Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Statement of Loss) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income
Operating revenues (net of contractual allowances and discounts)	$ 4,333	$ 5,084	$ 14,323	$ 16,128
Provision for bad debts	667	704	2,028	2,159
Net operating revenues	3,666	4,380	12,295	13,969
Operating costs and expenses:
Salaries and benefits	1,724	2,067	5,704	6,537
Supplies	610	723	2,056	2,281
Other operating expenses	911	1,026	2,984	3,256
Government and other legal settlements and related costs	1	10	(32)	10
Electronic health records incentive reimbursement	(2)	(5)	(25)	(54)
Rent	93	109	306	340
Depreciation and amortization	206	265	665	839
Impairment and (gain) loss on sale of businesses, net	33	39	363	1,695
Total operating costs and expenses	3,576	4,234	12,021	14,904
Income (loss) from operations	90	146	274	(935)
Interest expense, net	238	233	706	730
Loss from early extinguishment of debt	4		35	30
Gain on sale of investments in unconsolidated affiliates				(94)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	(5)	(4)	(13)	(38)
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes	(147)	(83)	(454)	(1,563)
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	(59)	(29)	(74)	(141)
Loss from continuing operations	(88)	(54)	(380)	(1,422)
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
(Loss) income from operations of entities sold or held for sale	(1)	(2)	(4)	(4)
Impairment of hospitals sold or held for sale	(1)		(6)	(1)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes	(2)	(2)	(10)	(5)
Net loss	(90)	(56)	(390)	(1,427)
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	20	23	56	73
Net loss attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders	(110)	(79)	(446)	(1,500)
Parent Company [Member]
Operating costs and expenses:
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	110	79	446	1,500
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes	(110)	(79)	(446)	(1,500)
Loss from continuing operations	(110)	(79)	(446)	(1,500)
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Net loss	(110)	(79)	(446)	(1,500)
Net loss attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders	(110)	(79)	(446)	(1,500)
Issuer [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income
Operating revenues (net of contractual allowances and discounts)	(5)	(6)	(17)	(18)
Net operating revenues	(5)	(6)	(17)	(18)
Operating costs and expenses:
Income (loss) from operations	(5)	(6)	(17)	(18)
Interest expense, net	84	84	241	158
Loss from early extinguishment of debt	4		35	30
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	39	14	210	1,340
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes	(132)	(104)	(503)	(1,546)
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	(22)	(25)	(57)	(46)
Loss from continuing operations	(110)	(79)	(446)	(1,500)
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Net loss	(110)	(79)	(446)	(1,500)
Net loss attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders	(110)	(79)	(446)	(1,500)
Other Guarantor [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income
Operating revenues (net of contractual allowances and discounts)	2,661	2,767	8,437	8,594
Provision for bad debts	410	393	1,337	1,349
Net operating revenues	2,251	2,374	7,100	7,245
Operating costs and expenses:
Salaries and benefits	911	969	2,786	2,901
Supplies	403	416	1,263	1,288
Other operating expenses	614	615	1,860	1,766
Government and other legal settlements and related costs	1	5	(32)	6
Electronic health records incentive reimbursement	(1)	(4)	(12)	(28)
Rent	51	52	155	153
Depreciation and amortization	129	157	385	477
Impairment and (gain) loss on sale of businesses, net	31	18	291	1,163
Total operating costs and expenses	2,139	2,228	6,696	7,726
Income (loss) from operations	112	146	404	(481)
Interest expense, net	153	137	448	497
Gain on sale of investments in unconsolidated affiliates				(94)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	20	18	105	478
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes	(61)	(9)	(149)	(1,362)
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	(23)	5	56	(18)
Loss from continuing operations	(38)	(14)	(205)	(1,344)
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
(Loss) income from operations of entities sold or held for sale		(2)	(3)	(6)
Impairment of hospitals sold or held for sale	(2)		(5)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes	(2)	(2)	(8)	(6)
Net loss	(40)	(16)	(213)	(1,350)
Net loss attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders	(40)	(16)	(213)	(1,350)
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income
Operating revenues (net of contractual allowances and discounts)	1,677	2,323	5,903	7,552
Provision for bad debts	257	311	691	810
Net operating revenues	1,420	2,012	5,212	6,742
Operating costs and expenses:
Salaries and benefits	813	1,098	2,918	3,636
Supplies	207	307	793	993
Other operating expenses	297	411	1,124	1,490
Government and other legal settlements and related costs		5		4
Electronic health records incentive reimbursement	(1)	(1)	(13)	(26)
Rent	42	57	151	187
Depreciation and amortization	77	108	280	362
Impairment and (gain) loss on sale of businesses, net	2	21	72	532
Total operating costs and expenses	1,437	2,006	5,325	7,178
Income (loss) from operations	(17)	6	(113)	(436)
Interest expense, net	1	12	17	75
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes	(18)	(6)	(130)	(511)
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	(14)	(9)	(73)	(77)
Loss from continuing operations	(4)	3	(57)	(434)
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
(Loss) income from operations of entities sold or held for sale	(1)		(1)	2
Impairment of hospitals sold or held for sale	1		(1)	(1)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes			(2)	1
Net loss	(4)	3	(59)	(433)
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	20	23	56	73
Net loss attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders	(24)	(20)	(115)	(506)
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Operating costs and expenses:
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	(174)	(115)	(774)	(3,356)
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes	174	115	774	3,356
Loss from continuing operations	174	115	774	3,356
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Net loss	174	115	774	3,356
Net loss attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders	$ 174	$ 115	$ 774	$ 3,356