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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 WeYKnHaTZ3LvP3PbMqeUE/9IrihXR3QLY7rSoVGQ47hhZSkr0oO7Bi8M2dY+DT/j
 Sfj6oesFGDjtRbNKvgfhpg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000895345-04-000672.txt : 20040923
<SEC-HEADER>0000895345-04-000672.hdr.sgml : 20040923
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040923130543
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000895345-04-000672
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040921
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040923
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20040923

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LISTER THOMAS H
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001217271

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-15925
		FILM NUMBER:		041042468

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O LITTLE & CO
		STREET 2:		767 FIFTH AVE 44TH FLOOR
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10153

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001108109
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-GENERAL MEDICAL & SURGICAL HOSPITALS, NEC [8062]
		IRS NUMBER:				133893191
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		155 FRANKLIN RD
		STREET 2:		STE 400
		CITY:			BRENTWOOD
		STATE:			TN
		ZIP:			37027
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6153739600

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS INC/
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20000229
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>dc4-community_listerex.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-09-21</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001108109</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CYH</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001217271</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LISTER THOMAS H</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O FORSTMANN LITTLE &amp; CO.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>767 FIFTH AVENUE, 44TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10153</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $.01 Par Value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-09-21</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>13495294</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>24.21</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The reporting person is the General Parther of FLC XXIX Partnership, L.P. which is the general parther of Forstmann Little &amp;
Co. Subordinated Debt and Equity Management Buyout Partnership-VI, L.P. (&quot;MBO-VI&quot;  ). The reporting person had no voting or
investment power with respect to, or any economic interest in, the 9,639,444 shares previously owned by MBO-VI, and,
accordingly, disclaims beneficial ownership of those shares. None of those shares are reported on this form.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Reporting person is a general partner of FLC XXX Partnership, L.P., which is the general partner of Forstmann Little &amp; Co.
Equity Partnership-V, L.P. (&quot;Equity-V&quot;). Equity-V owns no shares after this transaction.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Thomas H. Lister</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-09-21</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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