Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 240,650	$ 129,865
Patient accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $2,199,088 and $1,891,334 at September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively	2,091,217	1,834,167
Supplies	364,972	346,611
Prepaid income taxes	20,233	101,389
Deferred income taxes	89,797	89,797
Prepaid expenses and taxes	132,807	112,613
Other current assets	267,735	231,647
Total current assets	3,207,411	2,846,089
Property and equipment	9,981,776	9,369,528
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	(2,875,982)	(2,513,552)
Property and equipment, net	7,105,794	6,855,976
Goodwill	4,397,473	4,264,845
Other assets, net	1,530,477	1,241,930
Total assets	16,241,155	15,208,840
Current liabilities
Current maturities of long-term debt	99,194	63,706
Accounts payable	809,255	748,997
Accrued interest	110,864	110,121
Accrued liabilities	961,910	988,315
Total current liabilities	1,981,223	1,911,139
Long-term debt	9,472,869	8,782,798
Deferred income taxes	704,725	704,725
Other long-term liabilities	999,080	949,990
Total liabilities	13,157,897	12,348,652
Redeemable noncontrolling interests in equity of consolidated subsidiaries	370,514	395,743
Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders' equity
Preferred stock, $.01 par value per share, 100,000,000 shares authorized; none issued
Common stock, $.01 par value per share, 300,000,000 shares authorized; 92,161,852 shares issued and 91,186,303 shares outstanding at September 30, 2012, and 91,547,079 shares issued and 90,571,530 shares outstanding at December 31, 2011	922	915
Additional paid-in capital	1,104,570	1,086,008
Treasury stock, at cost, 975,549 shares at September 30,2012 and December 31, 2011	(6,678)	(6,678)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(148,721)	(184,479)
Retained earnings	1,704,396	1,501,330
Total Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders' equity	2,654,489	2,397,096
Noncontrolling interests in equity of consolidated subsidiaries	58,255	67,349
Total equity	2,712,744	2,464,445
Total liabilities and equity	$ 16,241,155	$ 15,208,840