Community Health Systems Completes Kirksville, Missouri Transaction.

Business Editors/Health & Medical Writers

BRENTWOOD, Tenn.--(BW HealthWire)--Dec. 1, 2000

Community Health Systems, Inc. (NYSE: CYH) announced today the acquisition and commencement of operations of Northeast Regional Medical Center, a 164-bed acute care facility located in Kirksville, Missouri. The facility is the sole community provider of hospital services in Adair County, which is located approximately 100 miles north of Columbia, Missouri. The transaction consisted of a long-term lease of the facility from Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine, the oldest and one of the most prestigious osteopathic medical schools in the country, and a purchase of operating and capital assets from Northeast Regional Health System.

"This acquisition furthers our key strategy of selectively acquiring sole providers of community hospital services," said Wayne T. Smith, President and Chief Executive Officer of Community Health Systems, Inc. "The additional features of this particular facility, including the strength and depth of its existing medical staff, the scope of services provided, and the regional nature of this healthcare system combined with CHS' healthcare expertise should enable us to meet the health care needs of the community and our operating strategy. The proximity to our facility in Moberly, Missouri, approximately 60 miles away, and the teaching institution affiliation will also complement other CHS operating strategies and objectives."

Located in the Nashville, Tennessee suburb, Brentwood, Community Health Systems is a leading operator of general acute care hospitals in non-urban communities throughout the country. Through its subsidiaries, the company currently owns, leases or operates 52 hospitals in 20 states. Its hospitals offer a broad range of inpatient medical and surgical services, outpatient treatment and skilled nursing care. Shares in Community Health Systems, Inc. are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "CYH."

Statements contained in this news release regarding this newly acquired facility and other events are forward-looking statements that involve risks 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, specifically the most recent filings which identify important risk factors that could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, including execution of our growth, acquisition, and business strategies. These and other applicable risks are summarized under the caption "risk factors" in the Company's registration statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-47354), as declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 30, 2000.