Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Millions	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 2,347	$ 1,958
Increase (decrease) in cash from operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	(2,044)	(2,976)
Provision for doubtful accounts	2,392	2,839
Accounts receivable, net	348	(137)
Inventories and other assets	(161)	(205)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	(341)	(152)
Depreciation and amortization	1,463	1,424
Income taxes	8	(148)
Gains on sales of facilities	(8)	(2)
Losses on retirement of debt	4	125
Legal claim costs	33	77
Amortization of debt issuance costs	26	27
Share-based compensation	196	171
Other	39	38
Net cash provided by operating activities	3,954	3,176
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of property and equipment	(1,884)	(1,571)
Acquisition of hospitals and health care entities	(468)	(184)
Disposal of hospitals and health care entities	23	27
Change in investments	78	94
Other	17	3
Net cash used in investing activities	(2,234)	(1,631)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Issuances of long-term debt	5,400	4,048
Net change in revolving bank credit facilities	(70)	(270)
Repayment of long-term debt	(4,424)	(3,702)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(342)	(367)
Payment of debt issuance costs	(40)	(34)
Repurchases of common stock	(2,213)	(1,386)
Other	(95)	188
Net cash used in financing activities	(1,784)	(1,523)
Change in cash and cash equivalents	(64)	22
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	741	566
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	677	588
Interest payments	1,339	1,349
Income tax payments, net	$ 890	$ 864