Condensed Consolidated Statements of Loss - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Loss [Abstract]
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)
Benefit from income taxes	(59)	(29)	(74)	(141)
Loss from continuing operations	(88)	(54)	(380)	(1,422)
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
Loss 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)
Basic loss per share attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. common stockholders:
Continuing operations	$ (0.96)	$ (0.69)	$ (3.91)	$ (13.50)
Discontinued operations	(0.02)	(0.02)	(0.08)	(0.05)
Net loss	(0.98)	(0.71)	(3.99)	(13.55)
Diluted loss per share attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. common stockholders:
Continuing operations	(0.96)	(0.69)	(3.91)	(13.50)
Discontinued operations	(0.02)	(0.02)	(0.08)	(0.05)
Net loss	$ (0.98)	$ (0.71)	$ (3.99)	$ (13.55)
Weighted-average number of shares outstanding:
Basic	111,935,738	110,888,040	111,701,812	110,672,520
Diluted	111,935,738	110,888,040	111,701,812	110,672,520