Community Health Systems Acquires Partner’s Shares in Alabama Facility

Franklin, Tenn.-based Community Health Systems, Inc. (NYSE: CYH) announced that a subsidiary has acquired from Baptist Health Systems, Inc. of Birmingham, Alabama, that entity's 35% interest in Affinity Health Systems, LLC, which indirectly owns and operates Trinity Medical Center of Birmingham.

The 560-bed hospital has been operated in a joint venture between a Community Health Systems, Inc. affiliate, as the 65% owner, and Baptist Health System, Inc. since the fall of 2005. This transaction closed effective June 30, 2008.

Community Health Systems, Inc. is the largest publicly-traded hospital company in the United States and a leading operator of general acute care hospitals in non-urban and mid-size markets throughout the country.

Through its subsidiaries, the Company currently owns, leases or operates approximately 116 hospitals in 28 states, with an aggregate of approximately 17,000 licensed beds. Its hospitals offer a broad range of inpatient medical and surgical services, outpatient treatment and skilled nursing care. In addition, through its QHR subsidiary, the Company provides management and consulting services to independent general acute care hospitals located throughout the United States.