Consolidated Statements of Income (USD $) In Millions, except Share data, 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
Consolidated Statements of Income [Abstract]
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 of interest income of $5, $3 and $3 in 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively																	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 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:
Income (loss) from operations of entities 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
Basic earnings (loss) per share attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. common stockholders (1):
Continuing operations	$ 1.13	[1]	$ 0.55	[1]	$ 0.43	[1]	$ (0.84)	[1]	$ 0.41	[1]	$ 0.11	[1]	$ 0.39	[1]	$ 0.90	[1]	$ 1.33	[1]	$ 1.80	[1]	$ 3.11	[1]
Discontinued operations	$ (0.26)	[1]			$ (0.06)	[1]	$ (0.21)	[1]	$ (0.10)	[1]	$ (0.07)	[1]	$ (0.07)	[1]	$ (0.03)	[1]	$ (0.51)	[1]	$ (0.27)	[1]	$ (0.13)	[1]
Net income (loss)	$ 0.88	[1]	$ 0.55	[1]	$ 0.37	[1]	$ (1.05)	[1]	$ 0.30	[1]	$ 0.04	[1]	$ 0.32	[1]	$ 0.87	[1]	$ 0.82	[1]	$ 1.52	[1]	$ 2.98	[1]
Diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. common stockholders (1):
Continuing operations	$ 1.12	[1]	$ 0.54	[1]	$ 0.42	[1]	$ (0.84)	[1]	$ 0.40	[1]	$ 0.11	[1]	$ 0.38	[1]	$ 0.89	[1]	$ 1.32	[1]	$ 1.77	[1]	$ 3.09	[1]
Discontinued operations	$ (0.25)	[1]			$ (0.06)	[1]	$ (0.21)	[1]	$ (0.10)	[1]	$ (0.07)	[1]	$ (0.07)	[1]	$ (0.03)	[1]	$ (0.51)	[1]	$ (0.27)	[1]	$ (0.13)	[1]
Net income (loss)	$ 0.87	[1]	$ 0.54	[1]	$ 0.37	[1]	$ (1.05)	[1]	$ 0.30	[1]	$ 0.04	[1]	$ 0.32	[1]	$ 0.86	[1]	$ 0.82	[1]	$ 1.51	[1]	$ 2.96	[1]
Weighted-average number of shares outstanding:
Basic	113,606,631		113,138,663		112,598,899		106,601,997		93,372,398		93,259,027		92,866,370		91,002,615		111,579,088		92,633,332		89,242,949
Diluted	114,828,587		114,343,778		113,474,169		106,601,997		94,703,458		94,483,596		94,109,368		91,998,993		112,549,320		93,815,013		89,806,937

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