Earnings Per Share (Schedule of Calculation of Numerator and Denominator in Earnings Per Share) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Numerator:
Income from continuing operations, net of taxes	$ 37	$ 112
Less: Income from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests, net of taxes	25	20
Income from continuing operations attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. common stockholders - basic and diluted	12	92
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes	(1)	(13)
Loss from discontinued operations attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. common stockholders - basic and diluted	$ (1)	$ (13)
Denominator:
Weighted-average number of shares outstanding - basic	110,247,867	114,419,590
Effect of dilutive securities:
Restricted stock awards	45,257	181,120
Employee stock options	13,038	452,659
Other equity-based awards	3,210	4,299
Weighted-average number of shares outstanding - diluted	110,309,372	115,057,668