Income Taxes	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2016
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Income Taxes	NOTE 3 — INCOME TAXES During 2014, the IRS Examination Division began an audit of HCA Holdings, Inc.’s 2011 and 2012 federal income tax returns. We are also subject to examination by state and foreign taxing authorities. Our liability for unrecognized tax benefits was $537 million, including accrued interest of $67 million, as of March 31, 2016 ($554 million and $73 million, respectively, as of December 31, 2015). Unrecognized tax benefits of $215 million ($233 million as of December 31, 2015) would affect the effective rate, if recognized. The provision for income taxes also reflects a $6 million ($4 million net of tax) reduction in interest expense related to taxing authority examinations for the quarter ended March 31, 2016. Our provision for income taxes for the first quarter of 2016 included a tax benefit of $74 million related to the adoption of ASU 2016-09, which changes how companies account for certain aspects of share-based payments to employees. Under ASU 2016-09, we no longer record excess tax benefits (when the deductible amount related to the settlement of employee equity awards for tax purposes exceeds the cumulative compensation cost recognized for financial reporting purposes) in equity. Instead, we recognize these tax benefits (and deficiencies, if applicable) as a component of our tax provision. This reporting change is applied prospectively and prior period amounts are not restated (the excess tax benefit for the first quarter of 2015, related to the settlement of employee equity awards, was $70 million and was recorded in equity). ASU 2016-09 requires companies to present excess tax benefits as an operating activity on the statement of cash flows rather than as a financing activity, as previously required. We have elected to apply the change to the statement of cash flows presentation prospectively. Depending on the resolution of any IRS, state and foreign tax disputes, the completion of examinations by federal, state or foreign taxing authorities, or the expiration of statutes of limitation for specific taxing jurisdictions, we believe it is reasonably possible that our liability for unrecognized tax benefits may significantly increase or decrease within the next 12 months. However, we are currently unable to estimate the range of any possible change.

NOTE 3 — INCOME TAXES

During 2014, the IRS Examination Division began an audit of HCA Holdings, Inc.’s 2011 and 2012 federal income tax returns. We are also subject to examination by state and foreign taxing authorities.

Our liability for unrecognized tax benefits was $537 million, including accrued interest of $67 million, as of March 31, 2016 ($554 million and $73 million, respectively, as of December 31, 2015). Unrecognized tax benefits of $215 million ($233 million as of December 31, 2015) would affect the effective rate, if recognized. The provision for income taxes also reflects a $6 million ($4 million net of tax) reduction in interest expense related to taxing authority examinations for the quarter ended March 31, 2016.

Our provision for income taxes for the first quarter of 2016 included a tax benefit of $74 million related to the adoption of ASU 2016-09, which changes how companies account for certain aspects of share-based payments to employees. Under ASU 2016-09, we no longer record excess tax benefits (when the deductible amount related to the settlement of employee equity awards for tax purposes exceeds the cumulative compensation cost recognized for financial reporting purposes) in equity. Instead, we recognize these tax benefits (and deficiencies, if applicable) as a component of our tax provision. This reporting change is applied prospectively and prior period amounts are not restated (the excess tax benefit for the first quarter of 2015, related to the settlement of employee equity awards, was $70 million and was recorded in equity). ASU 2016-09 requires companies to present excess tax benefits as an operating activity on the statement of cash flows rather than as a financing activity, as previously required. We have elected to apply the change to the statement of cash flows presentation prospectively.

Depending on the resolution of any IRS, state and foreign tax disputes, the completion of examinations by federal, state or foreign taxing authorities, or the expiration of statutes of limitation for specific taxing jurisdictions, we believe it is reasonably possible that our liability for unrecognized tax benefits may significantly increase or decrease within the next 12 months. However, we are currently unable to estimate the range of any possible change.