CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
Net income	$ 133	$ 94	$ 1,152
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	430	398	380
Provision for doubtful accounts	785	717	727
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)	92	81	(952)
Stock-based compensation expense	32	24	22
Impairment of long-lived assets and goodwill, and restructuring charges, net	19	20	10
Litigation and investigation costs	5	55	12
Loss from early extinguishment of debt	4	117	57
Fair market value adjustments related to interest rate swap and LIBOR cap agreements	0	0	3
Amortization of debt discount and debt issuance costs	22	30	31
Pre-tax loss (gain) from discontinued operations	101	41	(10)
Other items, net	(12)	(13)	(5)
Changes in cash from operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	(868)	(850)	(731)
Inventories and other current assets	(59)	(35)	(15)
Income taxes	(5)	(63)	3
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other current liabilities	9	(32)	(87)
Other long-term liabilities	3	(5)	(58)
Payments against reserves for restructuring charges and litigation costs and settlements	(63)	(44)	(83)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities from discontinued operations, excluding income taxes	(35)	(38)	16
Net cash provided by operating activities	593	497	472
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment - continuing operations	(506)	(467)	(433)
Construction of new and replacement hospitals	0	0	(13)
Purchases of property and equipment - discontinued operations	(2)	(8)	(30)
Purchases of businesses or joint venture interests	(211)	(84)	(65)
Proceeds from sales of facilities and other assets - discontinued operations	45	0	19
Proceeds from sales of marketable securities, long-term investments and other assets	17	59	84
Release of escrow funds	0	0	15
Other items, net	(5)	(3)	3
Net cash used in investing activities	(662)	(503)	(420)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayments of borrowings under credit facility	(1,773)	(365)	0
Proceeds from borrowings under credit facility	1,693	445	0
Repayments of other borrowings	(248)	(843)	(886)
Proceeds from other borrowings	1,092	900	601
Repurchases of preferred stock	(292)	0	0
Deferred debt issuance costs	(17)	(21)	(27)
Repurchases of common stock	(126)	(374)	0
Cash dividends on preferred stock	(14)	(24)	(24)
Distributions paid to noncontrolling interests	(15)	(10)	(8)
Other items, net	20	6	7
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	320	(286)	(337)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	251	(292)	(285)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	113	405	690
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	364	113	405
Supplemental disclosures:
Interest paid, net of capitalized interest	(376)	(347)	(402)
Proceeds from interest rate swap agreement	0	30	0
Income tax (payments) refunds, net	$ (13)	$ (10)	$ 34