Consolidated Statements of Loss - 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
Net operating revenues (see Note 1)	$ 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 of interest income of $3, $7, and $11 in 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively																	1,041,000,000		976,000,000		931,000,000
Loss (gain) 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)
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes																	160,000,000		(11,000,000)		(449,000,000)
Loss from continuing operations	(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)
Discontinued operations, net of taxes:
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)
Loss per share attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. common stockholders:
Basic	$ (3.27)	[2]	$ (0.15)	[2]	$ (1.47)	[2]	$ (1.04)	[2]	$ (2.91)	[2]	$ (2.88)	[2]	$ (0.97)	[2]	$ (0.22)	[2]	$ (5.93)	[1],[2]	$ (6.99)	[1],[2]	$ (22.00)
Diluted	(3.27)		(0.15)		(1.47)		(1.04)		(2.91)		(2.88)		(0.97)		(0.22)		(5.93)	[1]	(6.99)	[1]	(22.00)
Basic loss per share attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. common stockholders:
Continuing operations	(3.27)	[2]	(0.15)	[2]	(1.47)	[2]	(1.04)	[2]	(2.91)	[2]	(2.88)	[2]	(0.97)	[2]	(0.22)	[2]	(5.93)	[1],[2]	(6.99)	[1],[2]	(21.89)
Discontinued operations																					(0.11)
Diluted loss per share attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. common stockholders:
Continuing operations	$ (3.27)		$ (0.15)		$ (1.47)		$ (1.04)		$ (2.91)		$ (2.88)		$ (0.97)		$ (0.22)		$ (5.93)	[1]	$ (6.99)	[1]	(21.89)
Discontinued operations																					$ (0.11)
Weighted-average number of shares outstanding:
Basic	113,935,629		113,891,721		113,862,097		113,257,608		112,909,869		112,865,482		112,837,944		112,291,496		113,739,046	[1]	112,728,274	[1]	111,769,821
Diluted	113,935,629		113,891,721		113,862,097		113,257,608		112,909,869		112,865,482		112,837,944		112,291,496		113,739,046	[1]	112,728,274	[1]	111,769,821
Operating Revenues (Net of Contractual Allowances and Discounts) [Member]
Net operating revenues (see Note 1)																					$ 18,398,000,000
Provision for Bad Debts [Member]
Net operating revenues (see Note 1)																					$ 3,045,000,000

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

[2] Total per share amounts may not add due to rounding.