COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS INC
EXHIBIT 10.3
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NAME="ma7104_exhibit_10.3"> </A>
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<BR></FONT><FONT SIZE=2><B>Exhibit 10.3    <BR>    </B></FONT></P>

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NAME="ma7104_second_amendment_to_the_commun__sec02587"> </A>
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<BR></FONT><FONT SIZE=2><B>SECOND AMENDMENT TO THE<BR>  <BR>    COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS,&nbsp;INC. 401(k) PLAN<BR>  <BR>    January</B></FONT><FONT SIZE=2> 1, </FONT><FONT SIZE=2><B>2004</B></FONT></P>

<P><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT><FONT
SIZE=2><B>WHEREAS,</B></FONT><FONT SIZE=2> CHS/Community Health Systems,&nbsp;Inc. (the "Company") has previously established and currently maintains the Community Health
Systems, Inc. 401(k) Plan (the "Plan"); and </FONT></P>

<P><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT><FONT
SIZE=2><B>WHEREAS,</B></FONT><FONT SIZE=2> the Company has retained the right to amend the Plan in Section&nbsp;8.1 of the Plan; and </FONT></P>

<P><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT><FONT
SIZE=2><B>WHEREAS,</B></FONT><FONT SIZE=2> the Company wishes to amend the Plan to allow for installment and other forms of distribution of benefits, effective as of
January&nbsp;1, 2004; and </FONT></P>

<P><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT><FONT
SIZE=2><B>WHEREAS,</B></FONT><FONT SIZE=2> the Board of Directors has approved of such amendment to the Plan. </FONT></P>


<P><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT><FONT
SIZE=2><B>NOW, THEREFORE,</B></FONT><FONT SIZE=2> the Plan is hereby amended in the following respects, effective as of January&nbsp;1, 2004: </FONT></P>

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<P><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Section&nbsp;6.5(a)
is hereby deleted and replaced as follows: </FONT></P>

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<P><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The
Administrator, pursuant to the election of the Participant, shall direct the Trustee to distribute to a Participant or such Participant's Beneficiary any amount to
which the Participant is entitled under the Plan in one or more of the following methods: </FONT></P>

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<P><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(1)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;One
lump-sum cash payment; </FONT></P>

<P><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(2)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Partial
cash payments; </FONT></P>

<P><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(3)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Partial
cash payments over a period certain. </FONT></P>

<P><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(4)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Cash
payments over a period certain in monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, or annual installments. The period over which such payment is to be made shall not
extend beyond the Participant's life expectancy (or the life expectancy of the Participant and the Participant's designated beneficiary). </FONT></P>

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<P><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;2.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Except
as otherwise provided in this Second Amendment, the Plan shall remain in full force and effect. </FONT></P>

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<P><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT><FONT
SIZE=2><B>SIGNED</B></FONT><FONT SIZE=2> this 15th day of January, 2004, effective as January&nbsp;1, 2004. </FONT></P>

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<TD COLSPAN=2><FONT SIZE=2>CHS/COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS,&nbsp;INC.</FONT></TD>
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&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
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<TD WIDTH="6%"><BR><FONT SIZE=2>By:</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="52%"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
/s/&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT><FONT SIZE=2>LINDA PARSONS</FONT><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT><HR NOSHADE></TD>
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<TD WIDTH="6%"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
Title:</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="52%"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
Vice President</FONT><HR NOSHADE></TD>
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<FONT SIZE=2><A HREF="#toc_ma7104_1">Exhibit 10.3</A></FONT><BR>
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<FONT SIZE=2><A HREF="#toc_ma7104_2">SECOND AMENDMENT TO THE COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. 401(k) PLAN January 1, 2004</A></FONT><BR>

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