Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) (Unaudited) (USD $) In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014		Jun. 30, 2013		Jun. 30, 2014		Jun. 30, 2013
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) [Abstract]
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 (benefit) for income taxes	32		21		(24)		70
Income from continuing operations	75		53				152
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Loss 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
Basic earnings (loss) per share attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. common stockholders (1):
Continuing operations	$ 0.42	[1]	$ 0.39	[1]	$ (0.39)	[1]	$ 1.28	[1]
Discontinued operations	$ (0.04)	[1]	$ (0.06)	[1]	$ (0.25)	[1]	$ (0.10)	[1]
Net income (loss)	$ 0.37	[1]	$ 0.32	[1]	$ (0.64)	[1]	$ 1.19	[1]
Diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. common stockholders (1):
Continuing operations	$ 0.42	[1]	$ 0.38	[1]	$ (0.39)	[1]	$ 1.27	[1]
Discontinued operations	$ (0.04)	[1]	$ (0.06)	[1]	$ (0.25)	[1]	$ (0.10)	[1]
Net income (loss)	$ 0.37	[1]	$ 0.32	[1]	$ (0.64)	[1]	$ 1.17	[1]
Weighted-average number of shares outstanding:
Basic	112,598,899		92,866,370		109,617,014		91,939,641
Diluted	113,474,169		94,109,368		109,617,014		93,025,402

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