Long-Term Debt	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011
Long-Term Debt [Abstract]
Long-Term Debt	(4) Long-term debt On November 15, 2010, we entered into a credit agreement (the "Credit Agreement") with various financial institutions. The Credit Agreement is a senior secured facility which provided an initial aggregate commitment amount of $3.45 billion, comprised of a new $800 million revolving credit facility, a $1.05 billion Term Loan A facility and a $1.6 billion Term Loan B facility. Prior to the effectiveness of the Credit Amendment in March, 2011 (as discussed below), we prepaid $125 million of the principal amount of the Term Loan B and, during the first nine months of 2011, we made scheduled principal payments of $12 million on the Term Loan B and $20 million on the Term Loan A. The revolving credit facility and the Term Loan A mature on November 15, 2015 and the Term Loan B matures on November 16, 2016. The revolving credit facility includes a $125 million sub-limit for letters of credit. The Credit Agreement is secured by substantially all of the assets of the Company and our material subsidiaries and guaranteed by our material subsidiaries. On March 15, 2011, we entered into a first amendment to the Credit Agreement (the "Amendment") which provides, among other things, for a reduction in the interest rates payable in connection with borrowings under the Credit Agreement. Upon the effectiveness of the Amendment on March 15, 2011, borrowings under the Credit Agreement bear interest at a rate per annum equal to, at our election (1) the greatest of (a) the lender's prime rate, (b) the weighted average of the federal funds rate, plus 0.5% and (c) one month LIBOR plus 1%, in each case, plus an applicable margin of initially 1.25%, 1.25% and 2.00% for the revolving credit facility, the Term Loan A facility and the Term Loan B facility, respectively or (2) one, two, three or six month LIBOR (at our election), plus an applicable margin of initially 2.25%, 2.25% and 3.00% for the revolving credit facility, the Term Loan A facility and the Term Loan B facility, respectively. Effective in August, 2011, the applicable margins for the Term Loan A facility and the revolving credit facility became subject to adjustment based upon our consolidated leverage ratio or corporate credit rating at the end of each quarter ranging from 0.50% to 1.25% for alternate base rate ("ABR")-based loans and 1.50% to 2.25% for LIBOR-based loans under the revolving credit facility and the Term Loan A facility. The minimum Eurodollar rate for the Term Loan B facility was reduced from 1.50% to 1.00%. The current applicable margins are 0.75% for ABR-based loans and 1.75% for LIBOR-based loans under the revolving credit facility and the Term Loan A facility. Effective in November, 2011, the applicable margin for the Term Loan B facility is subject to adjustment based upon our consolidated leverage ratio at the end of each quarter ranging from 1.75% to 2.00% for ABR-based loans and 2.75% to 3.00% for LIBOR-based loans. In connection with the Amendment, we paid a fee of 1.00% of the amounts outstanding under the Term Loan B in accordance with the terms of the Credit Agreement. In October, 2010, we amended our accounts receivable securitization program ("Securitization") with a group of conduit lenders and liquidity banks. We increased the size of the Securitization to $240 million (the "Commitments"), from $200 million, and extended the maturity date to October 25, 2013. Substantially all of the patient-related accounts receivable of our acute care hospitals ("Receivables") serve as collateral for the outstanding borrowings. The interest rate on the borrowings is based on the commercial paper rate plus a spread of 0.475% and there is a facility fee of 0.375% required on 102% on the Commitments. We have accounted for this Securitization as borrowings. We maintain effective control over the Receivables since, pursuant to the terms of the Securitization, the Receivables are sold from certain of our subsidiaries to special purpose entities that are wholly-owned by us. The Receivables, however, are owned by the special purpose entities, can be used only to satisfy the debts of the wholly-owned special purpose entities, and thus are not available to us except through our ownership interest in the special purpose entities. The wholly-owned special purpose entities use the Receivables to collateralize the loans obtained from the group of third-party conduit lenders and liquidity banks. The group of third-party conduit lenders and liquidity banks do not have recourse to us beyond the assets of the wholly-owned special purpose entities that securitize the loans. We had $240 million of outstanding borrowings pursuant to the terms of our accounts receivable securitization program at September 30, 2011. As of September 30, 2011, we had no outstanding borrowings under a short-term, on-demand credit facility. Outstanding borrowings, if any, pursuant to this facility are classified as long-term debt on our Consolidated Balance Sheet since they can be refinanced through available borrowings under the terms of our Credit Agreement. As of September 30, 2011, we had an aggregate of $646 million of available borrowing capacity pursuant to the terms of our Credit Agreement and Securitization, net of $64 million of outstanding letters of credit. On September 29, 2010, we issued $250 million of 7.00% senior unsecured notes (the "Unsecured Notes") which are scheduled to mature on October 1, 2018. Interest on the Unsecured Notes is payable semiannually in arrears on April 1st and October 1st of each year. The Unsecured Notes can be redeemed in whole at anytime subject to a make-whole call at treasury rate plus 50 basis points prior to October 1, 2014. They are also redeemable in whole or in part at a price of: (i) 103.5% on or after October 1, 2014; (ii) 101.75% on or after October 1, 2015, and; (iii) 100% on or after October 1, 2016. On April 14, 2011, we announced the commencement of an exchange offer for the Unsecured Notes that were originally issued in a private offering. In connection with the original sale of the Unsecured Notes, we entered into a registration rights agreement in which we undertook to offer to exchange the outstanding notes for new notes (the "exchange notes") to be registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). Pursuant to an effective registration statement on Form S-4 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 1, 2011, holders of the outstanding notes were able to exchange the outstanding notes for exchange notes in an equal principal amount. The exchange notes were substantially identical to the outstanding notes, except that the exchange notes were registered under the Securities Act and are freely tradable. The exchange offer expired on May 12, 2011. On June 30, 2006, we issued $250 million of senior notes which have a 7.125% coupon rate and mature on June 30, 2016 (the "7.125% Notes"). Interest on the 7.125% Notes is payable semiannually in arrears on June 30th and December 30th of each year. In June, 2008, we issued an additional $150 million of 7.125% Notes which formed a single series with the original 7.125% Notes issued in June, 2006. Other than their date of issuance and initial price to the public, the terms of the 7.125% Notes issued in June, 2008 are identical to and trade interchangeably with, the 7.125% Notes which were originally issued in June, 2006. During 2001, we issued $200 million of senior notes which have a 6.75% coupon rate and which mature on November 15, 2011 (the "6.75% Notes"). The interest on the 6.75% Notes is paid semiannually in arrears on May 15th and November 15th of each year. The 6.75% Notes can be redeemed in whole at any time and in part from time to time. Since we expect to have the borrowing capacity, and intend to refinance the 6.75% Notes upon their maturity in November, 2011 utilizing borrowings under our Credit Agreement, they are classified as long-term debt on our Consolidated Balance Sheet as of September 30, 2011. In connection with the entering into of the Credit Agreement on November 15, 2010, and in accordance with the Indenture dated January 20, 2000 governing the rights of our existing notes, we entered into a supplemental indenture pursuant to which our 7.125% Notes (due in 2015) and our 6.75% Notes (due in 2011) will be equally and ratably secured with the lenders under the Credit Agreement with respect to the collateral for so long as the lenders under the Credit Agreement are so secured. Our Credit Agreement includes a material adverse change clause that must be represented at each draw. The Credit Agreement contains covenants that include a limitation on sales of assets, mergers, change of ownership, liens and indebtedness, transactions with affiliates and dividends; and requires compliance with financial covenants including maximum leverage and minimum interest coverage ratios. We are in compliance with all required covenants as of September 30, 2011. The carrying amount and fair value of our debt was $3.69 billion and $3.70 billion at September 30, 2011, respectively. The fair value of our debt was computed based upon quotes received from financial institutions. Cash Flow Hedges: We manage our ratio of fixed to floating rate debt with the objective of achieving a mix that management believes is appropriate. To manage this risk in a cost-effective manner, we, from time to time, enter into interest rate swap agreements in which we agree to exchange various combinations of fixed and/or variable interest rates based on agreed upon notional amounts. We account for our derivative and hedging activities using the Financial Accounting Standard Board's ("FASB") guidance which requires all derivative instruments, including certain derivative instruments embedded in other contracts, to be carried at fair value on the balance sheet. For derivative transactions designated as hedges, we formally document all relationships between the hedging instrument and the related hedged item, as well as its risk-management objective and strategy for undertaking each hedge transaction. Derivative instruments designated in a hedge relationship to mitigate exposure to variability in expected future cash flows, or other types of forecasted transactions, are considered cash flow hedges. Cash flow hedges are accounted for by recording the fair value of the derivative instrument on the balance sheet as either an asset or liability, with a corresponding amount recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income ("AOCI") within shareholders' equity. Amounts are reclassified from AOCI to the income statement in the period or periods the hedged transaction affects earnings. We use interest rate derivatives in our cash flow hedge transactions. Such derivatives are designed to be highly effective in offsetting changes in the cash flows related to the hedged liability. For derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges, the ineffective portion of the change in expected cash flows of the hedged item are recognized currently in the income statement. For hedge transactions that do not qualify for the short-cut method, at the hedge's inception and on a regular basis thereafter, a formal assessment is performed to determine whether changes in the fair values or cash flows of the derivative instruments have been highly effective in offsetting changes in cash flows of the hedged items and whether they are expected to be highly effective in the future. The fair value of interest rate swap agreements approximates the amount at which they could be settled, based on estimates obtained from the counterparties. We assess the effectiveness of our hedge instruments on a quarterly basis. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, we completed an assessment of the cash flow hedge instruments and determined the hedges to be highly effective. We also determined that no portion of the hedges is ineffective and therefore there was no material effect on our consolidated financial position, operations or cash flows. The counterparties to the interest rate swap agreements expose us to credit risk in the event of nonperformance. However, at September 30, 2011, each swap agreement entered into by us was in a net liability position which would require us to make the net settlement payments to the counterparties. We do not anticipate nonperformance by those counterparties. We do not hold or issue derivative financial instruments for trading purposes. During the first quarter of 2011, we entered into an interest rate cap on a total notional amount of $275 million whereby we paid a premium of $30,000 in exchange for the counterparty agreeing to pay the difference between 2.25% and three-month LIBOR if the three-month LIBOR rate rises above 2.25% during the term of the cap, which expires on December 15, 2011. If the three-month LIBOR does not reach 2.25% during the term of the cap, no payment is made to us. We also entered into a forward starting interest rate cap on a total notional amount of $450 million from December 15, 2011 to December 15, 2012 reducing to $400 million from December 15, 2012 to December 15, 2014 whereby we paid a premium of $740,000 in exchange for the counterparty agreeing to pay the difference between 7.00% and three-month LIBOR if the three-month LIBOR rate rises above 7.00% during the term of the cap. If the three-month LIBOR does not reach 7.00% during the term of the cap, no payment is made to us. We also entered into six additional forward starting interest rate swaps in the first quarter of 2011 whereby we pay a fixed rate on a total notional amount of $425 million and receive three-month LIBOR. Three of these swaps with a total notional amount of $225 million became effective on March 15, 2011 and will mature on May 15, 2015. The average fixed rate payable on these swaps is 1.91%. The three remaining interest rate swaps with total notional amounts of $100 million, $25 million and $75 million become effective on December 15, 2011 and have rates of 2.50%, 1.96% and 1.32%, and maturity dates of December 15, 2014, December 15, 2013 and December 15, 2012, respectively. During the fourth quarter of 2010, we entered into three interest rate caps on a total notional amount of $1 billion whereby we paid a premium of $240,000 in exchange for the counterparties agreeing to pay the difference between 2.25% and three-month LIBOR if the three-month LIBOR rate rises above 2.25% during the term of the caps. If the three-month LIBOR does not reach 2.25% during the term of the caps, no payment is made to us. All of the caps expire on December 15, 2011. We also entered into four forward starting interest rate swaps in the fourth quarter of 2010 whereby we pay a fixed rate on a total notional amount of $600 million and receive three-month LIBOR. Each of the four swaps become effective on December 15, 2011 and will mature on May 15, 2015. The average fixed rate payable on these swaps is 2.38%. During the fourth quarter of 2007, we entered into two interest rate swaps whereby we pay a fixed rate on a total notional principal amount of $150 million and receive three-month LIBOR. Each of the two interest rate swaps has a notional principal amount of $75 million. The fixed rate payable on the first interest rate swap is 4.7625% and matures on October 5, 2012. The fixed rate payable on the second interest rate swap is 4.865% and the maturity date is October, 17, 2011. The notional amount of the second interest rate swap reduced to $50 million on October 18, 2010. We measure our interest rate swaps at fair value on a recurring basis. The fair value of our interest rate swaps is based primarily on quotes from banks. We consider those inputs to be "level 3" in the fair value hierarchy as outlined in the authoritative guidance for disclosures in connection with derivative instruments and hedging activities. The fair value of our interest rate swaps was a liability of $50 million at September 30, 2011, of which $1 million is included in other current liabilities and $49 million is included in other noncurrent liabilities on the accompanying balance sheet. The fair value of our interest rate swaps was a liability of $10 million at December 31, 2010, of which $2 million is included in other current liabilities and $8 million is included in other noncurrent liabilities.

Long-Term Debt

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2011

(4) Long-term debt

On November 15, 2010, we entered into a credit agreement (the "Credit Agreement") with various financial institutions. The Credit Agreement is a senior secured facility which provided an initial aggregate commitment amount of $3.45 billion, comprised of a new $800 million revolving credit facility, a $1.05 billion Term Loan A facility and a $1.6 billion Term Loan B facility. Prior to the effectiveness of the Credit Amendment in March, 2011 (as discussed below), we prepaid $125 million of the principal amount of the Term Loan B and, during the first nine months of 2011, we made scheduled principal payments of $12 million on the Term Loan B and $20 million on the Term Loan A. The revolving credit facility and the Term Loan A mature on November 15, 2015 and the Term Loan B matures on November 16, 2016. The revolving credit facility includes a $125 million sub-limit for letters of credit. The Credit Agreement is secured by substantially all of the assets of the Company and our material subsidiaries and guaranteed by our material subsidiaries.

On March 15, 2011, we entered into a first amendment to the Credit Agreement (the "Amendment") which provides, among other things, for a reduction in the interest rates payable in connection with borrowings under the Credit Agreement. Upon the effectiveness of the Amendment on March 15, 2011, borrowings under the Credit Agreement bear interest at a rate per annum equal to, at our election (1) the greatest of (a) the lender's prime rate, (b) the weighted average of the federal funds rate, plus 0.5% and (c) one month LIBOR plus 1%, in each case, plus an applicable margin of initially 1.25%, 1.25% and 2.00% for the revolving credit facility, the Term Loan A facility and the Term Loan B facility, respectively or (2) one, two, three or six month LIBOR (at our election), plus an applicable margin of initially 2.25%, 2.25% and 3.00% for the revolving credit facility, the Term Loan A facility and the Term Loan B facility, respectively. Effective in August, 2011, the applicable margins for the Term Loan A facility and the revolving credit facility became subject to adjustment based upon our consolidated leverage ratio or corporate credit rating at the end of each quarter ranging from 0.50% to 1.25% for alternate base rate ("ABR")-based loans and 1.50% to 2.25% for LIBOR-based loans under the revolving credit facility and the Term Loan A facility. The minimum Eurodollar rate for the Term Loan B facility was reduced from 1.50% to 1.00%. The current applicable margins are 0.75% for ABR-based loans and 1.75% for LIBOR-based loans under the revolving credit facility and the Term Loan A facility. Effective in November, 2011, the applicable margin for the Term Loan B facility is subject to adjustment based upon our consolidated leverage ratio at the end of each quarter ranging from 1.75% to 2.00% for ABR-based loans and 2.75% to 3.00% for LIBOR-based loans. In connection with the Amendment, we paid a fee of 1.00% of the amounts outstanding under the Term Loan B in accordance with the terms of the Credit Agreement.

In October, 2010, we amended our accounts receivable securitization program ("Securitization") with a group of conduit lenders and liquidity banks. We increased the size of the Securitization to $240 million (the "Commitments"), from $200 million, and extended the maturity date to October 25, 2013. Substantially all of the patient-related accounts receivable of our acute care hospitals ("Receivables") serve as collateral for the outstanding borrowings. The interest rate on the borrowings is based on the commercial paper rate plus a spread of 0.475% and there is a facility fee of 0.375% required on 102% on the Commitments. We have accounted for this Securitization as borrowings. We maintain effective control over the Receivables since, pursuant to the terms of the Securitization, the Receivables are sold from certain of our subsidiaries to special purpose entities that are wholly-owned by us. The Receivables, however, are owned by the special purpose entities, can be used only to satisfy the debts of the wholly-owned special purpose entities, and thus are not available to us except through our ownership interest in the special purpose entities. The wholly-owned special purpose entities use the Receivables to collateralize the loans obtained from the group of third-party conduit lenders and liquidity banks. The group of third-party conduit lenders and liquidity banks do not have recourse to us beyond the assets of the wholly-owned special purpose entities that securitize the loans. We had $240 million of outstanding borrowings pursuant to the terms of our accounts receivable securitization program at September 30, 2011.

As of September 30, 2011, we had no outstanding borrowings under a short-term, on-demand credit facility. Outstanding borrowings, if any, pursuant to this facility are classified as long-term debt on our Consolidated Balance Sheet since they can be refinanced through available borrowings under the terms of our Credit Agreement.

As of September 30, 2011, we had an aggregate of $646 million of available borrowing capacity pursuant to the terms of our Credit Agreement and Securitization, net of $64 million of outstanding letters of credit.

On September 29, 2010, we issued $250 million of 7.00% senior unsecured notes (the "Unsecured Notes") which are scheduled to mature on October 1, 2018. Interest on the Unsecured Notes is payable semiannually in arrears on April 1st and October 1st of each year. The Unsecured Notes can be redeemed in whole at anytime subject to a make-whole call at treasury rate plus 50 basis points prior to October 1, 2014. They are also redeemable in whole or in part at a price of: (i) 103.5% on or after October 1, 2014; (ii) 101.75% on or after October 1, 2015, and; (iii) 100% on or after October 1, 2016. On April 14, 2011, we announced the commencement of an exchange offer for the Unsecured Notes that were originally issued in a private offering. In connection with the original sale of the Unsecured Notes, we entered into a registration rights agreement in which we undertook to offer to exchange the outstanding notes for new notes (the "exchange notes") to be registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). Pursuant to an effective registration statement on Form S-4 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 1, 2011, holders of the outstanding notes were able to exchange the outstanding notes for exchange notes in an equal principal amount. The exchange notes were substantially identical to the outstanding notes, except that the exchange notes were registered under the Securities Act and are freely tradable. The exchange offer expired on May 12, 2011.

On June 30, 2006, we issued $250 million of senior notes which have a 7.125% coupon rate and mature on June 30, 2016 (the "7.125% Notes"). Interest on the 7.125% Notes is payable semiannually in arrears on June 30th and December 30th of each year. In June, 2008, we issued an additional $150 million of 7.125% Notes which formed a single series with the original 7.125% Notes issued in June, 2006. Other than their date of issuance and initial price to the public, the terms of the 7.125% Notes issued in June, 2008 are identical to and trade interchangeably with, the 7.125% Notes which were originally issued in June, 2006.

During 2001, we issued $200 million of senior notes which have a 6.75% coupon rate and which mature on November 15, 2011 (the "6.75% Notes"). The interest on the 6.75% Notes is paid semiannually in arrears on May 15th and November 15th of each year. The 6.75% Notes can be redeemed in whole at any time and in part from time to time. Since we expect to have the borrowing capacity, and intend to refinance the 6.75% Notes upon their maturity in November, 2011 utilizing borrowings under our Credit Agreement, they are classified as long-term debt on our Consolidated Balance Sheet as of September 30, 2011.

In connection with the entering into of the Credit Agreement on November 15, 2010, and in accordance with the Indenture dated January 20, 2000 governing the rights of our existing notes, we entered into a supplemental indenture pursuant to which our 7.125% Notes (due in 2015) and our 6.75% Notes (due in 2011) will be equally and ratably secured with the lenders under the Credit Agreement with respect to the collateral for so long as the lenders under the Credit Agreement are so secured.

Our Credit Agreement includes a material adverse change clause that must be represented at each draw. The Credit Agreement contains covenants that include a limitation on sales of assets, mergers, change of ownership, liens and indebtedness, transactions with affiliates and dividends; and requires compliance with financial covenants including maximum leverage and minimum interest coverage ratios. We are in compliance with all required covenants as of September 30, 2011.

The carrying amount and fair value of our debt was $3.69 billion and $3.70 billion at September 30, 2011, respectively. The fair value of our debt was computed based upon quotes received from financial institutions.

Cash Flow Hedges:

We manage our ratio of fixed to floating rate debt with the objective of achieving a mix that management believes is appropriate. To manage this risk in a cost-effective manner, we, from time to time, enter into interest rate swap agreements in which we agree to exchange various combinations of fixed and/or variable interest rates based on agreed upon notional amounts. We account for our derivative and hedging activities using the Financial Accounting Standard Board's ("FASB") guidance which requires all derivative instruments, including certain derivative instruments embedded in other contracts, to be carried at fair value on the balance sheet. For derivative transactions designated as hedges, we formally document all relationships between the hedging instrument and the related hedged item, as well as its risk-management objective and strategy for undertaking each hedge transaction.

Derivative instruments designated in a hedge relationship to mitigate exposure to variability in expected future cash flows, or other types of forecasted transactions, are considered cash flow hedges. Cash flow hedges are accounted for by recording the fair value of the derivative instrument on the balance sheet as either an asset or liability, with a corresponding amount recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income ("AOCI") within shareholders' equity. Amounts are reclassified from AOCI to the income statement in the period or periods the hedged transaction affects earnings. We use interest rate derivatives in our cash flow hedge transactions. Such derivatives are designed to be highly effective in offsetting changes in the cash flows related to the hedged liability. For derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges, the ineffective portion of the change in expected cash flows of the hedged item are recognized currently in the income statement.

For hedge transactions that do not qualify for the short-cut method, at the hedge's inception and on a regular basis thereafter, a formal assessment is performed to determine whether changes in the fair values or cash flows of the derivative instruments have been highly effective in offsetting changes in cash flows of the hedged items and whether they are expected to be highly effective in the future.

The fair value of interest rate swap agreements approximates the amount at which they could be settled, based on estimates obtained from the counterparties. We assess the effectiveness of our hedge instruments on a quarterly basis. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, we completed an assessment of the cash flow hedge instruments and determined the hedges to be highly effective. We also determined that no portion of the hedges is ineffective and therefore there was no material effect on our consolidated financial position, operations or cash flows. The counterparties to the interest rate swap agreements expose us to credit risk in the event of nonperformance. However, at September 30, 2011, each swap agreement entered into by us was in a net liability position which would require us to make the net settlement payments to the counterparties. We do not anticipate nonperformance by those counterparties. We do not hold or issue derivative financial instruments for trading purposes.

During the first quarter of 2011, we entered into an interest rate cap on a total notional amount of $275 million whereby we paid a premium of $30,000 in exchange for the counterparty agreeing to pay the difference between 2.25% and three-month LIBOR if the three-month LIBOR rate rises above 2.25% during the term of the cap, which expires on December 15, 2011. If the three-month LIBOR does not reach 2.25% during the term of the cap, no payment is made to us. We also entered into a forward starting interest rate cap on a total notional amount of $450 million from December 15, 2011 to December 15, 2012 reducing to $400 million from December 15, 2012 to December 15, 2014 whereby we paid a premium of $740,000 in exchange for the counterparty agreeing to pay the difference between 7.00% and three-month LIBOR if the three-month LIBOR rate rises above 7.00% during the term of the cap. If the three-month LIBOR does not reach 7.00% during the term of the cap, no payment is made to us.

We also entered into six additional forward starting interest rate swaps in the first quarter of 2011 whereby we pay a fixed rate on a total notional amount of $425 million and receive three-month LIBOR. Three of these swaps with a total notional amount of $225 million became effective on March 15, 2011 and will mature on May 15, 2015. The average fixed rate payable on these swaps is 1.91%. The three remaining interest rate swaps with total notional amounts of $100 million, $25 million and $75 million become effective on December 15, 2011 and have rates of 2.50%, 1.96% and 1.32%, and maturity dates of December 15, 2014, December 15, 2013 and December 15, 2012, respectively.

During the fourth quarter of 2010, we entered into three interest rate caps on a total notional amount of $1 billion whereby we paid a premium of $240,000 in exchange for the counterparties agreeing to pay the difference between 2.25% and three-month LIBOR if the three-month LIBOR rate rises above 2.25% during the term of the caps. If the three-month LIBOR does not reach 2.25% during the term of the caps, no payment is made to us. All of the caps expire on December 15, 2011. We also entered into four forward starting interest rate swaps in the fourth quarter of 2010 whereby we pay a fixed rate on a total notional amount of $600 million and receive three-month LIBOR. Each of the four swaps become effective on December 15, 2011 and will mature on May 15, 2015. The average fixed rate payable on these swaps is 2.38%.

During the fourth quarter of 2007, we entered into two interest rate swaps whereby we pay a fixed rate on a total notional principal amount of $150 million and receive three-month LIBOR. Each of the two interest rate swaps has a notional principal amount of $75 million. The fixed rate payable on the first interest rate swap is 4.7625% and matures on October 5, 2012. The fixed rate payable on the second interest rate swap is 4.865% and the maturity date is October, 17, 2011. The notional amount of the second interest rate swap reduced to $50 million on October 18, 2010. We measure our interest rate swaps at fair value on a recurring basis. The fair value of our interest rate swaps is based primarily on quotes from banks. We consider those inputs to be "level 3" in the fair value hierarchy as outlined in the authoritative guidance for disclosures in connection with derivative instruments and hedging activities.

The fair value of our interest rate swaps was a liability of $50 million at September 30, 2011, of which $1 million is included in other current liabilities and $49 million is included in other noncurrent liabilities on the accompanying balance sheet. The fair value of our interest rate swaps was a liability of $10 million at December 31, 2010, of which $2 million is included in other current liabilities and $8 million is included in other noncurrent liabilities.