Aggregate consideration from debt instrument exchanged for cash.

No definition available.

Name:	cyh_AggregateConsiderationFromDebtInstrumentExchangedForCash
Namespace Prefix:	cyh_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Extinguishment of debt amount through tender offer.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cyh_ExtinguishmentOfDebtAmountThroughTenderOffer
Namespace Prefix:	cyh_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Maximum number of days notice needed to redeem the senior notes at the redemption price plus accrued and unpaid interest.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cyh_MaximumPeriodNoticeForRedemptionsOfDebt
Namespace Prefix:	cyh_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Minimum number of days notice needed to redeem the senior notes at the redemption price plus accrued and unpaid interest.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cyh_MinimumPeriodNoticeForRedemptionsOfDebt
Namespace Prefix:	cyh_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Tender offer commencement date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cyh_TenderOfferCommencementDate
Namespace Prefix:	cyh_
Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Tender offer expiration date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cyh_TenderOfferExpirationDate
Namespace Prefix:	cyh_
Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The number of shares issued in exchange for the original debt being converted in a noncash (or part noncash) transaction. "Part noncash" refers to that portion of the transaction not resulting in cash receipts or payments in the period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 5
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123431023&loc=d3e4332-108586

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123431023&loc=d3e4304-108586

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtConversionConvertedInstrumentSharesIssued1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

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

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 470
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1B
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123466505&loc=SL123495323-112611

Reference 2: 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=124435984&loc=d3e28551-108399

Reference 3: 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

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=124429444&loc=SL124452920-239629

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 470
-SubTopic 20
-Section 55
-Paragraph 69C
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123466577&loc=SL123495737-112612

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 470
-SubTopic 20
-Section 55
-Paragraph 69B
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123466577&loc=SL123495735-112612

+ Details

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

- Definition

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

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	dtr-types:percentItemType
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

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Date when the debt instrument is scheduled to be fully repaid, in YYYY-MM-DD format.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(2))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120391452&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 470
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1B
-Subparagraph (d)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123466505&loc=SL123495323-112611

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 820
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (bbb)(2)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123874694&loc=d3e19207-110258

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentMaturityDate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Description of debt redemption features under terms of the debt agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 470
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph e
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123599511&loc=d3e64711-112823

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionDescription
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Percentage price of original principal amount of debt at which debt can be redeemed by the issuer.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPricePercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	dtr-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Percentage of principal amount of debt redeemed.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPricePercentageOfPrincipalAmountRedeemed
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	dtr-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Gross amount of debt extinguished.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ExtinguishmentOfDebtAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Difference between the fair value of payments made and the carrying amount of debt which is extinguished prior to maturity.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 470
-SubTopic 50
-Section 40
-Paragraph 4
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123467658&loc=d3e12355-112629

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 470
-SubTopic 50
-Section 40
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123467658&loc=d3e12317-112629

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123570139&loc=d3e3602-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The cash inflow associated with the sale of a borrowing supported by a written promise to pay an obligation.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 12
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123570139&loc=d3e3179-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleOfNotesReceivable
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=cyh_SeniorNotesAt6.875Due2028Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodAxis=us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodOneMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodAxis=us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodTwoMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Long-Term Debt - 6.875% Senior Notes, Due 2028 - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($) shares in Millions			12 Months Ended
	Dec. 07, 2020	Nov. 19, 2019	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Gain (loss) on early extinguishment of debt			$ (79,000,000)	$ 317,000,000	$ (54,000,000)
Senior Notes \| Senior Notes at 6.875%, Due 2028
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument aggregate principal amount	$ 700,000,000	$ 1,700,000,000
Debt instrument stated interest rate		6.875%
Cash proceeds received in exchange offer		$ 0
Debt instrument, maturity date		Apr. 01, 2028
Minimum period notice for redemption of debt		15 days
Maximum period notice for redemption of debt		60 days
Debt instrument redemption description			plus a “make-whole” premium, as described in the indenture governing the 6⅞% Senior Notes due 2028.
Maximum principal redeemable using proceeds from a public equity offering, as a percentage of principal amount		40.00%
Aggregate consideration from debt instrument exchanged for cash	$ 400,000,000
Debt instrument converted into shares of common stock	10
Gain (loss) on early extinguishment of debt	$ 205,000,000
Extinguishment of debt amount				226,000,000
Extinguishment of debt amount via tender offer				$ 7,000,000
Tender offer commencement date				Oct. 30, 2020
Tender offer expiration date				Nov. 30, 2020
Senior Notes \| Senior Notes at 6.875%, Due 2028 \| Debt Instrument, Redemption, Period One
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument redemption price percentage		100.00%
Senior Notes \| Senior Notes at 6.875%, Due 2028 \| Debt Instrument, Redemption, Period Two
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument redemption price percentage		106.875%