Earnings Per Share (Schedule of Calculation of Numerator and Denominator in Earnings Per Share) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017
Numerator:
Loss from continuing operations, net of taxes	$ (6)	$ (176)
Less: Income from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests, net of taxes	19	22
Loss from continuing operations attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. common stockholders - basic and diluted	(25)	(198)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes		(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)
Denominator:
Weighted-average number of shares outstanding - basic	112,291,496	111,252,331
Effect of dilutive securities:
Weighted-average number of shares outstanding - diluted	112,291,496	111,252,331