Number of Hospitals Sold

No definition available.

Name:	cyh_NumberOfHospitalsSold
Namespace Prefix:	cyh_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Number of licensed beds

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cyh_NumberOfLicensedBeds
Namespace Prefix:	cyh_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Total amount of cash and noncash consideration received for selling an asset or business through a noncash (or part noncash) transaction.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cyh_TotalNoncashOrPartNoncashDivestitureAmountOfConsiderationReceived
Namespace Prefix:	cyh_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Date the entity disposed of a business or a group of assets, in CCYY-MM-DD format.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DisposalDate1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents the cash inflow during the period from the sale of a component of the entity.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 12
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66902209&loc=d3e3179-108585

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Investing Activities
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6516133

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProceedsFromDivestitureOfBusinessesNetOfCashDivested
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The cash outflow for debt initially having maturity due after one year or beyond the normal operating cycle, if longer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 15
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66902209&loc=d3e3291-108585

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Financing Activities
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6513228

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Detail information of subsequent event by type. User is expected to use existing line items from elsewhere in the taxonomy as the primary line items for this disclosure, which is further associated with dimension and member elements pertaining to a subsequent event.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SubsequentEventLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

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Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

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Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
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- Details

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- Details

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- Details

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- Details

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- Details

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Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
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- Details

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Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
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- Details

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Namespace Prefix:
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- Details

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Subsequent Events (Narrative) (Details) $ in Millions					6 Months Ended
Subsequent Events (Narrative) (Details) $ in Millions	Jul. 21, 2017 item	Jul. 11, 2017 item	Jul. 07, 2017 USD ($)	Jul. 01, 2017 USD ($) item	Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($)
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Proceeds from Divestiture of Businesses, Net of Cash Divested \| $					$ 921	$ 12
Repayments of Long-term Debt \| $					4,416	$ 4,279
Tomball Regional Medical Center and South Texas Regional Medical Center [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Proceeds from Divestiture of Businesses, Net of Cash Divested \| $					135
MultiCare Health System [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Proceeds from Divestiture of Businesses, Net of Cash Divested \| $					$ 414
Subsequent Event [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Repayments of Long-term Debt \| $			$ 343
Subsequent Event [Member] \| Tomball Regional Medical Center and South Texas Regional Medical Center [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Disposal Date				Jul. 01, 2017
Subsequent Event [Member] \| Tomball Regional Medical Center [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Number of licensed beds				350
Subsequent Event [Member] \| South Texas Regional Medical Center [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Number of licensed beds				67
Subsequent Event [Member] \| PinnacleHealth System [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Disposal Date				Jul. 01, 2017
Number of Hospitals Sold				4
Proceeds from Divestiture of Businesses, Net of Cash Divested \| $				$ 231
Subsequent Event [Member] \| Memorial Hospital of York [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Number of licensed beds				100
Subsequent Event [Member] \| Lancaster Regional Medical Center [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Number of licensed beds				214
Subsequent Event [Member] \| Heart of Lancaster Regional Medical Center [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Number of licensed beds				148
Subsequent Event [Member] \| Carlisle Regional Medical Center [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Number of licensed beds				165
Subsequent Event [Member] \| MultiCare Health System [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Disposal Date				Jul. 01, 2017
Number of Hospitals Sold				2
Total Cash and Non Cash Proceeds \| $				$ 424
Subsequent Event [Member] \| Deaconess Hospital [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Number of licensed beds				388
Subsequent Event [Member] \| Valley Hospital [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Number of licensed beds				123
Subsequent Event [Member] \| Weatherford Regional Medical Center [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Disposal Date		Jul. 11, 2017
Number of licensed beds		103
Subsequent Event [Member] \| Highlands Regional Medical Center [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Disposal Date	Jul. 21, 2017
Number of licensed beds	126