Consolidated Statements of Income - 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
Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) [Abstract]
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 of interest income of $15, $5 and $3 in 2015, 2014 and 2013 respectively																	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 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
Basic earnings (loss) per share attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. common stockholders:
Continuing operations	$ (0.66)	[2]	$ 0.52	[2]	$ 1.02	[2]	$ 0.80	[2]	$ 1.13	[2]	$ 0.55	[2]	$ 0.43	[2]	$ (0.84)	[2]	$ 1.69	[1],[3]	$ 1.33	[1],[3]	$ 1.80	[3]
Discontinued operations	(0.08)	[2]	(0.07)	[2]	(0.06)	[2]	(0.11)	[2]	(0.26)	[2]			(0.06)	[2]	(0.21)	[2]	(0.31)	[1],[3]	(0.51)	[1],[3]	(0.27)	[3]
Net income (loss)	(0.73)	[2]	0.45	[2]	0.96	[2]	0.69	[2]	0.88	[2]	0.55	[2]	0.37	[2]	(1.05)	[2]	1.38	[1],[3]	0.82	[1],[3]	1.52	[3]
Diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. common stockholders:
Continuing operations	(0.66)	[2]	0.51	[2]	1.01	[2]	0.79	[2]	1.12	[2]	0.54	[2]	0.42	[2]	(0.84)	[2]	1.68	[1],[3]	1.32	[1],[3]	1.77	[3]
Discontinued operations	(0.08)	[2]	(0.07)	[2]	(0.06)	[2]	(0.11)	[2]	(0.25)	[2]			(0.06)	[2]	(0.21)	[2]	(0.31)	[1],[3]	(0.51)	[1],[3]	(0.27)	[3]
Net income (loss)	$ (0.73)	[2]	$ 0.44	[2]	$ 0.95	[2]	$ 0.68	[2]	$ 0.87	[2]	$ 0.54	[2]	$ 0.37	[2]	$ (1.05)	[2]	$ 1.37	[1],[3]	$ 0.82	[1],[3]	$ 1.51	[3]
Weighted-average number of shares outstanding:
Basic	112,891,505		115,319,986		115,194,899		114,419,590		113,606,631		113,138,663		112,598,899		106,601,997		114,454,674	[1]	111,579,088	[1]	92,633,332
Diluted	112,891,505		116,368,157		116,100,417		115,057,668		114,828,587		114,343,778		113,474,169		106,601,997		115,272,404	[1]	112,549,320	[1]	93,815,013

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

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

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