Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
		Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) [Abstract]
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 (benefit) for 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)
Basic earnings (loss) per share attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. common stockholders:
Continuing operations		$ 1.02	$ 0.43	$ 1.82	$ (0.38)
Discontinued operations		(0.06)	(0.06)	(0.17)	(0.26)
Net income (loss)		0.96	0.37	1.65	(0.64)
Diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. common stockholders (1):
Continuing operations	[1]	1.01	0.42	1.80	(0.38)
Discontinued operations	[1]	(0.06)	(0.06)	(0.17)	(0.26)
Net income (loss)	[1]	$ 0.95	$ 0.37	$ 1.64	$ (0.64)
Weighted-average number of shares outstanding:
Basic		115,194,899	112,598,899	114,809,386	109,617,014
Diluted		116,100,417	113,474,169	115,580,887	109,617,014

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