Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) [Abstract]
Net operating revenues	$ 3,025	$ 3,376
Operating costs and expenses:
Salaries and benefits	1,408	1,542
Supplies	498	558
Other operating expenses	737	811
Government and other legal settlements and related costs	2	5
Lease cost and rent	81	80
Depreciation and amortization	144	153
Impairment and loss on sale of businesses, net	45	38
Total operating costs and expenses	2,915	3,187
Income from operations	110	189
Interest expense, net	262	257
Loss from early extinguishment of debt	4	31
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	(7)	(5)
Loss before income taxes	(149)	(94)
(Benefit from) provision for income taxes	(183)	7
Net income (loss)	34	(101)
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	16	17
Net income (loss) attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. stockholders	$ 18	$ (118)
Earnings (loss) per share attributable to Community Health Systems, Inc. common stockholders:
Basic	$ 0.15	$ (1.04)
Diluted	$ 0.15	$ (1.04)
Weighted-average number of shares outstanding:
Basic	114,301,519	113,257,608
Diluted	114,379,331	113,257,608