Ownership Submission
FORM 4
Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
PORTACCI MICHAEL T
   2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS INC [CYH] 		5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
_____ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
Senior Vice President
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
7100 COMMERCE WAY, SUITE 100		 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
03/01/2006
(Street)

BRENTWOOD, TN 37027		 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 3)		 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)		 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4 and 5)		 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 3 and 4)		 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)		 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price
Common Stock               60,804 D  
Common Stock 03/01/2006   F   2,645 D $ 37.92 58,159 D  

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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 3)		 2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 4. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)		 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4, and 5)		 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)		 7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities
(Instr. 3 and 4)		 8. Price of Derivative Security
(Instr. 5)		 9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 4)		 10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)		 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Stock Options (Right to Buy) $ 6.99             01/01/1998 01/01/2007 Common Stock 0   8,407 D  
Stock Options (Right to Buy) $ 20.3             05/22/2004 05/22/2013 Common Stock 0   200,000 D  
Stock Options (Right to Buy) $ 32.37             02/28/2006 02/28/2013 Common Stock 0   30,000 D  
Stock Options (Right to Buy) $ 38.3 03/01/2006   A   20,000   03/01/2007(1) 03/01/2014 Common Stock 20,000 $ 0 20,000 D  
Performance Based Restricted Shares $ 0 03/01/2006   A   30,000     (2)   (2) Common Stock 30,000 $ 0 30,000 D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
 Director  10% Owner  Officer  Other
PORTACCI MICHAEL T
7100 COMMERCE WAY
SUITE 100
BRENTWOOD, TN 37027		       Senior Vice President  

Signatures

 Rachel A. Seifert, Attorney in Fact for Michael T. Portacci   03/03/2006
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) Vesting occurs in 1/3 increments on the first, second and third anniversary of the date of grant.
(2) Each performance based restricted share represents a contingent right to receive one share of CYH common stock. There are two elements to the lapsing of the restriction; first, the Company must achieve specified targeted amount of earnings per share from continuing operations, and if the performance objective is met, the vesting restrictions will lapse in 1/3 increments on the first, second and third anniversary of the date of grant.

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