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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

April 23, 2003
Date of Report (date of earliest event reported)


COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in charter)


Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)
  001-15925
(Commission
File Number)
  13-3893191
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)


155 Franklin Road, Suite 400
Brentwood, Tennessee 37027
(Address of principal executive offices)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (615) 373-9600





ITEM 9. REGULATION FD DISCLOSURE (including information furnished pursuant to Item 12)

        The following information is being furnished pursuant to Item 12, "Results of Operations and Financial Condition." On April 23, 2003, Community Health Systems, Inc. announced operating results for the quarter ended March 31, 2003. A copy of the related press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Form 8-K.

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SIGNATURES

        Pursuant to the requirements 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.


Date: April 23, 2003

COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC.
        (Registrant)

 

By:

/s/ Wayne T. Smith

Wayne T. Smith
Chairman of the Board
President and Chief Executive Officer
(principal executive officer)

 

By:

/s/ W. Larry Cash

W. Larry Cash
Executive Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer
(principal financial officer)

 

By:

/s/ T. Mark Buford

T. Mark Buford
Vice President and Corporate Controller
(principal accounting officer)

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Index to Exhibits Filed with the Current Report on Form 8-K Dated April 23, 2003

Exhibit Number
  Description
99.1   Press Release dated April 23, 2003

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Exhibit Number 99.1

         GRAPHIC

Investor Contact:   W. Larry Cash
Executive Vice President
and Chief Financial Officer
(615) 373-9600


COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. ANNOUNCES
FIRST QUARTER 2003 RESULTS WITH NET REVENUE UP 23.6%,
EBITDA UP 15.3%, AND INCOME FROM OPERATIONS UP 15.5%


BRENTWOOD, Tenn. (April 23, 2003) Community Health Systems, Inc. (NYSE: CYH) today announced financial and operating results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2003.

        Net operating revenues for the first quarter ended March 31, 2003, totaled $659.3 million, a 23.6% increase compared with $533.5 million for the same period last year. EBITDA for the first quarter of 2003 was $106.6 million, compared with $92.4 million for the same period last year, representing a 15.3% increase. Income from operations for the first quarter of 2003 was $73.0 million, compared with $63.2 million for the same period last year, representing a 15.5% increase. Net income was $33.5 million, or $0.33 per share (diluted), on 107.8 million average shares outstanding for the quarter ended March 31, 2003, compared with $27.2 million, or $0.27 per share (diluted), on 108.2 million average shares outstanding for the same period last year. Refer to page 3 for "Financial Highlights."

        The consolidated financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2003, reflect a 15.2% increase in total admissions, a 15.0% increase in adjusted admissions, and a 16.4% increase in patient days compared with the first quarter of 2002. On a same store basis, admissions decreased 0.4%, adjusted admissions decreased 1.0%, patient days increased 0.8% and net revenues increased 8.2% compared with the same period last year.

        "The financial and operating results for the first quarter mark a solid start to 2003 for Community Health Systems," commented Wayne T. Smith, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Community Health Systems, Inc. "Our strong top line growth reflects the strength of our operating strategy and our ability to continue to improve services and drive revenues in our facilities. While admissions during the first quarter were adversely affected by a weak flu season and extreme winter weather conditions in certain of our markets, we achieved improvement in operating trends in our business with a 22% increase in earnings per share (diluted)."

        During the first quarter, the Company completed the acquisition of seven West Tennessee hospitals from Methodist Healthcare of Memphis, Tennessee, increasing the number of hospitals owned or leased to 70, and adding 676 licensed beds.

        On January 14, 2003, the Company announced the execution of a definitive agreement to acquire Southside Regional Medical Center (408 Beds) in Petersburg, Virginia. This hospital is a sole provider located 25 miles south of Richmond, Virginia. This transaction is subject to regulatory approvals.

        "Community Health Systems continues to be a leader in the non-urban hospital industry as a result of the successful execution of our acquisition strategy," added Smith. "We are off to a great start for the year with the acquisition of seven West Tennessee hospitals from Methodist Healthcare of Memphis, Tennessee, and the proposed acquisition of a hospital in Petersburg, Virginia. We intend to leverage our strong community relationships and favorable reputation as the acquirer of choice into further acquisition opportunities in 2003. We believe we are well positioned to sustain our leadership position and continue to deliver excellent results for both our shareholders and the communities we serve."



        Located in the Nashville, Tennessee suburb of Brentwood, Community Health Systems is a leading operator of general acute care hospitals in non-urban communities throughout the country. Shares in Community Health Systems, Inc. are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "CYH".

        Community Health Systems, Inc. will hold a conference call to discuss this press release on Thursday, April 24, 2003 at 10:30 a.m. Central, 11:30 a.m. Eastern. Investors will have the opportunity to listen to a live Internet broadcast of the conference call by clicking on the Investor Relations link of the Company's web site at www.chs.net, or www.companyboardroom.com. To listen to the live call, please go to the web site at least fifteen minutes early to register, download, and install any necessary audio software. For those who cannot listen to the live broadcast, a replay will be available shortly after the call and continue through May 24, 2003. A copy of the Company's Form 8-K (including this press release) and conference call slide show will also be available on the Company's website at www.chs.net.

        Statements contained in this news release regarding expected operating results, acquisition transactions and other events are forward-looking statements that involve risk and uncertainties. Actual future events or results may differ materially from these statements. Readers are referred to the documents filed by Community Health Systems, Inc. with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration Statement No. 333-69064) and Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002. These filings identify important risk factors and other uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements.


Community Health Systems, Inc.
Financial Highlights
(Unaudited)
(In thousands, except per share amounts)

 
  Three Months Ended
March 31,

 
 
  2003
  2002
 
Net operating revenues   $ 659,277   $ 533,519  
EBITDA (a)   $ 106,574   $ 92,400  
Income from Operations   $ 72,960   $ 63,155  
Net income   $ 33,539   $ 27,176  
Net income per share—basic   $ 0.34   $ 0.28  
Weighted average number of shares outstanding—basic     98,355     98,112  
Net income per share—diluted   $ 0.33 (b) $ 0.27 (b)
Weighted average number of shares outstanding—diluted     107,820 (b)(c)   108,172 (b)(c)

(a)
EBITDA consists of income before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, and minority interest in earnings. EBITDA should not be considered a measure of financial performance under generally accepted accounting principles. Items excluded from EBITDA are significant components in understanding and assessing financial performance. EBITDA is an analytical indicator used by management and the health care industry to evaluate hospital performance, allocate resources and measure leverage and debt service capacity. EBITDA should not be considered in isolation or as alternatives to net income, cash flows generated by operations, investing or financing activities, or other financial statement data presented in the consolidated financial statements as indicators of financial performance or liquidity. Because EBITDA is not a measurement determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and is thus susceptible to varying calculations, EBITDA as presented may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies.

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  2003
  2002
Income from operations   $ 72,960   $ 63,155
Depreciation and amortization     33,242     28,484
Minority interest in earnings     372     761
   
 
  EBITDA   $ 106,574   $ 92,400
   
 
(b)
Adjusted to include assumed exercise of employee stock options and assumed conversion of convertible notes. Since the income per share impact of the conversion of the convertible notes is less than the basic income per share for both periods presented, the convertible notes are dilutive and accordingly, must be included in the fully diluted calculation (after tax interest savings of $2.2 million and 8.6 million shares added to the number of weighted average diluted shares.)

(c)
The 0.3% decrease in the weighted average number of shares (diluted) outstanding for the first quarter ended March 31, 2003, compared to the same period last year is due primarily to the approximately 320,000 weighted average number of shares repurchased under the Company's share repurchase program.

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COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
(Unaudited)
(in thousands, except per share amounts)

 
  Three Months Ended
March 31,

 
  2003
  2002
Net operating revenues   $ 659,277   $ 533,519
   
 
Operating expenses:            
  Salaries and benefits     268,772     217,164
  Provision for bad debts     62,341     49,897
  Supplies     76,820     64,000
  Other operating expenses     144,770     110,058
  Depreciation and amortization     33,242     28,484
  Minority interests in earnings     372     761
   
 
    Total expenses     586,317     470,364
   
 
Income from operations     72,960     63,155
Interest expense, net     17,016     16,729
   
 
Income before income taxes     55,944     46,426
Provision for income taxes     22,405     19,250
   
 
Net income   $ 33,539   $ 27,176
   
 
Net income per share—basic   $ 0.34   $ 0.28
   
 
Net income per share—diluted   $ 0.33   $ 0.27
   
 
Weighted average number of shares outstanding:            
  Basic     98,355     98,112
   
 
  Diluted     107,820     108,172
   
 
Net income per share calculation:            
Net income   $ 33,539   $ 27,176
Add—Convertible notes interest, net of taxes     2,189     2,189
   
 
Adjusted net income   $ 35,728   $ 29,365
   
 
Weighted average number of shares outstanding—basic     98,355     98,112
Add effect of dilutive securities:            
  Employee stock options and unvested common shares     883     1,478
  Convertible notes     8,582     8,582
   
 
Weighted average number of shares outstanding—diluted     107,820     108,172
   
 
Net income per share—diluted   $ 0.33   $ 0.27
   
 

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COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC.
Selected Operating Data
(Unaudited)
($ in thousands)

 
  For the Three Months Ended March 31,
 
 
  Consolidated
  Same Hospitals
 
 
  2003
  2002
  % Change
  2003
  2002
  % Change
 
Number of hospitals     70     59         59     59      
Licensed beds     6,972     5,917         5,835     5,917      
Beds in service     5,403     4,510         4,634     4,510      
Admissions     61,648     53,515   15.2 %   53,288     53,515   -0.4 %
Adjusted admissions     110,730     96,281   15.0 %   95,322     96,281   -1.0 %
Patient days     245,252     210,612   16.4 %   212,402     210,612   0.8 %
Average length of stay (days)     4.0     3.9         4.0     3.9      
Occupancy rate (beds in service)     50.6 %   52.8 %       51.8 %   52.8 %    
Net operating revenues   $ 659,277   $ 533,519   23.6 % $ 577,263   $ 533,489   8.2 %
Net inpatient revenue as a % of Total net operating revenue     53.1 %   52.8 %       53.1 %   52.8 %    
Net outpatient revenue as a % of Total net operating revenue     45.8 %   45.9 %       45.8 %   45.9 %    
EBITDA as a % of net operating revenue     16.2 %   17.3 %       17.4 %   17.3 %    

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COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Unaudited)
($ in thousands)

 
  March 31,
2003

  December 31,
2002

 
ASSETS              
Current assets:              
  Cash and cash equivalents   $ 19,563   $ 132,844  
  Patient accounts receivable, net     464,796     400,442  
  Other current assets     117,470     114,440  
   
 
 
    Total current assets     601,829     647,726  
   
 
 

Property and equipment

 

 

1,435,247

 

 

1,310,738

 
  Less accumulated depreciation and amortization     (304,981 )   (281,401 )
   
 
 
    Property and equipment, net     1,130,266     1,029,337  
   
 
 

Goodwill, net

 

 

1,084,353

 

 

1,029,975

 
   
 
 
  Other assets, net     105,272     102,458  
   
 
 
    Total assets   $ 2,921,720   $ 2,809,496  
   
 
 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Current liabilities:              
  Current maturities of long-term debt   $ 19,204   $ 18,529  
  Accounts payable and accrued liabilities     301,277     299,901  
   
 
 
    Total current liabilities     320,481     318,430  
   
 
 
Long-term debt     1,252,670     1,173,929  
   
 
 
Other long-term liabilities     111,093     102,832  
   
 
 
Stockholders' equity     1,237,476     1,214,305  
   
 
 
    Total liabilities and stockholders' equity   $ 2,921,720   $ 2,809,496  
   
 
 

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COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Unaudited)
($ in thousands)

 
  Three Months ended March 31,
 
 
  2003
  2002
 
Cash flows from operating activities              
  Net income   $ 33,539   $ 27,176  
  Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:              
  Depreciation and amortization     33,242     28,484  
  Minority interest in earnings     372     761  
  Other non-cash (income) expenses, net     (22 )   519  
  Net Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions     (58,621 )   (8,081 )
   
 
 
    Net cash provided by operating activities     8,510     48,859  
   
 
 

Cash flows from investing activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  Acquisitions of facilities     (147,241 )   (56,106 )
  Purchases of property and equipment     (32,258 )   (18,399 )
  Increase in other assets     (7,428 )   (7,167 )
   
 
 
    Net cash used in investing activities     (186,927 )   (81,672 )
   
 
 

Cash flows from financing activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  Proceeds from exercise of stock options     133     49  
  Stock buy-back     (10,290 )    
  Redemption of minority investments     (86 )    
  Distribution to minority investors     (1,161 )    
  Borrowings under Credit Agreement     80,000     56,890  
  Repayments of long-term indebtedness     (3,460 )   (8,814 )
   
 
 
    Net cash provided by financing activities     65,136     48,125  
   
 
 

Net change in cash and cash equivalents

 

 

(113,281

)

 

15,312

 
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period     132,844     8,386  
   
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period   $ 19,563   $ 23,698  
   
 
 

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COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. ANNOUNCES FIRST QUARTER 2003 RESULTS WITH NET REVENUE UP 23.6%, EBITDA UP 15.3%, AND INCOME FROM OPERATIONS UP 15.5%
Community Health Systems, Inc. Financial Highlights (Unaudited) (In thousands, except per share amounts)
COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) (in thousands, except per share amounts)
COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. Selected Operating Data (Unaudited) ($ in thousands)
COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) ($ in thousands)
COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) ($ in thousands)