Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income [Abstract]
Operating revenues (net of contractual allowances and discounts)	$ 3,766,833	$ 3,696,661	$ 11,334,783	$ 11,226,580
Provision for bad debts	548,602	484,631	1,568,411	1,474,541
Net operating revenues	3,218,231	3,212,030	9,766,372	9,752,039
Operating costs and expenses:
Salaries and benefits	1,541,692	1,525,111	4,674,791	4,547,532
Supplies	486,374	484,212	1,482,245	1,472,520
Other operating expenses	721,957	694,857	2,159,728	2,140,025
Government settlement and related costs reserve	98,000		98,000
Electronic health records incentive reimbursement	(65,007)	(30,622)	(110,307)	(73,592)
Rent	71,646	68,637	215,020	202,324
Depreciation and amortization	195,841	182,207	582,604	536,362
Total operating costs and expenses	3,050,503	2,924,402	9,102,081	8,825,171
Income from operations	167,728	287,628	664,291	926,868
Interest expense, net	154,329	158,565	465,735	462,347
Loss from early extinguishment of debt		52,024	1,295	115,453
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	(11,641)	(7,419)	(36,375)	(32,613)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	25,040	84,458	233,636	381,681
Provision for income taxes	3,442	25,700	68,630	121,038
Income from continuing operations	21,598	58,758	165,006	260,643
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Loss from operations of entities sold				(466)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes				(466)
Net income	21,598	58,758	165,006	260,177
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	17,503	14,525	51,984	57,111
Net income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders	$ 4,095	$ 44,233	$ 113,022	$ 203,066
Basic earnings (loss) per share attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. common stockholders:
Continuing operations	$ 0.04	$ 0.50	$ 1.22	$ 2.29
Discontinued operations				$ (0.01)
Net income	$ 0.04	$ 0.50	$ 1.22	$ 2.28
Diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. common stockholders (1):
Continuing operations	$ 0.04	$ 0.49	$ 1.21	$ 2.27
Discontinued operations				$ (0.01)
Net income	$ 0.04	$ 0.49	$ 1.21	$ 2.27	[1]
Weighted-average number of shares outstanding:
Basic	93,259,027	89,259,950	92,384,270	89,028,249
Diluted	94,483,596	90,009,113	93,516,158	89,464,987

[1] Total per share amounts may not add due to rounding.