Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Statement of Income) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income (Unaudited)
Operating revenues (net of contractual allowances and discounts)									$ 21,561	$ 14,853	$ 14,747
Provision for bad debts									2,922	2,034	1,914
Net operating revenues	4,918	4,780	4,765	4,176	3,192	3,174	3,191	3,262	18,639	12,819	12,833
Operating costs and expenses:
Salaries and benefits									8,618	6,107	5,992
Supplies									2,862	1,975	1,953
Other operating expenses									4,322	2,818	2,807
Government settlement and related costs									101	102
Electronic health records incentive reimbursement									(259)	(162)	(123)
Rent									434	279	264
Depreciation and amortization									1,106	771	714
Amortization of software to be abandoned									75
Total operating costs and expenses									17,259	11,890	11,607
Income from operations									1,380	929	1,226
Interest expense, net									972	613	621
Loss from early extinguishment of debt									73	1	115
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates									(48)	(43)	(42)
Impairment of long-lived assets									41	12	10
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	230	134	109	(131)	88	35	74	149	342	346	522
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes									82	104	164
Income from continuing operations	165	94	76	(75)	62	28	53	99	260	242	358
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Loss from operations of entities sold or held for sale									(7)	(21)	(12)
Impairment of hospitals sold or held for sale									(50)	(4)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes	(29)		(6)	(22)	(10)	(6)	(6)	(3)	(57)	(25)	(12)
Net income									203	217	346
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests									111	76	80
Net income (loss) attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders	100	62	42	(112)	28	4	30	79	92	141	266
Parent Company [Member]
Operating costs and expenses:
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates									(92)	(141)	(266)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes									92	141	266
Income from continuing operations									92	141	266
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Net income									92	141	266
Net income (loss) attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders									92	141	266
Subsidiary Issuer [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income (Unaudited)
Operating revenues (net of contractual allowances and discounts)									(18)	(15)	(10)
Net operating revenues									(18)	(15)	(10)
Operating costs and expenses:
Other operating expenses											1
Total operating costs and expenses											1
Income from operations									(18)	(15)	(11)
Interest expense, net									(10)	(5)	59
Loss from early extinguishment of debt									73	1	115
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates									(217)	(138)	(350)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes									136	127	165
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes									44	(14)	(101)
Income from continuing operations									92	141	266
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Net income									92	141	266
Net income (loss) attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders									92	141	266
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income (Unaudited)
Operating revenues (net of contractual allowances and discounts)									13,320	9,488	9,415
Provision for bad debts									1,824	1,394	1,293
Net operating revenues									11,496	8,094	8,122
Operating costs and expenses:
Salaries and benefits									4,823	3,591	3,552
Supplies									1,849	1,285	1,281
Other operating expenses									2,702	1,825	1,830
Government settlement and related costs									101	102
Electronic health records incentive reimbursement									(173)	(105)	(79)
Rent									230	159	149
Depreciation and amortization									764	522	473
Amortization of software to be abandoned									45
Total operating costs and expenses									10,341	7,379	7,206
Income from operations									1,155	715	916
Interest expense, net									551	555	503
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates									165	(87)	(150)
Impairment of long-lived assets									41	12	10
Income from continuing operations before income taxes									398	235	553
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes									152	86	200
Income from continuing operations									246	149	353
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Loss from operations of entities sold or held for sale									(29)	(13)	(5)
Impairment of hospitals sold or held for sale										(4)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes									(29)	(17)	(5)
Net income									217	132	348
Net income (loss) attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders									217	132	348
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income (Unaudited)
Operating revenues (net of contractual allowances and discounts)									8,259	5,380	5,342
Provision for bad debts									1,098	640	621
Net operating revenues									7,161	4,740	4,721
Operating costs and expenses:
Salaries and benefits									3,795	2,516	2,440
Supplies									1,013	690	672
Other operating expenses									1,620	993	976
Electronic health records incentive reimbursement									(86)	(57)	(44)
Rent									204	120	115
Depreciation and amortization									342	249	241
Amortization of software to be abandoned									30
Total operating costs and expenses									6,918	4,511	4,400
Income from operations									243	229	321
Interest expense, net									431	63	59
Income from continuing operations before income taxes									(188)	166	262
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes									(114)	32	65
Income from continuing operations									(74)	134	197
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Loss from operations of entities sold or held for sale									22	(8)	(7)
Impairment of hospitals sold or held for sale									(50)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes									(28)	(8)	(7)
Net income									(102)	126	190
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests									111	76	80
Net income (loss) attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders									(213)	50	110
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Operating costs and expenses:
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates									96	323	724
Income from continuing operations before income taxes									(96)	(323)	(724)
Income from continuing operations									(96)	(323)	(724)
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Net income									(96)	(323)	(724)
Net income (loss) attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders									$ (96)	$ (323)	$ (724)