Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 247	$ 238	$ 181	$ 184
Patient accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts	3,164	3,176
Supplies	458	480
Prepaid income taxes	17	17
Prepaid expenses and taxes	218	187
Other current assets	671	568
Total current assets	4,775	4,666
Property and equipment, net	7,639	8,149
Goodwill	6,327	6,521
Other assets, net	2,919	2,608
Total assets	21,660	21,944
Current liabilities:
Current maturities of long-term debt	558	455
Accounts payable	988	995
Accrued interest	145	207
Accrued liabilities	1,305	1,230
Total current liabilities	2,996	2,887
Long-term debt	14,687	14,789
Deferred income taxes	415	411
Other long-term liabilities	1,469	1,575
Total liabilities	19,567	19,662
Redeemable noncontrolling interests in equity of consolidated subsidiaries	552	554
Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock
Common stock	1	1
Additional paid-in capital	1,980	1,975
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(54)	(62)	(89)	(73)
Accumulated deficit	(498)	(299)
Total Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders' equity	1,429	1,615
Noncontrolling interests in equity of consolidated subsidiaries	112	113
Total equity	1,541	1,728
Total liabilities and equity	21,660	21,944
Parent Company [Member]
Current assets:
Prepaid income taxes	17	17
Total current assets	17	17
Intercompany receivable	303	295
Other assets, net	15	15
Net investment in subsidiaries	1,538	1,728
Total assets	1,873	2,055
Current liabilities:
Accrued liabilities	17	17
Total current liabilities	17	17
Deferred income taxes	415	411
Other long-term liabilities	12	12
Total liabilities	444	440
Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders' equity:
Common stock	1	1
Additional paid-in capital	1,980	1,975
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(54)	(62)
Accumulated deficit	(498)	(299)
Total Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders' equity	1,429	1,615
Total equity	1,429	1,615
Total liabilities and equity	1,873	2,055
Issuer [Member]
Current assets:
Intercompany receivable	14,719	14,966
Net investment in subsidiaries	22,452	22,205
Total assets	37,171	37,171
Current liabilities:
Current maturities of long-term debt	263	149
Accrued interest	143	205
Total current liabilities	406	354
Long-term debt	13,905	14,018
Intercompany payable	19,931	19,811
Other long-term liabilities	1,392	1,259
Total liabilities	35,634	35,442
Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders' equity:
Additional paid-in capital	600	676
Treasury stock, at cost		(62)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(54)
Accumulated deficit	991	1,115
Total Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders' equity	1,537	1,729
Total equity	1,537	1,729
Total liabilities and equity	37,171	37,171
Other Guarantor [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	198	162	16	31
Patient accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts	706	843
Supplies	299	324
Prepaid expenses and taxes	160	133
Other current assets	454	283
Total current assets	1,817	1,745
Intercompany receivable	521	667
Property and equipment, net	4,862	5,403
Goodwill	3,562	3,735
Other assets, net	3,187	2,820
Net investment in subsidiaries	9,002	8,607
Total assets	22,951	22,977
Current liabilities:
Current maturities of long-term debt	38	56
Accounts payable	743	715
Accrued interest	1	1
Accrued liabilities	821	775
Total current liabilities	1,603	1,547
Long-term debt	227	233
Intercompany payable	17,660	17,508
Other long-term liabilities	1,080	1,187
Total liabilities	20,570	20,475
Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders' equity:
Additional paid-in capital	906	1,080
Treasury stock, at cost		(22)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(21)
Accumulated deficit	1,496	1,444
Total Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders' equity	2,381	2,502
Total equity	2,381	2,502
Total liabilities and equity	22,951	22,977
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	49	76	$ 165	$ 153
Patient accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts	2,458	2,333
Supplies	159	156
Prepaid expenses and taxes	58	54
Other current assets	217	285
Total current assets	2,941	2,904
Intercompany receivable	5,737	6,985
Property and equipment, net	2,777	2,746
Goodwill	2,765	2,786
Other assets, net	1,081	995
Total assets	15,301	16,416
Current liabilities:
Current maturities of long-term debt	257	250
Accounts payable	245	280
Accrued interest	1	1
Accrued liabilities	467	438
Total current liabilities	970	969
Long-term debt	555	538
Intercompany payable	12,174	13,393
Other long-term liabilities	350	339
Total liabilities	14,049	15,239
Redeemable noncontrolling interests in equity of consolidated subsidiaries	552	554
Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders' equity:
Additional paid-in capital	928	816
Treasury stock, at cost		(9)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(7)
Accumulated deficit	(333)	(297)
Total Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders' equity	588	510
Noncontrolling interests in equity of consolidated subsidiaries	112	113
Total equity	700	623
Total liabilities and equity	15,301	16,416
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Current assets:
Intercompany receivable	(21,280)	(22,913)
Other assets, net	(1,364)	(1,222)
Net investment in subsidiaries	(32,992)	(32,540)
Total assets	(55,636)	(56,675)
Current liabilities:
Intercompany payable	(49,765)	(50,712)
Other long-term liabilities	(1,365)	(1,222)
Total liabilities	(51,130)	(51,934)
Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders' equity:
Additional paid-in capital	(2,434)	(2,572)
Treasury stock, at cost		93
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	82
Accumulated deficit	(2,154)	(2,262)
Total Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders' equity	(4,506)	(4,741)
Total equity	(4,506)	(4,741)
Total liabilities and equity	$ (55,636)	$ (56,675)