Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Statement of Income) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income
Operating revenues (net of contractual allowances and discounts)	$ 5,084	$ 5,580	$ 16,128	$ 16,840
Provision for bad debts	704	734	2,159	2,201
Net operating revenues	4,380	4,846	13,969	14,639
Operating costs and expenses:
Salaries and benefits	2,067	2,240	6,537	6,714
Supplies	723	762	2,281	2,274
Other operating expenses	1,026	1,144	3,256	3,370
Government and other legal settlements and related costs	10		10	1
Electronic health records incentive reimbursement	(5)	(54)	(54)	(135)
Rent	109	115	340	344
Depreciation and amortization	265	288	839	875
Impairment of goodwill and long-lived assets	39		1,695	6
Total operating costs and expenses	4,234	4,495	14,904	13,449
Income (loss) from operations	146	351	(935)	1,190
Interest expense, net	233	242	730	723
Loss from early extinguishment of debt			30	16
Gain on sale of investments in unconsolidated affiliates			(94)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	(4)	(12)	(38)	(51)
(Loss) income from continuing operations before income taxes	(83)	121	(1,563)	502
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	(29)	38	(141)	167
(Loss) income from continuing operations	(54)	83	(1,422)	335
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
(Loss) income from operations of entities sold or held for sale	(2)	(5)	(4)	(22)
Impairment of hospitals sold or held for sale			(1)	(2)
Loss on sale, net		(3)		(3)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes	(2)	(8)	(5)	(27)
Net (loss) income	(56)	75	(1,427)	308
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	23	23	73	67
Net (loss) income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders	(79)	52	(1,500)	241
Parent Company [Member]
Operating costs and expenses:
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	79	(52)	1,500	(241)
(Loss) income from continuing operations before income taxes	(79)	52	(1,500)	241
(Loss) income from continuing operations	(79)	52	(1,500)	241
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Net (loss) income	(79)	52	(1,500)	241
Net (loss) income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders	(79)	52	(1,500)	241
Issuer [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income
Operating revenues (net of contractual allowances and discounts)	(6)	(5)	(18)	(14)
Net operating revenues	(6)	(5)	(18)	(14)
Operating costs and expenses:
Income (loss) from operations	(6)	(5)	(18)	(14)
Interest expense, net	84	26	158	74
Loss from early extinguishment of debt			30	16
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	14	(78)	1,339	(318)
(Loss) income from continuing operations before income taxes	(104)	47	(1,545)	214
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	(25)	(5)	(45)	(27)
(Loss) income from continuing operations	(79)	52	(1,500)	241
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Net (loss) income	(79)	52	(1,500)	241
Net (loss) income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders	(79)	52	(1,500)	241
Other Guarantor [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income
Operating revenues (net of contractual allowances and discounts)	3,205	3,122	9,712	9,499
Provision for bad debts	485	404	1,414	1,252
Net operating revenues	2,720	2,718	8,298	8,247
Operating costs and expenses:
Salaries and benefits	1,118	1,077	3,353	3,254
Supplies	477	465	1,469	1,399
Other operating expenses	717	648	2,080	1,923
Government and other legal settlements and related costs	5		5	1
Electronic health records incentive reimbursement	(3)	(38)	(31)	(84)
Rent	58	56	171	166
Depreciation and amortization	180	177	546	537
Impairment of goodwill and long-lived assets	28		1,173	6
Total operating costs and expenses	2,580	2,385	8,766	7,202
Income (loss) from operations	140	333	(468)	1,045
Interest expense, net	139	199	505	569
Gain on sale of investments in unconsolidated affiliates			(94)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	14	4	482	(27)
(Loss) income from continuing operations before income taxes	(13)	130	(1,361)	503
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	2	53	(17)	190
(Loss) income from continuing operations	(15)	77	(1,344)	313
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
(Loss) income from operations of entities sold or held for sale	(2)	(1)	(5)
Impairment of hospitals sold or held for sale				(2)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes	(2)	(1)	(5)	(2)
Net (loss) income	(17)	76	(1,349)	311
Net (loss) income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders	(17)	76	(1,349)	311
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income
Operating revenues (net of contractual allowances and discounts)	1,885	2,463	6,434	7,355
Provision for bad debts	219	330	745	949
Net operating revenues	1,666	2,133	5,689	6,406
Operating costs and expenses:
Salaries and benefits	949	1,163	3,184	3,460
Supplies	246	297	812	875
Other operating expenses	309	496	1,176	1,447
Government and other legal settlements and related costs	5		5
Electronic health records incentive reimbursement	(2)	(16)	(23)	(51)
Rent	51	59	169	178
Depreciation and amortization	85	111	293	338
Impairment of goodwill and long-lived assets	11		522
Total operating costs and expenses	1,654	2,110	6,138	6,247
Income (loss) from operations	12	23	(449)	159
Interest expense, net	10	17	67	80
(Loss) income from continuing operations before income taxes	2	6	(516)	79
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	(6)	(10)	(79)	4
(Loss) income from continuing operations	8	16	(437)	75
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
(Loss) income from operations of entities sold or held for sale		(4)	1	(22)
Impairment of hospitals sold or held for sale			(1)
Loss on sale, net		(3)		(3)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes		(7)		(25)
Net (loss) income	8	9	(437)	50
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	23	23	73	67
Net (loss) income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders	(15)	(14)	(510)	(17)
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Operating costs and expenses:
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	(111)	114	(3,359)	535
(Loss) income from continuing operations before income taxes	111	(114)	3,359	(535)
(Loss) income from continuing operations	111	(114)	3,359	(535)
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Net (loss) income	111	(114)	3,359	(535)
Net (loss) income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders	$ 111	$ (114)	$ 3,359	$ (535)