Condensed Consolidated Statements of (Loss) Income - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Condensed Consolidated Statements of (Loss) Income [Abstract]
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 income taxes		26
(Loss) income from continuing operations	(176)	37
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Loss 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
Basic (loss) earnings per share attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. common stockholders:
Continuing operations	$ (1.78)	$ 0.11
Discontinued operations	(0.01)	(0.01)
Net (loss) income	(1.79)	0.10
Diluted (loss) earnings per share attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. common stockholders:
Continuing operations	(1.78)	0.11
Discontinued operations	(0.01)	(0.01)
Net (loss) income	$ (1.79)	$ 0.10
Weighted-average number of shares outstanding:
Basic	111,252,331	110,247,867
Diluted	111,252,331	110,309,372