Community Health Systems, Inc. Announces the Acquisition of Willamette Community Health Solutions’ Joint Venture Interest in Springfield, Oregon Facility

FRANKLIN, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Community Health Systems, Inc. (NYSE: CYH) today announced that a subsidiary of the Company has acquired from Willamette Community Health Solutions all of its joint venture interest in MWMC Holdings, LLC, which indirectly owns and operates McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center of Springfield, Oregon. This acquisition resulted from a put right held by Willamette Community Health Solutions in connection with the 2003 transaction establishing the joint venture. The closing was effective on November 14, 2008. Physicians affiliated with the Oregon Medical Group will continue to own a minority interest in the hospital.

Located in the Nashville, Tennessee, suburb of Franklin, Community Health Systems, Inc. is the largest publicly-traded hospital company in the United States and a leading operator of general acute care hospitals in non-urban and mid-size markets throughout the country. Through its subsidiaries, the Company currently owns, leases or operates approximately 118 hospitals in 29 states, with an aggregate of approximately 17,600 licensed beds. Its hospitals offer a broad range of inpatient medical and surgical services, outpatient treatment and skilled nursing care. In addition, through its QHR subsidiary, the Company provides management and consulting services to independent general acute care hospitals located throughout the United States. Shares in Community Health Systems, Inc. are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “CYH.”

Statements contained in this news release 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 Securities and Exchange Commission filings.