Number of licensed beds

No definition available.

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

Loss recognized as a result of the initial and subsequent write-down of a long-lived asset's carrying amount to fair value.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 360
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109226691&loc=d3e2921-110230

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ImpairedAssetsToBeDisposedOfByMethodOtherThanSaleAmountOfImpairmentLoss
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents the cash inflow during the period from the sale of a component of the entity.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 12
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109223946&loc=d3e3179-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProceedsFromDivestitureOfBusinessesNetOfCashDivested
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

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

Acquisitions and Divestitures (Divestitures Narrative) (Details) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	May 01, 2017 USD ($) item	Jun. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($)
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Proceeds from Divestiture of Businesses, Net of Cash Divested			$ 228	$ 1,666
Impairment charge recorded on the sale or closure of hospitals		$ 4
AllianceHealth Pryor [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Disposal Date			May 01, 2017
Number of licensed beds \| item	52
Proceeds from Divestiture of Businesses, Net of Cash Divested	$ 1