Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet) (Details) (USD $)	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 251,227,000		$ 387,813,000	$ 115,109,000	$ 129,865,000
Patient accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts	2,173,064,000		2,067,379,000
Supplies	375,440,000		368,172,000
Prepaid income taxes	35,697,000		49,888,000
Deferred income taxes	117,045,000		117,045,000
Prepaid expenses and taxes	133,524,000		126,561,000
Other current assets	270,611,000		302,284,000
Total current assets	3,356,608,000		3,419,142,000
Property and equipment, net	7,104,244,000		7,151,873,000
Goodwill	4,412,097,000		4,408,138,000
Other assets, net	1,723,873,000		1,627,182,000
Total assets	16,596,822,000		16,606,335,000
Current liabilities:
Current maturities of long-term debt	119,037,000		89,911,000
Accounts payable	753,009,000		825,914,000
Accrued interest	111,156,000		110,702,000
Accrued liabilities	1,003,747,000		1,116,693,000
Total current liabilities	1,986,949,000		2,143,220,000
Long-term debt	9,388,197,000		9,451,394,000
Deferred income taxes	808,489,000		808,489,000
Other long-term liabilities	1,019,415,000		1,039,045,000
Total liabilities	13,203,050,000		13,442,148,000
Redeemable noncontrolling interests in equity of consolidated subsidiaries	371,413,000		367,666,000
Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock
Common stock	958,000		929,000
Additional paid-in capital	1,220,523,000		1,138,274,000
Treasury stock, at cost	(6,678,000)		(6,678,000)
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income	(105,267,000)	(126,998,000)	(145,310,000)
Retained earnings	1,852,919,000		1,743,992,000
Total Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders' equity	2,962,455,000		2,731,207,000
Noncontrolling interests in equity of consolidated subsidiaries	59,904,000		65,314,000
Total equity	3,022,359,000		2,796,521,000
Total liabilities and equity	16,596,822,000		16,606,335,000
Parent Guarantor [Member]
Current assets:
Prepaid income taxes	35,697,000		49,888,000
Deferred income taxes	117,045,000		117,045,000
Total current assets	152,742,000		166,933,000
Intercompany receivable	500,908,000		406,534,000
Net investment in subsidiaries	3,123,934,000		2,974,965,000
Total assets	3,777,584,000		3,548,432,000
Current liabilities:
Accrued liabilities	5,449,000		7,580,000
Total current liabilities	5,449,000		7,580,000
Deferred income taxes	808,489,000		808,489,000
Other long-term liabilities	1,191,000		1,156,000
Total liabilities	815,129,000		817,225,000
Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders' equity:
Common stock	958,000		929,000
Additional paid-in capital	1,220,523,000		1,138,274,000
Treasury stock, at cost	(6,678,000)		(6,678,000)
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income	(105,267,000)		(145,310,000)
Retained earnings	1,852,919,000		1,743,992,000
Total Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders' equity	2,962,455,000		2,731,207,000
Total equity	2,962,455,000		2,731,207,000
Total liabilities and equity	3,777,584,000		3,548,432,000
Issuer [Member]
Current assets:
Prepaid expenses and taxes	23,000		115,000
Total current assets	23,000		115,000
Intercompany receivable	9,587,164,000		9,837,904,000
Other assets, net	148,931,000		165,236,000
Net investment in subsidiaries	8,716,933,000		8,686,242,000
Total assets	18,453,051,000		18,689,497,000
Current liabilities:
Current maturities of long-term debt	94,429,000		75,679,000
Accounts payable	31,000		74,000
Accrued interest	110,604,000		110,091,000
Total current liabilities	205,064,000		185,844,000
Long-term debt	8,834,196,000		9,079,392,000
Intercompany payable	5,731,022,000		5,639,928,000
Other long-term liabilities	558,838,000		809,372,000
Total liabilities	15,329,120,000		15,714,536,000
Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders' equity:
Additional paid-in capital	1,163,635,000		1,176,342,000
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income	(105,267,000)		(145,310,000)
Retained earnings	2,065,563,000		1,943,929,000
Total Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders' equity	3,123,931,000		2,974,961,000
Total equity	3,123,931,000		2,974,961,000
Total liabilities and equity	18,453,051,000		18,689,497,000
Other Guarantors [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	132,258,000		271,559,000	8,491,000	8,920,000
Patient accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts	774,919,000		676,649,000
Supplies	258,767,000		254,853,000
Prepaid expenses and taxes	103,304,000		86,628,000
Other current assets	197,956,000		222,424,000
Total current assets	1,467,204,000		1,512,113,000
Intercompany receivable	4,370,413,000		3,723,120,000
Property and equipment, net	4,666,682,000		4,660,557,000
Goodwill	2,544,073,000		2,544,195,000
Other assets, net	1,226,988,000		1,273,347,000
Net investment in subsidiaries	3,729,454,000		3,427,182,000
Total assets	18,004,814,000		17,140,514,000
Current liabilities:
Current maturities of long-term debt	22,031,000		11,103,000
Accounts payable	561,863,000		583,865,000
Accrued interest	122,000		295,000
Accrued liabilities	669,266,000		748,010,000
Total current liabilities	1,253,282,000		1,343,273,000
Long-term debt	52,851,000		53,201,000
Intercompany payable	12,516,342,000		11,693,119,000
Other long-term liabilities	690,973,000		675,341,000
Total liabilities	14,513,448,000		13,764,934,000
Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders' equity:
Common stock	1,000		1,000
Additional paid-in capital	1,267,401,000		1,283,499,000
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income	(25,793,000)		(28,927,000)
Retained earnings	2,249,757,000		2,121,007,000
Total Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders' equity	3,491,366,000		3,375,580,000
Total equity	3,491,366,000		3,375,580,000
Total liabilities and equity	18,004,814,000		17,140,514,000
Non-Guarantors [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	118,969,000		116,254,000	106,618,000	120,945,000
Patient accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts	1,398,145,000		1,390,730,000
Supplies	116,673,000		113,319,000
Prepaid expenses and taxes	30,197,000		39,818,000
Other current assets	72,655,000		79,860,000
Total current assets	1,736,639,000		1,739,981,000
Intercompany receivable	3,556,452,000		3,262,823,000
Property and equipment, net	2,437,562,000		2,491,316,000
Goodwill	1,868,024,000		1,863,943,000
Other assets, net	782,953,000		816,373,000
Total assets	10,381,630,000		10,174,436,000
Current liabilities:
Current maturities of long-term debt	2,577,000		3,129,000
Accounts payable	191,115,000		241,975,000
Accrued interest	430,000		316,000
Accrued liabilities	329,032,000		361,103,000
Total current liabilities	523,154,000		606,523,000
Long-term debt	501,150,000		318,801,000
Intercompany payable	8,098,768,000		7,822,313,000
Other long-term liabilities	203,412,000		180,950,000
Total liabilities	9,326,484,000		8,928,587,000
Redeemable noncontrolling interests in equity of consolidated subsidiaries	371,413,000		367,666,000
Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders' equity:
Common stock	2,000		2,000
Additional paid-in capital	492,197,000		690,929,000
Retained earnings	131,630,000		121,938,000
Total Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders' equity	623,829,000		812,869,000
Noncontrolling interests in equity of consolidated subsidiaries	59,904,000		65,314,000
Total equity	683,733,000		878,183,000
Total liabilities and equity	10,381,630,000		10,174,436,000
Eliminations [Member]
Current assets:
Intercompany receivable	(18,014,937,000)		(17,230,381,000)
Other assets, net	(434,999,000)		(627,774,000)
Net investment in subsidiaries	(15,570,321,000)		(15,088,389,000)
Total assets	(34,020,257,000)		(32,946,544,000)
Current liabilities:
Intercompany payable	(26,346,132,000)		(25,155,360,000)
Other long-term liabilities	(434,999,000)		(627,774,000)
Total liabilities	(26,781,131,000)		(25,783,134,000)
Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders' equity:
Common stock	(3,000)		(3,000)
Additional paid-in capital	(2,923,233,000)		(3,150,770,000)
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income	131,060,000		174,237,000
Retained earnings	(4,446,950,000)		(4,186,874,000)
Total Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders' equity	(7,239,126,000)		(7,163,410,000)
Total equity	(7,239,126,000)		(7,163,410,000)
Total liabilities and equity	$ (34,020,257,000)		$ (32,946,544,000)