Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Statement of Income (Loss)) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income (Unaudited)
Operating revenues (net of contractual allowances and discounts)	$ 5,646	$ 4,875
Provision for bad debts	735	699
Net operating revenues	4,911	4,176
Operating costs and expenses:
Salaries and benefits	2,257	1,992
Supplies	762	632
Other operating expenses	1,099	1,019
Government settlement and related costs	8
Electronic health records incentive reimbursement	(26)	(40)
Rent	116	98
Depreciation and amortization	296	255
Amortization of software to be abandoned		42
Total operating costs and expenses	4,512	3,998
Income from operations	399	178
Interest expense, net	241	224
Loss from early extinguishment of debt	8	73
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	(18)	(11)
Impairment of long-lived assets		24
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	168	(132)
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	56	(56)
Income (loss) from continuing operations	112	(76)
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Loss from operations of entities sold or held for sale	(11)	(4)
Impairment of hospitals sold or held for sale	(1)	(18)
Loss on sale, net	(1)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes	(13)	(22)
Net income (loss)	99	(98)
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	20	14
Net income (loss) attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders	79	(112)
Parent Company [Member]
Operating costs and expenses:
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	(79)	112
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	79	(112)
Income (loss) from continuing operations	79	(112)
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Net income (loss)	79	(112)
Net income (loss) attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders	79	(112)
Subsidiary Issuer [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income (Unaudited)
Operating revenues (net of contractual allowances and discounts)	(5)	(4)
Net operating revenues	(5)	(4)
Operating costs and expenses:
Income from operations	(5)	(4)
Interest expense, net	21	40
Loss from early extinguishment of debt	8	73
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	(104)	27
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	70	(144)
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	(9)	(32)
Income (loss) from continuing operations	79	(112)
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Net income (loss)	79	(112)
Net income (loss) attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders	79	(112)
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income (Unaudited)
Operating revenues (net of contractual allowances and discounts)	3,488	3,119
Provision for bad debts	447	476
Net operating revenues	3,041	2,643
Operating costs and expenses:
Salaries and benefits	1,222	1,147
Supplies	492	417
Other operating expenses	708	663
Government settlement and related costs	8
Electronic health records incentive reimbursement	(17)	(30)
Rent	61	54
Depreciation and amortization	200	189
Amortization of software to be abandoned		26
Total operating costs and expenses	2,674	2,466
Income from operations	367	177
Interest expense, net	211	172
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	(5)	23
Impairment of long-lived assets		24
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	161	(42)
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	61	(16)
Income (loss) from continuing operations	100	(26)
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Loss from operations of entities sold or held for sale		(3)
Impairment of hospitals sold or held for sale	(1)
Loss on sale, net	2
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes	1	(3)
Net income (loss)	101	(29)
Net income (loss) attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders	101	(29)
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income (Unaudited)
Operating revenues (net of contractual allowances and discounts)	2,163	1,760
Provision for bad debts	288	223
Net operating revenues	1,875	1,537
Operating costs and expenses:
Salaries and benefits	1,035	845
Supplies	270	215
Other operating expenses	391	356
Electronic health records incentive reimbursement	(9)	(10)
Rent	55	44
Depreciation and amortization	96	66
Amortization of software to be abandoned		16
Total operating costs and expenses	1,838	1,532
Income from operations	37	5
Interest expense, net	9	12
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	28	(7)
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	4	(8)
Income (loss) from continuing operations	24	1
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Loss from operations of entities sold or held for sale	(11)	(1)
Impairment of hospitals sold or held for sale		(18)
Loss on sale, net	(3)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes	(14)	(19)
Net income (loss)	10	(18)
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	20	14
Net income (loss) attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders	(10)	(32)
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Operating costs and expenses:
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	170	(173)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	(170)	173
Income (loss) from continuing operations	(170)	173
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Net income (loss)	(170)	173
Net income (loss) attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders	$ (170)	$ 173