EX-5.1

Exhibit 5.1

LOGO

150 Third Avenue South, Suite 2800

Nashville, TN 37201

(615) 742-6200

July 29, 2021

Community Health Systems, Inc.

4000 Meridian Boulevard

Franklin, Tennessee 37067

Re:

Registration Statement on Form S-8 of Community Health Systems, Inc.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as counsel to Community Health Systems, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the preparation of a Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the “Registration Statement”) related to the offering of up to 200,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Plan Shares”), pursuant to the Company’s Directors’ Fees Deferral Plan, as amended and restated on May 11, 2021 (the “Plan”).

In connection with this opinion, we have examined and relied upon such records, documents, certificates, and other instruments as we have deemed necessary or appropriate in order to express the opinions hereinafter set forth. We have also assumed the legal capacity of all natural persons, the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as copies, the authenticity of the originals of such latter documents, the legal competence of all signatories to such documents, and, except to the extent we express an opinion as to due authorization in the next paragraph of this letter, the due authorization, execution and delivery of all documents by the parties thereto. As to various questions of fact relevant to the opinion expressed herein, we have relied upon, and assume the accuracy of, certificates and oral or written statements and other information of or from public officials and officers and representatives of the Company.

Based upon and subject to the qualifications, assumptions and limitations set forth herein, we are of the opinion that the Plan Shares issuable in connection with the Plan have been duly authorized and, when issued in accordance with the terms of the Plan, will be legally issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

The opinions expressed above are limited to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the rules and regulations of the Commission.