Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Statement of Income) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015		Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income (Unaudited)
Operating revenues (net of contractual allowances and discounts)									$ 22,564		$ 21,561		$ 14,853
Provision for bad debts									3,127		2,922		2,034
Net operating revenues	$ 4,798	$ 4,846	$ 4,882	$ 4,911	$ 4,918	$ 4,780	$ 4,765	$ 4,176	19,437	[1]	18,639	[1]	12,819
Operating costs and expenses:
Salaries and benefits									8,991		8,618		6,107
Supplies									3,048		2,862		1,975
Other operating expenses									4,520		4,322		2,818
Government settlement and related costs									4		101		102
Electronic health records incentive reimbursement									(160)		(259)		(162)
Rent									457		434		279
Depreciation and amortization									1,172		1,106		771
Amortization of software to be abandoned											75
Impairment of long-lived assets									68		41		12
Total operating costs and expenses									18,100		17,300		11,902
Income from operations									1,337		1,339		917
Interest expense, net									973		972		613
Loss from early extinguishment of debt									16		73		1
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates									(63)		(48)		(43)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	(91)	121	214	168	230	134	109	(131)	411	[1]	342	[1]	346
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes									116		82		104
Income from continuing operations	(40)	83	140	112	165	94	76	(75)	295	[1]	260	[1]	242
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Loss from operations of entities sold or held for sale									(27)		(7)		(21)
Impairment of hospitals sold or held for sale									(5)		(50)		(4)
Loss on sale, net									(4)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes	(9)	(8)	(6)	(13)	(29)		(6)	(22)	(36)	[1]	(57)	[1]	(25)
Net income									259		203		217
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests									101		111		76
Net income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders	$ (83)	$ 52	$ 111	$ 79	$ 100	$ 62	$ 42	$ (112)	158	[1]	92	[1]	141
Parent Company [Member]
Operating costs and expenses:
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates									(158)		(92)		(141)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes									158		92		141
Income from continuing operations									158		92		141
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Net income									158		92		141
Net income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders									158		92		141
Issuer [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income (Unaudited)
Operating revenues (net of contractual allowances and discounts)									(20)		(18)		(15)
Net operating revenues									(20)		(18)		(15)
Operating costs and expenses:
Income from operations									(20)		(18)		(15)
Interest expense, net									107		(10)		(5)
Loss from early extinguishment of debt									16		73		1
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates									(229)		(230)		(146)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes									86		149		135
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes									(72)		57		(6)
Income from continuing operations									158		92		141
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Net income									158		92		141
Net income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders									158		92		141
Other Guarantor [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income (Unaudited)
Operating revenues (net of contractual allowances and discounts)									14,305		13,793		9,669
Provision for bad debts									2,036		1,907		1,418
Net operating revenues									12,269		11,886		8,251
Operating costs and expenses:
Salaries and benefits									5,069		4,967		3,648
Supplies									2,022		1,923		1,327
Other operating expenses									3,104		2,819		1,859
Government settlement and related costs									4		101		102
Electronic health records incentive reimbursement									(115)		(184)		(104)
Rent									249		239		163
Depreciation and amortization									813		794		531
Amortization of software to be abandoned											45
Impairment of long-lived assets									68		41		12
Total operating costs and expenses									11,214		10,745		7,538
Income from operations									1,055		1,141		713
Interest expense, net									811		554		548
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates									(111)		196		(66)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes									355		391		231
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes									134		150		84
Income from continuing operations									221		241		147
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Loss from operations of entities sold or held for sale									(3)		(12)		(4)
Impairment of hospitals sold or held for sale													(4)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes									(3)		(12)		(8)
Net income									218		229		139
Net income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders									218		229		139
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income (Unaudited)
Operating revenues (net of contractual allowances and discounts)									8,279		7,786		5,199
Provision for bad debts									1,091		1,015		616
Net operating revenues									7,188		6,771		4,583
Operating costs and expenses:
Salaries and benefits									3,922		3,651		2,459
Supplies									1,026		939		648
Other operating expenses									1,416		1,503		959
Electronic health records incentive reimbursement									(45)		(75)		(58)
Rent									208		195		116
Depreciation and amortization									359		312		240
Amortization of software to be abandoned											30
Total operating costs and expenses									6,886		6,555		4,364
Income from operations									302		216		219
Interest expense, net									55		428		70
Income from continuing operations before income taxes									247		(212)		149
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes									54		(125)		26
Income from continuing operations									193		(87)		123
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Loss from operations of entities sold or held for sale									(24)		5		(17)
Impairment of hospitals sold or held for sale									(5)		(50)
Loss on sale, net									(4)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes									(33)		(45)		(17)
Net income									160		(132)		106
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests									101		111		76
Net income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders									59		(243)		30
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Operating costs and expenses:
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates									435		78		310
Income from continuing operations before income taxes									(435)		(78)		(310)
Income from continuing operations									(435)		(78)		(310)
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Net income									(435)		(78)		(310)
Net income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders									$ (435)		$ (78)		$ (310)

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