Ownership Submission
FORM 4
Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
PORTACCI MICHAEL T
   2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS INC [CYH] 		5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
_____ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
Division President, Group Ops
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
4000 MERIDIAN BOULEVARD		 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
02/25/2009
(Street)

FRANKLIN, TN 37067		 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 3)		 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)		 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4 and 5)		 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 3 and 4)		 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)		 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price
Common Stock 02/25/2009 02/25/2009 M   35,000 A $ 0 141,936 D  

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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 3)		 2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 4. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)		 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4, and 5)		 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)		 7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities
(Instr. 3 and 4)		 8. Price of Derivative Security
(Instr. 5)		 9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 4)		 10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)		 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Performance Based Restricted Stock $ 0 02/25/2009 02/25/2009 M     35,000   (1)   (1) Common Stock 35,000 $ 0 0 D  
Performance Based Restricted Stock $ 0               (2)   (2) Common Stock 15,000   15,000 D  
Stock Options (Right to Buy) $ 32.28             02/27/2009 02/26/2018 Common Stock 20,000   20,000 D  
Stock Options (Right to Buy) $ 40.41             07/25/2008 07/25/2015 Common Stock 100,000   100,000 D  
Stock Options (Right to Buy) $ 20.3             05/22/2004 05/22/2013 Common Stock 200,000   200,000 D  
Stock Options (Right to Buy) $ 32.37             02/28/2006 02/28/2013 Common Stock 30,000   30,000 D  
Stock Options (Right to Buy) $ 38.3             03/01/2007 03/01/2014 Common Stock 20,000   20,000 D  
Stock Options (Right to Buy) $ 37.21             02/28/2008 02/28/2015 Common Stock 10,000   10,000 D  
Performance Based Restricted Stock $ 0 02/25/2009 02/25/2009 A   40,000     (3)   (3) Common Stock 40,000 $ 0 40,000 D  
Stock Options (Right to Buy) $ 18.18 02/25/2009 02/25/2009 A   10,000   02/25/2010(4) 02/25/2019 Common Stock 10,000 $ 0 10,000 D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
 Director  10% Owner  Officer  Other
PORTACCI MICHAEL T
4000 MERIDIAN BOULEVARD
FRANKLIN, TN 37067		       Division President, Group Ops  

Signatures

 Rachel A. Seifert, Attorney in Fact for Michael T. Portacci   02/27/2009
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) The performance objectives governing these shares of Restricted Stock have been met, and, accordingly, these shares will now be reported in Table 1 as directly owned shares of Restricted Stock. The restrictions lapse in 1/3 increments on the first, second and third anniversary of the date of grant.
(2) The restrictions on theses shares will lapse on 7/25/09, provided that performance objectives for the period 7/1/08 to 6/30/09 are met.
(3) Each performance based restricted share represents a contingent right to receive one share of CYH common stock. There are two elements to the lapsing of the restriction; first, the Company must achieve specified targeted amount of earnings per share from continuing operations, or net revenue from continuing operations, and if the performance objective is met, the vesting restrictions will lapse in 1/3 increments on the first, second and third anniversary of the date of grant. If the objectives are not met, the shares will be forfeited.
(4) Vesting occurs in 1/3 increments on the first, second and third anniversary of the date of grant.

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