CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net operating revenues	$ 4,954	$ 3,648	$ 9,735	$ 8,168
Grant income	19	511	50	511
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	54	31	96	59
Operating expenses:
Salaries, wages and benefits	2,280	1,864	4,481	4,051
Supplies	859	611	1,663	1,374
Other operating expenses, net	1,054	983	2,126	1,996
Depreciation and amortization	221	206	445	409
Impairment and restructuring charges, and acquisition-related costs	20	54	40	109
Litigation and investigation costs	22	2	35	4
Net gains on sales, consolidation and deconsolidation of facilities	(15)	(1)	(15)	(3)
Operating income	586	471	1,106	798
Interest expense	(235)	(255)	(475)	(498)
Other non-operating income (expense), net	(1)	2	9	3
Loss from early extinguishment of debt	(31)	(4)	(54)	(4)
Income from continuing operations, before income taxes	319	214	586	299
Income tax benefit (expense)	(61)	(45)	(106)	30
Income from continuing operations, before discontinued operations	258	169	480	329
Discontinued operations:
Loss from operations	(1)	0	(1)	(1)
Loss from discontinued operations	(1)	0	(1)	(1)
Net income	257	169	479	328
Less: Net income available to noncontrolling interests	138	81	263	147
Net income available to Tenet Healthcare Corporation common shareholders	119	88	216	181
Amounts available (attributable) to Tenet Healthcare Corporation common shareholders
Income from continuing operations, net of tax	120	88	217	182
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	(1)	0	(1)	(1)
Net income available to Tenet Healthcare Corporation common shareholders	$ 119	$ 88	$ 216	$ 181
Basic
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 1.12	$ 0.84	$ 2.04	$ 1.74
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	(0.01)	0	(0.01)	(0.01)
Total earnings (loss) per share, basic (in dollars per share)	1.11	0.84	2.03	1.73
Diluted
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	1.11	0.83	2.00	1.72
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	(0.01)	0	(0.01)	(0.01)
Total earnings (loss) per share, diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 1.10	$ 0.83	$ 1.99	$ 1.71
Weighted average shares and dilutive securities outstanding (in thousands):
Basic (in shares)	106,822	104,794	106,566	104,574
Diluted (in shares)	108,569	105,578	108,317	105,656