Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Statement of Income) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income
Operating revenues (net of contractual allowances and discounts)	$ 5,168	$ 5,754
Provision for bad debts	682	755
Net operating revenues	4,486	4,999
Operating costs and expenses:
Salaries and benefits	2,061	2,317
Supplies	749	799
Other operating expenses	1,057	1,173
Government and other legal settlements and related costs	(41)
Electronic health records incentive reimbursement	(6)	(18)
Rent	109	119
Depreciation and amortization	236	298
Impairment and loss (gain) on sale of businesses, net	250	17
Total operating costs and expenses	4,415	4,705
Income from operations	71	294
Interest expense, net	229	251
Loss from early extinguishment of debt	21
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	(3)	(20)
(Loss) income from continuing operations before income taxes	(176)	63
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes		26
(Loss) income from continuing operations	(176)	37
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
(Loss) income from operations of entities sold or held for sale	(1)
Impairment of hospitals sold or held for sale		(1)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes	(1)	(1)
Net (loss) income	(177)	36
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	22	25
Net (loss) income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders	(199)	11
Parent Company [Member]
Operating costs and expenses:
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	199	(11)
(Loss) income from continuing operations before income taxes	(199)	11
(Loss) income from continuing operations	(199)	11
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Net (loss) income	(199)	11
Net (loss) income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders	(199)	11
Issuer [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income
Operating revenues (net of contractual allowances and discounts)	(6)	(6)
Net operating revenues	(6)	(6)
Operating costs and expenses:
Income from operations	(6)	(6)
Interest expense, net	70	35
Loss from early extinguishment of debt	21
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	120	(58)
(Loss) income from continuing operations before income taxes	(217)	17
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	(18)	6
(Loss) income from continuing operations	(199)	11
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Net (loss) income	(199)	11
Net (loss) income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders	(199)	11
Other Guarantor [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income
Operating revenues (net of contractual allowances and discounts)	3,367	3,357
Provision for bad debts	489	490
Net operating revenues	2,878	2,867
Operating costs and expenses:
Salaries and benefits	1,135	1,128
Supplies	513	506
Other operating expenses	751	696
Government and other legal settlements and related costs	(41)
Electronic health records incentive reimbursement	(2)	(6)
Rent	60	59
Depreciation and amortization	154	188
Impairment and loss (gain) on sale of businesses, net	184	12
Total operating costs and expenses	2,754	2,583
Income from operations	124	284
Interest expense, net	153	182
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	54	6
(Loss) income from continuing operations before income taxes	(83)	96
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	35	38
(Loss) income from continuing operations	(118)	58
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
(Loss) income from operations of entities sold or held for sale	(3)	(2)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes	(3)	(2)
Net (loss) income	(121)	56
Net (loss) income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders	(121)	56
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income
Operating revenues (net of contractual allowances and discounts)	1,807	2,403
Provision for bad debts	193	265
Net operating revenues	1,614	2,138
Operating costs and expenses:
Salaries and benefits	926	1,189
Supplies	236	293
Other operating expenses	306	477
Electronic health records incentive reimbursement	(4)	(12)
Rent	49	60
Depreciation and amortization	82	110
Impairment and loss (gain) on sale of businesses, net	66	5
Total operating costs and expenses	1,661	2,122
Income from operations	(47)	16
Interest expense, net	6	34
(Loss) income from continuing operations before income taxes	(53)	(18)
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	(17)	(18)
(Loss) income from continuing operations	(36)
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
(Loss) income from operations of entities sold or held for sale	2	2
Impairment of hospitals sold or held for sale		(1)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes	2	1
Net (loss) income	(34)	1
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	22	25
Net (loss) income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders	(56)	(24)
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Operating costs and expenses:
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	(376)	43
(Loss) income from continuing operations before income taxes	376	(43)
(Loss) income from continuing operations	376	(43)
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Net (loss) income	376	(43)
Net (loss) income attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders	$ 376	$ (43)