Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 285,048	$ 387,813
Patient accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $2,258,229 and $2,201,875 at March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively	2,215,198	2,067,379
Supplies	371,055	368,172
Prepaid income taxes		49,888
Deferred income taxes	117,045	117,045
Prepaid expenses and taxes	142,366	126,561
Other current assets	288,071	302,284
Total current assets	3,418,783	3,419,142
Property and equipment	10,216,916	10,145,408
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	(3,121,782)	(2,993,535)
Property and equipment, net	7,095,134	7,151,873
Goodwill	4,408,362	4,408,138
Other assets, net	1,674,923	1,627,182
Total assets	16,597,202	16,606,335
Current liabilities
Current maturities of long-term debt	113,801	89,911
Accounts payable	741,175	825,914
Income tax payable	5,924
Accrued interest	109,939	110,702
Accrued liabilities	1,038,081	1,116,693
Total current liabilities	2,008,920	2,143,220
Long-term debt	9,424,383	9,451,394
Deferred income taxes	808,489	808,489
Other long-term liabilities	1,039,365	1,039,045
Total liabilities	13,281,157	13,442,148
Redeemable noncontrolling interests in equity of consolidated subsidiaries	375,506	367,666
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; 95,042,056 shares issued and 94,066,507 shares outstanding at March 31, 2013, and 92,925,715 shares issued and 91,950,166 shares outstanding at December 31, 2012	950	929
Additional paid-in capital	1,187,535	1,138,274
Treasury stock, at cost, 975,549 shares at March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012	(6,678)	(6,678)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(126,998)	(145,310)
Retained earnings	1,823,166	1,743,992
Total Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders' equity	2,877,975	2,731,207
Noncontrolling interests in equity of consolidated subsidiaries	62,564	65,314
Total equity	2,940,539	2,796,521
Total liabilities and equity	$ 16,597,202	$ 16,606,335