Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	$ 106	$ 242
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisitions of facilities and other related businesses	(8)	(2)
Purchases of property and equipment	(170)	(146)
Proceeds from disposition of hospitals and other ancillary operations	11
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	3
Purchases of available-for-sale securities and equity securities	(19)	(12)
Proceeds from sales of available-for-sale securities and equity securities	34	26
Increase in other investments	(28)	(37)
Net cash used in investing activities	(177)	(171)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repurchase of restricted stock shares for payroll tax withholding requirements	(1)	(5)
Deferred financing costs and other debt-related costs	(11)	(40)
Proceeds from noncontrolling investors in joint ventures		5
Redemption of noncontrolling investments in joint ventures	(3)	(4)
Distributions to noncontrolling investors in joint ventures	(23)	(28)
Borrowings under credit agreements	10	610
Issuance of long-term debt		2,200
Proceeds from receivables facility	49	26
Repayments of long-term indebtedness	(89)	(2,826)
Net cash used in financing activities	(68)	(62)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	(139)	9
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	563	238
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	424	247
Parent Company [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	26
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repurchase of restricted stock shares for payroll tax withholding requirements	(1)	(5)
Changes in intercompany balances with affiliates, net	(25)	5
Net cash used in financing activities	(26)
Issuer [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	(58)	(124)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Deferred financing costs and other debt-related costs		(40)
Changes in intercompany balances with affiliates, net	69	157
Borrowings under credit agreements		596
Issuance of long-term debt		2,200
Repayments of long-term indebtedness	(11)	(2,789)
Net cash used in financing activities	58	124
Other Guarantor [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	38	234
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisitions of facilities and other related businesses	(3)	(1)
Purchases of property and equipment	(119)	(93)
Proceeds from disposition of hospitals and other ancillary operations	10
Purchases of available-for-sale securities and equity securities	(11)	(8)
Proceeds from sales of available-for-sale securities and equity securities	28	20
Increase in other investments	(14)	(30)
Net cash used in investing activities	(109)	(112)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Deferred financing costs and other debt-related costs	(11)
Changes in intercompany balances with affiliates, net	(91)	(132)
Borrowings under credit agreements	10	12
Repayments of long-term indebtedness		(31)
Net cash used in financing activities	(92)	(151)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	(163)	(29)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	497	174
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	334	145
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	100	132
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisitions of facilities and other related businesses	(5)	(1)
Purchases of property and equipment	(51)	(53)
Proceeds from disposition of hospitals and other ancillary operations	1
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	3
Purchases of available-for-sale securities and equity securities	(8)	(4)
Proceeds from sales of available-for-sale securities and equity securities	6	6
Increase in other investments	(14)	(7)
Net cash used in investing activities	(68)	(59)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from noncontrolling investors in joint ventures		5
Redemption of noncontrolling investments in joint ventures	(3)	(4)
Distributions to noncontrolling investors in joint ventures	(23)	(28)
Changes in intercompany balances with affiliates, net	47	(30)
Borrowings under credit agreements		2
Proceeds from receivables facility	49	26
Repayments of long-term indebtedness	(78)	(6)
Net cash used in financing activities	(8)	(35)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	24	38
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	66	64
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$ 90	$ 102