Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Statement of Comprehensive Income) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Comprehensive Income (Unaudited)
Net income	$ 36	$ 99
Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of income taxes:
Net change in fair value of interest rate swaps, net of tax	(19)	(9)
Net change in fair value of available-for-sale securities, net of tax	2	1
Amortization and recognition of unrecognized pension cost components, net of tax	1	1
Other comprehensive loss	(16)	(7)
Comprehensive income	20	92
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	25	20
Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders	(5)	72
Parent Company [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Comprehensive Income (Unaudited)
Net income	11	79
Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of income taxes:
Net change in fair value of interest rate swaps, net of tax	(19)	(9)
Net change in fair value of available-for-sale securities, net of tax	2	1
Amortization and recognition of unrecognized pension cost components, net of tax	1	1
Other comprehensive loss	(16)	(7)
Comprehensive income	(5)	72
Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders	(5)	72
Issuer [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Comprehensive Income (Unaudited)
Net income	11	79
Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of income taxes:
Net change in fair value of interest rate swaps, net of tax	(19)	(9)
Net change in fair value of available-for-sale securities, net of tax	2	1
Amortization and recognition of unrecognized pension cost components, net of tax	1	1
Other comprehensive loss	(16)	(7)
Comprehensive income	(5)	72
Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders	(5)	72
Other Guarantor [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Comprehensive Income (Unaudited)
Net income	60	101
Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of income taxes:
Net change in fair value of available-for-sale securities, net of tax	2	1
Amortization and recognition of unrecognized pension cost components, net of tax	1	1
Other comprehensive loss	3	2
Comprehensive income	63	103
Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders	63	103
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Comprehensive Income (Unaudited)
Net income	(10)	10
Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of income taxes:
Comprehensive income	(10)	10
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	25	20
Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders	(35)	(10)
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Comprehensive Income (Unaudited)
Net income	(36)	(170)
Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of income taxes:
Net change in fair value of interest rate swaps, net of tax	19	9
Net change in fair value of available-for-sale securities, net of tax	(4)	(2)
Amortization and recognition of unrecognized pension cost components, net of tax	(2)	(2)
Other comprehensive loss	13	5
Comprehensive income	(23)	(165)
Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders	$ (23)	$ (165)