ACQUISITIONS - Purchase Price Allocation (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Jun. 16, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Final purchase price allocations
Goodwill		$ 7,376	$ 7,376	$ 6,970
Increase in goodwill		79
Increase in depreciation and amortization expense		7
Hospital Operations
Final purchase price allocations
Goodwill		190	190
Ambulatory Care
Final purchase price allocations
Goodwill		126	126
United Surgical Partners International
Final purchase price allocations
Assumed debt	$ 1,500
Payment contributed to joint venture	424
Series of individual business acquisitions
Final purchase price allocations
Current assets		42	42
Property and equipment		33	33
Other intangible assets		7	7
Goodwill		316	316
Other long-term assets		6	6
Current liabilities		(25)	(25)
Other long-term liabilities		(14)	(14)
Redeemable noncontrolling interests in equity of consolidated subsidiaries		(114)	(114)
Noncontrolling interests		(122)	(122)
Cash paid, net of cash acquired		$ (96)	(96)
Gain on consolidations			33
Transaction costs related to prospective and closed acquisitions			$ 5
European Surgical Partners Ltd
Final purchase price allocations
Payment contributed to joint venture	$ 226