Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Statement of Income (Loss)) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income (Unaudited)
Operating revenues (net of contractual allowances and discounts)	$ 5,614	$ 5,508	$ 11,260	$ 10,383
Provision for bad debts	732	743	1,467	1,442
Net operating revenues	4,882	4,765	9,793	8,941
Operating costs and expenses:
Salaries and benefits	2,217	2,221	4,474	4,213
Supplies	750	736	1,512	1,368
Other operating expenses	1,125	1,115	2,225	2,133
Government settlement and related costs	(6)		1
Electronic health records incentive reimbursement	(55)	(84)	(81)	(124)
Rent	113	111	229	209
Depreciation and amortization	291	281	587	536
Amortization of software to be abandoned		33		75
Total operating costs and expenses	4,435	4,413	8,947	8,410
Income from operations	447	352	846	531
Interest expense, net	239	255	481	478
Loss from early extinguishment of debt	9	0	16	73
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	(21)	(12)	(39)	(22)
Impairment of long-lived assets	6		6	24
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	214	109	382	(22)
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	74	33	130	(23)
Income from continuing operations	140	76	252	1
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Loss from operations of entities sold or held for sale	(6)	(1)	(17)	(6)
Impairment of hospitals sold or held for sale		(5)	(2)	(22)
Loss on sale, net			(1)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes	(6)	(6)	(20)	(28)
Net income (loss)	134	70	232	(27)
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	23	28	43	43
Net income (loss) attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders	111	42	189	(70)
Parent Company [Member]
Operating costs and expenses:
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	(111)	(42)	(189)	70
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	111	42	189	(70)
Income from continuing operations	111	42	189	(70)
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Net income (loss)	111	42	189	(70)
Net income (loss) attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders	111	42	189	(70)
Subsidiary Issuer [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income (Unaudited)
Operating revenues (net of contractual allowances and discounts)	(5)	(5)	(9)	(9)
Net operating revenues	(5)	(5)	(9)	(9)
Operating costs and expenses:
Income from operations	(5)	(5)	(9)	(9)
Interest expense, net	28	31	48	71
Loss from early extinguishment of debt	9		16	73
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	(137)	(61)	(238)	(31)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	95	25	165	(122)
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	(16)	(17)	(24)	(52)
Income from continuing operations	111	42	189	(70)
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Net income (loss)	111	42	189	(70)
Net income (loss) attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders	111	42	189	(70)
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income (Unaudited)
Operating revenues (net of contractual allowances and discounts)	3,539	3,387	7,027	6,504
Provision for bad debts	440	456	887	923
Net operating revenues	3,099	2,931	6,140	5,581
Operating costs and expenses:
Salaries and benefits	1,237	1,240	2,458	2,393
Supplies	492	481	984	899
Other operating expenses	763	703	1,474	1,369
Government settlement and related costs	(6)		1
Electronic health records incentive reimbursement	(42)	(61)	(58)	(84)
Rent	60	59	120	114
Depreciation and amortization	200	200	401	388
Amortization of software to be abandoned		19		45
Total operating costs and expenses	2,704	2,641	5,380	5,124
Income from operations	395	290	760	457
Interest expense, net	197	206	408	376
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	(27)	(24)	(36)	(9)
Impairment of long-lived assets	6		6	24
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	219	108	382	66
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	83	42	144	25
Income from continuing operations	136	66	238	41
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Loss from operations of entities sold or held for sale	(3)	(8)	(3)	(14)
Impairment of hospitals sold or held for sale			(2)
Loss on sale, net			2
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes	(3)	(8)	(3)	(14)
Net income (loss)	133	58	235	27
Net income (loss) attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders	133	58	235	27
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income (Unaudited)
Operating revenues (net of contractual allowances and discounts)	2,080	2,126	4,242	3,888
Provision for bad debts	292	287	580	519
Net operating revenues	1,788	1,839	3,662	3,369
Operating costs and expenses:
Salaries and benefits	980	981	2,016	1,820
Supplies	258	255	528	469
Other operating expenses	362	412	751	764
Electronic health records incentive reimbursement	(13)	(23)	(23)	(40)
Rent	53	52	109	95
Depreciation and amortization	91	81	186	148
Amortization of software to be abandoned		14		30
Total operating costs and expenses	1,731	1,772	3,567	3,286
Income from operations	57	67	95	83
Interest expense, net	14	18	25	31
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	43	49	70	52
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	7	8	10	4
Income from continuing operations	36	41	60	48
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Loss from operations of entities sold or held for sale	(3)	7	(14)	8
Impairment of hospitals sold or held for sale		(5)		(22)
Loss on sale, net			(3)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes	(3)	2	(17)	(14)
Net income (loss)	33	43	43	34
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	23	28	43	43
Net income (loss) attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders	10	15		(9)
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Operating costs and expenses:
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	254	115	424	(52)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	(254)	(115)	(424)	52
Income from continuing operations	(254)	(115)	(424)	52
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Net income (loss)	(254)	(115)	(424)	52
Net income (loss) attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders	$ (254)	$ (115)	$ (424)	$ 52