Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Statement of Income) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income (Unaudited)
Operating revenues (net of contractual allowances and discounts)	$ 5,290	$ 5,614	$ 11,044	$ 11,260
Provision for bad debts	700	732	1,455	1,467
Net operating revenues	4,590	4,882	9,589	9,793
Operating costs and expenses:
Salaries and benefits	2,154	2,217	4,470	4,474
Supplies	759	750	1,559	1,512
Other operating expenses	1,056	1,125	2,229	2,225
Government settlement and related costs		(6)	1	1
Electronic health records incentive reimbursement	(31)	(55)	(49)	(81)
Rent	112	113	231	229
Depreciation and amortization	276	291	574	587
Impairment of goodwill and long-lived assets	1,639	6	1,656	6
Total operating costs and expenses	5,965	4,441	10,671	8,953
(Loss) income from operations	(1,375)	441	(1,082)	840
Interest expense, net	246	239	496	481
Loss from early extinguishment of debt	30	9	30	16
Gain on sale of investments in unconsolidated affiliates	(94)		(94)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	(14)	(21)	(34)	(39)
(Loss) income from continuing operations before income taxes	(1,543)	214	(1,480)	382
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	(138)	74	(112)	130
(Loss) income from continuing operations	(1,405)	140	(1,368)	252
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Loss from operations of entities sold or held for sale	(1)	(6)	(2)	(17)
Impairment of hospitals sold or held for sale			(1)	(2)
Loss on sale, net				(1)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes	(1)	(6)	(3)	(20)
Net (loss) income	(1,406)	134	(1,371)	232
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	26	23	50	43
Net (loss) income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders	(1,432)	111	(1,421)	189
Parent Company [Member]
Operating costs and expenses:
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	1,432	(111)	1,421	(189)
(Loss) income from continuing operations before income taxes	(1,432)	111	(1,421)	189
(Loss) income from continuing operations	(1,432)	111	(1,421)	189
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Net (loss) income	(1,432)	111	(1,421)	189
Net (loss) income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders	(1,432)	111	(1,421)	189
Issuer [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income (Unaudited)
Operating revenues (net of contractual allowances and discounts)	(6)	(5)	(12)	(9)
Net operating revenues	(6)	(5)	(12)	(9)
Operating costs and expenses:
(Loss) income from operations	(6)	(5)	(12)	(9)
Interest expense, net	39	28	74	48
Loss from early extinguishment of debt	30	9	30	16
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	1,384	(139)	1,325	(240)
(Loss) income from continuing operations before income taxes	(1,459)	97	(1,441)	167
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	(27)	(14)	(20)	(22)
(Loss) income from continuing operations	(1,432)	111	(1,421)	189
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Net (loss) income	(1,432)	111	(1,421)	189
Net (loss) income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders	(1,432)	111	(1,421)	189
Other Guarantor [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income (Unaudited)
Operating revenues (net of contractual allowances and discounts)	3,220	3,182	6,507	6,376
Provision for bad debts	452	410	929	848
Net operating revenues	2,768	2,772	5,578	5,528
Operating costs and expenses:
Salaries and benefits	1,130	1,083	2,235	2,177
Supplies	495	465	991	934
Other operating expenses	683	652	1,362	1,275
Government settlement and related costs		(6)	1	1
Electronic health records incentive reimbursement	(21)	(36)	(29)	(46)
Rent	56	54	113	110
Depreciation and amortization	181	178	366	360
Impairment of goodwill and long-lived assets	1,134	6	1,145	6
Total operating costs and expenses	3,658	2,396	6,184	4,817
(Loss) income from operations	(890)	376	(606)	711
Interest expense, net	186	177	366	369
Gain on sale of investments in unconsolidated affiliates	(94)		(94)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	462	(20)	469	(32)
(Loss) income from continuing operations before income taxes	(1,444)	219	(1,347)	374
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	(57)	81	(19)	137
(Loss) income from continuing operations	(1,387)	138	(1,328)	237
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Loss from operations of entities sold or held for sale	(2)	(2)	(3)
Impairment of hospitals sold or held for sale				(2)
Loss on sale, net		1
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes	(2)	(1)	(3)	(2)
Net (loss) income	(1,389)	137	(1,331)	235
Net (loss) income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders	(1,389)	137	(1,331)	235
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income (Unaudited)
Operating revenues (net of contractual allowances and discounts)	2,076	2,437	4,549	4,893
Provision for bad debts	248	322	526	619
Net operating revenues	1,828	2,115	4,023	4,274
Operating costs and expenses:
Salaries and benefits	1,024	1,134	2,235	2,297
Supplies	264	285	568	578
Other operating expenses	373	473	867	950
Electronic health records incentive reimbursement	(10)	(19)	(20)	(35)
Rent	56	59	118	119
Depreciation and amortization	95	113	208	227
Impairment of goodwill and long-lived assets	505		511
Total operating costs and expenses	2,307	2,045	4,487	4,136
(Loss) income from operations	(479)	70	(464)	138
Interest expense, net	21	34	56	64
(Loss) income from continuing operations before income taxes	(500)	36	(520)	74
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	(54)	7	(73)	15
(Loss) income from continuing operations	(446)	29	(447)	59
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Loss from operations of entities sold or held for sale	1	(4)	1	(17)
Impairment of hospitals sold or held for sale			(1)
Loss on sale, net		(1)		(1)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes	1	(5)		(18)
Net (loss) income	(445)	24	(447)	41
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	26	23	50	43
Net (loss) income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders	(471)	1	(497)	(2)
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Operating costs and expenses:
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	(3,292)	249	(3,249)	422
(Loss) income from continuing operations before income taxes	3,292	(249)	3,249	(422)
(Loss) income from continuing operations	3,292	(249)	3,249	(422)
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Net (loss) income	3,292	(249)	3,249	(422)
Net (loss) income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders	$ 3,292	$ (249)	$ 3,249	$ (422)