SEGMENT INFORMATION - Reconciling Items (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2019
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets:	$ 23,823		$ 23,365
Capital expenditures:	182	$ 192
Net operating revenues:	4,520	4,545
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates:	28	34
Adjusted EBITDA	585	623
Depreciation and amortization:	203	208
Adjusted EBITDA and other reconciling items
Adjusted EBITDA	585	623
Loss from divested and closed businesses (i.e., the Company’s health plan businesses)	0	(1)
Depreciation and amortization	(203)	(208)
Impairment and restructuring charges, and acquisition-related costs	(55)	(19)
Litigation and investigation costs	(2)	(13)
Interest expense	(243)	(251)
Loss from early extinguishment of debt	0	(47)
Other non-operating income, net	1	1
Net gains (losses) on sales, consolidation and deconsolidation of facilities	2	(1)
Income from continuing operations, before income taxes	85	84
Inter-segment eliminations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net operating revenues:	(136)	(146)
Hospital Operations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets:	16,543		16,196
Net operating revenues:	490	480
Hospital Operations | Operating segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Capital expenditures:	167	170
Net operating revenues:	3,834	3,862
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates:	2	3
Adjusted EBITDA	342	347
Depreciation and amortization:	175	179
Adjusted EBITDA and other reconciling items
Adjusted EBITDA	342	347
Depreciation and amortization	(175)	(179)
Ambulatory Care
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets:	6,319		6,195
Ambulatory Care | Operating segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Capital expenditures:	11	20
Net operating revenues:	490	480
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates:	26	31
Adjusted EBITDA	156	177
Depreciation and amortization:	19	18
Adjusted EBITDA and other reconciling items
Adjusted EBITDA	156	177
Depreciation and amortization	(19)	(18)
Conifer
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets:	961		$ 974
Net operating revenues:	332	349
Conifer | Operating segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Capital expenditures:	4	2
Net operating revenues:	332	349
Adjusted EBITDA	87	99
Depreciation and amortization:	9	11
Adjusted EBITDA and other reconciling items
Adjusted EBITDA	87	99
Depreciation and amortization	(9)	(11)
Tenet | Conifer | Operating segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net operating revenues:	136	146
Other clients | Conifer | Operating segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net operating revenues:	$ 196	$ 203