Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Statement of Loss) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income (Unaudited)
Operating revenues (net of contractual allowances and discounts)	$ 4,900	$ 3,752
Provision for bad debts	705	478
Net operating revenues	4,195	3,274
Operating costs and expenses:
Salaries and benefits	2,004	1,555
Supplies	635	494
Other operating expenses	1,023	696
Electronic health records incentive reimbursement	(40)	(19)
Rent	99	70
Depreciation and amortization	257	190
Amortization of software to be abandoned	42
Total operating costs and expenses	4,020	2,986
Income from operations	175	288
Interest expense, net	224	156
Loss (gain) from early extinguishment of debt	73	1
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	(11)	(16)
Impairment of long-lived assets	24
(Loss) income from continuing operations before income taxes	(135)	147
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	(57)	49
(Loss) income from continuing operations	(78)	98
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Loss from operations of entities held for sale	(2)	(2)
Impairment of hospitals held for sale	(18)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes	(20)	(2)
Net (loss) income	(98)	96
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	14	17
Net (loss) income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders	(112)	79
Parent Company [Member]
Operating costs and expenses:
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	112	(79)
(Loss) income from continuing operations before income taxes	(112)	79
(Loss) income from continuing operations	(112)	79
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Net (loss) income	(112)	79
Net (loss) income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders	(112)	79
Subsidiary Issuer [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income (Unaudited)
Operating revenues (net of contractual allowances and discounts)	(4)	(3)
Net operating revenues	(4)	(3)
Operating costs and expenses:
Income from operations	(4)	(3)
Interest expense, net	40	14
Loss (gain) from early extinguishment of debt	73	1
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	31	(92)
(Loss) income from continuing operations before income taxes	(148)	74
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	(36)	(5)
(Loss) income from continuing operations	(112)	79
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Net (loss) income	(112)	79
Net (loss) income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders	(112)	79
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income (Unaudited)
Operating revenues (net of contractual allowances and discounts)	3,130	2,403
Provision for bad debts	480	332
Net operating revenues	2,650	2,071
Operating costs and expenses:
Salaries and benefits	1,154	907
Supplies	418	322
Other operating expenses	665	437
Electronic health records incentive reimbursement	(23)	(11)
Rent	54	40
Depreciation and amortization	189	128
Amortization of software to be abandoned	26
Total operating costs and expenses	2,483	1,823
Income from operations	167	248
Interest expense, net	171	127
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	15	(19)
Impairment of long-lived assets	24
(Loss) income from continuing operations before income taxes	(43)	140
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	(16)	50
(Loss) income from continuing operations	(27)	90
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Loss from operations of entities held for sale	(5)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes	(5)
Net (loss) income	(32)	90
Net (loss) income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders	(32)	90
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income (Unaudited)
Operating revenues (net of contractual allowances and discounts)	1,774	1,352
Provision for bad debts	225	146
Net operating revenues	1,549	1,206
Operating costs and expenses:
Salaries and benefits	850	648
Supplies	217	172
Other operating expenses	358	259
Electronic health records incentive reimbursement	(17)	(8)
Rent	45	30
Depreciation and amortization	68	62
Amortization of software to be abandoned	16
Total operating costs and expenses	1,537	1,163
Income from operations	12	43
Interest expense, net	13	15
(Loss) income from continuing operations before income taxes	(1)	28
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	(5)	4
(Loss) income from continuing operations	4	24
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Loss from operations of entities held for sale	3	(2)
Impairment of hospitals held for sale	(18)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes	(15)	(2)
Net (loss) income	(11)	22
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	14	17
Net (loss) income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders	(25)	5
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Operating costs and expenses:
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	(169)	174
(Loss) income from continuing operations before income taxes	169	(174)
(Loss) income from continuing operations	169	(174)
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Net (loss) income	169	(174)
Net (loss) income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders	$ 169	$ (174)