SEC Filing | Community Health Systems, Inc.

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Form 10-Q

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

Form 10-Q

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2017

Commission file number 001-15925

COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


Delaware		13-3893191
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)		(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

4000 Meridian Boulevard Franklin, Tennessee		37067 (Zip Code)
(Address of principal executive offices)

615-465-7000

(Registrant’s telephone number)

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 ☑ No ☐

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 ☑ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.


Large accelerated filer ☑	Accelerated filer ☐	Smaller reporting company ☐

Non-accelerated filer ☐ (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)		Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No ☑

As of April 25, 2017, there were outstanding 114,690,205 shares of the Registrant’s Common Stock, $0.01 par value.

Community Health Systems, Inc.

Form 10-Q

For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2017


Part I.	Financial Information		Page

	Item 1.	Financial Statements:

		Condensed Consolidated Statements of (Loss) Income - Three Months Ended March 31, 2017 and March 31, 2016 (Unaudited)	2

		Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss - Three Months Ended March 31, 2017 and March 31, 2016 (Unaudited)	3

		Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets - March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 (Unaudited)	4

		Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - Three Months Ended March 31, 2017 and March 31, 2016 (Unaudited)	5

		Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)	6

	Item 2.	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	48

	Item 3.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk	75

	Item 4.	Controls and Procedures	75

Part II.	Other Information

	Item 1.	Legal Proceedings	76

	Item 1A.	Risk Factors	80

	Item 2.	Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds	80

	Item 3.	Defaults Upon Senior Securities	81

	Item 4.	Mine Safety Disclosures	81

	Item 5.	Other Information	81

	Item 6.	Exhibits	82

Signatures			83

Index to Exhibits			84

COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF (LOSS) INCOME

(In millions, except share and per share data)

(Unaudited)


	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2017			2016
Operating revenues (net of contractual allowances and discounts)	$	5,168		$	5,754
Provision for bad debts		682			755

Net operating revenues		4,486			4,999

Operating costs and expenses:
Salaries and benefits		2,061			2,317
Supplies		749			799
Other operating expenses		1,057			1,173
Government and other legal settlements and related costs		(41	)		-
Electronic health records incentive reimbursement		(6	)		(18	)
Rent		109			119
Depreciation and amortization		236			298
Impairment and loss (gain) on sale of businesses, net		250			17

Total operating costs and expenses		4,415			4,705

Income from operations		71			294
Interest expense, net		229			251
Loss from early extinguishment of debt		21			-
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates		(3	)		(20	)

(Loss) income from continuing operations before income taxes		(176	)		63
Provision for income taxes		-			26

(Loss) income from continuing operations		(176	)		37

Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Loss from operations of entities sold or held for sale		(1	)		-
Impairment of hospitals sold or held for sale		-			(1	)

Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes		(1	)		(1	)

Net (loss) income		(177	)		36
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		22			25

Net (loss) income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders	$	(199	)	$	11

Basic (loss) earnings per share attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. common stockholders
Continuing operations	$	(1.78	)	$	0.11
Discontinued operations		(0.01	)		(0.01	)

Net (loss) income	$	(1.79	)	$	0.10

Diluted (loss) earnings per share attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. common stockholders
Continuing operations	$	(1.78	)	$	0.11
Discontinued operations		(0.01	)		(0.01	)

Net (loss) income	$	(1.79	)	$	0.10

Weighted-average number of shares outstanding:
Basic		111,252,331			110,247,867

Diluted		111,252,331			110,309,372

See accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS

(In millions)

(Unaudited)


	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2017			2016

Net (loss) income	$	(177	)	$	36
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income taxes:
Net change in fair value of interest rate swaps, net of tax		5			(19	)
Net change in fair value of available-for-sale securities, net of tax		3			2
Amortization and recognition of unrecognized pension cost components, net of tax		-			1

Other comprehensive income (loss)		8			(16	)

Comprehensive (loss) income		(169	)		20
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests		22			25

Comprehensive loss attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders	$	(191	)	$	(5	)

See accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In millions, except share data)

(Unaudited)


	March 31, 2017		December 31, 2016
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	247	$	238
Patient accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $3,729 and $3,773 at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively		3,164		3,176
Supplies		458		480
Prepaid income taxes		17		17
Prepaid expenses and taxes		218		187
Other current assets		671		568

Total current assets		4,775		4,666

Property and equipment		11,824		12,422
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization		(4,185)		(4,273)

Property and equipment, net		7,639		8,149

Goodwill		6,327		6,521

Other assets, net		2,919		2,608

Total assets	$	21,660	$	21,944

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Current maturities of long-term debt	$	558	$	455
Accounts payable		988		995
Accrued interest		145		207
Accrued liabilities		1,305		1,230

Total current liabilities		2,996		2,887

Long-term debt		14,687		14,789

Deferred income taxes		415		411

Other long-term liabilities		1,469		1,575

Total liabilities		19,567		19,662

Redeemable noncontrolling interests in equity of consolidated subsidiaries		552		554

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; 114,690,205 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2017, and 113,876,580 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2016		1		1
Additional paid-in capital		1,980		1,975
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(54)		(62)
Accumulated deficit		(498)		(299)

Total Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders’ equity		1,429		1,615
Noncontrolling interests in equity of consolidated subsidiaries		112		113

Total equity		1,541		1,728

Total liabilities and equity	$	21,660	$	21,944

See accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In millions)

(Unaudited)


	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2017		2016
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net (loss) income	$	(177)	$	36
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		236		298
Government and other legal settlements and related costs		(1)		-
Stock-based compensation expense		9		14
Impairment of hospitals sold or held for sale		-		1
Impairment and (gain) loss on sale of businesses, net		250		17
Loss from early extinguishment of debt		21		-
Other non-cash expenses, net		8		14
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions and divestitures:
Patient accounts receivable		11		(109)
Supplies, prepaid expenses and other current assets		(67)		(14)
Accounts payable, accrued liabilities and income taxes		(14)		64
Other		(34)		(27)

Net cash provided by operating activities		242		294

Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisitions of facilities and other related equipment		(2)		(99)
Purchases of property and equipment		(146)		(224)
Proceeds from disposition of hospitals and other ancillary operations		-		12
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment		-		4
Purchases of available-for-sale securities		(12)		(37)
Proceeds from sales of available-for-sale securities		26		40
Increase in other investments		(37)		(67)

Net cash used in investing activities		(171)		(371)

Cash flows from financing activities:
Repurchase of restricted stock shares for payroll tax withholding requirements		(5)		(7)
Deferred financing costs and other debt-related costs		(40)		-
Proceeds from noncontrolling investors in joint ventures		5		-
Redemption of noncontrolling investments in joint ventures		(4)		(16)
Distributions to noncontrolling investors in joint ventures		(28)		(18)
Borrowings under credit agreements		610		1,564
Issuance of long-term debt		2,200		-
Proceeds from receivables facility		26		31
Repayments of long-term indebtedness		(2,826)		(1,480)

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities		(62)		74

Net change in cash and cash equivalents		9		(3)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		238		184

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	247	$	181

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Interest payments	$	(279)	$	(307)

Income tax refunds (payments), net	$	-	$	-

See accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

1. BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of Community Health Systems, Inc. (the “Parent” or “Parent Company”) and its subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 and for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”). In the opinion of management, such information contains all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair presentation of the results for such periods. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated. The results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2017, are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full fiscal year ending December 31, 2017. Certain information and disclosures normally included in the notes to condensed consolidated financial statements have been condensed or omitted as permitted by the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). The Company believes the disclosures are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto for the year ended December 31, 2016, contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 21, 2017 (“2016 Form 10-K”).

Noncontrolling interests in less-than-wholly-owned consolidated subsidiaries of the Parent are presented as a component of total equity on the condensed consolidated balance sheets to distinguish between the interests of the Parent Company and the interests of the noncontrolling owners. 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 condensed consolidated balance sheets.

Throughout these notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements, Community Health Systems, Inc., 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 particular 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 by distinct and indirect subsidiaries of Community Health Systems, Inc.

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 patients at its hospitals and affiliated businesses.

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 any anticipated changes in trends. The Company’s ability to estimate the allowance for doubtful accounts is not impacted by not utilizing an aging of net accounts receivable as the Company believes that substantially all of the risk exists at the point in time such accounts are identified as self-pay. For all other non-self-pay payor categories, the Company reserves an estimated amount on historical collection rates for the uncontractualized portion of all accounts aging over 365 days from the date of discharge. These amounts represent an immaterial percentage of the outstanding accounts receivable. 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 conditions or trends in federal and state governmental healthcare coverage could affect the Company’s collection of accounts receivable and the estimates of the collectability of future accounts receivable and are considered in 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, the composition of self-pay receivables between pure self-pay patients and the patient responsibility portion of third-party insured receivables and the impact of recent acquisitions and dispositions.

COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) – (Continued)

Operating revenues, net of contractual allowances and discounts (but before the provision for bad debts), recognized during the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, were as follows (in millions):


	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2017		2016
Medicare	$	1,222	$	1,431
Medicaid		530		593
Managed Care and other third-party payors		2,784		3,022
Self-pay		632		708

Total	$	5,168	$	5,754

Electronic Health Records Incentive Reimbursement. The federal government has implemented a number of regulations and programs designed to promote the use of electronic health records (“EHR”) technology and, pursuant to the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (“HITECH”), established requirements for a Medicare and Medicaid incentive payments program for eligible hospitals and professionals that adopt and meaningfully use certified EHR technology. The Company utilizes a gain contingency model to recognize EHR incentive payments. Recognition occurs when the eligible hospitals adopt or demonstrate meaningful use of certified EHR technology for the applicable payment period and have available the Medicare cost report information for the relevant full cost report year used to determine the final incentive payment.

Medicaid EHR incentive payments are calculated based on prior period Medicare cost report information available at the time when eligible hospitals adopt, implement, upgrade or demonstrate meaningful use of certified EHR technology. Since the information for the relevant full Medicare cost report year is available at the time of attestation, the incentive income from resolving the gain contingency is recognized when eligible hospitals adopt, implement, upgrade or demonstrate meaningful use of certified EHR technology.

Medicare EHR incentive payments are calculated based on the Medicare cost report information for the full cost report year that began during the federal fiscal year in which meaningful use is demonstrated. Since the necessary information is only available at the end of the relevant full Medicare cost report year and after the cost report is settled, the incentive income from resolving the gain contingency is recognized when eligible hospitals demonstrate meaningful use of certified EHR technology and the information for the applicable full Medicare cost report year to determine the final incentive payment is available.

In some instances, the Company may receive estimated Medicare EHR incentive payments prior to when the Medicare cost report information used to determine the final incentive payment is available. In these instances, recognition of the gain for EHR incentive payments is deferred until all recognition criteria described above are met.

Eligibility for annual Medicare incentive payments is dependent on providers successfully attesting to the meaningful use of EHR technology. Medicaid incentive payments are available to providers in the first payment year that they adopt, implement or upgrade certified EHR technology; however, providers must demonstrate meaningful use of such technology in any subsequent payment years to qualify for additional incentive payments. Medicaid EHR incentive payments are fully funded by the federal government and administered by the states; however, the states are not required to offer EHR incentive payments to providers.

The Company recognized approximately $6 million and $18 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, of incentive reimbursement for HITECH incentives from Medicare and Medicaid related to certain of the Company’s hospitals and for certain of the Company’s employed physicians that have demonstrated meaningful use of certified EHR technology or have completed attestations to their adoption or implementation of certified EHR technology. These incentive reimbursements are presented as a reduction of operating costs and expenses on the condensed consolidated statements of (loss) income. The Company received cash related to the incentive reimbursement for HITECH incentives of approximately $10 million and $85 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. The Company recorded no deferred revenue in connection with the receipt of these cash payments at March 31, 2017 and $34 million as deferred revenue at March 31, 2016.

COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) – (Continued)

Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets. During the three months ended March 31, 2017, the Company recorded a total impairment charge of approximately $250 million to reduce the carrying value of certain hospitals that have been deemed held for sale based on the difference between the carrying value of the hospital disposal groups compared to estimated fair value less costs to sell. Included in the carrying value of the hospital disposal groups is a net allocation of approximately $192 million of goodwill allocated from the hospital operations reporting unit goodwill based on a calculation of the disposal groups’ relative fair value compared to the total reporting unit.

New Accounting Pronouncements. In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-09, which outlines a single comprehensive model for recognizing revenue and supersedes most existing revenue recognition guidance, including guidance specific to the healthcare industry. This ASU provides companies the option of applying a full or modified retrospective approach upon adoption. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, with early adoption permitted for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016. The Company expects to adopt this ASU on January 1, 2018 and is currently developing its plan for adoption and the impact on its revenue recognition policies, procedures and control framework and the resulting impact on its consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows. The Company has established an implementation group for this ASU with an implementation plan to transition to the new standard and determine its impact during 2017. A significant element of executing this plan is the process of reviewing sources of revenue and evaluating the patient account population to determine the appropriate distribution of patient accounts into portfolios with similar collection experience that, when evaluated for collectability, will result in a materially consistent revenue amount for such portfolios as if each patient account was evaluated on a contract-by-contract basis. The Company expects this process will be completed later in 2017. The Company is also in the process of assessing the impact of the new standard on various reimbursement programs that represent variable consideration, including settlements with third party payors, disproportionate share payments, supplemental state Medicaid programs, bundled payment of care programs and other reimbursement programs in which our hospitals participate. Due to the many different forms of calculation and reimbursement that these programs take that vary from state to state, the application of the new accounting standard could have an impact on the revenue recognized for variable consideration. Moreover, industry guidance is continuing to develop around this issue, and any conclusions in the final industry guidance that is inconsistent with the Company’s application could result in changes to the Company’s expectations regarding the impact that this new accounting standard could have on the Company’s financial statements.

Additionally, the adoption of the new accounting standard will impact the presentation on the Company’s statement of operations for a significant component of its provision for bad debts. After adoption of the new standard, the majority of what is currently classified as the provision for bad debts will be reflected as an implicit price concession as defined in the standard and therefore an adjustment to net patient revenue. The Company will continue to evaluate certain changes in collectability on its self-pay patient accounts receivable resulting from certain credit and collection issues not assessed at the date of service, including bankruptcy, and recognize such amounts in the provision for bad debts included in operating expenses on the statement of operations. The Company plans to elect to apply the full retrospective approach upon adoption. The Company cannot reasonably estimate at this time the quantitative impact that the adoption of this accounting standard will have on the financial statements of the Company.

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01, which amends the measurement, presentation and disclosure requirements for equity investments, other than those accounted for under the equity method or that require consolidation of the investee. The ASU eliminates the classification of equity investments as available-for-sale with any changes in fair value of such investments recognized in other comprehensive income, and requires entities to measure equity investments at fair value, with any changes in fair value recognized in net income. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, with early adoption permitted. The Company expects to adopt this ASU on January 1, 2018, and is currently evaluating the impact that adoption of this ASU will have on its consolidated financial position and results of operations.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, which amends the accounting for leases, requiring lessees to recognize most leases on their balance sheet with a right-of-use asset and a lease liability. Leases will be classified as either finance or operating leases, which will impact the expense recognition of such leases over the lease term. The ASU also modifies the lease classification criteria for lessors and eliminates some of the real estate leasing guidance previously applied for certain leasing transactions. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted. The Company expects to adopt this ASU on January 1, 2019. Because of the number of leases the Company utilizes to support its operations, the adoption of this ASU is expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position and results of operations. Management is currently evaluating the extent of this anticipated impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position and results of operations, and the quantitative and qualitative factors that will impact the Company as part of the adoption of this ASU, as well as any changes to its leasing strategy that may occur because of the changes to the accounting and recognition of leases.

COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) – (Continued)

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, which was issued to simplify some of the accounting guidance for share-based compensation. Among the areas impacted by the amendments in this ASU is the accounting for income taxes related to share-based payments, accounting for forfeitures, classification of awards as equity or liabilities, and classification on the statement of cash flows. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016. The Company adopted this ASU on January 1, 2017. Because of the decline in the Company’s stock price within the last 18 months, the principal impact from adopting this ASU has been a $16 million increase in the Company’s current provision for income taxes due to the deficiency created by a difference between the actual tax deduction that will be recognized from the vesting of outstanding share-based awards during the three months ended March 31, 2017, compared to the higher stock compensation expense previously recorded over the vesting period as determined based on the fair value of the restricted stock at the grant date.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04, which simplifies the accounting for goodwill impairment by eliminating step two from the goodwill impairment test. Instead of a two-step impairment model, if the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value as determined in step one of the impairment test, an impairment loss is measured at the amount equal to that excess, limited to the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. This ASU is effective for any interim or annual impairment tests for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, with early adoption permitted. As noted in the Company’s critical accounting policy discussion on goodwill, during the fourth quarter of 2016 the Company performed its annual goodwill impairment analysis. While the result of the step two valuation in that analysis did not indicate an impairment of goodwill, the initial calculation of hospital operations reporting unit fair value in the step one test indicated that the carrying amount of the hospital operations reporting unit exceeded its fair value by approximately $800 million. Depending on future changes in fair value and the impact of allocated goodwill for planned divestitures, at adoption there could be a material impairment charge recorded for this excess amount. The Company is evaluating whether to early adopt this ASU and what impact it will have on its consolidated financial position and results of operations.

In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-07, which changes the presentation of the components of net periodic benefit cost for sponsors of defined benefit plans for pensions. Under the changes in this ASU, the service cost component of net periodic benefit cost will be reported in the same income statement line as other employee compensation costs arising from services during the reporting period. The other components of net periodic benefit cost will be presented separately in a line item outside of operating income. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, with early adoption permitted. The Company expects to adopt this ASU on January 1, 2018, and is currently evaluating the impact that adoption of this ASU will have on its consolidated results of operations. Since the changes required in this new ASU only change the income statement classification of the components of net periodic benefit cost, no changes are expected to income from continuing operations or net income. Currently, the Company reports all of the components of net periodic benefit cost as a component of salaries and benefits on the consolidated statement of income.

2. ACCOUNTING FOR STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

Stock-based compensation awards have been granted under the Community Health Systems, Inc. Amended and Restated 2000 Stock Option and Award Plan, amended and restated as of March 20, 2013 (the “2000 Plan”), and the Community Health Systems, Inc. Amended and Restated 2009 Stock Option and Award Plan, which was amended and restated as of March 16, 2016 and approved by the Company’s stockholders at the annual meeting of stockholders held on May 17, 2016 (the “2009 Plan”).

The 2000 Plan allowed for the grant of incentive stock options intended to qualify under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code (the “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. 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 2011 have a 10-year contractual term. The Company has not granted stock option awards under the 2000 Plan since 2011. Pursuant to the amendment and restatement of the 2000 Plan dated March 20, 2013, no further grants will be awarded under the 2000 Plan.

COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) – (Continued)

The 2009 Plan 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. To date, all options granted under the 2009 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 in 2011 or later have a 10-year contractual term. As of March 31, 2017, 3,941,664 shares of unissued common stock were reserved for future grants under the 2009 Plan.

The exercise price of all options granted under the 2000 Plan and the 2009 Plan has been equal to the fair value of the Company’s common stock on the option grant date.

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 millions):


	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2017		2016
Effect on (loss) income from continuing operations before income taxes	$	(9)	$	(14)

Effect on net (loss) income	$	(6)	$	(8)

At March 31, 2017, $36 million of unrecognized stock-based compensation expense related to outstanding unvested restricted stock and restricted stock units (the terms of which are summarized below) was expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 24 months. There is no expense to be recognized related to stock options. There were no modifications to awards during the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016.

Options outstanding and exercisable under the 2000 Plan and the 2009 Plan as of March 31, 2017, and changes during the three-month period following December 31, 2016, were as follows (in millions, except share and per share data):


	Shares			Weighted- Average Exercise Price		Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Term		Aggregate Intrinsic Value as of March 31, 2017
Outstanding at December 31, 2016		1,185,320		$	28.12
Granted		-			-
Exercised		-			-
Forfeited and cancelled		(16,815	)		28.82

Outstanding at March 31, 2017		1,168,505		$	31.71		2.8 years	$	-

Exercisable at March 31, 2017		1,168,505		$	31.71		2.8 years	$	-

No stock options were granted during the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016. The aggregate intrinsic value (calculated as 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 ($8.87) 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 March 31, 2017. This amount changes based on the market value of the Company’s common stock. There were no options exercised during the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016. The aggregate intrinsic value of options vested and expected to vest approximates that of the outstanding options.

COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) – (Continued)

The Company has also awarded restricted stock under the 2000 Plan and the 2009 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 time-based vesting requirements. If the performance objective is not attained, the awards will be forfeited in their entirety. For such performance-based awards granted prior to 2017, 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. For performance-based awards granted beginning in March 2017, the performance objective is measured cumulatively over a three-year period. With respect to these performance-based awards granted beginning in March 2017, if the performance criteria are met at the end of three years, then the restricted stock award will vest in full. Additionally, for these awards, based on the level of achievement for the performance criteria, the number of shares to be issued in connection with the vesting of the award can be adjusted to decrease or increase the number of shares specified in the original award. Notwithstanding the above-mentioned performance objectives and vesting requirements, the restrictions with respect to restricted stock granted under the 2000 Plan and the 2009 Plan 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 that have not yet been satisfied are not considered outstanding for purposes of determining earnings per share until the performance objectives have been satisfied.

Restricted stock outstanding under the 2000 Plan and the 2009 Plan as of March 31, 2017, and changes during the three-month period following December 31, 2016, were as follows:


				Weighted-
				Average Grant
	Shares			Date Fair Value
Unvested at December 31, 2016		2,969,285		$	29.39
Granted		1,323,000			9.15
Vested		(1,470,171	)		35.31
Forfeited		(32,837	)		28.35

Unvested at March 31, 2017		2,789,277			16.69

Restricted stock units (“RSUs”) have been granted to the Company’s outside directors under the 2000 Plan and the 2009 Plan. On March 1, 2016, each of the Company’s outside directors received a grant under the 2009 Plan of 11,017 RSUs. On March 1, 2017, each of the Company’s outside directors received a grant under the 2009 Plan of 18,498 RSUs. The 2017 and 2016 grants had a grant date fair value of approximately $170,000. Vesting of these RSUs occurs in one-third increments on each of the first three anniversaries of the award date.

RSUs outstanding under the 2000 Plan and the 2009 Plan as of March 31, 2017, and changes during the three-month period following December 31, 2016, were as follows:


				Weighted-
				Average Grant
	Shares			Date Fair Value
Unvested at December 31, 2016		120,386		$	22.06
Granted		110,988			9.19
Vested		(48,876	)		29.95
Forfeited		-			-

Unvested at March 31, 2017		182,498			13.19

COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) – (Continued)

3. COST OF REVENUE

Substantially all of the Company’s operating costs and 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, which were $52 million and $60 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Included in these corporate office costs is stock-based compensation of $9 million and $14 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

4. USE OF ESTIMATES

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the condensed consolidated financial statements. Actual results could differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

5. ACQUISITIONS AND DIVESTITURES

Acquisitions

The Company accounts for all transactions that represent business combinations using the acquisition method of accounting, where the identifiable assets acquired, the liabilities assumed and any noncontrolling interest in the acquired entity are recognized and measured at their fair values on the date the Company obtains control in the acquiree. Such fair values that are not finalized for reporting periods following the acquisition date are estimated and recorded as provisional amounts. Adjustments to these provisional amounts during the measurement period (defined as the date through which all information required to identify and measure the consideration transferred, the assets acquired, the liabilities assumed and any noncontrolling interests has been obtained, limited to one year from the acquisition date) are recorded as of the date of acquisition. Goodwill is determined as the excess of the fair value of the consideration conveyed in the acquisition over the fair value of the net assets acquired.

Acquisition and integration expenses related to prospective and closed acquisitions included in other operating expenses on the condensed consolidated statements of (loss) income were less than $1 million and approximately $2 million during the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

On April 1, 2016, one or more subsidiaries of the Company completed the acquisition of an 80% interest in Physicians’ Specialty Hospital (20 licensed beds), a Medicare-certified specialty surgical hospital in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The total cash consideration paid for the 80% ownership interest in this joint venture was approximately $12 million, with additional consideration of $2 million assumed in liabilities, for a total consideration of $14 million. The value of the noncontrolling interest at acquisition was $2 million. Based upon the Company’s final purchase price allocation relating to this acquisition as of March 31, 2017, approximately $12 million of goodwill has been recorded.

On March 1, 2016, one or more subsidiaries of the Company completed the acquisition of an 80% ownership interest in a joint venture entity with Indiana University Health that includes substantially all of the assets of IU Health La Porte Hospital (“La Porte”) in La Porte, Indiana (227 licensed beds) and IU Health Starke Hospital (“Starke”) in Knox, Indiana (50 licensed beds), and affiliated outpatient centers and physician practices. The total cash consideration paid for the 80% ownership interest in this joint venture was approximately $96 million with additional consideration of $8 million assumed in liabilities, for a total consideration of $104 million. The value of the noncontrolling interest at acquisition was $25 million. Based upon the Company’s final purchase price allocation relating to this acquisition as of March 31, 2017, approximately $45 million of goodwill has been recorded.

Other Acquisitions

During the three months ended March 31, 2017, one or more subsidiaries of the Company paid approximately $2 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 the Company’s affiliated hospitals. In connection with these acquisitions, during the three months ended March 31, 2017, the Company allocated approximately $1 million of the consideration paid to property and equipment and net working capital and the remainder, approximately $1 million consisting of intangible assets that do not qualify for separate recognition, to goodwill.

COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) – (Continued)

Divestitures

In April 2014, FASB issued ASU 2014-08, which changed the requirements for reporting discontinued operations. Under this accounting standard, a discontinued operation is a disposal that represents a strategic shift that has (or will have) a major effect on an entity’s operations and financial results. Additional disclosures are required for significant components of the entity that are disposed of or are held for sale but do not qualify as discontinued operations. This ASU was adopted on January 1, 2015 and is required to be applied on a prospective basis for disposals or components initially classified as held for sale after adoption. As a result, the following divestitures occurring subsequent to the date of adoption are included in continuing operations for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016. Additionally, the impact of the hospitals and other assets spun off to QHC are discussed in Note 6 below.

On December 31, 2016, one or more subsidiaries of the Company sold an 80% majority ownership interest in the home care division to a subsidiary of Almost Family, Inc. for $128 million. In connection with the divestiture of a controlling interest in the home care division, the Company recorded a gain of approximately $91 million during the year ended December 31, 2016.

Effective September 3, 2016, one or more subsidiaries of the Company finalized an agreement to terminate the lease and cease operations of Alliance Health Blackwell (53 licensed beds) in Blackwell, Oklahoma, agreeing to terminate the lease with the landlord, The Blackwell Hospital Trust Authority. Income from continuing operations for the year ended December 31, 2016 includes an impairment charge of approximately $3 million related to the write-off of certain intangible assets abandoned as part of exiting the lease to operate this hospital.

Effective February 1, 2016, one or more subsidiaries of the Company sold Lehigh Regional Medical Center (88 licensed beds) in Lehigh Acres, Florida, (“Lehigh”) and related outpatient services to Prime Healthcare Services, Inc. (“Prime”) for approximately $11 million in cash. In connection with the divestiture of Lehigh, the Company recorded an impairment charge of approximately $4 million related to the allocated hospital reporting unit goodwill in 2016.

Effective January 1, 2016, one or more subsidiaries of the Company sold Bartow Regional Medical Center (72 licensed beds) in Bartow, Florida, (“Bartow”) and related outpatient services to BayCare Health Systems, Inc. for approximately $60 million in cash, which was received at a preliminary closing on December 31, 2015. In connection with the divestiture of Bartow, the Company recorded an impairment charge of approximately $5 million related to the allocated hospital reporting unit goodwill in 2016.

The financial results included in discontinued operations for divestitures or hospitals held for sale at December 31, 2014, prior to the Company’s adoption of ASU 2014-08, are summarized below.

During the year ended December 31, 2014, the Company made the decision to sell and began actively marketing several smaller hospitals. In addition, HMA entered into a definitive agreement to sell Williamson Memorial Hospital (76 licensed beds) located in Williamson, West Virginia prior to the HMA merger, and the Company has continued the effort to divest this facility. In connection with management’s decision to sell these hospitals, the Company has classified the results of operations of such hospitals as discontinued operations in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of (loss) income, and classified these hospitals as held for sale in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets.

Net operating revenues and loss from discontinued operations for the respective periods are as follows (in millions):


	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2017			2016

Net operating revenues	$	25		$	27

Loss from operations of entities sold or held for sale before income taxes		(2	)		-
Impairment of hospitals sold or held for sale		-			(2	)
Loss on sale, net		-			-

Loss from discontinued operations, before taxes		(2	)		(2	)
Income tax benefit		(1	)		(1	)

Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes	$	(1	)	$	(1	)

Interest expense was allocated to discontinued operations based on sale proceeds available for debt repayment.

COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) – (Continued)

The following table discloses amounts included in the condensed consolidated balance sheet classified as held for sale as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 (in millions):


	March 31, 2017		December 31, 2016
Other current assets	$	168	$	117
Other assets, net		1,304		878
Accrued liabilities		110		81

Other Hospital Closures

During the three months ended March 31, 2016, the Company announced the planned closure of McNairy Regional Hospital in Selmer, Tennessee. The Company recorded an impairment charge of approximately $7 million during the three months ended March 31, 2016, to adjust the fair value of the supplies inventory and long-lived assets of this hospital, including property and equipment and capitalized software costs, based on their estimated fair value and future utilization. McNairy Regional Hospital closed on May 19, 2016 and no additional impairment was recorded related to the closure of this facility.

6. SPIN-OFF OF QUORUM HEALTH CORPORATION

On April 29, 2016, the Company completed the spin-off of 38 hospitals and Quorum Health Resources, LLC into Quorum Health Corporation, an independent, publicly traded corporation. The transaction was structured to be generally tax free to the Company and its stockholders. The Company distributed, on a pro rata basis, all of the shares of QHC common stock to the Company’s stockholders of record as of April 22, 2016. These stockholders of record as of April 22, 2016 received a distribution of one share of QHC common stock for every four shares of Company common stock held as of the record date plus cash in lieu of any fractional shares. In recognition of the spin-off, the Company recorded a non-cash dividend of approximately $713 million during the year ended December 31, 2016, representing the net assets of QHC distributed to the Company’s stockholders. Immediately following the completion of the spin-off, the Company’s stockholders owned 100% of the outstanding shares of QHC common stock. Following the spin-off, QHC became an independent public company with its common stock listed for trading under the symbol “QHC” on the New York Stock Exchange.

In connection with the spin-off, the Company and QHC entered into a separation and distribution agreement as well as certain ancillary agreements on April 29, 2016. These agreements allocate between the Company and QHC the various assets, employees, liabilities and obligations (including investments, property and employee benefits and tax-related assets and liabilities) that comprise the separate companies and govern certain relationships between, and activities of, the Company and QHC for a period of time after the spin-off.

The results of operations for QHC through the date of the spin-off are presented in continuing operations in the condensed consolidated statements of (loss) income as the Company has determined that the spin-off of QHC does not meet the criteria as discontinued operations under ASU 2014-08.

Financial and statistical data reported in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (“Form 10-Q”) include QHC operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2016 (other than same-store operating results and data, which exclude QHC operating results). Summary financial results of QHC for the three months ended March 31, 2016 included in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of (loss) income are as follows:


	Three Months Ended
	March 31, 2016
Loss from operations before income taxes	$	(6)
Less: Income attributable to noncontrolling interests		-

Loss from operations before income taxes attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders	$	(6)

COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) – (Continued)

7. INCOME TAXES

The total amount of unrecognized benefit that would affect the effective tax rate, if recognized, was approximately $9 million as of March 31, 2017. A total of approximately $3 million of interest and penalties is included in the amount of the liability for uncertain tax positions at March 31, 2017. It is the Company’s policy to recognize interest and penalties related to unrecognized benefits in its condensed consolidated statements of (loss) income as income tax expense.

It is possible the amount of unrecognized tax benefit could change in the next 12 months as a result of a lapse of the statute of limitations and settlements with taxing authorities; however, the Company does not anticipate the change will have a material impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated results of operations or condensed consolidated financial position.

The Company, or one of its subsidiaries, files income tax returns in the United States federal jurisdiction and various state jurisdictions. The Company has extended the federal statute of limitations through June 30, 2017 for Triad Hospitals, Inc. for the tax periods ended December 31, 1999, December 31, 2000, April 30, 2001, June 30, 2001, December 31, 2001, December 31, 2002, December 31, 2003, December 31, 2004, December 31, 2005, December 31, 2006 and July 25, 2007. With few exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to state income tax examinations for years prior to 2013. The Company’s federal income tax returns for the 2009, 2010, 2014 and 2015 tax years are currently under examination by the Internal Revenue Service. The Company believes the results of these examinations will not be material to its consolidated results of operations or consolidated financial position. The Company has extended the federal statute of limitations through January 31, 2018 for Community Health Systems, Inc. for the tax periods ended December 31, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010, and through December 31, 2017 for the tax periods ended December 31, 2011 and 2012.

The Company’s effective tax rates were less than 0.1% and 41.3% for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Including the net income attributable to noncontrolling interests, which is not tax effected in the condensed consolidated statements of (loss) income, the effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016 would have been less than 0.1% and 68.4% respectively. This decrease in the Company’s effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2017, when compared to the three months ended March 31, 2016, was primarily due to the non-deductible nature of certain goodwill written off in the $250 million impairment and (loss) gain on sale of businesses for the three months ended March 31, 2017, and partially offset by approximately $16 million of tax expense recognized on the tax deficiency created by a difference between the actual tax deduction that will be recognized from the vesting of restricted stock during the three months ended March 31, 2017, compared to the higher stock compensation expense previously recorded over the vesting period as determined based on the fair value of the restricted stock at the grant date. This additional tax expense was a result of the adoption of ASU 2016-09, which changed the previously required accounting for such tax deficiencies through additional paid-in capital to recording such amounts as part of the tax provision in the period such restricted stock vests.

Cash paid for income taxes, net of refunds received, resulted in net cash paid of less than $1 million during both the three-month periods ended March 31, 2017 and 2016.

8. GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS

Goodwill

The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for the three months ended March 31, 2017 are as follows (in millions):


Balance as of December 31, 2016	$	6,521
Goodwill acquired as part of acquisitions during current year		1
Consideration and purchase price allocation adjustments for prior year’s acquisitions and other adjustments		(3)
Goodwill allocated to hospitals held for sale		(192)

Balance as of March 31, 2017	$	6,327

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 hospital operating segment meets the criteria to be classified as a single reporting unit. At March 31, 2017, the Company had approximately $6.3 billion of goodwill recorded, all of which resides at its hospital operations reporting unit.

COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) – (Continued)

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 utilizing a hypothetical purchase price allocation with the carrying value of the reporting unit’s goodwill. The Company performed its last annual goodwill evaluation during the fourth quarter of 2016. No impairment was indicated by this evaluation. The next annual goodwill evaluation will be performed during the fourth quarter of 2017, or sooner if the Company identifies certain indicators of impairment.

While no impairment was indicated by the fourth quarter of 2016 evaluation, the reduction in the Company’s fair value and the resulting goodwill impairment charge recorded during 2016 reduced the excess of fair value calculated in the step two analysis over the carrying value of the Company’s hospital operations reporting unit to an amount less than 1% of the Company’s carrying value. This minimal amount in the excess fair value over carrying value of the hospital operations reporting unit increases the risk that future declines in fair value could result in goodwill impairment. The determination of fair value in the Company’s goodwill impairment analysis is based on an estimate of fair value for each reporting unit utilizing known and estimated inputs at the evaluation date. Some of those inputs include, but are not limited to, the most recent price of the Company’s common stock or fair value of long-term debt, estimates of future revenue and expense growth, estimated market multiples expected capital expenditures, income tax rates, and costs of invested capital. Future estimates of fair value could be adversely affected if the actual outcome of one or more of these assumptions changes materially in the future, including further decline in the Company’s stock price or fair value of long-term debt, lower than expected hospital volumes, or increased operating costs. Such changes impacting the calculation of fair value could result in a material impairment charge in the future.

The Company estimates the fair value of the related reporting units using both a discounted cash flow model as well as a market 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.

During the three months ended June 30, 2016, the Company identified certain indicators of impairment requiring an interim goodwill impairment evaluation. Those indicators were primarily the decline in the Company’s market capitalization and fair value of long-term debt during the three months ended June 30, 2016, as well as a decrease in the estimated future earnings of the Company compared to the Company’s most recent annual evaluation. The Company performed an estimated calculation of fair value in step one of the impairment test at June 30, 2016, which indicated that the carrying value of its hospital operations reporting unit exceeded its fair value. An initial step two calculation was performed to determine the implied value of goodwill in a hypothetical purchase price allocation. The Company recorded an estimated non-cash impairment charge of $1.4 billion to goodwill at June 30, 2016 based on these analyses, and adjusted the estimated impairment charge based on the final step two valuation of $1.395 billion at September 30, 2016. The decrease in the goodwill impairment as of September 30, 2016, from the original estimate as of June 30, 2016, was primarily due to lower estimated fair values of the individual hospital property and equipment assets as compared to the assumptions used in the June 30, 2016 estimate, resulting in a higher implied goodwill amount when applied to a hypothetical purchase price allocation as required in the step two analysis. This impairment charge taken during 2016 represents the cumulative amount of impairment recorded historically on the Company’s goodwill.

The determination of fair value of the Company’s hospital operations reporting unit represents a Level 3 fair value measurement in the fair value hierarchy due to its use of internal projections and unobservable measurement inputs.

These impairment charges do not have an impact on the calculation of the Company’s financial covenants under the Company’s Credit Facility.

COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) – (Continued)

Intangible Assets

No intangible assets other than goodwill were acquired during the three months ended March 31, 2017. The gross carrying amount of the Company’s other intangible assets subject to amortization was $18 million at March 31, 2017 and $41 million at December 31, 2016, respectively, and the net carrying amount was $13 million at March 31, 2017 and $14 million at December 31, 2016, respectively. The carrying amount of the Company’s other intangible assets not subject to amortization was $79 million at March 31, 2017 and $86 million at December 31, 2016, respectively. Other intangible assets are included in other assets, net on the Company’s condensed 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 remaining amortization period for the intangible assets subject to amortization is approximately six years. There are no expected residual values related to these intangible assets. Amortization expense on these intangible assets was $2 million and $4 million during the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Amortization expense on intangible assets is estimated to be $3 million for the remainder of 2017, $3 million in 2018, $2 million in 2019, $1 million in 2020, $1 million in 2021, $1 million in 2022 and $2 million thereafter.

The gross carrying amount of capitalized software for internal use was approximately $1.4 billion at March 31, 2017 and $1.3 billion at December 31, 2016, and the net carrying amount was approximately $585 million at March 31, 2017 and $574 million at December 31, 2016. 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 to ten years. There is no expected residual value for capitalized internal-use software. At March 31, 2017, there was approximately $49 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 on capitalized internal-use software was $49 million and $55 million during the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Amortization expense on capitalized internal-use software is estimated to be $152 million for the remainder of 2017, $140 million in 2018, $92 million in 2019, $58 million in 2020, $52 million in 2021, $38 million in 2022 and $53 million thereafter.

COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) – (Continued)

9. 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 (loss) income from continuing operations, discontinued operations and net (loss) income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. common stockholders (in millions, except share data):


	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2017		2016
Numerator:
(Loss) income from continuing operations, net of taxes	$	(176)	$	37
Less: Income from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests, net of taxes		22		25

(Loss) income from continuing operations attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. common stockholders — basic and diluted	$	(198)	$	12

Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes	$	(1)	$	(1)
Less: Loss from discontinued operations attributable to noncontrolling interests, net of taxes		-		-

Loss from discontinued operations attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. common stockholders — basic and diluted	$	(1)	$	(1)


Denominator:
Weighted-average number of shares outstanding — basic		111,252,331		110,247,867
Effect of dilutive securities:
Restricted stock awards		-		45,257
Employee stock options		-		13,038
Other equity-based awards		-		3,210

Weighted-average number of shares outstanding — diluted		111,252,331		110,309,372


The Company generated a loss from continuing operations attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. common stockholders for the three months ended March 31, 2017, so the effect of dilutive securities is not considered because their effect would be antidilutive. If the Company had generated income from continuing operations during the three months ended March 31, 2017, the effect of restricted stock awards on the diluted shares calculation would have been an increase of 78,773 shares.

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2017		2016
Dilutive securities outstanding not included in the computation of earnings per share because their effect is antidilutive:
Employee stock options and restricted stock awards		3,507,729		2,672,726

10. 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 March 31, 2017, 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.

COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) – (Continued)

On November 6, 2015, the Company adopted an open market repurchase program for up to 10,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, not to exceed $300 million in repurchases. The repurchase program will expire on the earlier of November 5, 2018, when the maximum number of shares has been repurchased, or when the maximum dollar amount has been expended. During the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company repurchased and retired 532,188 shares at a weighted-average price of $27.31 per share, which is the cumulative number of shares repurchased and retired under this program. No shares were repurchased under this program during the year ended December 31, 2016. In addition, no shares were repurchased under this program during the three months ended March 31, 2017.

The Company is a holding company which operates through its subsidiaries. The Company’s Credit Facility and the indentures governing the senior and senior secured notes contain various covenants under which the assets of the subsidiaries of the Company are subject to certain restrictions relating to, among other matters, dividends and distributions, as referenced in the paragraph below.

With the exception of a special cash dividend of $0.25 per share paid by the Company in December 2012, historically, the Company has not paid any cash dividends. Subject to certain exceptions, the Company’s Credit Facility limits the ability of the Company’s subsidiaries to pay dividends and make distributions to the Company, and limits the Company’s ability to pay dividends and/or repurchase stock, to an amount not to exceed $200 million in the aggregate plus an additional $25 million in any particular year plus the aggregate amount of proceeds from the exercise of stock options. The indentures governing the senior and senior secured notes also restrict the Company’s subsidiaries from, among other matters, paying dividends and making distributions to the Company, which thereby limits the Company’s ability to pay dividends and/or repurchase stock. The non-cash dividend of approximately $713 million recorded by the Company during the year ended December 31, 2016 to reflect the distribution of the net assets of QHC was a permitted transaction under the Company’s Credit Facility. As of March 31, 2017, under the most restrictive test under these agreements (and subject to certain exceptions), the Company has approximately $318 million remaining available with which to pay permitted dividends and/or repurchase shares of stock or its senior and senior secured notes.

The following schedule presents the reconciliation of the carrying amount of total equity, equity attributable to the Company, and equity attributable to the noncontrolling interests for the three-month period ended March 31, 2017 (in millions):


			Community Health Systems, Inc. Stockholders
	Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest		Common Stock		Additional Paid-In Capital		Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)		Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit)		Noncontrolling Interest		Total Stockholders’ Equity
Balance, December 31, 2016	$	554	$	1	$	1,975	$	(62)	$	(299)	$	113	$	1,728

Comprehensive income		17		-		-		8		(199)		5		(186)

Contributions from noncontrolling interests		5		-		-		-		-		-		-

Distributions to noncontrolling interests		(22)		-		-		-		-		(6)		(6)

Purchase of subsidiary shares from noncontrolling interests		(4)		-		-		-		-		-		-

Disposition of less-than-wholly owned entity		4		-		-		-		-		(2)		(2)

Other reclassifications of noncontrolling interests		(1)		-		-		-		-		1		1

Noncontrolling interests in acquired entity		-		-		-		-		-		1		1

Adjustment to redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interests		(1)		-		1		-		-		-		1

Cancellation of restricted stock for tax withholdings on vested shares		-		-		(5)		-		-		-		(5)

Share-based compensation		-		-		9		-		-		-		9

Balance, March 31, 2017	$	552	$	1	$	1,980	$	(54)	$	(498)	$	112	$	1,541

COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) – (Continued)

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 millions):


	Three Months Ended
	March 31, 2017
Net loss attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders	$	(199	)
Transfers from the noncontrolling interests:
Net decrease in Community Health Systems, Inc. paid-in-capital for purchase of subsidiary partnership interests		-

Net transfers from the noncontrolling interests		-

Change to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders’ equity from net loss attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders and transfers to noncontrolling interests	$	(199)

11. EQUITY INVESTMENTS

As of March 31, 2017, the Company owned equity interests of 38.0% in three hospitals in Macon, Georgia, in which HCA Holdings, Inc. (“HCA”) owned the majority interest. On December 31, 2016, the Company sold 80% of its ownership interest in the legal entity that owned and operated its home care agency business. As part of the divestiture of its controlling interest in the home care agency business, the Company recorded an equity method investment representing its remaining 20% ownership at a fair value of $32 million.

In March 2005, the Company began purchasing items, primarily medical supplies, medical equipment and pharmaceuticals, under an agreement with HealthTrust Purchasing Group, L.P. (“HealthTrust”), a group purchasing organization in which the Company is a noncontrolling partner. As of March 31, 2017, the Company had a 23.1% ownership interest in HealthTrust.

The Company’s investment in all of its unconsolidated affiliates was $175 million and $177 million at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively, and is included in other assets, net in the accompanying condensed 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 $3 million and $20 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) – (Continued)

12. LONG-TERM DEBT

Long-term debt, net of unamortized debt issuance costs and discounts or premiums, consists of the following (in millions):


	March 31,		December 31,
	2017		2016
Credit Facility:
Term A Loan	$	712	$	749
Term F Loan		-		1,445
Term G Loan		1,528		1,528
Term H Loan		2,811		2,811
Revolving credit loans		-		-
8% Senior Notes due 2019		1,925		1,925
7¹⁄₈% Senior Notes due 2020		1,200		1,200
5¹⁄₈% Senior Secured Notes due 2018		-		700
5¹⁄₈% Senior Secured Notes due 2021		1,000		1,000
6⁷⁄₈% Senior Notes due 2022		3,000		3,000
6¹⁄₄% Senior Secured Notes due 2023		2,200		-
Receivables Facility		700		677
Capital lease obligations		319		328
Other		61		74
Less: Unamortized deferred debt issuance costs and note premium		(211)		(193)

Total debt		15,245		15,244
Less: Current maturities		(558)		(455)

Total long-term debt	$	14,687	$	14,789

Credit Facility

The Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, CHS, has senior secured financing under a credit facility with a syndicate of financial institutions led by Credit Suisse, as administrative agent and collateral agent. In connection with the HMA merger, the Company and CHS entered into a third amendment and restatement of its credit facility (the “Credit Facility”), providing for additional financing and recapitalization of certain of the Company’s term loans, including (i) the replacement of the revolving credit facility with a new $1.0 billion revolving facility maturing in 2019 (the “Revolving Facility”), (ii) the addition of a new $1.0 billion Term A facility due 2019 (the “Term A Facility”), (iii) a Term D facility in an aggregate principal amount equal to approximately $4.6 billion due 2021 (which included certain term C loans that were converted into such Term D facility (collectively, the “Term D Facility”)), (iv) the conversion of certain term C loans into Term E Loans and the borrowing of new Term E Loans in an aggregate principal amount of approximately $1.7 billion due 2017 and (v) the addition of flexibility commensurate with the Company’s post-acquisition structure. In addition to funding a portion of the consideration in connection with the HMA merger, some of the proceeds of the Term A Facility and Term D Facility were used to refinance the outstanding $637 million existing term A facility due 2016 and the $60 million of term B loans due 2014, respectively. The Revolving Facility includes a subfacility for letters of credit.

COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) – (Continued)

On March 9, 2015, CHS entered into Amendment No. 1 and Incremental Term Loan Assumption Agreement to refinance the existing Term E Loans due 2017 into Term F Loans due 2018, in an original aggregated principal amount of $1.7 billion (the “Term F Facility”). On May 18, 2015, CHS entered into an Incremental Term Loan Assumption Agreement to provide for a new $1.6 billion incremental Term G facility due 2019 (the “Term G Facility”) and a new approximately $2.9 billion incremental Term H facility due 2021 (the “Term H Facility”). The proceeds of the Term G Facility and Term H Facility were used to repay the Company’s existing Term D Facility in full. Pursuant to a special distribution paid by QHC to the Company as part of the series of transactions to complete the spin-off, the Company received approximately $1.2 billion in cash generated from the net proceeds of certain financing arrangements entered into by QHC as part of the separation. On April 29, 2016, using part of the cash generated from the QHC spin-off, the Company repaid approximately $190 million of its Term F Facility. On December 30, 2016, using the cash generated from the sale of a majority ownership in the Company’s home care division and from the completion of the sale-lease back transaction for ten of the Company’s owned medical office buildings, the Company repaid approximately $48 million of the Term F Facility, approximately $26 million of the Term A Facility, approximately $52 million of the Term G Facility and $96 million of the Term H Facility. On March 16, 2017, CHS issued a $2.2 billion aggregate principal 6¹⁄₄% Senior Secured Notes due 2023 (the “2023 Senior Secured Notes”), a portion of the net proceeds of which was used to repay the Company’s existing Term F Facility in full.

On December 5, 2016, CHS entered into Amendment No. 2 to the Credit Facility (“Amendment No. 2”) to adjust upward the maximum leverage ratios and adjust downward the minimum interest coverage ratio the Company is required to comply with each fiscal quarter through and including the fiscal quarter ending December 31, 2017 under the financial maintenance covenants in the Credit Facility. In connection with Amendment No. 2, the Company agreed to certain other additional undertakings for the benefit of the lenders under the Revolving Facility and the Term A Facility.

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’ 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 0.50% 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) LIBOR. Loans in respect of the Revolving Facility and the Term A Facility will accrue interest at a rate per annum initially equal to LIBOR plus 2.75%, in the case of LIBOR borrowings, and Alternate Base Rate plus 1.75%, in the case of Alternate Base Rate borrowings. In addition, the margin in respect of the Revolving Facility and the Term A Facility will be subject to adjustment determined by reference to a leverage-based pricing grid. Loans in respect of the Term F Facility will accrue interest at a rate per annum equal to LIBOR plus 3.25%, in the case of LIBOR borrowings, and Alternate Base Rate plus 2.25%, in the case of Alternate Base Rate borrowings. The Term G Loan and Term H Loan will accrue interest at a rate per annum equal to LIBOR plus 2.75% and 3.00%, respectively, in the case of LIBOR borrowings, and Alternate Base Rate plus 1.75% and 2.00%, respectively, in the case of Alternate Base Rate borrowings. The Term G Loan and the Term H Loan are subject to a 1.00% LIBOR floor and a 2.00% Alternate Base Rate floor.

Under the Term A Facility, CHS is required to make amortization payments in aggregate amounts equal to 15% of the original principal amount of the Term A Facility in 2017 and 45% of the original principal amount of the Term A Facility in 2018. Under the Term H Facility, CHS is required to make amortization payments in aggregate amounts equal to 1% of the original principal amount of the Term H Facility each year. As of December 31, 2016, no additional amortization payments were required to be made under the Term F Facility or the Term G Facility.

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 (provided that, in connection with Amendment No. 2, CHS agreed with the lenders under the Revolving Facility and the Term A Facility not to exercise such reinvestment rights prior to January 1, 2018), (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, 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.

COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) – (Continued)

The borrower under the Credit Facility is CHS. All of the obligations under the Credit Facility are unconditionally guaranteed by the Company and certain of its 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. Such assets constitute substantially the same assets, subject to certain exceptions, that secure CHS’ obligations under the 2021 Senior Secured Notes (as defined below) and the 2023 Senior Secured Notes.

CHS has agreed to pay letter of credit fees equal to the applicable percentage then in effect with respect to LIBOR borrowings under the Revolving 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 is obligated to pay commitment fees of 0.50% per annum (subject to adjustment based upon the Company’s leverage ratio) on the unused portion of the Revolving Facility.

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 maximum secured net leverage ratio and an interest coverage ratio) and various affirmative covenants. Under the Credit Facility, the secured net leverage ratio is calculated as the ratio of total secured debt, less unrestricted cash and cash equivalents, to consolidated EBITDA, as defined in the Credit Facility, and the interest coverage ratio is the ratio of consolidated EBITDA, as defined in the Credit Facility, to consolidated interest expense for the period. The calculation of consolidated EBITDA as defined in the Credit Facility is a trailing 12-month calculation that begins with net income attributable to the Company, with certain pro forma adjustments to consider the impact of material acquisitions or divestitures, and adjustments for interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, net income attributable to noncontrolling interests, stock compensation expense, restructuring costs, and the financial impact of other non-cash or non-recurring items recorded during any such 12-month period. For the 12-month period ended March 31, 2017, the secured net leverage ratio financial covenant in the Credit Facility limited the ratio of secured debt to EBITDA, as defined, to less than or equal to 4.50 to 1.00, which will decrease to 4.00 to 1.00 on January 1, 2018. For the 12-month period ended March 31, 2017, the interest coverage ratio financial covenant in the Credit Facility required the ratio of consolidated EBITDA, as defined, to consolidated interest expense to be greater than or equal to 2.00 to 1.00, which will increase to 2.25 to 1.00 on January 1, 2018. The Company was in compliance with all such covenants at March 31, 2017, with a secured net leverage ratio of approximately 3.99 to 1.00 and an interest coverage ratio of approximately 2.39 to 1.00.

Events of default under the Credit Facility include, but are not limited to, (1) CHS’ 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 an available cure through the issuance of qualified equity for a period of 60 days after the end of the first three quarters and 100 days after a year end, (4) bankruptcy and insolvency 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 (as defined), (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.

As of March 31, 2017, the availability for additional borrowings under the Credit Facility, subject to certain limitations as set forth in the Credit Facility, was approximately $1.0 billion pursuant to the Revolving Facility, of which $56 million is in the form of outstanding letters of credit. CHS has the ability to amend the Credit Facility to provide for one or more tranches of term loans or increases in the Revolving Facility in an aggregate principal amount of up to $1.5 billion, only $750 million of which is effectively available because of the Company’s additional undertakings in connection with Amendment No. 2. As of March 31, 2017, the weighted-average interest rate under the Credit Facility, excluding swaps, was 5.1%.

COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) – (Continued)

8% Senior Notes due 2019

On November 22, 2011, CHS completed a private offering of $1.0 billion aggregate principal amount of 8% Senior Notes due 2019 (the “8% Senior Notes”). The net proceeds from this issuance, together with available cash on hand, were used to finance the purchase of up to $1.0 billion aggregate principal amount of CHS’ then outstanding 8⁷⁄₈% Senior Notes due 2015 and related fees and expenses. On March 21, 2012, CHS completed an offering of an additional $1.0 billion aggregate principal amount of 8% Senior Notes, which were issued in a private placement (at a premium of 102.5%). The net proceeds from this issuance were used to finance the purchase of approximately $850 million aggregate principal amount of CHS’ then outstanding 8⁷⁄₈% Senior Notes due 2015, to pay related fees and expenses and for general corporate purposes. The 8% Senior Notes bear interest at 8% per annum, payable semiannually in arrears on May 15 and November 15. Interest on the 8% Senior 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.

CHS is entitled, at its option, to redeem all or a portion of the 8% Senior Notes upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice, at the following 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 periods set forth below:


Period	Redemption Price
November 15, 2016 to November 14, 2017		102.000	%
November 15, 2017 to November 14, 2019		100.000	%

Pursuant to a registration rights agreement entered into at the time of the issuance of the 8% Senior Notes, as a result of an exchange offer made by CHS, substantially all of the 8% Senior Notes issued in November 2011 and March 2012 were exchanged in May 2012 for new notes (the “8% Exchange Notes”) having terms substantially identical in all material respects to the 8% Senior Notes (except that the 8% Exchange Notes were issued under a registration statement pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”)). References to the 8% Senior Notes shall also be deemed to include the 8% Exchange Notes unless the context provides otherwise.

During the year ended December 31, 2016, the Company repurchased approximately $75 million of aggregate principal amount of outstanding 8% Senior Notes in open market transactions.

7¹⁄₈% Senior Notes due 2020

On July 18, 2012, CHS completed a public offering of 7¹⁄₈% Senior Notes due 2020 (the “7¹⁄₈% Senior Notes”). The net proceeds from this issuance were used to finance the purchase or redemption of $934 million aggregate principal amount of CHS’ then outstanding 8⁷⁄₈% Senior Notes due 2015, to pay for consents delivered in connection with a related tender offer, to pay related fees and expenses, and for general corporate purposes. The 7¹⁄₈% Senior Notes bear interest at 7.125% per annum, payable semiannually in arrears on July 15 and January 15. Interest on the 7¹⁄₈% Senior 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.

CHS is entitled, at its option, to redeem all or a portion of the 7¹⁄₈% Senior Notes upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice, at the following 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 periods set forth below:


Period	Redemption Price
July 15, 2016 to July 14, 2017		103.563	%
July 15, 2017 to July 14, 2018		101.781	%
July 15, 2018 to July 15, 2020		100.000	%

COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) – (Continued)

5¹⁄₈% Senior Secured Notes due 2018

On August 17, 2012, CHS completed a public offering of 5¹⁄₈% Senior Secured Notes due 2018 (the “2018 Senior Secured Notes”). The net proceeds from this issuance, together with available cash on hand, were used to finance the prepayment of $1.6 billion of the then outstanding term loans due 2014 under the Credit Facility and related fees and expenses. The 2018 Senior Secured Notes bore interest at 5.125% per annum, payable semiannually in arrears on August 15 and February 15. The 2018 Senior Secured Notes were secured by a first-priority lien subject to a shared lien of equal priority with certain other obligations, including obligations under the Credit Facility and the 2021 Senior Secured Notes, and subject to prior ranking liens permitted by the indenture governing the 2018 Senior Secured Notes on substantially the same assets, subject to certain exceptions, that secure CHS’ obligations under the Credit Facility and the 2021 Senior Secured Notes.

CHS was entitled, at its option, to redeem all or a portion of the 2018 Senior Secured Notes upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice, at the following 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 periods set forth below:


Period	Redemption Price
August 15, 2016 to August 14, 2017		101.281	%
August 15, 2017 to August 14, 2018		100.000	%

On May 16, 2016, using part of the cash generated from the QHC spin-off, the Company completed a cash tender offer for $900 million aggregate principal amount outstanding of the 2018 Senior Secured Notes.

During the three months ended March 31, 2017, using a portion of the net proceeds from the issuance of the 2023 Senior Secured Notes, CHS completed its tender offer of $469 million of the then $700 million aggregate outstanding principal amount of the 2018 Senior Secured Notes and thereafter redeemed the remaining $231 million aggregate principal amount of 2018 Senior Secured Notes pursuant to a redemption notice previously given by CHS.

5¹⁄₈% Senior Secured Notes due 2021

On January 27, 2014, CHS completed a private offering of $1.0 billion aggregate principal amount of 5¹⁄₈% Senior Secured Notes due 2021 (the “2021 Senior Secured Notes”). The net proceeds from this issuance were used to finance the HMA merger. The 2021 Senior Secured Notes bear interest at 5.125% per annum, payable semiannually in arrears on February 1 and August 1. Interest on the 2021 Senior Secured 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. The 2021 Senior Secured Notes are secured by a first-priority lien, subject to a shared lien of equal priority with certain other obligations, including obligations under the Credit Facility and the 2023 Senior Secured Notes, and subject to prior ranking liens permitted by the indenture governing the 2021 Senior Secured Notes, on substantially the same assets, subject to certain exceptions, that secure CHS’ obligations under the Credit Facility and the 2023 Senior Secured Notes.

CHS is entitled, at its option, to redeem all or a portion of the 2021 Senior Secured Notes upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice, at the following 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 periods set forth below:


Period	Redemption Price
February 1, 2017 to January 31, 2018		103.844	%
February 1, 2018 to January 31, 2019		102.563	%
February 1, 2019 to January 31, 2020		101.281	%
February 1, 2020 to January 31, 2021		100.000	%

COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) – (Continued)

Pursuant to a registration rights agreement entered into at the time of the issuance of the 2021 Senior Secured Notes, as a result of an exchange offer made by CHS, all of the 2021 Senior Secured Notes issued in January 2014 were exchanged in October 2014 for new notes (the “2021 Exchange Notes”) having terms substantially identical in all material respects to the 2021 Senior Secured Notes (except that the exchange notes were issued under a registration statement pursuant to the 1933 Act). References to the 2021 Senior Secured Notes shall be deemed to be the 2021 Exchange Notes unless the context provides otherwise.

6⁷⁄₈% Senior Notes due 2022

On January 27, 2014, CHS completed a private offering of $3.0 billion aggregate principal amount of 6⁷⁄₈% Senior Notes due 2022 (the “6⁷⁄₈% Senior Notes”). The net proceeds from this issuance were used to finance the HMA merger. The 6⁷⁄₈% Senior Notes bear interest at 6.875% per annum, payable semiannually in arrears on February 1 and August 1. Interest on the 6⁷⁄₈% Senior 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.

Prior to February 1, 2018, CHS may redeem some or all of the 6⁷⁄₈% Senior Notes at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, plus a “make-whole” premium, as described in the indenture governing the 6⁷⁄₈% Senior Notes. After February 1, 2018, CHS is entitled, at its option, to redeem all or a portion of the 6⁷⁄₈% Senior Notes upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice, at the following 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 periods set forth below:


Period	Redemption Price
February 1, 2018 to January 31, 2019		103.438	%
February 1, 2019 to January 31, 2020		101.719	%
February 1, 2020 to January 31, 2022		100.000	%

Pursuant to a registration rights agreement entered into at the time of the issuance of the 6⁷⁄₈% Senior Notes, as a result of an exchange offer made by CHS, all of the 6⁷⁄₈% Senior Notes issued in January 2014 were exchanged in October 2014 for new notes (the “6⁷⁄₈% Exchange Notes”) having terms substantially identical in all material respects to the 6⁷⁄₈% Senior Notes (except that the exchange notes were issued under a registration statement pursuant to the 1933 Act). References to the 6⁷⁄₈% Senior Notes shall be deemed to be the 6⁷⁄₈% Exchange Notes unless the context provides otherwise.

6¹⁄₄% Senior Secured Notes due 2023

On March 16, 2017, CHS completed a public offering of $2.2 billion aggregate principal amount of 2023 Senior Secured Notes. The net proceeds from this issuance were used to finance the purchase or redemption of $700 million aggregate principal amount of CHS’ then outstanding 2018 Senior Secured Notes and related fees and expenses, and $1.4 billion of the Term F Facility. The 2023 Senior Secured Notes bear interest at 6.250% per annum, payable semiannually in arrears on March 31 and September 30, commencing September 30, 2017. Interest on the 2023 Senior Secured 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. The 2023 Senior Secured Notes are secured by a first-priority lien subject to a shared lien of equal priority with certain other obligations, including obligations under the Credit Facility and the 2021 Senior Secured Notes, and subject to prior ranking liens permitted by the indenture governing the 2023 Senior Secured Notes on substantially the same assets, subject to certain exceptions, that secure CHS’ obligations under the Credit Facility and the 2021 Senior Secured Notes.

CHS is entitled, at its option, to redeem all or a portion of the 2023 Senior Secured Notes at any time prior to March 31, 2020, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice, at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the 2023 Senior Secured Notes redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, plus a “make-whole” premium, as described in the indenture governing the 2023 Senior Secured Notes. In addition, CHS may redeem up to 40% of the aggregate principal amount of the 2023 Senior Secured Notes at any time prior to March 31, 2020 using the net proceeds from certain equity offerings at the redemption price of 106.250% of the principal amount of the 2023 Senior Secured Notes redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any.

COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) – (Continued)

CHS may redeem some or all of the 2023 Senior Secured Notes at any time on or after March 31, 2020 upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice, at the following 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 periods set forth below:


Period	Redemption Price
March 31, 2020 to March 30, 2021		103.125	%
March 31, 2021 to March 30, 2022		101.563	%
March 31, 2022 to March 30, 2023		100.000	%

Receivables Facility

On March 21, 2012, through certain of its subsidiaries, CHS entered into an accounts receivable loan agreement (the “Receivables Facility”) with a group of lenders and banks, Credit Agricolé Corporate and Investment Bank, as a managing agent and as the administrative agent, and The Bank of Nova Scotia, as a managing agent. On March 7, 2013, CHS and certain of its subsidiaries amended the Receivables Facility to add an additional managing agent, The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd., to increase the size of the facility from $300 million to $500 million and to extend the scheduled termination date. Additional subsidiaries also agreed to participate in the Receivables Facility as of that date. On March 31, 2014, CHS and certain of its subsidiaries amended the Receivables Facility to increase the size of the facility from $500 million to $700 million and to extend the scheduled termination date. Additional subsidiaries also agreed to participate in the Receivables Facility as of that date. On November 13, 2015, CHS and certain of its subsidiaries amended the Receivables Facility to extend the scheduled termination date and amend certain other provisions thereof. On November 18, 2016, CHS and certain of its subsidiaries amended the Receivables Facility to extend the scheduled termination date in respect of a $450 million portion of the commitments thereunder and amend certain other provisions thereof. The existing and future non-self pay patient-related accounts receivable (the “Receivables”) for certain affiliated hospitals serve as collateral for the outstanding borrowings under the Receivables Facility. The interest rate on the borrowings is based on the commercial paper rate plus an applicable interest rate spread. Unless earlier terminated or subsequently extended pursuant to its terms, the Receivables Facility will expire on November 13, 2017 in respect of a $250 million portion of the commitments thereunder and November 13, 2018 in respect of the remaining $450 million of commitments thereunder, subject to customary termination events that could cause an early termination date. CHS maintains effective control over the Receivables because, pursuant to the terms of the Receivables Facility, the Receivables are sold from certain of CHS’ subsidiaries to CHS, and CHS then sells or contributes the Receivables to a special-purpose entity that is wholly-owned by CHS. The wholly-owned special-purpose entity in turn grants security interests in the Receivables in exchange for borrowings obtained from the group of third-party lenders and banks of up to $700 million outstanding from time to time based on the availability of eligible Receivables and other customary factors. The wholly-owned special-purpose entity is not a subsidiary guarantor under the Credit Facility or CHS’ outstanding notes. The group of third-party lenders and banks do not have recourse to CHS or its subsidiaries beyond the assets of the wholly-owned special-purpose entity that collateralizes the loan. The Receivables and other assets of the wholly-owned special-purpose entity will be available first and foremost to satisfy the claims of the creditors of such entity. The outstanding borrowings pursuant to the Receivables Facility at March 31, 2017 totaled $700 million with approximately $450 million classified as long-term debt on the condensed consolidated balance sheet. At March 31, 2017, the carrying amount of Receivables included in the Receivables Facility totaled approximately $1.9 billion and is included in patient accounts receivable on the condensed consolidated balance sheet.

Loss from Early Extinguishment of Debt

The financing and repayment transactions discussed above resulted in a loss from the early extinguishment of debt of $21 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and an after-tax loss of $13 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017.

Other Debt

As of March 31, 2017, other debt consisted primarily of other obligations maturing in various installments through 2021.

COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) – (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 10 separate interest swap agreements in effect at March 31, 2017, with an aggregate notional amount for currently effective swaps of $2.6 billion. 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, interest on the Revolving Facility and the Term A Facility at a rate per annum equal to LIBOR plus 2.50%. The Term G Loan and Term H Loan accrue interest at a rate per annum equal to LIBOR plus 2.75% and 3.00%, in the case of LIBOR borrowings, respectively, and Alternate Base Rate plus 1.75% and 2.00%, respectively, in the case of Alternate Base Rate Borrowings. The Term G Loan and the Term H Loan are subject to a 1.00% LIBOR floor and a 2.00% Alternate Base Rate floor. See Note 13 for additional information regarding these swaps.

The Company paid interest of $279 million and $307 million on borrowings during the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

13. FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

The fair value of financial instruments has been estimated by the Company using available market information as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, and valuation methodologies considered appropriate. The estimates presented in the table below are not necessarily indicative of amounts the Company could realize in a current market exchange (in millions):


	March 31, 2017				December 31, 2016
	Carrying Amount		Estimated Fair Value		Carrying Amount		Estimated Fair Value
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	247	$	247	$	238	$	238
Available-for-sale securities		303		303		299		299
Trading securities		51		51		80		80
Liabilities:
Contingent Value Right		2		2		1		1
Credit Facility		4,990		5,002		6,456		6,370
8% Senior Notes		1,920		1,892		1,920		1,615
7¹⁄₈% Senior Notes		1,190		1,106		1,189		917
5¹⁄₈% Senior Secured Notes due 2018		-		-		698		690
5¹⁄₈% Senior Secured Notes due 2021		974		990		972		930
6⁷⁄₈% Senior Notes		2,934		2,582		2,932		2,102
6¹⁄₄% Senior Secured Notes due 2023		2,159		2,236		-		-
Receivables Facility and other debt		759		759		749		749

The carrying value of the Company’s long-term debt in the above table is presented net of unamortized deferred debt issuance costs. The estimated fair value is determined using the methodologies discussed below in accordance with accounting standards related to the determination of fair value based on the U.S. GAAP fair value hierarchy as discussed in Note 14. The estimated fair value for financial instruments with a fair value that does not equal its carrying value is considered a Level 1 valuation. The Company utilizes the market approach and obtains indicative pricing from the administrative agent to the Credit Facility to determine fair values or through publicly available subscription services such as Bloomberg where relevant.

Cash and cash equivalents. The carrying amount approximates fair value due to the short-term maturity of these instruments (less than three months).

Available-for-sale securities. Estimated fair value is based on closing price as quoted in public markets or other various valuation techniques.

Trading securities. Estimated fair value is based on closing price as quoted in public markets.

Contingent Value Right. Estimated fair value is based on the closing price as quoted on the public market where the CVR is traded.

Credit Facility. Estimated fair value is based on publicly available trading activity and supported with information from the Company’s bankers regarding relevant pricing for trading activity among the Company’s lending institutions.

COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) – (Continued)

8% Senior Notes. Estimated fair value is based on the closing market price for these notes.

7¹⁄₈% Senior Notes. Estimated fair value is based on the closing market price for these notes.

5¹⁄₈% Senior Secured Notes due 2018. Estimated fair value is based on the closing market price for these notes.

5¹⁄₈% Senior Secured Notes due 2021. Estimated fair value is based on the closing market price for these notes.

6⁷⁄₈% Senior Notes. Estimated fair value is based on the closing market price for these notes.

6¹⁄₄% Senior Secured Notes due 2023. Estimated fair value is based on the closing market price for these notes.

Receivables Facility and other debt. The carrying amount of the Receivables Facility and 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 three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, 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 condensed 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 nonperformance. However, at March 31, 2017, all of the swap agreements entered into by the Company were in a net liability position such that the Company would be required to make the net settlement payments to the counterparties; the Company does not anticipate nonperformance by those counterparties. The Company does not hold or issue derivative financial instruments for trading purposes.

Interest rate swaps consisted of the following at March 31, 2017:


Swap #	Notional Amount (in millions)		Fixed Interest Rate		Termination Date	Fair Value (in millions)
1	$	200		2.055 %	July 25, 2019	$	2
2		200		2.059 %	July 25, 2019		2
3		400		1.882 %	August 30, 2019		2
4		200		2.515 %	August 30, 2019		4
5		200		2.613 %	August 30, 2019		4
6		300		2.041 %	August 30, 2020		1
7		300		2.738 %	August 30, 2020		8
8		300		2.892 %	August 30, 2020		10
9		300		2.363 %	January 27, 2021		4
10		200		2.368 %	January 27, 2021		3

COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) – (Continued)

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 condensed 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 other comprehensive income (“OCI”) and reclassified into earnings in the same period or periods during which the hedged transactions affect 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 March 31, 2017 interest rates, approximately $33 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 as a component of OCI during the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016 (in millions):


	Amount of Pre-Tax Loss
	Recognized in OCI (Effective Portion)
Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging Relationships	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2017		2016
Interest rate swaps	$	-	$	(43)

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 condensed consolidated statements of (loss) income during the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016 (in millions):


Location of Loss Reclassified from	Amount of Pre-Tax Loss Reclassified from AOCL into Income (Effective Portion)
AOCL into Income (Effective Portion)	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2017		2016
Interest expense, net	$	9	$	14

The fair values of derivative instruments in the condensed consolidated balance sheets as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 were as follows (in millions):

Asset Derivatives

Liability Derivatives

March 31, 2017

December 31, 2016

March 31, 2017

December 31, 2016

Balance
Sheet
Location

Fair Value

Balance
Sheet
Location

Fair Value

Balance
Sheet
Location

Fair Value

Balance
Sheet
Location

Fair Value

Derivatives
designated as hedging instruments

Other
assets,
net

Other
long-
term
liabilities

COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) – (Continued)

14. 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. Transfers between levels within the fair value hierarchy are recognized by the Company on the date of the change in circumstances that requires such transfer. There were no transfers between levels during the three months ending March 31, 2017 or March 31, 2016.

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 March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 (in millions):


	March 31, 2017		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Available-for-sale securities	$	303	$	167	$	136	$	-
Trading securities		51		51		-		-

Total assets	$	354	$	218	$	136	$	-


Contingent Value Right (CVR)	$	2	$	2	$	-	$	-
CVR-related liability		258		-		-		258
Fair value of interest rate swap agreements		40		-		40		-

Total liabilities	$	300	$	2	$	40	$	258


	December 31, 2016		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Available-for-sale securities	$	299	$	163	$	136	$	-
Trading securities		80		80		-		-

Total assets	$	379	$	243	$	136	$	-


Contingent Value Right (CVR)	$	1	$	1	$	-	$	-
CVR-related liability		252		-		-		252
Fair value of interest rate swap agreements		49		-		49		-

Total liabilities	$	302	$	1	$	49	$	252

COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) – (Continued)

Available-for-sale Securities

Available-for-sale securities and trading securities classified as Level 1 are measured using quoted market prices. Level 2 available-for-sale securities primarily consisted of bonds and notes issued by the United States government and its agencies and domestic and foreign corporations. The estimated fair values of these securities are determined using various valuation techniques, including a multi-dimensional relational model that incorporates standard observable inputs and assumptions such as benchmark yields, reported trades, broker/dealer quotes, issuer spreads, benchmark securities, bids/offers and other pertinent reference data.

Contingent Value Right (CVR)

The CVR represents the estimate of the fair value for the contingent consideration paid to HMA shareholders as part of the HMA merger. The CVR is listed on the NASDAQ and the valuation at March 31, 2017 is based on the quoted trading price for the CVR on the last day of the period. Changes in the estimated fair value of the CVR are recorded through the condensed consolidated statements of (loss) income.

CVR-related Liability

The CVR-related legal liability represents the Company’s estimate of fair value at March 31, 2017 of the liability associated with the legal matters assumed in the HMA merger, which are included in other long-term liabilities in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet. This liability did not include those matters previously accrued by HMA as a probable contingency, which were settled and paid during the year ended December 31, 2015. To develop the estimate of fair value, the Company engaged an independent third-party valuation firm to measure the liability. The valuation was made utilizing the Company’s estimates of future outcomes for each legal case and simulating future outcomes based on the timing, probability and distribution of several scenarios using a Monte Carlo simulation model. Other inputs were then utilized for discounting the liability to the measurement date. The HMA legal matters underlying this fair value estimate were evaluated by management to determine the likelihood and impact of each of the potential outcomes. Using that information, as well as the potential correlation and variability associated with each case, a fair value was determined for the estimated future cash outflows to conclude or settle the HMA legal matters included in the analysis, excluding legal fees (which are expensed as incurred). Because of the unobservable nature of the majority of the inputs used to value the liability, the Company has classified the fair value measurement as a Level 3 measurement in the fair value hierarchy.

The fair value of the CVR-related legal liability will be measured each reporting period using similar measurement techniques, updated for the assumptions and facts existing at that date for each of the underlying legal matters. Changes in the fair value of the CVR related legal liability are recorded in future periods through the condensed consolidated statements of (loss) income.

Fair Value of Interest Rate Swap Agreements

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 resulted in a decrease in the fair value of the related liability of $2 million and an after-tax adjustment of $1 million to OCI at March 31, 2017. The CVA on the Company’s interest rate swap agreements resulted in a decrease in the fair value of the related liability of $3 million and an after-tax adjustment of $2 million to OCI at December 31, 2016.

The majority of the inputs used to value the Company’s 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.

COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) – (Continued)

15. SEGMENT INFORMATION

The Company operates in one distinct operating segment, represented by hospital operations (which includes its general acute care hospitals and related healthcare entities that provide inpatient and outpatient healthcare services).

Prior to the Company’s sale on December 31, 2016 of 80% of its ownership interest in the home care division, the Company also had an additional distinct operating segment represented by its home care agency operations (which provided in-home care). However, only the hospital operations segment met the criteria as a separate reportable segment due to the fact that the financial information for the home care agency segment did not meet the quantitative thresholds for a separate identifiable reportable segment and as such was combined into the corporate and all other reportable segment.

The distribution between reportable segments of the Company’s net operating revenues and income from continuing operations before income taxes, for the three months ended March 31, 2016, prior to the sale of an 80% ownership interest in the home care division, is summarized in the following tables (in millions):


	Three Months Ended March 31, 2016
Net operating revenues:
Hospital operations	$	4,944
Corporate and all other		55

Total	$	4,999


Income from continuing operations before income taxes:
Hospital operations	$	143
Corporate and all other		(80)

Total	$	63

16. OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

The following tables present information about items reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income by component for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016 (in millions, net of tax):


	Change in Fair Value of Interest Rate Swaps		Change in Fair Value of Available for Sale Securities		Change in Unrecognized Pension Cost Components		Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Balance as of December 31, 2016	$	(31)	$	(10)	$	(21)	$	(62)
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications		-		3		-		3
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income		5		-		-		5

Net current-period other comprehensive income		5		3		-		8

Balance as of March 31, 2017	$	(26)	$	(7)	$	(21)	$	(54)

COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) – (Continued)


	Change in Fair Value of Interest Rate Swaps		Change in Fair Value of Available for Sale Securities		Change in Unrecognized Pension Cost Components		Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Balance as of December 31, 2015	$	(48)	$	1	$	(26)	$	(73)
Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassifications		(28)		2		-		(26)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income		9		-		1		10

Net current-period other comprehensive (loss) income		(19)		2		1		(16)

Balance as of March 31, 2016	$	(67)	$	3	$	(25)	$	(89)

The following tables present a subtotal for each significant reclassification to net (loss) income out of AOCL and the line item affected in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of (loss) income for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016 (in millions):


	Amount reclassified from AOCL		Affected line item in the statement where net income (loss) is presented
Details about accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) components	Three Months Ended March 31, 2017
Gains and losses on cash flow hedges
Interest rate swaps	$	(8)	Interest expense, net
		3	Tax benefit

	$	(5)	Net of tax


Amortization of defined benefit pension items
Prior service costs	$	(1)	Salaries and benefits
Actuarial losses		-	Salaries and benefits

		(1)	Total before tax
		1	Tax benefit

	$	-	Net of tax

COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) – (Continued)


	Amount reclassified from AOCL		Affected line item in the statement where net (loss) income is presented
Details about accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) components	Three Months Ended March 31, 2016
Gains and losses on cash flow hedges
Interest rate swaps	$	(14)	Interest expense, net
		5	Tax benefit

	$	(9)	Net of tax


Amortization of defined benefit pension items
Prior service costs	$	(1)	Salaries and benefits
Actuarial losses		-	Salaries and benefits

		(1)	Total before tax
		-	Tax benefit

	$	(1)	Net of tax

17. CONTINGENCIES

The Company is a party to various legal, regulatory and governmental proceedings incidental to its business. Based on current knowledge, management does not believe that loss contingencies arising from pending legal, regulatory and governmental matters, including the matters described herein, will have a material adverse effect on the condensed consolidated financial position or liquidity of the Company. However, in light of the inherent uncertainties involved in pending legal, regulatory and governmental matters, some of which are beyond the Company’s control, and the very large or indeterminate damages sought in some of these matters, an adverse outcome in one or more of these matters could be material to the Company’s results of operations or cash flows for any particular reporting period.

With respect to all legal, regulatory and governmental proceedings, the Company considers the likelihood of a negative outcome. If the Company determines the likelihood of a negative outcome with respect to any such matter is probable and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated, the Company records an accrual for the estimated loss for the expected outcome of the matter. If the likelihood of a negative outcome with respect to material matters is reasonably possible and the Company is able to determine an estimate of the possible loss or a range of loss, whether in excess of a related accrued liability or where there is no accrued liability, the Company discloses the estimate of the possible loss or range of loss. However, the Company is unable to estimate a possible loss or range of loss in some instances based on the significant uncertainties involved in, and/or the preliminary nature of, certain legal, regulatory and governmental matters.

In connection with the spin-off of QHC, the Company agreed to indemnify QHC for certain liabilities relating to outcomes or events occurring prior to April 29, 2016, the closing date of the spin-off, including (i) certain claims and proceedings that were known to be outstanding at or prior to the consummation of the spin-off and involved multiple facilities and (ii) certain claims, proceedings and investigations by governmental authorities or private plaintiffs related to activities occurring at or related to QHC’s healthcare facilities prior to the closing date of the spin-off, but only to the extent, in the case of clause (ii), that such claims are covered by insurance policies maintained by the Company, including professional liability and employer practices. In this regard, the Company continues to be responsible for HMA Legal Matters (as defined below) covered by the CVR agreement that relate to QHC’s business, and any amounts payable by the Company in connection therewith will continue to reduce the amount payable by the Company in respect of the CVRs. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company is not required to indemnify QHC in respect of any claims or proceedings arising out of or related to the business operations of Quorum Health Resources, LLC at any time or QHC’s compliance with the corporate integrity agreement. Subsequent to the spin-off of QHC, the Office of the Inspector General provided the Company with written assurance that it would look solely at QHC for compliance for its facilities under the Company’s Corporate Integrity Agreement; however, the Office of the Inspector General declined to enter into a separate corporate integrity agreement with QHC.

COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) – (Continued)

HMA Legal Matters and Related CVR

The CVR agreement entitles the holder to receive a one-time cash payment of up to $1.00 per CVR, subject to downward adjustment based on the final resolution of certain litigation, investigations (whether formal or informal, including subpoenas), or other actions or proceedings related to HMA or its affiliates existing on or prior to July 29, 2013 (the date of the Company’s merger agreement with HMA) as more specifically provided in the CVR agreement (all such matters are referred to as the “HMA Legal Matters”), which include, but are not limited to, investigation and litigation matters as previously disclosed by HMA in public filings with the SEC and/or as described in more detail below. The adjustment reducing the ultimate amount paid to holders of the CVR is determined based on the amount of losses incurred by the Company in connection with the HMA Legal Matters as more specifically provided in the CVR agreement, which generally includes the amount paid for damages, costs, fees and expenses (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees and expenses), and all fines, penalties, settlement amounts, indemnification obligations and other liabilities (all such losses are referred to as “HMA Losses”). If the aggregate amount of HMA Losses exceeds a deductible of $18 million, then the amount payable in respect of each CVR shall be reduced (but not below zero) by an amount equal to the quotient obtained by dividing: (a) the product of (i) all losses in excess of the deductible and (ii) 90%; by (b) the number of CVRs outstanding on the date on which final resolution of the existing litigation occurs. There are 264,544,053 CVRs outstanding as of the date hereof. If total HMA Losses (including HMA Losses that have occurred to date as noted in the table below) exceed approximately $312 million, then the holders of the CVRs will not be entitled to any payment in respect of the CVRs.

The CVRs do not have a finite payment date. Any payments the Company makes under the CVR agreement will be payable within 60 days after the final resolution of the HMA Legal Matters. The CVRs are unsecured obligations of CHS and all payments under the CVRs will be subordinated in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all of the Company’s senior obligations (as defined in the CVR agreement), which include outstanding indebtedness of the Company (subject to certain exceptions set forth in the CVR agreement) and the HMA Losses. The CVR agreement permits the Company to acquire all or some of the CVRs, whether in open market transactions, private transactions or otherwise. As of March 31, 2017, the Company had acquired no CVRs.

The following table represents the impact of legal expenses paid or incurred and settlements paid or deemed final as of March 31, 2017 on the amounts owed to CVR holders (in millions):


			Allocation of Expenses and Settlements Paid
	Total Expenses and Settlement Cost		Deductible		Company’s Responsibility at 10%		Reduction to Amount Owed to CVR Holders at 90%
As of December 31, 2016	$	62	$	18	$	4	$	40
Settlements paid		-		-		-		-
Legal expenses incurred and/or paid during the three months ended March 31, 2017		-		-		-		-

As of March 31, 2017	$	62	$	18	$	4	$	40

Amounts owed to CVR holders are dependent on the ultimate resolution of the HMA Legal Matters and determination of HMA Losses incurred. The settlement of any or all of the claims and expenses incurred on behalf of the Company in defending itself will (subject to the deductible) reduce the amounts owed to the CVR holders.

COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) – (Continued)

Underlying the CVR agreement are a number of claims included in the HMA Legal Matters asserted against HMA. The Company has recorded a liability in connection with those claims as part of the acquired assets and liabilities at the date of acquisition pursuant to the provisions of Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 805 “Business Combinations.” For the estimate of the Company’s liabilities associated with the HMA Legal Matters that will be covered by the CVR and were not previously accrued by HMA, the Company recorded a liability of $284 million as part of the acquisition accounting for the HMA merger based on the Company’s estimate of fair value of such liabilities as of the date of acquisition. There was a $6 million increase in the liability during the three months ended March 31, 2017 and the estimated fair value of such liabilities, after consideration of amounts paid and current estimates of valuation inputs, was $258 million as of March 31, 2017, which is recorded in other long-term liabilities on the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet. As of March 31, 2017, there is currently no accrual recorded for the probable contingency claims underlying the CVR agreement. The estimated liability for probable contingency claims underlying the CVR agreement that was previously recorded by HMA, and reflected in the purchase accounting for HMA as an acquired liability has been settled and was paid during the year ended December 31, 2015. In addition, although legal fees are not included in the amounts currently accrued, such legal fees are taken into account in determining HMA Losses under the CVR agreement. Certain significant HMA Legal Matters underlying these liabilities are discussed in greater detail below.

HMA Matters Recorded at Fair Value

Medicare/Medicaid Billing Lawsuits

Beginning during the week of December 16, 2013, eleven qui tam lawsuits filed by private individuals against HMA were unsealed in various United States district courts. The United States has elected to intervene in all or part of eight of these matters; namely U.S. ex rel. Craig Brummer v. Health Management Associates, Inc. et al. (Middle District Georgia) (“Brummer”); U.S. ex rel. Ralph D. Williams v. Health Management Associates, Inc. et al. (Middle District Georgia) (“Williams”); U.S. ex rel. Scott H. Plantz, M.D. et al. v. Health Management Associates, Inc., et al. (Northern District Illinois) (“Plantz”); U.S. ex rel. Thomas L. Mason, M.D. et al. v. Health Management Associates, Inc. et al. (Western District North Carolina) (“Mason”); U.S. ex rel. Jacqueline Meyer, et al. v. Health Management Associates, Inc., Gary Newsome et al. (“Jacqueline Meyer”) (District of South Carolina); U.S. ex rel. George Miller, et al. v. Health Management Associates, Inc. (Eastern District of Pennsylvania) (“Miller”); U.S. ex rel. Bradley Nurkin v. Health Management Associates, Inc. et al. (Middle District of Florida) (“Nurkin”); and U.S. ex rel. Paul Meyer v. Health Management Associates, Inc. et al. (Southern District Florida) (“Paul Meyer”). The United States has elected to intervene with respect to allegations in these cases that certain HMA hospitals inappropriately admitted patients and then submitted reimbursement claims for treating those individuals to federal healthcare programs in violation of the False Claims Act or that certain HMA hospitals had inappropriate financial relationships with physicians which violated the Stark law, the Anti-Kickback Statute, and the False Claims Act. Certain of these complaints also allege the same actions violated various state laws which prohibit false claims. The United States has declined to intervene in three of the eleven matters, namely U.S. ex rel. Anita France, et al. v. Health Management Associates, Inc. (Middle District Florida) (“France”) which involved allegations of wrongful billing and was settled; U.S. ex rel. Sandra Simmons v. Health Management Associates, Inc. et al. (Eastern District Oklahoma) (“Simmons”) which alleges unnecessary surgery by an employed physician and which was settled as to all allegations except alleged wrongful termination; and U.S. ex rel. David Napoliello, M.D. v. Health Management Associates, Inc. (Middle District Florida) (“Napoliello”) which alleges inappropriate admissions. On April 3, 2014, the Multi District Litigation Panel ordered the transfer and consolidation for pretrial proceedings of the eight intervened cases, plus the Napoliello matter, to the District of the District of Columbia under the name In Re: Health Management Associates, Inc. Qui Tam Litigation. On June 2, 2014, the court entered a stay of this matter until October 6, 2014, which was subsequently extended until February 27, 2015, May 27, 2015, September 25, 2015, January 25, 2016, May 25, 2016, September 26, 2016, December 27, 2016, April 27, 2017 and now until August 28, 2017. The Company intends to defend against the allegations in these matters, but also continues to cooperate with the government in the ongoing investigation of these allegations. The Company has been in discussions with the Civil Division of the United States Department of Justice (“DOJ”) regarding the resolutions of these matters. During the first quarter of 2015, the Company was informed that the Criminal Division continues to investigate former executive-level employees of HMA, and continues to consider whether any HMA entities should be held criminally liable for the acts of the former HMA employees. The Company is voluntarily cooperating with these inquiries and has not been served with any subpoenas or other legal process.

COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) – (Continued)

Other Probable Contingencies

Lopez v. Yakima Regional Medical & Cardiac Center and Toppenish Community Hospital. This class action lawsuit arose out of alleged conduct at these hospitals prior to the HMA acquisition. The suit alleges the hospitals’ charity care policies did not comply with Washington state law. The trial court has certified a class and granted partial summary judgment in favor of the plaintiffs. This matter has now been settled, and the Company expects the trial court to approve the settlement on June 30, 2017. The Company recorded an estimate of the probable liability at December 31, 2016 based on the settlement of this matter.

Becker v. Community Health Systems, Inc. d/b/a Community Health Systems Professional Services Corporation d/b/a Community Health Systems d/b/a Community Health Systems PSC, Inc. d/b/a Rockwood Clinic P.S. and Rockwood Clinic, P.S. (Superior Court, Spokane, Washington). This suit was filed on February 29, 2012, by a former chief financial officer at Rockwood Clinic in Spokane, Washington. Becker claims he was wrongfully terminated for allegedly refusing to certify a budget for Rockwood Clinic in 2012. On February 29, 2012, he also filed an administrative complaint with the Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration alleging that he is a whistleblower under Sarbanes-Oxley, which was dismissed by the agency and was appealed to an administrative law judge for a hearing that occurred on January 19-26, 2016. In a decision dated November 9, 2016, the law judge awarded Becker approximately $1.9 million for front pay, back pay and emotional damages with attorney fees to be later determined. The Company has appealed the award to the Administrative Review Board and is awaiting its decision. At a hearing on July 27, 2012, the trial court dismissed Community Health Systems, Inc. from the state case and subsequently certified the state case for an interlocutory appeal of the denial to dismiss his employer and the management company. The appellate court accepted the interlocutory appeal, and it was argued on April 30, 2014. On August 14, 2014, the court denied the Company’s appeal. On October 20, 2014, the Company filed a petition to review the denial with the Washington Supreme Court. The appeal was accepted and oral argument was heard on June 9, 2015. On September 15, 2015, the court denied the Company’s appeal and remanded to the trial court; a previous trial setting of September 12, 2016 has been vacated and not reset. The Company continues to vigorously defend these actions.

Summary of Recorded Amounts

The table below presents a reconciliation of the beginning and ending liability balances (in millions) during the three months ended March 31, 2017, with respect to the Company’s fair value determination in connection with HMA Legal Matters that were not previously accrued by HMA, and the remaining contingencies of the Company in respect of which an accrual has been recorded. In addition, future legal fees (which are expensed as incurred) and costs related to possible indemnification and criminal investigation matters associated with the HMA Legal Matters have not been accrued or included in the table below. Furthermore, although not accrued, such costs, if incurred, will be taken into account in determining the total amount of reductions applied to the amounts owed to CVR holders.


	CVR-Related Liability at Fair Value		Other Probable Contingencies
Balance as of December 31, 2016	$	252	$	14
Expense		6		-
Cash payments		-		(1)

Balance as of March 31, 2017	$	258	$	13

With respect to the “Other Probable Contingencies” referenced in the chart above, in accordance with applicable accounting guidance, the Company establishes a liability for litigation, regulatory and governmental matters for which, based on information currently available, the Company believes that a negative outcome is known or is probable and the amount of the loss is reasonably estimable. For all such matters (whether or not discussed in this contingencies footnote), such amounts have been recorded in other accrued liabilities on the condensed consolidated balance sheet and are included in the table above in the “Other Probable Contingencies” column. Due to the uncertainties and difficulty in predicting the ultimate resolution of these contingencies, the actual amount could differ from the estimated amount reflected as a liability on the condensed consolidated balance sheet.

COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) – (Continued)

In the aggregate, attorneys’ fees and other costs incurred but not included in the table above related to probable contingencies, and CVR-related contingencies accounted for at fair value, totaled less than $1 million and $1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and are included in other operating expenses in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of (loss) income.

Matters for which an Outcome Cannot be Assessed

For the legal matters below, the Company cannot at this time assess what the outcome may be and is further unable to determine any estimate of loss or range of loss. Because the matters below are at a preliminary stage and other factors, there are not sufficient facts available to make these assessments.

Class Action Shareholder Federal Securities Cases. Three purported class action cases have been filed in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee; namely, Norfolk County Retirement System v. Community Health Systems, Inc., et al., filed May 9, 2011; De Zheng v. Community Health Systems, Inc., et al., filed May 12, 2011; and Minneapolis Firefighters Relief Association v. Community Health Systems, Inc., et al., filed June 21, 2011. All three seek class certification on behalf of purchasers of the Company’s common stock between July 27, 2006 and April 11, 2011 and allege that misleading statements resulted in artificially inflated prices for the Company’s common stock. In December 2011, the cases were consolidated for pretrial purposes and NYC Funds and its counsel were selected as lead plaintiffs/lead plaintiffs’ counsel. In lieu of ruling on the Company’s motion to dismiss, the court permitted the plaintiffs to file a first amended consolidated class action complaint, which was filed on October 5, 2015. The Company’s motion to dismiss was filed on November 4, 2015 and oral argument was held on April 11, 2016. The Company’s motion to dismiss was granted on June 16, 2016 and on June 27, 2016, the plaintiffs filed a notice of appeal to the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. The matter is fully briefed, and oral argument is scheduled for May 3, 2017. The Company believes this consolidated matter is without merit and will vigorously defend this case.

Other Matters

Shareholder Derivative Actions. Three purported shareholder derivative actions have also been filed in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee; Plumbers and Pipefitters Local Union No. 630 Pension Annuity Trust Fund v. Wayne T. Smith, et al., filed May 24, 2011; Roofers Local No. 149 Pension Fund v. Wayne T. Smith, et al., filed June 21, 2011; and Lambert Sweat v. Wayne T. Smith, et al., filed October 5, 2011. These three cases allege breach of fiduciary duty arising out of allegedly improper inpatient admission practices, mismanagement, waste and unjust enrichment. These cases have been consolidated into a single, consolidated action. The plaintiffs filed an operative amended derivative complaint in these three consolidated actions on March 15, 2012. The Company’s motion to dismiss was argued on June 13, 2013. On September 27, 2013, the court issued an order granting in part and denying in part the Company’s motion to dismiss. This case was settled pursuant to a final order entered on January 17, 2017. As a result of the settlement, the Company recorded a gain of approximately $40 million for the amount of settlement proceeds received, net of related legal expenses. Pursuant to the terms of the settlement, the Company is required to adopt and maintain for a specified period certain corporate governance measures. For more information, see the order and stipulation of settlement filed as Exhibit 99.2 to the 2016 Form 10-K.

18. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

The Company has evaluated all material events occurring subsequent to the balance sheet date for events requiring disclosure or recognition in the condensed consolidated financial statements.

Effective May 1, 2017, one or more subsidiaries of the Company sold AllianceHealth Pryor (52 licensed beds) in Pryor, Oklahoma, and its associated assets to Ardent Health Services Inc. for approximately $1 million in cash.

Effective May 1, 2017, one or more subsidiaries of the Company sold Stringfellow Memorial Hospital (125 licensed beds) in Anniston, Alabama, and its associated assets to The Health Care Authority of the City of Anniston for approximately $14 million in cash.

Effective May 1, 2017, one or more subsidiaries of the Company sold Merit Health Gilmore Memorial (95 licensed beds) in Amory, Mississippi and Merit Health Batesville (112 licensed beds) in Batesville, Mississippi, and the associated assets to Curae Health, Inc. for approximately $32 million in a combination of cash and a note receivable from the buyer.

COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) – (Continued)

Effective May 1, 2017, one or more subsidiaries of the Company sold Easton Hospital (196 licensed beds) in Easton, Pennsylvania, Sharon Regional Health System (258 licensed beds) in Sharon, Pennsylvania, Northside Medical Center (355 licensed beds) in Youngstown, Ohio, Trumbull Memorial Hospital (311 licensed beds) in Warren, Ohio, Hillside Rehabilitation Hospital (69 licensed beds) in Warren, Ohio, Wuesthoff Health System – Rockledge (298 licensed beds) in Rockledge, Florida, Wuesthoff Health System – Melbourne (119 licensed beds) in Melbourne, Florida and Sebastian River Medical Center (154 licensed beds) in Sebastian, Florida, and the associated assets to Steward Health, Inc. for approximately $304 million in cash.

On April 28, 2017, one or more subsidiaries of the Company signed a definitive agreement for the sale of Lake Area Medical Center (88 licensed beds) in Lake Charles, Louisiana to subsidiaries of CHRISTUS Health.

On May 1, 2017, one or more subsidiaries of the Company signed a definitive agreement with subsidiaries of HCA to sell the hospitals and associated assets of Tomball Regional Medical Center (350 licensed beds) in Tomball, Texas and South Texas Regional Medical Center (67 licensed beds) in Jourdanton, Texas. South Texas Regional Medical Center will be acquired by Methodist Healthcare System of San Antonio, Ltd., L.L.P, a partnership between HCA and Methodist Healthcare Ministries.

19. SUPPLEMENTAL CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL INFORMATION

The Senior Notes due 2019, 2020 and 2022, which are senior unsecured obligations of CHS, the 5¹⁄₈% Senior Secured Notes due 2021, and the 6¹⁄₄% Senior Secured Notes due 2023 (collectively, “the Notes”) 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, with exceptions considered customary for such guarantees, limited to the release of the guarantee when a subsidiary guarantor’s capital stock is sold, or a sale of all of the subsidiary guarantor’s assets used in operations. 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 condensed consolidated financial statements of the Company, except as noted below:

•

Intercompany receivables and payables are presented gross in the supplemental condensed 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. This activity also includes the intercompany transactions between consolidated entities as part of the Receivables Facility that is further discussed in Note 12. 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, subsidiaries of the Company sell and/or repurchase noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries, which may change subsidiaries between guarantors and non-guarantors. Effective with the spin-off of QHC, all subsidiaries of the Company that were part of that distribution have been removed as guarantors. Amounts for prior periods have been revised to reflect the status of guarantors or non-guarantors as of March 31, 2017.

COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) – (Continued)

Condensed Consolidating Statement of Loss

Three Months Ended March 31, 2017


	Parent Guarantor		Issuer		Other Guarantors		Non - Guarantors		Eliminations		Consolidated
	(In millions)

Operating revenues (net of contractual allowances and discounts)	$	-	$	(6)	$	3,367	$	1,807	$	-	$	5,168

Provision for bad debts		-		-		489		193		-		682


Net operating revenues		-		(6)		2,878		1,614		-		4,486

Operating costs and expenses:

Salaries and benefits		-		-		1,135		926		-		2,061

Supplies		-		-		513		236		-		749

Other operating expenses		-		-		751		306		-		1,057

Government and other legal settlements and related costs		-		-		(41)		-		-		(41)

Electronic health records incentive reimbursement		-		-		(2)		(4)		-		(6)

Rent		-		-		60		49		-		109

Depreciation and amortization		-		-		154		82		-		236

Impairment and (gain) loss on sale of businesses, net		-		-		184		66		-		250


Total operating costs and expenses		-		-		2,754		1,661		-		4,415


Loss from operations		-		(6)		124		(47)		-		71

Interest expense, net		-		70		153		6		-		229

Loss from early extinguishment of debt		-		21		-		-		-		21

Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates		199		120		54		-		(376)		(3)


(Loss) income from continuing operations before income taxes		(199)		(217)		(83)		(53)		376		(176)

(Benefit from) provision for income taxes		-		(18)		35		(17)		-		-


(Loss) income from continuing operations		(199)		(199)		(118)		(36)		376		(176)

Discontinued operations, net of taxes:

(Loss) income from operations of entities sold or held for sale		-		-		(3)		2		-		(1)

Impairment of hospitals sold or held for sale		-		-		-		-		-		-


Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes		-		-		(3)		2		-		(1)


Net (loss) income		(199)		(199)		(121)		(34)		376		(177)

Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		-		-		-		22		-		22


Net (loss) income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders	$	(199)	$	(199)	$	(121)	$	(56)	$	376	$	(199)

COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) – (Continued)

Condensed Consolidating Statement of Income

Three Months Ended March 31, 2016


	Parent Guarantor		Issuer		Other Guarantors		Non - Guarantors		Eliminations		Consolidated
	(In millions)

Operating revenues (net of contractual allowances and discounts)	$	-	$	(6)	$	3,357	$	2,403	$	-	$	5,754

Provision for bad debts		-		-		490		265		-		755


Net operating revenues		-		(6)		2,867		2,138		-		4,999

Operating costs and expenses:

Salaries and benefits		-		-		1,128		1,189		-		2,317

Supplies		-		-		506		293		-		799

Other operating expenses		-		-		696		477		-		1,173

Electronic health records incentive reimbursement		-		-		(6)		(12)		-		(18)

Rent		-		-		59		60		-		119

Depreciation and amortization		-		-		188		110		-		298

Impairment and (gain) loss on sale of businesses, net		-		-		12		5		-		17


Total operating costs and expenses		-		-		2,583		2,122		-		4,705


(Loss) income from operations		-		(6)		284		16		-		294

Interest expense, net		-		35		182		34		-		251

Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates		(11)		(58)		6		-		43		(20)


Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes		11		17		96		(18)		(43)		63

Provision for (benefit from) income taxes		-		6		38		(18)		-		26


Income (loss) from continuing operations		11		11		58		-		(43)		37

Discontinued operations, net of taxes:

Loss (gain) from operations of entities sold or held for sale		-		-		(2)		2		-		-

Impairment of hospitals sold or held for sale		-		-		-		(1)		-		(1)


Loss (gain) from discontinued operations, net of taxes		-		-		(2)		1		-		(1)


Net income		11		11		56		1		(43)		36

Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		-		-		-		25		-		25


Net income (loss) attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders	$	11	$	11	$	56	$	(24)	$	(43)	$	11

COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) – (Continued)

Condensed Consolidating Statement of Comprehensive Loss

Three Months Ended March 31, 2017


	Parent Guarantor		Issuer		Other Guarantors		Non - Guarantors		Eliminations		Consolidated
	(In millions)

Net loss	$	(199)	$	(199)	$	(121)	$	(34)	$	376	$	(177)

Other comprehensive income, net of income taxes:

Net change in fair value of interest rate swaps, net of tax		5		5		-		-		(5)		5

Net change in fair value of available-for-sale securities, net of tax		3		3		3		-		(6)		3

Amortization and recognition of unrecognized pension cost components, net of tax		-		-		-		-		-		-


Other comprehensive income		8		8		3		-		(11)		8


Comprehensive loss		(191)		(191)		(118)		(34)		365		(169)

Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests		-		-		-		22		-		22


Comprehensive loss attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders	$	(191)	$	(191)	$	(118)	$	(56)	$	365	$	(191)


Condensed Consolidating Statement of Comprehensive Loss Three Months Ended March 31, 2016
	Parent Guarantor		Issuer		Other Guarantors		Non - Guarantors		Eliminations		Consolidated
	(In millions)

Net income	$	11	$	11	$	56	$	1	$	(43)	$	36

Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of income taxes:

Net change in fair value of interest rate swaps, net of tax		(19)		(19)		-		-		19		(19)

Net change in fair value of available-for-sale securities, net of tax		2		2		2		-		(4)		2

Amortization and recognition of unrecognized pension cost components, net of tax		1		1		1		-		(2)		1


Other comprehensive (loss) income		(16)		(16)		3		-		13		(16)


Comprehensive (loss) income		(5)		(5)		59		1		(30)		20

Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests		-		-		-		25		-		25


Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders	$	(5)	$	(5)	$	59	`$	(24)	$	(30)	$	(5)

COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) – (Continued)

Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet

March 31, 2017


	Parent				Other		Non -
	Guarantor		Issuer		Guarantors		Guarantors		Eliminations		Consolidated

	(In millions)
ASSETS

Current assets:

Cash and cash equivalents	$	-	$	-	$	198	$	49	$	-	$	247

Patient accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts		-		-		706		2,458		-		3,164

Supplies		-		-		299		159		-		458

Prepaid income taxes		17		-		-		-		-		17

Prepaid expenses and taxes		-		-		160		58		-		218

Other current assets		-		-		454		217		-		671


Total current assets		17		-		1,817		2,941		-		4,775


Intercompany receivable		303		14,719		521		5,737		(21,280)		-


Property and equipment, net		-		-		4,862		2,777		-		7,639


Goodwill		-		-		3,562		2,765		-		6,327


Other assets, net		15		-		3,187		1,081		(1,364)		2,919


Net investment in subsidiaries		1,538		22,452		9,002		-		(32,992)		-


Total assets	$	1,873	$	37,171	$	22,951	$	15,301	$	(55,636)	$	21,660

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

Current liabilities:

Current maturities of long-term debt	$	-	$	263	$	38	$	257	$	-	$	558

Accounts payable		-		-		743		245		-		988

Accrued interest		-		143		1		1		-		145

Accrued liabilities		17		-		821		467		-		1,305


Total current liabilities		17		406		1,603		970		-		2,996


Long-term debt		-		13,905		227		555		-		14,687


Intercompany payable		-		19,931		17,660		12,174		(49,765)		-


Deferred income taxes		415		-		-		-		-		415


Other long-term liabilities		12		1,392		1,080		350		(1,365)		1,469


Total liabilities		444		35,634		20,570		14,049		(51,130)		19,567


Redeemable noncontrolling interests in equity of consolidated subsidiaries		-		-		-		552		-		552


Equity:

Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders’ equity:

Common stock		1		-		-		-		-		1

Additional paid-in capital		1,980		600		906		928		(2,434)		1,980

Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(54)		(54)		(21)		(7)		82		(54)

(Accumulated deficit) retained earnings		(498)		991		1,496		(333)		(2,154)		(498)


Total Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders’ equity		1,429		1,537		2,381		588		(4,506)		1,429

Noncontrolling interests in equity of consolidated subsidiaries		-		-		-		112		-		112


Total equity		1,429		1,537		2,381		700		(4,506)		1,541


Total liabilities and equity	$	1,873	$	37,171	$	22,951	$	15,301	$	(55,636)	$	21,660

COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) – (Continued)

Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet

December 31, 2016


	Parent				Other		Non -
	Guarantor		Issuer		Guarantors		Guarantors		Eliminations		Consolidated

	(In millions)

ASSETS

Current assets:

Cash and cash equivalents	$	-	$	-	$	162	$	76	$	-	$	238

Patient accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts		-		-		843		2,333		-		3,176

Supplies		-		-		324		156		-		480

Prepaid income taxes		17		-		-		-		-		17

Prepaid expenses and taxes		-		-		133		54		-		187

Other current assets		-		-		283		285		-		568


Total current assets		17		-		1,745		2,904		-		4,666


Intercompany receivable		295		14,966		667		6,985		(22,913)		-


Property and equipment, net		-		-		5,403		2,746		-		8,149


Goodwill		-		-		3,735		2,786		-		6,521


Other assets, net		15		-		2,820		995		(1,222)		2,608


Net investment in subsidiaries		1,728		22,205		8,607		-		(32,540)		-


Total assets	$	2,055	$	37,171	$	22,977	$	16,416	$	(56,675)	$	21,944

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

Current liabilities:

Current maturities of long-term debt	$	-	$	149	$	56	$	250	$	-	$	455

Accounts payable		-		-		715		280		-		995

Accrued interest		-		205		1		1		-		207

Accrued liabilities		17		-		775		438		-		1,230


Total current liabilities		17		354		1,547		969		-		2,887


Long-term debt		-		14,018		233		538		-		14,789


Intercompany payable		-		19,811		17,508		13,393		(50,712)		-


Deferred income taxes		411		-		-		-		-		411


Other long-term liabilities		12		1,259		1,187		339		(1,222)		1,575


Total liabilities		440		35,442		20,475		15,239		(51,934)		19,662


Redeemable noncontrolling interests in equity of consolidated subsidiaries		-		-		-		554		-		554


Equity:

Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders’ equity:

Common stock		1		-		-		-		-		1

Additional paid-in capital		1,975		676		1,080		816		(2,572)		1,975

Treasury stock, at cost		-		(62)		(22)		(9)		93		-

Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(62)		-		-		-		-		(62)

Retained earnings		(299)		1,115		1,444		(297)		(2,262)		(299)


Total Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders’ equity		1,615		1,729		2,502		510		(4,741)		1,615

Noncontrolling interests in equity of consolidated subsidiaries		-		-		-		113		-		113


Total equity		1,615		1,729		2,502		623		(4,741)		1,728


Total liabilities and equity	$	2,055	$	37,171	$	22,977	$	16,416	$	(56,675)	$	21,944

COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) – (Continued)

Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows

Three Months Ended March 31, 2017


	Parent				Other		Non -
	Guarantor		Issuer		Guarantors		Guarantors		Eliminations		Consolidated
	(In millions)

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	$	1	$	(124)	$	192	$	173	$	-	$	242


Cash flows from investing activities:

Acquisitions of facilities and other related equipment		-		-		-		(2)		-		(2)

Purchases of property and equipment		-		-		(99)		(47)		-		(146)

Proceeds from sale of property and equipment		-		-		-		-		-		-

Purchases of available-for-sale securities		-		-		(8)		(4)		-		(12)

Proceeds from sales of available-for-sale securities		-		-		20		6		-		26

Increase in other investments		-		-		(33)		(4)		-		(37)


Net cash used in investing activities		-		-		(120)		(51)		-		(171)


Cash flows from financing activities:

Repurchase of restricted stock shares for payroll tax withholding requirements		(5)		-		-		-		-		(5)

Deferred financing costs and other debt-related costs		-		(40)		-		-		-		(40)

Proceeds from noncontrolling investors in joint ventures		-		-		-		5		-		5

Redemption of noncontrolling investments in joint ventures		-		-		-		(4)		-		(4)

Distributions to noncontrolling investors in joint ventures		-		-		-		(28)		-		(28)

Changes in intercompany balances with affiliates, net		4		157		(16)		(145)		-		-

Borrowings under credit agreements		-		596		12		2		-		610

Issuance of long-term debt		-		2,200		-		-		-		2,200

Proceeds from receivables facility		-		-		-		26		-		26

Repayments of long-term indebtedness		-		(2,789)		(32)		(5)		-		(2,826)


Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities		(1)		124		(36)		(149)		-		(62)


Net change in cash and cash equivalents		-		-		36		(27)		-		9

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		-		-		162		76		-		238


Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	-	$	-	$	198	$	49	$	-	$	247

COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) – (Continued)

Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows

Three Months Ended March 31, 2016


	Parent				Other		Non -
	Guarantor		Issuer		Guarantors		Guarantors		Eliminations		Consolidated
	(In millions)

Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	$	-	$	(223)	$	351	$	166	$	-	$	294


Cash flows from investing activities:

Acquisitions of facilities and other related equipment		-		-		(2)		(97)		-		(99)

Purchases of property and equipment		-		-		(152)		(72)		-		(224)

Proceeds from disposition of hospitals and other ancillary operations		-		-		12		-		-		12

Proceeds from sale of property and equipment		-		-		3		1		-		4

Purchases of available-for-sale securities		-		-		(13)		(24)		-		(37)

Proceeds from sales of available-for-sale securities		-		-		11		29		-		40

Increase in other investments		-		-		(49)		(18)		-		(67)


Net cash used in investing activities		-		-		(190)		(181)		-		(371)


Cash flows from financing activities:

Repurchase of restricted stock shares for payroll tax withholding requirements		(7)		-		-		-		-		(7)

Redemption of noncontrolling investments in joint ventures		-		-		-		(16)		-		(16)

Distributions to noncontrolling investors in joint ventures		-		-		-		(18)		-		(18)

Changes in intercompany balances with affiliates, net		7		89		(159)		63		-		-

Borrowings under credit agreements		-		1,563		1		-		-		1,564

Proceeds from receivables facility		-		-		-		31		-		31

Repayments of long-term indebtedness		-		(1,429)		(18)		(33)		-		(1,480)


Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities		-		223		(176)		27		-		74


Net change in cash and cash equivalents		-		-		(15)		12		-		(3)

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		-		-		31		153		-		184


Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	-	$	-	$	16	$	165	$	-	$	181

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

You should read this discussion together with our condensed consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes included herein.

Throughout this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, 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,” “our,” “us” and the “Company”. 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 particular 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 by distinct and indirect subsidiaries of Community Health Systems, Inc.

Executive Overview

We are one of the largest publicly traded hospital companies in the United States and a leading operator of general acute care hospitals and outpatient facilities in communities across the country. We provide healthcare services through the hospitals that we own and operate and affiliated businesses in non-urban and selected urban markets throughout the United States. We generate revenues by providing a broad range of general and specialized hospital healthcare services and outpatient services to patients in the communities in which we are located. As of March 31, 2017, we owned or leased 155 hospitals included in continuing operations, comprised of 152 general acute care hospitals and three stand-alone rehabilitation or psychiatric hospitals. We also owned or leased three hospitals included in discontinued operations at March 31, 2017. For the hospitals that we own and operate, we are paid for our services by governmental agencies, private insurers and directly by the patients we serve.

Our Board of Directors adopted a Stockholder Protection Rights Agreement on October 3, 2016, which expired on April 1, 2017. During the term of the Stockholder Protection Rights Agreement, with the assistance of advisors, we explored a variety of financial sponsor options, as well as other potential alternatives. In the normal course of our business, we continue to explore financial sponsor options as well as other potential alternatives. There can be no certainty that any such exploration will result in a transaction of any kind. We do not expect to make further public comment with respect to the foregoing in future periodic reports or other SEC filings, unless we deem further public comment is appropriate or required.

We have been implementing a portfolio rationalization and deleveraging strategy by divesting hospitals and non-hospital businesses that are attractive to strategic and other buyers. Generally, these businesses are not in one of our strategically beneficial service areas, are less complementary to our business strategy and/or have lower operating margins. In addition, in connection with our announced divestiture initiative, strategic and other buyers have made offers to buy certain of our assets. Through consideration of these offers we have divested or may divest hospitals and non-hospital businesses when we find such offers to be attractive and in line with our operating strategy.

In furtherance of this strategy, on April 29, 2016, we completed a spin-off of 38 hospitals and Quorum Health Resources, or QHR (our subsidiary that provided management advisory and consulting services to non-affiliated general acute care hospitals located throughout the United States), into Quorum Health Corporation, or QHC, and distributed, on a pro rata basis, all of the shares of QHC common stock to our stockholders of record as of April 22, 2016. These stockholders received a distribution of one share of QHC common stock for every four shares of our common stock held as of the record date plus cash in lieu of any fractional shares. The transaction was structured to be generally tax free to us and our stockholders. In recognition of the spin-off, we recorded a non-cash dividend of approximately $713 million during the year ended December 31, 2016, representing the net assets of QHC distributed to our stockholders. Immediately following the completion of the spin-off, our stockholders owned 100% of the outstanding shares of QHC common stock. Following the spin-off, QHC became an independent public company with its common stock listed for trading under the symbol “QHC” on the New York Stock Exchange. Financial and statistical data reported in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q include QHC operating results through the spin-off date. Same-store operating results and statistical data exclude information for the hospitals divested in the spin-off of QHC for the three months ended March 31, 2016.

In connection with the spin-off, we entered into a separation and distribution agreement as well as certain ancillary agreements with QHC on April 29, 2016. These agreements allocated between QHC and us the various assets, employees, liabilities and obligations (including investments, property and employee benefits and tax-related assets and liabilities) that comprise the separate companies and govern certain relationships between, and activities of, QHC and us for a period of time after the spin-off.

On March 1, 2016, we completed the acquisition of an 80% ownership interest in a joint venture with Indiana University Health that includes IU Health La Porte Hospital (227 licensed beds) in La Porte, Indiana and IU Health Starke Hospital (50 licensed beds) in Knox, Indiana, and affiliated outpatient centers and physician practices.

On April 1, 2016, we completed the acquisition of 80% interest in Physicians’ Specialty Hospital (20 licensed beds), a Medicare-certified specialty surgical hospital in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

On April 29, 2016, we sold our unconsolidated minority equity interests in Valley Health System, LLC, a joint venture with Universal Health Systems, Inc., or UHS, representing four hospitals in Las Vegas, Nevada, in which we owned a 27.5% interest, and in Summerlin Hospital Medical Center, LLC, a joint venture with UHS representing one hospital in Las Vegas, Nevada, in which we owned a 26.1% interest. We received $403 million in cash in return for the sale of these equity interests and recognized a gain of approximately $94 million on the sale of our investment during the year ended December 31, 2016.

On September 29, 2016, we signed a definitive agreement with subsidiaries of Curae Health, Inc. to sell the hospitals and associated assets at Merit Health Gilmore Memorial (95 licensed beds) in Amory, Mississippi, Merit Health Batesville (112 licensed beds) in Batesville, Mississippi, and Merit Health Northwest Mississippi (181 licensed beds) in Clarksdale, Mississippi. We have classified these hospitals as held for sale in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet.

On November 17, 2016, we signed a definitive agreement for the sale of two hospitals, a clinic and their associated assets to MultiCare Health System. Facilities included in the transaction include Deaconess Hospital (388 licensed beds) in Spokane, Washington, Valley Hospital (123 licensed beds) in Spokane Valley, Washington and the multi-specialty Rockwood Clinic in Spokane, Washington. We have classified these hospitals as held for sale in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet.

On December 13, 2016, we signed a definitive agreement to sell two hospitals and their associated assets to subsidiaries of Sunnyside Community Hospital and Clinics. Facilities included in the transaction are Yakima Regional Medical and Cardiac Center (214 licensed beds) in Yakima, Washington and Toppenish Community Hospital (63 licensed beds) in Toppenish, Washington. We have classified these hospitals as held for sale in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet.

On December 22, 2016, we completed the sale and leaseback of ten medical office buildings for net proceeds of $159 million to HCP, Inc. The buildings, with a combined total of 756,183 square feet, are located in five states and support a wide array of diagnostic, medical and surgical services in an outpatient setting for the respective nearby hospitals. Because of our continuing involvement in these leased buildings, the transaction does not qualify for sale treatment and the related leases have been recorded as financing obligations in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet.

On December 31, 2016, we sold an 80% majority ownership interest in the home care division to a subsidiary of Almost Family, Inc. for $128 million.

On March 14, 2017, we signed a definitive agreement to sell four Pennsylvania hospitals and their associated assets to subsidiaries of PinnacleHealth System. Hospitals included in the transaction are Memorial Hospital of York (100 licensed bed) in York, Pennsylvania, Lancaster Regional Medical Center (214 licensed bed) in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Heart of Lancaster Regional Medical Center (148 licensed bed) in Lititz, Pennsylvania and Carlisle Regional Medical Center (165 licensed bed) in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. We have classified these hospitals as held for sale in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet.

On May 1, 2017, we sold AllianceHealth Pryor (52 licensed beds) in Pryor, Oklahoma, and its associated assets to Ardent Health Services Inc. for approximately $1 million in cash. This hospital has been reported in the condensed consolidated statement of operations in discontinued operations.

On May 1, 2017, we sold Stringfellow Memorial Hospital (125 licensed beds) in Anniston, Alabama, and its associated assets to The Health Care Authority of the City of Anniston for approximately $14 million in cash.

On May 1, 2017, we sold Merit Health Gilmore Memorial (95 licensed beds) in Amory, Mississippi and Merit Health Batesville (112 licensed beds) in Batesville, Mississippi, and the associated assets to Curae Health, Inc. for approximately $32 million in a combination of cash and a note receivable from the buyer.

On May 1, 2017, we sold Easton Hospital (196 licensed beds) in Easton, Pennsylvania, Sharon Regional Health System (258 licensed beds) in Sharon, Pennsylvania, Northside Medical Center (355 licensed beds) in Youngstown, Ohio, Trumbull Memorial Hospital (311 licensed beds) in Warren, Ohio, Hillside Rehabilitation Hospital (69 licensed beds) in Warren, Ohio, Wuesthoff Health System – Rockledge (298 licensed beds) in Rockledge, Florida, Wuesthoff Health System – Melbourne (119 licensed beds) in Melbourne, Florida and Sebastian River Medical Center (154 licensed beds) in Sebastian, Florida, and the associated assets to Steward Health, Inc. for approximately $304 million in cash.

On April 28, 2017, we signed a definitive agreement for the sale of Lake Area Medical Center (88 licensed beds) in Lake Charles, Louisiana to subsidiaries of CHRISTUS Health. We have classified this hospital as held for sale in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet at March 31, 2017.

On May 1, 2017, we signed a definitive agreement with subsidiaries of HCA Holdings, Inc., or HCA, to sell the hospitals and associated assets of Tomball Regional Medical Center (350 licensed beds) in Tomball, Texas and South Texas Regional Medical Center (67 licensed beds) in Jourdanton, Texas. South Texas Regional Medical Center will be acquired by Methodist Healthcare System of San Antonio, Ltd., L.L.P, a partnership between HCA and Methodist Healthcare Ministries.

Including the hospitals identified above, we have either sold since April, 2017 or entered into definitive agreements or non-binding letters of intent to sell 30 hospitals currently reported in continuing operations. Based on the current status of those negotiations, we currently anticipate for any of these dispositions that have not closed that those transactions will close in 2017; however, there can be no assurance that these dispositions will be completed or, if they are completed, the ultimate timing of the completion of these dispositions or the aggregate amount of proceeds we will receive from the divestitures. These hospitals represented annual net operating revenues in 2016 of approximately $3.4 billion, and we estimate that we will receive potential net proceeds of approximately $2.0 billion in the event we dispose all of these hospitals, if all of these sales are completed on currently expected terms (or, in the case of the dispositions completed since April 1, 2017, the terms of these completed dispositions).

There may be changes from time to time in the composition of the particular hospitals where we have entered into non-binding letters of intent as the result of various factors, including changes in any potential buyer or the negotiations with respect to the potential sale of any such hospital. The potential dispositions noted above, as well as the dispositions that have been completed in 2016 and 2017 to date, are intended to further implement our portfolio rationalization and deleveraging strategy as described above. When consistent with this strategy, we intend to continue to evaluate offers from potential buyers for additional divestitures and optimize our hospital asset portfolio.

Operating results and statistical data for the three months ended March 31, 2017, exclude three hospitals that have previously been classified as discontinued operations for accounting purposes.

Our net operating revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2017 decreased $513 million to approximately $4.5 billion compared to approximately $5.0 billion for the three months ended March 31, 2016. On a same-store basis, net operating revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2017 increased $32 million. Our provision for bad debts decreased $73 million to $682 million, or 13.2% of operating revenues (before the provision for bad debts) for the three months ended March 31, 2017, from $755 million, or 13.1% of operating revenues (before the provision for bad debts) for the three months ended March 31, 2016.

We had a loss from continuing operations of $176 million during the three months ended March 31, 2017, compared to income from continuing operations of $37 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016. Loss from continuing operations for the three months ended March 31, 2017 included the following:

•

after-tax income of $26 million for government and other legal settlements, net of related legal expenses, primarily as a result of the previously announced settlement of the shareholder derivative action in January 2017,

•

an after-tax charge of $214 million for the impairment of goodwill and long-lived assets of hospitals sold or held for sale based on their estimated fair values,

•

an after-tax charge of $13 million for loss from early extinguishment of debt, and

•

an after-tax charge of $5 million from fair value adjustments on the CVR agreement liability accounted for at fair value related to the HMA legal proceedings, and related legal expenses.

Income from continuing operations for the three months ended March 31, 2016 included the following:

•

an after-tax charge of $14 million for the impairment of long-lived assets, and

•

an after-tax charge of $2 million related to costs incurred for the spin-off of QHC.

Consolidated inpatient admissions for the three months ended March 31, 2017, decreased 11.5%, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2016, and consolidated adjusted admissions for the three months ended March 31, 2017, decreased 12.5%, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2016. Same-store inpatient admissions for the three months ended March 31, 2017, decreased 1.5%, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2016, and same-store adjusted admissions for the three months ended March 31, 2017, decreased 1.4%, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2016.

Self-pay revenues represented approximately 12.2% and 12.3% of net operating revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. The amount of foregone revenue related to providing charity care services as a percentage of net operating revenues was approximately 2.6% and 2.3% for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Direct and indirect costs incurred in providing charity care services as a percentage of net operating revenues were approximately 0.3% for both the three-month periods ended March 31, 2017 and 2016.

The U.S. Congress and certain state legislatures have introduced and passed a large number of proposals and legislation designed to make major changes in the healthcare system, including changes that increased access to health insurance. The Affordable Care Act, as currently structured, mandates that substantially all U.S. citizens maintain health insurance and increases health insurance coverage through a combination of public program expansion and private sector health insurance reforms.

If this expansion of Medicaid coverage and private sector health insurance remains in effect, we believe this expansion will, over time, result in an increase in the number of patients using our facilities who have health insurance coverage. We expect this will increase our reimbursement related to providing services to individuals who were previously uninsured, which should reduce our expense from uncollectible accounts receivable. We operate hospitals in five of the ten states that experienced the largest reductions in uninsured rates among adult residents between 2013 and 2015. The states with the greatest reductions in the number of uninsured adult residents have expanded Medicaid. A number of states have opted out of the Medicaid coverage expansion provisions, but could ultimately decide to expand their programs at a later date. Of the 21 states in which we operated hospitals that were included in continuing operations as of March 31, 2017, 10 states have taken action to expand their Medicaid programs. At this time, the other 11 states have not, including Florida, Tennessee and Texas, where we operated a significant number of hospitals as of March 31, 2017. Some states that have opted out are evaluating options such as waiver plans to operate an alternative Medicaid expansion plan. Failure to expand Medicaid or implement an effective alternative in these states will likely have a negative impact on the goal of reducing the number of uninsured individuals.

The Affordable Care Act makes a number of 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, and a reduction to the Medicare and Medicaid disproportionate share hospital payments, each of which could adversely impact the reimbursement received under these programs.

The Affordable Care Act also includes provisions aimed at reducing fraud, waste and abuse in the healthcare industry. It amends several existing federal laws, including the Anti-Kickback Statute and the False Claims Act, to make it easier for government agencies and private plaintiffs to prevail in lawsuits brought against healthcare providers and for potentially severe fines and penalties to be imposed on healthcare providers that violate applicable laws and regulations.

We believe that the Affordable Care Act has had a positive impact on net operating revenues and income from continuing operations as the result of the expansion of private sector and Medicaid coverage that has occurred. However, other provisions of the Affordable Care Act, such as requirements related to employee health insurance coverage and changes to Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement, have increased our operating costs or adversely impacted the reimbursement we receive.

While the Affordable Care Act remains in effect, it is difficult to predict the ultimate effect of the statute due to executive orders or clarifications and modifications resulting from the rule-making process, future judicial interpretations resulting from court challenges to its constitutionality and interpretation, whether and how many states ultimately decide to expand Medicaid coverage, the number of uninsured who elect to purchase health insurance coverage, and budgetary issues at federal and state levels. We may not be able to fully realize the positive impact the Affordable Care Act may otherwise have on our business, results of operations, cash flow, capital resources and liquidity. We cannot predict whether we will be able to modify certain aspects of our operations to offset any potential adverse consequences from the Affordable Care Act. Further, the status of the Affordable Care Act is uncertain following the 2016 federal elections. The impact and timing of any potential repeal of or changes to the Affordable Care Act and any alternative provisions on our business is unknown.

Payment under the Medicare program for physician services is based upon the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, or MPFS, under which CMS has assigned a national relative value unit, or RVU, to most medical procedures and services that reflects the resources required to provide the services relative to all other services. Each RVU is calculated based on a combination of the time and intensity of work required, overhead expense attributable to the service, and malpractice insurance expense. These elements are each modified by a geographic adjustment factor to account for local practice costs and are then aggregated. MACRA provides for a 0.5% update to the MPFS for each calendar year through 2019. MACRA also requires the establishment of the Quality Payment Program, or QPP, a payment methodology intended to reward high-quality patient care. Beginning in 2017, physicians and certain other healthcare clinicians are required to participate in one of two QPP tracks. Under both tracks, performance data collected in 2017 will affect Medicare payments in 2019. CMS expects to transition increasing financial risk to providers as QPP evolves. Under the Advanced Alternative Payment Model, or Advanced APM, track, incentive payments are available based on participation in specific innovative payment models approved by CMS. Providers may earn a Medicare incentive payment and will be exempt from the reporting requirements and payment adjustments imposed under the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System, or MIPS, if the provider has sufficient participation in an Advanced APM. Alternatively, providers may participate in the MIPS track, under which physicians will receive performance-based payment incentives or payment reductions based on their performance with respect to clinical quality, resource use, clinical improvement activities, and meaningful use of electronic health records, or EHR. MIPS will consolidate components of certain existing physician incentive programs.

The federal government has implemented a number of regulations and programs designed to promote the use of EHR technology and pursuant to the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act, or HITECH, established requirements for a Medicare and Medicaid incentive payments program for eligible hospitals and professionals that adopt and meaningfully use certified EHR technology. These payments are available for a maximum period of five or six years, depending on the program. Our hospital facilities have been implementing EHR technology on a facility-by-facility basis since 2011. We recognize incentive reimbursement related to the Medicare or Medicaid incentives as we are able to implement the certified EHR technology and meet the defined “meaningful use criteria,” and information from completed cost report periods is available from which to calculate the incentive reimbursement. The timing of recognizing incentive reimbursement does not correlate with the timing of recognizing operating expenses and incurring capital costs in connection with the implementation of EHR technology which may result in material period-to-period changes in our future results of operations.

As of October 1, 2014, eligible hospitals and, as of January 1, 2015, professionals that have not demonstrated meaningful use of certified EHR technology and have not applied and qualified for a hardship exception are subject to payment adjustments. Eligible hospitals are subject to a reduced market basket update to the inpatient prospective payment system standardized amount as of 2015 and for each subsequent fiscal year. Eligible professionals are subject to a 1% per year cumulative reduction applied to the Medicare physician fee schedule amount for covered professional services, subject to a cap of 5%. Payment adjustments for eligible professionals failing to demonstrate meaningful use will no longer be applicable beginning in 2019, when the program is scheduled to be replaced by MIPS.

Although we believe that our hospital facilities are currently in compliance with the meaningful use standards, there can be no assurance that all of our facilities will remain in compliance and therefore not be subject to the HITECH payment reductions. We recognized approximately $6 million and $18 million during the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, for HITECH incentive reimbursements from Medicare and Medicaid related to certain of our hospitals and for certain of our employed physicians, which are presented as a reduction of operating expenses. As our hospital facilities and affiliated professionals have achieved substantial compliance with the HITECH standards and continue to complete the maximum time period for receiving incentive payments, the amount of incentive reimbursements will continue to decline in 2017.

As a result of our current levels of cash, available borrowing capacity, long-term outlook on our debt repayments, the refinancing of our term loans and our continued projection of our ability to generate cash flows, we anticipate that we will be able to invest the necessary capital in our business over the next twelve months. 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 will continue to strive to improve operating efficiencies and procedures in order to improve our profitability at all of our hospitals.

Sources of Revenue

The following table presents the approximate percentages of operating revenues, net of contractual allowances and discounts (but before provision for bad debts), by payor source for the periods indicated. The data for the periods presented are not strictly comparable due to the effect that hospital acquisitions and divestitures have had on these statistics.


	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2017			2016
Medicare		23.6	%		24.9	%
Medicaid		10.3			10.3
Managed Care and other third-party payors		53.9			52.5
Self-pay		12.2			12.3

Total		100.0	%		100.0	%

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 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 Affordable Care Act has increased and is expected to continue to increase the number of insured patients in states that have expanded Medicaid, which in turn, has reduced and is expected to continue to reduce the percentage of revenues from self-pay patients. The Affordable Care Act, however, imposes significant reductions in amounts the government pays Medicare managed care plans. The trend toward increased enrollment in Medicare managed care may adversely affect our operating revenue growth. Other provisions in the Affordable Care Act impose minimum medical-loss ratios and require insurers to meet specific benefit requirements. Furthermore, in the normal course of business, managed care programs, insurance companies and employers actively negotiate the amounts paid to hospitals. The trend toward increased enrollment in managed care may adversely affect our 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.

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 the treatment of patients covered by Medicare, Medicaid and non-governmental payors 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 (loss) income by an insignificant amount in each of the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016.

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 2, 2016, CMS issued the final rule to increase this index by 2.7% for hospital inpatient acute care services that are reimbursed under the prospective payment system, beginning October 1, 2016. The final rule provides for a 1.5% reduction for documentation and coding, a 0.3% multifactor productivity reduction, a 0.75% reduction to hospital inpatient rates implemented pursuant to the Affordable Care Act, and a 0.8% increase to remove the effects of prior adjustments intended to offset projected spending increases associated with the “two midnight rule.” These, together with other payment adjustments, will yield an estimated net 1.0% increase in reimbursement for hospitals. An additional reduction applies to hospitals that do not submit required patient quality data. We are complying with this data submission requirement.

Payments may also be affected by admission and medical review criteria for inpatient services commonly known as the “two midnight rule.” Under the rule, for admissions on or after October 1, 2013, services to Medicare beneficiaries are only payable as inpatient hospital services when there is a reasonable expectation that the hospital care is medically necessary and will be required across two midnights, absent unusual circumstances. Stays expected to need less than two midnights of hospital care are subject to medical review on a case-by-case basis. Reductions in the rate of increase or overall reductions in Medicare reimbursement may cause a decline in the growth of our net operating revenues.

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. The programs are generally authorized for a specified period of time and require CMS’s approval to be extended. CMS has indicated that it will take into account a state’s status with respect to expanding its Medicaid program in considering whether to extend these supplemental programs. We are unable to predict whether or on what terms CMS will extend the supplemental programs in the states in which we operate, including Texas. Some of these programs are scheduled to expire in 2017. As a result of existing supplemental programs, we recognize revenue and related expenses in the period in which the fixed and determinable 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 expenses.

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 services, psychiatric and rehabilitation services. The strongest demand for hospital services generally occurs during January through April and the weakest demand for these services generally occurs during the summer months. Accordingly, eliminating the effects of new acquisitions and/or divestitures, 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.


	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2017			2016
Operating results, as a percentage of net operating revenues:
Net operating revenues		100.0	%		100.0	%
Operating expenses (a)		(87.5	)		(87.8	)
Depreciation and amortization		(5.3	)		(6.0	)
Impairment and (gain) loss on sale of businesses, net		(5.6	)		(0.3	)

Income from operations		1.6			5.9
Interest expense, net		(5.1	)		(5.0	)
Loss from early extinguishment of debt		(0.5	)		-
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates		0.1			0.4

(Loss) income from continuing operations before income taxes		(3.9	)		1.3
Provision for income taxes		-			(0.6	)

(Loss) income from continuing operations		(3.9	)		0.7
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes		-			-

Net (loss) income		(3.9	)		0.7
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		(0.5	)		(0.5	)

Net (loss) income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders		(4.4	) %		0.2	%


	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2017			2016
Percentage (decrease) increase from prior year:
Net operating revenues		(10.3	) %		1.8	%
Admissions		(11.5	)		(2.6	)
Adjusted admissions (b)		(12.5	)		0.7
Average length of stay		2.2			(2.2	)
Net (loss) income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. (c)		(1,909.1	)		(86.1	)
Same-store percentage increase (decrease) from prior year (d):
Net operating revenues		0.7	%		2.2	%
Admissions		(1.5	)		(2.0	)
Adjusted admissions (b)		(1.4	)		1.3

(a)	Operating expenses include salaries and benefits, supplies, other operating expenses, government and other legal settlements and related costs, electronic health records incentive reimbursement and rent.

(b)	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.

(c)	Includes loss from discontinued operations.

(d)

Includes acquired hospitals to the extent we operated them in both periods and excludes our hospitals that have previously been classified as discontinued operations for accounting purposes. In addition, also excludes information for the hospitals sold or closed during the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Three Months Ended March 31, 2017 Compared to Three Months Ended March 31, 2016

Net operating revenues decreased by 10.3% to approximately $4.5 billion for the three months ended March 31, 2017, from approximately $5.0 billion for the three months ended March 31, 2016. Our provision for bad debts decreased by $73 million to $682 million, or 13.2% of operating revenues (before the provision for bad debts) for the three months ended March 31, 2017, from $755 million, or 13.1% of operating revenues (before the provision for bad debts) for the three months ended March 31, 2016. Net operating revenues from same-store hospitals increased $32 million or 0.7% during the three months ended March 31, 2017, as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2016. Non-same-store net operating revenues decreased $546 million during the three months ended March 31, 2017, in comparison to the prior year period, with the decrease attributable primarily to the spin-off of QHC. The increase in same-store net operating revenues was attributable to favorable changes in payor mix partially offset by lower admissions. On a consolidated basis, inpatient admissions decreased by 11.5% and adjusted admissions decreased by 12.5% during the three months ended March 31, 2017 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2016. On a same-store basis, net operating revenues per adjusted admissions increased 2.2%, while inpatient admissions decreased by 1.5% and adjusted admissions decreased by 1.4% during the three months ended March 31, 2017, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2016.

Operating expenses, as a percentage of net operating revenues, increased from 94.1% during the three months ended March 31, 2016 to 98.4% during the three months ended March 31, 2017. Operating expenses, excluding depreciation and amortization and impairment and (gain) loss on sale of businesses, as a percentage of net operating revenues, decreased from 87.8% for the three months ended March 31, 2016 to 87.5% for the three months ended March 31, 2017. Salaries and benefits, as a percentage of net operating revenues, decreased from 46.3% for the three months ended March 31, 2016 to 45.9% for the three months ended March 31, 2017. This decrease in salaries and benefits, as a percentage of net operating revenues, was primarily due to improved staffing and benefit expense management. Supplies, as a percentage of net operating revenues, increased from 16.0% for the three months ended March 31, 2016 to 16.7% for the three months ended March 31, 2017, primarily as a result of an increase in implant costs due to an increase in surgical case mix over the prior year. Other operating expenses, as a percentage of net operating revenues, were 23.5% for both the three-month periods ended March 31, 2017 and 2016. Government and other legal settlements and related costs, as a percentage of net operating revenues decreased from less than 0.1% for the three months ended March 31, 2016 to income of (0.9)% for the three months ended March 31, 2017 primarily as a result of the gain recorded from the previously announced settlement of the shareholder derivative action in January 2017. Rent, as a percentage of net operating revenues, was 2.4% for both the three-month periods ended March 31, 2017 and 2016.

EHR incentive reimbursements represent those incentives under HITECH for which the recognition criterion has been met. We recognized approximately $6 million and $18 million of incentive reimbursements, or 0.1% and 0.4% of net operating revenues, for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. The decrease in EHR incentive reimbursements is due to the majority of our hospitals completing the various stages of meaningful use compliance, resulting in the expected decline in reimbursement as those programs wind down. We received cash payments of $10 million and $85 million for these incentives during the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. No deferred revenue was recorded as of March 31, 2017. As of March 31, 2016, $34 million was recorded as deferred revenue as all criteria for gain recognition had not been met at that date.

Depreciation and amortization, as a percentage of net operating revenues, decreased from 6.0% for three months ended March 31, 2016 to 5.3% for the three months ended March 31, 2017, primarily due to ceasing depreciation on property and equipment at hospitals held for sale.

Impairment and gain (loss) on sale of businesses was $250 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017, compared to $17 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016. Impairment of goodwill and long-lived assets for the three months ended March 31, 2017 included impairment of approximately $250 million related to impairment of the long-lived assets and reporting unit goodwill allocated to hospitals classified as held for sale during the three months ended March 31, 2017. Impairment for long-lived assets for the three months ended March 31, 2016 included impairment of approximately $10 million recorded related to the allocated reporting unit goodwill and fixed assets allocated to two hospitals sold during the three months ended March 31, 2016 and impairment of approximately $7 million related to the impairment of certain long-lived assets at one of our smaller hospitals where the decision was made during the three months ended March 31, 2016, to permanently close the hospital.

Interest expense, net, decreased by $22 million to $229 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017 compared to $251 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016, primarily due to a decrease in our average outstanding debt during the three months ended March 31, 2017, which resulted in a decrease in interest expense of $27 million. Additionally, a decrease in interest expense of $3 million is due to one less day of interest expense in the first quarter of 2017 since 2016 was a leap year, and a decrease in interest expense of $1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017 is a result of more interest being capitalized as compared to the same period in 2016 because of an increase in major construction projects during the quarter. These decreases were partially offset by an increase in interest rates during the three months ended March 31, 2017, compared to the same period in 2016, which resulted in an increase in interest expense of $9 million.

Loss from early extinguishment of debt of $21 million was recognized during the three months ended March 31, 2017. The loss from early extinguishment of debt resulted from the repayment of certain outstanding notes and term loans under the Credit Facility as discussed further in Capital Resources.

Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates, as a percentage of net operating revenues, decreased from 0.4% for the three months ended March 31, 2016 to 0.1% for the three months ended March 31, 2017, primarily resulting from our sale in April 2016 of our unconsolidated minority equity interests in joint ventures with Universal Health Systems, Inc. for five hospitals in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The net results of the above-mentioned changes resulted in (loss) income from continuing operations before income taxes decreasing $239 million from income of $63 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 to a loss of $176 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017.

The provision for income taxes on income from continuing operations decreased from $26 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 to less than $1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017, primarily due to the decrease in income from continuing operations before income taxes. Our effective tax rates were less than 0.1% and 41.3% for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. The decrease in our effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2017, when compared to the three months ended March 31, 2016, was primarily due to the non-deductible nature of certain goodwill written off in the $250 million impairment and loss (gain) on sale of businesses for the three months ended March 31, 2017, partially offset by approximately $16 million of tax expense recognized on the tax deficiency created by a difference between the actual tax deduction that will be recognized from the vesting of restricted stock during the three months ended March 31, 2017, compared to the higher stock compensation expense previously recorded over the vesting period as determined based on the fair value of the restricted stock at the grant date. Including the expense related to income attributable to noncontrolling interests, the effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016 would have been less than 0.1% and 68.4%, respectively. In addition to the items discussed above, this decrease was primarily due to a disproportionate decrease in income from continuing operations before income taxes, when compared to the decrease in net income attributable to noncontrolling interests for those same periods, which is not tax affected in our condensed consolidated financial statements.

(Loss) income from continuing operations, as a percentage of net operating revenues, decreased from 0.7% for the three months ended March 31, 2016 to (3.9)% for the three months ended March 31, 2017.

Discontinued operations for these periods include the results of operations of certain hospitals owned or leased by us as of March 31, 2017 and 2016, which were classified as being held for sale or sold. The operation of these hospitals resulted in a loss, net of taxes, of $1 million during the three months ended March 31, 2017 and an after-tax impairment charge of $1 million during the three months ended March 31, 2016. Overall, discontinued operations consisted of a loss, net of taxes, of $1 million during both the three-month periods ended March 31, 2017 and 2016.

Net (loss) income, as a percentage of net operating revenues, decreased from income of 0.7% for the three months ended March 31, 2016 to a loss of (3.9)% for the three months ended March 31, 2017.

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests, as a percentage of net operating revenues, was 0.5% for both the three-month periods ended March 31, 2017 and 2016.

Net (loss) income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. was a loss of $199 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017, compared to income of $11 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016. The decrease in net income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. was primarily due to the impairment of goodwill and certain long-lived assets based on their estimated fair values for hospitals held for sale.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Net cash provided by operating activities decreased $52 million, from approximately $294 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016, to approximately $242 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017. The decrease in cash provided by operating activities was primarily the result of the loss of cash flow contributed from previously divested hospitals, a decrease in cash flow due to the timing of payroll funding compared to the prior year, a decrease in cash received from HITECH incentive reimbursement, and other changes in working capital. Such decreases were offset by improvements in cash flow from patient accounts receivable collections, as well as the net cash received from the settlement proceeds, net of legal fees, of the shareholder derivative action in January 2017. Total cash paid for interest during the three months ended March 31, 2017 decreased to approximately $279 million compared to $307 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016, which is primarily related to the decrease in the average outstanding debt balance. Less than $1 million was paid for income taxes for both the three-month periods ended March 31, 2017 and 2016. Included in net cash provided by operating activities for the three months ended March 31, 2017 was $10 million of cash received for HITECH incentive reimbursements, compared to $85 million received for the three months ended March 31, 2016.

The cash used in investing activities decreased $200 million, from approximately $371 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 to approximately $171 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017. The decrease in cash used in investing activities was primarily due to the decrease in the cash used in the acquisition of facilities and other related equipment of $97 million as a result of no hospital acquisitions during the three months ended March 31, 2017 compared to the acquisition of two hospitals during the three months ended March 31, 2016, a decrease in the cash used in the purchase of property and equipment of $78 million, and a decrease in cash used for other investments (primarily from internal-use software expenditures and physician recruiting costs) of $30 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017. The decrease in cash used in investing activities was also impacted by a decrease in proceeds from the disposition of hospitals and other ancillary operations of $12 million, and a decrease in the proceeds from the sale of property and equipment of $4 million. Included in cash outflows for other investments for the three months ended March 31, 2017 is approximately $12 million of capital expenditures related to the purchase and implementation of certified EHR technology, including implementation of Cerner software at several hospital locations. The remaining cash outflows for other investments for the three months ended March 31, 2017 primarily consists of purchases and development of other internal-use software and payments made under non-employee physician recruiting agreements of $25 million. We anticipate being able to fund future routine capital expenditures with cash flows generated from operations.

Our net cash used in financing activities was $62 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017, compared to net cash provided by financing activities of $74 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016. The decrease in cash generated from financing activities, in comparison to the prior year period, is primarily due to an increase in cash paid for deferred financing costs and other debt-related costs of $40 million, an increase in cash paid for the distribution of noncontrolling investments in joint ventures of $10 million, a decrease in the proceeds from our receivables facility of $5 million, and an increase in cash paid for the repayment of long-term debt of $1.3 billion. These increases were partially offset by a decrease in cash used for the repurchase of restricted stock for payroll tax withholding requirements of $2 million, an increase in proceeds from noncontrolling investors in joint ventures of $5 million, a reduction in cash paid for the redemption of noncontrolling investments in joint ventures of $12 million, and an increase in our long-term borrowings and issuance of long-term debt of $1.2 billion.

Capital Expenditures

Cash expenditures for purchases of facilities were $2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017, compared to $99 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016. The decrease was primarily related to the fact that no hospital acquisitions were completed during the three months ended March 31, 2017 compared to the acquisition of two hospitals which were completed during the three months ended March 31, 2016. Our expenditures for the three months ended March 31, 2017 were primarily related to the purchase of physician practices and other ancillary services.

Excluding the cost to construct replacement hospitals, our cash expenditures for routine capital for the three months ended March 31, 2017 totaled $141 million compared to $216 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016. These capital expenditures related primarily to the purchase of additional equipment, minor renovations and information systems infrastructure. Costs to construct replacement hospitals totaled $5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017, compared to $8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016. The costs to construct replacement hospitals for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016 represent both planning and construction costs for the replacement hospital in York, Pennsylvania.

Pursuant to a hospital purchase agreement in effect as of March 31, 2017, we have committed to build a replacement facility in York, Pennsylvania by July 2017. Construction costs, including equipment costs, for the York replacement facility are currently estimated to be approximately $125 million.

Pursuant to a hospital purchase agreement from our March 1, 2016 acquisition of IU Health La Porte Hospital and IU Health Starke Hospital, we have committed to build replacement facilities in both La Porte, Indiana and Knox, Indiana within five years of the date of acquisition, or by March 2021. Construction costs, including equipment costs, for the La Porte and Starke replacement facilities are currently estimated to be approximately $125 million and $15 million, respectively.

Capital Resources

Net working capital was approximately $1.8 billion at both March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016.

We have senior secured financing under a credit facility with a syndicate of financial institutions led by Credit Suisse, as administrative agent and collateral agent. In connection with the HMA merger in 2014, we and CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc., or CHS, entered into a third amendment and restatement of its Credit Facility, providing for additional financing and recapitalization of certain of our term loans, including (i) the replacement of the revolving credit facility with a new $1.0 billion revolving facility maturing in 2019, or Revolving Facility, (ii) the addition of a new $1.0 billion Term A facility due 2019, or the Term A Facility, (iii) a Term D facility in an aggregate principal amount equal to approximately $4.6 billion due 2021 (which included certain term C loans that were converted into such Term D facility (collectively, the Term D Facility)), (iv) the conversion of certain term C loans into Term E Loans and the borrowing of new Term E Loans in an aggregate principal amount of approximately $1.7 billion due 2017 and (v) the addition of flexibility commensurate with our post-acquisition structure. In addition to funding a portion of the consideration in connection with the HMA merger, some of the proceeds of the Term A Facility and Term D Facility were used to refinance the outstanding $637 million existing term A facility due 2016 and the $60 million of term B loans due 2014, respectively. The Revolving Facility includes a subfacility for letters of credit.

On March 9, 2015, CHS entered into Amendment No. 1 and Incremental Term Loan Assumption Agreement to refinance the existing Term E Loans due 2017 into Term F Loans due 2018, in an original aggregated principal amount of $1.7 billion, or Term F Facility. On May 18, 2015, CHS entered into an Incremental Term Loan Assumption Agreement to provide for a new $1.6 billion incremental Term G facility due 2019, or Term G Facility, and a new approximately $2.9 billion incremental Term H facility due 2021, or Term H Facility. The proceeds of the Term G Facility and Term H Facility were used to repay our existing Term D Facility in full. On April 29, 2016, using part of the cash generated from the QHC spin-off, we repaid approximately $190 million of our Term F Facility. On December 30, 2016, using the cash generated from the sale of a majority ownership in our home care division and from the completion of the sale-lease back transaction for ten of our medical office buildings, we repaid approximately $48 million of our Term F Facility, approximately $26 million of our Term A Facility, approximately $52 million of our Term G Facility and $96 million of our Term H Facility. On March 16, 2017, CHS issued a $2.2 billion aggregate principal amount of 6¹⁄₄% Senior Secured Notes due 2023, a portion of the net proceeds of which was used to repay our existing Term F Facility in full.

On December 5, 2016, CHS entered into Amendment No. 2 to the Credit Facility, or Amendment No. 2, to adjust upward the maximum leverage ratios and adjust downward the minimum interest coverage ratio we are required to comply with each fiscal quarter through and including the fiscal quarter ending December 31, 2017 under the financial maintenance covenants in the Credit Facility. In connection with Amendment No. 2, we agreed to certain other additional undertakings for the benefit of the lenders under the Revolving Facility and the Term A Facility.

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 0.50% 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) LIBOR. Loans in respect of the Revolving Facility and the Term A Facility will accrue interest at a rate per annum initially equal to LIBOR plus 2.75%, in the case of LIBOR borrowings, and Alternate Base Rate plus 1.75%, in the case of Alternate Base Rate borrowings. In addition, the margin in respect of the Revolving Facility and the Term A Facility will be subject to adjustment determined by reference to a leverage-based pricing grid. Loans in respect of the Term F Facility will accrue interest at a rate per annum equal to LIBOR plus 3.25%, in the case of LIBOR borrowings, and Alternate Base Rate plus 2.25%, in the case of Alternate Base Rate borrowings. The Term G Loan and Term H Loan will accrue interest at a rate per annum equal to LIBOR plus 2.75% and 3.00%, respectively, in the case of LIBOR borrowings, and Alternate Base Rate plus 1.75% and 2.00%, respectively, in the case of Alternate Base Rate borrowings. The Term G Loan and the Term H Loan are subject to a 1.00% LIBOR floor and a 2.00% Alternate Base Rate floor.

Under the Term A Facility, CHS is required to make amortization payments in aggregate amounts equal to 15% of the original principal amount of the Term A Facility in 2017 and 45% of the original principal amount of the Term A Facility in 2018. Under the Term H Facility, we are required to make amortization payments in aggregate amounts equal to 1% of the original principal amount of the Term H Facility each year. As of December 31, 2016, no additional amortization payments were required to be made under the Term F Facility or the Term G Facility.

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 (provided that, in connection with Amendment No. 2, CHS agreed with the lenders under the Revolving Facility and the Term A Facility not to exercise such reinvestment rights prior to January 1, 2018), (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, 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 borrower under the Credit Facility is CHS. All of our obligations under the Credit Facility are unconditionally guaranteed by Community Health Systems, Inc. and certain of its 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 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. Such assets constitute substantially the same assets, subject to certain exceptions, that secure CHS’ obligations under its outstanding senior secured notes.

We have agreed to pay letter of credit fees equal to the applicable percentage then in effect with respect to LIBOR borrowings under the Revolving 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 are obligated to pay commitment fees of 0.50% per annum (subject to adjustment based upon our leverage ratio), on the unused portion of the Revolving Facility.

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 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 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 maximum secured net leverage ratio and an interest coverage ratio) and various affirmative covenants. Under the Credit Facility, the secured net leverage ratio is calculated as the ratio of total secured debt, less unrestricted cash and cash equivalents, to consolidated EBITDA, as defined in the Credit Facility, and the interest coverage ratio is the ratio of consolidated EBITDA, as defined in the Credit Facility, to consolidated interest expense for the period. The calculation of consolidated EBITDA as defined in the Credit Facility is a trailing 12-month calculation that begins with net income attributable to us, with certain pro forma adjustments to consider the impact of material acquisitions or divestitures, and adjustments for interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, net income attributable to noncontrolling interests, stock compensation expense, restructuring costs, and the financial impact of other non-cash or non-recurring items recorded during any such 12-month period. For the 12-month period ended March 31, 2017, the secured net leverage ratio financial covenant in the Credit Facility limited the ratio of secured debt to EBITDA, as defined, to less than or equal to 4.50 to 1.00, which will decrease to 4.00 to 1.00 on January 1, 2018. For the 12-month period ended March 31, 2017, the interest coverage ratio financial covenant in the Credit Facility required the ratio of consolidated EBITDA, as defined, to consolidated interest expense to be greater than or equal to 2.00 to 1.00, which will increase to 2.25 to 1.00 on January 1, 2018. We were in compliance with all such covenants at March 31, 2017, with a secured net leverage ratio of approximately 3.99 to 1.00 and an interest coverage ratio of approximately 2.39 to 1.00.

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 an available cure through the issuance of qualified equity for a period of 60 days after the end of the first three quarters and 100 days after a year end, (4) bankruptcy and insolvency 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 (as defined), (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.

As of March 31, 2017, the availability for additional borrowings under our Credit Facility, subject to certain limitations as set forth in the Credit Facility, was $1.0 billion pursuant to the Revolving Facility, of which $56 million was set aside for outstanding letters of credit. We believe that these funds, along with internally generated cash and continued access to the capital markets, will be sufficient to finance future acquisitions, capital expenditures and working capital requirements during the next 12 months.

On January 27, 2014, CHS completed a private offering of $1.0 billion aggregate principal amount of 5¹⁄₈% Senior Secured Notes due 2021, or the 2021 Senior Secured Notes, and $3.0 billion aggregate principal amount of 6⁷⁄₈% Senior Notes due 2022, or the 6⁷⁄₈% Senior Notes. The net proceeds from these issuances were used to finance the HMA merger.

On November 22, 2011, CHS completed a private offering of $1.0 billion aggregate principal amount of 8% Senior Notes due 2019. On March 21, 2012, CHS completed a private offering of an additional $1.0 billion aggregate principal amount of 8% Senior Notes (at a premium of 102.5%). The net proceeds from these issuances were used to finance the purchase of approximately $1.85 billion aggregate principal amount of CHS’ then outstanding 8⁷⁄₈% Senior Notes, to pay related fees and expenses and for general corporate purposes. During the year ended December 31, 2016, we repurchased approximately $75 million of the approximately $2 billion aggregate principal amount outstanding of the 8% Senior Notes due 2019 in open market transactions.

On July 18, 2012, CHS completed a public offering of $1.2 billion aggregate principal amount of 7¹⁄₈% Senior Notes due 2020. The net proceeds of the offering were used to finance the purchase or redemption of the then outstanding $934 million principal amount plus accrued interest of the 8⁷⁄₈% Senior Notes, to pay for consents delivered in connection with a related tender offer, to pay related fees and expenses, and for general corporate purposes.

On August 17, 2012, CHS completed a public offering of $1.6 billion aggregate principal amount of 5¹⁄₈% Senior Secured Notes due 2018, or the 2018 Senior Secured Notes. The net proceeds of the offering, together with available cash on hand, were used to finance the prepayment of $1.6 billion of the outstanding term loans due 2014 under the Credit Facility and related fees and expenses. On May 16, 2016, using part of the cash generated from the QHC spin-off, we completed a cash tender offer for $900 million of the approximately $1.6 billion aggregate principal amount outstanding of the 2018 Senior Secured Notes.

On March 16, 2017, CHS completed a public offering of $2.2 billion aggregate principal amount of 6¹⁄₄% Senior Secured Notes due 2023, or the 2023 Senior Secured Notes. The net proceeds from this issuance were used to finance the purchase or redemption of $700 million aggregate principal amount of the 2018 Senior Secured Notes and related fees and expenses, and the repayment of $1.4 billion of the Term F Facility. The 2023 Senior Secured Notes bear interest at 6.250% per annum, payable semiannually in arrears on March 31 and September 30, commencing September 30, 2017. Interest on the 2023 Senior Secured 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. Both the 2021 Senior Secured Notes and the 2023 Senior Secured Notes are secured by a first-priority lien subject to a shared lien of equal priority with certain other obligations, including obligations under the Credit Facility, and subject to prior ranking liens permitted by the indentures governing the 2021 Senior Secured Notes and the 2023 Senior Secured Notes on substantially the same assets, subject to certain exceptions, that secure CHS’ obligations under the Credit Facility.

On March 21, 2012, through certain of its subsidiaries, CHS entered into an accounts receivable loan agreement, or the Receivables Facility, with a group of lenders and banks, Credit Agricolé Corporate and Investment Bank, as a managing agent and as the administrative agent, and The Bank of Nova Scotia, as a managing agent. On March 7, 2013, CHS and certain of its subsidiaries amended the Receivables Facility to add an additional managing agent, The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd., to increase the size of the facility from $300 million to $500 million and to extend the scheduled termination date. Additional subsidiaries also agreed to participate in the Receivables Facility as of that date. On March 31, 2014, CHS and certain of its subsidiaries amended the Receivables Facility to increase the size of the facility from $500 million to $700 million and to extend the scheduled termination date. Additional subsidiaries also agreed to participate in the Receivables Facility as of that date. On November 13, 2015, CHS and certain of its subsidiaries amended the Receivables Facility to extend the scheduled termination date and amend certain other provisions thereof. On November 18, 2016, CHS and certain of its subsidiaries amended the Receivables Facility to extend the scheduled termination date in respect of a $450 million portion of the commitments thereunder and amend certain other provisions thereof. The existing and future non-self pay patient-related accounts receivable, or the Receivables, for certain affiliated hospitals serve as collateral for the outstanding borrowings under the Receivables Facility. The interest rate on the borrowings is based on the commercial paper rate plus an applicable interest rate spread. Unless earlier terminated or subsequently extended pursuant to its terms, the Receivables Facility will expire on November 13, 2017 in respect of a $250 million portion of the commitments thereunder and November 13, 2018 in respect of the remaining $450 million of commitments thereunder, subject to customary termination events that could cause an early termination date. CHS maintains effective control over the Receivables because, pursuant to the terms of the Receivables Facility, the Receivables are sold from certain of CHS’ subsidiaries to CHS, and CHS then sells or contributes the Receivables to a special-purpose entity that is wholly-owned by CHS. The wholly-owned special-purpose entity in turn grants security interests in the Receivables in exchange for borrowings obtained from the group of third-party lenders and banks of up to $700 million outstanding from time to time based on the availability of eligible Receivables and other customary factors. The wholly-owned special-purpose entity is not a subsidiary guarantor under the Credit Facility or CHS’ outstanding notes. The group of third-party lenders and banks do not have recourse to CHS or its subsidiaries beyond the assets of the wholly-owned special-purpose entity that collateralizes the loan. The Receivables and other assets of the wholly-owned special-purpose entity will be available first and foremost to satisfy the claims of the creditors of such entity. The outstanding borrowings pursuant to the Receivables Facility at March 31, 2017 totaled $700 million with approximately $450 million classified as long-term debt on the condensed consolidated balance sheet. At March 31, 2017, the carrying amount of Receivables included in the Receivables Facility totaled approximately $1.9 billion and is included in patient accounts receivable on the condensed consolidated balance sheet.

As of March 31, 2017, we are currently a party to the following interest rate swap agreements to limit the effect of changes in interest rates on approximately 45.2% 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, interest on the Revolving Facility and the Term A Facility at a rate per annum equal to LIBOR plus 2.50%. The Term G Loan and Term H Loan accrue interest at a rate per annum equal to LIBOR plus 2.75% and 3.00%, respectively, in the case of LIBOR borrowings, and Alternate Base Rate plus 1.75% and 2.00%, respectively, in the case of Alternate Base Rate Borrowings. The Term G Loan and the Term H Loan are subject to a 1.00% LIBOR floor and a 2.00% Alternate Base Rate floor.


Swap #	Notional Amount (in millions)		Fixed Interest Rate		Termination Date	Fair Value (in millions)
1	$	200		2.055 %	July 25, 2019	$	2
2		200		2.059 %	July 25, 2019		2
3		400		1.882 %	August 30, 2019		2
4		200		2.515 %	August 30, 2019		4
5		200		2.613 %	August 30, 2019		4
6		300		2.041 %	August 30, 2020		1
7		300		2.738 %	August 30, 2020		8
8		300		2.892 %	August 30, 2020		10
9		300		2.363 %	January 27, 2021		4
10		200		2.368 %	January 27, 2021		3

The swaps that were in effect prior to the HMA merger remain in effect after the refinancing for the HMA merger and will continue to be used to limit the effects of changes in interest rates on portions of our amended credit facility.

The Credit Facility and the indentures that govern our outstanding notes contain various covenants that limit our ability to take certain actions, including 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 certain loans, acquisitions and investments;

•

redeem debt that is subordinated in right of payment to our outstanding notes;

•

create liens;

•

sell or otherwise dispose of assets, including capital stock of subsidiaries;

•

impair the security interests;

•

enter into agreements that restrict dividends and certain other payments from subsidiaries;

•

merge, consolidate, sell or otherwise dispose of substantially all 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 indentures that govern our outstanding notes. Upon the occurrence of an event of default under our Credit Facility or indentures that govern our outstanding notes, all amounts outstanding under our Credit Facility and the indentures that govern our outstanding notes may become immediately 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, subject to certain limitations as set forth in the Credit Facility, of $1.0 billion (consisting of a $1.0 billion Revolving Facility, of which $56 million is in the form of outstanding letters of credit) and our ability to amend the Credit Facility to provide for one or more tranches of term loans in an aggregate principal amount of up to $1.5 billion (only $750 million of which is effectively available because of our additional undertakings in connection with Amendment No. 2) and our continued access to the capital markets will be sufficient to finance acquisitions, capital expenditures, working capital requirements, and any equity or debt repurchases or other debt repayments we may elect to make through the next 12 months. In addition, we are currently required to utilize proceeds received from any dispositions of hospitals or investments to repay outstanding debt. As discussed above, the issuance of the 2023 Senior Secured Notes allowed us to repay approximately $2.1 billion of senior secured debt maturing in 2018 and extended debt maturities to 2023, which had a significant positive impact on our future debt service commitments.

We may elect from time to time to purchase our common stock under our open market repurchase program adopted on November 6, 2015, which authorizes us to purchase up to 10,000,000 shares of our common stock, not to exceed $300 million in repurchases (we have currently repurchased 532,188 shares under such program, all of which shares were repurchased during the three months ended December 31, 2015). In addition, as noted above, we purchased a portion of our outstanding 8% Senior Notes due 2019 in open market transactions during 2016, and we may continue to elect from time to time to purchase our outstanding debt in open market purchases, privately negotiated transactions or otherwise. Any such equity or debt repurchases will depend upon prevailing market conditions, our liquidity requirements, contractual restrictions, applicable securities laws requirements, and other factors.

On May 6, 2015, 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.

The ratio of earnings to fixed charges is a measure of our ability to meet our fixed obligations related to our indebtedness. The following table shows the ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the three months ended March 31, 2017:


		Three Months Ended
		March 31, 2017
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges (1)		*

(1)	Fixed charges include interest expensed and capitalized during the year plus an estimate of the interest component of rent expense. There are no shares of preferred stock outstanding. See exhibit 12 filed as part of this Report for the calculation of this ratio.

*	For the three months ended March 31, 2017, earnings were insufficient to cover fixed charges by approximately $175 million.

Off-balance Sheet Arrangements

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. At March 31, 2017, we operated two hospitals under operating leases that had an immaterial impact on our consolidated operating results. The terms of the two operating leases we currently have in place expire between December 2020 and June 2028, not including lease extension options. If we allow these leases to expire, we would no longer generate revenues nor incur expenses from these hospitals.

Noncontrolling Interests

We have sold noncontrolling interests in certain of our subsidiaries or acquired subsidiaries with existing noncontrolling interest ownership positions. As of March 31, 2017, we have hospitals in 23 of the markets we serve, with noncontrolling physician ownership interests ranging from less than 1% to 40%, including one hospital that also has a non-profit entity as a partner. In addition, we have nine other hospitals with noncontrolling interests owned by non-profit entities. Redeemable noncontrolling interests in equity of consolidated subsidiaries was $552 million and $554 million as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively, and noncontrolling interests in equity of consolidated subsidiaries was $112 million and $113 million as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively. The amount of net income attributable to noncontrolling interests was $22 million and $25 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. As a result of the change in the Stark Law “whole hospital” exception included in the Affordable Care Act, we are not permitted to introduce physician ownership at any of our hospital facilities that did not have physician ownership at the time of the adoption of the Affordable Care Act, or increase the aggregate percentage of physician ownership in any of our former or existing hospital joint ventures in excess of the aggregate physician ownership level held at the time of the adoption of the Affordable Care Act.

Reimbursement, Legislative and Regulatory Changes

Ongoing legislative and regulatory efforts could 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 Affordable Care Act, 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 Affordable Care Act.

Critical Accounting Policies

The discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based upon our condensed 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 condensed 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.

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, 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 operating revenues (net of contractual allowances and discounts). 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. Our automated contractual allowance system does not maintain the contractual allowance at the patient account level as it estimates an average contractual allowance by payor classification. 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 March 31, 2017 from our estimated reimbursement percentage, net (loss) income for the three months ended March 31, 2017 would have changed by approximately $28 million, and net accounts receivable at March 31, 2017 would have changed by $132 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 (loss) income by an insignificant amount in each of the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016.

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

Substantially all of our accounts receivable are related to providing healthcare services to patients at our hospitals and affiliated businesses. 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. 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 any anticipated changes in trends. Our ability to estimate the allowance for doubtful accounts is not impacted by not utilizing an aging of our net accounts receivable as we believe that substantially all of the risk exists at the point in time such accounts are identified as self-pay. For all other non-self-pay payor categories, we reserve an estimated amount based on historical collection rates for the uncontractualized portion of all accounts aging over 365 days from the date of discharge. These amounts represent an immaterial percentage of our outstanding accounts receivable. 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 and are considered in our estimates of accounts receivable collectability. If the actual collection percentage differed by 1% at March 31, 2017 from our estimated collection percentage as a result of a change in expected recoveries, net (loss) income for the three months ended March 31, 2017 would have changed by $17 million, and net accounts receivable at March 31, 2017 would have changed by $81 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, days revenue outstanding, the composition of self-pay receivables between pure self-pay patients and the patient responsibility portion of third-party insured receivables 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 $4.0 billion and $3.9 billion at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, 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, adjusted for the impact of receivables for state Medicaid supplemental payment programs, was 62 days at March 31, 2017 and 63 days at December 31, 2016. Our target range for days revenue outstanding is from 60 to 65 days.

Total gross accounts receivable (prior to allowance for contractual adjustments and doubtful accounts) was approximately $20.6 billion as of March 31, 2017 and approximately $19.7 billion as of December 31, 2016. The approximate percentage of total gross accounts receivable (prior to contractual adjustments and the allowance for doubtful accounts) summarized by aging categories is as follows:

As of March 31, 2017


	% of Gross Receivables
Payor	0 - 90 Days			90 - 180 Days			180 - 365 Days			Over 365 Days
Medicare		16	%		1	%		-	%		-	%
Medicaid		8	%		1	%		1	%		1	%
Managed Care and Other		25	%		4	%		3	%		2	%
Self-Pay		8	%		6	%		13	%		11	%

As of December 31, 2016


	% of Gross Receivables
Payor	0 - 90 Days			90 - 180 Days			180 - 365 Days			Over 365 Days
Medicare		14	%		1	%		-	%		-	%
Medicaid		7	%		2	%		1	%		1	%
Managed Care and Other		25	%		4	%		3	%		2	%
Self-Pay		9	%		6	%		14	%		11	%

The approximate percentage of total gross accounts receivable (prior to allowances for contractual adjustments and doubtful accounts) summarized by payor is as follows:


	March 31, 2017			December 31, 2016
Insured receivables		61.4	%		59.8	%
Self-pay receivables		38.6			40.2

Total		100.0	%		100.0	%

The combined total at our hospitals and clinics of the allowance for doubtful accounts for self-pay accounts receivable and related allowances for other self-pay discounts and contractuals, as a percentage of gross self-pay receivables, was approximately 89% at both March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 . If the receivables that have been written-off, but where collections are still being pursued by outside collection agencies, were included in both the allowances and gross self-pay receivables specified above, the percentage of combined allowances to total self-pay receivables would have been approximately 93% at both March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016.

Goodwill and Other Intangibles

Goodwill represents the excess of the fair value of the consideration conveyed in the acquisition 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. Our most recent annual goodwill evaluation was performed during the fourth quarter of 2016.

During the year ended December 31, 2016, we allocated approximately $709 million of goodwill to the spin-off of QHC, including approximately $33 million of goodwill related to the former management services reporting unit and approximately $676 million of goodwill allocated from the hospital operations reporting unit based on a relative fair value calculation of the hospitals that were included in the QHC distribution. We allocated approximately $365 million of goodwill to hospitals held for sale based on a calculation of the relative fair value of those hospitals compared to the total hospital reporting unit goodwill. Additionally, we allocated approximately $46 million of goodwill related to the sale of the majority ownership interest in the home care operations reporting unit on December 31, 2016. At March 31, 2017, we had approximately $6.3 billion of goodwill recorded, all of which resides at our hospital operations reporting unit.

During the three months ended June 30, 2016, we identified certain indicators of impairment requiring an interim goodwill impairment evaluation. Those indicators were primarily the decline in our market capitalization and fair value of long-term debt during the three months ended June 30, 2016, and a decline in our projected future earnings compared to our most recent annual evaluation. We performed an estimated calculation of fair value in step one of the impairment test at June 30, 2016, which indicated that the carrying value of our hospital operations reporting unit exceeded its fair value. An initial step two calculation was performed to determine the implied value of goodwill in a hypothetical purchase price allocation. We recorded an estimated non-cash impairment charge of $1.4 billion to goodwill at June 30, 2016 based on these analyses, and adjusted the estimated impairment charge based on the final step two valuation of $1.395 billion at September 30, 2016.

The Company performed its annual goodwill evaluation during the fourth quarter of 2016. No impairment was indicated by this evaluation. The next annual goodwill evaluation will be performed during the fourth quarter of 2017. While no impairment was indicated by this evaluation, the reduction in our fair value and the resulting goodwill impairment charge recorded during 2016 reduced the excess of fair value calculated in the step two analysis over the carrying value of our hospital operations reporting unit to an amount less than 1% of our carrying value. This minimal amount in the excess fair value over carrying value of our hospital operations reporting unit increases the risk that future declines in fair value could result in goodwill impairment. The determination of fair value in step one of our goodwill impairment analysis is based on an estimate of fair value for each reporting unit utilizing known and estimated inputs at the evaluation date. Some of those inputs include, but are not limited to, the most recent price of our common stock or fair value of our long-term debt, estimates of future revenue and expense growth, estimated market multiples, expected capital expenditures, income tax rates, and costs of invested capital. Future estimates of fair value could be adversely affected if the actual outcome of one or more of these assumptions changes materially in the future, including further decline in our stock price or fair value of our long-term debt, lower than expected hospital volumes, or increased operating costs. Such changes impacting the calculation of our fair value could result in a material impairment charge in the future.

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 include an amount for the losses covered by our excess insurance. We also record a receivable for the expected reimbursement of 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 1.8%, 1.6% and 1.7% in 2016, 2015 and 2014, 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 condensed consolidated statements of (loss) 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 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 approximately 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 HMA 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.

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 less than $1 million per occurrence self-insured retention and for claims reported from June 1, 2002 through June 1, 2003, these self-insured retentions were $2 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 and before June 1, 2014 are self-insured up to $5 million per claim. Substantially all claims reported on or after June 1, 2014 are self-insured up to $10 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, up to $145 million per occurrence and in the aggregate for claims reported on or after January 1, 2008, up to $195 million per occurrence and in the aggregate for claims reported on or after June 1, 2010, and up to $220 million per occurrence and in the aggregate for claims reported on or after June 1, 2015. In addition, for integrated occurrence malpractice claims, there is an additional $50 million of excess coverage for claims reported on or after June 1, 2014 and an additional $75 million of excess coverage for claims reported on or after June 1, 2015. For certain policy years prior to June 1, 2014, if the first aggregate layer of excess coverage becomes fully utilized, then the self-insured retention will increase to $10 million per claim for any subsequent claims in that policy year until our total aggregate coverage is met.

Effective June 1, 2014, the hospitals acquired from HMA were insured on a claims-made basis as described above and through commercial insurance companies as described above for substantially all claims reported on or after June 1, 2014 except for physician-related claims with an occurrence date prior to June 1, 2014. Prior to June 1, 2014, the former HMA hospitals obtained insurance coverage through a wholly-owned captive insurance subsidiary and a risk retention group subsidiary which are domiciled in the Cayman Islands and South Carolina, respectively. Those insurance subsidiaries, which are collectively referred to as the “Insurance Subsidiaries,” provided (i) claims-made coverage to all of the former HMA hospitals and (ii) occurrence-basis coverage to most of the physicians employed by the former HMA hospitals. The employed physicians not covered by the Insurance Subsidiaries generally maintained claims-made policies with unrelated third party insurance companies. To mitigate the exposure of the program covering the former HMA hospitals and other healthcare facilities, the Insurance Subsidiaries bought claims-made reinsurance policies from unrelated third parties for claims above self-retention levels of $10 million or $15 million per claim, depending on the policy year.

Effective January 1, 2008, the former Triad hospitals were 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 Holdings, 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.

There were no significant changes in our estimate of the reserve for professional liability claims during the three months ended March 31, 2017.

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.

The total amount of unrecognized benefit that would impact the effective tax rate, if recognized, was approximately $9 million as of March 31, 2017. A total of approximately $3 million of interest and penalties is included in the amount of liability for uncertain tax positions at March 31, 2017. It is our policy to recognize interest and penalties related to unrecognized benefits in our condensed consolidated statements of (loss) income as income tax expense.

It is possible the amount of unrecognized tax benefit could change in the next 12 months as a result of a lapse of the statute of limitations and settlements with taxing authorities; however, we do not anticipate the change will have a material impact on our condensed consolidated results of operations or condensed consolidated financial position.

We, or one of our subsidiaries, file income tax returns in the United States federal jurisdiction and various state jurisdictions. We have extended the federal statute of limitations through June 30, 2017 for Triad Hospitals, Inc. for the tax periods ended December 31, 1999, December 31, 2000, April 30, 2001, June 30, 2001, December 31, 2001, December 31, 2002, December 31, 2003, December 31, 2004, December 31, 2005, December 31, 2006 and July 25, 2007. With few exceptions, we are no longer subject to state income tax examinations for years prior to 2013. Our federal income tax returns for the 2009, 2010, 2014 and 2015 tax years are currently under examination by the Internal Revenue Service. We believe the results of these examinations will not be material to our consolidated results of operations or consolidated financial position. We have extended the federal statute of limitations through January 31, 2018 for Community Health Systems, Inc. for the tax periods ended December 31, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010, and through December 31, 2017 for the tax periods ended December 31, 2011 and 2012.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In April 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, issued Accounting Standards Update, or ASU, 2014-08, which changes the requirements for reporting discontinued operations. A discontinued operation continues to include a component of an entity or a group of components of an entity, or a business activity. However, in a shift reflecting stakeholder concerns that too many disposals of small groups of assets that are recurring in nature qualified for reporting as discontinued operations, a disposal of a component of an entity or a group of components of an entity will be required to be reported in discontinued operations if the disposal represents a strategic shift that has (or will have) a major effect on an entity’s operations and financial results. A business or nonprofit activity that, on acquisition, meets the criteria to be classified as held for sale will still be a discontinued operation. Additional disclosures will be required for significant components of the entity that are disposed of or are held for sale but do not qualify as discontinued operations. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2014 and is to be applied on a prospective basis for disposals or components initially classified as held for sale after that date. We adopted this ASU on January 1, 2015 and the adoption resulted in divestitures occurring subsequent to the date of adoption being included in continuing operations for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, which outlines a single comprehensive model for recognizing revenue and supersedes most existing revenue recognition guidance, including guidance specific to the healthcare industry. This ASU provides companies the option of applying a full or modified retrospective approach upon adoption. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, with early adoption permitted for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016. We expect to adopt this ASU on January 1, 2018 and are currently developing our plan for adoption and the impact on our revenue recognition policies, procedures and control framework and the resulting impact on our consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows. We have established an implementation group for this ASU with an implementation plan to transition to the new standard and determine its impact during 2017. Additionally, we plan to elect to apply the full retrospective approach upon adoption. We cannot reasonably estimate at this time the quantitative impact that the adoption of this accounting standard could have on our financial statements. For additional information regarding our evaluation of this accounting standard and its potential impact on us, see Note 1 to our condensed consolidated financial statements contained herein.

In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-03, which requires debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability be presented in the balance sheet as a direct reduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability, consistent with the accounting for debt discounts. The ASU did not change the measurement or recognition guidance for debt issuance costs. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 31, 2015. We adopted this ASU on January 1, 2016, which resulted in the reclassification of approximately $266 million of debt issuance costs from other long-term assets to a reduction of the related long-term debt.

In November 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-17, which amended the balance sheet classification requirements for deferred income taxes to simplify their presentation in the statement of financial position. The ASU requires that deferred tax liabilities and assets be classified as noncurrent in a classified statement of financial position. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 31, 2016, with early adoption permitted. We early adopted the provisions of this ASU for the presentation and classification of its deferred tax assets at December 31, 2015. The effect of this change primarily resulted in the current portion of deferred income taxes at December 31, 2015 being included in the noncurrent deferred income tax liability.

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01, which amends the measurement, presentation and disclosure requirements for equity investments, other than those accounted for under the equity method or that require consolidation of the investee. The ASU eliminates the classification of equity investments as available-for-sale with any changes in fair value of such investments recognized in other comprehensive income, and requires entities to measure equity investments at fair value, with any changes in fair value recognized in net income. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, with early adoption permitted. We expect to adopt this ASU on January 1, 2018, and are currently evaluating the impact that adoption of this ASU will have on our consolidated financial position and results of operations.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, which amends the accounting for leases, requiring lessees to recognize most leases on their balance sheet with a right-of-use asset and a lease liability. Leases will be classified as either finance or operating leases, which will impact the expense recognition of such leases over the lease term. The ASU also modifies the lease classification criteria for lessors and eliminates some of the real estate leasing guidance previously applied for certain leasing transactions. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted. We expect to adopt this ASU on January 1, 2019. Because of the number of leases we utilize to support our operations, the adoption of this ASU is expected to have a significant impact on our consolidated financial position and results of operations. We are currently evaluating the extent of this anticipated impact on our consolidated financial position and results of operations and the quantitative and qualitative factors that will impact us as part of the adoption of this ASU, as well as any changes to our leasing strategy because of the changes to the accounting and recognition of leases.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, which was issued to simplify some of the accounting guidance for share-based compensation. Among the areas impacted by the amendments in this ASU is the accounting for income taxes related to share-based payments, accounting for forfeitures, classification of awards as equity or liabilities, and classification on the statement of cash flows. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016. We adopted this ASU on January 1, 2017. Because of the decline in our stock price within the last 18 months, the principal impact from adopting this ASU has been an increase in our current provision for income taxes due to the deficiency created by a higher stock compensation expense deduction resulting in lower income taxes recorded for book purposes over the vesting period of the outstanding share-based awards compared to the actual tax deduction that will be recognized from the vesting of such awards.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04, which simplifies the accounting for goodwill impairment by eliminating step two from the goodwill impairment test. Instead of a two-step impairment model, if the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value as determined in step one of the impairment test, an impairment loss is measured at the amount equal to that excess, limited to the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. This ASU is effective for any interim or annual impairment tests for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, with early adoption permitted. As noted in our critical accounting policy discussion on goodwill, during the fourth quarter of 2016 we performed our annual goodwill impairment analysis. While the result of the step two valuation in that analysis did not indicate an impairment of goodwill, the initial calculation of hospital operations reporting unit fair value in the step one test indicated that the carrying amount of the hospital operations reporting unit exceeded its fair value by approximately $800 million. Depending on future changes in fair value and the impact of allocated goodwill for planned divestitures, at adoption there could be a material impairment charge recorded for this excess amount. We are evaluating whether to early adopt this ASU and what impact it will have on our consolidated financial position and results of operations.

In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-07, which changes the presentation of the components of net periodic benefit cost for sponsors of defined benefit plans for pensions. Under the changes in this ASU, the service cost component of net periodic benefit cost will be reported in the same income statement line as other employee compensation costs arising from services during the reporting period. The other components of net periodic benefit cost will be presented separately in a line item outside of operating income. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, with early adoption permitted. We expect to adopt this ASU on January 1, 2018, and are currently evaluating the impact that adoption of this ASU will have on our consolidated results of operations. Since the changes required in this new ASU only change the income statement classification of the components of net periodic benefit cost, no changes are expected to income from continuing operations or net income. Currently, we report all of the components of net periodic benefit cost as a component of salaries and benefits on the consolidated statement of income.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

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:

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general economic and business conditions, both nationally and in the regions in which we operate,

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the impact of the 2016 federal elections, which may lead to the repeal of or significant changes to the Affordable Care Act, its implementation or its interpretation, as well as changes in other federal, state or local laws or regulations affecting our business,

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the extent to which states support increases, decreases or changes in Medicaid programs, implement health insurance exchanges or alter the provision of healthcare to state residents through regulation or otherwise,

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the future and long-term viability of health insurance exchanges, which may be affected by whether a sufficient number of payors participate as well as the impact of the 2016 federal elections on the Affordable Care Act,

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risks associated with our substantial indebtedness, leverage and debt service obligations, including our ability to refinance such indebtedness on acceptable terms or to incur additional indebtedness,

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demographic changes,

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changes in, or the failure to comply with, governmental regulations,

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potential adverse impact of known and unknown government investigations, audits, and federal and state false claims act litigation and other legal proceedings,

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our ability, where appropriate, to enter into and maintain provider arrangements with payors and the terms of these arrangements, which may be further affected by the increasing consolidation of health insurers and managed care companies,

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changes in, or the failure to comply with, contract terms with payors and changes in reimbursement rates paid by federal or state healthcare programs or commercial payors,

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any potential additional impairments in the carrying value of goodwill, other intangible assets, or other long-lived assets, or changes in the useful lives of other intangible assets,

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changes in inpatient or outpatient Medicare and Medicaid payment levels,

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the effects related to the continued implementation of the sequestration spending reductions and the potential for future deficit reduction legislation,

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increases in the amount and risk of collectability of patient accounts receivable, including decreases in collectability which may result from, among other things, self-pay growth in states that have not expanded Medicaid and difficulties in recovering payments for which patients are responsible, including co-pays and deductibles,

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the efforts of insurers, healthcare providers and others to contain healthcare costs, including the trend toward value-based purchasing,

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our ongoing ability to demonstrate meaningful use of certified EHR technology and recognize income for the related Medicare or Medicaid incentive payments, to the extent such payments have not expired,

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increases in wages as a result of inflation or competition for highly technical positions and rising supply and drug 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,

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competition,

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our ability to attract and retain, at reasonable employment costs, qualified personnel, key management, physicians, nurses and other healthcare workers,

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trends toward treatment of patients in less acute or specialty healthcare settings, including ambulatory surgery centers or specialty hospitals,

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changes in medical or other technology,

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changes in U.S. GAAP,

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the availability and terms of capital to fund any additional acquisitions or replacement facilities or other capital expenditures,

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our ability to successfully make acquisitions or complete divestitures, including the disposition of hospitals and non-hospital businesses pursuant to our portfolio rationalization and deleveraging strategy, our ability to complete any such acquisitions or divestitures on desired terms or at all (including to realize the anticipated amount of proceeds from contemplated dispositions), the timing of the completion of any such acquisitions or divestitures, and our ability to realize the intended benefits from any such acquisitions or divestitures,

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the impact that changes in our relationships with joint venture or syndication partners could have on effectively operating our hospitals or ancillary services or in advancing strategic opportunities,

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our ability to successfully integrate any acquired hospitals, including those of HMA, or to recognize expected synergies from acquisitions,

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the impact of seasonal severe weather conditions,

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our ability to obtain adequate levels of general and professional liability insurance,

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timeliness of reimbursement payments received under government programs,

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effects related to outbreaks of infectious diseases,

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the impact of the external, criminal cyber-attack suffered by us in the second quarter of 2014, including potential reputational damage, the outcome of our investigation and any potential governmental inquiries, the outcome of litigation filed against us in connection with this cyber-attack, the extent of remediation costs and additional operating or other expenses that we may continue to incur, and the impact of potential future cyber-attacks or security breaches,

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any failure to comply with the terms of the Corporate Integrity Agreement,

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the concentration of our revenue in a small number of states,

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our ability to realize anticipated cost savings and other benefits from our current strategic and operational cost savings initiatives,

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any effects related to our previously announced exploration of strategic alternatives, and

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the other risk factors set forth in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 21, 2017, or 2016 Form 10-K, for the year ended December 31, 2016 and our other public filings with the SEC.

Although we believe that these forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, these assumptions are inherently subject to significant regulatory, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies, which are difficult or impossible to predict accurately and may be beyond the control of the Company. Accordingly, the Company cannot give any assurance that its expectations will in fact occur and cautions that actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. 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. The Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements, or to make any other forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Item 3. 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” in Part I, Item 2. 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. As of March 31, 2017, our approximately $2.6 billion notional amount of interest rate swap agreements outstanding represented approximately 45.2% of our variable rate debt.

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 $11 million and $14 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Item 4. 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 SEC’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 our internal control over financial reporting during the three months ended March 31, 2017 that have materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect our internal controls over financial reporting.

PART II OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

From time to time, we receive inquiries or subpoenas from state regulators, state Medicaid Fraud Control units, fiscal intermediaries, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Department of Justice and other government entities regarding various Medicare and Medicaid issues. In addition to the matters discussed below, we are currently responding to subpoenas and administrative demands concerning (a) certain cardiology procedures, medical records and policies at a New Mexico hospital, (b) an inquiry regarding a sleep labs at two Louisiana hospitals, (c) a subpoena regarding wound care services at one of our Florida hospitals (which appears to be related to unsealed cases against Healogics, Inc.), (d) a subpoena concerning provider based billing status for hyperbaric oxygen therapy at one of our Tennessee hospitals, (e) a subpoena concerning a physician relationship at one of our Texas hospitals and (f) a civil investigative demand concerning short-term Medicaid eligibility determinations processed by third party vendors at one of our Pennsylvania hospitals. In addition, we are subject to other claims and lawsuits arising in the ordinary course of our business including lawsuits and claims related to billing practices and the administration of charity care policies at our hospitals. Based on current knowledge, management does not believe that loss contingencies arising from pending legal, regulatory and governmental matters, including the matters described herein, will have a material adverse effect on the consolidated financial position or liquidity of the Company. However, in light of the inherent uncertainties involved in pending legal, regulatory and governmental matters, some of which are beyond our control, and the very large or indeterminate damages sought in some of these matters, an adverse outcome in one or more of these matters could be material to our results of operations or cash flows for any particular reporting period. 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. In September 2014, the Criminal Division of the United States Department of Justice, or DOJ, announced that all qui tam cases will be shared with their Division to determine if a parallel criminal investigation should be opened. The Criminal Division has also frequently stated an intention to pursue corporations in criminal prosecutions. From time to time, we detect issues of non-compliance with Federal healthcare laws pertaining to claims submission and reimbursement practices and/or financial relationships with physicians. We avail ourselves of various mechanisms to address potential overpayments arising out of these issues, including repayment of claims, rebilling of claims, and participation in voluntary disclosure protocols offered by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the Office of the Inspector General. Participating in voluntary repayments and voluntary disclosure protocols can have the potential for significant settlement obligations or even enforcement action.

The following legal proceedings are described in detail because, although they may not be required to be disclosed in this Part II, Item 1 under SEC rules, due to the nature of the business of the Company, we believe that the following discussion of these matters may provide useful information to security holders. This discussion does not include claims and lawsuits covered by medical malpractice, general liability or employment practices insurance and risk retention programs, none of which claims or lawsuits would in any event be required to be disclosed in this Part II, Item 1 under SEC rules. Certain of the matters referenced below are also discussed in the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements at Part I, Item 1 under Note 17 “Contingencies.”

Community Health Systems, Inc. Legal Proceedings

Shareholder Litigation

Class Action Shareholder Federal Securities Cases. Three purported class action cases have been filed in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee; namely, Norfolk County Retirement System v. Community Health Systems, Inc., et al., filed May 9, 2011; De Zheng v. Community Health Systems, Inc., et al., filed May 12, 2011; and Minneapolis Firefighters Relief Association v. Community Health Systems, Inc., et al., filed June 21, 2011. All three seek class certification on behalf of purchasers of our common stock between July 27, 2006 and April 11, 2011 and allege that misleading statements resulted in artificially inflated prices for our common stock. In December 2011, the cases were consolidated for pretrial purposes and NYC Funds and its counsel were selected as lead plaintiffs/lead plaintiffs’ counsel. In lieu of ruling on our motion to dismiss, the court permitted the plaintiffs to file a first amended consolidated class action complaint which was filed on October 5, 2015. Our motion to dismiss was filed on November 4, 2015 and oral argument took place on April 11, 2016. Our motion to dismiss was granted on June 16, 2016 and on June 27, 2016, the plaintiffs filed a notice of appeal to the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. The matter is fully briefed, and oral argument is scheduled for May 3, 2017. We believe this consolidated matter is without merit and will vigorously defend this case.

Shareholder Derivative Actions. Three purported shareholder derivative actions have also been filed in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee; Plumbers and Pipefitters Local Union No. 630 Pension Annuity Trust Fund v. Wayne T. Smith, et al., filed May 24, 2011; Roofers Local No. 149 Pension Fund v. Wayne T. Smith, et al., filed June 21, 2011; and Lambert Sweat v. Wayne T. Smith, et al., filed October 5, 2011. These three cases allege breach of fiduciary duty arising out of allegedly improper inpatient admission practices, mismanagement, waste and unjust enrichment. These cases have been consolidated into a single, consolidated action. The plaintiffs filed an operative amended derivative complaint in these three consolidated actions on March 15, 2012. Our motion to dismiss was argued on June 13, 2013. On September 27, 2013, the court issued an order granting in part and denying in part our motion to dismiss. This case was settled pursuant to a final order entered on January 17, 2017. As a result of the settlement, the Company recorded a gain of approximately $40 million for the amount of settlement proceeds received, net of related legal expenses. Pursuant to the terms of the settlement, we are required to adopt and maintain for a specified period certain corporate governance measures. For more information, see the order and stipulation of settlement filed as Exhibit 99.2 to the 2016 Form 10-K.

Other Government Investigations

Dothan, Alabama – Independent Lab Billing. On February 12, 2015, our hospital in Dothan, Alabama received a Civil Investigative Demand, or CID, from the United States Department of Justice for information concerning its status as a “covered hospital” under certain lab billing regulations. These regulations discuss permissible billing of the technical component of lab tests performed for hospital patients by an independent laboratory. The CID seeks documentation and explanation whether the hospital qualifies as a covered hospital for billing purposes under the applicable regulations. We are cooperating fully with this investigation.

Commercial Litigation and Other Lawsuits

Becker v. Community Health Systems, Inc. d/b/a Community Health Systems Professional Services Corporation d/b/a Community Health Systems d/b/a Community Health Systems PSC, Inc. d/b/a Rockwood Clinic P.S. and Rockwood Clinic, P.S. (Superior Court, Spokane, Washington). This suit was filed on February 29, 2012, by a former chief financial officer at Rockwood Clinic in Spokane, Washington. Becker claims he was wrongfully terminated for allegedly refusing to certify a budget for Rockwood Clinic in 2012. On February 29, 2012, he also filed an administrative complaint with the Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration alleging that he is a whistleblower under Sarbanes-Oxley, which was dismissed by the agency and was appealed to an administrative law judge for a hearing that occurred on January 19-26, 2016. In a decision dated November 9, 2016, the law judge awarded Becker approximately $1.9 million for front pay, back pay and emotional damages with attorney fees to be later determined. We have appealed the award to the Administrative Review Board and are awaiting its decision. At a hearing on July 27, 2012, the trial court dismissed Community Health Systems, Inc. from the state case and subsequently certified the state case for an interlocutory appeal of the denial to dismiss his employer and the management company. The appellate court accepted the interlocutory appeal, and it was argued on April 30, 2014. On August 14, 2014, the court denied our appeal. On October 20, 2014, we filed a petition to review the denial with the Washington Supreme Court. Our appeal was accepted and oral argument was heard on June 9, 2015. On September 15, 2015, the court denied our appeal and remanded to the trial court; a previous trial setting of September 12, 2016 has been vacated and not reset. We continue to vigorously defend these actions.

Eliel Ntakirutimana, M.D. and Anesthesia Healthcare Partners of Laredo, P.A., Jose Berlioz, M.D. and Jose Berlioz, M.D., P.A. d/b/a Safari Pediatrics v. Laredo Texas Hospital Company, L.P. d/b/a Laredo Medical Center, CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc., Webb Hospital Corporation, Community Health Systems Professional Services Corporation, Community Health Systems, Inc., Abraham “Abe” Martinez, Argelia “Argie” Martinez, Michael Portacci, Wayne Smith, Timothy P. Adams, and Timothy Schmidt. On December 28, 2012, two physicians and each of their professional associations, who previously contracted as independent contractors with Laredo Medical Center under contracts that could be terminated without cause upon certain written notice, filed a first amended complaint. The first amended complaint alleged claims for breaches of contracts, unjust enrichment, violation of the Texas Theft Liability Act, negligence, breach of fiduciary duty, knowing participation in breach of fiduciary duty, defamation and business disparagement, R.I.C.O., economic duress/coercion, tortious interference with contracts or prospective business relations, conspiracy, respondent superior, actual and apparent authority, ratification, vice-principal liability, and joint enterprise liability. The first amended complaint, in part, alleges facts concerning payments made by Dr. Eliel Ntakirutimana to former Laredo Medical Center CEO, Abe Martinez, who is also a defendant in the suit. On October 23, 2013, an order staying the case until further notice was entered. On April 13, 2016, the magistrate judge entered an order lifting the stay and set a scheduling conference that was held on June 8, 2016. On July 22, 2016, we filed several motions for summary judgment. Additional motions for summary judgment have been filed and are pending. Trial is set to begin June 2, 2017. We continue to vigorously defend this matter.

Cyber Attack. As previously disclosed on a Current Report on Form 8-K filed by us on August 18, 2014, our computer network was the target of an external, criminal cyber-attack that we believe occurred between April and June, 2014. We and Mandiant (a FireEye Company), the forensic expert engaged by us in connection with this matter, believe the attacker was a foreign “Advanced Persistent Threat” group who used highly sophisticated malware and technology to attack our systems. The attacker was able to bypass our security measures and successfully copy and transfer outside the Company certain non-medical patient identification data (such as patient names, addresses, birthdates, telephone numbers and social security numbers), but not including patient credit card, medical or clinical information. We worked closely with federal law enforcement authorities in connection with their investigation and possible prosecution of those determined to be responsible for this attack. Mandiant has conducted a thorough investigation of this incident and continues to advise us regarding security and monitoring efforts. We have provided appropriate notification to affected patients and regulatory agencies as required by federal and state law. We have offered identity theft protection services to individuals affected by this attack.

We have incurred certain expenses to remediate and investigate this matter. In addition, multiple purported class action lawsuits have been filed against us and certain subsidiaries. These lawsuits allege that sensitive information was unprotected and inadequately encrypted by us. The plaintiffs claim breach of contract and other theories of recovery, and are seeking damages, as well as restitution for any identity theft. On February 4, 2015, the United States Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation ordered the transfer of the purported class actions pending outside of the District Court for the Northern District of Alabama to the District Court for the Northern District of Alabama for coordinated or consolidated pretrial proceedings. A consolidated complaint was filed and we filed a motion to dismiss on September 21, 2015, which was partially argued on February 10, 2016. In an oral ruling from the bench, the court greatly limited the potential class by ruling only plaintiffs with specific injury resulting from the breach had standing to sue. Further, on jurisdictional grounds, the court dismissed Community Health Systems, Inc. from all non-Tennessee based cases. Finally, the court set April 15, 2016 for further argument on whether the remaining plaintiffs have sufficiently stated a cause of action to continue their cases. On April 15, 2016 in an oral ruling from the bench, the court dismissed additional claims and following this oral ruling only eight of the forty plaintiffs remained with significant limitations imposed on their ability to assert claims for damages. These oral rulings were confirmed in a written order filed on September 12, 2016. On October 20, 2016, the plaintiffs filed a renewed motion for interlocutory appeal from the motion to dismiss ruling and on February 15, 2017 this motion was denied. Plaintiffs refiled their motion for permission to seek interlocutory appeal on March 15, 2017, and that motion is pending. At this time, we are unable to predict the outcome of this litigation or determine the potential impact, if any, that could result from this litigation, but we intend to vigorously defend these lawsuits. This matter may subject us to additional litigation, potential governmental inquiries, potential reputational damage, and additional remediation, operating and other expenses.

Mounce v. Community Health Systems, Inc. This case is a purported class action lawsuit served on July 29, 2015, claiming our affiliated Arkansas hospitals violated payor contracts by allegedly improperly asserting hospital liens against third-party tortfeasors and seeking class certifications for any similarly situated plaintiffs at any affiliated Arkansas hospital. A motion for summary judgment and a motion for class certification have been filed and both are currently pending. We believe these claims are without merit and will vigorously defend the case.

Morrow v. Community Health Systems, Inc. This case is a purported class action lawsuit filed on July 25, 2016, in the United States District Court, Middle District of Tennessee alleging our affiliated hospital, South Baldwin Regional Medical Center in Foley, AL, violated a payor contract by allegedly improperly asserting a hospital lien against a third-party tortfeasor and allegedly unjustly enriching the hospital. The plaintiff seeks certification of a class for any similarly situated plaintiffs at any Company affiliated hospital. A motion to dismiss has been filed. We believe the claims are without merit and will vigorously defend the case.

Zwick Partners, LP and Aparna Rao, individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated v. Quorum Health Corporation, Community Health Systems, Inc., Wayne T. Smith, W. Larry Cash, Thomas D. Miller, and Michael J. Culotta. This purported class action lawsuit previously filed in the United States District Court, Middle District of Tennessee was amended on April 17, 2017 to include Community Health Systems, Inc., Wayne T. Smith and W. Larry Cash as additional defendants. The plaintiffs seek to represent a class of Quorum Health Corporation, or QHC, shareholders and allege violation of federal securities laws in connection with the issuance of QHC financial results. We believe the claims are without merit and will vigorously defend the case.

Certain Legal Proceedings Related to HMA

Medicare/Medicaid Billing Lawsuits

Beginning during the week of December 16, 2013 eleven qui tam lawsuits filed by private individuals against HMA were unsealed in various United States district courts. The United States has elected to intervene in all or part of eight of these matters; namely U.S. ex rel. Craig Brummer v. Health Management Associates, Inc. et al. (Middle District Georgia) (“Brummer”); U.S. ex rel. Ralph D. Williams v. Health Management Associates, Inc. et al. (Middle District Georgia) (“Williams”); U.S. ex rel. Scott H. Plantz, M.D. et al. v. Health Management Associates, Inc., et al. (Northern District Illinois) (“Plantz”); U.S. ex rel. Thomas L. Mason, M.D. et al. v. Health Management Associates, Inc. et al. (Western District North Carolina) (“Mason”); U.S. ex rel. Jacqueline Meyer, et al. v. Health Management Associates, Inc., Gary Newsome et al. (“Jacqueline Meyer”) (District of South Carolina); U.S. ex rel. George Miller, et al. v. Health Management Associates, Inc. (Eastern District of Pennsylvania) (“Miller”); U.S. ex rel. Bradley Nurkin v. Health Management Associates, Inc. et al. (Middle District of Florida) (“Nurkin”); and U.S. ex rel. Paul Meyer v. Health Management Associates, Inc. et al. (Southern District Florida) (“Paul Meyer”). The United States has elected to intervene with respect to allegations in these cases that certain HMA hospitals inappropriately admitted patients and then submitted reimbursement claims for treating those individuals to federal healthcare programs in violation of the False Claims Act or that certain HMA hospitals had inappropriate financial relationships with physicians which violated the Stark law, the Anti-Kickback Statute, and the False Claims Act. Certain of these complaints also allege the same actions violated various state laws which prohibit false claims. The United States has declined to intervene in three of the eleven matters, namely U.S. ex rel. Anita France, et al. v. Health Management Associates, Inc. (Middle District Florida) (“France”) which involved allegations of wrongful billing and was settled; U.S. ex rel. Sandra Simmons v. Health Management Associates, Inc. et al. (Eastern District Oklahoma) (“Simmons”) which alleges unnecessary surgery by an employed physician and which was settled as to all allegations except alleged wrongful termination; and U.S. ex rel. David Napoliello, M.D. v. Health Management Associates, Inc. (Middle District Florida) (“Napoliello”) which alleges inappropriate admissions. On April 3, 2014, the Multi District Litigation Panel ordered the transfer and consolidation for pretrial proceedings of the eight intervened cases, plus the Napoliello matter, to the District of the District of Columbia under the name In Re: Health Management Associates, Inc. Qui Tam Litigation. On June 2, 2014, the court entered a stay of this matter until October 6, 2014, which was subsequently extended until February 27, 2015, May 27, 2015, September 25, 2015, January 25, 2016, May 25, 2016, September 26, 2016, December 27, 2016, April 27, 2017 and now until August 28, 2017. We intend to defend against the allegations in these matters, but have also been cooperating with the government in the ongoing investigation of these allegations. We have been in discussions with the Civil Division of the DOJ regarding the resolution of these matters. During the first quarter of 2015, we were informed the Criminal Division continues to investigate former executive-level employees of HMA and continues to consider whether any HMA entities should be held criminally liable for the acts of the former HMA employees. We are voluntarily cooperating with these inquiries and have not been served with any subpoenas or other legal process.

Qui Tam Matters Where the Government Declined Intervention

U.S. ex rel. Richard M. O’Keeffe, Jr., M.D. v. The River Oaks Management Company, LLC, et al. (SD Mississippi). By order filed on February 10, 2017, the court ordered the unsealing of this matter. The unsealing revealed that on February 3, 2017 the United States had declined to intervene in the allegations that an HMA subsidiary had an inappropriate financial relationship with the relator because his employment contract allegedly was not fair market value in violation of the Stark law, the Anti-Kickback Statute and the False Claims Act. We believe this matter is without merit and will vigorously defend this case.

Securities and Exchange Commission Investigations

On April 25, 2013, HMA received a subpoena from the SEC, issued pursuant to an investigation, requesting documents related to accounts receivable, billing write-downs, contractual adjustments, reserves for doubtful accounts, and accounts receivable aging, and revenue from Medicare, Medicaid and from privately insured or uninsured patients. On June 5, 2013, HMA received a supplemental subpoena from the SEC which requests additional financial reports. Subsequent subpoenas have been directed to us, our accountants, the former accountants for HMA and certain individuals. On July 17, 2014, we received an additional subpoena from the SEC seeking numerous categories of documents relating to the financial statement adjustments taken in the fourth quarter of 2013 in the areas described above. This investigation is ongoing and we are unable to determine the potential impact, if any, of this investigation.

Class Action Lawsuit

Lopez v. Yakima Regional Medical & Cardiac Center and Toppenish Community Hospital is a class action lawsuit arising out of alleged conduct at these hospitals prior to the HMA acquisition. The suit alleges the hospitals’ charity care policies did not comply with Washington state law. The trial court has certified a class and granted partial summary judgment in favor of the plaintiffs. This matter has now been settled, and we expect the trial court to approve the settlement on June 30, 2017.

Management of Significant Legal Proceedings

In accordance with our governance documents, including our Governance Guidelines and the charter of the Audit and Compliance Committee, our management of significant legal proceedings is overseen by the independent members of the Board of Directors and, in particular, the Audit and Compliance Committee. The Audit and Compliance Committee is charged with oversight of compliance, regulatory and litigation matters, and enterprise risk management. Management has been instructed to refer all significant legal proceedings and allegations of financial statement fraud, error, or misstatement to the Audit and Compliance Committee for its oversight and evaluation. Consistent with New York Stock Exchange, NASDAQ and Sarbanes-Oxley independence requirements, the Audit and Compliance Committee is comprised entirely of individuals who are independent of our management, and all three members of the Audit and Compliance Committee are “audit committee financial experts” as defined in the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

In addition, the Audit and Compliance Committee and the other independent members of the Board of Directors oversee the functions of the voluntary compliance program, including its auditing and monitoring functions and confidential disclosure program. In recent years, the voluntary compliance program has addressed the potential for a variety of billing errors that might be the subject of audits and payment denials by the CMS Recovery Audit Contractors’ permanent project, including MS-DRG coding, outpatient hospital and physician coding and billing, and medical necessity for services (including a focus on hospital stays of very short duration). Efforts by management, through the voluntary compliance program, to identify and limit risk from these government audits have included significant policy and guidance revisions, training and education, and auditing. The Board of Directors now oversees and reviews periodic reports of our compliance with the Corporate Integrity Agreement, or CIA, that we entered into with the United States Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General during 2014.

Item 1A. Risk Factors

There have been no material changes with regard to the risk factors previously disclosed in our most recent annual report in the 2016 Form 10-K.

Item 2. Unregistered Sale of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

The following table contains information about our purchases of common stock during the three months ended March 31, 2017.


Period	Total Number of Shares Purchased (a)		Average Price Paid per Share		Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs(b)		Maximum Number of Shares That May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs(b)
January 1, 2017 -
January 31, 2017		1,758	$	5.59		-		9,467,812
February 1, 2017 -
February 28, 2017		980		6.58		-		9,467,812
March 1, 2017 -
March 31, 2017		522,676		9.19		-		9,467,812


Total		525,414	$	9.17		-		9,467,812

(a)

Includes 525,414 shares withheld by us to satisfy the payment of tax obligations related to the vesting of restricted stock awards.

(b)

On November 9, 2015, we announced the adoption of a new open market repurchase program for up to 10,000,000 shares of our common stock, not to exceed $300 million in repurchases. The new repurchase program will expire on the earlier of November 5, 2018, when the maximum number of shares has been repurchased, or when the maximum dollar amount has been expended. No shares were repurchased under this program during the three months ended March 31, 2017.

With the exception of a special cash dividend of $0.25 per share paid by us in December 2012, historically, we have not paid any cash dividends. Subject to certain exceptions, our Credit Facility limits the ability of our subsidiaries to pay dividends and make distributions to us, and limits our ability to pay dividends and/or repurchase stock, to an amount not to exceed $200 million in the aggregate plus an additional $25 million in any particular year plus the aggregate amount of proceeds from the exercise of stock options. The indentures governing our senior and senior secured notes also restrict our subsidiaries from, among other matters, paying dividends and making distributions to us, which thereby limits our ability to pay dividends and/or repurchase stock. The non-cash dividend of approximately $713 million recorded during the year ended December 31, 2016 to reflect the distribution of the net assets of QHC was a permitted transaction under our Credit Facility. As of March 31, 2017, under the most restrictive test under these agreements (and subject to certain exceptions), we have approximately $318 million remaining available with which to pay permitted dividends and/or repurchase shares of our stock or our senior and senior secured notes.

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities

None.

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures

Not applicable.

Item 5. Other Information

None.

Item 6. Exhibits


No.			Description

	4.1		Senior Secured Notes Indenture relating to CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc.’s 6.250% Senior Secured Notes due 2023, dated as of March 16, 2017, by and among CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc. and Regions Bank, as Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Community Health Systems, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed March 16, 2017 (No. 001-15925))

	4.2		Form of 6.250% Senior Secured Note due 2023 (included in Exhibit 4.1)

	4.3		Supplemental Indenture relating to CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc.’s 6.250% Senior Secured Notes due 2023, dated March 16, 2017, by and among CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc., Community Health Systems, Inc., the Guarantors party thereto, Regions Bank, as Trustee, and Credit Suisse AG, as collateral agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Community Health Systems, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed March 16, 2017 (No. 001-15925))

	10.1	*†	Amendment No. 1, dated February 22, 2017, to Community Health Systems, Inc. 2004 Employee Performance Incentive Plan, as amended and restated as of February 26, 2014

	10.2	*†	Form of Performance Based Restricted Stock Award Agreement (Senior Officers) for Community Health Systems, Inc. 2009 Stock Option and Award Plan (for awards granted beginning March 1, 2017)

	12	*	Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges

	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 Taxonomy Extension Schema

	101.CAL	*	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase

	101.DEF	*	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase

	101.LAB	*	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase

	101.PRE	*	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase

*	Filed herewith.

**	Furnished herewith

†	Indicates a management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement

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. (Registrant)

By:		/s/ Wayne T. Smith
		Wayne T. Smith
		Chairman of the Board and
		Chief Executive Officer
		(principal executive officer)

By:		/s/ W. Larry Cash
		W. Larry Cash
		President of Financial Services, Chief
		Financial Officer and Director
		(principal financial officer)

By:		/s/ Kevin J. Hammons
		Kevin J. Hammons
		Senior Vice President and Chief
		Accounting Officer
		(principal accounting officer)

Date: May 2, 2017

Index to Exhibits


No.			Description

	4.1		Senior Secured Notes Indenture relating to CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc.’s 6.250% Senior Secured Notes due 2023, dated as of March 16, 2017, by and among CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc. and Regions Bank, as Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Community Health Systems, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed March 16, 2017 (No. 001-15925))

	4.2		Form of 6.250% Senior Secured Note due 2023 (included in Exhibit 4.1)

	4.3		Supplemental Indenture relating to CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc.’s 6.250% Senior Secured Notes due 2023, dated March 16, 2017, by and among CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc., Community Health Systems, Inc., the Guarantors party thereto, Regions Bank, as Trustee, and Credit Suisse AG, as collateral agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Community Health Systems, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed March 16, 2017 (No. 001-15925))

	10.1	*†	Amendment No. 1, dated February 22, 2017, to Community Health Systems, Inc. 2004 Employee Performance Incentive Plan, as amended and restated as of February 26, 2014

	10.2	*†	Form of Performance Based Restricted Stock Award Agreement (Senior Officers) for Community Health Systems, Inc. 2009 Stock Option and Award Plan (for awards granted beginning March 1, 2017)

	12	*	Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges

	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 Taxonomy Extension Schema

	101.CAL	*	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase

	101.DEF	*	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase

	101.LAB	*	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase

	101.PRE	*	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase

*	Filed herewith

**	Furnished herewith

†	Indicates a management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement

EX-10.1

Exhibit 10.1

AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO THE

COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC.

2004 EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE INCENTIVE PLAN

(AS AMENDED AND RESTATED AS OF FEBRUARY 26, 2014)

THIS AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO THE COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTMS, INC. 2004 EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE INCENTIVE PLAN, AS AMENDED AND RESTATED AS OF FEBRUARY 26, 2014, dated as of February 22, 2017 (the “Amendment”), amends the Community Health Systems, Inc. 2004 Employee Performance Incentive Plan, as amended and restated as of February 26, 2014 (the “Plan”). Unless otherwise defined in the Amendment, capitalized terms shall have the meanings assigned to such term in the plan.

The Plan is hereby amended as follows:

(A)

The text of Section 6.14 is hereby amended as follows with additions indicated by underlining and deletions indicated by strikethrough:

6.14 (a) Any Award granted pursuant to this Plan shall be subject to repayment or reimbursement by the Participant to the Company (i) to the extent provided in the Company’s current “Clawback Policy,” as it may be amended from time to time, (ii) to the extent that Participant in the future becomes subject to any other recoupment or clawback policy hereafter adopted by the Company, including any such policy (or amended version of the Company’s current Clawback Policy) adopted by the Company to comply with the requirements of any applicable laws, rules or regulations, including pursuant to final SEC rules under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, or (iii) to the extent provided under any applicable laws which impose mandatory recoupment, under circumstances set forth in such applicable laws, including the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. In addition, without limiting the foregoing, pursuant to its general authority to determine the terms and conditions applicable to Awards granted under the Plan, the Committee shall have the right to provide, in an Agreement, or to require a Participant to agree by separate written or electronic instrument at or after grant, that all Awards will be subject to repayment or reimbursement to the extent set forth in any recoupment or clawback provisions which may be included in any such Agreement or separate instrument.

(b) Notwithstanding anything set forth in Section 6.14(a) above, in In the event the Board determines that a significant restatement of the Company’s financial results or other Company metrics for any of the three prior fiscal years for which audited financial statements have been prepared is required and (i) such restatement is the result of fraud or misconduct and (ii) the Award amount would have been lower had the results or metrics been properly calculated, the Committee has the authority to obtain reimbursement from any Participant responsible for the

fraud or willful misconduct resulting in the restatement. Such reimbursement shall consist of any portion of any Award previously paid that is greater than it would have been if calculated based upon the restated financial results or metrics.

2.	Except as amended hereby, the Plan shall remain unmodified and in full force and effect.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Community Health Systems, Inc. has caused this caused this Amendment to be executed by its duly authorized officer on the 22^nd day of February, 2017, being the date the Amendment was approved and adopted by its Board of Directors.


COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC.

By: /s/ Rachel A. Seifert
Name:		Rachel A. Seifert
Title:		Executive Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel

EX-10.2

Exhibit 10.2

PERFORMANCE BASED RESTRICTED STOCK AWARD AGREEMENT

(Senior Officers)

Community Health Systems, Inc.

2009 Stock Option and Award Plan

THIS AGREEMENT between you and Community Health Systems, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) governs an Award of the Company’s Restricted Stock in the amount and on the date specified in your Award notification (the “Date of Grant”).

WHEREAS, the Company has adopted the Community Health Systems, Inc. 2009 Stock Option and Award Plan (the “Plan”) in order to provide additional incentive to certain employees and directors of the Company and its Subsidiaries;

WHEREAS, the Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Committee”) has determined to grant to you this Award of Restricted Stock as provided herein to encourage your efforts toward the continuing success of the Company;

WHEREAS, the Committee has determined to condition the Award on the attainment of certain performance-based criteria to better align your economic interests with those of the other stockholders of the Company and to ensure that the compensation attributable to this Award constitutes “qualified performance-based compensation” pursuant to Code §162(m) and the regulations promulgated thereunder; and

WHEREAS, the Committee has established the Performance Objectives (as defined in Section 3.1 below) (a) utilizing objectively determinable criteria, (b) on a date which is prior to the ninetieth (90^th) day of the Company’s fiscal year, and (c) at a time when the attainment of the Performance Objectives is substantially uncertain.

NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto agree as follows:

1. Grant of Restricted Stock.

1.1 The Company hereby grants to you this Award of Shares of Performance Based Restricted Stock in the number set out in an electronic notification by the Company’s stock option plan administrator, as may be appointed from time to time (the “Plan Administrator”). The Shares of Performance Based Restricted Stock granted pursuant to this Award shall be issued in the form of a book entry of Shares in your name as soon as reasonably practicable after the Date of Grant and shall be subject to your (or your estate’s, if applicable) acknowledgement and acceptance of this Agreement by electronic means to the Plan Administrator as provided in Section 9 hereof, or as you have been otherwise instructed.

1.2 This Agreement shall be construed in accordance and consistent with, and subject to, the provisions of the Plan (the provisions of which are hereby incorporated by reference) and, except as otherwise expressly set forth herein, the capitalized terms used in this Agreement shall have the same definitions as set forth in the Plan.

2. Restrictions on Transfer.

The Shares of Performance Based Restricted Stock issued under this Agreement may not be sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of and may not be pledged or otherwise hypothecated until the Restricted Period (as defined in Section 3) as expired and all restrictions on such Performance Based Restricted Stock shall have lapsed in the manner provided in Section 3, 4 or 5 hereof.

3. Performance Objectives; Lapse of Restrictions.

Except as otherwise provided in Sections 4 and 5 hereof, the “Restricted Period” with respect to the Performance Based Restricted Stock means the period beginning on the Date of Grant and expiring on the third anniversary of the Date of Grant, but only if (a) and to the extent the Company has achieved the performance targets set forth on Exhibit A (and the other terms and conditions set forth herein have been met) as certified by the Committee in accordance with the Plan, and (b) subject to Sections 4 or 5 hereof, you have remained in service with the Company (or any of its Affiliates) continuously until that date; provided, that if later, the Restricted Period shall end on the date on which the Committee provides the certification set forth in (a) above. Any Shares of Performance Based Restricted Stock with respect to which the Restricted Period does not expire as provided above shall be canceled not later than the date on which the Committee makes the applicable certification.

4. Effect of Certain Terminations of Employment.

If your employment terminates as a result of your death or Disability, in each case if such termination occurs on or after the Date of Grant, the target number of Shares of Performance Based Restricted Stock (as set forth in Exhibit A) which have not become vested in accordance with Section 3 or 5 hereof shall vest, and the restrictions thereon shall lapse as of the date of such termination. If your employment is terminated by your employer for any reason other than for Cause, then the Restricted Period shall not end and your Award shall continue until such time as the Committee certifies the extent to which the Performance Objectives set forth in Exhibit A have been attained, and if attained, the Restricted Period as to the Award shall lapse as provided in Section 3(a) above, without regard to Section 3(b). If neither of the Performance Objectives is attained, the Award shall lapse in its entirety.

5. Effect of Change in Control.

In the event of a Change in Control of the Company at any time on or after the Date of Grant, the terms of the Plan shall control the vesting of any Shares of Performance Based Restricted Stock which have not become vested in accordance with Section 3 or 4 hereof.

6. Forfeiture of Performance Based Restricted Stock.

Upon the termination of your employment by you, the Company or its Subsidiaries for any reason other than those set forth in Section 4 hereof prior to such vesting upon the expiration of the Restricted Period, in addition to the circumstance described in Section 9(a) hereof, any and all Shares of Performance Based Restricted Stock which have not become vested in accordance with Section 3, 4 or 5 hereof shall be forfeited and shall revert to the Company.

7. Delivery of Restricted Stock.

7.1 Except as otherwise provided in Section 7.2 hereof, evidence of the book entry of Shares or, if requested by you prior to such lapse of restrictions, a stock certificate with respect to the Shares of Performance Based Restricted Stock for which the restrictions have lapsed pursuant to Section 3, 4 or 5 hereof, shall be delivered to you as soon as practicable following the date on which the restrictions on such Shares of Performance Based Restricted Stock have lapsed, free of all restrictions hereunder.

7.2 Evidence of the book entry of Shares with respect to Shares of Performance Based Restricted Stock in respect of which the restrictions have lapsed upon your death pursuant to Section 4 hereof or, if requested by the executors or administrators of your estate upon such lapse of restrictions, a stock certificate with respect to such Shares of Performance Based Restricted Stock, shall be delivered to the executors or administrators of your estate as soon as practicable following the Company’s receipt of notification of your death, free of all restrictions hereunder. In the event of your death, all references herein to “you” shall also include your executors, administrators, heirs or assigns.

8. Dividends and Voting Rights.

Subject to Section 9(a) hereof, upon issuance of the Shares of Performance Based Restricted Stock, you shall have all of the rights of a stockholder with respect to such Shares, including the right to vote the Shares and to receive all dividends or other distributions paid or made with respect thereto; provided, however, that dividends or distributions declared or paid on the Performance Based Restricted Stock by the Company shall be deferred and reinvested in Shares of Performance Based Restricted Stock based on the Fair Market Value of a Share of the Company’s common stock on the date such dividend or distribution is paid or made (provided that no fractional Shares will be issued), and the additional Shares of Performance Based Restricted Stock thus acquired shall be subject to the same restrictions on transfer and forfeiture and the same vesting schedule as the Performance Based Restricted Stock in respect of which such dividends or distributions were made.

9. Acknowledgement and Acceptance of Award Agreement.

(a) The Shares of Performance Based Restricted Stock granted to you pursuant to this Award shall be subject to your acknowledgement and acceptance of the Award and the terms of this Agreement to the Company or its Plan Administrator (including by electronic means, if so provided) no later than the earlier of (i) 180 days from the Date of Grant and (ii) the date that is immediately prior to the date that the Performance Based Restricted Stock vests pursuant to Section 4 or 5 hereof (the “Return Date”); provided that if you die before your Return Date, this requirement shall be deemed to be satisfied if the executor or administrator of your estate acknowledges and accepts this Agreement through the Company or its Plan Administrator no later than ninety (90) days following your death (the “Executor Return Date”). If this Agreement is not so acknowledged and accepted on or prior to your Return Date or the Executor Return Date, as applicable, the Award of Shares of Performance Based Restricted Stock evidenced by this Agreement shall be forfeited, and neither you nor your heirs, executors, administrators or successors shall have any rights with respect thereto.

(b) If this Agreement is so acknowledged and accepted on or prior to your Return Date or the Executor Return Date, as applicable, all dividends and other distributions paid or made with respect to the Shares of Performance Based Restricted Stock granted hereunder prior to your Return Date or the Executor Return Date shall be treated in the manner provided in Section 8 hereof.

10. No Right to Continued Employment.

Nothing in this Agreement or the Plan shall interfere with or limit in any way the right of the Company or its Subsidiaries to terminate your employment, nor confer upon you any right to continuing employment by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or continuing service as a Board member.

11. Withholding of Taxes.

Prior to the delivery to you of a stock certificate or evidence of the book entry of Shares with respect to the Shares of Performance Based Restricted Stock in respect of which all restrictions have lapsed, you shall pay to the Company or the Company’s Plan Administrator, the federal, state and local income taxes and other amounts as may be required by law to be withheld by the Company (the “Withholding Taxes”) with respect to such Performance Based Restricted Stock. By acknowledging and accepting this Agreement in the manner provided in Section 9 hereof, you shall be deemed to elect to have the Company or the Plan Administrator withhold a portion of such Performance Based Restricted Stock having an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to the Withholding Taxes in satisfaction thereof, such election to continue in effect until you notify the Company or its Plan Administrator before such delivery that you shall satisfy such obligation in cash, in which event the Company or the Plan Administrator shall not withhold a portion of such Performance Based Restricted Stock as otherwise provided in this Section 11.

12. Acknowledgement that You Are Bound by the Plan.

By acknowledging and accepting this Award and the terms of this Agreement you hereby confirm the availability and your review of a copy of the Plan and the Prospectus, and other documents provided to you in connection with this Award by the Company or its Plan Administrator, and you agree to be bound by all the terms and provisions thereof.

13. Modification of Agreement.

This Agreement may be modified, amended, supplemented or terminated, and any terms or conditions may be waived, but only by a written instrument executed by both parties hereto; provided that the Company may modify, amend, supplement or terminate this Agreement in a writing signed by the Company without any further action by you if such modification, amendment, supplement or termination does not adversely affect your rights hereunder.

14. Severability.

Should any provision of this Agreement be held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unenforceable or invalid for any reason, the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall not be affected by such holding and shall continue in full force in accordance with their terms.

15. Governing Law.

The validity, interpretation, construction and performance of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware without giving effect to the conflicts of laws principles thereof.

16. Successors in Interest.

This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon any successor to the Company. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of your legal representatives. All obligations imposed upon the Company and all rights granted to you under this Agreement shall be binding upon the Company’s successors and upon your heirs, executors, administrators and successors.

17. Resolution of Disputes.

Any dispute or disagreement which may arise under, or as a result of, or in any way relate to, the interpretation, construction or application of this Agreement shall first be referred to the Chief Executive Officer for informal resolution, and if necessary, referred to the Committee for its determination. Any determination made hereunder shall be final, binding and conclusive on you, your heirs, executors, administrators and successors, and the Company and its Subsidiaries for all purposes.

18. Entire Agreement.

This Agreement and the terms and conditions of the Plan constitute the entire understanding between you and the Company and its Subsidiaries, and supersede all other agreements, whether written or oral, with respect to the Award.

19. Headings.

The headings of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and do not constitute a part of this Agreement.

20. Notice.

All notifications and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and, unless otherwise provided herein, shall be deemed to have been given when received by the party to whom such notice is to be given at its address set forth below, or such other address for the party as shall be specified by notice given pursuant hereto:

(a) If to the Company, by regular mail to:

Community Health Systems, Inc.

4000 Meridian Boulevard

Franklin, TN 37067

Attention: General Counsel

(b) If to you or your legal representative, to such person at the address as reflected in the records of the Company.

21. Consent to Jurisdiction.

Each party hereby irrevocably and unconditionally consents to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the State of Tennessee and of the United States of America, in each case located in the County of Williamson, for any actions, suits or proceedings arising out of or relating to this Agreement, the Award or the Plan and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (“Litigation”) (and agrees not to commence any Litigation except in any such court), and further agrees that service of process, summons, notice or document by U.S. certified mail to such party’s respective address set forth in Section 20 hereof shall be effective service of process for any Litigation brought against such party in any such court. Each party hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives any objection to the laying of venue of any litigation in the courts of the State of Tennessee or of the United States of America, in each case located in the County of Williamson, and hereby further irrevocably and unconditionally waives and agrees not to plead or claim in any such court that any Litigation brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

22. Deemed Execution. On the date of your electronic acceptance of the terms of the Award and this Agreement, this Agreement shall be deemed to have been executed and delivered by you and the Company.

COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC.

EX-12

Exhibit 12

STATEMENT RE: COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

(DOLLARS IN MILLIONS)


	Three Months Ended
	March 31, 2017
Earnings
Loss from continuing operations before provision for income taxes	$	(176	)
Income from equity investees		(3	)
Distributed income from equity investees		2
Interest and amortization of deferred finance costs		229
Amortization of capitalized interest		5
Implicit rental interest expense		27

Total Earnings	$	84


Fixed Charges
Interest and amortization of deferred finance costs	$	229
Capitalized interest		3
Implicit rental interest expense		27

Total Fixed Charges	$	259


Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges		*

*	For the three months ended March 31, 2017, earnings were insufficient to cover fixed charges

by approximately $175 million.

EX-31.1

Exhibit 31.1

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE

SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Wayne T. Smith, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q 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 and Chief Executive Officer

Date: May 2, 2017

EX-31.2

Exhibit 31.2

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE

SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, W. Larry Cash, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Community Health Systems, Inc.;

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
President of Financial Services,
Chief Financial Officer and Director

Date: May 2, 2017

EX-32.1

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 Quarterly Report of Community Health Systems, Inc. (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2017, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Wayne T. Smith, Chairman of the Board 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 and
Chief Executive Officer

May 2, 2017

EX-32.2

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 Quarterly Report of Community Health Systems, Inc. (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2017, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, W. Larry Cash, President of Financial Services 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
President of Financial Services, Chief Financial
Officer and Director

May 2, 2017