BASIS OF PRESENTATION (Policies)	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2026
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Description of Business and Basis of Presentation	This quarterly report supplements our Annual Report on Form 10‑K for the year ended December 31, 2025 (“Annual Report”). As permitted by the Securities and Exchange Commission for interim reporting, we have omitted certain notes and disclosures that substantially duplicate those in our Annual Report. For further information, refer to the audited Consolidated Financial Statements and notes included in our Annual Report. Unless otherwise indicated, dollar amounts presented in our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and these accompanying notes are expressed in millions (except per‑share amounts), and all share amounts are expressed in thousands. We adopted the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2025‑10, “Government Grants” (“ASU 2025-10”), effective as of January 1, 2026, using the modified prospective approach. We elected to apply the cost accumulation approach for grants related to assets. Under this method, we will initially measure the subject asset on the basis of the cost incurred to acquire or construct the asset, less the monetary grant received or expected to be received, when the grant meets recognition criteria. The adoption of ASU 2025-10 did not result in a change in our method of accounting for grants related to income, and we will continue to reflect the earnings impact of these grants in other income in our condensed consolidated statements of operations. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on our financial statements. Although our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and these related notes are unaudited, we believe all adjustments considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included and are of a normal recurring nature. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and these accompanying notes. We regularly evaluate the accounting policies and estimates we use. In general, we base the estimates on historical experience and on assumptions that we believe to be reasonable given the particular circumstances in which we operate. Actual results may vary from those estimates. The financial and statistical information we report to other regulatory agencies may be prepared on a basis other than GAAP or using different assumptions or reporting periods and, therefore, may vary from the amounts presented herein. Although we make every effort to ensure that the information we report to those agencies is accurate, complete and consistent with applicable reporting guidelines, we cannot be responsible for the accuracy of the information they make available to the public. Operating results for the three and six-month periods ended June 30, 2026 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full year. Reasons for this include, but are not limited to: the impact of the demand for, and availability of, qualified medical personnel on compensation costs; overall revenue and cost trends, particularly the timing and magnitude of price changes; fluctuations in contractual allowances and cost report settlements and valuation allowances; managed care contract negotiations, settlements or terminations and payer consolidations; trends in patient accounts receivable collectability and associated implicit price concessions; the impact of cybersecurity incidents on our operations; fluctuations in interest rates; levels of malpractice insurance expense and settlement trends; impairment of long‑lived assets and goodwill; restructuring charges; losses, costs and insurance recoveries related to cybersecurity incidents, natural disasters and weather‑related occurrences; the potential emergence and effects of future pandemics, epidemics or outbreaks of infectious diseases on our operations, financial condition and liquidity; litigation and investigation costs; fluctuations in the costs associated with our defined contribution retirement plans; acquisitions and dispositions of facilities and other assets; gains (losses) on sales, consolidation and deconsolidation of facilities; income tax rates and deferred tax asset valuation allowance activity; changes in estimates of accruals for annual incentive compensation; the timing and amounts of stock-based compensation grants to employees and directors; gains (losses) from early extinguishment of debt; and changes in occupancy levels and patient volumes.
Cash and Cash Equivalents	We treat highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less as cash equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents were $2.170 billion and $2.883 billion at June 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025, respectively. At June 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025, our book overdrafts were $136 million and $161 million, respectively, which were classified as accounts payable. Also at June 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025, $86 million and $108 million, respectively, of total cash and cash equivalents in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets were intended for the operations of our insurance‑related subsidiaries. At June 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025, we had $59 million and $111 million, respectively, of property and equipment purchases accrued for items received but not yet paid. Of these amounts, $50 million and $102 million, respectively, were included in accounts payable. During the six months ended June 30, 2026 and 2025, we recorded right‑of‑use assets related to non‑cancellable finance leases of $66 million and $25 million, respectively, and related to non‑cancellable operating leases of $155 million and $212 million, respectively.
Investments in Unconsolidated Affiliates	As of June 30, 2026, we controlled 413 of the facilities in our Ambulatory Care segment and, therefore, consolidated their results. We account for many of the facilities in which our Ambulatory Care segment holds ownership interests (151 of 564 at June 30, 2026), as well as additional companies in which our Hospital Operations segment holds ownership interests, under the equity method as investments in unconsolidated affiliates and report only our share of net income as equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates in our condensed consolidated statements of operations.

BASIS OF PRESENTATION (Policies)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2026

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Description of Business and Basis of Presentation

This quarterly report supplements our Annual Report on Form 10‑K for the year ended December 31, 2025 (“Annual Report”). As permitted by the Securities and Exchange Commission for interim reporting, we have omitted certain notes and disclosures that substantially duplicate those in our Annual Report. For further information, refer to the audited Consolidated Financial Statements and notes included in our Annual Report. Unless otherwise indicated, dollar amounts presented in our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and these accompanying notes are expressed in millions (except per‑share amounts), and all share amounts are expressed in thousands.

We adopted the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2025‑10, “Government Grants” (“ASU 2025-10”), effective as of January 1, 2026, using the modified prospective approach. We elected to apply the cost accumulation approach for grants related to assets. Under this method, we will initially measure the subject asset on the basis of the cost incurred to acquire or construct the asset, less the monetary grant received or expected to be received, when the grant meets recognition criteria. The adoption of ASU 2025-10 did not result in a change in our method of accounting for grants related to income, and we will continue to reflect the earnings impact of these grants in other income in our condensed consolidated statements of operations. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on our financial statements.

Although our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and these related notes are unaudited, we believe all adjustments considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included and are of a normal recurring nature. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and these accompanying notes. We regularly evaluate the accounting policies and estimates we use. In general, we base the estimates on historical experience and on assumptions that we believe to be reasonable given the particular circumstances in which we operate. Actual results may vary from those estimates. The financial and statistical information we report to other regulatory agencies may be prepared on a basis other than GAAP or using different assumptions or reporting periods and, therefore, may vary from the amounts presented herein. Although we make every effort to ensure that the information we report to those agencies is accurate, complete and consistent with applicable reporting guidelines, we cannot be responsible for the accuracy of the information they make available to the public.

Operating results for the three and six-month periods ended June 30, 2026 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full year. Reasons for this include, but are not limited to: the impact of the demand for, and availability of, qualified medical personnel on compensation costs; overall revenue and cost trends, particularly the timing and magnitude of price changes; fluctuations in contractual allowances and cost report settlements and valuation allowances; managed care contract negotiations, settlements or terminations and payer consolidations; trends in patient accounts receivable collectability and associated implicit price concessions; the impact of cybersecurity incidents on our operations; fluctuations in interest rates; levels of malpractice insurance expense and settlement trends; impairment of long‑lived assets and goodwill; restructuring charges; losses, costs and insurance recoveries related to cybersecurity incidents, natural disasters and weather‑related occurrences; the potential emergence and effects of future pandemics, epidemics or outbreaks of infectious diseases on our operations, financial condition and liquidity; litigation and investigation costs; fluctuations in the costs associated with our defined contribution retirement plans; acquisitions and dispositions of facilities and other assets; gains (losses) on sales, consolidation and deconsolidation of facilities; income tax rates and deferred tax asset valuation allowance activity; changes in estimates of accruals for annual incentive compensation; the timing and amounts of stock-based compensation grants to employees and directors; gains (losses) from early extinguishment of debt; and changes in occupancy levels and patient volumes.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

We treat highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less as cash equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents were $2.170 billion and $2.883 billion at June 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025, respectively. At June 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025, our book overdrafts were $136 million and $161 million, respectively, which were classified as accounts payable. Also at June 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025, $86 million and $108 million, respectively, of total cash and cash equivalents in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets were intended for the operations of our insurance‑related subsidiaries.

At June 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025, we had $59 million and $111 million, respectively, of property and equipment purchases accrued for items received but not yet paid. Of these amounts, $50 million and $102 million, respectively, were included in accounts payable.

During the six months ended June 30, 2026 and 2025, we recorded right‑of‑use assets related to non‑cancellable finance leases of $66 million and $25 million, respectively, and related to non‑cancellable operating leases of $155 million and $212 million, respectively.

Investments in Unconsolidated Affiliates

As of June 30, 2026, we controlled 413 of the facilities in our Ambulatory Care segment and, therefore, consolidated their results. We account for many of the facilities in which our Ambulatory Care segment holds ownership interests (151 of 564 at June 30, 2026), as well as additional companies in which our Hospital Operations segment holds ownership interests, under the equity method as investments in unconsolidated affiliates and report only our share of net income as equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates in our condensed consolidated statements of operations.