Condensed Consolidated Statements of Loss - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Loss [Abstract]
Net operating revenues	$ 3,376.0	$ 3,689.0
Operating costs and expenses:
Salaries and benefits	1,542.0	1,648.0
Supplies	558.0	616.0
Other operating expenses	811.0	911.0
Government and other legal settlements and related costs	5.0	5.0
Electronic health records incentive reimbursement		(1.0)
Lease cost and rent	80.0	89.0
Depreciation and amortization	153.0	181.0
Impairment and (gain) loss on sale of businesses, net	38.0	28.0
Total operating costs and expenses	3,187.0	3,477.0
Income from operations	189.0	212.0
Interest expense, net	257.0	228.0
Loss from early extinguishment of debt	31.0	4.0
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	(5.0)	(7.0)
Loss before income taxes	(94.0)	(13.0)
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	7.0	(7.0)
Net loss	(101.0)	(6.0)
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	17.0	19.0
Net loss attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders	$ (118.0)	$ (25.0)
Loss per share attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. common stockholders:
Basic	$ (1.04)	$ (0.22)
Diluted	$ (1.04)	$ (0.22)
Weighted-average number of shares outstanding:
Basic	113,257,608	112,291,496
Diluted	113,257,608	112,291,496