CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net operating revenues	$ 3,648	$ 4,560	$ 8,168	$ 9,105
Grant income	511	0	511	0
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	31	42	59	76
Operating expenses:
Salaries, wages and benefits	1,864	2,145	4,051	4,296
Supplies	611	753	1,374	1,494
Other operating expenses, net	983	1,035	1,996	2,100
Depreciation and amortization	206	214	409	422
Impairment and restructuring charges, and acquisition-related costs	54	36	109	55
Litigation and investigation costs	2	18	4	31
Net losses (gains) on sales, consolidation and deconsolidation of facilities	(1)	1	(3)	2
Operating income	471	400	798	781
Interest expense	(255)	(247)	(498)	(498)
Other non-operating income (expense), net	2	(1)	3	0
Loss from early extinguishment of debt	(4)	0	(4)	(47)
Income from continuing operations, before income taxes	214	152	299	236
Income tax benefit (expense)	(45)	(33)	30	(53)
Income from continuing operations, before discontinued operations	169	119	329	183
Discontinued operations:
Income (loss) from operations	0	2	(1)	12
Income tax expense	0	0	0	(2)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	0	2	(1)	10
Net income	169	121	328	193
Less: Net income available to noncontrolling interests	81	95	147	179
Net income available to Tenet Healthcare Corporation common shareholders	88	26	181	14
Amounts available (attributable) to Tenet Healthcare Corporation common shareholders
Income from continuing operations, net of tax	88	24	182	4
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	0	2	(1)	10
Net income available to Tenet Healthcare Corporation common shareholders	$ 88	$ 26	$ 181	$ 14
Basic
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.84	$ 0.23	$ 1.74	$ 0.04
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0	0.02	(0.01)	0.10
Total earnings (loss) per share, Basic (in dollars per share)	0.84	0.25	1.73	0.14
Diluted
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	0.83	0.23	1.72	0.04
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0	0.02	(0.01)	0.10
Total earnings (loss) per share, Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.83	$ 0.25	$ 1.71	$ 0.14
Weighted average shares and dilutive securities outstanding (in thousands):
Basic (in shares)	104,794	103,198	104,574	102,993
Diluted (in shares)	105,578	104,629	105,656	104,585