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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 LOg6L9kzBi2rGrK9NZKstLctu+Xs3mTm/jpvj5uSMhjpT7YFNaB8gk661+O+tbio
 DXFu/wuQbBvtYuhY4Gkm/A==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001108109-03-000022.txt : 20031219
<SEC-HEADER>0001108109-03-000022.hdr.sgml : 20031219
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031219160741
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001108109-03-000022
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031219
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031219

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PORTACCI MICHAEL T
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001217259

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-15925
		FILM NUMBER:		031065358

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		155 FRANKLIN RD SUITE 400
		CITY:			BRENTWOOD
		STATE:			TN
		ZIP:			37027

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>c0001217259d20031219f4f.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
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<ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-12-19</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0001108109</issuerCik><issuerName>COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS INC</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>CYH</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001217259</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>PORTACCI MICHAEL T</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>155 FRANKLIN ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 400</rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>BRENTWOOD</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>TN</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>37027</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Executive Officer - Reporting</officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelatio
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<transactionDate><value>2003-12-19</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate><value>2003-12-19</value></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>10000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>13</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2001-06-08</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2010-06-08</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>10000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>220000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwners
hip><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Options (Right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>20.3</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2004-05-22</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-05-22</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>200000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>200000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding></derivativeTable><footnotes></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Rachel A. Seifert,
 Attorney in Fact</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-12-19</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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