Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Statement of Income) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income (Unaudited)
Operating revenues (net of contractual allowances and discounts)	$ 5,531	$ 3,711	$ 10,420	$ 7,450
Provision for bad debts	752	520	1,456	997
Net operating revenues	4,779	3,191	8,964	6,453
Operating costs and expenses:
Salaries and benefits	2,228	1,528	4,225	3,076
Supplies	738	493	1,371	986
Other operating expenses	1,120	713	2,141	1,405
Electronic health records incentive reimbursement	(84)	(24)	(124)	(43)
Rent	111	70	210	139
Depreciation and amortization	282	192	537	381
Amortization of software to be abandoned	33		75
Total operating costs and expenses	4,428	2,972	8,435	5,944
Income from operations	351	219	529	509
Interest expense, net	255	154	478	310
Loss from early extinguishment of debt			73	1
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	(11)	(9)	(22)	(24)
Impairment of long-lived assets			24
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	107	74	(24)	222
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	32	21	(24)	70
Income from continuing operations	75	53		152
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
(Loss) income from operations of entities held for sale		(6)	(5)	(9)
Impairment of hospitals held for sale	(5)		(22)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes	(5)	(6)	(27)	(9)
Net income (loss)	70	47	(27)	143
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	28	17	43	34
Net income (loss) attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders	42	30	(70)	109
Parent Company [Member]
Operating costs and expenses:
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	(42)	(30)	70	(109)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	42	30	(70)	109
Income from continuing operations	42	30	(70)	109
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Net income (loss)	42	30	(70)	109
Net income (loss) attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders	42	30	(70)	109
Subsidiary Issuer [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income (Unaudited)
Operating revenues (net of contractual allowances and discounts)	(5)	(4)	(9)	(7)
Net operating revenues	(5)	(4)	(9)	(7)
Operating costs and expenses:
Income from operations	(5)	(4)	(9)	(7)
Interest expense, net	31	(11)	71	3
Loss from early extinguishment of debt			73	1
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	(61)	(24)	(31)	(117)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	25	31	(122)	106
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	(17)	1	(52)	(3)
Income from continuing operations	42	30	(70)	109
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Net income (loss)	42	30	(70)	109
Net income (loss) attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders	42	30	(70)	109
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income (Unaudited)
Operating revenues (net of contractual allowances and discounts)	3,387	2,389	6,519	4,780
Provision for bad debts	456	375	938	707
Net operating revenues	2,931	2,014	5,581	4,073
Operating costs and expenses:
Salaries and benefits	1,240	899	2,393	1,800
Supplies	481	324	899	644
Other operating expenses	703	461	1,369	894
Electronic health records incentive reimbursement	(61)	(16)	(84)	(27)
Rent	59	40	114	79
Depreciation and amortization	200	129	388	256
Amortization of software to be abandoned	19		45
Total operating costs and expenses	2,641	1,837	5,124	3,646
Income from operations	290	177	457	427
Interest expense, net	206	141	376	268
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	(24)	(13)	(9)	(31)
Impairment of long-lived assets			24
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	108	49	66	190
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	42	18	25	67
Income from continuing operations	66	31	41	123
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
(Loss) income from operations of entities held for sale	(8)	(9)	(14)	(10)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes	(8)	(9)	(14)	(10)
Net income (loss)	58	22	27	113
Net income (loss) attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders	58	22	27	113
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income (Unaudited)
Operating revenues (net of contractual allowances and discounts)	2,149	1,326	3,910	2,677
Provision for bad debts	296	145	518	290
Net operating revenues	1,853	1,181	3,392	2,387
Operating costs and expenses:
Salaries and benefits	988	629	1,832	1,276
Supplies	257	169	472	342
Other operating expenses	417	252	772	511
Electronic health records incentive reimbursement	(23)	(8)	(40)	(16)
Rent	52	30	96	60
Depreciation and amortization	82	63	149	125
Amortization of software to be abandoned	14		30
Total operating costs and expenses	1,787	1,135	3,311	2,298
Income from operations	66	46	81	89
Interest expense, net	18	24	31	39
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	48	22	50	50
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	7	2	3	6
Income from continuing operations	41	20	47	44
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
(Loss) income from operations of entities held for sale	8	3	9	1
Impairment of hospitals held for sale	(5)		(22)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes	3	3	(13)	1
Net income (loss)	44	23	34	45
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	28	17	43	34
Net income (loss) attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders	16	6	(9)	11
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Operating costs and expenses:
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	116	58	(52)	233
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	(116)	(58)	52	(233)
Income from continuing operations	(116)	(58)	52	(233)
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Net income (loss)	(116)	(58)	52	(233)
Net income (loss) attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders	$ (116)	$ (58)	$ 52	$ (233)