Definitive Agreement Date

No definition available.

Name:	cyh_DefinitiveAgreementDate
Namespace Prefix:	cyh_
Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
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

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

Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(b),22(b))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- 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

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

Name:	us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis=us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=cyh_AblCreditAgreementMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis=us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis=us-gaap_LetterOfCreditMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis=cyh_BayfrontHealthDadeCityMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis=cyh_MunroeRegionalMedicalCenterMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Subsequent Events (Narrative) (Details)			3 Months Ended
Subsequent Events (Narrative) (Details)	Apr. 18, 2018 item	Apr. 01, 2018 USD ($) item	Mar. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Apr. 03, 2018 USD ($)
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Proceeds from Divestiture of Businesses, Net of Cash Divested			$ 11,000,000
Subsequent Event [Member] \| ABL Credit Agreement [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity				$ 1,000,000,000
Subsequent Event [Member] \| ABL Credit Agreement [Member] \| Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity				425,000,000
Subsequent Event [Member] \| ABL Credit Agreement [Member] \| Letter of Credit [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity				$ 50,000,000
Subsequent Event [Member] \| Bayfront Health Dade City [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Disposal Date		Apr. 01, 2018
Number of licensed beds \| item		120
Proceeds from Divestiture of Businesses, Net of Cash Divested		$ 9,000,000
Subsequent Event [Member] \| Munroe Regional Medical Center [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Definitive Agreement Date	Apr. 18, 2018
Number of licensed beds \| item	421