Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	$ 242	$ 294
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisitions of facilities and other related equipment	(2)	(99)
Purchases of property and equipment	(146)	(224)
Proceeds from disposition of hospitals and other ancillary operations		12
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment		4
Purchases of available-for-sale securities	(12)	(37)
Proceeds from sales of available-for-sale securities	26	40
Increase in other investments	(37)	(67)
Net cash used in investing activities	(171)	(371)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repurchase of restricted stock shares for payroll tax withholding requirements	(5)	(7)
Deferred financing costs and other debt-related costs	(40)
Proceeds from noncontrolling investors in joint ventures	5
Redemption of noncontrolling investments in joint ventures	(4)	(16)
Distributions to noncontrolling investors in joint ventures	(28)	(18)
Borrowings under credit agreements	610	1,564
Issuance of long-term debt	2,200
Proceeds from receivables facility	26	31
Repayments of long-term indebtedness	(2,826)	(1,480)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(62)	74
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	9	(3)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	238	184
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	247	181
Parent Company [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	1
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repurchase of restricted stock shares for payroll tax withholding requirements	(5)	(7)
Changes in intercompany balances with affiliates, net	4	7
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(1)
Issuer [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	(124)	(223)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Deferred financing costs and other debt-related costs	(40)
Changes in intercompany balances with affiliates, net	157	89
Borrowings under credit agreements	596	1,563
Issuance of long-term debt	2,200
Repayments of long-term indebtedness	(2,789)	(1,429)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	124	223
Other Guarantor [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	192	351
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisitions of facilities and other related equipment		(2)
Purchases of property and equipment	(99)	(152)
Proceeds from disposition of hospitals and other ancillary operations		12
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment		3
Purchases of available-for-sale securities	(8)	(13)
Proceeds from sales of available-for-sale securities	20	11
Increase in other investments	(33)	(49)
Net cash used in investing activities	(120)	(190)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Changes in intercompany balances with affiliates, net	(16)	(159)
Borrowings under credit agreements	12	1
Repayments of long-term indebtedness	(32)	(18)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(36)	(176)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	36	(15)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	162	31
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	198	16
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	173	166
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisitions of facilities and other related equipment	(2)	(97)
Purchases of property and equipment	(47)	(72)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment		1
Purchases of available-for-sale securities	(4)	(24)
Proceeds from sales of available-for-sale securities	6	29
Increase in other investments	(4)	(18)
Net cash used in investing activities	(51)	(181)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from noncontrolling investors in joint ventures	5
Redemption of noncontrolling investments in joint ventures	(4)	(16)
Distributions to noncontrolling investors in joint ventures	(28)	(18)
Changes in intercompany balances with affiliates, net	(145)	63
Borrowings under credit agreements	2
Proceeds from receivables facility	26	31
Repayments of long-term indebtedness	(5)	(33)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(149)	27
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	(27)	12
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	76	153
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$ 49	$ 165