Earnings Per Share (Schedule of Calculation of Numerator and Denominator in Earnings Per Share) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Numerator:
(Loss) Income from continuing operations, net of taxes	$ (176)	$ 37
Less: Income from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests, net of taxes	22	25
(Loss) Income from continuing operations attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. common stockholders - basic and diluted	(198)	12
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes	(1)	(1)
Less: Loss from discontinued operations attributable to noncontrolling interests, net of taxes
Loss from discontinued operations attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. common stockholders - basic and diluted	$ (1)	$ (1)
Denominator:
Weighted-average number of shares outstanding - basic	111,252,331	110,247,867
Effect of dilutive securities:
Restricted stock awards		45,257
Employee stock options		13,038
Other equity-based awards		3,210
Weighted-average number of shares outstanding - diluted	111,252,331	110,309,372