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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 AScGVf/6FZCQdW+HvB0r9g==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001108109-04-000021.txt : 20040811
<SEC-HEADER>0001108109-04-000021.hdr.sgml : 20040811
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040811111040
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001108109-04-000021
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040809
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040811

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

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CLERICO JOHN A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001219951

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-15925
		FILM NUMBER:		04966112

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9184777685

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3132 S COLUMBIA CIRCLE
		CITY:			TULSA
		STATE:			OK
		ZIP:			74105
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c0001219951d20040811f4f.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-08-09</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001219951</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CLERICO JOHN A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O CHARTMARK INVESTMENTS, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>TWO WARREN PLACE, SUITE 1890</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>TULSA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>OK</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>74136</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-08-09</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>23.6</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Options (Right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>18.03</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-02-25</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-02-25</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Options (Right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>26.95</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-01-02</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-01-02</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Rachel A. Seifert, Attorney in Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-08-11</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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