COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS INC

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Filed by the Registrant

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Filed by a party other than the Registrant

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Check the appropriate box:

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DEAR FELLOW STOCKHOLDERS,

We are pleased to announce the Community Health Systems, Inc. 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, to be held on Tuesday, May 7, 2024, at 8:00 a.m. (Central Daylight Time) at the Franklin Marriott Cool Springs, 700 Cool Springs Boulevard, Franklin, TN 37067. The attached Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement describe the business to be considered and voted on during that meeting. We encourage you to read the Proxy Statement carefully for more information.

It is important that your shares be represented at the Annual Meeting. Whether or not you plan on attending the meeting, please promptly vote your shares. Additional information on how to vote your shares can be found in the Proxy Statement.

We do not believe that communication with our stockholders begins and ends with the Annual Meeting. We appreciate the dialogue we have with our stockholders throughout the year and look forward to continuing this dialogue in the future. The Proxy Statement provides additional information regarding how to contact the Company.

Thank you for your investment in Community Health Systems, Inc. and your continued support.

Sincerely,

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

Tuesday, May 7, 2024

8:00 a.m. (Central Daylight Time)

Franklin Marriott Cool Springs, 700 Cool Springs Boulevard, Franklin, TN 37067

The Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Community Health Systems, Inc. (the “Annual Meeting”) will be held on Tuesday, May 7, 2024 at 8:00 a.m. (Central Daylight Time) at the Franklin Marriott Cool Springs, 700 Cool Springs Boulevard, Franklin, TN 37067.

The Annual Meeting will be held for the purpose of considering and acting upon the following matters:

The close of business on March 11, 2024, has been fixed as the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the meeting and any adjournment or postponement thereof.

YOU ARE REQUESTED, WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO BE PRESENT AT THE MEETING, TO VOTE VIA THE INTERNET OR BY TELEPHONE, OR COMPLETE, DATE, SIGN AND RETURN THE ACCOMPANYING PROXY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE (IF APPLICABLE). IF YOU ATTEND THE MEETING AND WISH TO VOTE YOUR SHARES PERSONALLY, YOU MAY DO SO AT ANY TIME BEFORE THE PROXY IS EXERCISED. IF YOU HOLD YOUR SHARES THROUGH A BANK, BROKER OR OTHER NOMINEE, YOU MAY VOTE YOUR SHARES BY THE METHODS SPECIFIED ON THE VOTING INSTRUCTION FORM THAT THEY PROVIDE. WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO VOTE YOUR SHARES AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

By Order of the Board of Directors,

Christopher G. Cobb

Vice President-Legal and Corporate Secretary

Franklin, Tennessee

ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS OF

PROXY STATEMENT

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This Proxy Statement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involve risk and uncertainties. All statements in this Proxy Statement other than statements of historical fact, including statements regarding projections, expected operating results, and other events that depend upon or refer to future events or conditions or that include words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “thinks,” and similar expressions, are forward-looking statements. 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 may be 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 Proxy Statement. These factors including, without limitation, the risks and uncertainties disclosed in our public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the SEC on February 21, 2024. We undertake no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether because of new information, future events, or otherwise.