Aggregate Principal Amount for Springing Maturity

No definition available.

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- Definition

Amount of borrowing capacity for 1 or more tranche of term loans currently available under the credit facility (current borrowing capacity less the amount of borrowings outstanding) for which the entity has not accessed.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Equivalent percentage prepaid as required by the Term Loan Facility related to Net Cash Proceeds of Certain Asset Sales and Dispositions by Company and Its Subsidiaries

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Equivalent percentage prepaid as required by the Term Loan Facility Related to Net Cash Proceeds of Issuance of Certain Debt Obligations or Receivables Based Financing by Company and Its Subsidiaries.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Equivalent percentage prepaid as required by the Term Loan Facility Subject to Reduction to Lower Percentage Based on Company Leverage Ratio.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

First Lien net Debt to Current Earnings, Tier 1

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

First Lien net Debt to Current Earnings, Tier 2

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

First Lien net Debt to Current Earnings, Tier 3

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:pureItemType
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- Definition

First Lien Net Debt To Current Earnings Tier 4

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

First Lien Net Debt To Current Earnings Tier 5

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Minimum number of borrowing tranches of term loans available in future periods capped at a stated aggregate amounts.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Outstanding Borrowings of Receivables Facility

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Percentage of the Maximum Commitment of Excess Availability, One

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	cyh_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Percentage of the Maximum Commitment of Excess Availability, Three

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	cyh_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Percentage of the Maximum Commitment of Excess Availability, Two

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	cyh_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Ratio of Indebtedness to Current Earnings

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:pureItemType
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- Definition

Percentage points added to the reference rate to compute the variable rate on the debt instrument.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Face (par) amount of debt instrument at time of issuance.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114775744&loc=d3e28551-108399

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 55
-Paragraph 8
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114775985&loc=d3e28878-108400

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

+ References

+ Details

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Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- 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

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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Date the debt instrument was offered for sale, in CCYY-MM-DD format.

+ References

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Weighted average interest rate of debt outstanding.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The total amount of the contingent obligation under letters of credit outstanding as of the reporting date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

The carrying value as of the balance sheet date of the current and noncurrent portions of long-term obligations drawn from a line of credit, which is a bank's commitment to make loans up to a specific amount. Examples of items that might be included in the application of this element may consist of letters of credit, standby letters of credit, and revolving credit arrangements, under which borrowings can be made up to a maximum amount as of any point in time conditional on satisfaction of specified terms before, as of and after the date of drawdowns on the line. Includes short-term obligations that would normally be classified as current liabilities but for which (a) postbalance sheet date issuance of a long term obligation to refinance the short term obligation on a long term basis, or (b) the enterprise has entered into a financing agreement that clearly permits the enterprise to refinance the short-term obligation on a long term basis and the following conditions are met (1) the agreement does not expire within 1 year and is not cancelable by the lender except for violation of an objectively determinable provision, (2) no violation exists at the BS date, and (3) the lender has entered into the financing agreement is expected to be financially capable of honoring the agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(22))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
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-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03(16))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

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-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(16))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

+ Details

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Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- 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

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of borrowing capacity currently available under the credit facility (current borrowing capacity less the amount of borrowings outstanding).

+ References

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The fee, expressed as a percentage of the line of credit facility, for available but unused credit capacity under the credit facility.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Long-Term Debt (Credit Facility Terms Narrative) (Details)			3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Feb. 15, 2019 USD ($)	Apr. 03, 2018 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2019 USD ($) item	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Mar. 06, 2019 USD ($)	Jul. 06, 2018 USD ($)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Ratio of first lien net debt to EBITDA			4.98
Maximum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Ratio of first lien net debt to EBITDA			5.25
Credit Facility, Type of Debt, Amendment No. 1 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Aggregate principal amount for springing maturity	$ 250,000,000
First lien net debt to EBITDA, tier 1	5.00
First lien net debt to EBITDA, tier 2	5.25
First lien net debt to EBITDA, tier 3	5.00
First lien net debt to EBITDA, tier 4	4.50
First lien net debt to EBITDA, tier 5	4.25
Credit Facility, Name [Member] \| Credit Facility, Type of Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Aggregate principal amount of each tranche available in the future			$ 500,000,000
Minimum number of additional tranches available in future \| item			1
Debt weighted average interest rate			7.00%
Credit Facility, Name [Member] \| Line of Credit [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Letters of credit outstanding			$ 120,000,000
Credit Facility, Revolving Credit Loans [Member] \| Line of Credit [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, unused capacity, commitment fee percentage			0.50%
Line of credit facility remaining borrowing capacity			$ 385,000,000
Line of credit outstanding amount			$ 0
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity				$ 425,000,000
Credit Facility, Term Loans [Member] \| Secured Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Equivalent percentage of term loan facility related to net cash proceeds of certain asset sales and dispositions by company and its subsidiaries			100.00%
Equivalent percentage of term loan facility related to net cash proceeds of issuance of certain debt obligations or receivables based financing by company and its subsidiaries			100.00%
Equivalent percentage of term loan facility subject to reduction to lower percentage based on company leverage ratio			75.00%
ABL Credit Agreement [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Aggregate principal amount for springing maturity			$ 250,000,000
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity		$ 1,000,000,000
ABL Credit Agreement [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, unused capacity, commitment fee percentage			0.50%
ABL Credit Agreement [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, unused capacity, commitment fee percentage			0.625%
ABL Credit Agreement [Member] \| Receivables Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Outstanding borrowings of receivables facility			$ 723,000,000
Senior Secured Notes at 8.625, Due 2024 [Member] \| Senior Secured Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument aggregate principal amount						$ 1,033,000,000
Debt instrument, offering date			Jul. 06, 2018
Debt instrument stated interest rate						8.625%
Senior Secured Notes at 8.0, Due 2026 [Member] \| Senior Secured Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument aggregate principal amount					$ 1,601,000,000
Debt instrument, offering date			Mar. 06, 2019
Debt instrument stated interest rate					8.00%
Alternate Base Rate [Member] \| Credit Facility, Revolving Credit Loans [Member] \| Line of Credit [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument variable interest rate			1.75%
Alternate Base Rate [Member] \| Credit Facility, Term Loan H [Member] \| Secured Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument variable interest rate				2.25%
Alternate Base Rate [Member] \| ABL Credit Agreement [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Percentage of the maximum commitment of excess availability, one			1.25%
Percentage of the maximum commitment of excess availability, two			1.50%
Percentage of the maximum commitment of excess availability, three			1.75%
LIBOR [Member] \| Credit Facility, Revolving Credit Loans [Member] \| Line of Credit [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument variable interest rate			2.75%
LIBOR [Member] \| Credit Facility, Revolving Credit Loans [Member] \| Secured Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument variable interest rate			1.00%
LIBOR [Member] \| Credit Facility, Term Loan H [Member] \| Secured Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument variable interest rate				3.25%
LIBOR [Member] \| ABL Credit Agreement [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Percentage of the maximum commitment of excess availability, one			2.25%
Percentage of the maximum commitment of excess availability, two			2.50%
Percentage of the maximum commitment of excess availability, three			2.75%
Federal Funds Effective Rate [Member] \| Secured Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument variable interest rate			0.50%
London Interbank Offered Rate Floor [Member] \| Credit Facility, Term Loan H [Member] \| Secured Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument variable interest rate			1.00%
Alternate Base Rate Floor [Member] \| Credit Facility, Term Loan H [Member] \| Secured Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument variable interest rate			2.00%
ABL Facility Customary Covenants [Member] \| ABL Credit Agreement [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument variable interest rate		10.00%
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity		$ 95,000,000
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] \| ABL Credit Agreement [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity		425,000,000
Letter of Credit [Member] \| ABL Credit Agreement [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity		$ 50,000,000