Community Health Systems is facing a class action lawsuit challenging the Franklin-based health services company’s policy that charges tobacco-using employees extra fees per each pay period for health care coverage.

The lawsuit was filed by a North Carolina woman “on behalf of herself and all others similarly situated” in the U.S. District Court of Middle Tennessee on June 29. It alleges mismanagement and miscommunication by CHS related to the surcharge, which the suit contends is “both unfair and unlawful” and “impose[s] discriminatory and punitive health insurance surcharges” on employees who use tobacco products.