Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 613	$ 373	$ 285	$ 388
Patient accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts	3,129	2,328
Supplies	529	373
Prepaid income taxes	220	107
Deferred income taxes	294	101
Prepaid expenses and taxes	204	127
Other current assets	638	339
Total current assets	5,627	3,748
Property and equipment, net	10,572	7,068
Goodwill	8,373	4,430
Other assets, net (including assets of hospitals held for sale of $148 and $69 at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively)	2,390	1,871
Total assets	26,962	17,117
Current liabilities:
Current maturities of long-term debt	199	167
Accounts payable	1,016	951
Deferred income taxes		3
Accrued interest	165	112
Accrued liabilities (including liabilities of hospitals held for sale of $31 and $19 at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively)	1,746	1,225
Total current liabilities	3,126	2,458
Long-term debt	16,799	9,286
Deferred income taxes	1,134	906
Other long-term liabilities	1,425	977
Total liabilities	22,484	13,627
Redeemable noncontrolling interests in equity of consolidated subsidiaries	692	358
Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock
Common stock	1	1
Additional paid-in capital	1,995	1,256
Treasury stock, at cost	(7)	(7)
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income	(58)	(67)	(126)	(145)
Retained earnings	1,774	1,885
Total Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders' equity	3,705	3,068
Noncontrolling interests in equity of consolidated subsidiaries	81	64
Total equity	3,786	3,132
Total liabilities and equity	26,962	17,117
Parent Company [Member]
Current assets:
Prepaid income taxes	220	107
Deferred income taxes	294	101
Total current assets	514	208
Intercompany receivable	1,237	579
Net investment in subsidiaries	3,092	3,194
Total assets	4,843	3,981
Current liabilities:
Deferred income taxes		3
Accrued liabilities (including liabilities of hospitals held for sale of $31 and $19 at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively)	4	4
Total current liabilities	4	7
Deferred income taxes	1,134	906
Total liabilities	1,138	913
Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders' equity:
Common stock	1	1
Additional paid-in capital	1,995	1,256
Treasury stock, at cost	(7)	(7)
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income	(58)	(67)
Retained earnings	1,774	1,885
Total Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders' equity	3,705	3,068
Total equity	3,705	3,068
Total liabilities and equity	4,843	3,981
Subsidiary Issuer [Member]
Current assets:
Intercompany receivable	16,499	9,541
Other assets, net (including assets of hospitals held for sale of $148 and $69 at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively)	330	144
Net investment in subsidiaries	17,678	9,335
Total assets	34,507	19,020
Current liabilities:
Current maturities of long-term debt	138	152
Accrued interest	163	111
Total current liabilities	301	263
Long-term debt	15,944	8,718
Intercompany payable	14,370	6,226
Other long-term liabilities	801	619
Total liabilities	31,416	15,826
Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders' equity:
Additional paid-in capital	1,175	1,175
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income	(58)	(67)
Retained earnings	1,974	2,086
Total Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders' equity	3,091	3,194
Total equity	3,091	3,194
Total liabilities and equity	34,507	19,020
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	451	238	164	272
Patient accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts	1,039	871
Supplies	360	258
Prepaid expenses and taxes	145	98
Other current assets	331	256
Total current assets	2,326	1,721
Intercompany receivable	3,263	4,534
Property and equipment, net	7,010	4,674
Goodwill	5,082	2,536
Other assets, net (including assets of hospitals held for sale of $148 and $69 at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively)	1,625	1,430
Net investment in subsidiaries	6,704	4,030
Total assets	26,010	18,925
Current liabilities:
Current maturities of long-term debt	53	13
Accounts payable	775	736
Accrued interest	1
Accrued liabilities (including liabilities of hospitals held for sale of $31 and $19 at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively)	1,248	869
Total current liabilities	2,077	1,618
Long-term debt	123	51
Intercompany payable	19,500	13,060
Other long-term liabilities	822	671
Total liabilities	22,522	15,400
Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders' equity:
Additional paid-in capital	1,274	1,274
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income	(16)	(11)
Retained earnings	2,230	2,262
Total Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders' equity	3,488	3,525
Total equity	3,488	3,525
Total liabilities and equity	26,010	18,925
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	162	135	121	116
Patient accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts	2,090	1,457
Supplies	169	115
Prepaid expenses and taxes	59	29
Other current assets	307	83
Total current assets	2,787	1,819
Intercompany receivable	7,906	3,810
Property and equipment, net	3,562	2,394
Goodwill	3,291	1,894
Other assets, net (including assets of hospitals held for sale of $148 and $69 at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively)	1,030	828
Total assets	18,576	10,745
Current liabilities:
Current maturities of long-term debt	8	2
Accounts payable	241	215
Accrued interest	1	1
Accrued liabilities (including liabilities of hospitals held for sale of $31 and $19 at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively)	494	352
Total current liabilities	744	570
Long-term debt	732	517
Intercompany payable	15,143	8,266
Other long-term liabilities	397	218
Total liabilities	17,016	9,571
Redeemable noncontrolling interests in equity of consolidated subsidiaries	692	358
Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders' equity:
Additional paid-in capital	655	595
Retained earnings	132	157
Total Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders' equity	787	752
Noncontrolling interests in equity of consolidated subsidiaries	81	64
Total equity	868	816
Total liabilities and equity	18,576	10,745
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Current assets:
Intercompany receivable	(28,905)	(18,464)
Other assets, net (including assets of hospitals held for sale of $148 and $69 at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively)	(595)	(531)
Net investment in subsidiaries	(27,474)	(16,559)
Total assets	(56,974)	(35,554)
Current liabilities:
Intercompany payable	(49,013)	(27,552)
Other long-term liabilities	(595)	(531)
Total liabilities	(49,608)	(28,083)
Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders' equity:
Additional paid-in capital	(3,104)	(3,044)
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income	74	78
Retained earnings	(4,336)	(4,505)
Total Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders' equity	(7,366)	(7,471)
Total equity	(7,366)	(7,471)
Total liabilities and equity	$ (56,974)	$ (35,554)