Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Millions	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 1,958	$ 1,697
Decrease in cash from operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	(2,976)	(2,655)
Provision for doubtful accounts	2,839	2,337
Accounts receivable, net	(137)	(318)
Inventories and other assets	(205)	(248)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	(152)	(42)
Depreciation and amortization	1,424	1,361
Income taxes	(148)	(61)
Gains on sales of facilities	(2)	(20)
Losses on retirement of debt	125	226
Legal claim costs	77	78
Amortization of debt issuance costs	27	33
Share-based compensation	171	118
Other	38	(3)
Net cash provided by operating activities	3,176	2,821
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of property and equipment	(1,571)	(1,482)
Acquisition of hospitals and health care entities	(184)	(97)
Disposal of hospitals and health care entities	27	38
Change in investments	94	22
Other	3	7
Net cash used in investing activities	(1,631)	(1,512)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Issuances of long-term debt	4,048	3,502
Net change in revolving bank credit facilities	(270)	(160)
Repayment of long-term debt	(3,702)	(3,525)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(367)	(325)
Payment of debt issuance costs	(34)	(49)
Repurchases of common stock	(1,386)	(750)
Income tax benefits	231	119
Other	(43)	(20)
Net cash used in financing activities	(1,523)	(1,208)
Change in cash and cash equivalents	22	101
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	566	414
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	588	515
Interest payments	1,349	1,441
Income tax payments, net	$ 864	$ 758