Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity (Deficit) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Total	Common Stock	Additional Paid-In Capital	Accumulated Deficit	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Noncontrolling Interest	Parent
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2018			109,491,277
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2018		$ 2,831	$ 11	$ 887,289	$ (884,122)	$ (347)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Stock-based compensation expense		707		707
Shares issued in connection with employee stock plans, net of shares withheld for employee taxes (in shares)			430,370
Shares issued in connection with employee stock plans, net of shares withheld for employee taxes		(53)		(53)
Assignment of NantHealth Labs (see Note 19)		20		20
Other comprehensive loss		55				55
Net income (loss)		(19,923)			(19,923)
Ending balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2019			109,921,647
Ending balance at Mar. 31, 2019		(16,363)	$ 11	887,963	(904,045)	(292)
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2018			109,491,277
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2018		2,831	$ 11	887,289	(884,122)	(347)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net loss		(51,013)
Other comprehensive loss		(100)
Net income (loss)	[1]	(51,013)
Ending balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2019			110,619,906
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2019		(46,577)	$ 11	888,994	(935,135)	(447)
Beginning balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2019			109,921,647
Beginning balance at Mar. 31, 2019		(16,363)	$ 11	887,963	(904,045)	(292)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Stock-based compensation expense		707		707
Shares issued in connection with employee stock plans, net of shares withheld for employee taxes (in shares)			532,860
Shares issued in connection with employee stock plans, net of shares withheld for employee taxes		(209)		(209)
Other comprehensive loss		82				82
Net income (loss)		(14,713)			(14,713)
Ending balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2019			110,454,507
Ending balance at Jun. 30, 2019		(30,496)	$ 11	888,461	(918,758)	(210)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Stock-based compensation expense		535		535
Net loss		(16,377)
Shares issued in connection with employee stock plans, net of shares withheld for employee taxes (in shares)			165,399
Shares issued in connection with employee stock plans, net of shares withheld for employee taxes		(2)		(2)
Other comprehensive loss		(237)				(237)
Net income (loss)		(16,377)			(16,377)
Ending balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2019			110,619,906
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2019		(46,577)	$ 11	888,994	(935,135)	(447)
Ending balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2020			110,929,357
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Total stockholders' deficit		(57,136)	$ 11	889,955	(946,884)	(218)	$ 0	$ (57,136)
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2019			110,619,678
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2019		(57,136)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Stock-based compensation expense		668		668				668
Net loss		23,065			23,065			23,065
Other comprehensive loss		(188)				(188)		(188)
Ending balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2020			110,619,678
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2019			110,619,678
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2019		(57,136)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net loss		(36,266)
Other comprehensive loss		(65)
Net income (loss)		(36,224)
Ending balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2020			111,214,133
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2020		(92,790)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Total stockholders' deficit		(33,591)	$ 11	890,623	(923,819)	(406)	0	(33,591)
Beginning balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2020			110,619,678
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Stock-based compensation expense		408		408				408
Shares issued in connection with employee stock plans, net of shares withheld for employee taxes (in shares)			309,679
Shares issued in connection with employee stock plans, net of shares withheld for employee taxes		(739)		(739)				(739)
Other comprehensive loss		(10)				(10)		(10)
Net income (loss)		(48,289)			(48,289)			(48,289)
Ending balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2020			110,929,357
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Total stockholders' deficit		(82,221)	$ 11	890,292	(972,108)	(416)	0	(82,221)
Stock-based compensation expense		656		656				656
Net loss		(11,042)			(11,000)		(42)	(11,000)
Shares issued in connection with employee stock plans, net of shares withheld for employee taxes (in shares)			284,776
Shares issued in connection with employee stock plans, net of shares withheld for employee taxes		171		171				171
Assignment of NantHealth Labs (see Note 19)		(26)		(529)			503	(529)
Other comprehensive loss		133				133		133
Net income (loss)		(11,000)
Ending balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2020			111,214,133
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2020		(92,790)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Total stockholders' deficit		$ (92,329)	$ 11	$ 890,590	$ (983,108)	$ (283)	$ 461	$ (92,790)

[1] The statements for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 include the Connected Care Business (see Note 4).