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Community Health Systems, Inc. Announces First Quarter 2010 Results with Net Operating Revenues of $3.2 Billion

Apr 21, 2010 5:19pm

FRANKLIN, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Community Health Systems, Inc. (NYSE: CYH) today announced financial and operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2010.

Net operating revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2010, totaled $3.2 billion, an 8.5 percent increase compared with $2.9 billion for the same period in 2009. Income from continuing operations increased to $85.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010, compared with $70.8 million for the same period in 2009. Income from continuing operations attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. common stockholders increased to $0.75 per share (diluted), on 92.8 million weighted average shares outstanding for the three months ended March 31, 2010, compared with $0.63 per share (diluted), on 90.9 million weighted average shares outstanding for the same period in 2009. Net income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. common stockholders increased 18.8 percent to $70.0 million, or $0.75 per share (diluted), for the three months ended March 31, 2010, compared with $58.9 million, or $0.65 per share (diluted), for the same period in 2009.

Adjusted EBITDA for the three months ended March 31, 2010, was $433.3 million, compared with $403.5 million for the same period in 2009, representing a 7.4 percent increase. Adjusted EBITDA is EBITDA adjusted to exclude discontinued operations, gain/loss from early extinguishment of debt and net income attributable to noncontrolling interests. The Company uses adjusted EBITDA as a measure of liquidity. Net cash provided by operating activities for the three months ended March 31, 2010, was $299.4 million, compared with $259.4 million for the same period in 2009.

The consolidated financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2010, reflect a 3.0 percent increase in total admissions and a 4.7 percent increase in total adjusted admissions compared with the same period in 2009. This increase was due primarily to acquisitions during the past twelve months. On a same-store basis, admissions decreased 1.2 percent and adjusted admissions increased 0.1 percent, compared with the same period in 2009. On a same-store basis, net operating revenues increased 3.7 percent, compared with the same period in 2009.

Commenting on the results, Wayne T. Smith, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Community Health Systems, Inc., said, “We are pleased with our solid financial and operating performance for the first quarter of 2010. We have continued to focus on driving operating synergies at the individual hospital level, especially at our more recently acquired facilities. Our success as an operator is supported by consistent growth in revenues and earnings, in spite of a challenging economic environment. These results confirm that the fundamentals of our business are strong and our centralized operating strategy is working across our markets.

“Looking ahead, our primary focus for 2010 will be on leveraging our existing assets and improving our operations by focusing on the key areas for success in our business – a proven operating model, disciplined expense management, a successful physician recruitment program, and strategic capital investments. While we acknowledge the changing dynamics in today’s healthcare marketplace, we remain confident in our ability to execute our strategy and deliver favorable results,” Smith added.

Included on pages 10, 11 and 12 of this press release are tables setting forth the Company’s updated 2010 guidance. This guidance reaffirms the Company’s previous annual earnings guidance provided on February 17, 2010.

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 122 hospitals in 29 states with an aggregate of approximately 18,000 licensed beds. Its hospitals offer a broad range of inpatient and surgical services, outpatient treatment and skilled nursing care. In addition, through its QHR subsidiary, the Company provides management and consulting services to over 150 independent non-affiliated 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.”

Community Health Systems, Inc. will hold a conference call to discuss this press release on Thursday, April 22, 2010, at 10:30 a.m. Central, 11:30 a.m. Eastern. Investors will have the opportunity to listen to a live internet broadcast of the conference call by clicking on the Investor Relations link of the Company’s website at www.chs.net, or at www.earnings.com. To listen to the live call, please go to the website at least fifteen minutes early to register, download, and install any necessary audio software. For those who cannot listen to the live broadcast, a replay will be available shortly after the call and will continue through May 22, 2010. Copies of the Company’s Form 8-K (including this press release) and conference call slide show are available on the Company’s website at www.chs.net.

Statements contained in this news release regarding expected operating results, acquisition transactions or divestitures and other events are forward-looking statements that involve risk 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, including the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K, current reports on Form 8-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. These filings identify important risk factors and other uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements, or to make any other forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

 

COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Financial Highlights (a)(b)(c)

($ in thousands, except per share amounts)

(Unaudited)
 
  Three Months Ended
March 31,
2010   2009
 
Net operating revenues $ 3,160,722 $ 2,912,749
Adjusted EBITDA (d) $ 433,279 $ 403,516
Income from continuing operations (e)(f)(g) $ 84,996 $ 70,820
Net income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. $ 70,007 $ 58,915
 

Basic earnings per share attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. common stockholders:
Continuing operations $ 0.76 $ 0.63
Discontinued operations   -   0.02
Net income $ 0.76 $ 0.65
 

Diluted earnings per share attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. common stockholders:
Continuing operations $ 0.75 $ 0.63
Discontinued operations   -   0.02
Net income $ 0.75 $ 0.65
 
Weighted-average number of shares outstanding:
Basic (h) 91,615 90,605
Diluted (h) 92,836 90,885
 
Net cash provided by operating activities $ 299,360 $ 259,427
 

_____

For footnotes, see pages 8 and 9.
 
     

COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (a)(b)(c)

($ in thousands, except per share amounts)

(Unaudited)
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
2010 2009
Amount   % of Net

Operating Revenue

   Amount % of Net

Operating Revenue
Net operating revenues $ 3,160,722   100.0 % $ 2,912,749   100.0 %
 
Operating costs and expenses:
Salaries and benefits 1,282,831 40.6 % 1,173,440 40.3 %
Provision for bad debts 378,074 12.0 % 337,768 11.6 %
Supplies 430,452 13.6 % 405,637 13.9 %
Other operating expenses 584,253 18.5 % 544,977 18.6 %
Rent 64,421 2.0 % 60,328 2.1 %
Depreciation and amortization   147,679   4.7 %   135,561   4.7 %
Total operating costs and expenses   2,887,710   91.4 %   2,657,711   91.2 %
 
Income from operations (g) 273,012 8.6 % 255,038 8.8 %
Interest expense, net 160,456 5.0 % 163,913 5.6 %
Gain from early extinguishment of debt - 0.0 % (2,412 ) -0.1 %
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates   (12,588 ) -0.4 %   (12,917 ) -0.4 %

Income from continuing operations before income taxes

 125,144 4.0 % 106,454 3.7 %
Provision for income taxes   40,148   1.3 %   35,634   1.3 %
Income from continuing operations (e)(g)   84,996   2.7 %   70,820   2.4 %
 
Discontinued operations, net of taxes (c):

Income from operations of hospitals sold and hospitals held for sale (f)

 - 0.0 % 2,485 0.1 %
Loss on sale of hospitals, net   -   0.0 %   (405 ) 0.0 %
Income from discontinued operations   -   0.0 %   2,080   0.1 %
Net income 84,996 2.7 % 72,900 2.5 %

Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests (a)

   14,989   0.5 %   13,985   0.5 %
Net income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. $ 70,007   2.2 % $ 58,915   2.0 %
 

Basic earnings per share attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. common stockholders:
Continuing operations $ 0.76 $ 0.63
Discontinued operations   -     0.02  
Net income $ 0.76   $ 0.65  
 

Diluted earnings per share attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. common stockholders:
Continuing operations $ 0.75 $ 0.63
Discontinued operations   -     0.02  
Net income $ 0.75   $ 0.65  
 

Weighted-average number of shares outstanding (h):
Basic   91,615     90,605  
Diluted   92,836     90,885  
 

_____

For footnotes, see pages 8 and 9.
 
           

COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Selected Operating Data (b)(c)

($ in thousands)

(Unaudited)
 
For the Three Months Ended March 31,
Consolidated Same-Store
2010 2009 % Change 2010 2009 % Change
Number of hospitals (at end of period) 122 120 120 120
Licensed beds (at end of period) 18,205 17,442 17,486 17,442

 
Beds in service (at end of period) 15,953 15,257 15,299 15,257
Admissions 177,413 172,320 3.0 % 170,231 172,320 -1.2 %
Adjusted admissions 324,066 309,424 4.7 % 309,881 309,424 0.1 %
Patient days 761,225 741,888 721,661 741,888
Average length of stay (days) 4.3 4.3 4.2 4.3
Occupancy rate (average beds in service) 53.1 % 54.1 % 52.5 % 54.1 %
Net operating revenues $ 3,160,722 $ 2,912,749 8.5 % $ 3,020,483 $ 2,911,689 3.7 %

Net inpatient revenue as a % of total net operating revenues

 50.5 % 50.7 % 50.8 % 50.8 %

Net outpatient revenue as a % of total net operating revenues

 47.4 % 47.0 % 47.1 % 47.0 %
Income from operations (g) $ 273,012 $ 255,038 7.0 % $ 268,773 $ 257,137 4.5 %

Income from operations as a % of net operating revenues

 8.6 % 8.8 % 8.9 % 8.8 %
Depreciation and amortization $ 147,679 $ 135,561 $ 141,815 $ 135,593
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates $ (12,588 ) $ (12,917 ) $ (12,432 ) $ (12,904 )
Liquidity Data:
Adjusted EBITDA (d) $ 433,279 $ 403,516 7.4 %

Adjusted EBITDA as a % of net operating revenues

 13.7 % 13.9 %
Net cash provided by operating activities $ 299,360 $ 259,427

Net cash provided by operating activities as a % of net operating revenues

 9.5 % 8.9 %
 

_____

For footnotes, see pages 8 and 9.
 
     

COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (a)

(in thousands, except share data)

(Unaudited)
 
March 31, December 31,
2010 2009
ASSETS
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents $ 480,066 $ 344,541

Patient accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $1,447,229 and $1,417,188 at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively

 1,712,107 1,617,903
Supplies 303,531 302,609
Prepaid income taxes 13,865 45,414
Deferred income taxes 78,962 80,714
Prepaid expenses and taxes 98,104 89,475
Other current assets   190,975     194,339  
Total current assets   2,877,610     2,674,995  
Property and equipment 7,886,970 7,787,256
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization   (1,775,913 )   (1,655,010 )
Property and equipment, net   6,111,057     6,132,246  
Goodwill   4,159,097     4,157,927  
Other assets, net   1,052,848     1,056,304  
Total assets $ 14,200,612   $ 14,021,472  
 
LIABILITIES
Current liabilities
Current maturities of long-term debt $ 69,781 $ 66,470
Accounts payable 499,875 428,565
Deferred income taxes 28,431 28,397
Accrued interest 85,455 145,201
Accrued liabilities   847,787     789,163  
Total current liabilities   1,531,329     1,457,796  
Long-term debt   8,831,849     8,844,638  
Deferred income taxes   474,748     475,812  
Other long-term liabilities   887,340     858,952  
Total liabilities   11,725,266     11,637,198  
 
Redeemable noncontrolling interests in equity of consolidated subsidiaries   374,486     368,857  
 
EQUITY
Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders' equity

Preferred stock, $.01 par value per share, 100,000,000 shares authorized; none issued

 - -

Common stock, $.01 par value per share, 300,000,000 shares authorized; 95,667,995 shares issued and 94,692,446 shares outstanding at March 31, 2010, and 94,013,537 shares issued and 93,037,988 shares outstanding at December 31, 2009

 957 940
Additional paid-in capital 1,183,306 1,158,359

Treasury stock, at cost, 975,549 shares at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009

 (6,678 ) (6,678 )
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (228,112 ) (221,385 )
Retained earnings   1,089,406     1,019,399  
Total Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders' equity 2,038,879 1,950,635
Noncontrolling interests in equity of consolidated subsidiaries   61,981     64,782  
Total equity   2,100,860     2,015,417  
Total liabilities and equity $ 14,200,612   $ 14,021,472  
 

_____

For footnotes, see pages 8 and 9.
 
     

 

COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(in thousands)

(Unaudited)
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
2010 2009
 
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income $ 84,996 $ 72,900

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

 

 
Depreciation and amortization

147,679

135,894
Stock-based compensation expense 9,763 12,286
Loss on sale of hospitals and partnership interest, net - 405
Excess tax benefit relating to stock-based compensation (4,349 ) -
Gain on early extinguishment of debt - (2,412 )
Other non-cash expenses, net (3,957 ) (4,488 )

Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions and divestitures:
Patient accounts receivable (94,204 ) (18,013 )
Supplies, prepaid expenses and other current assets (6,908 ) (7,592 )
Accounts payable, accrued liabilities and income taxes 167,470 68,170
Other   (1,130 )   2,277  
Net cash provided by operating activities   299,360     259,427  
 
Cash flows from investing activities
Acquisitions of facilities and other related equipment (180 ) (17,053 )
Purchases of property and equipment (126,553 ) (136,021 )
Proceeds from disposition of hospitals and other ancillary operations - 89,909
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment 346 326
Increase in other non-operating assets   (36,991 )   (36,344 )
Net cash used in investing activities   (163,378 )   (99,183 )
 
Cash flows from financing activities
Proceeds from exercise of stock options 24,007 -
Excess tax benefit relating to stock-based compensation 4,349 -
Deferred financing costs - (57 )
Stock buy-back (40 ) -
Proceeds from noncontrolling investors in joint ventures 1,255 21,922
Redemption of noncontrolling investments in joint ventures - (167 )
Distributions to noncontrolling investors in joint ventures (16,874 ) (6,595 )
Borrowings under credit agreement - 200,000
Repayments of long-term indebtedness   (13,154 )   (63,870 )
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities   (457 )   151,233  
 
Net change in cash and cash equivalents 135,525 311,477
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period   344,541     220,655  
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $ 480,066   $ 532,132  
 

Footnotes to Financial Statements

(a) The following table provides information needed to calculate income per share which is adjusted for noncontrolling interests (in thousands).

 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
2010   2009

Income from continuing operations attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. common stockholders:
Income from continuing operations, net of tax $ 84,996 $ 70,820

Less: Income from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests, net of taxes

   14,989   13,631

Income from continuing operations attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. common stockholders - basic and diluted

 $ 70,007 $ 57,189

Income from discontinued operations attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. common stockholders:
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax $ - $ 2,080

Less: Income from discontinued operations attributable to noncontrolling interests, net of taxes

   -   354

Income from discontinued operations attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. common stockholders - basic and diluted

 $ - $ 1,726
 

(b) Continuing operating results exclude discontinued operations for all periods presented, as applicable.

(c) During the second quarter of 2009, the Company made the decision to retain a hospital and related businesses previously classified as being held for sale. Results of operations, assets and liabilities and cash flows for this retained hospital and related businesses are reported as continuing operations for all periods presented.

(d) EBITDA consists of net income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. before interest, income taxes, and depreciation and amortization. Adjusted EBITDA is EBITDA adjusted to exclude discontinued operations, gain/loss from early extinguishment of debt and net income attributable to noncontrolling interests. The Company has from time to time sold noncontrolling interests in certain of its subsidiaries or acquired subsidiaries with existing noncontrolling interest ownership positions. The Company believes that it is useful to present adjusted EBITDA because it excludes the portion of EBITDA attributable to these third party interests and clarifies for investors the Company’s portion of EBITDA generated by continuing operations. The Company uses adjusted EBITDA as a measure of liquidity. The Company has included this measure because it believes it provides investors with additional information about the Company’s ability to incur and service debt and make capital expenditures. Adjusted EBITDA is the basis for a key component in the determination of the Company’s compliance with some of the covenants under the Company’s senior secured credit facility, as well as to determine the interest rate and commitment fee payable under the senior secured credit facility.

Adjusted EBITDA is not a measurement of financial performance or liquidity under U.S. GAAP. It should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for net income, operating income, cash flows from operating, investing or financing activities, or any other measure calculated in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The items excluded from adjusted EBITDA are significant components in understanding and evaluating financial performance and liquidity. This calculation of adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies.

The following table reconciles adjusted EBITDA, as defined, to net cash provided by operating activities as derived directly from the condensed consolidated financial statements for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 (in thousands):

   
Three Months Ended
March 31,
2010 2009
Adjusted EBITDA $ 433,279 $ 403,516
Interest expense, net (160,456 ) (163,913 )
Provision for income taxes (40,148 ) (35,634 )

Income from operations of hospitals sold and hospitals held for sale, net of taxes

 - 2,485
Other non-cash expenses, net 1,457 8,131

Net changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions

   65,228     44,842  
Net cash provided by operating activities $ 299,360   $ 259,427  
 

(e) Included in income from continuing operations for the three months ended March 31, 2009, is a gain from early extinguishment of debt of $2.4 million with an after-tax impact of $1.5 million related to the repurchases on the open market and cancellation of $126.5 million of Senior Notes and the early payment of $110.4 million of term loans under the Company’s Credit Facility.

(f) Included in discontinued operations for the three months ended March 31, 2009 is Presbyterian Hospital of Denton (255 licensed beds) located in Denton, Texas, which was conveyed to the noncontrolling partner on March 31, 2009.

(g) Included in income from operations and income from continuing operations for the three months ended March 31, 2010, are the following non-same-store charges:

  • Pre-tax charges of $0.6 million, related to acquisition costs required to be expensed pursuant to business combination accounting rules; and,
  • Pre-tax charges of $1.4 million, for system conversion costs related to conversion of Triad’s former IT systems to the Company’s IT system.

(h) The following table sets forth components reconciling the basic weighted-average number of shares to the diluted weighted-average number of shares (in thousands):

 

Three Months Ended

March 31,

2010

  

2009
Weighted-average number of shares outstanding - basic 91,615 90,605

Add effect of dilutive securities:

Stock awards and options

 1,221 280
Weighted-average number of shares outstanding - diluted 92,836 90,885
 

Regulation FD Disclosure

The following table sets forth selected information concerning the Company’s updated projected consolidated operating results for the year ending December 31, 2010. These projections are based on the Company’s historical operating performance, current trends and other assumptions that the Company believes are reasonable at this time. This guidance reaffirms the Company’s previous annual earnings guidance for 2010 provided on February 17, 2010. See page 12 for a list of factors that could affect the future results of the Company or the healthcare industry generally.

The following is provided as guidance to analysts and investors:

       
Updated 2010

Projection

Range
Net operating revenues (in millions) $ 12,900 to $ 13,200
Adjusted EBITDA (in millions) $ 1,745 to $ 1,775
Income from continuing operations per share - diluted $ 2.85 to $ 3.00
Same hospitals annual admissions/adjusted admissions growth 0.0 % to 2.0 %
Weighted average diluted shares (in millions) 93 to 94
Acquisitions of new hospitals 2
Income from Continuing Operations Per Share - Diluted
2nd quarter ending June 30 $ 0.70 to $ 0.74
3rd quarter ending September 30 $ 0.70 to $ 0.74
4th quarter ending December 31 $ 0.75 to $ 0.76
 

The following assumptions were used in developing the 2010 guidance provided above:

  • Projected 2010 same hospital annual admissions/adjusted admissions growth does not take into account service closures and other unusual events.
  • Expressed as a percentage of net operating revenues, the provision for bad debts is projected to be approximately 12.4% to 12.8% for 2010. These percentages may vary depending on changes in payor mix.
  • Expressed as a percent of net operating revenues, depreciation and amortization is projected to be approximately 4.6% to 4.8% for 2010; however, this is a fixed cost and the percentages may vary as revenue varies. Excludes possible impact of any future fair-value adjustments to investments and hospital fixed assets.
  • 2010 projection assumes an estimate of $0.03 to $0.04 per share (diluted) of acquisition costs that are required to be expensed.
  • For the purpose of providing interest expense guidance, the Company assumes that the borrowing rate under the Company’s $7.2 billion Senior Secured Credit Facility for 2010 will remain relatively stable with the rates existing currently, particularly since the Company is a party to interest rate swap agreements (with original maturities equal to or greater than 2 years) in an amount equal to approximately 90% of our outstanding variable interest rate debt. These swap agreements limit the effect of changes in interest rates. Based on these assumptions, expressed as a percentage of net operating revenues, interest expense is projected to be approximately 5.0% to 5.3% of net revenue guidance for 2010; however, these percentages will vary as revenue and interest rates vary. No new financing is currently anticipated.
  • On December 9, 2009, the Company adopted a new open market repurchase program for up to three million shares of the Company’s common stock, not to exceed $100 million in purchases. The repurchase program will conclude at the earliest of three years, when the maximum number of shares has been repurchased or when the maximum dollar amount has been reached. No significant share purchases have been assumed for 2010.
  • Expressed as a percentage of net operating revenues, equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates is projected to be approximately 0.3% to 0.4 % for 2010.
  • Expressed as a percentage of net operating revenues, net income attributable to noncontrolling interests is projected to be approximately 0.5% to 0.7% for 2010.
  • Expressed as a percentage of income from continuing operations before income taxes, provision for income tax is projected to be approximately 31.0% to 34.0% for 2010. The income tax projection includes possible additional unrecognized tax benefits and tax revaluations that may be recognized prior to the end of 2010.
  • Capital expenditures, excluding any significant information system upgrades that may be made related to electronic health records, is projected as follows (in millions):
       
2010

Guidance
 
Total $ 650 to $ 750
 
  • Net cash provided by operating activities are projected as follows (in millions):
       
2010

Guidance
 
Total $ 1,000 to $ 1,100
 
  • The Company’s guidance does not take into account resolution of certain pending government investigations and lawsuits.

The projections set forth in this report constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act, Section 21E of the Exchange Act and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Although the Company believes that these forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, these assumptions are inherently subject to significant economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies, which are difficult or impossible to predict accurately and are beyond the control of the Company. Accordingly, the Company cannot give any assurance that its expectations will in fact occur and cautions that actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. A number of factors could affect the future results of the Company or the healthcare industry generally and could cause the Company’s expected results to differ materially from those expressed in this filing.

These factors include, among other things:

  • general economic and business conditions, both nationally and in the regions in which we operate;
  • implementation and effect of newly-adopted federal healthcare legislation and potential proposed state healthcare legislation;
  • risks associated with our substantial indebtedness, leverage, and debt service obligations;
  • demographic changes;
  • changes in, or the failure to comply with, governmental regulations;
  • potential adverse impact of known and unknown government investigations, audits, and Federal and State False Claims Act litigation;
  • our ability, where appropriate, to enter into and maintain managed care provider arrangements and the terms of these arrangements;
  • changes in, or the failure to comply with, managed care provider contracts could result in disputes and changes in reimbursement that could be applied retroactively;
  • changes in inpatient or outpatient Medicare and Medicaid payment levels;
  • increases in the amount and risk of collectability of patient accounts receivable;
  • increases in wages as a result of inflation or competition for highly technical positions and rising supply costs due to market pressure from pharmaceutical companies and new product releases;
  • liabilities and other claims asserted against us, including self-insured malpractice claims;
  • competition;
  • our ability to attract and retain, without significant employment costs, qualified personnel, key management, physicians, nurses and other health care workers;
  • trends toward treatment of patients in less acute or specialty healthcare settings, including ambulatory surgery centers or specialty hospitals;
  • changes in medical or other technology;
  • changes in U.S. generally accepted accounting principles;
  • the availability and terms of capital to fund additional acquisitions or replacement facilities;
  • our ability to successfully acquire additional hospitals and complete the sale of hospitals held for sale;
  • our ability to successfully integrate any acquired hospitals or to recognize expected synergies from such acquisitions;
  • our ability to obtain adequate levels of general and professional liability insurance;
  • timeliness of reimbursement payments received under government programs; and
  • the other risk factors set forth in our public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The consolidated operating results for the quarter March 31, 2010, are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be experienced for any such future period or for any future year, including the full year of 2010.

The Company cautions that the projections for calendar year 2010 set forth in this press release are given as of the date hereof based on currently available information. The Company is not undertaking any obligation to update these projections as conditions change or other information becomes available.



CONTACT:

Community Health Systems, Inc.
W. Larry Cash
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
615-465-7000

KEYWORDS:   United States  North America  Tennessee

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS:   Health  Hospitals

MEDIA:

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