Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) (Unaudited) (USD $) In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014		Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2014		Sep. 30, 2013
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) [Abstract]
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 income taxes	40		7		16		78
Income from continuing operations	93		28		93		180
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Income (loss) 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
Basic earnings (loss) per share attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. common stockholders (1):
Continuing operations	$ 0.54	[1]	$ 0.11	[1]	$ 0.16	[1]	$ 1.39	[1]
Discontinued operations	$ 0.01	[1]	$ (0.07)	[1]	$ (0.24)	[1]	$ (0.17)	[1]
Net income (loss)	$ 0.54	[1]	$ 0.04	[1]	$ (0.08)	[1]	$ 1.22	[1]
Diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. common stockholders (1):
Continuing operations	$ 0.53	[1]	$ 0.11	[1]	$ 0.16	[1]	$ 1.37	[1]
Discontinued operations	$ 0.01	[1]	$ (0.07)	[1]	$ (0.24)	[1]	$ (0.17)	[1]
Net income (loss)	$ 0.54	[1]	$ 0.04	[1]	$ (0.07)	[1]	$ 1.21	[1]
Weighted-average number of shares outstanding:
Basic	113,138,663		93,259,027		110,871,066		92,384,270
Diluted	114,343,778		94,483,596		111,757,390		93,516,158

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