $ 218,304     $ 218,304     $ 223,114     $ 86,855     $ (528,273 )   $ 218,304  
                                                 


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COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet
December 31, 2010
 
                                                 
    Parent
          Other
    Non-
             
    Guarantor     Issuer     Guarantors     Guarantors     Eliminations     Consolidated  
    (In thousands)  
 
ASSETS
Current assets:
                                               
Cash and cash equivalents
  $     $     $ 212,035     $ 87,134     $     $ 299,169  
Patient accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts
                971,220       743,322             1,714,542  
Supplies
                196,957       132,157             329,114  
Deferred income taxes
    115,819                               115,819  
Prepaid expenses and taxes
    118,464       116       89,172       11,466             219,218  
Other current assets
          41       138,923       54,367             193,331  
                                                 
Total current assets
    234,283       157       1,608,307       1,028,446             2,871,193  
                                                 
Intercompany receivable
    1,079,295       9,002,158       1,146,838       1,475,368       (12,703,659 )      
                                                 
Property and equipment, net
                3,939,580       2,517,886             6,457,466  
                                                 
Goodwill
                2,375,668       1,824,237             4,199,905  
                                                 
Other assets, net of accumulated amortization
          131,352       447,360       590,847             1,169,559  
                                                 
Net investment in subsidiaries
    1,510,062       5,316,212       2,061,042             (8,887,316 )      
                                                 
Total assets
  $ 2,823,640     $ 14,449,879     $ 11,578,795     $ 7,436,784     $ (21,590,975 )   $ 14,698,123  
                                                 
 
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current liabilities:
                                               
Current maturities of long-term debt
  $     $ 49,953     $ 11,063     $ 2,123     $     $ 63,139  
Accounts payable
                362,154       164,184             526,338  
Deferred income taxes
    8,882                               8,882  
Accrued interest
          146,297       116       2             146,415  
Accrued liabilities
    7,595       567       569,991       319,113             897,266  
                                                 
Total current liabilities
    16,477       196,817       943,324       485,422             1,642,040  
                                                 
Long-term debt
          8,734,473       44,819       29,090             8,808,382  
                                                 
Intercompany payable
          3,668,003       8,375,823       5,913,971       (17,957,797 )      
                                                 
Deferred income taxes
    608,177                               608,177  
                                                 
Other long-term liabilities
    9,522       340,526       372,693       278,934             1,001,675  
                                                 
Total liabilities
    634,176       12,939,819       9,736,659       6,707,417       (17,957,797 )     12,060,274  
                                                 
Redeemable noncontrolling interests in equity of consolidated subsidiaries
                      387,472             387,472  
                                                 
Equity:
                                               
Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders’ equity:
                                               
Preferred stock
                                   
Common stock
    936             1       2       (3 )     936  
Additional paid-in capital
    1,126,751       640,683       682,686       103,401       (1,426,770 )     1,126,751  
Treasury stock, at cost
    (6,678 )                             (6,678 )
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income
    (230,927 )     (230,927 )     (12,990 )           243,917       (230,927 )
Retained earnings
    1,299,382       1,100,304       1,172,439       177,579       (2,450,322 )     1,299,382  
                                                 
Total Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders’ equity
    2,189,464       1,510,060       1,842,136       280,982       (3,633,178 )     2,189,464  
Noncontrolling interests in equity
                                               
of consolidated subsidiaries
                      60,913             60,913  
                                                 
Total equity
    2,189,464       1,510,060       1,842,136       341,895       (3,633,178 )     2,250,377  
                                                 
Total liabilities and equity
  $ 2,823,640     $ 14,449,879     $ 11,578,795     $ 7,436,784     $ (21,590,975 )   $ 14,698,123  
                                                 


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COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet
December 31, 2009
 
                                                 
    Parent
          Other
    Non-
             
    Guarantor     Issuer     Guarantors     Guarantors     Eliminations     Consolidated  
    (In thousands)  
 
ASSETS
Current assets:
                                               
Cash and cash equivalents
  $     $     $ 238,495     $ 106,046     $     $ 344,541  
Patient accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts
                870,475       747,428             1,617,903  
Supplies
                177,960       124,649             302,609  
Deferred income taxes
    80,714                               80,714  
Prepaid expenses and taxes
    45,414       114       72,712       16,649             134,889  
Other current assets
          26       116,512       77,801             194,339  
                                                 
Total current assets
    126,128       140       1,476,154       1,072,573             2,674,995  
                                                 
Intercompany receivable
    1,119,696       9,021,096       1,599,275       2,355,973       (14,096,040 )      
                                                 
Property and equipment, net
                3,636,941       2,495,305             6,132,246  
                                                 
Goodwill
                2,361,027       1,796,900             4,157,927  
                                                 
Other assets, net of accumulated amortization
          143,292       385,130       527,882             1,056,304  
                                                 
Net investment in subsidiaries
    1,239,622       5,603,331       3,387,408             (10,230,361 )      
                                                 
Total assets
  $ 2,485,446     $ 14,767,859     $ 12,845,935     $ 8,248,633     $ (24,326,401 )   $ 14,021,472  
                                                 
 
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current liabilities:
                                               
Current maturities of long-term debt
  $     $ 43,471     $ 17,598     $ 5,401     $     $ 66,470  
Accounts payable
                222,227       206,338             428,565  
Deferred income taxes
    28,397                               28,397  
Accrued interest
          145,033       166       2             145,201  
Accrued liabilities
    8,283       567       505,255       275,058             789,163  
                                                 
Total current liabilities
    36,680       189,071       745,246       486,799             1,457,796  
                                                 
Long-term debt
          8,785,466       39,644       19,528             8,844,638  
                                                 
Intercompany payable
    10,000       4,237,670       10,193,907       6,949,768       (21,391,345 )      
                                                 
Deferred income taxes
    475,812                               475,812  
                                                 
Other long-term liabilities
    12,319       316,033       336,503       194,097             858,952  
                                                 
Total liabilities
    534,811       13,528,240       11,315,300       7,650,192       (21,391,345 )     11,637,198  
                                                 
Redeemable noncontrolling interests in equity of consolidated subsidiaries
                      368,857             368,857  
                                                 
Equity:
                                               
Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders’ equity:
                                               
Preferred stock
                                   
Common stock
    940             1       2       (3 )     940  
Additional paid-in capital
    1,158,359       561,026       602,077       79,873       (1,242,976 )     1,158,359  
Treasury stock, at cost
    (6,678 )                             (6,678 )
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income
    (221,385 )     (221,385 )     (19,124 )           240,509       (221,385 )
Retained earnings
    1,019,399       899,978       947,681       84,927       (1,932,586 )     1,019,399  
                                                 
Total Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders’ equity
    1,950,635       1,239,619       1,530,635       164,802       (2,935,056 )     1,950,635  
Noncontrolling interests in equity of consolidated subsidiaries
                      64,782             64,782  
                                                 
Total equity
    1,950,635       1,239,619       1,530,635       229,584       (2,935,056 )     2,015,417  
                                                 
Total liabilities and equity
  $ 2,485,446     $ 14,767,859     $ 12,845,935     $ 8,248,633     $ (24,326,401 )   $ 14,021,472  
                                                 


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COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows
Year Ended December 31, 2010
 
                                                 
    Parent
          Other
    Non-
             
    Guarantor     Issuer     Guarantors     Guarantors     Eliminations     Consolidated  
 
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities
  $ (150,413 )   $ (100,278 )   $ 772,682     $ 666,739     $   —     $ 1,188,730  
                                                 
Cash flows from investing activities:
                                               
Acquisitions of facilities and other related equipment
                (204,773 )     (43,478 )           (248,251 )
Purchases of property and equipment
                (342,735 )     (324,643 )           (667,378 )
Proceeds from disposition of hospitals and other ancillary operations
                                   
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment
                8,140       261             8,401  
Increase in other non-operating assets
                (112,587 )     (24,495 )           (137,082 )
                                                 
Net cash used in investing activities
                (651,955 )     (392,355 )           (1,044,310 )
                                                 
Cash flows from financing activities:
                                               
Proceeds from exercise of stock options
    56,916                               56,916  
Excess tax benefit (income tax payable increase) relating to stock-based compensation
    10,219                               10,219  
Deferred financing costs
                      (13,260 )           (13,260 )
Stock buy-back
    (113,961 )                             (113,961 )
Proceeds from noncontrolling investors in joint ventures
                      7,201             7,201  
Redemption of noncontrolling investments in joint ventures
                      (7,318 )           (7,318 )
Distributions to noncontrolling investors in joint ventures
                      (68,113 )           (68,113 )
Changes in intercompany balances with affiliates, net
    197,239       144,788       (133,635 )     (208,392 )            
Borrowings under credit agreement
                                   
Repayments of long-term indebtedness
          (44,510 )     (13,552 )     (3,414 )           (61,476 )
                                                 
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
    150,413       100,278       (147,187 )     (293,296 )           (189,792 )
                                                 
Net change in cash and cash equivalents
                (26,460 )     (18,912 )           (45,372 )
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
                238,495       106,046             344,541  
                                                 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
  $     $     $ 212,035     $ 87,134     $     $ 299,169  
                                                 


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COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows
Year Ended December 31, 2009
 
                                                 
    Parent
          Other
    Non-
             
    Guarantor     Issuer     Guarantors     Guarantors     Eliminations     Consolidated  
 
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities
  $ (62,357 )   $ (88,486 )   $ 681,230     $ 546,042     $     $ 1,076,429  
                                                 
Cash flows from investing activities:
                                               
Acquisitions of facilities and other related equipment
                (226,721 )     (37,052 )           (263,773 )
Purchases of property and equipment
                (368,800 )     (208,088 )           (576,888 )
Proceeds from disposition of hospitals and other ancillary operations
                      89,514             89,514  
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment
                824       3,195             4,019  
Increase in other non-operating assets
                (116,130 )     (3,924 )           (120,054 )
                                                 
Net cash used in investing activities
                (710,827 )     (156,355 )           (867,182 )
                                                 
Cash flows from financing activities:
                                               
Proceeds from exercise of stock options
    12,759                               12,759  
Excess tax benefit (income tax payable increase) relating to stock-based compensation
    (3,472 )                             (3,472 )
Deferred financing costs
          (82 )                       (82 )
Stock buy-back
                                   
Proceeds from noncontrolling investors in joint ventures
                      29,838             29,838  
Redemption of noncontrolling investments in joint ventures
                      (7,268 )           (7,268 )
Distributions to noncontrolling investors in joint ventures
                      (58,963 )           (58,963 )
Changes in intercompany balances with affiliates, net
    53,070       135,518       119,341       (307,929 )            
Borrowings under credit agreement
          200,000       4,045       2,570       (6,615 )     200,000  
Repayments of long-term indebtedness
          (246,950 )     (13,826 )     (4,012 )     6,615       (258,173 )
                                                 
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
    62,357       88,486       109,560       (345,764 )           (85,361 )
                                                 
Net change in cash and cash equivalents
                79,963       43,923             123,886  
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
                158,532       62,123             220,655  
                                                 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
  $     $     $ 238,495     $ 106,046     $     $ 344,541  
                                                 


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COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows
Year Ended December 31, 2008
 
                                                 
    Parent
          Other
    Non-
             
    Guarantor     Issuer     Guarantors     Guarantors     Eliminations     Consolidated  
 
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities
  $ (36,792 )   $ 67,594     $ 746,208     $ 279,571     $     $ 1,056,581  
                                                 
Cash flows from investing activities:
                                               
Acquisitions of facilities and other related equipment
                (151,848 )     (10,059 )           (161,907 )
Purchases of property and equipment
                (387,798 )     (304,435 )           (692,233 )
Proceeds from disposition of hospitals and other ancillary operations
                      365,636             365,636  
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment
                11,160       2,323             13,483  
Increase in other non-operating assets
          (15,700 )     (109,643 )     (65,107 )           (190,450 )
                                                 
Net cash used in investing activities
          (15,700 )     (638,129 )     (11,642 )           (665,471 )
                                                 
Cash flows from financing activities:
                                               
Proceeds from exercise of stock options
    1,806                               1,806  
Excess tax benefit (income tax payable increase) relating to stock-based compensation
    1,278                               1,278  
Deferred financing costs
          (3,136 )                       (3,136 )
Stock buy-back
    (90,188 )                             (90,188 )
Proceeds from noncontrolling investors in joint ventures
                      14,329             14,329  
Redemption of noncontrolling investments in joint ventures
                      (77,587 )           (77,587 )
Distributions to noncontrolling investors in joint ventures
                      (46,890 )           (46,890 )
Changes in intercompany balances with affiliates, net
    123,900       55,247       (62,010 )     (117,137 )            
Borrowings under credit agreement
          125,000             32,468       (26,191 )     131,277  
Repayments of long-term indebtedness
    (4 )     (229,005 )     (5,300 )     (26,800 )     26,191       (234,918 )
                                                 
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
    36,792       (51,894 )     (67,310 )     (221,617 )           (304,029 )
                                                 
Net change in cash and cash equivalents
                40,769       46,312             87,081  
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
                117,763       15,811             133,574  
                                                 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
  $     $     $ 158,532     $ 62,123     $     $ 220,655  
                                                 


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Item 9.   Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
 
None
 
Item 9A.   Controls and Procedures
 
Our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, with the participation of other members of management, have evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a — 15(e) and 15d — 15(e)) under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on such evaluations, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of such date, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective (at the reasonable assurance level) to ensure that the information required to be included in this report has been recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms and to ensure that the information required to be included in this report was accumulated and communicated to management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
 
There have been no changes in internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period that have materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect our internal controls over financial reporting.
 
Management’s report on internal control over financial reporting is included herein at page 124.
 
The attestation report from Deloitte & Touche LLP, our independent registered public accounting firm, on our internal control over financial reporting is included herein at page 125.
 
Item 9B.   Other Information
 
None


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Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
 
We are responsible for the preparation and integrity of the consolidated financial statements appearing in our Annual Report. The consolidated financial statements were prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and include amounts based on management’s estimates and judgments. All other financial information in this report has been presented on a basis consistent with the information included in the consolidated financial statements.
 
We are also responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal controls over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a — 15(f) under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended). We maintain a system of internal controls that is designed to provide reasonable assurance as to the fair and reliable preparation and presentation of the consolidated financial statements, as well as to safeguard assets from unauthorized use or disposition.
 
Our control environment is the foundation for our system of internal control over financial reporting and is embodied in our Code of Conduct. It sets the tone of our organization and includes factors such as integrity and ethical values. Our internal control over financial reporting is supported by formal policies and procedures which are reviewed, modified and improved as changes occur in business conditions and operations.
 
The Audit and Compliance Committee of the Board of Directors, which is composed solely of outside directors, meets periodically with members of management, the internal auditors and the independent registered public accounting firm to review and discuss internal control over financial reporting and accounting and financial reporting matters. The independent registered public accounting firm and internal auditors report to the Audit and Compliance Committee and accordingly have full and free access to the Audit and Compliance Committee at any time.
 
We conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting based on the framework in Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. This evaluation included review of the documentation of controls, evaluation of the design effectiveness of controls, testing of the operating effectiveness of controls and a conclusion on this evaluation. We have concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2010, based on these criteria.
 
Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, has issued an attestation report on our internal control over financial reporting, which is included herein.
 
We do not expect that our disclosure controls and procedures or our internal controls will prevent all errors and all fraud. A control system, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. Further, the design of a control system must reflect the fact there are resource constraints and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within the Company have been detected.


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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
 
To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of
Community Health Systems, Inc.
Franklin, Tennessee
 
We have audited the internal control over financial reporting of Community Health Systems, Inc. and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2010, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.
 
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
 
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed by, or under the supervision of, the company’s principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, and effected by the company’s board of directors, management, and other personnel to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
 
Because of the inherent limitations of internal control over financial reporting, including the possibility of collusion or improper management override of controls, material misstatements due to error or fraud may not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. Also, projections of any evaluation of the effectiveness of the internal control over financial reporting to future periods are subject to the risk that the controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
 
In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2010, based on the criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.
 
We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2010 of the Company and our report dated February 25, 2011 expressed an unqualified opinion and included an explanatory paragraph related to the adoption of accounting standards on those consolidated financial statements.
 
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
Nashville, Tennessee
February 25, 2011


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PART III
 
Item 10.   Directors and Executive Officers of the Company
 
The information required by this Item is incorporated herein by reference from the Company’s definitive proxy statement to be filed under Regulation 14A in connection with the Annual Meeting of the Stockholders of the Company scheduled to be held on May 17, 2011, under “Members of the Board of Directors,” “Information About our Executive Officers,” “Compliance with Exchange Act Section 16(A) Beneficial Ownership Reporting” and “Corporate Governance Principles and Board Matters.”
 
Item 11.   Executive Compensation
 
The information required by this Item is incorporated herein by reference from the Company’s definitive proxy statement to be filed under Regulation 14A in connection with the Annual Meeting of the Stockholders of the Company scheduled to be held on May 17, 2011 under “Executive Compensation.”
 
Item 12.   Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
 
The information required by this Item is incorporated herein by reference from the Company’s definitive proxy statement to be filed under Regulation 14A in connection with the Annual Meeting of the Stockholders of the Company scheduled to be held on May 17, 2011 under “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management.”
 
Item 13.   Certain Relationships and Related Transactions
 
The information required by this Item is incorporated herein by reference from the Company’s definitive proxy statement to be filed under Regulation 14A in connection with the Annual Meeting of the Stockholders of the Company scheduled to be held on May 17, 2011 under “Certain Transactions.”
 
Item 14.   Principal Accountant Fees and Services
 
The information required by this Item is incorporated herein by reference from the Company’s definitive proxy statement to be filed under Regulation 14A in connection with the Annual Meeting of the Stockholders of the Company scheduled to be held on May 17, 2011 under “Ratification of the Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.”
 
PART IV
 
Item 15.   Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
 
Item 15(a) 1.  Financial Statements
 
Reference is made to the index of financial statements and supplementary data under Item 8 in Part II.
 
Item 15(a) 2.  Financial Statement Schedules
 
The following financial statement schedule is filed as part of this Report at page 134 hereof:
 
Schedule II — Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
 
All other schedules are omitted since the required information is not present or is not present in amounts sufficient to require submission of the schedule, or because the information required is included in the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto.


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Item 15(a)(3) and 15(c):
 
The following exhibits are either filed with this Report or incorporated herein by reference.
 
         
    Description
  2 .1   Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of March 19, 2007, by and among Triad Hospitals, Inc., Community Health Systems, Inc. and FWCT-1 Acquisition Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to Community Health Systems, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed March 19, 2007 (No. 001-15925))
  3 .1   Form of Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Community Health Systems, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Amendment No. 4 to Community Health Systems, Inc.’s Registration Statement on Form S-1/A filed June 8, 2000 (No. 333-31790))
  3 .2   Certificate of Amendment to the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Community Health Systems, Inc., dated May 18, 2010 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to Community Health Systems, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed May 20, 2010 (No. 001-15925))
  3 .3   Amended and Restated By-Laws of Community Health Systems, Inc. (as of February 27, 2008) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(ii).1 to Community Health Systems, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed February 29, 2008 (No. 001-15925))
  4 .1   Form of Common Stock Certificate (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Amendment No. 2 to Community Health Systems, Inc.’s Registration Statement on Form S-1/A filed May 2, 2000 (No. 333-31790))
  4 .2   Senior Notes Indenture, dated as of July 25, 2007, by and among CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc., the Guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to Community Health Systems, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed July 30, 2007 (No. 001-15925))
  4 .3   Form of 87/8% Senior Note due 2015 (included in Exhibit 4.2)
  4 .4   Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of July 25, 2007, by and among CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc., the Guarantors party thereto and the Initial Purchasers (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Community Health Systems, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed July 30, 2007 (No. 001-15925))
  4 .5   Joinder to the Registration Rights Agreement dated as of July 25, 2007 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to Community Health Systems, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed July 30, 2007 (No. 001-15925))
  4 .6   First Supplemental Indenture relating to Triad Hospitals, Inc.’s 7% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2013, dated as of July 24, 2007, by and among Triad Hospitals, Inc. and The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.7 to Community Health Systems, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed July 30, 2007 (No. 001-15925))
  4 .7   Second Supplemental Indenture relating to Triad Hospitals, Inc.’s 7% Senior Notes due 2012, dated as of July 24, 2007, by and among Triad Hospitals, Inc. and The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.6 to Community Health Systems, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed July 30, 2007 (No. 001-15925))
  4 .8   First Supplemental Indenture relating to CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc.’s 87/8% Senior Notes due 2015, dated as of July 25, 2007, by and among CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc., the guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank National Association (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to Community Health Systems, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed July 30, 2007 (No. 001-15925))
  4 .9   Second Supplemental Indenture relating to CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc.’s 87/8% Senior Notes due 2015, dated as of December 31, 2007, by and among CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc., the guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank National Association (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.7 to Community Health Systems, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 filed February 27, 2009 (No. 001-15925))
  4 .10   Release of Certain Guarantors relating to CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc.’s 87/8% Senior Notes due 2015, dated as of January 30, 2008, by and among CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc., the guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank National Association (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.8 to Community Health Systems, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 filed February 27, 2009 (No. 001-15925))


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    Description
  4 .11   Third Supplemental Indenture relating to CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc.’s 87/8% Senior Notes due 2015, dated as of October 10, 2008, by and among CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc., the guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank National Association (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.9 to Community Health Systems, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 filed February 27, 2009 (No. 001-15925))
  4 .12   Fourth Supplemental Indenture relating to CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc.’s 87/8% Senior Notes due 2015, dated as of December 1, 2008, by and among CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc., the guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank National Association (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.10 to Community Health Systems, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 filed February 27, 2009 (No. 001-15925))
  4 .13   Release of Certain Guarantors relating to CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc.’s 87/8% Senior Notes due 2015, dated as of December 31, 2008, by and among CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc., the guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank National Association (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.11 to Community Health Systems, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 filed February 27, 2009 (No. 001-15925))
  4 .14   Fifth Supplemental Indenture relating to CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc.’s 87/8% Senior Notes due 2015, dated as of February 5, 2009, by and among CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc., the guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank National Association (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.12 to Community Health Systems, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 filed February 27, 2009 (No. 001-15925))
  4 .15   Sixth Supplemental Indenture relating to CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc.’s 87/8% Senior Notes due 2015, dated as of March 30, 2009, by and among CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc., the guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank National Association (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Community Health Systems, Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2009 filed April 29, 2009 (No. 001-15925))
  4 .16   Release of Certain Guarantors relating to CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc.’s 87/8% Senior Notes due 2015, dated as of March 30, 2009, by and among CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc., the guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank National Association (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to Community Health Systems, Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2009 filed April 29, 2009 (No. 001-15925))
  4 .17   Seventh Supplemental Indenture relating to CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc.’s 87/8% Senior Notes due 2015, dated as of June 30, 2009, by and among CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc., the guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank National Association (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Community Health Systems, Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2009 filed July 31, 2009 (No. 001-15925))
  4 .18   Release of Certain Guarantors relating to CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc.’s 87/8% Senior Notes due 2015, dated as of June 30, 2009, by and among CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc., the guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank National Association (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to Community Health Systems, Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2009 filed July 31, 2009 (No. 001-15925))
  4 .19   Release of Certain Guarantors relating to CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc.’s 87/8% Senior Notes due 2015, dated as of December 31, 2009, by and among CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc., the guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank National Association (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.19 to Community Health Systems, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 filed February 26, 2010 (No. 001-15925))
  4 .20   Eighth Supplemental Indenture relating to CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc.’s 87/8% Senior Notes due 2015, dated as of March 31, 2010, by and among CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc., the guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank National Association (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Community Health Systems, Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2010 filed April 28, 2010 (No. 001-15925))

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    Description
  4 .21   Release of Certain Guarantors relating to CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc.’s 87/8% Senior Notes due 2015, dated as of March 31, 2010, by and among CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc., the guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank National Association (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to Community Health Systems, Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2010 filed April 28, 2010 (No. 001-15925))
  4 .22   Release of Certain Guarantors relating to CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc.’s 87/8% Senior Notes due 2015, dated as of September 30, 2010, by and among CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc., the guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank National Association (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Community Health Systems, Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2010 filed October 29, 2010 (No. 001-15925))
  4 .23   Ninth Supplemental Indenture relating to CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc.’s 87/8% Senior Notes due 2015, dated as of October 25, 2010, by and among CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc., the guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank National Association*
  4 .24   Release of Certain Guarantors relating to CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc.’s 87/8% Senior Notes due 2015, dated as of December 31, 2010, by and among CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc., the guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank National Association*
  10 .1   Amendment and Restatement Agreement, dated as of November 5, 2010, to the Credit Agreement, dated as of July 25, 2007, among CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc., Community Health Systems, Inc., the subsidiaries of CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc. party thereto, the lenders party thereto and Credit Suisse AG, as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Community Health Systems, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed November 9, 2010 (No. 001-15925))
  10 .2   Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of July 25, 2007, as amended and restated as of November 5, 2010, among CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc., Community Health Systems, Inc., the lenders party thereto and Credit Suisse AG, as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to Community Health Systems, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed November 9, 2010 (No. 001-15925))
  10 .3   Amended and Restated Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, dated as of July 25, 2007, as amended and restated as of November 5, 2010, among CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc., Community Health Systems, Inc., the subsidiaries of CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc. from time to time party thereto and Credit Suisse AG, as Collateral Agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to Community Health Systems, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed November 9, 2010 (No. 001-15925))
  10 .4†   Form of Indemnification Agreement between Community Health Systems, Inc. and its directors and executive officers (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 to Amendment No. 2 to Community Health Systems, Inc.’s Registration Statement on Form S-1/A filed May 2, 2000 (No. 333-31790))
  10 .5†   CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc. Amended and Restated Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.13 to Community Health Systems, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 filed February 27, 2009 (No. 001-15925))
  10 .6†   Community Health Systems Supplemental Executive Benefits (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.14 to Community Health Systems, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 filed February 27, 2009 (No. 001-15925))
  10 .7†   Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan Trust, dated June 1, 2005, by and between CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc., as grantor, and Wachovia Bank, N.A., as trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to Community Health Systems, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed June 1, 2005 (No. 001-15925))
  10 .8†   Community Health Systems Deferred Compensation Plan Trust, amended and restated effective February 26, 1999 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.18 to Community Health Systems, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002 filed March 27, 2003 (No. 001-15925))
  10 .9†   CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan, amended and restated effective January 1, 2008 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.12 to Community Health Systems, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 filed February 27, 2009 (No. 001-15925))

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    Description
  10 .10   CHS NQDCP, effective as of September 1, 2009 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to Community Health Systems, Inc.’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed December 11, 2009 (No. 333-163691))
  10 .11   CHS NQDCP Adoption Agreement, executed as of August 11, 2009 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to Community Health Systems, Inc.’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed December 11, 2009 (No. 333-163691))
  10 .12   Guarantee, dated December 9, 2009, made by Community Health Systems, Inc. in favor of CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc. with respect to CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc.’s payment obligations under the CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan and the NQDCP (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to Community Health Systems, Inc.’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed December 11, 2009 (No. 333-163691))
  10 .13†   Community Health Systems, Inc. 2004 Employee Performance Incentive Plan, as amended and restated on March 24, 2009 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to Community Health Systems, Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2009 filed July 31, 2009 (No. 001-15925))
  10 .14   Amendment No. 1, dated as of December 8, 2010, to the Community Health Systems, Inc. 2004 Employee Performance Incentive Plan, as amended and restated on March 24, 2009*
  10 .15   Form of Amended and Restated Change in Control Severance Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.22 to Community Health Systems, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 filed February 27, 2009 (No. 001-15925))
  10 .16†   Community Health Systems, Inc. 2000 Stock Option and Award Plan, as amended and restated on March 24, 2009 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to Community Health Systems, Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2009 filed July 31, 2009 (No. 001-15925))
  10 .17†   Form of Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement (Employee) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.15 to Community Health Systems, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 filed February 26, 2010 (No. 001-15925))
  10 .18†   Form of Restricted Stock Award Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.18 to Community Health Systems, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 filed February 27, 2009 (No. 001-15925))
  10 .19†   Form of Performance Based Restricted Stock Award Agreement (Most Highly Compensated Executive Officers) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.20 to Community Health Systems, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 filed February 27, 2009 (No. 001-15925))
  10 .20†   Form of Director Phantom Stock Award Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.19 to Community Health Systems, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 filed February 27, 2009 (No. 001-15925))
  10 .21†   Form of Director Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.19 to Community Health Systems, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 filed February 26, 2010 (No. 001-15925))
  10 .22†   Community Health Systems, Inc. Directors’ Fees Deferral Plan, as amended and restated on December 10, 2008 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.15 to Community Health Systems, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 filed February 27, 2009 (No. 001-15925))
  10 .23†   Community Health Systems, Inc. 2009 Stock Option and Award Plan, effective as of March 24, 2009 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to Community Health Systems, Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2009 filed July 31, 2009 (No. 001-15925))
  10 .24   Participation Agreement entered into as of January 1, 2005, by and between Community Health Systems Professional Services Corporation and HealthTrust Purchasing Group, L.P. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Community Health Systems, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed January 7, 2005 (No. 001-15925))
  12     Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges*
  21     List of Subsidiaries*

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    Description
  23 .1   Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP*
  31 .1   Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002*
  31 .2   Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002*
  32 .1   Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002*
  32 .2   Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002*
  101 .INS   XBRL Instance Document**
  101 .SCH   XBRL Schema Document**
  101 .CAL   XBRL Calculation Linkbase Document**
  101 .DEF   XBRL Definition Linkbase Document**
  101 .LAB   XBRL Label Linkbase Document**
  101 .PRE   XBRL Presentation Linkbase Document**
 
 
Filed herewith.
 
†  Indicates a management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.
 
**  Pursuant to applicable securities laws and regulations, we are deemed to have complied with the reporting obligation relating to the submission of interactive data files in such exhibits and are not subject to liability under any anti-fraud provisions of the federal securities laws as long as we have made a good faith attempt to comply with the submission requirements and promptly amend the interactive data files after becoming aware that the interactive data files fail to comply with the submission requirements. Users of this data are advised pursuant to Rule 406T of Regulation S-T that this interactive data file is deemed not filed or part of a registration statement or prospectus for purposes of sections 11 or 12 of the Securities Act of 1933, is deemed not filed for purposes of section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and otherwise is not subject to liability under these sections.

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SIGNATURES
 
Pursuant to the requirements of section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
 
Community Health Systems, Inc.
 
  By: 
/s/  Wayne T. Smith
Wayne T. Smith
Chairman of the Board,
President and Chief Executive Officer
 
Date: February 25, 2011
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
 
             
Name   Title   Date
 
         
/s/  WAYNE T. SMITH

Wayne T. Smith
  President and Chief Executive Officer and Director (principal executive officer)   02/25/2011
         
/s/  W. LARRY CASH

W. Larry Cash
  Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Director (principal financial officer)   02/25/2011
         
/s/  T. MARK BUFORD

T. Mark Buford
  Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer (principal accounting officer)   02/25/2011
         
/s/  JOHN A. CLERICO

John A. Clerico
  Director   02/25/2011
         
/s/  JAMES S. ELY III

James S. Ely III
  Director   02/25/2011
         
/s/  JOHN A. FRY

John A. Fry
  Director   02/25/2011
         
/s/  WILLIAM NORRIS JENNINGS, M.D.

William Norris Jennings, M.D.
  Director   02/25/2011
         
/s/  JULIA B. NORTH

Julia B. North
  Director   02/25/2011
         
/s/  H. MITCHELL WATSON, JR.

H. Mitchell Watson, Jr.
  Director   02/25/2011


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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
 
To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of
Community Health Systems, Inc.
Franklin, Tennessee
 
We have audited the consolidated financial statements of Community Health Systems, Inc. and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2010, and have issued our report thereon dated February 25, 2011 (which report expresses an unqualified opinion and includes an explanatory paragraph related to the adoption of accounting standards); such reports are included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Our audits also included the financial statement schedule of the Company listed in Item 15. This financial statement schedule is the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion based on our audits. In our opinion, such financial statement schedule, when considered in relation to the basic consolidated financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly in all material respects the information set forth therein.
 
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
Nashville, Tennessee
February 25, 2011


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Table of Contents

Schedule

Community Health Systems, Inc. and Subsidiaries
 
Schedule II — Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
 
                                         
    Balance at
    Acquisitions
    Charged to
          Balance
 
    Beginning
    and
    Costs and
          at End
 
Description   of Year     Dispositions     Expenses     Write-offs     of Year  
    (In thousands)  
 
Year ended December 31, 2010
                                       
allowance for doubtful accounts
  $ 1,417,188     $     $ 1,588,516     $ (1,366,506 )   $ 1,639,198  
Year ended December 31, 2009
                                       
allowance for doubtful accounts
  $ 1,111,131     $     $ 1,460,307     $ (1,154,250 )   $ 1,417,188  
Year ended December 31, 2008
                                       
allowance for doubtful accounts
  $ 1,037,334     $ (12,352 )   $ 1,218,612     $ (1,132,463 )   $ 1,111,131  


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Table of Contents

Exhibit Index
 
         
    Description
 
  2 .1   Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of March 19, 2007, by and among Triad Hospitals, Inc., Community Health Systems, Inc. and FWCT-1 Acquisition Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to Community Health Systems, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed March 19, 2007 (No. 001-15925))
  3 .1   Form of Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Community Health Systems, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Amendment No. 4 to Community Health Systems, Inc.’s Registration Statement on Form S-1/A filed June 8, 2000 (No. 333-31790))
  3 .2   Certificate of Amendment to the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Community Health Systems, Inc., dated May 18, 2010 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to Community Health Systems, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed May 20, 2010 (No. 001-15925))
  3 .3   Amended and Restated By-Laws of Community Health Systems, Inc. (as of February 27, 2008) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(ii).1 to Community Health Systems, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed February 29, 2008 (No. 001-15925))
  4 .1   Form of Common Stock Certificate (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Amendment No. 2 to Community Health Systems, Inc.’s Registration Statement on Form S-1/A filed May 2, 2000 (No. 333-31790))
  4 .2   Senior Notes Indenture, dated as of July 25, 2007, by and among CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc., the Guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to Community Health Systems, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed July 30, 2007 (No. 001-15925))
  4 .3   Form of 87/8% Senior Note due 2015 (included in Exhibit 4.2)
  4 .4   Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of July 25, 2007, by and among CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc., the Guarantors party thereto and the Initial Purchasers (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Community Health Systems, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed July 30, 2007 (No. 001-15925))
  4 .5   Joinder to the Registration Rights Agreement dated as of July 25, 2007 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to Community Health Systems, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed July 30, 2007 (No. 001-15925))
  4 .6   First Supplemental Indenture relating to the Triad Hospitals, Inc.’s 7% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2013, dated as of July 24, 2007, by and among Triad Hospitals, Inc. and The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.7 to Community Health Systems, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed July 30, 2007 (No. 001-15925))
  4 .7   Second Supplemental Indenture relating to Triad Hospitals, Inc.’s 7% Senior Notes due 2012, dated as of July 24, 2007, by and among Triad Hospitals, Inc. and The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.6 to Community Health Systems, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed July 30, 2007 (No. 001-15925))
  4 .8   First Supplemental Indenture relating to CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc.’s 87/8% Senior Notes due 2015, dated as of July 25, 2007, by and among CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc., the guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank National Association (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to Community Health Systems, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed July 30, 2007 (No. 001-15925))
  4 .9   Second Supplemental Indenture relating to CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc.’s 87/8% Senior Notes due 2015, dated as of December 31, 2007, by and among CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc., the guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank National Association (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.7 to Community Health Systems, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 filed February 27, 2009 (No. 001-15925))
  4 .10   Release of Certain Guarantors relating to CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc.’s 87/8% Senior Notes due 2015, dated as of January 30, 2008, by and among CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc., the guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank National Association (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.8 to Community Health Systems, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 filed February 27, 2009 (No. 001-15925))


Table of Contents

         
    Description
 
  4 .11   Third Supplemental Indenture relating to CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc.’s 87/8% Senior Notes due 2015, dated as of October 10, 2008, by and among CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc., the guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank National Association (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.9 to Community Health Systems, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 filed February 27, 2009 (No. 001-15925))
  4 .12   Fourth Supplemental Indenture relating to CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc.’s 87/8% Senior Notes due 2015, dated as of December 1, 2008, by and among CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc., the guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank National Association (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.10 to Community Health Systems, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 filed February 27, 2009 (No. 001-15925))
  4 .13   Release of Certain Guarantors relating to CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc.’s 87/8% Senior Notes due 2015, dated as of December 31, 2008, by and among CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc., the guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank National Association (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.11 to Community Health Systems, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 filed February 27, 2009 (No. 001-15925))
  4 .14   Fifth Supplemental Indenture relating to CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc.’s 87/8% Senior Notes due 2015, dated as of February 5, 2009, by and among CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc., the guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank National Association (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.12 to Community Health Systems, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 filed February 27, 2009 (No. 001-15925))
  4 .15   Sixth Supplemental Indenture relating to CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc.’s 87/8% Senior Notes due 2015, dated as of March 30, 2009, by and among CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc., the guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank National Association (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Community Health Systems, Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2009 filed April 29, 2009 (No. 001-15925))
  4 .16   Release of Certain Guarantors relating to CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc.’s 87/8% Senior Notes due 2015, dated as of March 30, 2009, by and among CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc., the guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank National Association (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to Community Health Systems, Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2009 filed April 29, 2009 (No. 001-15925))
  4 .17   Seventh Supplemental Indenture relating to CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc.’s 87/8% Senior Notes due 2015, dated as of June 30, 2009, by and among CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc., the guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank National Association (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Community Health Systems, Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2009 filed July 31, 2009 (No. 001-15925))
  4 .18   Release of Certain Guarantors relating to CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc.’s 87/8% Senior Notes due 2015, dated as of June 30, 2009, by and among CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc., the guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank National Association (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to Community Health Systems, Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2009 filed July 31, 2009 (No. 001-15925))
  4 .19   Release of Certain Guarantors relating to CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc.’s 87/8% Senior Notes due 2015, dated as of December 31, 2009, by and among CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc., the guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank National Association (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.19 to Community Health Systems, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 filed February 26, 2010 (No. 001-15925))
  4 .20   Eighth Supplemental Indenture relating to CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc.’s 87/8% Senior Notes due 2015, dated as of March 31, 2010, by and among CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc., the guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank National Association (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Community Health Systems, Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2010 filed April 28, 2010 (No. 001-15925))
  4 .21   Release of Certain Guarantors relating to CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc.’s 87/8% Senior Notes due 2015, dated as of March 31, 2010, by and among CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc., the guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank National Association (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to Community Health Systems, Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2010 filed April 28, 2010 (No. 001-15925))


Table of Contents

         
    Description
 
  4 .22   Release of Certain Guarantors relating to CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc.’s 87/8% Senior Notes due 2015, dated as of September 30, 2010, by and among CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc., the guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank National Association (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Community Health Systems, Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2010 filed October 29, 2010 (No. 001-15925))
  4 .23   Ninth Supplemental Indenture relating to CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc.’s 87/8% Senior Notes due 2015, dated as of October 25, 2010, by and among CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc., the guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank National Association*
  4 .24   Release of Certain Guarantors relating to CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc.’s 87/8% Senior Notes due 2015, dated as of December 31, 2010, by and among CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc., the guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank National Association*
  10 .1   Amendment and Restatement Agreement, dated as of November 5, 2010, to the Credit Agreement, dated as of July 25, 2007, among CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc., Community Health Systems, Inc., the subsidiaries of CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc. party thereto, the lenders party thereto and Credit Suisse AG, as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Community Health Systems, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed November 9, 2010 (No. 001-15925))
  10 .2   Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of July 25, 2007, as amended and restated as of November 5, 2010, among CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc., Community Health Systems, Inc., the lenders party thereto and Credit Suisse AG, as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to Community Health Systems, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed November 9, 2010 (No. 001-15925))
  10 .3   Amended and Restated Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, dated as of July 25, 2007, as amended and restated as of November 5, 2010, among CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc., Community Health Systems, Inc., the subsidiaries of CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc. from time to time party thereto and Credit Suisse AG, as Collateral Agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to Community Health Systems, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed November 9, 2010 (No. 001-15925))
  10 .4†   Form of Indemnification Agreement between Community Health Systems, Inc. and its directors and executive officers (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 to Amendment No. 2 to Community Health Systems, Inc.’s Registration Statement on Form S-1/A filed May 2, 2000 (No. 333-31790))
  10 .5†   CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc. Amended and Restated Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.13 to Community Health Systems, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 filed February 27, 2009 (No. 001-15925))
  10 .6†   Community Health Systems Supplemental Executive Benefits (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.14 to Community Health Systems, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 filed February 27, 2009 (No. 001-15925))
  10 .7†   Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan Trust, dated June 1, 2005, by and between CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc., as grantor, and Wachovia Bank, N.A., as trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to Community Health Systems, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed June 1, 2005 (No. 001-15925))
  10 .8†   Community Health Systems Deferred Compensation Plan Trust, amended and restated effective February 26, 1999 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.18 to Community Health Systems, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002 filed March 27, 2003 (No. 001-15925))
  10 .9†   CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan, amended and restated effective January 1, 2008 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.12 to Community Health Systems, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 filed February 27, 2009 (No. 001-15925))
  10 .10   CHS NQDCP, effective as of September 1, 2009 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to Community Health Systems, Inc.’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed December 11, 2009 (No. 333-163691))


Table of Contents

         
    Description
 
  10 .11   CHS NQDCP Adoption Agreement, executed as of August 11, 2009 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to Community Health Systems, Inc.’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed December 11, 2009 (No. 333-163691))
  10 .12   Guarantee, dated December 9, 2009, made by Community Health Systems, Inc. in favor of CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc. with respect to CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc.’s payment obligations under the CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan and the NQDCP (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to Community Health Systems, Inc.’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed December 11, 2009 (No. 333-163691))
  10 .13†   Community Health Systems, Inc. 2004 Employee Performance Incentive Plan, as amended and restated on March 24, 2009 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to Community Health Systems, Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2009 filed July 31, 2009 (No. 001-15925))
  10 .14   Amendment No. 1, dated as of December 8, 2010, to the Community Health Systems, Inc. 2004 Employee Performance Incentive Plan, as amended and restated on March 24, 2009*
  10 .15   Form of Amended and Restated Change in Control Severance Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.22 to Community Health Systems, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 filed February 27, 2009 (No. 001-15925))
  10 .16†   Community Health Systems, Inc. 2000 Stock Option and Award Plan, as amended and restated on March 24, 2009 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to Community Health Systems, Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2009 filed July 31, 2009 (No. 001-15925))
  10 .17†   Form of Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement (Employee) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.15 to Community Health Systems, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 filed February 26, 2010 (No. 001-15925))
  10 .18†   Form of Restricted Stock Award Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.18 to Community Health Systems, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 filed February 27, 2009 (No. 001-15925))
  10 .19†   Form of Performance Based Restricted Stock Award Agreement (Most Highly Compensated Executive Officers) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.20 to Community Health Systems, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 filed February 27, 2009 (No. 001-15925))
  10 .20†   Form of Director Phantom Stock Award Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.19 to Community Health Systems, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 filed February 27, 2009 (No. 001-15925))
  10 .21†   Form of Director Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.19 to Community Health Systems, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 filed February 26, 2010 (No. 001-15925))
  10 .22†   Community Health Systems, Inc. Directors’ Fees Deferral Plan, as amended and restated on December 10, 2008 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.15 to Community Health Systems, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 filed February 27, 2009 (No. 001-15925))
  10 .23†   Community Health Systems, Inc. 2009 Stock Option and Award Plan, effective as of March 24, 2009 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to Community Health Systems, Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2009 filed July 31, 2009 (No. 001-15925))
  10 .24   Participation Agreement entered into as of January 1, 2005, by and between Community Health Systems Professional Services Corporation and HealthTrust Purchasing Group, L.P. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Community Health Systems, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed January 7, 2005 (No. 001-15925))
  12     Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges*
  21     List of Subsidiaries*
  23 .1   Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP*
  31 .1   Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002*


Table of Contents

         
    Description
 
  31 .2   Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002*
  32 .1   Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002*
  32 .2   Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002*
  101 .INS   XBRL Instance Document**
  101 .SCH   XBRL Schema Document**
  101 .CAL   XBRL Calculation Linkbase Document**
  101 .DEF   XBRL Definition Linkbase Document**
  101 .LAB   XBRL Label Linkbase Document**
  101 .PRE   XBRL Presentation Linkbase Document**
 
 
Filed herewith.
 
†  Indicates a management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.
 
**  Pursuant to applicable securities laws and regulations, we are deemed to have complied with the reporting obligation relating to the submission of interactive data files in such exhibits and are not subject to liability under any anti-fraud provisions of the federal securities laws as long as we have made a good faith attempt to comply with the submission requirements and promptly amend the interactive data files after becoming aware that the interactive data files fail to comply with the submission requirements. Users of this data are advised pursuant to Rule 406T of Regulation S-T that this interactive data file is deemed not filed or part of a registration statement or prospectus for purposes of sections 11 or 12 of the Securities Act of 1933, is deemed not filed for purposes of section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and otherwise is not subject to liability under these sections.

exv4w23
Exhibit 4.23
NINTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this “Supplemental Indenture”), dated as of October 25, 2010, among CHS/COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Issuer”), each of the parties identified as a New Subsidiary Guarantor on the signature pages hereto (each, a “New Subsidiary Guarantor” and collectively, the “New Subsidiary Guarantors") and U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee under the Indenture (the “Trustee”).
W I T N E S S E T H:
     WHEREAS the Issuer has heretofore executed and delivered to the Trustee an Indenture (the "Indenture”), dated as of July 25, 2007, providing for the issuance of the 87/8% Senior Notes due 2015 (the “Securities”);
     WHEREAS, each of the undersigned New Subsidiary Guarantors has deemed it advisable and in its best interest to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture, and to become a New Subsidiary Guarantor under the Indenture; and
     WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 9.01(4) of the Indenture, the Trustee, the Issuer and the New Subsidiary Guarantors are authorized to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture.
     NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the Issuer, the New Subsidiary Guarantors and the Trustee mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities as follows:
     SECTION 1. Capitalized Terms. Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.
     SECTION 2. Guaranties. Each New Subsidiary Guarantor hereby agrees to guarantee the Issuer’s obligations under the Securities on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in Article 10 of the Indenture and to be bound by all other applicable provisions of the Indenture as a Subsidiary Guarantor.
     SECTION 3. Ratification of Indenture; Supplemental Indentures Part of Indenture. Except as expressly amended hereby, the Indenture is in all respects ratified and confirmed and all the terms, conditions and provisions thereof shall remain in full force and effect. This Supplemental Indenture shall form a part of the Indenture for all purposes, shall inure to the benefit of the Trustee and every Holder of Securities heretofore or hereafter authenticated and the Issuer, the Trustee and every Holder of Securities heretofore or hereafter authenticated and delivered shall be bound hereby.
     SECTION 4. Governing Law. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
     SECTION 5. Trustee Makes No Representation. The Trustee makes no representation as to the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture.
     SECTION 6. Counterparts. The parties may sign any number of copies of this Supplemental Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement.
     SECTION 7. Effect of Headings. The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not effect the construction of this Supplemental Indenture.
[Signature page follows]

 


 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed as of this 25th day of October, 2010.
         
  CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc.
a Delaware corporation
 
 
  By:   /s/ Rachel A. Seifert    
    Rachel A. Seifert   
    Executive vice President, Secretary & General Counsel  
 
  Bluefield Holdings, LLC,
a Delaware limited liability company
 
 
  By:   /s/ Rachel A. Seifert    
    Rachel A. Seifert   
    Executive Vice President and Secretary   
 
  Bluefield Hospital Company, LLC,
a Delaware limited liability company
 
 
  By:   /s/ Rachel A. Seifert    
    Rachel A. Seifert   
    Executive Vice President and Secretary   
 
  Warren Ohio Hospital Company, LLC,
a Delaware limited liability company
 
 
  By:   /s/ Rachel A. Seifert    
    Rachel A. Seifert   
    Executive Vice President and Secretary   
 
  Warren Ohio Rehab Hospital Company, LLC,
a Delaware limited liability company
 
 
  By:   /s/ Rachel A. Seifert    
    Rachel A. Seifert   
    Executive Vice President and Secretary   

 


 

         
         
  Youngstown Ohio Hospital Company, LLC,
a Delaware limited liability company
 
 
  By:   /s/ Rachel A. Seifert    
    Rachel A. Seifert   
    Executive Vice President and Secretary   
 
  U.S. Bank National Association,
as Trustee
 
 
  By:   /s/ Wally Jones    
    Wally Jones   
    Vice President   

 

exv4w24
         
Exhibit 4.24
     RELEASE OF CERTAIN GUARANTORS (this “Release”), dated as of December 31, 2010, by and among CHS/COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Issuer”), those Subsidiary Guarantors parties hereto, and U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee under the Indenture (the "Trustee”).
W I T N E S S E T H:
     WHEREAS, the Issuer has heretofore executed and delivered to the Trustee an Indenture, dated as of July 25, 2007, as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of July 25, 2007, the Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of December 31, 2007, the Third Supplemental Indenture, dated as of October 10, 2008, the Fourth Supplemental Indenture, dated December 1, 2008, the Fifth Supplemental Indenture, dated February 5, 2009, the Sixth Supplemental Indenture dated March 30, 2008, the Seventh Supplemental Indenture dated June 30, 2009, the Eighth Supplemental Indenture, dated March 30, 2010, and the Ninth Supplemental Indenture, dated October 25, 2010 (the "Indenture”), providing for the issuance of the 87/8% Senior Notes due 2015 (the “Securities”);
     WHEREAS, (i) pursuant to Section 9.09(d) of the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of July 25, 2007, as amended and restated dated November 5, 2010 (the ‘Credit Agreement”), by and among the Issuer, Community Health Systems, Inc., the lenders that from time to time become parties to the Credit Agreement and Credit Suisse AG, as Administrative Agent and as Collateral Agent, each of the Subsidiary Guarantors listed on the signature pages hereto (the “Syndicated Subsidiary Guarantors”) has been released as a Subsidiary Guarantor under the Credit Agreement; and (ii) the Issuer has delivered an Officer’s Certificate to the Trustee certifying that the Syndicated Subsidiary Guarantors no longer have any Indebtedness outstanding that would require such Syndicated Subsidiary Guarantors to enter into a Guaranty Agreement pursuant to Section 4.12 of the Indenture.
     WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 10.06(4) of the Indenture, a Guarantor will be released from its obligations under the Indenture under the circumstances described in the immediately preceding recital.
     WHEREAS, pursuant to the last sentence of Section 10.06 of the Indenture, the Issuer requests and the Trustee is authorized to execute and deliver this Release evidencing such release pursuant to Section 10.06(4) of the Indenture.
     NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the Issuer, those Subsidiary Guarantors parties hereto and the Trustee mutually covenant and agree as follows:
     SECTION 1. Capitalized Terms. Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.
     SECTION 2. Subsidiary Guarantors. Effective from and after the consummation of the Syndication, each of the Released Subsidiary Guarantors is hereby irrevocably released and discharged from its obligations under Article 10 of the Indenture, any Guaranty Agreement to which it may be party or any obligations with respect to the Securities.
     SECTION 3. Ratification of Indenture; Release Part of Indenture. Except as expressly modified hereby, the Indenture is in all respects ratified and confirmed and all the terms, conditions and provisions thereof shall remain in full force and effect. This Release shall form a part of the Indenture for all purposes, shall inure to the benefit of the Issuer, each of the Released Subsidiary Guarantors, the Trustee and every Holder of Securities heretofore or hereafter authenticated and the Issuer, each of the Released Subsidiary Guarantors, the Trustee and every Holder of Securities heretofore or hereafter authenticated and delivered shall be bound hereby.

 


 

     SECTION 4. Governing Law. THIS RELEASE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
     SECTION 5. Trustee Makes No Representation. The Trustee makes no representation as to the accuracy or correctness of the recitals of this Release.
     SECTION 6. Counterparts. The parties may sign any number of copies of this Release. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement.
     SECTION 7. Effect of Headings. The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not effect the construction of this Release.
[Signature page follows]

 


 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Release to be duly executed as of this 31st day of December, 2010.
         
  CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc.,
a Delaware corporation
 
 
  By:   /s/ Rachel A. Seifert    
    Rachel A. Seifert   
    Executive Vice President, Secretary & General Counsel   
 
  Released Subsidiary Guarantors:

Arizona DH, LLC
BH Trans Company, LLC
Forrest City Clinic Company, LLC
QHG of Barberton, Inc.
Russell County Medical Center, Inc.
Triad-Denton Hospital GP, LLC
Triad-Denton Hospital, L.P.
 
 
  By:   /s/ James W. Doucette    
    Name:   James W. Doucette   
    Title:   Vice President and Treasurer   
 
       
U.S. Bank National Association,
as Trustee
 
 
By:   /s/ Wally Jones    
  Wally Jones   
  Vice President   

 

exv10w14
         
Exhibit 10.14
AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO THE
COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC.
2004 EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE INCENTIVE PLAN
THIS AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO THE COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. 2004 EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE INCENTIVE PLAN, dated as of December 8, 2010 (the “Amendment”), amends the Community Health Systems, Inc. 2004 Employee Performance Incentive Plan, amended and restated as of March 24, 2009 (the “Plan”).
     Unless otherwise defined in this Amendment, capitalized terms shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Plan.
  1.   The Plan is hereby amended as follows:
 
      The text of Section 5.7 of the Plan is hereby deleted in its entirety and the following text is substituted in its place:
 
      Except as provided in Section 5.8, no Award shall be paid to a Participant who is not employed by the Company on the last day of the Fiscal Year for which an Award is to be or was earned.
 
      The text of Section 5.9 of the Plan is hereby deleted in its entirety and the following text is substituted in its place:
 
      Notwithstanding anything contained in the Plan to the contrary, the Plan Administrator, or in the case of a Covered Employee, the Committee, in its sole discretion may reduce any Award whose Performance Objectives are based on one or more of the “qualitative performance criteria” listed in Section 4.4(2) for any Participant to any amount, including zero, prior to the end of the Fiscal Year for which such Award is earned.
 
  2.   Except as amended hereby, the Plan shall remain unmodified and in full force and effect.
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Amendment to be executed by its duly authorized officer as of the 8th day of December, 2010, being the date the Amendment was approved and adopted by the Board of Directors.
         
  COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC.
 
 
  By:   /s/ W. Larry Cash    
  Name:   W. Larry Cash   
  Title:   Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer   

 

exv12
         
Exhibit 12
STATEMENT RE: COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
(DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
                                         
    Year Ended December 31,  
    2006     2007     2008     2009     2010  
Earnings
                                       
Income from continuing operations before provision for income taxes and extraordinary item
  $ 287,847     $ 107,291     $ 359,000     $ 446,130     $ 508,434  
Income from equity investees (1)
          (25,132 )     (42,063 )     (36,521 )     (45,432 )
Distributed income from equity investees
          19,902       32,897       33,705       33,829  
Interest and amortization of deferred finance costs
    94,411       362,065       652,468       648,964       651,926  
Amortization of capitalized interest
    567       881       1,469       2,024       2,432  
Implicit rental interest expense
    22,986       38,424       57,792       61,783       64,380  
 
                             
 
                                       
Total Earnings
  $ 405,811     $ 503,431     $ 1,061,563     $ 1,156,085     $ 1,215,569  
 
                                       
Fixed Charges
                                       
Interest and amortization of deferred finance costs
  $ 94,411     $ 362,065     $ 652,468     $ 648,964     $ 651,926  
Capitalized interest
    2,955       19,009       22,147       16,695       11,902  
Implicit rental interest expense
    22,986       38,424       57,792       61,783       64,380  
 
                             
 
                                       
Total fixed charges
  $ 120,352     $ 419,498     $ 732,407     $ 727,442     $ 728,208  
 
                                       
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges
    3.37 x     1.20 x     1.45 x     1.59 x     1.67 x
 
(1)   The Company recognized an immaterial amount of income from equity investees prior to 2007.

 

exv21
Exhibit 21
Community Health Systems, Inc.
SUBSIDIARY LISTING
(*) Majority position held in an entity with physicians, non-profit entities or both
(#) Minority position held in a non-consolidating entity
     
5300 Grand Limited Partnership
   
A Woman’s Place, LLC
   
Abilene Hospital, LLC
   
Abilene Merger, LLC
   
Affinity Health Systems, LLC*
   
Affinity Hospital, LLC*
  d/b/a Trinity Medical Center
Affinity Orthopedic Services, LLC
   
Affinity Physician Services, LLC
   
Affinity Skilled Nursing, LLC
   
Alaska Physician Services, LLC
   
Alice Hospital, LLC
   
Ambulance Services of Dyersburg, Inc.
   
Ambulance Services of Forrest City, LLC
   
Ambulance Services of Lexington, Inc.
   
Ambulance Services of McKenzie, Inc.
   
Ambulance Services of McNairy, Inc.
   
Ambulance Services of Tooele, LLC
   
American Health Facilities Development, LLC
   
Anesthesiology Group of Hattiesburg, LLC
   
Angelo Community Healthcare Services, Inc.
   
Anna Clinic Corp.
   
Anna Home Care Services, LLC
   
Anna Hospital Corporation
  d/b/a Union County Hospital
APS Medical, LLC
   
Arizona ASC Management, Inc.
   
Arizona DH, LLC
   
Arizona Medco, LLC
   
Arkansas Healthcare System Limited Partnership#
   
ARMC, LP
  d/b/a Abilene Regional Medical Center
Arusha LLC*
   
Augusta Health System, LLC*
   
Augusta Home Care Services, LLC
   
Augusta Hospital, LLC*
  d/b/a Trinity Hospital of Augusta
Augusta Physician Services, LLC
   
Barberton Health System, LLC
   
Barberton Physician Services, LLC
   
Barstow Healthcare Management, Inc.
   
Beauco, LLC
   
Beaumont Medical Center, L.P.
   

 


 

     
Beaumont Regional, LLC
   
Berwick Clinic Company, LLC
   
Berwick Clinic Corp.
   
Berwick Home Care Services, LLC
   
Berwick Home Health Private Care, Inc.
   
Berwick Hospital Company, LLC
  d/b/a Berwick Hospital Center
Berwick Medical Professionals, P.C.
   
BH Trans Company, LLC
   
Big Bend Home Care Services, LLC
   
Big Bend Hospital Corporation
  d/b/a Big Bend Regional Medical Center
Big Spring Hospital Corporation
  d/b/a Scenic Mountain Medical Center
Birmingham Holdings, LLC
   
Birmingham Holdings II, LLC
   
Bluefield Holdings, LLC
   
Bluefield Hospital Company, LLC
  d/b/a Bluefield Regional Medical Center
Blue Ridge Georgia Hospital Company, LLC*
  d/b/a Fannin Regional Hospital
Bluffton Health System, LLC
  d/b/a Bluffton Regional Medical Center
Bluffton Physician Services, LLC
   
Brandywine Hospital Malpractice Assistance Fund, Inc.
   
Brazos Valley of Texas, L.P.
   
Brazos Valley Surgical Center, LLC
   
Broken Arrow Medical Group, LLC
   
Brooklyn Medical Associates, LLC
   
Brownsville Clinic Corp.
   
Brownsville Hospital Corporation
  d/b/a Haywood Park Community Hospital
Brownwood Hospital, L.P.
  d/b/a Brownwood Regional Medical Center
Brownwood Medical Center, LLC
   
Bullhead City Clinic Corp.
   
Bullhead City Hospital Corporation*
  d/b/a Western Arizona Regional Medical Center
Bullhead City Hospital Investment Corporation*
   
Bullhead City Imaging Corporation
   
Byrd Medical Clinic, Inc.
   
Cardiology Associates of Spokane, LLC
   
Cardiology Associates of Tri-cities, LLC
   
Carlsbad Medical Center, LLC
  d/b/a Carlsbad Medical Center
Carolina Surgery Center, LLC*
   
Carolinas Medical Alliance, Inc.
   
Carolinas OB/GYN Medical Group, LLC
   
Cedar Park Health System, L.P.*
  d/b/a Cedar Park Regional Medical Center
Center for Adult Healthcare, LLC
   
Central Alabama Physician Services, Inc.
   
Centre Clinic Corp.
   
Centre Home Care Corporation
   
Centre Hospital Corporation
  d/b/a Cherokee Medical Center
Centre RHC Corp.
   

 


 

     
Chesterfield Clinic Corp.
   
Chesterfield/Marlboro, L.P.
  d/b/a Marlboro Park Hospital; Chesterfield General Hospital
Chestnut Hill Clinic Company, LLC*
   
Chestnut Hill Health System, LLC*
   
CHHS ALF Company, LLC*
   
CHHS Development Company, LLC*
   
CHHS Holdings, LLC
   
CHHS Hospital Company, LLC*
  d/b/a Chestnut Hill Hospital
CHHS Rehab Company, LLC*
   
Children’s Mobile Team#
   
CHS Kentucky Holdings, LLC
   
CHS Pennsylvania Holdings, LLC
   
CHS Realty Holdings I, Inc.
   
CHS Realty Holdings II, Inc.
   
CHS Realty Holdings Joint Venture
   
CHS Utah Holdings, LLC
   
CHS Virginia Holdings, LLC
   
CHS Washington Holdings, LLC
   
CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc.
   
CHSPSC Leasing, Inc.
   
Claremore Anesthesia, LLC
   
Claremore Internal Medicine, LLC
   
Claremore Physicians, LLC
   
Claremore Regional Hospital, LLC
  d/b/a Claremore Regional Hospital
Clarksville Health System, G.P.*
  d/b/a Gateway Health System
Clarksville Holdings, LLC
   
Clarksville Home Care Services, LLC*
   
Clarksville Imaging Center, LLC#
   
Clarksville Physician Services, G.P.*
   
Cleveland Clinic Corp.
   
Cleveland Home Care Services, LLC
   
Cleveland Hospital Corporation
   
Cleveland Medical Clinic, Inc.
   
Cleveland PHO, Inc.
   
Cleveland Regional Medical Center, L.P.
  d/b/a Cleveland Regional Medical Center
Cleveland Tennessee Hospital Company, LLC
  d/b/a SkyRidge Medical Center
Clinton County Health System, LLC
   
Clinton Hospital Corporation
  d/b/a Lock Haven Hospital
Coatesville Cardiology Clinic, LLC
   
Coatesville Clinic Company, LLC
   
Coatesville Hospital Corporation
  d/b/a Brandywine Hospital
C-OK, LLC
   
College Station Hospital, L.P.
  d/b/a College Station Medical Center
College Station Medical Center, LLC
   

 


 

     
College Station Merger, LLC
   
College Station RHC Company, LLC
   
Community GP Corp.
   
Community Health Care Partners, Inc.
   
Community Health Investment Company, LLC
   
Community Health Network, Inc.
   
Community Health Physicians Operations Holding Company, LLC
   
Community Health Systems Foundation
   
Community Health Systems Professional Services Corporation
   
Community Health Systems Professional Services Corporation
Political Action Committee
   
Community Health Systems, Inc.
   
Community Health United Home Care, LLC
   
Community Information Network, Inc.#
   
Community Insurance Group SPC, LTD.
   
Community LP Corp.
   
Community Network Solutions, LLC
   
Consolidated Hospital Laundry Services, Inc.#
   
Coronado Medical, LLC
   
Cottage Home Options, L.L.C.
   
Cottage Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine, L.L.C.#
   
Coventry Clinic Company, LLC
   
CP Hospital GP, LLC
   
CPLP, LLC
   
Crestview Hospital Corporation*
  d/b/a North Okaloosa Medical Center
Crestview Professional Condominiums Association, Inc.*
   
Crestview Surgery Center, L.P.
   
Crestwood Healthcare, L.P.*
  d/b/a Crestwood Medical Center
Crestwood Hospital LP, LLC
   
Crestwood Hospital, LLC
   
Crestwood Physician Services, LLC
   
Crestwood Surgery Center, LLC*
   
Crossroads Healthcare Management, LLC#
   
Crossroads Home Care Services, LLC
   
Crossroads Physician Corp.
   
CSMC, LLC
   
CSRA Holdings, LLC
   
Dallas Phy Service, LLC
   
Dallas Physician Practice, L.P.
   
Day Surgery, Inc.
   
Deaconess Clinical Associates, Inc.
   
Deaconess Health System, LLC*
  d/b/a Deaconess Hospital
Deaconess Holdings, LLC
   
Deaconess Hospital Holdings, LLC
   
Deaconess Metropolitan Physicians, LLC
   

 


 

     
Deaconess Physician Services, LLC
   
Deaconess Portland MOB Limited Partnership#
   
Deming Clinic Corporation
   
Deming Home Care Services, LLC
   
Deming Hospital Corporation
  d/b/a Mimbres Memorial Hospital
Desert Hospital Holdings, LLC
   
Detar Hospital, LLC
   
DFW Physerv, LLC
   
DH Cardiology, LLC
   
DHFW Holdings, LLC
   
DHSC, LLC
  d/b/a Affinity Medical Center
Diagnostic Imaging Management of Brandywine Valley, LLC
   
Doctors Hospital Physician Services, LLC
   
Doctors of Laredo, LLC
   
Dukes Health System, LLC
  d/b/a Dukes Memorial Hospital
Dukes Physician Services, LLC
   
Dupont Hospital, LLC*
  d/b/a Dupont Hospital
Dyersburg Clinic Corp.
   
Dyersburg HBP Medical Group, LLC
   
Dyersburg Home Care Services, LLC
   
Dyersburg Hospital Corporation
  d/b/a Dyersburg Regional Medical Center
E.D. Clinics, LLC
   
East Tennessee Clinic Corp.
   
East Tennessee Health Systems, Inc.
   
Easton Hospital Malpractice Assistance Fund, Inc.
   
Edge Medical Clinic, Inc.
   
Edwardsville Ambulatory Surgery Center, L.L.C.
   
El Dorado Home Care Services, LLC
   
El Dorado Surgery Center, L.P.*
   
EL MED, LLC
   
Eligibility Screening Services, LLC
   
Empire Health Services
   
Emporia Clinic Corp.
   
Emporia Home Care Services, LLC
   
Emporia Hospital Corporation
  d/b/a Southern Virginia Regional Medical Center
Enterprise Clinic, LLC
   
Eufaula Clinic Corp.
   
Eufaula Hospital Corporation
   
Evanston Clinic Corp.
   
Evanston Hospital Corporation
  d/b/a Evanston Regional Hospital
Fallbrook Home Care Services, LLC
   
Fallbrook Hospital Corporation
  d/b/a Fallbrook Hospital
Family Home Care, Inc.
   
Fannin Regional Orthopaedic Center, Inc.
   

 


 

     
Firstcare, Inc.#
   
First Choice Health Network, Inc.#
   
Florence Home Care Services, LLC
   
Flowers Real Estate Holdings, LLC
   
Foley Clinic Corp.
   
Foley Home Health Corporation
   
Foley Hospital Corporation
  d/b/a South Baldwin Regional Medical Center
Forrest City Arkansas Hospital Company, LLC
  d/b/a Forrest City Medical Center
Forrest City Clinic Company, LLC
   
Forrest City Hospital Corporation
   
Fort Payne Clinic Corp.
   
Fort Payne Home Care Corporation
   
Fort Payne Hospital Corporation
  d/b/a DeKalb Regional Medical Center
Fort Payne RHC Corp.
   
Frankfort Health Partner, Inc.
   
Franklin Clinic Corp.
   
Franklin Home Care Services, LLC
   
Franklin Hospital Corporation
  d/b/a Southampton Memorial Hospital
Fulton Home Care Services, LLC
   
Gadsden Home Care Services, LLC
   
Gadsden Regional Medical Center, LLC
  d/b/a Gadsden Regional Medical Center
Gadsden Regional Physician Group Practice, LLC
   
Gadsden Regional Primary Care, LLC
   
Galesburg Home Care Corporation
   
Galesburg Hospital Corporation
  d/b/a Galesburg Cottage Hospital
Galesburg In-Home Assistance, Inc.
   
Galesburg Professional Services, LLC
   
Gateway Malpractice Assistance Fund, Inc.
   
Gateway Medical Services, Inc.
   
Granbury Hospital Corporation
  d/b/a Lake Granbury Medical Center
Granbury Texas Hospital Investment Corporation
   
Granite City ASC Investment Company, LLC
   
Granite City Clinic Corp.
   
Granite City Home Care Services, LLC
   
Granite City Hospital Corporation
   
Granite City Illinois Hospital Company, LLC
  d/b/a Gateway Regional Medical Center
Granite City Orthopedic Physicians Company, LLC
   
Granite City Physicians Corp.
   
GRB Real Estate, LLC
   
Great Plains Medical Foundation
   
Greenbrier Valley Anesthesia, LLC
   
Greenbrier Valley Emergency Physicians, LLC
   
Greenbrier VMC, LLC*
  d/b/a Greenbrier Valley Medical Center
Greenville Clinic Corp.
   
Greenville Hospital Corporation
  d/b/a L. V. Stabler Memorial Hospital

 


 

     
GRMC Holdings, LLC
   
Gulf Coast Hospital, L.P.
   
Gulf Coast Medical Center, LLC
   
Hallmark Healthcare Company, LLC
   
Harris Managed Services, Inc.
   
Harris Medical Clinics, Inc.
   
Hattiesburg ASC-GP, LLC
   
Hattiesburg Home Care Services, LLC
   
Haven Clinton Medical Associates, LLC
   
Healthcare Group, LLC#
   
Healthcare of Forsyth County, Inc.
   
HealthTrust Purchasing Group, L.P.#
   
Healthwest Holdings, Inc.
   
Heartland Malpractice Assistance Fund, Inc.
   
Heartland Regional Health System, LLC
   
Heartland Rural Healthcare, LLC
   
Heck, Mourning, Smith & Barnes Partnership#
   
Hefner Pointe Medical Associates, LLC#
   
Helena Home Care Services, LLC
   
Hidden Valley Medical Center, Inc.
   
Highland Health Systems, Inc.
   
Hill Regional Clinic Corp.
   
Hill Regional Medical Group
   
Hobbs Medco, LLC
   
Hobbs Physician Practice, LLC
   
Hood Medical Group
   
Hood Medical Services, Inc.
   
Hospital of Barstow, Inc.
  d/b/a Barstow Community Hospital
Hospital of Fulton, Inc.
  d/b/a Parkway Regional Hospital
Hospital of Louisa, Inc.
  d/b/a Three Rivers Medical Center
Hospital of Morristown, Inc.
  d/b/a Lakeway Regional Hospital
Hot Springs Outpatient Surgery Center, G.P.
   
HTI Tucson Rehabilitation, Inc.
   
Humble Texas Home Care Corporation
   
Huntington Associates
   
INACTCO, Inc.
   
In-Home Assistance, L.L.C.
   
In-Home Medical Equipment Supplies and Services, Inc.
   
Inland Empire Hospital Services Association#
   
Inland Northwest Genetics Clinic#
   
Inland Northwest Health Services#
   
Innovative Recoveries, LLC
   
Intermountain Medical Group, Inc.
   
IOM Health System, L.P.
  d/b/a Lutheran Hospital of Indiana
Jackson Home Care Services, LLC
   

 


 

     
Jackson Hospital Corporation
  d/b/a Kentucky River Medical Center
Jackson Hospital Corporation
   
Jackson Physician Corp.
   
Jackson, Tennessee Hospital Company, LLC*
  d/b/a Regional Hospital of Jackson
Jennersville Family Medicine, LLC
   
Jennersville Regional Hospital Malpractice Assistance Fund, Inc.
   
Jourdanton Home Care Services, LLC
   
Jourdanton Hospital Corporation
  d/b/a South Texas Regional Medical Center
Kay County Clinic Company, LLC
   
Kay County Hospital Corporation
   
Kay County Oklahoma Hospital Company, LLC
  d/b/a Ponca City Medical Center
Kentucky River HBP, LLC
   
Kentucky River Physician Corporation
   
King’s Daughters Malpractice Assistance Fund, Inc.
   
Kirksville Academic Medicine, LLC
   
Kirksville Clinic Corp.
   
Kirksville Hospital Company, LLC
   
Kirksville Missouri Hospital Company, LLC*
  d/b/a Northeast Regional Medical Center
Kirksville Physical Therapy Services, LLC
   
Knox Clinic Corp.
   
Kosciusko Medical Group, LLC
   
Lake Area Physician Services, LLC
   
Lake Area Surgicare, A Partnership in Commendam*
   
Lake Wales Clinic Corp.
   
Lake Wales Hospital Corporation*
  d/b/a Lake Wales Medical Center
Lake Wales Hospital Investment Corporation*
   
Lakeland Home Care Services, LLC
   
Lakeway Hospital Corporation
   
Lancaster Clinic Corp.
   
Lancaster Home Care Services, LLC
   
Lancaster Hospital Corporation
  d/b/a Springs Memorial Hospital
Lancaster Imaging Center, LLC*
   
Laredo Texas Hospital Company, L.P.*
  d/b/a Laredo Medical Center
Las Cruces ASC-GP, LLC
   
Las Cruces Medical Center, LLC
  d/b/a Mountain View Regional Medical Center
Las Cruces Physician Services, LLC
   
Las Cruces Surgery Center, L.P.*
   
Lea Regional Hospital, LLC
  d/b/a Lea Regional Medical Center
Leesville Surgery Center, LLC*
   
Lexington Clinic Corp.
   
Lexington Family Physicians, LLC
   
Lexington Home Care Services, LLC
   
Lexington Hospital Corporation
  d/b/a Henderson County Community Hospital
Lindenhurst Illinois Hospital Company, LLC
   
Lock Haven Clinic Company, LLC
   

 


 

     
Lock Haven Home Care Services, LLC
   
Lock Haven Medical Professionals, P.C.
   
Logan Hospital Corporation
   
Logan, West Virginia Hospital Company, LLC
   
Longview Medical Center, L.P.*
  d/b/a Longview Regional Medical Center
Longview Merger, LLC
   
Louisa Home Care Services, LLC
   
LRH, LLC
   
LS Psychiatric, LLC
   
Lutheran Health Network CBO, LLC
   
Lutheran Health Network Investors, LLC*
   
Lutheran Health Network of Indiana, LLC
   
Lutheran Heart Alliance, LLC#
   
Lutheran Medical Group, LLC
   
Lutheran Medical Office Park Property Owners Association, Inc.#
   
Lutheran Medical Office Park Phase II Property Owners Association, Inc. #
   
Lutheran Musculoskeletal Center, LLC*
   
Lutheran/TRMA Network, LLC#
   
Macon Healthcare, LLC#
   
Madison Clinic Corp.
   
Madison Hospital, LLC
   
Marion Hospital Corporation
  d/b/a Heartland Regional Medical Center
Marion Physician Services, LLC
   
Marlboro Clinic Corp.
   
Martin Clinic Corp.
   
Martin Hospital Corporation
  d/b/a Volunteer Community Hospital
Mary Black Health System LLC*
  d/b/a Mary Black Memorial Hospital
Mary Black Medical Office Building Limited Partnership
   
Mary Black MOB II, L.P.
   
Mary Black Physician Services, LLC
   
Mary Black Physicians Group, LLC
   
Massillon Community Health System LLC
   
Massillon Health System, LLC
   
Massillon Holdings, LLC
   
Mat-Su Regional ASC GP, LLC
   
Mat-Su Regional Surgery Center, L.P.
   
Mat-Su Valley II, LLC*
   
Mat-Su Valley III, LLC*
   
Mat-Su Valley Medical Center, LLC*
  d/b/a Mat-Su Regional Medical Center
McKenzie Clinic Corp.
   
McKenzie Physician Services, LLC
   
McKenzie Tennessee Hospital Company, LLC
  d/b/a McKenzie Regional Hospital
McKenzie-Willamette Regional Medical Center Associates, LLC*
  d/b/a McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center
McNairy Clinic Corp.
   

 


 

     
McNairy Hospital Corporation
  d/b/a McNairy Regional Hospital
MCSA, L.L.C.
   
Medical Center at Terrell, LLC
   
Medical Center of Brownwood, LLC
   
Medical Center of Sherman, LLC
   
Medical Diagnostic Center Associates, LP#
   
Medical Holdings, Inc.
   
MEDSTAT, LLC
   
Memorial Hospital of Salem Malpractice Assistance Fund, Inc.
   
Memorial Management, Inc.
   
Merger Legacy Holdings, LLC
   
Mesa View Physical Rehabilitation, LLC#
   
Mesa View PT, LLC
   
Mesquite Clinic Management Company, LLC
   
MHS Ambulatory Surgery Center, Inc.
   
Mid-America Health Partners, Inc.#
   
Mid-Plains, LLC
   
Minot Health Services, Inc.
   
MMC of Nevada, LLC
  d/b/a Mesa View Regional Hospital
Moberly HBP Medical Group, LLC
   
Moberly Hospital Company, LLC
  d/b/a Moberly Regional Medical Center
Moberly Medical Clinics, Inc.
   
Moberly Physicians Corp.
   
Mohave Imaging Center, LLC
   
Morristown Clinic Corp.
   
Morristown Professional Centers, Inc.
   
Morristown Surgery Center, LLC
   
MWMC Holdings, LLC
   
Nanticoke Hospital Company, LLC
   
National Healthcare of England Arkansas, Inc.
   
National Healthcare of Holmes County, Inc.
   
National Healthcare of Leesville, Inc.
  d/b/a Byrd Regional Hospital
National Healthcare of Mt. Vernon, Inc.
  d/b/a Crossroads Community Hospital
National Healthcare of Newport, Inc.
  d/b/a Harris Hospital
Navarro Hospital, L.P.
  d/b/a Navarro Regional Hospital
Navarro Regional, LLC
   
NC-CSH, Inc.
   
NC-DSH, LLC
   
NeuroSpine-Pain Surgery Center, LLC#
   
Newport Home Care Services, LLC
   
NHCI of Hillsboro, Inc.
  d/b/a Hill Regional Hospital
North Okaloosa Clinic Corp.
   
North Okaloosa Home Health Corp.
   
North Okaloosa Medical Corp.*
   
North Okaloosa Surgery Venture Corp.
   

 


 

     
Northampton Clinic Company, LLC
   
Northampton Home Care, LLC
   
Northampton Hospital Company, LLC
  d/b/a Easton Hospital
Northampton Physician Services Corp.
   
Northampton Urgent Care, LLC
   
Northeast Medical Center, L.P.
   
Northern Indiana Oncology Center of Porter Memorial Hospital, LLC*
   
Northwest Allied Physicians, LLC
   
Northwest Arkansas Employees, LLC
   
Northwest Arkansas Hospitals, LLC*
  d/b/a Northwest Medical Center – Bentonville;
Northwest Medical Center – Springdale;
Willow Creek Women’s Hospital
Northwest Benton County Physician Services, LLC
   
Northwest Cardiology, LLC
   
Northwest Hospital, LLC
  d/b/a Northwest Medical Center
Northwest Indiana Health System, LLC*
   
Northwest Marana Hospital, LLC
   
Northwest Medical Center CT/MRI at Marana, LLC#
   
Northwest Physicians, LLC
   
Northwest Rancho Vistoso Imaging Services, LLC
   
Northwest Tucson ASC-GP, LLC
   
Northwest Tucson Surgery Center, L.P.*
   
NOV Holdings, LLC
   
NRH, LLC
   
Oak Hill Clinic Corp.
   
Oak Hill Hospital Corporation
  d/b/a Plateau Medical Center
Ohio Sleep Disorders Centers, LLC#
   
Oklahoma City ASC-GP, LLC
   
Oklahoma City Home Care Services, LLC
   
Olive Branch Clinic Corp.
   
Olive Branch Hospital, Inc.
   
Open MRI of Wharton, LLP
   
Oro Valley Hospital, LLC
  d/b/a Oro Valley Hospital
Pacific Group ASC, Inc.
   
Pacific Physicians Services, LLC
   
Pain Management Joint Venture, LLP#
   
Palm Drive Hospital, L.P.
   
Palm Drive Medical Center, LLC
   
Palmer-Wasilla Health System, LLC
   
Palmetto Women’s Care, LLC
   
Pampa Medical Center, LLC
   
Panhandle Medical Center, LLC
   
Panhandle Surgical Hospital, L.P.
   
Parkway Regional Medical Clinic, Inc.
   
Payson Healthcare Management, Inc.
   

 


 

     
Payson Home Care Services, LLC
   
Payson Hospital Corporation
  d/b/a Payson Regional Medical Center
PDMC, LLC
   
Pecos Valley of New Mexico, LLC
   
Peerless Healthcare, LLC
   
Pennsylvania Hospital Company, LLC
   
Pennsylvania Medical Professionals, P.C.
   
Petersburg Clinic Company, LLC
   
Petersburg Home Care Services, LLC
   
Petersburg Hospital Company, LLC*
  d/b/a Southside Regional Medical Center
Phillips & Coker OB-GYN, LLC
   
Phillips Clinic Corp.
   
Phillips Hospital Corporation
  d/b/a Helena Regional Medical Center
Phoenix Surgical, LLC
   
Phoenixville Clinic Company, LLC
   
Phoenixville Hospital Company, LLC
  d/b/a Phoenixville Hospital
Phoenixville Hospital Malpractice Assistance Fund, Inc.
   
Phoenixville Specialty Clinics, LLC
   
Physician Practice Support, Inc.
   
Piney Woods Healthcare System, L.P.*
  d/b/a Woodland Heights Medical Center
Plymouth Hospital Corporation
   
Polk Medical Services, Inc.
   
Ponca City Home Care Services, Inc.
   
Porter Health Services, LLC
   
Porter Hospital, LLC*
  d/b/a Porter Hospital
Porter Physician Services, LLC
   
Pottstown Clinic Company, LLC
   
Pottstown Home Care Services, LLC
   
Pottstown Hospital Company, LLC
  d/b/a Pottstown Memorial Medical Center
Pottstown Hospital Corporation
   
Pottstown Imaging Company, LLC
   
Pottstown Memorial Malpractice Assistance Fund, Inc.
   
PremierCare of Arkansas, LLC#
   
PremierCare of Northwest Arkansas, LLC*
   
Premier Care Super PHO, LLC
   
Procure Solutions, LLC
   
Professional Account Services Inc.
   
QHG Georgia Holdings, Inc.
   
QHG Georgia Holdings II, LLC
   
QHG Georgia, L.P.
   
QHG of Barberton, Inc.
   
QHG of Bluffton Company, LLC
   
QHG of Clinton County, Inc.
   
QHG of Enterprise, Inc.
  d/b/a Medical Center Enterprise
QHG of Forrest County, Inc.
   

 


 

     
QHG of Fort Wayne Company, LLC
   
QHG of Hattiesburg, Inc.
   
QHG of Kenmare, Inc.
   
QHG of Lake City, Inc.
   
QHG of Massillon, Inc.
   
QHG of Minot, Inc.
   
QHG of Ohio, Inc.
   
QHG of South Carolina, Inc.
  d/b/a Carolinas Hospital System; Marion Regional Hospital
QHG of Spartanburg, Inc.
   
QHG of Springdale, Inc.
   
QHG of Texas, Inc.
   
QHG of Warsaw Company, LLC
   
QHR Intensive Resources, LLC
   
Quorum ELF, Inc.
   
Quorum Health Resources, LLC
   
Quorum Health Services, Inc.
   
Quorum Purchasing Advantage, LLC
   
Quorum Solutions, LLC
   
Red Bud Clinic Corp.
   
Red Bud Home Care Services, LLC
   
Red Bud Hospital Corporation
   
Red Bud Illinois Hospital Company, LLC
  d/b/a Red Bud Regional Hospital
Red Bud Physician Group, LLC
   
Regional Cancer Treatment Center, Ltd.#
   
Regional Employee Assistance Program
   
Regional Hospital of Longview, LLC
   
Regional Surgical Services, LLC*
   
Rehab Hospital of Fort Wayne General Partnership
   
River Region Medical Corporation
   
River to River Heart Group, LLC
   
Riverside MSO, LLC#
   
Rockwood Clinic, P.S.*
   
Rockwood Clinic Real Estate Holdings, LLC
   
Ronceverte Physician Group, LLC
   
Roswell Clinic Corp.
   
Roswell Community Hospital Investment Corporation
   
Roswell Hospital Corporation
  d/b/a Eastern New Mexico Medical Center
Russell County Clinic Corp.
   
Russell County Medical Center, Inc.
   
Ruston Clinic Company, LLC
   
Ruston Hospital Corporation
   
Ruston Louisiana Hospital Company, LLC
  d/b/a Northern Louisiana Medical Center
SACMC, LLC
   
Salem Clinic Corp.
   

 


 

     
Salem Home Care Services, LLC
   
Salem Hospital Corporation
  d/b/a The Memorial Hospital of Salem County
Salem Medical Professionals, P.C.
   
Samaritan Surgicenters of Arizona II, LLC
   
San Angelo Ambulatory Surgery Center, Ltd.#
   
San Angelo Community Medical Center, LLC
   
San Angelo Hospital, L.P.#
  d/b/a San Angelo Community Medical Center
San Angelo Medical, LLC
   
San Leandro, LLC
   
San Leandro Hospital, L.P.
   
San Leandro Medical Center, LLC
   
San Leandro Surgery Center, Ltd.#
   
San Miguel Clinic Corp.
   
San Miguel Hospital Corporation
  d/b/a Alta Vista Regional Hospital
Scenic Managed Services, Inc.
   
Schuylkill Internal Medicine Associates, LLC
   
Scranton Clinic Company, LLC
   
Scranton GP Holdings, LLC
   
Scranton Holdings, LLC
   
Scranton Hospital Company, LLC
   
Sebastopol, LLC
   
Senior Circle Association
   
Shelby Alabama Real Estate, LLC
   
Shelbyville Clinic Corp.
   
Shelbyville Home Care Services, LLC
   
Shelbyville Hospital Corporation
  d/b/a Heritage Medical Center
Sherman Hospital, L.P.
   
Sherman Medical Center, LLC
   
Siloam Springs Arkansas Hospital Company, LLC
  d/b/a Siloam Springs Memorial Hospital
Siloam Springs Clinic Company, LLC
   
Siloam Springs Holdings, LLC
   
Silver Creek MRI, LLC*
   
SJ Home Care, LLC
   
SkyRidge Clinical Associates, LLC
   
SLH, LLC
   
SMMC Medical Group
   
Software Sales Corp.
   
South Alabama Managed Care Contracting, Inc.
   
South Alabama Medical Management Services, Inc.
   
South Alabama Physician Services, Inc.
   
South Arkansas Clinic, LLC
   
South Arkansas Physician Services, LLC
   
South Tulsa Medical Group, LLC
   
SouthCrest Anesthesia Group, LLC
   
SouthCrest Medical Group, LLC
   

 


 

     
SouthCrest, L.L.C.
  d/b/a SouthCrest Hospital
Southeast Alabama Maternity Center, LLC#
   
Southern Chester County Medical Building I*
   
Southern Chester County Medical Building II*
   
Southern Illinois Medical Care Associates, LLC
   
Southern Texas Medical Center, LLC
   
Southside Physician Network, LLC
   
Spokane Home Care Services, LLC
   
Spokane Valley Washington Hospital Company, LLC
  d/b/a Valley Hospital and Medical Center
Spokane Washington Hospital Company, LLC
  d/b/a Deaconess Medical Center
Springdale Home Care Services, LLC
   
Springfield Oregon Holdings, LLC
   
Sprocket Medical Management, LLC
   
St. Joseph Health System, LLC
  d/b/a St. Joseph Health System
St. Joseph Medical Group, Inc.
   
StrokeCareNow, LLC#
   
Summerlin Hospital Medical Center, LLC#
   
Summit Surgical Suites, LLC#
   
Sunbury Clinic Company, LLC
   
Sunbury Hospital Company, LLC*
  d/b/a Sunbury Community Hospital
Surgical Center of Amarillo, LLC
   
Surgical Center of Carlsbad, LLC
   
Surgicare of Independence, Inc.
   
Surgicare of San Leandro, Inc.
   
Surgicare of Sherman, Inc.
   
Surgicare of Victoria, Inc.
   
Surgicare of Victoria, Ltd.
   
Surgicare Outpatient Center of Lake Charles, Inc.
   
Surgicenter of Johnson County, Inc.
   
Surgicenters of America, Inc.
   
SVRMC-HBP, LLC
   
Tennyson Holdings, LLC
   
Terrell Hospital, L.P.
   
Terrell Medical Center, LLC
   
The Sleep Disorder Center of Wyoming Valley, LLC
   
The Surgery Center of Salem County, L.L.C.*
   
The Vicksburg Clinic, LLC
   
Three Rivers Medical Clinics, Inc.
   
Timberland Medical Group
   
Tooele Clinic Corp.
   
Tooele Home Care Services, LLC
   
Tooele Hospital Corporation
  d/b/a Mountain West Medical Center
Triad Corporate Services, Limited Partnership
   
Triad CSGP, LLC
   
Triad CSLP, LLC
   

 


 

     
Triad Healthcare Corporation
   
Triad Healthcare System of Phoenix, L.P.
   
Triad Holdings III, LLC
   
Triad Holdings IV, LLC
   
Triad Holdings V, LLC
   
Triad Holdings VI, Inc.
   
Triad Indiana Holdings, LLC
   
Triad Nevada Holdings, LLC
   
Triad of Alabama, LLC
  d/b/a Flowers Hospital
Triad of Arizona (L.P.), Inc.
   
Triad of Oregon, LLC
   
Triad of Phoenix, Inc.
   
Triad RC, Inc.
   
Triad-Arizona I, Inc.
   
Triad-ARMC, LLC
   
Triad-Denton Hospital GP, LLC
   
Triad-Denton Hospital, L.P.
   
Triad-El Dorado, Inc.
   
Triad-Navarro Regional Hospital Subsidiary, LLC
   
Triad-South Tulsa Hospital Company, Inc.
   
Triad-Willow Creek, LLC
   
Tri-Irish, Inc.
   
Tri-World, LLC
   
TROSCO, LLC
   
Troy Hospital Corporation
   
Tucson Gateway Investors, LLP#
   
Tunkhannock Hospital Company, LLC
   
Tuscora Park Medical Specialists, LLC
   
Valley Advanced Imaging, LLC#
   
Valley Advanced MRI, LLC#
   
Valley Health System, LLC#
   
Vanderbilt-Gateway Cancer Center, G.P.#
   
VHC Holdings, LLC
   
VHC Medical, LLC
   
Vicksburg Healthcare, LLC
  d/b/a River Region Medical Center
Vicksburg Surgical Center, LLC
   
Victoria Hospital, LLC
   
Victoria of Texas, L.P.
  d/b/a DeTar Hospital Navarro; DeTar Hospital North
Victoria Texas Home Care Services, LLC
   
Village Medical Center Associates, LLC
   
Virginia Hospital Company, LLC
   
WA-SPOK DH CRNA, LLC
   
WA-SPOK DH Urgent Care, LLC
   
WA-SPOK Kidney Care, LLC
   

 


 

     
WA-SPOK Medical Care, LLC
   
WA-SPOK Primary Care, LLC
   
WA-SPOK Pulmonary & Critical Care, LLC
   
WA-SPOK VH CRNA, LLC
   
WA-SPOK VH Urgent Care, LLC
   
Warren Ohio Hospital Company, LLC
  d/b/a Trumbull Memorial Hospital
Warren Ohio Rehab Hospital Company, LLC
   
Warsaw Health System, LLC*
  d/b/a Kosciusko Community Hospital
Washington Clinic Corp.
   
Washington Hospital Corporation
   
Washington Physician Corp.
   
Watsonville Hospital Corporation
  d/b/a Watsonville Community Hospital
Waukegan Clinic Corp.
   
Waukegan Hospice Corp.
   
Waukegan Hospital Corporation
   
Waukegan Illinois Hospital Company, LLC
  d/b/a Vista Medical Center East; Vista Medical Center West
Weatherford Home Care Services, LLC
   
Weatherford Hospital Corporation
   
Weatherford Texas Hospital Company, LLC
  d/b/a Weatherford Regional Medical Center
Webb County Texas Home Care Services, LLC
   
Webb Hospital Corporation
   
Webb Hospital Holdings, LLC
   
Wesley Health System, LLC
  d/b/a Wesley Medical Center
Wesley HealthTrust, Inc.
   
Wesley Physician Services, LLC
   
West Anaheim Medical Center, LLC
   
West Anaheim, LLC
   
West Grove Clinic Company, LLC
   
West Grove Family Practice, LLC
   
West Grove Home Care, LLC
   
West Grove Hospital Company, LLC
  d/b/a Jennersville Regional Hospital
Western Arizona Regional Home Health and Hospice, Inc.
   
Western Illinois Kidney Center, L.L.C.#
   
Wharton Medco, LLC
   
WHMC, LLC
   
Wichita Falls Texas Home Care Corporation
   
Wichita Falls Texas Private Duty Corporation
   
Wilkes-Barre Academic Medicine, LLC
   
Wilkes-Barre Behavioral Hospital Company, LLC
   
Wilkes-Barre Behavioral Ventures, LLC
   
Wilkes-Barre Clinic Company, LLC
   
Wilkes-Barre Community Residential Unit, LLC
   
Wilkes-Barre Holdings, LLC
   
Wilkes-Barre Home Care Services, LLC
   

 


 

     
Wilkes-Barre Hospital Company, LLC
  d/b/a Wilkes-Barre General Hospital
Wilkes-Barre Intermountain Clinic, LLC
   
Wilkes-Barre Personal Care Services, LLC
   
Wilkes-Barre Skilled Nursing Services, LLC
   
Willamette Community Medical Group, LLC
   
Williamston Clinic Corp.
   
Williamston Hospital Corporation
  d/b/a Martin General Hospital
Wiregrass Clinic, LLC
   
Women & Children’s Hospital, LLC
  d/b/a Women & Children’s Hospital
Women’s Health Partners, LLC
   
Woodland Heights Medical Center, LLC
   
Woodward Clinic Company, LLC
   
Woodward Health System, LLC
  d/b/a Woodward Hospital
Woodward Home Care Services, LLC
   
Youngstown Ohio Hospital Company, LLC
  d/b/a Northside Medical Center
Youngstown Ohio Laboratory Services Company, LLC
   
Youngstown Ohio Outpatient Services Company, LLC
   
Youngstown Ohio Physician Services Company, LLC
   
Youngstown Ohio PSC, LLC
   

 

exv23w1
Exhibit 23.1
 
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
 
We consent to the incorporation by reference in Registration Statement No. 333-156405 on Form S-3 and Registration Statement Nos. 333-44870, 333-61614, 333-100349, 333-107810, 333-121282, 333-121283, 333-144525, 333-163688, 333-163689, 333-163690 and 333-163691 on Form S-8 of our reports dated February 25, 2011 (which reports express an unqualified opinion and include an explanatory paragraph related to the adoption of accounting standards), relating to the consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule of Community Health Systems, Inc. and subsidiaries, and the effectiveness of Community Health Systems, Inc. and subsidiaries’ internal control over financial reporting, appearing in this Annual Report on Form 10-K of Community Health Systems, Inc. and subsidiaries for the year ended December 31, 2010.
 
 
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
Nashville, Tennessee
February 25, 2011

exv31w1
Exhibit 31.1
 
I, Wayne T. Smith, certify that:
 
1. I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Community Health Systems, Inc.;
 
2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
 
3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
 
4. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and we have:
 
a) designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
 
b) designed such internal controls over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
 
c) evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
 
d) disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and
 
5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors:
 
a) all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
 
b) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
 
/s/  Wayne T. Smith
Wayne T. Smith
Chairman of the Board, President
and Chief Executive Officer
 
Date: February 25, 2011

exv31w2
Exhibit 31.2
 
I, W. Larry Cash, certify that:
 
1. I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Community Health Systems, Inc.;
 
2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
 
3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this annual report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
 
4. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and we have:
 
a) designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
 
b) designed such internal controls over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
 
c) evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
 
d) disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and
 
5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors:
 
a) all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
 
b) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
 
/s/  W. Larry Cash
W. Larry Cash
Executive Vice President,
Chief Financial Officer and Director
 
Date: February 25, 2011

exv32w1
Exhibit 32.1
 
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT
TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
 
In connection with the Annual Report of Community Health Systems, Inc. (the “Company”) on Form 10-K for the period ending December 31, 2010, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Wayne T. Smith, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:
 
(1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
 
(2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.
 
/s/  Wayne T. Smith
Wayne T. Smith
Chairman of the Board, President and
Chief Executive Officer
 
February 25, 2011

exv32w2
Exhibit 32.2
 
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT
TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
 
In connection with the Annual Report of Community Health Systems, Inc. (the “Company”) on Form 10-K for the period ending December 31, 2010, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, W. Larry Cash, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:
 
(1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
 
(2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.
 
/s/  W. Larry Cash
W. Larry Cash
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial
Officer and Director
 
February 25, 2011