Article: Fitch Ratings Affirms Community Health Systems, Inc.'s IDR at 'BB'; Outlook Stable.

NEW YORK -- Fitch affirms Community Health Systems, Inc. (Community Health) as follows:

-- Issuer Default Rating (IDR) 'BB';

-- Senior secured bank facility 'BB';

-- Senior subordinated notes 'B+'.

The Rating Outlook is Stable.

The rating action is driven by strong company specific operating results despite industry pressures of increasing bad debt and lower patient volumes. Community Health maintains solid free-cash-flow (FCF), with $135.8 million generated for the last twelve months ended June 30, 2006. Fitch expects Community Health to achieve its FCF target between $155 and $190 million for the full year 2006. The company ...

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