Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 184	$ 509	$ 373	$ 388
Patient accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts	3,611	3,409
Supplies	580	557
Prepaid income taxes	27	30
Deferred income taxes		341
Prepaid expenses and taxes	197	192
Other current assets	567	528
Total current assets	5,166	5,566
Property and equipment, net	10,112	10,169
Goodwill	8,965	8,951	4,424
Other assets, net	2,618	2,735
Total assets	26,861	27,421
Current liabilities:
Current maturities of long-term debt	229	235
Accounts payable	1,258	1,293
Deferred income taxes		23
Accrued interest	227	227
Accrued liabilities	1,358	1,811
Total current liabilities	3,072	3,589
Long-term debt	16,822	16,681
Deferred income taxes	593	845
Other long-term liabilities	1,698	1,692
Total liabilities	22,185	22,807
Redeemable noncontrolling interests in equity of consolidated subsidiaries	$ 571	$ 531
Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock
Common stock	$ 1	$ 1
Additional paid-in capital	1,963	2,095
Treasury stock, at cost	(7)	(7)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(73)	(63)	(67)
Retained earnings	2,135	1,977
Total Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders' equity	4,019	4,003
Noncontrolling interests in equity of consolidated subsidiaries	86	80
Total equity	4,105	4,083	3,132	2,797
Total liabilities and equity	26,861	27,421
Parent Company [Member]
Current assets:
Prepaid income taxes	27	30
Deferred income taxes		341
Total current assets	27	371
Intercompany receivable	1,159	1,199
Other assets, net		15
Net investment in subsidiaries	3,438	3,290
Total assets	4,624	4,875
Current liabilities:
Deferred income taxes		23
Accrued liabilities	4	4
Total current liabilities	4	27
Deferred income taxes	593	845
Other long-term liabilities	8
Total liabilities	605	872
Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders' equity:
Common stock	1	1
Additional paid-in capital	1,963	2,095
Treasury stock, at cost	(7)	(7)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(73)	(63)
Retained earnings	2,135	1,977
Total Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders' equity	4,019	4,003
Total equity	4,019	4,003
Total liabilities and equity	4,624	4,875
Issuer [Member]
Current assets:
Intercompany receivable	16,544	16,561
Other assets, net	265	302
Net investment in subsidiaries	20,964	18,260
Total assets	37,773	35,123
Current liabilities:
Current maturities of long-term debt	162	163
Accrued interest	226	225
Total current liabilities	388	388
Long-term debt	15,870	15,820
Intercompany payable	16,861	14,784
Other long-term liabilities	1,216	841
Total liabilities	34,335	31,833
Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders' equity:
Additional paid-in capital	1,324	1,208
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(73)	(63)
Retained earnings	2,187	2,145
Total Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders' equity	3,438	3,290
Total equity	3,438	3,290
Total liabilities and equity	37,773	35,123
Other Guarantor [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	25	365	235	268
Patient accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts	1,197	1,303
Supplies	400	384
Prepaid expenses and taxes	138	140
Other current assets	356	357
Total current assets	2,116	2,549
Intercompany receivable	1,491	1,925
Property and equipment, net	6,863	6,749
Goodwill	5,460	5,480
Other assets, net	2,153	1,881
Net investment in subsidiaries	8,035	6,995
Total assets	26,118	25,579
Current liabilities:
Current maturities of long-term debt	57	61
Accounts payable	866	924
Accrued interest		1
Accrued liabilities	901	1,266
Total current liabilities	1,824	2,252
Long-term debt	151	138
Intercompany payable	19,021	18,312
Other long-term liabilities	1,149	1,124
Total liabilities	22,145	21,826
Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders' equity:
Additional paid-in capital	1,506	1,361
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(22)	(25)
Retained earnings	2,489	2,417
Total Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders' equity	3,973	3,753
Total equity	3,973	3,753
Total liabilities and equity	26,118	25,579
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	159	144	$ 138	$ 120
Patient accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts	2,414	2,106
Supplies	180	173
Prepaid expenses and taxes	59	52
Other current assets	211	171
Total current assets	3,023	2,646
Intercompany receivable	6,404	7,697
Property and equipment, net	3,249	3,420
Goodwill	3,505	3,471
Other assets, net	1,245	1,173
Total assets	17,426	18,407
Current liabilities:
Current maturities of long-term debt	10	11
Accounts payable	392	369
Accrued interest	1	1
Accrued liabilities	453	541
Total current liabilities	856	922
Long-term debt	801	723
Intercompany payable	13,764	15,218
Other long-term liabilities	370	363
Total liabilities	15,791	17,226
Redeemable noncontrolling interests in equity of consolidated subsidiaries	571	531
Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders' equity:
Additional paid-in capital	967	586
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(3)	5
Retained earnings	14	(21)
Total Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders' equity	978	570
Noncontrolling interests in equity of consolidated subsidiaries	86	80
Total equity	1,064	650
Total liabilities and equity	17,426	18,407
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Current assets:
Intercompany receivable	(25,598)	(27,382)
Other assets, net	(1,045)	(636)
Net investment in subsidiaries	(32,437)	(28,545)
Total assets	(59,080)	(56,563)
Current liabilities:
Intercompany payable	(49,646)	(48,314)
Other long-term liabilities	(1,045)	(636)
Total liabilities	(50,691)	(48,950)
Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders' equity:
Additional paid-in capital	(3,797)	(3,155)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	98	83
Retained earnings	(4,690)	(4,541)
Total Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders' equity	(8,389)	(7,613)
Total equity	(8,389)	(7,613)
Total liabilities and equity	$ (59,080)	$ (56,563)