Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Statement of Income) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income (Unaudited)
Operating revenues (net of contractual allowances and discounts)	$ 5,563	$ 3,710	$ 15,984	$ 11,161
Provision for bad debts	768	536	2,225	1,533
Net operating revenues	4,795	3,174	13,759	9,628
Operating costs and expenses:
Salaries and benefits	2,191	1,514	6,417	4,591
Supplies	733	482	2,104	1,468
Other operating expenses	1,121	705	3,262	2,110
Government settlement and related costs	77	98	77	98
Electronic health records incentive reimbursement	(88)	(65)	(212)	(108)
Rent	110	70	320	208
Depreciation and amortization	280	193	817	574
Amortization of software to be abandoned			75
Total operating costs and expenses	4,424	2,997	12,860	8,941
Income from operations	371	177	899	687
Interest expense, net	250	154	728	464
Loss from early extinguishment of debt			73	1
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	(12)	(12)	(35)	(36)
Impairment of long-lived assets			24
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	133	35	109	258
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	40	7	16	78
Income from continuing operations	93	28	93	180
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
(Loss) income from operations of entities held for sale	1	(6)	(4)	(15)
Impairment of hospitals held for sale			(22)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes	1	(6)	(26)	(15)
Net income	94	22	67	165
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	32	18	75	52
Net income (loss) attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders	62	4	(8)	113
Parent Company [Member]
Operating costs and expenses:
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	(62)	(4)	8	(113)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	62	4	(8)	113
Income from continuing operations	62	4	(8)	113
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Net income	62	4	(8)	113
Net income (loss) attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders	62	4	(8)	113
Subsidiary Issuer [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income (Unaudited)
Operating revenues (net of contractual allowances and discounts)	(5)	(4)	(13)	(11)
Net operating revenues	(5)	(4)	(13)	(11)
Operating costs and expenses:
Income from operations	(5)	(4)	(13)	(11)
Interest expense, net	13	(1)	84	2
Loss from early extinguishment of debt			73	1
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	(66)	(78)	(96)	(194)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	48	75	(74)	180
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	(14)	71	(66)	67
Income from continuing operations	62	4	(8)	113
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Net income	62	4	(8)	113
Net income (loss) attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders	62	4	(8)	113
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income (Unaudited)
Operating revenues (net of contractual allowances and discounts)	3,418	2,367	9,937	7,148
Provision for bad debts	460	350	1,398	1,057
Net operating revenues	2,958	2,017	8,539	6,091
Operating costs and expenses:
Salaries and benefits	1,207	891	3,601	2,691
Supplies	469	313	1,368	957
Other operating expenses	724	457	2,095	1,350
Government settlement and related costs	77	98	77	98
Electronic health records incentive reimbursement	(63)	(49)	(147)	(76)
Rent	57	40	170	119
Depreciation and amortization	187	132	574	388
Amortization of software to be abandoned			45
Total operating costs and expenses	2,658	1,882	7,783	5,527
Income from operations	300	135	756	564
Interest expense, net	219	135	596	403
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	(33)	(14)	(44)	(46)
Impairment of long-lived assets			24
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	114	14	180	207
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	44	(67)	69	2
Income from continuing operations	70	81	111	205
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
(Loss) income from operations of entities held for sale	(6)	(6)	(20)	(17)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes	(6)	(6)	(20)	(17)
Net income	64	75	91	188
Net income (loss) attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders	64	75	91	188
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income (Unaudited)
Operating revenues (net of contractual allowances and discounts)	2,150	1,347	6,060	4,024
Provision for bad debts	308	186	827	476
Net operating revenues	1,842	1,161	5,233	3,548
Operating costs and expenses:
Salaries and benefits	984	623	2,816	1,900
Supplies	264	169	736	511
Other operating expenses	397	248	1,167	760
Electronic health records incentive reimbursement	(25)	(16)	(65)	(32)
Rent	53	30	150	89
Depreciation and amortization	93	61	243	186
Amortization of software to be abandoned			30
Total operating costs and expenses	1,766	1,115	5,077	3,414
Income from operations	76	46	156	134
Interest expense, net	18	20	48	59
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	58	26	108	75
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	10	3	13	9
Income from continuing operations	48	23	95	66
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
(Loss) income from operations of entities held for sale	7		16	2
Impairment of hospitals held for sale			(22)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes	7		(6)	2
Net income	55	23	89	68
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	32	18	75	52
Net income (loss) attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders	23	5	14	16
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Operating costs and expenses:
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	149	84	97	317
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	(149)	(84)	(97)	(317)
Income from continuing operations	(149)	(84)	(97)	(317)
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Net income	(149)	(84)	(97)	(317)
Net income (loss) attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders	$ (149)	$ (84)	$ (97)	$ (317)