Community Health Systems Announces Definitive Agreement to Sell Arkansas-Based Sparks Health System to Baptist Health

Community Health Systems, Inc. (NYSE: CYH) announced today that subsidiaries of the Company have signed a definitive agreement to sell the two-hospital Sparks Health System and related businesses, including physician clinic operations and outpatient services, to Baptist Health in Little Rock, Ark. The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2018, subject to customary regulatory approvals and closing conditions.

Both the 492-bed Sparks Regional Medical Center in Ft. Smith, Ark., and the 103-bed Sparks Medical Center in Van Buren, Ark., are among the additional planned divestitures discussed on the Company’s first quarter 2018 earnings call.

When the transaction is complete, Community Health Systems affiliates will continue to operate six hospitals in Arkansas.

About Community Health Systems, Inc.

Community Health Systems, Inc. is one of the largest publicly traded hospital companies in the United States and a leading operator of general acute care hospitals in communities across the country. The Company, through its subsidiaries, owns, leases or operates 119 affiliated hospitals in 20 states with an aggregate of approximately 20,000 licensed beds. The Company’s headquarters are located in Franklin, Tennessee, a suburb south of Nashville. Shares in Community Health Systems, Inc. are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “CYH.” More information about the Company can be found on its website at www.chs.net.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements contained in this news release regarding potential transactions, operating results, 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.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180718005672/en/