Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Statement of Loss) (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2019		Dec. 31, 2018		Dec. 31, 2017
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income
Net operating revenues	$ 3,286,000,000	$ 3,246,000,000	$ 3,302,000,000	$ 3,376,000,000	$ 3,453,000,000	$ 3,451,000,000	$ 3,562,000,000	$ 3,689,000,000	$ 13,210,000,000	[1]	$ 14,155,000,000	[1]	$ 15,353,000,000
Operating costs and expenses:
Salaries and benefits									5,947,000,000		6,384,000,000		7,376,000,000
Supplies									2,151,000,000		2,355,000,000		2,672,000,000
Other operating expenses									3,303,000,000		3,496,000,000		3,864,000,000
Government and other legal settlements and related costs									93,000,000		11,000,000		(31,000,000)
Electronic health records incentive reimbursement									(1,000,000)		(4,000,000)		(28,000,000)
Lease cost and rent									321,000,000		337,000,000		394,000,000
Depreciation and amortization									608,000,000		700,000,000		861,000,000
Impairment and loss on sale of businesses, net									138,000,000		668,000,000		2,123,000,000
Total operating costs and expenses									12,560,000,000		13,947,000,000		17,231,000,000
Income from operations									650,000,000		208,000,000		(1,878,000,000)
Interest expense, net									1,041,000,000		976,000,000		931,000,000
(Gain) loss from early extinguishment of debt									54,000,000		(31,000,000)		40,000,000
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates									(15,000,000)		(22,000,000)		(16,000,000)
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes	(115,000,000)	(72,000,000)	(149,000,000)	(94,000,000)	(369,000,000)	(204,000,000)	(129,000,000)	(13,000,000)	(430,000,000)	[1]	(715,000,000)	[1]	(2,833,000,000)
(Benefit from) provision for income taxes									160,000,000		(11,000,000)		(449,000,000)
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(346,000,000)	2,000,000	(146,000,000)	(101,000,000)	(299,000,000)	(308,000,000)	(91,000,000)	(6,000,000)	(590,000,000)	[1]	(704,000,000)	[1]	(2,384,000,000)
Loss from operations of entities sold or held for sale													(6,000,000)
Impairment of hospitals sold or held for sale									0		0		(6,000,000)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes													(12,000,000)
Net loss									(590,000,000)		(704,000,000)		(2,396,000,000)
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests									85,000,000		84,000,000		63,000,000
Net loss attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders	$ (373,000,000)	$ (17,000,000)	$ (167,000,000)	$ (118,000,000)	$ (328,000,000)	$ (325,000,000)	$ (110,000,000)	$ (25,000,000)	(675,000,000)	[1]	(788,000,000)	[1]	(2,459,000,000)
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Operating costs and expenses:
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates									(763,000,000)		(2,022,000,000)		(5,918,000,000)
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes									763,000,000		2,022,000,000		5,918,000,000
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest													5,918,000,000
Net loss									763,000,000		2,022,000,000		5,918,000,000
Net loss attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders									763,000,000		2,022,000,000		5,918,000,000
Parent Company [Member]
Operating costs and expenses:
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates									675,000,000		788,000,000		2,459,000,000
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes									(675,000,000)		(788,000,000)		(2,459,000,000)
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest													(2,459,000,000)
Net loss									(675,000,000)		(788,000,000)		(2,459,000,000)
Net loss attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders									(675,000,000)		(788,000,000)		(2,459,000,000)
Subsidiary Issuer [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income
Net operating revenues									46,000,000		(5,000,000)		(22,000,000)
Operating costs and expenses:
Impairment and loss on sale of businesses, net									(2,000,000)		29,000,000
Total operating costs and expenses									(2,000,000)		29,000,000
Income from operations									48,000,000		(34,000,000)		(22,000,000)
Interest expense, net									425,000,000		425,000,000		327,000,000
(Gain) loss from early extinguishment of debt									54,000,000		(32,000,000)		40,000,000
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates									99,000,000		438,000,000		1,888,000,000
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes									(530,000,000)		(865,000,000)		(2,277,000,000)
(Benefit from) provision for income taxes									145,000,000		(77,000,000)		182,000,000
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest													(2,459,000,000)
Net loss									(675,000,000)		(788,000,000)		(2,459,000,000)
Net loss attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders									(675,000,000)		(788,000,000)		(2,459,000,000)
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income
Net operating revenues									8,246,000,000		8,111,000,000		7,602,000,000
Operating costs and expenses:
Salaries and benefits									3,092,000,000		3,030,000,000		3,092,000,000
Supplies									1,444,000,000		1,426,000,000		1,397,000,000
Other operating expenses									2,289,000,000		2,109,000,000		1,954,000,000
Government and other legal settlements and related costs									93,000,000		11,000,000		(31,000,000)
Electronic health records incentive reimbursement											(1,000,000)		(8,000,000)
Lease cost and rent									168,000,000		166,000,000		166,000,000
Depreciation and amortization									383,000,000		414,000,000		434,000,000
Impairment and loss on sale of businesses, net									121,000,000		97,000,000		608,000,000
Total operating costs and expenses									7,590,000,000		7,252,000,000		7,612,000,000
Income from operations									656,000,000		859,000,000		(10,000,000)
Interest expense, net									667,000,000		494,000,000		489,000,000
(Gain) loss from early extinguishment of debt											1,000,000
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates									(26,000,000)		774,000,000		1,555,000,000
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes									15,000,000		(410,000,000)		(2,054,000,000)
(Benefit from) provision for income taxes									(6,000,000)		(7,000,000)		(170,000,000)
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest													(1,884,000,000)
Loss from operations of entities sold or held for sale													(4,000,000)
Impairment of hospitals sold or held for sale													(4,000,000)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes													(8,000,000)
Net loss									21,000,000		(403,000,000)		(1,892,000,000)
Net loss attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders									21,000,000		(403,000,000)		(1,892,000,000)
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income
Net operating revenues									4,918,000,000		6,049,000,000		7,773,000,000
Operating costs and expenses:
Salaries and benefits									2,855,000,000		3,354,000,000		4,284,000,000
Supplies									707,000,000		929,000,000		1,275,000,000
Other operating expenses									1,014,000,000		1,387,000,000		1,910,000,000
Electronic health records incentive reimbursement									(1,000,000)		(3,000,000)		(20,000,000)
Lease cost and rent									153,000,000		171,000,000		228,000,000
Depreciation and amortization									225,000,000		286,000,000		427,000,000
Impairment and loss on sale of businesses, net									19,000,000		542,000,000		1,515,000,000
Total operating costs and expenses									4,972,000,000		6,666,000,000		9,619,000,000
Income from operations									(54,000,000)		(617,000,000)		(1,846,000,000)
Interest expense, net									(51,000,000)		57,000,000		115,000,000
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes									(3,000,000)		(674,000,000)		(1,961,000,000)
(Benefit from) provision for income taxes									21,000,000		73,000,000		(461,000,000)
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest													(1,500,000,000)
Loss from operations of entities sold or held for sale													(2,000,000)
Impairment of hospitals sold or held for sale													(2,000,000)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes													(4,000,000)
Net loss									(24,000,000)		(747,000,000)		(1,504,000,000)
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests									85,000,000		84,000,000		63,000,000
Net loss attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders									$ (109,000,000)		$ (831,000,000)		(1,567,000,000)
Operating Revenues (Net of Contractual Allowances and Discounts) [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income
Net operating revenues													18,398,000,000
Operating Revenues (Net of Contractual Allowances and Discounts) [Member] | Subsidiary Issuer [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income
Net operating revenues													(22,000,000)
Operating Revenues (Net of Contractual Allowances and Discounts) [Member] | Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income
Net operating revenues													9,421,000,000
Operating Revenues (Net of Contractual Allowances and Discounts) [Member] | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income
Net operating revenues													8,999,000,000
Provision for Bad Debts [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income
Net operating revenues													3,045,000,000
Provision for Bad Debts [Member] | Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income
Net operating revenues													1,819,000,000
Provision for Bad Debts [Member] | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income
Net operating revenues													$ 1,226,000,000

[1] Total quarterly amounts may not add due to rounding.