Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 181	$ 184	$ 222	$ 509
Patient accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts	3,723	3,611
Supplies	587	580
Prepaid income taxes	2	27
Prepaid expenses and taxes	218	197
Other current assets	545	567
Total current assets	5,256	5,166
Property and equipment, net	10,104	10,112
Goodwill	9,022	8,965
Other assets, net	2,342	2,352
Total assets	26,724	26,595
Current liabilities:
Current maturities of long-term debt	249	229
Accounts payable	1,179	1,258
Accrued interest	158	227
Accrued liabilities	1,468	1,358
Total current liabilities	3,054	3,072
Long-term debt	16,665	16,556
Deferred income taxes	599	593
Other long-term liabilities	1,723	1,698
Total liabilities	22,041	21,919
Redeemable noncontrolling interests in equity of consolidated subsidiaries	$ 565	$ 571
Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock
Common stock	$ 1	$ 1
Additional paid-in capital	1,952	1,963
Treasury stock, at cost	(7)	(7)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(89)	(73)	(70)	(63)
Retained earnings	2,146	2,135
Total Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders' equity	4,003	4,019
Noncontrolling interests in equity of consolidated subsidiaries	115	86
Total equity	4,118	4,105
Total liabilities and equity	26,724	26,595
Parent Company [Member]
Current assets:
Prepaid income taxes	2	27
Total current assets	2	27
Intercompany receivable	1,178	1,159
Net investment in subsidiaries	3,433	3,438
Total assets	4,613	4,624
Current liabilities:
Accrued liabilities	4	4
Total current liabilities	4	4
Deferred income taxes	599	593
Other long-term liabilities	8	8
Total liabilities	611	605
Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders' equity:
Common stock	1	1
Additional paid-in capital	1,951	1,963
Treasury stock, at cost	(7)	(7)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(89)	(73)
Retained earnings	2,146	2,135
Total Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders' equity	4,002	4,019
Total equity	4,002	4,019
Total liabilities and equity	4,613	4,624
Issuer [Member]
Current assets:
Intercompany receivable	16,776	16,544
Net investment in subsidiaries	21,416	20,964
Total assets	38,192	37,508
Current liabilities:
Current maturities of long-term debt	175	162
Accrued interest	156	226
Total current liabilities	331	388
Long-term debt	15,739	15,604
Intercompany payable	17,347	16,861
Other long-term liabilities	1,342	1,217
Total liabilities	34,759	34,070
Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders' equity:
Additional paid-in capital	1,328	1,324
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(89)	(73)
Retained earnings	2,194	2,187
Total Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders' equity	3,433	3,438
Total equity	3,433	3,438
Total liabilities and equity	38,192	37,508
Other Guarantor [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	12	25	37	368
Patient accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts	1,232	1,197
Supplies	408	400
Prepaid expenses and taxes	146	138
Other current assets	347	356
Total current assets	2,145	2,116
Intercompany receivable	1,638	1,491
Property and equipment, net	6,924	6,863
Goodwill	5,462	5,460
Other assets, net	2,349	2,153
Net investment in subsidiaries	7,859	8,035
Total assets	26,377	26,118
Current liabilities:
Current maturities of long-term debt	65	57
Accounts payable	874	866
Accrued interest	1
Accrued liabilities	956	901
Total current liabilities	1,896	1,824
Long-term debt	128	151
Intercompany payable	18,975	19,021
Other long-term liabilities	1,343	1,149
Total liabilities	22,342	22,145
Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders' equity:
Additional paid-in capital	1,530	1,506
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(21)	(22)
Retained earnings	2,526	2,489
Total Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders' equity	4,035	3,973
Total equity	4,035	3,973
Total liabilities and equity	26,377	26,118
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	169	159	$ 185	$ 141
Patient accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts	2,491	2,414
Supplies	179	180
Prepaid expenses and taxes	72	59
Other current assets	198	211
Total current assets	3,109	3,023
Intercompany receivable	6,299	6,404
Property and equipment, net	3,180	3,249
Goodwill	3,560	3,505
Other assets, net	1,258	1,245
Total assets	17,406	17,426
Current liabilities:
Current maturities of long-term debt	9	10
Accounts payable	305	392
Accrued interest	1	1
Accrued liabilities	508	453
Total current liabilities	823	856
Long-term debt	798	801
Intercompany payable	13,775	13,764
Other long-term liabilities	295	370
Total liabilities	15,691	15,791
Redeemable noncontrolling interests in equity of consolidated subsidiaries	565	571
Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders' equity:
Additional paid-in capital	1,042	967
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(1)	(3)
Retained earnings	(6)	14
Total Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders' equity	1,035	978
Noncontrolling interests in equity of consolidated subsidiaries	115	86
Total equity	1,150	1,064
Total liabilities and equity	17,406	17,426
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Current assets:
Intercompany receivable	(25,891)	(25,598)
Other assets, net	(1,265)	(1,046)
Net investment in subsidiaries	(32,708)	(32,437)
Total assets	(59,864)	(59,081)
Current liabilities:
Intercompany payable	(50,097)	(49,646)
Other long-term liabilities	(1,265)	(1,046)
Total liabilities	(51,362)	(50,692)
Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders' equity:
Additional paid-in capital	(3,899)	(3,797)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	111	98
Retained earnings	(4,714)	(4,690)
Total Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders' equity	(8,502)	(8,389)
Total equity	(8,502)	(8,389)
Total liabilities and equity	$ (59,864)	$ (59,081)