1. BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

2. ACCOUNTING FOR STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

Stock-based compensation awards have been granted under the Community Health Systems, Inc. Amended and Restated 2009 Stock Option and Award Plan, which was most recently amended and restated as of March 22, 2023 and most recently approved by the Company’s stockholders at the annual meeting of stockholders held on May 9, 2023 (the “2009 Plan”). In addition, at the annual meeting of stockholders to be held on May 13, 2025 (the “2025 Annual Meeting”), the Company’s stockholders will be voting on whether or not to approve the further amendment and restatement of the 2009 Plan (the “Amended 2009 Plan”), which was approved by the Company’s Board of Directors on March 12, 2025.

The 2009 Plan provides for the grant of incentive stock options intended to qualify under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code and for the grant of stock options which do not so qualify, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units (“RSUs”), performance-based shares or units and other share awards. Persons eligible to receive grants under the 2009 Plan include the Company’s directors, officers, employees and consultants. To date, all options granted under the 2009 Plan have been “nonqualified” stock options for tax purposes. Generally, these options vest in one-third increments on each of the first three anniversaries of the option grant date and expire on the tenth anniversary of the option grant date.

The exercise price of all options granted under the 2009 Plan is equal to the fair value of the Company’s common stock on the option grant date. As of March 31, 2025, 1,159,922 shares of unissued common stock were reserved for future grants under the 2009 Plan. In addition, if the Amended 2009 Plan is approved by the Company’s stockholders at the 2025 Annual Meeting, 7,000,000 additional shares of unissued common stock will be reserved for future grants under the Amended 2009 Plan.

At March 31, 2025, $26 million of unrecognized stock-based compensation expense related to outstanding unvested stock options, restricted stock and restricted stock units (the terms of which are summarized below) was expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 25 months. Of that amount, $4 million relates to outstanding unvested stock options expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 25 months and $22 million relates to outstanding unvested restricted stock and RSUs expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 25 months. There were no modifications to awards during the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024.

In determining the expected term, the Company examined concentrations of option holdings and historical patterns of option exercises and forfeitures, as well as forward-looking factors, in an effort to determine if there were any discernible employee populations. From this analysis, in determining the expected term for both of the three-month periods ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, the Company identified one population, consisting of persons receiving grants of stock options. The computation of expected term was performed using the simplified method for all stock options granted in the periods presented. The simplified method was used as a result of the Company determining that historical exercise data does not provide a reasonable basis for the expected term of its grants, due primarily to the limited number of stock option exercises that have occurred.

The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of the grant. The pre-vesting forfeiture rate is based on historical rates and forward-looking factors for each population identified. The Company adjusts the estimated forfeiture rate to its actual experience.

The expected volatility rate was estimated based on historical volatility. In determining expected volatility, the Company also reviewed the market-based implied volatility of actively traded options of its common stock and determined that historical volatility utilized to estimate the expected volatility rate did not differ significantly from the implied volatility.

The weighted-average grant date fair value of stock options granted during the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024 was $2.27 and $2.19, respectively. The aggregate intrinsic value (calculated as the number of in-the-money stock options multiplied by the difference between the Company’s closing stock price on the last trading day of the reporting period ($2.70) and the exercise price of the respective stock options) in the table above represents the amount that would have been received by the option holders had all option holders exercised their options on March 31, 2025. This amount changes based on the market value of the Company’s common stock. No stock options were exercised during the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024. The aggregate intrinsic value of options vested and expected to vest approximates that of the outstanding options.

The Company has also awarded restricted stock under the 2009 Plan to employees of certain subsidiaries. With respect to time-based vesting restricted stock that has been awarded under the 2009 Plan, the restrictions on these shares have generally lapsed in one-third increments on each of the first three anniversaries of the award date. In addition, certain of the restricted stock awards granted to the Company’s senior executives have contained performance objectives required to be met in addition to any time-based vesting requirements. If the applicable performance objectives are not attained, these awards will be forfeited in their entirety. For performance-based awards, the performance objectives are measured cumulatively over a three-year period. If the applicable target performance objective is met at the end of the three-year period, then the restricted stock award subject to such performance objective will vest in full on the third anniversary of the award date. Additionally, for these performance-based awards, based on the level of achievement for the applicable performance objective within the parameters specified in the award agreement, the number of shares to be issued in connection with the vesting of the award may be adjusted to decrease or increase the number of shares specified in the original award. Notwithstanding the above-mentioned performance objectives and vesting requirements, the restrictions with respect to restricted stock granted under the 2009 Plan may lapse earlier in the event of death, disability, change in control of the Company or, other than for performance-based awards, termination of employment by the Company for any reason other than for cause of the holder of the restricted stock. On March 1, 2025, restricted stock awards subject to performance objectives granted on March 1, 2022 vested based on the Company’s cumulative performance compared to performance objectives for the 2022 through 2024 performance period, which were set prior to the date of grant. Such awards vested at 16.8% of the number of shares originally granted to the Company’s then executive chairman, chief executive officer and chief financial officer based on the performance objectives applicable to the then executive chairman, chief executive officer and chief financial officer, and at 21% of the number of shares originally granted to other senior executives based on the performance objectives applicable to such other senior executives. Restricted stock awards subject to performance objectives that have not yet been satisfied are not considered outstanding for purposes of determining diluted earnings per share unless the performance objectives have been satisfied on the basis of results through the end of each respective reporting period.

RSUs have been granted to the Company’s non-management directors under the 2009 Plan. Each of the Company’s then-serving non-management directors received grants under the 2009 Plan of 59,801 RSUs and 62,718 RSUs with a grant date of March 1, 2025 and 2024, respectively. Both the March 2025 and 2024 grants had a grant date fair value of approximately $180,000. Pursuant to the Company’s non-management director compensation program, on June 1, 2024, a non-management director, who was elected to the Board of Directors at the Annual Meeting of the Company’s stockholders on May 7, 2024, received a grant of 62,718 RSUs (the same number of RSUs granted to the other non-management directors on March 1, 2024), which had a grant date fair value of approximately $248,000. Vesting of RSUs granted to non-management directors occurs in one-third increments on each of the first three anniversaries of the award date or upon the director’s earlier cessation of service on the Board of Directors, other than for cause. Each non-management director may elect, prior to the beginning of the calendar year in which the award is granted, to defer the receipt of shares of the Company’s common stock issuable upon vesting until either his or her (i) separation from service with the Company or (ii) attainment of an age specified in advance by the non-management director. A total of seven directors elected to defer the receipt of shares of the Company’s common stock for the RSUs granted on March 1, 2025 to a future date. A total of six directors elected to defer the receipt of shares of the Company’s common stock upon vesting of the RSUs granted in 2024 to a future date.

3. ACQUISITIONS AND DIVESTITURES

Acquisitions

The Company accounts for all transactions that represent business combinations using the acquisition method of accounting, where the identifiable assets acquired, the liabilities assumed and any noncontrolling interest in the acquired entity are recognized and measured at their fair values on the date the Company obtains control in the acquiree. Such fair values that are not finalized for reporting periods following the acquisition date are estimated and recorded as provisional amounts. Adjustments to these provisional amounts during the measurement period (defined as the date through which all information required to identify and measure the consideration transferred, the assets acquired, the liabilities assumed and any noncontrolling interests has been obtained, limited to one year from the acquisition date) are recorded when identified. Goodwill is determined as the excess of the fair value of the consideration conveyed in the acquisition over the fair value of the net assets acquired.

The Company accounts for asset acquisitions pursuant to a cost accumulation model. Direct transaction costs are recognized as part of the cost of an acquisition. The Company also evaluates which elements of a transaction should be accounted for as part of an asset acquisition and which should be accounted for separately. The cost of an asset acquisition, including transaction costs, is allocated to identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on a relative fair value basis. Goodwill is not recognized in an asset acquisition.

During the three months ended March 31, 2025, one or more subsidiaries of the Company paid less than $1 million to acquire the operating assets and related businesses of certain physician practices and clinics that operate within the communities served by the Company’s affiliated hospitals. The purchase price for these transactions was primarily allocated to working capital and property and equipment.

Divestitures

There were three hospital divestitures completed during the three months ended March 31, 2025. The following table provides a summary of hospitals that the Company divested (or, in the case of Merit Health Biloxi, in which the Company sold its ownership interest) during the three months ended March 31, 2025 and the year ended December 31, 2024:

On December 11, 2024, a subsidiary of the Company entered into a definitive agreement to sell Lake Norman Regional Medical Center (123 licensed beds) in Mooresville, North Carolina, and related businesses, to Duke University Health System, Inc. This disposition was completed on April 1, 2025, as further described in Note 14 - Subsequent Events.

On January 29, 2025, subsidiaries of the Company entered into a definitive agreement for the sale of its 50% interest in Merit Health Madison (67 licensed beds) in Canton, Mississippi, to an affiliate of the University of Mississippi Medical Center, which currently has a 50% ownership interest in Merit Health Madison.

4. GOODWILL

Goodwill is allocated to each identified reporting unit, which is defined as an operating segment or one level below the operating segment (referred to as a component of the entity). Management has determined that the Company’s operating segment meets the criteria to be classified as a reporting unit.

Goodwill is evaluated for impairment annually and when an event occurs or circumstances change that, more likely than not, reduce the fair value of the reporting unit below its carrying value. The Company performed its last annual goodwill impairment evaluation during the fourth quarter of 2024 using an October 31, 2024 measurement date, which indicated no impairment.

The determination of fair value in the Company’s goodwill impairment analysis is based on an estimate of fair value for the reporting unit utilizing known and estimated inputs at the evaluation date. Some of those inputs include, but are not limited to, the most recent price of the Company’s common stock and fair value of long-term debt, the Company’s recent financial results, estimates of future revenue and expense growth, estimated market multiples, expected capital expenditures, income tax rates, costs of invested capital and a discount rate.

Future estimates of fair value could be adversely affected if the actual outcome of one or more of the assumptions described above changes materially in the future, including as a result of any decline in the Company’s stock price and the fair value of its long-term debt, an increase in the volatility of the Company’s stock price and the fair value of its long-term debt, lower-than-expected hospital volumes and/or net operating revenues, higher market interest rates, increased operating costs or other adverse impacts on the Company’s financial results. Such changes impacting the calculation of fair value could result in a material impairment charge in the future.

5. INCOME TAXES

The total amount of unrecognized benefit that would affect the effective tax rate, if recognized, was $43 million at March 31, 2025. A total of $6 million of interest and penalties is included in the amount of the liability for uncertain tax positions at March 31, 2025. It is the Company’s policy to recognize interest and penalties related to unrecognized benefits in its condensed consolidated statements of loss as income tax expense.

It is possible the amount of unrecognized tax benefit could change in the next 12 months as a result of a lapse of the statute of limitations and settlements with taxing authorities; however, the Company does not anticipate the change will have a material impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated results of operations or financial position.

The Company’s income tax return for the 2021 and 2022 tax years are under examination by the Internal Revenue Service. The Company believes the result of this examination will not be material to its consolidated results of operations or consolidated financial position. The Company has extended the federal statute of limitations through December 31, 2026 for Community Health Systems, Inc. for the tax periods ended December 31, 2021 and 2022.

The Company’s provision for income taxes was $42 million and $28 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively. The Company’s effective tax rates were 62.7% and 127.3% for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively. The increase in the provision for income taxes for the three months ended March 31, 2025, compared to the same period in 2024 was primarily due to an increase in non-deductible goodwill related to divested hospitals. The difference in the Company’s effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2025, compared to the same period in 2024 is due to an increase in income before taxes and the aforementioned increase in the provision for income taxes.

Cash paid for income taxes, net of refunds received, resulted in a net refund of $80 million and a net payment of less than $1 million during the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively.

6. LONG-TERM DEBT

On June 5, 2024, the Company and CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc. (“CHS”) entered into the Second Amendment and Restatement Agreement (the “Amendment”) to refinance and replace the amended and restated asset-based loan (“ABL”) credit agreement (the “ABL Credit Agreement” and, as amended by the Amendment, the “Amended and Restated ABL Credit Agreement”), dated as of November 22, 2021, with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, and the lenders and other agents party thereto. Pursuant to the Amended and Restated ABL Credit Agreement, the lenders have extended to CHS a revolving asset-based loan facility (the “ABL Facility”) in the maximum aggregate principal amount of $1.0 billion, subject to borrowing base capacity. The ABL Facility includes borrowing capacity available for letters of credit of $200 million. CHS and all domestic subsidiaries of CHS that guarantee CHS’ other outstanding senior and senior secured indebtedness guarantee the obligations of CHS under the ABL Facility. Subject to certain exceptions, all obligations under the ABL Facility and the related guarantees are secured by a perfected first-priority security interest in substantially all of the receivables, deposit, collection and other accounts and contract rights, books, records and other instruments related to the foregoing of the Company, CHS and the guarantors, as well as a perfected junior-priority third lien security interest in substantially all of the other assets of the Company, CHS and the guarantors, subject to customary exceptions and intercreditor arrangements. Principal amounts outstanding under the ABL Facility will be due and payable in full on June 5, 2029.

At March 31, 2025, the Company had outstanding borrowings of $200 million and approximately $651 million of additional borrowing capacity (after taking into consideration the $67 million of outstanding letters of credit) under the ABL Facility. The issued letters of credit were primarily in support of potential insurance-related claims and certain bonds.

The ABL Facility contains customary representations and warranties, subject to limitations and exceptions, and customary covenants restricting the Company’s ability, subject to certain exceptions, to, among other things (1) declare dividends, make distributions or redeem or repurchase capital stock, (2) prepay, redeem or repurchase other debt, (3) incur liens or grant negative pledges, (4) make loans and investments and enter into acquisitions and joint ventures, (5) incur additional indebtedness or provide certain guarantees, (6) engage in mergers, acquisitions and asset sales, (7) conduct transactions with affiliates, (8) alter the nature of the Company’s, CHS’ or the guarantors’ businesses, (9) grant certain guarantees with respect to physician practices, (10) engage in sale and leaseback transactions or (11) change the Company’s fiscal year. The Company is also required to comply with a consolidated fixed coverage ratio, upon certain triggering events described below, and various affirmative covenants. The consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio is calculated as the ratio of (x) consolidated EBITDA (as defined in the ABL Facility) less capital expenditures to (y) the sum of consolidated interest expense (as defined in the ABL Facility), scheduled principal payments, income taxes and restricted payments made in cash or in permitted investments. For purposes of calculating the consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio, the calculation of consolidated EBITDA as defined in the ABL Facility is a trailing 12-month calculation that begins with the Company’s consolidated net income, with certain adjustments for interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, net income attributable to noncontrolling interests, stock compensation expense, restructuring costs, and the financial impact of other non-cash or non-recurring items recorded during any such 12-month period.

The consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio is a required covenant only in periods where the total borrowings outstanding under the ABL Facility reduce the amount available in the facility to less than the greater of (i) $95 million or (ii) 10% of the calculated borrowing base. As a result, in the event the Company has less than $95 million available under the ABL Facility, the Company would need to comply with the consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio. At March 31, 2025, the Company is not subject to the consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio as such triggering event had not occurred during the twelve months ended March 31, 2025.

The Company paid interest of $229 million and $149 million on borrowings during the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively.

7. FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

8. FAIR VALUE

Fair Value Hierarchy

Fair value is a market-based measurement, not an entity-specific measurement. Therefore, a fair value measurement should be determined based on the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. As a basis for considering market participant assumptions in fair value measurements, the Company utilizes the U.S. GAAP fair value hierarchy that distinguishes between market participant assumptions based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity (observable inputs that are classified within Levels 1 and 2 of the hierarchy) and the reporting entity’s own assumption about market participant assumptions (unobservable inputs classified within Level 3 of the hierarchy).

The inputs used to measure fair value are classified into the following fair value hierarchy:

Level 1: Quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

Level 2: Observable market-based inputs or unobservable inputs that are corroborated by market data.

Level 3: Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities. Level 3 includes values determined using pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies, or similar techniques reflecting the Company’s own assumptions.

In instances where the determination of the fair value hierarchy measurement is based on inputs from different levels of the fair value hierarchy, the level in the fair value hierarchy within which the entire fair value measurement falls is based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. The Company’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment of factors specific to the asset or liability. Transfers between levels within the fair value hierarchy are recognized by the Company on the date of the change in circumstances that requires such transfer. There were no transfers between levels during the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024.

Investments in equity securities classified as Level 1 are measured using quoted market prices. Level 2 available-for-sale debt securities and trading securities primarily consist of bonds and notes issued by the United States government and its agencies and domestic and foreign corporations. The estimated fair values of these securities are determined using various valuation techniques, including a multi-dimensional relational model that incorporates standard observable inputs and assumptions such as benchmark yields, reported trades, broker/dealer quotes, issuer spreads, benchmark securities, bids/offers and other pertinent reference data.

9. LEASES

The Company utilizes operating and finance leases for the use of certain hospitals, medical office buildings, and medical equipment. The components of lease cost and rent expense for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024 are as follows (in millions):