Amedisys (AMED) 10-Q 29 Oct 14 2014 Q3 Quarterly report Financial data

Document_and_Entity_Informatio

Document and Entity Information	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Oct. 24, 2014
Document Information [Line Items]	'	'
Document Type	'10-Q	'
Amendment Flag	'false	'
Document Period End Date	30-Sep-14	'
Document Fiscal Year Focus	'2014	'
Document Fiscal Period Focus	'Q3	'
Trading Symbol	'AMED	'
Entity Registrant Name	'AMEDISYS INC	'
Entity Central Index Key	'0000896262	'
Current Fiscal Year End Date	'--12-31	'
Entity Filer Category	'Accelerated Filer	'
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	'	33,380,425

CONDENSED_CONSOLIDATED_BALANCE

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Current assets:	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	$5,542	$17,303
Patient accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $15,640 and $14,231	102,859	111,133
Prepaid expenses	11,303	10,669
Deferred income taxes	10,153	55,329
Other current assets	12,577	10,785
Assets held for sale	0	60
Total current assets	142,434	205,279
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $142,066 and $129,891	141,419	159,025
Goodwill	205,587	208,915
Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $25,370 and $25,133	34,096	36,690
Deferred income taxes	128,478	90,214
Other assets, net	30,199	26,283
Total assets	682,213	726,406
Current liabilities:	'	'
Accounts payable	19,363	20,139
Accrued charge related to U.S. Department of Justice settlement	35,000	150,000
Payroll and employee benefits	71,208	70,801
Accrued expenses	53,494	57,572
Current portion of long-term obligations	12,000	13,904
Total current liabilities	191,065	312,416
Long-term obligations, less current portion	102,299	33,000
Other long-term obligations	5,748	8,511
Total liabilities	299,112	353,927
Commitments and Contingencies - Note 6	0	0
Equity:	'	'
Preferred stock, $0.001 par value, 5,000,000 shares authorized; none issued or outstanding	0	0
Common stock, $0.001 par value, 60,000,000 shares authorized; 34,306,877 and 33,413,970 shares issued; and 33,347,852 and 32,538,971 shares outstanding	34	33
Additional paid-in capital	477,115	467,890
Treasury stock at cost 959,025 and 874,999 shares of common stock	-19,483	-18,176
Accumulated other comprehensive income	15	15
Retained earnings	-73,920	-77,561
Total Amedisys, Inc. stockholders' equity	383,761	372,201
Noncontrolling interests	-660	278
Total equity	383,101	372,479
Total liabilities and equity	$682,213	$726,406

CONDENSED_CONSOLIDATED_BALANCE1

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parenthetical) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified
Patient accounts receivable, allowance for doubtful accounts	$15,640	$14,231
Property and equipment, accumulated depreciation	142,066	129,891
Intangible assets, accumulated amortization	$25,370	$25,133
Preferred stock, par value	$0.00	$0.00
Preferred stock, shares authorized	5,000,000	5,000,000
Preferred stock, issued	0	0
Preferred stock, outstanding	0	0
Common stock, par value	$0.00	$0.00
Common stock, shares authorized	60,000,000	60,000,000
Common stock, shares issued	34,306,877	33,413,970
Common stock, shares outstanding	33,347,852	32,538,971
Treasury stock at cost, shares	959,025	874,999

CONDENSED_CONSOLIDATED_STATEME

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Net service revenue	$300,281	$301,285	$904,026	$945,847
Cost of service, excluding depreciation and amortization	170,159	175,233	519,686	538,660
General and administrative expenses:	'	'	'	'
Salaries and benefits	69,461	73,906	224,032	228,758
Non-cash compensation	1,697	1,653	3,197	4,933
Other	32,018	40,308	110,240	123,534
Provision for doubtful accounts	4,183	3,944	13,318	12,437
Depreciation and amortization	6,515	8,925	22,109	28,306
U.S. Department Of Justice Settlement	0	150,000	0	150,000
Other intangibles impairment charge	0	1,542	2,208	3,828
Operating expenses	284,033	455,511	894,790	1,090,456
Operating income (loss)	16,248	-154,226	9,236	-144,609
Other (expense) income:	'	'	'	'
Interest income	24	18	46	40
Interest expense	-2,990	-672	-5,603	-2,478
Equity in earnings from equity investments	563	354	2,234	1,054
Miscellaneous, net	110	6,553	544	6,075
Total other (expense) income, net	-2,293	6,253	-2,779	4,691
Income (loss) before income taxes	13,955	-147,973	6,457	-139,918
Income tax (expense) benefit	-5,358	56,928	-2,483	53,736
Income (loss) from continuing operations	8,597	-91,045	3,974	-86,182
Discontinued operations, net of tax	0	-733	-216	-1,615
Net income (loss)	8,597	-91,778	3,758	-87,797
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	-158	709	-117	1,248
Net income (loss) attributable to Amedisys, Inc.	8,439	-91,069	3,641	-86,549
Basic earnings per common share:	'	'	'	'
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Amedisys, Inc. common stockholders	$0.26	($2.87)	$0.12	($2.73)
Discontinued operations, net of tax	$0	($0.02)	($0.01)	($0.05)
Net income (loss) attributable to Amedisys, Inc. common stockholders	$0.26	($2.89)	$0.11	($2.78)
Weighted average shares outstanding	32,468	31,505	32,194	31,102
Diluted earnings per common share:	'	'	'	'
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Amedisys, Inc. common stockholders	$0.26	($2.87)	$0.12	($2.73)
Discontinued operations, net of tax	$0	($0.02)	($0.01)	($0.05)
Net income (loss) attributable to Amedisys, Inc. common stockholders	$0.26	($2.89)	$0.11	($2.78)
Weighted average shares outstanding	32,934	31,505	32,690	31,102
Amounts attributable to Amedisys, Inc. common stockholders:	'	'	'	'
Income (loss) from continuing operations	8,439	-90,336	3,857	-84,934
Discontinued operations, net of tax	0	-733	-216	-1,615
Net income (loss) attributable to Amedisys, Inc.	$8,439	($91,069)	$3,641	($86,549)

CONDENSED_CONSOLIDATED_STATEME1

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:	'	'
Net income (loss)	$3,758	($87,797)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:	'	'
Depreciation and amortization	22,149	28,730
Provision for doubtful accounts	13,392	12,853
Non-cash compensation	3,197	4,933
401(k) employer match	4,682	6,200
Loss on disposal of property and equipment	4,174	1,239
Gain on sale of care centers	-2,967	-1,808
Deferred income taxes	6,357	-53,611
Write off of deferred debt issuance costs	488	0
Equity in earnings of equity investments	-2,234	-1,054
Amortization of deferred debt issuance costs	521	548
Return on equity investment	1,500	975
Other intangibles impairment charge	2,208	3,828
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of impact of acquisitions:	'	'
Patient accounts receivable	-5,848	45,170
Other current assets	-1,885	1,409
Other assets	1,554	-2,069
Accounts payable	668	-8,111
U.S. Department of Justice settlement accrual	-115,000	150,000
Accrued expenses	-4,081	-11,198
Other long-term obligations	-2,762	3,625
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	-70,129	93,862
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:	'	'
Proceeds from sale of deferred compensation plan assets	9	128
Proceeds from the sale of property and equipment	3	126
Purchases of deferred compensation plan assets	-104	-93
Purchases of property and equipment	-9,882	-28,983
Purchases of investments	-3,421	-9,732
Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired	0	-627
Proceeds from dispositions of care centers, net of cash sold	4,233	3,725
Net cash used in investing activities	-9,162	-35,456
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:	'	'
Proceeds from issuance of stock upon exercise of stock options	89	258
Proceeds from issuance of stock to employee stock purchase plan	1,875	2,436
Non-controlling interest distribution	0	-163
Proceeds from revolving line of credit	200,800	25,500
Repayments of revolving line of credit	-190,800	-25,500
Proceeds from issuance of long-term obligations	67,371	0
Debt issuance costs	-901	0
Principal payments of long-term obligations	-10,904	-31,856
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	67,530	-29,325
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	-11,761	29,081
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	17,303	14,545
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	5,542	43,626
Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information:	'	'
Cash paid for interest	4,771	2,384
Cash paid for income taxes, net of refunds received	13	3,235
Supplemental Disclosures of Non-Cash Financing and Investing Activities	'	'
(Sale) acquisition of non-controlling interests	($1,549)	$312

NATURE_OF_OPERATIONS_CONSOLIDA

NATURE OF OPERATIONS, CONSOLIDATION AND PRESENTATION OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]	'
NATURE OF OPERATIONS, CONSOLIDATION AND PRESENTATION OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS	'
	1. NATURE OF OPERATIONS, CONSOLIDATION AND PRESENTATION OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
	Amedisys, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its consolidated subsidiaries (“Amedisys,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) are a multi-state provider of home health and hospice services with approximately 81% and 84% of our revenue derived from Medicare for the three-month periods ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and approximately 82% and 84% our revenue derived from Medicare for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively. As of September 30, 2014, we owned and operated 316 Medicare-certified home health care centers and 80 Medicare-certified hospice care centers in 34 states within the United States, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
	Basis of Presentation
	In our opinion, the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments (consisting solely of normal recurring adjustments) necessary to present fairly our financial position, our results of operations and our cash flows in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“U.S. GAAP”). Our results of operations for the interim periods presented are not necessarily indicative of results of our operations for the entire year and have not been audited by our independent auditors.
	Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP have been condensed or omitted from the interim financial information presented. This report should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March 12, 2014 (the “Form 10-K”), which includes information and disclosures not included herein.
	Use of Estimates
	Our accounting and reporting policies conform with U.S. GAAP. In preparing the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements, we are required to make estimates and assumptions that impact the amounts reported in the condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could materially differ from those estimates.
	Reclassifications and Comparability
	Certain reclassifications have been made to prior period's financial statements in order to conform to the current period's presentation.
	Principles of Consolidation
	These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Amedisys, Inc., and our wholly owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in our accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements, and business combinations accounted for as purchases have been included in our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements from their respective dates of acquisition. In addition to our wholly owned subsidiaries, we also have certain investments that are accounted for as set forth below.
	Investments
	We consolidate investments when the entity is a variable interest entity and we are the primary beneficiary or if we have controlling interests in the entity, which is generally ownership in excess of 50%. Third party equity interests in our consolidated joint ventures are reflected as noncontrolling interests in our condensed consolidated financial statements.
	We account for investments in entities in which we have the ability to exercise significant influence under the equity method if we hold 50% or less of the voting stock and the entity is not a variable interest entity in which we are the primary beneficiary. The book value of investments that we accounted for under the equity method of accounting was $15.5 million as of September 30, 2014, and $11.9 million as of December 31, 2013. We account for investments in entities in which we have less than a 20% ownership interest under the cost method of accounting if we do not have the ability to exercise significant influence over the investee. The aggregate carrying amount of our cost method investment was $5.0 million as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013.

SUMMARY_OF_SIGNIFICANT_ACCOUNT

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Accounting Policies [Abstract]	'
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES	'
	2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
	Revenue Recognition
	We earn net service revenue through our home health and hospice care centers by providing a variety of services almost exclusively in the homes of our patients. This net service revenue is earned and billed either on an episode of care basis, on a per visit basis or on a daily basis depending upon the payment terms and conditions established with each payor for services provided. We refer to home health revenue earned and billed on a 60-day episode of care as episodic-based revenue.
	When we record our service revenue, we record it net of estimated revenue adjustments and contractual adjustments to reflect amounts we estimate to be realizable for services provided, as discussed below. We believe, based on information currently available to us and based on our judgment, that changes to one or more factors that impact the accounting estimates (such as our estimates related to revenue adjustments, contractual adjustments and episodes in progress) we make in determining net service revenue, which changes are likely to occur from period to period, will not materially impact our reported consolidated financial condition, results of operations, cash flows or our future financial results.
	Home Health Revenue Recognition
	Medicare Revenue
	Net service revenue is recorded under the Medicare prospective payment system (“PPS”) based on a 60-day episode payment rate that is subject to adjustment based on certain variables including, but not limited to: (a) an outlier payment if our patient's care was unusually costly (capped at 10% of total reimbursement per provider number); (b) a low utilization payment adjustment (“LUPA”) if the number of visits was fewer than five; (c) a partial payment if our patient transferred to another provider or we received a patient from another provider before completing the episode; (d) a payment adjustment based upon the level of therapy services required (with various incremental adjustments made for additional visits, with larger payment increases associated with the sixth, fourteenth and twentieth visit thresholds); (e) adjustments to payments if we are unable to perform periodic therapy assessments; (f) the number of episodes of care provided to a patient, regardless of whether the same home health provider provided care for the entire series of episodes; (g) changes in the base episode payments established by the Medicare Program; (h) adjustments to the base episode payments for case mix and geographic wages; and (i) recoveries of overpayments. In addition, we make adjustments to Medicare revenue if we find that we are unable to produce appropriate documentation of a face to face encounter between the patient and physician.
	We make adjustments to Medicare revenue to reflect differences between estimated and actual payment amounts, our discovered inability to obtain appropriate billing documentation or authorizations and other reasons unrelated to credit risk. We estimate the impact of such adjustments based on our historical experience, which primarily includes a historical collection rate of over 99% on Medicare claims, and record this estimate during the period in which services are rendered as an estimated revenue adjustment and a corresponding reduction to patient accounts receivable. Therefore, we believe that our reported net service revenue and patient accounts receivable will be the net amounts to be realized from Medicare for services rendered.
	In addition to revenue recognized on completed episodes, we also recognize a portion of revenue associated with episodes in progress. Episodes in progress are 60-day episodes of care that begin during the reporting period, but were not completed as of the end of the period. We estimate this revenue on a monthly basis based upon historical trends. The primary factors underlying this estimate are the number of episodes in progress at the end of the reporting period, expected Medicare revenue per episode and our estimate of the average percentage complete based on visits performed. As of September 30, 2014 and 2013, the difference between the cash received from Medicare for a request for anticipated payment (“RAP”) on episodes in progress and the associated estimated revenue was immaterial and, therefore, the resulting credits were recorded as a reduction to our outstanding patient accounts receivable in our condensed consolidated balance sheets for such periods.
	Non-Medicare Revenue
	Episodic-based Revenue. We recognize revenue in a similar manner as we recognize Medicare revenue for episodic-based rates that are paid by other insurance carriers, including Medicare Advantage programs; however, these rates can vary based upon the negotiated terms.
	Non-episodic based Revenue. Gross revenue is recorded on an accrual basis based upon the date of service at amounts equal to our established or estimated per-visit rates, as applicable. Contractual adjustments are recorded for the difference between our standard rates and the contracted rates to be realized from patients, third parties and others for services provided and are deducted from gross revenue to determine net service revenue and are also recorded as a reduction to our outstanding patient accounts receivable. In addition, we receive a minimal amount of our net service revenue from patients who are either self-insured or are obligated for an insurance co-payment.
	Hospice Revenue Recognition
	Hospice Medicare Revenue
	Gross revenue is recorded on an accrual basis based upon the date of service at amounts equal to the estimated payment rates. The estimated payment rates are daily or hourly rates for each of the four levels of care we deliver. The four levels of care are routine care, general inpatient care, continuous home care and respite care. Routine care accounts for 96% and 100% of our total Medicare hospice service revenue for the three-month periods ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and 98% and 99% of our total Medicare hospice service revenue for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively. We make adjustments to Medicare revenue for an inability to obtain appropriate billing documentation or acceptable authorizations and other reasons unrelated to credit risk. We estimate the impact of these adjustments based on our historical experience, which primarily includes our historical collection rate on Medicare claims, and record it during the period services are rendered as an estimated revenue adjustment and as a reduction to our outstanding patient accounts receivable.
	Additionally, as Medicare hospice revenue is subject to an inpatient cap limit and an overall payment cap for each provider number, we monitor these caps and estimate amounts due back to Medicare if a cap has been exceeded. We record these adjustments as a reduction to revenue and an increase in other accrued liabilities.  We have settled our Medicare hospice reimbursements for all fiscal years through October 31, 2012 as of September 30, 2014. As of September 30, 2014, we have recorded $2.8 million for estimated amounts due back to Medicare in other accrued liabilities for the Federal cap years ended October 31, 2013 through October 31, 2014. As of December 31, 2013, we have recorded $4.0 million for estimated amounts due back to Medicare in other accrued liabilities for the Federal cap years ended October 31, 2012 through October 31, 2014.
	Hospice Non-Medicare Revenue
	We record gross revenue on an accrual basis based upon the date of service at amounts equal to our established rates or estimated per day rates, as applicable. Contractual adjustments are recorded for the difference between our established rates and the amounts estimated to be realizable from patients, third parties and others for services provided and are deducted from gross revenue to determine our net service revenue and patient accounts receivable.
	Patient Accounts Receivable
	Our patient accounts receivable are uncollateralized and consist of amounts due from Medicare, Medicaid, other third-party payors and patients. There is no single payor, other than Medicare, that accounts for more than 10% of our total outstanding patient receivables, and thus we believe there are no other significant concentrations of receivables that would subject us to any significant credit risk in the collection of our patient accounts receivable. We fully reserve for accounts which are aged at 365 days or greater. We write off accounts on a monthly basis once we have exhausted our collection efforts and deem an account to be uncollectible.
	We believe the credit risk associated with our Medicare accounts, which represent 67% of our net patient accounts receivable at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, is limited due to our historical collection rate of over 99% from Medicare and the fact that Medicare is a U.S. government payor. Accordingly, we do not record an allowance for doubtful accounts for our Medicare patient accounts receivable, which are recorded at their net realizable value after recording estimated revenue adjustments as discussed above. During the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2014, we recorded $1.4 million and $4.1 million, respectively, in estimated revenue adjustments to Medicare as compared to $2.5 million and $9.1 million during the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2013, respectively.
	We believe there is a certain level of credit risk associated with non-Medicare payors. To provide for our non-Medicare patient accounts receivable that could become uncollectible in the future, we establish an allowance for doubtful accounts to reduce the carrying amount to its estimated net realizable value.
	Medicare Home Health
	For our home health patients, our pre-billing process includes verifying that we are eligible for payment from Medicare for the services that we provide to our patients. Our Medicare billing begins with a process to ensure that our billings are accurate through the utilization of an electronic Medicare claim review. We submit a RAP for 60% of our estimated payment for the initial episode at the start of care or 50% of the estimated payment for any subsequent episodes of care contiguous with the first episode for a particular patient. The full amount of the episode is billed after the episode has been completed (“final billed”). The RAP received for that particular episode is then deducted from our final payment. If a final bill is not submitted within the greater of 120 days from the start of the episode, or 60 days from the date the RAP was paid, any RAPs received for that episode will be recouped by Medicare from any other claims in process for that particular provider number. The RAP and final claim must then be re-submitted.
	Medicare Hospice
	For our hospice patients, our pre-billing process includes verifying that we are eligible for payment from Medicare for the services that we provide to our patients. Our Medicare billing begins with a process to ensure that our billings are accurate through the utilization of an electronic Medicare claim review. Once each patient has been confirmed for eligibility, we will bill Medicare on a monthly basis for the services provided to the patient.
	Non-Medicare Home Health and Hospice
	For our non-Medicare patients, our pre-billing process primarily begins with verifying a patient's eligibility for services with the applicable payor. Once the patient has been confirmed for eligibility, we will provide services to the patient and bill the applicable payor. Our review and evaluation of non-Medicare accounts receivable includes a detailed review of outstanding balances and special consideration to concentrations of receivables from particular payors or groups of payors with similar characteristics that would subject us to any significant credit risk. We estimate an allowance for doubtful accounts based upon our assessment of historical and expected net collections, business and economic conditions, trends in payment and an evaluation of collectibility based upon the date that the service was provided. Based upon our best judgment, we believe the allowance for doubtful accounts adequately provides for accounts that will not be collected due to credit risk
	Fair Value of Financial Instruments
	The following details our financial instruments where the carrying value and the fair value differ (amounts in millions):
					Fair Value at Reporting Date Using
	Financial Instrument		Carrying Value as of September 30, 2014			Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Items (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)			Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
	Long-term obligations	$	114.3		$	0	$	115.4		$	0
	The estimates of the fair value of our long-term debt are based upon a discounted present value analysis of future cash flows. Due to the uncertainty in the capital and credit markets the actual rates that would be obtained to borrow under similar conditions could materially differ from the estimates we have used.
	The fair value hierarchy is based on three levels of inputs, of which the first two are considered observable and the last unobservable, that may be used to measure fair value. The three levels of inputs are as follows:
	Level 1 – Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities.
	Level 2 – Inputs other than Level 1 that are observable, either directly or indirectly, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.
	Level 3 – Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities.
	For our other financial instruments, including our cash and cash equivalents, patient accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued expenses, we estimate the carrying amounts' approximate fair value. Our deferred compensation plan assets are recorded at fair value.
	Weighted-Average Shares Outstanding
	Net income (loss) per share attributable to Amedisys, Inc. common stockholders, calculated on the treasury stock method, is based on the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the period. The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, shares used in our computation of the weighted-average shares outstanding, which are used to calculate our basic and diluted net income (loss) attributable to Amedisys, Inc. common stockholders (amounts in thousands):
				For the Three-Month Periods Ended September 30,			For the Nine-Month Periods Ended September 30,
				2014		2013	2014		2013
		Weighted average number of shares outstanding - basic		32,468		31,505	32,194		31,102
		Effect of dilutive securities:
			Stock options	0		0	0		0
			Non-vested stock and stock units	466		0	496		0
		Weighted average number of shares outstanding - diluted		32,934		31,505	32,690		31,102
		Anti-dilutive securities		51		682	107		640
	Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
	In April 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-08, Presentation of Financial Statements (Topic 205) and Property, Plant, and Equipment (Topic 360): Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity changing the criteria for reporting discontinued operations. The ASU states that only those disposed components (or components held-for-sale) representing a strategic shift that have (or will have) a major effect on operations and financial results (or that are businesses or non-profit activities held-for-sale at acquisition) will be reported in discontinued operations. The ASU also required expanded disclosures about discontinued operations in the financial statement notes. The ASU is effective for disposals (or classifications as held-for-sale) that occur within annual periods beginning on or after December 15, 2014 and interim periods within those annual periods. Early application is permitted, but only for those disposals (or classifications as held-for-sale) that have not been reported in financial statements previously issued or available for issuance. We have chosen to early adopt this ASU and have applied the new criteria in determining the accounting treatment for the care centers exited during 2014.
	In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), which requires an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers. The ASU will replace most existing revenue recognition guidance in U.S. GAAP when it becomes effective on January 1, 2017. Early application is not permitted. The standard permits the use of either the retrospective or cumulative effect transition method. The Company is evaluating the effect that ASU 2014-09 will have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. The Company has not yet selected a transition method nor has it determined the effect of the standard on its ongoing financial reporting.

DISCONTINUED_OPERATIONS_AND_AS

DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS AND ASSETS HELD FOR SALE	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Discontinued Operation, Additional Disclosures [Abstract]	'
DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS	'
	3. DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS AND ASSETS HELD FOR SALE
	As part of our management of our portfolio of care centers, we review each care center's current financial performance, market penetration, forecasted market growth and the impact of proposed CMS payment revisions. As a result of our review, we consolidated 41 home health care centers and five hospice care centers with care centers servicing the same markets, sold 19 home health care centers and one hospice care center and closed 10 home health care centers during 2013. We had previously classified 28 of these care centers as held for sale during 2013 and three care centers remained classified as held for sale at December 31, 2013. During the three-month period ended March 31, 2014, we sold assets associated with one of these care centers and consolidated one of these care centers with a care center servicing the same market. During the three-month period ended June 30, 2014, we sold assets associated with the remaining care center; there are no care centers classified as held for sale as of September 30, 2014. For additional information on the care centers consolidated with care centers servicing the same markets and the care centers sold, see Note 4 – Exit and Restructuring Activities.
	Net revenues and operating results for the periods presented for the care centers classified as discontinued operations are as follows (dollars in millions):
				For the Three-Month Periods Ended September 30,				For the Nine-Month Periods Ended September 30,
				2014		2013		2014		2013
		Net revenues	$	0	$	7.7	$	-0.3	$	27.2
		Loss before income taxes		0		-1.2		-0.3		-2.7
		Income tax benefit		0		0.5		0.1		1.1
		Discontinued operations, net of tax	$	0	$	-0.7	$	-0.2	$	-1.6

EXIT_ACTIVITIES

EXIT ACTIVITIES	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Restructuring and Related Activities	'
EXIT ACTIVITIES	'
	4. EXIT AND RESTRUCTURING ACTIVITIES
	Exit Activity
	As of December 31, 2013, we reported three home health care centers as held for sale. During the three-month period ended March 31, 2014, we sold assets associated with one of these care centers for cash consideration of approximately $0.6 million and recognized a gain of approximately $0.6 million which is included in discontinued operations. In addition, during the three months ended March 31, 2014, one of the care centers classified as held for sale as of December 31, 2013 was consolidated with a care center servicing the same market. During the three-month period ended June 30, 2014, we sold assets associated with the remaining care center for cash consideration of approximately $0.2 million and recognized a gain of approximately $0.2 million which is included in discontinued operations.
	Effective April 17, 2014, the Company sold its interest in five home health and four hospice care centers in Wyoming and Idaho for approximately $5.0 million and recognized a gain of $2.1 million.
	Effective September 5, 2014, the Company exited its hospice inpatient unit in New Hampshire and recognized a loss of $0.5 million.
	In addition to the sale of the care centers mentioned above, during the three months ended March 31, 2014, we consolidated three home health care centers with care centers servicing the same markets and closed four home health care centers and one hospice care center and announced our plans to close or consolidate another 43 care centers. In connection with these care centers, we recorded non-cash charges of $2.2 million in other intangibles impairment expense related to the write-off of intangible assets, $2.1 million in other general and administrative expenses related to lease termination costs and $2.1 million in salaries and benefits related to severance costs during the three-month period ended March 31, 2014. These care centers were not concentrated in certain selected geographical areas and did not meet the criteria to be classified as discontinued operations in accordance with applicable accounting guidance. During the three-month period ended June 30, 2014, we completed the closure of the remaining 43 care centers as follows: we consolidated 18 home health care centers and four hospice care centers with care centers servicing the same markets and closed 18 home health care centers and three hospice care centers.
	Restructuring Activity
	During the quarter ended March 31, 2014, we restructured our regional leadership and corporate support functions. As such, we recorded charges of $3.4 million in salaries and benefits related to severance costs during the three-month period ended March 31, 2014. In addition, on February 20, 2014, William F. Borne stepped down from his positions as Chief Executive Officer, Chairman and a member of our Board of Directors and we recorded charges of $2.3 million in salaries and benefits related to severance costs.

LONGTERM_OBLIGATIONS

LONG-TERM OBLIGATIONS	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]	'
LONG-TERM OBLIGATIONS	'
	5. LONG-TERM OBLIGATIONS
	Long-term debt consisted of the following for the periods indicated (amounts in millions):
				30-Sep-14		31-Dec-13
	$60.0 million Term Loan; $3.0 million principal payments plus accrued interest payable quarterly; interest rate at ABR Rate plus applicable percentage or Eurodollar Rate plus the applicable percentage (3.41% at September 30, 2014); due October 26, 2017		$	36	$	45
	$120.0 million Revolving Credit Facility; interest only quarterly payments; interest rate at ABR Rate plus applicable percentage or Eurodollar Rate plus the applicable percentage (3.41% at September 30, 2014); due October 26, 2017			10		0
	$70.0 million Second Lien Loan; interest only quarterly payments; interest rate at ABR Rate plus applicable percentage or Eurodollar Rate plus the applicable percentage (8.50% at September 30, 2014); due July 28, 2020			70		0
	Discount on Second Lien Loan			-1.7		0
	Promissory notes			0		1.9
				114.3		46.9
	Current portion of long-term obligations			-12		-13.9
		Total	$	102.3	$	33
	Our weighted average interest rate for our five year $60.0 million Term Loan under our existing senior secured Credit Agreement was 3.4% for the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2014, as compared to 2.7% for the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2013.
	On July 28, 2014, we entered into a Second Lien Credit Agreement providing for a term loan in an aggregate principal amount of $70.0 million. The proceeds of $67.4 million were used to pay off a portion of the revolving credit balances under our existing senior secured Credit Agreement dated as of October 26, 2012. Our weighted average interest rate for our Second Lien Loan was 8.5% for the three-month period ended September 30, 2014.
	In connection with the Second Lien Credit Agreement, on July 28, 2014, we entered into the fourth amendment to our existing senior secured Credit Agreement, which amends certain covenants, representations and other provisions in our Credit Agreement, to among other things, allow for our entry into the Second Lien Credit Agreement. The fourth amendment also decreases the aggregate principal amount of the revolving credit facility under our existing senior secured Credit Agreement from up to $165.0 million to up to $120.0 million.
	Our existing senior secured Credit Agreement, as amended on July 28, 2014, limits total leverage, senior secured leverage and requires minimum coverage of fixed charges. As of September 30, 2014, our total leverage ratio was 2.1, our senior secured leverage was 1.2 and our fixed charge coverage ratio was 1.8 and we are in compliance with the existing senior secured Credit Agreement. We currently anticipate we will be in compliance with the covenants associated with our long-term obligations over the next 12 months. In the event we are not in compliance with our debt covenants in the future, we would pursue various alternatives in an attempt to successfully resolve the non-compliance, which might include, among other things, seeking debt covenant waivers or amendments.
	As of the date of this filing, our availability under our $120.0 million Revolving Credit Facility, as amended by the fourth amendment to our existing senior secured Credit Agreement, was $55.7 million and we had $19.3 million outstanding in letters of credit.

COMMITMENTS_AND_CONTINGENCIES

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]	'
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES	'
	6. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
	Legal Proceedings
	We are involved in the following legal actions:
	United States Senate Committee on Finance Inquiry
	On May 12, 2010, we received a letter of inquiry from the Senate Finance Committee requesting documents and information relating to our policies and practices regarding home therapy visits and therapy utilization trends. A similar letter was sent to the other major publicly traded home health care companies. We cooperated with the Committee with respect to this inquiry.
	On October 3, 2011, the Committee publicly issued a report titled “Staff Report on Home Health and the Medicare Therapy Threshold.” The Committee recommended that the CMS “must move toward taking therapy out of the payment model.” We believe that the issuance of the report concludes the Committee's inquiry, but are not in a position to speculate on the potential for future legislative or oversight action by the Committee.
	Securities Class Action Lawsuits
	On June 10, 2010, a putative securities class action complaint was filed in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana (the “District Court”) against the Company and certain of our current and former senior executives. Additional putative securities class actions were filed in the Court on July 14, July 16, and July 28, 2010.
	On October 22, 2010, the District Court issued an order consolidating the putative securities class action lawsuits and the Federal Derivative Actions (described immediately below) for pre-trial purposes. In the same order, the District Court appointed the Public Employees Retirement System of Mississippi and the Puerto Rico Teachers' Retirement System as co-lead plaintiffs (together, the “Co-Lead Plaintiffs”) for the putative class. On December 10, 2010, the District Court also consolidated the ERISA class action lawsuit (described below) with the putative securities class actions and Federal Derivative Actions for pre-trial purposes.
	On January 18, 2011, the Co-Lead Plaintiffs filed an amended, consolidated class action complaint (the “Securities Complaint”) which supersedes the earlier-filed securities class action complaints. The Securities Complaint alleges that the defendants made false and/or misleading statements and failed to disclose material facts about our business, financial condition, operations and prospects, particularly relating to our policies and practices regarding home therapy visits under the Medicare home health prospective payment system and the related alleged impact on our business, financial condition, operations and prospects. The Securities Complaint seeks a determination that the action may be maintained as a class action on behalf of all persons who purchased the Company's securities between August 2, 2005 and September 28, 2010 and an unspecified amount of damages.
	All defendants moved to dismiss the Securities Complaint. On June 28, 2012, the District Court granted the defendants' motion to dismiss the Securities Complaint. On July 26, 2012, the Co-Lead Plaintiffs filed a motion for reconsideration, which the District Court denied on April 9, 2013.
	On May 3, 2013, the Co-Lead Plaintiffs appealed the dismissal of the Securities Complaint to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit (the “Fifth Circuit”). On October 2, 2014, a three-judge panel of the Fifth Circuit issued a decision reversing the District Court's dismissal of the Securities Complaint. On October 16, 2014, all defendants filed a petition with the Fifth Circuit to review the three-judge panel's decision en banc, or as a whole court. No assurances can be given as to the timing or outcome of the defendants' petition for en banc rehearing.
	ERISA Class Action Lawsuit
	On September 27, 2010 and October 22, 2010, separate putative class action complaints were filed in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana against the Company, certain of our current and former senior executives and members of our 401(k) Plan Administrative Committee. The suits alleged violations of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (“ERISA”) since January 1, 2006 and July 1, 2007, respectively. The plaintiffs brought the complaints on behalf of themselves and a class of similarly situated participants in our 401(k) Plan. The plaintiffs asserted that the defendants breached their fiduciary duties to the 401(k) Plan's participants by causing the 401(k) Plan to offer and hold Amedisys common stock during the respective class periods when it was an allegedly unduly risky and imprudent retirement investment because of our alleged improper business practices. The complaints sought a determination that the actions may be maintained as a class action, an award of unspecified monetary damages and other unspecified relief. As noted above, on December 10, 2010, the Court consolidated the putative ERISA class actions with the putative securities class actions and derivative actions for pre-trial purposes. In addition, on December 10, 2010, the Court appointed interim lead counsel and interim liaison counsel in the ERISA class action.
	On March 10, 2011, Wanda Corbin, Pia Galimba and Linda Trammell (the “Co-ERISA Plaintiffs”), filed an amended, consolidated class action complaint (the “ERISA Complaint”), which superseded the earlier-filed ERISA class action complaints.  The ERISA Complaint sought a determination that the action may be maintained as a class action on behalf of themselves and a class of similarly situated participants in our 401(k) plan from January 1, 2008 through present. All of the defendants moved to dismiss the ERISA Complaint.
	On November 5, 2013, we reached an agreement in principle to settle the ERISA class action lawsuits on a class-wide basis under which we would make a payment of $1.2 million (which we correctly anticipated would be paid by our insurance carrier) and provide additional non-monetary benefits to 401(k) Plan participants. We then negotiated a formal settlement agreement with the Co-ERISA Plaintiffs and on December 13, 2013, submitted it to the Court for preliminary and final approval. The formal settlement agreement described how the $1.2 million settlement payment would be allocated among the putative class of 401(k) Plan participants after certain expenses and fees were deducted. On April 14, 2014, the Court granted the motion for preliminary approval and scheduled a final fairness hearing for July 22, 2014. Our insurance carrier funded the $1.2 million settlement pool shortly after the entry of the April 14, 2014 order.
	On July 22, 2014, the Court conducted a fairness hearing. On July 24, 2014, the Court entered an order approving the settlement, dismissing the ERISA class action lawsuits with prejudice, certifying a settlement class and approving the release of all claims by the settlement class that were or could have been alleged in the matter.
	SEC Investigation
	On June 30, 2010, we received notice of a formal investigation from the SEC and received a subpoena for documents relating to the matters under review by the United States Senate Committee on Finance and other matters involving our operations. We cooperated with the SEC with respect to this investigation, and in June 2014 we were informed by the SEC staff that the investigation had been completed and that the staff did not intend to recommend any enforcement action by the SEC.
	U.S. Department of Justice Civil Investigative Demand (“CID”) Pursuant to False Claims Act and Stark Law Matters
	On September 27, 2010, we received a CID issued by the U.S. Department of Justice pursuant to the federal False Claims Act. The CID requires the delivery of a wide range of documents and information relating to the Company's clinical and business operations, including reimbursement and billing claims submitted to Medicare for home health services, and related compliance activities. The CID generally covers the period from January 1, 2003. On April 26, 2011, we received a second CID related to the CID issued in September 2010, which generally covers the same time period as the previous CID and requires the production of additional documents. Such CIDs are often associated with previously filed qui tam actions, or lawsuits filed under seal under the False Claims Act (“FCA”), 31 U.S.C. § 3729 et seq. Qui tam actions are brought by private plaintiffs suing on behalf of the federal government for alleged FCA violations. Subsequently, the Company and certain current and former employees received additional CIDs for additional documents and/or testimony.
	In May 2012, we made a disclosure to CMS under the agency's Stark Law Self-Referral Disclosure Protocol relating to certain services agreements between a subsidiary of ours and a large physician group. During some period of time since December 2007, the arrangements appear not to have complied in certain respects with an applicable exemption to the Stark Law referral prohibition. Medicare revenue earned as a result of referrals from the physician group from May 2008 to May 2012, the relevant four year “lookback” period under the Stark Law Self-Referral Disclosure Protocol, was approximately $4 million. On January 11, 2013, one of our subsidiaries received a CID from the United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Georgia seeking certain information relating to that subsidiary's relationship with this physician group.
	On October 4, 2013, we reached an agreement in principle to resolve both the U.S. Department of Justice investigation and the Stark Law Self-Referral matter. We agreed to this tentative settlement without any admission of wrongdoing to resolve these matters and to avoid the uncertainty and expense of protracted litigation. On April 23, 2014, we entered into a settlement agreement to resolve both the U.S. Department of Justice investigation and the Stark Law Self-Referral matter. The settlement agreement contains no admissions of liability on our part.
	Pursuant to the settlement agreement, on May 2, 2014, we paid the United States an initial payment in the amount of $116.5 million, representing the first installment of $115 million plus interest thereon due under the settlement agreement, and on October 23, 2014, we paid the United States an additional payment in the amount of $35.8 million, representing the second and final installment of $35 million plus interest thereon due under the settlement agreement.
	In consideration of our obligations under the settlement agreement and conditioned upon our full payment of the settlement amount, the United States agreed to release us from any civil or administrative monetary claim under the False Claims Act and various other statutes and legal theories for (a) claims involving home health services rendered by certain of our care centers from January 1, 2008 through December 31, 2010 that the United States contended were (i) provided to patients who were not homebound, (ii) provided to patients lacking a need for skilled nursing and/or skilled therapy services, (iii) provided to patients without regard to medical necessity, or (iv) overbilled by upcoding patients' diagnoses, and (b) claims arising from our billings to the Medicare program during the period from April 1, 2008 through April 30, 2012 for home health services referred by a particular physician practice group while we were providing such practice group remuneration that was not consistent with fair market value in the form of patient care coordination services performed by our employees.
	The settlement agreement also resolved allegations made against us by various qui tam relators, who were required to dismiss their claims with prejudice. We were required to pay various relators' attorneys' fees and expenses in the aggregate sum of approximately $3.9 million. In addition, we will incur additional expenses in the future in connection with compliance measures mandated by the corporate integrity agreement discussed below.
	We have previously recorded an accrual for the settlement amount and added the amount of the relators' attorneys' fees to this accrual in the quarter ended March 31, 2014.
	In connection with the settlement agreement, on April 23, 2014, we entered into a corporate integrity agreement with the Office of Inspector General-HHS. The corporate integrity agreement formalizes various aspects of our already existing ethics and compliance programs and contains other requirements designed to help ensure our ongoing compliance with federal health care program requirements. Among other things, the corporate integrity agreement requires us to maintain our existing compliance program and compliance committee; provide certain compliance training; continue screening new and current employees against certain lists to ensure they are not ineligible to participate in federal health care programs; engage an independent review organization to perform certain auditing and reviews and prepare certain reports regarding our compliance with federal health care programs, our billing submissions to federal health care programs and our compliance and risk mitigation programs; and provide certain reports and management certifications to Office of Inspector General-HHS. Upon breach of the corporate integrity agreement, we could become liable for payment of certain stipulated penalties, or could be excluded from participation in federal health care programs. The corporate integrity agreement has a term of five years.
	OIG Self-Disclosure
	In October 2012, we made a disclosure to the Office of Counsel to the Inspector General of the United States Department of Health and Human Services (the “OIG”) pursuant to the OIG Provider Self-Disclosure Protocol regarding certain clinical documentation issues and eligibility regulatory requirements at two of our hospice care centers. These hospice care centers did not comply in some respects with certain state and Medicare hospice regulations including those requiring physicians to certify patient eligibility and requiring patient face-to-face encounters. We recorded an additional accrual of approximately $1 million during the three-month period ended September 30, 2013 increasing the total accrual to approximately $2 million as of September 30, 2013, where it remained at December 31, 2013. A final settlement agreement with OIG, pursuant to which we agreed to pay approximately $2 million to settle the matter, was executed on March 12, 2014.
	In September and October 2013, we made preliminary disclosures to OIG under the OIG's Provider Self-Disclosure Protocol regarding certain clinical documentation issues at one of our home health care centers. This care center appears to have not complied with certain Medicare home health regulations, including those relating to physician signature requirements and face-to-face documentation. We made a disclosure in March 2014 to OIG providing additional information relating to the information disclosed in the preliminary disclosures sent in September and October 2013. As of June 30, 2014, we had recorded an accrual of approximately $1.9 million for this matter. A final settlement agreement with OIG pursuant to which we agreed to pay approximately $2.1 million to settle the matter was executed on September 9, 2014.
	Wage and Hour Litigation
	On July 25, 2012, a putative collective and class action complaint was filed in the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut against us in which three former employees allege wage and hour law violations.  The former employees claim that they were not paid overtime for all hours worked over forty hours in violation of the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”), as well as the Pennsylvania Minimum Wage Act. More specifically, they allege they were paid on both a per-visit and an hourly basis, and that such a pay scheme resulted in their misclassification as exempt employees, thereby denying them overtime pay. Moreover, in response to a Company motion arguing that plaintiffs' complaint was deficient in that it was ambiguous and failed to provide fair notice of the claims asserted and plaintiffs' opposition thereto, the Court, on April 8, 2013, held that the complaint adequately raises general allegations that the plaintiffs were not paid overtime for all hours worked in a week over forty, which may include claims for unpaid overtime under other theories of liability, such as alleged off-the-clock work, in addition to plaintiffs' more clearly stated allegations based on misclassification. On behalf of themselves and a class of current and former employees they allege are similarly situated, plaintiffs seek attorneys' fees, back wages and liquidated damages going back three years under the FLSA and three years under the Pennsylvania statute. On October 8, 2013, the Court granted plaintiffs' motion for equitable tolling requesting that the statute of limitations for claims under the FLSA for plaintiffs who opt-in to the lawsuit be tolled from September 24, 2012, the date upon which plaintiffs filed their original motion for conditional certification, until 90 days after any notice of this lawsuit is issued following conditional certification. Following a motion for reconsideration filed by the Company, on December 3, 2013, the Court modified this order, holding that putative class members' FLSA claims are tolled from October 29, 2012 through the date of the Court's order on plaintiffs' motion for conditional certification. On January 13, 2014, the Court granted plaintiffs' July 10, 2013 motion for conditional certification of their FLSA claims and authorized issuance of notice to putative class members to provide them an opportunity to opt in to the action. On April 17, 2014, that notice was mailed to putative class members. The period within which putative class members were permitted to opt in to the action expired on July 16, 2014.
	On September 10, 2014, the plaintiffs in the Connecticut case filed a motion for leave to amend their complaint to add a new claim under the Kentucky Wage and Hour Act (“KWHA”) alleging that the Company did not pay certain home health clinicians working in the Commonwealth of Kentucky all of the overtime wages they were owed, either because the Company misclassified them as exempt from overtime or, while treating them as overtime eligible, did not properly pay them overtime for all hours worked over 40 in a week. On behalf of themselves and a class of current and former employees they allege are similarly situated, plaintiffs seek attorneys' fees, back wages and liquidated damages going back five years before the filing of their original complaint under the KWHA. On October 1, 2014, the Company filed an opposition to the plaintiffs' motion to amend. On October 15, 2014, plaintiffs filed a reply brief in support of their motion. The motion is still under consideration by the Court.
	On September 13, 2012, a putative collective and class action complaint was filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois against us in which a former employee alleges wage and hour law violations.  The former employee claims she was paid on both a per-visit and an hourly basis, thereby misclassifying her as an exempt employee and entitling her to overtime pay. The plaintiff alleges violations of Federal and state law and seeks damages under the FLSA and the Illinois Minimum Wage Law.  Plaintiff seeks class certification of similar employees who were or are employed in Illinois and seeks attorneys' fees, back wages and liquidated damages going back three years under the FLSA and three years under the Illinois statute. On May 28, 2013, the Court granted the Company's motion to stay the case pending resolution of class certification issues and dispositive motions in the earlier-filed Connecticut case referenced above.
	We are unable to assess the probable outcome or reasonably estimate the potential liability, if any, arising from the securities and wage and hour litigation described above.  The Company intends to continue to vigorously defend itself in the securities and wage and hour litigation matters.  No assurances can be given as to the timing or outcome of the securities and wage and hour matters described above or the impact of any of the inquiry or litigation matters on the Company, its consolidated financial condition, results of operations or cash flows, which could be material, individually or in the aggregate.
	We recognize that additional putative securities class action complaints and other litigation could be filed, and that other investigations and actions could be commenced.
	In addition to the matters referenced in this note, we are involved in legal actions in the normal course of business, some of which seek monetary damages, including claims for punitive damages. We do not believe that these normal course actions, when finally concluded and determined, will have a material impact on our consolidated financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
	Third Party Audits
	From time to time, in the ordinary course of business, we are subject to audits under various governmental programs in which third party firms engaged by CMS conduct extensive review of claims data to identify potential improper payments under the Medicare program.
	In January 2010, our subsidiary that provides home health services in Dayton, Ohio received from a Medicare Program Safeguard Contractor (“PSC”) a request for records regarding 137 claims submitted by the subsidiary paid from January 2, 2008 through November 10, 2009 (the “Claim Period”) to determine whether the underlying services met pertinent Medicare payment requirements. Based on the PSC's findings for 114 of the claims, which were extrapolated to all claims for home health services provided by the Dayton subsidiary paid during the Claim Period, on March 9, 2011, the Medicare Administrative Contractor (“MAC”) for the subsidiary issued a notice of overpayment seeking recovery from our subsidiary of an alleged overpayment of approximately $5.6 million. We dispute these findings, and our Dayton subsidiary has filed appeals through the Original Medicare Standard Appeals Process, in which we are seeking to have those findings overturned. Most recently, a consolidated administrative law judge (“ALJ”) hearing was held in late March 2013. In January 2014, the ALJ found fully in favor of our Dayton subsidiary on 74 appeals and partially in favor of our Dayton subsidiary on eight appeals. Taking into account the ALJ's decision, certain determinations that our Dayton subsidiary decided not to appeal as well as certain determinations made by the MAC, of the 114 claims that were originally extrapolated by the MAC, 76 claims have now been decided in favor of our Dayton subsidiary in full, 10 claims have been decided in favor of our Dayton subsidiary in part, and 28 claims have been decided against or not appealed by our Dayton subsidiary. The ALJ has ordered the MAC to recalculate the extrapolation amount based on the ALJ's decision. The Medicare Appeals Council can decide on its own motion to review the ALJ's decisions. As of September 30, 2014, we have recorded no liability with respect to the pending appeals as we do not believe that an estimate of a reasonably possible loss or range of loss can be made at this time.
	In July 2010, our subsidiary that provides hospice services in Florence, South Carolina received from a Zone Program Integrity Contractor (“ZPIC”) a request for records regarding a sample of 30 beneficiaries who received services from the subsidiary during the period of January 1, 2008 through March 31, 2010 (the “Review Period”) to determine whether the underlying services met pertinent Medicare payment requirements.  We acquired the hospice operations subject to this review on August 1, 2009; the Review Period covers time periods both before and after our ownership of these hospice operations.  Based on the ZPIC's findings for 16 beneficiaries, which were extrapolated to all claims for hospice services provided by the Florence subsidiary billed during the Review Period, on June 6, 2011, the MAC for the subsidiary issued a notice of overpayment seeking recovery from our subsidiary of an alleged overpayment. We dispute these findings, and our Florence subsidiary has filed appeals through the Original Medicare Standard Appeals Process, in which we are seeking to have those findings overturned. Most recently, we have requested appeal hearings before an ALJ, which have been scheduled to occur on January 7, 2015, but no assurances can be given as to the timing or outcome of the ALJ appeal. The current alleged extrapolated overpayment is $6.1 million. In the event we pay any amount of this alleged overpayment, we are indemnified by the prior owners of the hospice operations for amounts relating to the period prior to August 1, 2009. As of September 30, 2014, we have recorded no liability for this claim as we do not believe that an estimate of a reasonably possible loss or range of loss can be made at this time.
	Insurance
	We are obligated for certain costs associated with our insurance programs, including employee health, workers' compensation and professional liability. While we maintain various insurance programs to cover these risks, we are self-insured for a substantial portion of our potential claims. We recognize our obligations associated with these costs, up to specified deductible limits in the period in which a claim is incurred, including with respect to both reported claims and claims incurred but not reported. These costs have generally been estimated based on historical data of our claims experience. Such estimates, and the resulting reserves, are reviewed and updated by us on a quarterly basis.
	Our health insurance has a retention limit of $0.9 million, our workers' compensation insurance has a retention limit of $0.5 million and our professional liability insurance has a retention limit of $0.3 million.

SEGMENT_INFORMATION

SEGMENT INFORMATION	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Segment Reporting [Abstract]	'
SEGMENT INFORMATION	'
	7. Segment Information
	Our operations involve servicing patients through our two reportable business segments: home health and hospice. Our home health segment delivers a wide range of services in the homes of individuals who may be recovering from surgery, have a chronic disability or terminal illness or need assistance with the essential activities of daily living. Our hospice segment provides palliative care and comfort to terminally ill patients and their families. The “other” column in the following tables consists of costs relating to corporate support functions that are not directly attributable to a specific segment.
	Management evaluates performance and allocates resources based on the operating income of the reportable segments, which includes an allocation of corporate expenses directly attributable to the specific segment and includes revenues and all other costs directly attributable to the specific segment. Corporate expenses consist of cost relating to our executive management and corporate and administrative support functions that are not directly attributable to a specific segment. Corporate and administrative support functions represent primarily information services, accounting, finance, billing and collections, legal, compliance, risk management, procurement, marketing, clinical administration, training, human resource benefits and administration. Segment assets are not reviewed by the company's chief operating decision maker and therefore are not disclosed below (amounts in millions).
			For the Three-Month Period Ended September 30, 2014
				Home Health		Hospice		Other		Total
		Net service revenue	$	237.2	$	63.1	$	0	$	300.3
		Cost of service, excluding depreciation and amortization		137.4		32.8		0		170.2
		General and administrative expenses		63.1		14.1		26		103.2
		Provision for doubtful accounts		4.1		0.1		0		4.2
		Depreciation and amortization		2.1		0.5		3.9		6.5
		Operating expenses		206.7		47.5		29.9		284.1
		Operating income (loss)	$	30.5	$	15.6	$	-29.9	$	16.2
			For the Three-Month Period Ended September 30, 2013
				Home Health		Hospice		Other		Total
		Net service revenue	$	236.8	$	64.5	$	0	$	301.3
		Cost of service, excluding depreciation and amortization		140.7		34.5		0		175.2
		General and administrative expenses		74.3		16.1		25.6		116
		Provision for doubtful accounts		2.7		1.2		0		3.9
		Depreciation and amortization		2.5		0.5		5.9		8.9
		U.S. Department of Justice settlement		0		0		150		150
		Other intangibles impairment charge		1.5		0		0		1.5
		Operating expenses		221.7		52.3		181.5		455.5
		Operating income (loss)	$	15.1	$	12.2	$	-181.5	$	-154.2
			For the Nine-Month Period Ended September 30, 2014
				Home Health		Hospice		Other		Total
		Net service revenue	$	717.4	$	186.6	$	0	$	904
		Cost of service, excluding depreciation and amortization		420.7		99		0		519.7
		General and administrative expenses		206.4		44.3		86.8		337.5
		Provision for doubtful accounts		11.8		1.5		0		13.3
		Depreciation and amortization		7		1.6		13.5		22.1
		Other intangibles impairment charge		1.2		1		0		2.2
		Operating expenses		647.1		147.4		100.3		894.8
		Operating income (loss)	$	70.3	$	39.2	$	-100.3	$	9.2
			For the Nine-Month Period Ended September 30, 2013
				Home Health		Hospice		Other		Total
		Net service revenue	$	749.3	$	196.5	$	0	$	945.8
		Cost of service, excluding depreciation and amortization		434.5		104.2		0		538.7
		General and administrative expenses		230.4		49.2		77.6		357.2
		Provision for doubtful accounts		7.6		4.8		0		12.4
		Depreciation and amortization		7.8		1.6		18.9		28.3
		U.S. Department of Justice settlement		0		0		150		150
		Other intangibles impairment charge		3.8		0		0		3.8
		Operating expenses		684.1		159.8		246.5		1,090.40
		Operating income (loss)	$	65.2	$	36.7	$	-246.5	$	-144.6

NATURE_OF_OPERATIONS_CONSOLIDA1

NATURE OF OPERATIONS, CONSOLIDATION AND PRESENTATION OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Policies)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]	'
Basis of Presentation	'
	Basis of Presentation
	In our opinion, the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments (consisting solely of normal recurring adjustments) necessary to present fairly our financial position, our results of operations and our cash flows in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“U.S. GAAP”). Our results of operations for the interim periods presented are not necessarily indicative of results of our operations for the entire year and have not been audited by our independent auditors.
	Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP have been condensed or omitted from the interim financial information presented. This report should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March 12, 2014 (the “Form 10-K”), which includes information and disclosures not included herein.
Use of Estimates	'
	Use of Estimates
	Our accounting and reporting policies conform with U.S. GAAP. In preparing the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements, we are required to make estimates and assumptions that impact the amounts reported in the condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could materially differ from those estimates.
Reclassifications and Comparability	'
	Reclassifications and Comparability
	Certain reclassifications have been made to prior period's financial statements in order to conform to the current period's presentation.
Principles of Consolidation	'
	Principles of Consolidation
	These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Amedisys, Inc., and our wholly owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in our accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements, and business combinations accounted for as purchases have been included in our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements from their respective dates of acquisition. In addition to our wholly owned subsidiaries, we also have certain investments that are accounted for as set forth below.
Equity Investments	'
	Investments
	We consolidate investments when the entity is a variable interest entity and we are the primary beneficiary or if we have controlling interests in the entity, which is generally ownership in excess of 50%. Third party equity interests in our consolidated joint ventures are reflected as noncontrolling interests in our condensed consolidated financial statements.
	We account for investments in entities in which we have the ability to exercise significant influence under the equity method if we hold 50% or less of the voting stock and the entity is not a variable interest entity in which we are the primary beneficiary. The book value of investments that we accounted for under the equity method of accounting was $15.5 million as of September 30, 2014, and $11.9 million as of December 31, 2013. We account for investments in entities in which we have less than a 20% ownership interest under the cost method of accounting if we do not have the ability to exercise significant influence over the investee. The aggregate carrying amount of our cost method investment was $5.0 million as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013.
Revenue Recognition	'
	Revenue Recognition
	We earn net service revenue through our home health and hospice care centers by providing a variety of services almost exclusively in the homes of our patients. This net service revenue is earned and billed either on an episode of care basis, on a per visit basis or on a daily basis depending upon the payment terms and conditions established with each payor for services provided. We refer to home health revenue earned and billed on a 60-day episode of care as episodic-based revenue.
	When we record our service revenue, we record it net of estimated revenue adjustments and contractual adjustments to reflect amounts we estimate to be realizable for services provided, as discussed below. We believe, based on information currently available to us and based on our judgment, that changes to one or more factors that impact the accounting estimates (such as our estimates related to revenue adjustments, contractual adjustments and episodes in progress) we make in determining net service revenue, which changes are likely to occur from period to period, will not materially impact our reported consolidated financial condition, results of operations, cash flows or our future financial results.
	Home Health Revenue Recognition
	Medicare Revenue
	Net service revenue is recorded under the Medicare prospective payment system (“PPS”) based on a 60-day episode payment rate that is subject to adjustment based on certain variables including, but not limited to: (a) an outlier payment if our patient's care was unusually costly (capped at 10% of total reimbursement per provider number); (b) a low utilization payment adjustment (“LUPA”) if the number of visits was fewer than five; (c) a partial payment if our patient transferred to another provider or we received a patient from another provider before completing the episode; (d) a payment adjustment based upon the level of therapy services required (with various incremental adjustments made for additional visits, with larger payment increases associated with the sixth, fourteenth and twentieth visit thresholds); (e) adjustments to payments if we are unable to perform periodic therapy assessments; (f) the number of episodes of care provided to a patient, regardless of whether the same home health provider provided care for the entire series of episodes; (g) changes in the base episode payments established by the Medicare Program; (h) adjustments to the base episode payments for case mix and geographic wages; and (i) recoveries of overpayments. In addition, we make adjustments to Medicare revenue if we find that we are unable to produce appropriate documentation of a face to face encounter between the patient and physician.
	We make adjustments to Medicare revenue to reflect differences between estimated and actual payment amounts, our discovered inability to obtain appropriate billing documentation or authorizations and other reasons unrelated to credit risk. We estimate the impact of such adjustments based on our historical experience, which primarily includes a historical collection rate of over 99% on Medicare claims, and record this estimate during the period in which services are rendered as an estimated revenue adjustment and a corresponding reduction to patient accounts receivable. Therefore, we believe that our reported net service revenue and patient accounts receivable will be the net amounts to be realized from Medicare for services rendered.
	In addition to revenue recognized on completed episodes, we also recognize a portion of revenue associated with episodes in progress. Episodes in progress are 60-day episodes of care that begin during the reporting period, but were not completed as of the end of the period. We estimate this revenue on a monthly basis based upon historical trends. The primary factors underlying this estimate are the number of episodes in progress at the end of the reporting period, expected Medicare revenue per episode and our estimate of the average percentage complete based on visits performed. As of September 30, 2014 and 2013, the difference between the cash received from Medicare for a request for anticipated payment (“RAP”) on episodes in progress and the associated estimated revenue was immaterial and, therefore, the resulting credits were recorded as a reduction to our outstanding patient accounts receivable in our condensed consolidated balance sheets for such periods.
	Non-Medicare Revenue
	Episodic-based Revenue. We recognize revenue in a similar manner as we recognize Medicare revenue for episodic-based rates that are paid by other insurance carriers, including Medicare Advantage programs; however, these rates can vary based upon the negotiated terms.
	Non-episodic based Revenue. Gross revenue is recorded on an accrual basis based upon the date of service at amounts equal to our established or estimated per-visit rates, as applicable. Contractual adjustments are recorded for the difference between our standard rates and the contracted rates to be realized from patients, third parties and others for services provided and are deducted from gross revenue to determine net service revenue and are also recorded as a reduction to our outstanding patient accounts receivable. In addition, we receive a minimal amount of our net service revenue from patients who are either self-insured or are obligated for an insurance co-payment.
	Hospice Revenue Recognition
	Hospice Medicare Revenue
	Gross revenue is recorded on an accrual basis based upon the date of service at amounts equal to the estimated payment rates. The estimated payment rates are daily or hourly rates for each of the four levels of care we deliver. The four levels of care are routine care, general inpatient care, continuous home care and respite care. Routine care accounts for 96% and 100% of our total Medicare hospice service revenue for the three-month periods ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and 98% and 99% of our total Medicare hospice service revenue for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively. We make adjustments to Medicare revenue for an inability to obtain appropriate billing documentation or acceptable authorizations and other reasons unrelated to credit risk. We estimate the impact of these adjustments based on our historical experience, which primarily includes our historical collection rate on Medicare claims, and record it during the period services are rendered as an estimated revenue adjustment and as a reduction to our outstanding patient accounts receivable.
	Additionally, as Medicare hospice revenue is subject to an inpatient cap limit and an overall payment cap for each provider number, we monitor these caps and estimate amounts due back to Medicare if a cap has been exceeded. We record these adjustments as a reduction to revenue and an increase in other accrued liabilities.  We have settled our Medicare hospice reimbursements for all fiscal years through October 31, 2012 as of September 30, 2014. As of September 30, 2014, we have recorded $2.8 million for estimated amounts due back to Medicare in other accrued liabilities for the Federal cap years ended October 31, 2013 through October 31, 2014. As of December 31, 2013, we have recorded $4.0 million for estimated amounts due back to Medicare in other accrued liabilities for the Federal cap years ended October 31, 2012 through October 31, 2014.
	Hospice Non-Medicare Revenue
	We record gross revenue on an accrual basis based upon the date of service at amounts equal to our established rates or estimated per day rates, as applicable. Contractual adjustments are recorded for the difference between our established rates and the amounts estimated to be realizable from patients, third parties and others for services provided and are deducted from gross revenue to determine our net service revenue and patient accounts receivable.
Patient Accounts Receivable	'
	Patient Accounts Receivable
	Our patient accounts receivable are uncollateralized and consist of amounts due from Medicare, Medicaid, other third-party payors and patients. There is no single payor, other than Medicare, that accounts for more than 10% of our total outstanding patient receivables, and thus we believe there are no other significant concentrations of receivables that would subject us to any significant credit risk in the collection of our patient accounts receivable. We fully reserve for accounts which are aged at 365 days or greater. We write off accounts on a monthly basis once we have exhausted our collection efforts and deem an account to be uncollectible.
	We believe the credit risk associated with our Medicare accounts, which represent 67% of our net patient accounts receivable at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, is limited due to our historical collection rate of over 99% from Medicare and the fact that Medicare is a U.S. government payor. Accordingly, we do not record an allowance for doubtful accounts for our Medicare patient accounts receivable, which are recorded at their net realizable value after recording estimated revenue adjustments as discussed above. During the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2014, we recorded $1.4 million and $4.1 million, respectively, in estimated revenue adjustments to Medicare as compared to $2.5 million and $9.1 million during the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2013, respectively.
	We believe there is a certain level of credit risk associated with non-Medicare payors. To provide for our non-Medicare patient accounts receivable that could become uncollectible in the future, we establish an allowance for doubtful accounts to reduce the carrying amount to its estimated net realizable value.
	Medicare Home Health
	For our home health patients, our pre-billing process includes verifying that we are eligible for payment from Medicare for the services that we provide to our patients. Our Medicare billing begins with a process to ensure that our billings are accurate through the utilization of an electronic Medicare claim review. We submit a RAP for 60% of our estimated payment for the initial episode at the start of care or 50% of the estimated payment for any subsequent episodes of care contiguous with the first episode for a particular patient. The full amount of the episode is billed after the episode has been completed (“final billed”). The RAP received for that particular episode is then deducted from our final payment. If a final bill is not submitted within the greater of 120 days from the start of the episode, or 60 days from the date the RAP was paid, any RAPs received for that episode will be recouped by Medicare from any other claims in process for that particular provider number. The RAP and final claim must then be re-submitted.
	Medicare Hospice
	For our hospice patients, our pre-billing process includes verifying that we are eligible for payment from Medicare for the services that we provide to our patients. Our Medicare billing begins with a process to ensure that our billings are accurate through the utilization of an electronic Medicare claim review. Once each patient has been confirmed for eligibility, we will bill Medicare on a monthly basis for the services provided to the patient.
	Non-Medicare Home Health and Hospice
	For our non-Medicare patients, our pre-billing process primarily begins with verifying a patient's eligibility for services with the applicable payor. Once the patient has been confirmed for eligibility, we will provide services to the patient and bill the applicable payor. Our review and evaluation of non-Medicare accounts receivable includes a detailed review of outstanding balances and special consideration to concentrations of receivables from particular payors or groups of payors with similar characteristics that would subject us to any significant credit risk. We estimate an allowance for doubtful accounts based upon our assessment of historical and expected net collections, business and economic conditions, trends in payment and an evaluation of collectibility based upon the date that the service was provided. Based upon our best judgment, we believe the allowance for doubtful accounts adequately provides for accounts that will not be collected due to credit risk.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments	'
	Fair Value of Financial Instruments
	The following details our financial instruments where the carrying value and the fair value differ (amounts in millions):
					Fair Value at Reporting Date Using
	Financial Instrument		Carrying Value as of September 30, 2014			Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Items (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)			Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
	Long-term obligations	$	114.3		$	0	$	115.4		$	0
	The estimates of the fair value of our long-term debt are based upon a discounted present value analysis of future cash flows. Due to the uncertainty in the capital and credit markets the actual rates that would be obtained to borrow under similar conditions could materially differ from the estimates we have used.
	The fair value hierarchy is based on three levels of inputs, of which the first two are considered observable and the last unobservable, that may be used to measure fair value. The three levels of inputs are as follows:
	Level 1 – Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities.
	Level 2 – Inputs other than Level 1 that are observable, either directly or indirectly, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.
	Level 3 – Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities.
	For our other financial instruments, including our cash and cash equivalents, patient accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued expenses, we estimate the carrying amounts' approximate fair value. Our deferred compensation plan assets are recorded at fair value.
Weighted-Average Shares Outstanding	'
	Weighted-Average Shares Outstanding
	Net income (loss) per share attributable to Amedisys, Inc. common stockholders, calculated on the treasury stock method, is based on the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the period. The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, shares used in our computation of the weighted-average shares outstanding, which are used to calculate our basic and diluted net income (loss) attributable to Amedisys, Inc. common stockholders (amounts in thousands):
				For the Three-Month Periods Ended September 30,			For the Nine-Month Periods Ended September 30,
				2014		2013	2014		2013
		Weighted average number of shares outstanding - basic		32,468		31,505	32,194		31,102
		Effect of dilutive securities:
			Stock options	0		0	0		0
			Non-vested stock and stock units	466		0	496		0
		Weighted average number of shares outstanding - diluted		32,934		31,505	32,690		31,102
		Anti-dilutive securities		51		682	107		640
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements	'
	Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
	In April 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-08, Presentation of Financial Statements (Topic 205) and Property, Plant, and Equipment (Topic 360): Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity changing the criteria for reporting discontinued operations. The ASU states that only those disposed components (or components held-for-sale) representing a strategic shift that have (or will have) a major effect on operations and financial results (or that are businesses or non-profit activities held-for-sale at acquisition) will be reported in discontinued operations. The ASU also required expanded disclosures about discontinued operations in the financial statement notes. The ASU is effective for disposals (or classifications as held-for-sale) that occur within annual periods beginning on or after December 15, 2014 and interim periods within those annual periods. Early application is permitted, but only for those disposals (or classifications as held-for-sale) that have not been reported in financial statements previously issued or available for issuance. We have chosen to early adopt this ASU and have applied the new criteria in determining the accounting treatment for the care centers exited during 2014.
	In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), which requires an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers. The ASU will replace most existing revenue recognition guidance in U.S. GAAP when it becomes effective on January 1, 2017. Early application is not permitted. The standard permits the use of either the retrospective or cumulative effect transition method. The Company is evaluating the effect that ASU 2014-09 will have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. The Company has not yet selected a transition method nor has it determined the effect of the standard on its ongoing financial reporting.

SUMMARY_OF_SIGNIFICANT_ACCOUNT1

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Accounting Policies [Abstract]	'
Financial Instruments Where Carrying Value and Fair Value Differ	'
	Fair Value of Financial Instruments
	The following details our financial instruments where the carrying value and the fair value differ (amounts in millions):
					Fair Value at Reporting Date Using
	Financial Instrument		Carrying Value as of September 30, 2014			Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Items (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)			Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
	Long-term obligations	$	114.3		$	0	$	115.4		$	0
Weighted-Average Shares Outstanding	'
	The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, shares used in our computation of the weighted-average shares outstanding, which are used to calculate our basic and diluted net income (loss) attributable to Amedisys, Inc. common stockholders (amounts in thousands):
				For the Three-Month Periods Ended September 30,			For the Nine-Month Periods Ended September 30,
				2014		2013	2014		2013
		Weighted average number of shares outstanding - basic		32,468		31,505	32,194		31,102
		Effect of dilutive securities:
			Stock options	0		0	0		0
			Non-vested stock and stock units	466		0	496		0
		Weighted average number of shares outstanding - diluted		32,934		31,505	32,690		31,102
		Anti-dilutive securities		51		682	107		640

DISONTINUED_OPERATIONS_AND_ASS

DISONTINUED OPERATIONS AND ASSETS HELD FOR SALE (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Discontinued Operation, Additional Disclosures [Abstract]	'
Net Revenues and Operating Results	'
	Net revenues and operating results for the periods presented for the care centers classified as discontinued operations are as follows (dollars in millions):
				For the Three-Month Periods Ended September 30,				For the Nine-Month Periods Ended September 30,
				2014		2013		2014		2013
		Net revenues	$	0	$	7.7	$	-0.3	$	27.2
		Loss before income taxes		0		-1.2		-0.3		-2.7
		Income tax benefit		0		0.5		0.1		1.1
		Discontinued operations, net of tax	$	0	$	-0.7	$	-0.2	$	-1.6

LONGTERM_OBLIGATIONS_Tables

LONG-TERM OBLIGATIONS (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Long-Term Debt	'
	5. LONG-TERM OBLIGATIONS
	Long-term debt consisted of the following for the periods indicated (amounts in millions):
				30-Sep-14		31-Dec-13
	$60.0 million Term Loan; $3.0 million principal payments plus accrued interest payable quarterly; interest rate at ABR Rate plus applicable percentage or Eurodollar Rate plus the applicable percentage (3.41% at September 30, 2014); due October 26, 2017		$	36	$	45
	$120.0 million Revolving Credit Facility; interest only quarterly payments; interest rate at ABR Rate plus applicable percentage or Eurodollar Rate plus the applicable percentage (3.41% at September 30, 2014); due October 26, 2017			10		0
	$70.0 million Second Lien Loan; interest only quarterly payments; interest rate at ABR Rate plus applicable percentage or Eurodollar Rate plus the applicable percentage (8.50% at September 30, 2014); due July 28, 2020			70		0
	Discount on Second Lien Loan			-1.7		0
	Promissory notes			0		1.9
				114.3		46.9
	Current portion of long-term obligations			-12		-13.9
		Total	$	102.3	$	33

SEGMENT_INFORMATION_Tables

SEGMENT INFORMATION (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Segment Reporting [Abstract]	'
Operating Income of Reportable Segments	'
			For the Three-Month Period Ended September 30, 2014
				Home Health		Hospice		Other		Total
		Net service revenue	$	237.2	$	63.1	$	0	$	300.3
		Cost of service, excluding depreciation and amortization		137.4		32.8		0		170.2
		General and administrative expenses		63.1		14.1		26		103.2
		Provision for doubtful accounts		4.1		0.1		0		4.2
		Depreciation and amortization		2.1		0.5		3.9		6.5
		Operating expenses		206.7		47.5		29.9		284.1
		Operating income (loss)	$	30.5	$	15.6	$	-29.9	$	16.2
			For the Three-Month Period Ended September 30, 2013
				Home Health		Hospice		Other		Total
		Net service revenue	$	236.8	$	64.5	$	0	$	301.3
		Cost of service, excluding depreciation and amortization		140.7		34.5		0		175.2
		General and administrative expenses		74.3		16.1		25.6		116
		Provision for doubtful accounts		2.7		1.2		0		3.9
		Depreciation and amortization		2.5		0.5		5.9		8.9
		U.S. Department of Justice settlement		0		0		150		150
		Other intangibles impairment charge		1.5		0		0		1.5
		Operating expenses		221.7		52.3		181.5		455.5
		Operating income (loss)	$	15.1	$	12.2	$	-181.5	$	-154.2
			For the Nine-Month Period Ended September 30, 2014
				Home Health		Hospice		Other		Total
		Net service revenue	$	717.4	$	186.6	$	0	$	904
		Cost of service, excluding depreciation and amortization		420.7		99		0		519.7
		General and administrative expenses		206.4		44.3		86.8		337.5
		Provision for doubtful accounts		11.8		1.5		0		13.3
		Depreciation and amortization		7		1.6		13.5		22.1
		Other intangibles impairment charge		1.2		1		0		2.2
		Operating expenses		647.1		147.4		100.3		894.8
		Operating income (loss)	$	70.3	$	39.2	$	-100.3	$	9.2
			For the Nine-Month Period Ended September 30, 2013
				Home Health		Hospice		Other		Total
		Net service revenue	$	749.3	$	196.5	$	0	$	945.8
		Cost of service, excluding depreciation and amortization		434.5		104.2		0		538.7
		General and administrative expenses		230.4		49.2		77.6		357.2
		Provision for doubtful accounts		7.6		4.8		0		12.4
		Depreciation and amortization		7.8		1.6		18.9		28.3
		U.S. Department of Justice settlement		0		0		150		150
		Other intangibles impairment charge		3.8		0		0		3.8
		Operating expenses		684.1		159.8		246.5		1,090.40
		Operating income (loss)	$	65.2	$	36.7	$	-246.5	$	-144.6

Recovered_Sheet1

Nature of Operations Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
	States		States
Organization And Nature Of Operations [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Percent Of Net Services Revenue Provided By Medicare	81.00%	84.00%	82.00%	84.00%	'
Number Of States With Facilities	34	'	34	'	'
Minimum percent ownership for controlling interest percent	50.00%	'	50.00%	'	'
Equity Method Investment Aggregate Cost	$15.50	'	$15.50	'	$11.90
Cost Method Investments	$5	'	$5	'	$5
Maximum Percent Ownership For Equity Method Percent	50.00%	'	50.00%	'	'
Maximum Percent Ownership For Cost Method Percent	20.00%	'	20.00%	'	'
Home Health [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Organization And Nature Of Operations [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Operating Care Centers	316	'	316	'	'
Hospice [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Organization And Nature Of Operations [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Operating Care Centers	80	'	80	'	'

Recovered_Sheet2

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
			D
			Number_of_Visits
Revenue Recognition, Multiple-deliverable Arrangements [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Episode of care as episodic-based revenue, days	'	'	60	'	'
Percentage of total reimbursement of outlier payment	'	'	10.00%	'	'
Low utilization payment adjustment, maximum number of visits	'	'	5	'	'
First threshold of therapy services required, visits	'	'	6	'	'
Second threshold of services required, visits	'	'	14	'	'
Third threshold of therapy services required, visits	'	'	20	'	'
Historical collection rate from Medicare	'	'	99.00%	'	'
Episodes in progress that begin during reporting period, days	'	'	60	'	'
Hospice Medicare revenue rate accounted for routine care	96.00%	100.00%	98.00%	99.00%	'
Percentage of patient receivables outstanding	'	'	10.00%	'	'
Minimum days for accounts receivable outstanding to be fully reserved	'	'	365	'	'
Portion of accounts receivable derived from Medicare	'	'	67.00%	'	67.00%
Revenue adjustment to Medicare revenue	$1.40	$2.50	$4.10	$9.10	'
Rate of request for anticipated payment submitted for the initial episode of care	'	'	60.00%	'	'
Rate of request for anticipated payment submitted for subsequent episodes of care	'	'	50.00%	'	'
Maximum days to submit final bill from the start of episode	'	'	120	'	'
Maximum days to submit final bill from the date the request for anticipated payment was paid	'	'	60	'	'
Cap Year Two Thousand Twelve Through Two Thousand Fourteen [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Revenue Recognition, Multiple-deliverable Arrangements [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Estimated amounts due back to Medicare	'	'	'	'	4
Cap Year Two Thousand Thirteen Through Two Thousand Fourteen [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Revenue Recognition, Multiple-deliverable Arrangements [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Estimated amounts due back to Medicare	$2.80	'	$2.80	'	'

Schedule_of_Financial_Instrume

Schedule of Financial Instruments Where Carrying Value and Fair Value Differ (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'
Long-term obligations, excluding capital leases	$114.30
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]	'
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'
Long-term obligations, excluding capital leases	0
Fair Value Inputs Level 2 [Member]	'
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'
Long-term obligations, excluding capital leases	115.4
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]	'
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'
Long-term obligations, excluding capital leases	$0

Schedule_of_Weighted_Average_S

Schedule of Weighted Average Shares Outstanding (Detail)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Accounting Policies [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Weighted average number of shares outstanding - basic	32,468	31,505	32,194	31,102
Stock options	0	0	0	0
Non-vested stock and stock units	466	0	496	0
Weighted average number of shares outstanding - diluted	32,934	31,505	32,690	31,102
Anti-dilutive securities	51	682	107	640

Recovered_Sheet3

Discontinued Operations and Assets Held For Sale - Additional Information (Detail)	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014
	Agencies	Agencies	Agencies	Agencies
Home Health [Member]	'	'	'	'
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Number of care centers consolidated	18	3	41	'
Number of care centers closed	18	4	10	'
Number of care centers available for sale	'	'	28	'
Number of care centers sold	'	'	19	'
Number of care centers available for sale at year end	'	'	3	0
Home Health [Member] | Available For Sale [Member]	'	'	'	'
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Number of care centers consolidated	'	1	'	'
Number of care centers sold	1	1	'	'
Hospice [Member]	'	'	'	'
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Number of care centers consolidated	4	'	5	'
Number of care centers closed	3	1	'	'
Number of care centers sold	'	'	1	'

Schedule_of_Net_Revenues_and_O

Schedule of Net Revenues and Operating Results (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Discontinued Operation, Additional Disclosures [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Net revenues	$0	$7,700,000	($300,000)	$27,200,000
Loss before income taxes	0	-1,200,000	-300,000	-2,700,000
Income tax benefit	0	500,000	100,000	1,100,000
Discontinued operations, net of tax	$0	($733,000)	($216,000)	($1,615,000)

Exit_Activities_Detail

Exit Activities (Detail) (USD $)

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

8 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Jun. 30, 2014

Mar. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Jun. 30, 2014

Mar. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Mar. 31, 2014

Mar. 31, 2014

Mar. 31, 2014

Mar. 31, 2014

Mar. 31, 2014

Jun. 30, 2014

Mar. 31, 2014

Apr. 17, 2014

Apr. 17, 2014

Apr. 17, 2014

Sep. 05, 2014

Agencies

Home Health [Member]

Home Health [Member]

Home Health [Member]

Home Health [Member]

Hospice [Member]

Hospice [Member]

Hospice [Member]

Lease Termination [Member]

Intangibles Write Off [Member]

Severance For Former Executive [Member]

Severance For Regional Leadership And Corporate Support [Member]

Severance For Exit Activities [Member]

Available For Sale [Member]

Available For Sale [Member]

Wyoming and Idaho Care Centers [Member]

Wyoming and Idaho Care Centers [Member]

Wyoming and Idaho Care Centers [Member]

Hospice Inpatient Unit [Member]

Agencies

Agencies

Agencies

Agencies

Agencies

Agencies

Agencies

Home Health [Member]

Home Health [Member]

Home Health [Member]

Hospice [Member]

Agencies

Agencies

Agencies

Agencies

Agencies

Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Other Restructuring Costs

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$2,100,000

$2,200,000

$2,300,000

$3,400,000

$2,100,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

Gain on sale of care centers

'

2,967,000

1,808,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

200,000

600,000

2,100,000

'

'

-500,000

Proceeds from dispositions of care centers, net of cash sold

'

$4,233,000

$3,725,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$200,000

$600,000

$5,000,000

'

'

'

Number of care centers available for sale

'

'

'

'

'

28

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Number of care centers consolidated

'

'

'

18

3

41

'

4

'

5

'

'

'

'

'

'

1

'

'

'

'

Number of care centers sold

'

'

'

'

'

19

'

'

'

1

'

'

'

'

'

1

1

'

5

4

'

Number of care centers closed

'

'

'

18

4

10

'

3

1

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

1

Number of care centers included in divestiture plan

43

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Number of care centers available for sale at year end

'

'

'

'

'

3

0

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Long_Term_Debt_Detail

Long Term Debt (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term debt including current portion	$114,300,000	$46,900,000
Current portion of long-term obligations	-12,000,000	-13,904,000
Total	102,300,000	33,000,000
Revolving Credit Facilities [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term debt including current portion	10,000,000	0
Term Loan [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term debt including current portion	36,000,000	45,000,000
Promissory Notes [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term debt including current portion	0	1,900,000
Second Lien Credit Agreement Term Loan [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term debt including current portion	70,000,000	0
Discount on long-term debt	($1,700,000)	$0

Long_Term_Debt_Additional_Info

Long Term Debt - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)

Sep. 30, 2014

Jul. 28, 2014

Jun. 30, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Oct. 29, 2014

Jul. 28, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Jul. 28, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

In Millions, unless otherwise specified

Revolving Credit Facilities [Member]

Revolving Credit Facilities [Member]

Revolving Credit Facilities [Member]

Revolving Credit Facilities [Member]

Term Loan [Member]

Term Loan [Member]

Term Loan [Member]

Term Loan [Member]

Term Loan [Member]

Promissory Notes [Member]

Promissory Notes [Member]

Second Lien Credit Agreement Term Loan [Member]

Second Lien Credit Agreement Term Loan [Member]

Second Lien Credit Agreement Term Loan [Member]

Second Lien Credit Agreement Term Loan [Member]

Debt Instrument [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Term loan, period

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'5 years

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Weighted-average interest rate for debt

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

3.40%

2.70%

3.40%

2.70%

'

'

'

8.50%

'

'

'

Total leverage ratio

2.1

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Fixed charge coverage ratio

1.8

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Principal amount

'

'

'

'

$120

'

$120

'

$60

'

$60

'

'

'

'

$70

$70

$70

'

Availability under the revolving credit facility

'

'

'

'

'

55.7

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Outstanding letters of credit

'

'

'

'

'

19.3

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity

'

120

165

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Maturity date

'

'

'

'

26-Oct-17

'

'

'

'

'

26-Oct-17

'

'

'

'

'

'

28-Jul-20

'

Debt Instrument Periodic Payment Principal

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

3

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Long-term debt including current portion

114.3

'

'

46.9

10

'

'

0

36

'

36

'

45

0

1.9

70

'

70

0

Proceeds From Issuance Of Debt

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$67.40

'

'

Senior Secured Leverage Ratio

1.2

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Long_Term_Debt_Parenthetical_D

Long Term Debt (Parenthetical) (Detail) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Jul. 28, 2014
Revolving Credit Facilities [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Principal amount	$120	$120
Eurodollar Rate plus the applicable percentage	3.41%	'
Maturity date	26-Oct-17	'
Term Loan [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Principal amount	60	'
Eurodollar Rate plus the applicable percentage	3.41%	'
Maturity date	26-Oct-17	'
Debt Instrument Periodic Payment Principal	3	'
Second Lien Credit Agreement Term Loan [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Principal amount	$70	$70
Eurodollar Rate plus the applicable percentage	8.50%	'
Maturity date	28-Jul-20	'

Commitments_and_Contigencies_D

Commitments and Contigencies (Detail) (USD $)

3 Months Ended

4 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

10 Months Ended

49 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

7 Months Ended

10 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

22 Months Ended

2 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

6 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

27 Months Ended

5 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2014

Mar. 31, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

2-May-14

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Oct. 23, 2014

31-May-12

Dec. 31, 2013

Sep. 13, 2012

Jul. 25, 2012

Nov. 05, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Nov. 10, 2009

Mar. 09, 2011

Jan. 31, 2014

Jan. 31, 2014

Jan. 31, 2014

Jun. 30, 2014

Sep. 09, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Mar. 31, 2010

Jun. 06, 2011

Mar. 12, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Wage and Hour Litigation [Member]

Wage and Hour Litigation [Member]

ERISA Class Action Lawsuit [Member]

Home Health [Member]

Home Health [Member]

Home Health [Member]

Home Health [Member]

Home Health [Member]

Home Health [Member]

Home Health [Member]

Home Health [Member]

Home Health [Member]

Hospice [Member]

Hospice [Member]

Hospice [Member]

Hospice [Member]

Hospice [Member]

Hospice [Member]

Hospice [Member]

Illinois [Member]

Connecticut [Member]

Ohio [Member]

Extrapolated [Member]

Unfavorable [Member]

Favorable In Full [Member]

Favorable In Part [Member]

OIG Self-Disclosure [Member]

OIG Self-Disclosure [Member]

South Carolina [Member]

Extrapolated [Member]

OIG Self-Disclosure [Member]

OIG Self-Disclosure [Member]

OIG Self-Disclosure [Member]

Employee

Employee

Claims

Ohio [Member]

Ohio [Member]

Ohio [Member]

Ohio [Member]

Beneficiary

South Carolina [Member]

Claims

Claims

Claims

Claims

Beneficiary

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Medicare Revenue

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$4,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Number of former employees who filled a putative collective and class action complaint

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

1

3

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Number of claims submitted by subsidiary

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

137

114

28

76

10

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Recovery amount of the overpayment made to the subsidiary

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

5,600,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

6,100,000

'

'

'

Number of claims appealed

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

74

8

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Health insurance retention limit

'

'

'

'

900,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Workers' compensation insurance retention limit

'

'

'

'

500,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Professional liability insurance retention limit

'

'

'

'

300,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Number of beneficiaries

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

30

16

'

'

'

Loss Contingency, Settlement Agreement, Consideration

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

1,200,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

2,100,000

'

'

'

'

2,000,000

'

'

U.S. Department Of Justice Settlement

0

'

150,000,000

'

0

150,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

0

0

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

0

0

'

'

'

'

'

Payment Upon Execution Of U.S. Department Of Justice Settlement

'

'

'

116,500,000

115,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Final Payment Of U.S. Department Of Justice Settlement

'

'

'

'

35,000,000

'

35,800,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Accrued Charge Related To U.S. Department Of Justice Settlement

35,000,000

'

'

'

35,000,000

'

'

'

150,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Loss Contingency, Estimate of Possible Loss

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

2,000,000

Loss Contingency Accrual

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

1,900,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

1,000,000

'

Relators' Attorneys' Fees For U.S. Department of Justice Settlement

'

$3,900,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Corporate Integrity Agreement Term

'

'

'

'

'5 years

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Segment_Information_Additional

Segment Information - Additional Information (Detail)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
	Segments
Segment Reporting [Abstract]	'
Number of reportable business segments	2

Operating_Income_of_Reportable

Operating Income of Reportable Segments (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Net service revenue	$300,281,000	$301,285,000	$904,026,000	$945,847,000
Cost of service, excluding depreciation and amortization	170,159,000	175,233,000	519,686,000	538,660,000
General and administrative expenses	103,200,000	116,000,000	337,500,000	357,200,000
Provision for doubtful accounts	4,183,000	3,944,000	13,318,000	12,437,000
Depreciation and amortization	6,515,000	8,925,000	22,109,000	28,306,000
U.S. Department Of Justice Settlement	0	150,000,000	0	150,000,000
Other intangibles impairment charge	0	1,542,000	2,208,000	3,828,000
Operating expenses	284,033,000	455,511,000	894,790,000	1,090,456,000
Operating income (loss)	16,248,000	-154,226,000	9,236,000	-144,609,000
Home Health [Member]	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Net service revenue	237,200,000	236,800,000	717,400,000	749,300,000
Cost of service, excluding depreciation and amortization	137,400,000	140,700,000	420,700,000	434,500,000
General and administrative expenses	63,100,000	74,300,000	206,400,000	230,400,000
Provision for doubtful accounts	4,100,000	2,700,000	11,800,000	7,600,000
Depreciation and amortization	2,100,000	2,500,000	7,000,000	7,800,000
U.S. Department Of Justice Settlement	'	0	'	0
Other intangibles impairment charge	0	1,500,000	1,200,000	3,800,000
Operating expenses	206,700,000	221,700,000	647,100,000	684,100,000
Operating income (loss)	30,500,000	15,100,000	70,300,000	65,200,000
Hospice [Member]	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Net service revenue	63,100,000	64,500,000	186,600,000	196,500,000
Cost of service, excluding depreciation and amortization	32,800,000	34,500,000	99,000,000	104,200,000
General and administrative expenses	14,100,000	16,100,000	44,300,000	49,200,000
Provision for doubtful accounts	100,000	1,200,000	1,500,000	4,800,000
Depreciation and amortization	500,000	500,000	1,600,000	1,600,000
U.S. Department Of Justice Settlement	'	0	'	0
Other intangibles impairment charge	0	0	1,000,000	0
Operating expenses	47,500,000	52,300,000	147,400,000	159,800,000
Operating income (loss)	15,600,000	12,200,000	39,200,000	36,700,000
All Other Segments [Member]	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Net service revenue	0	0	0	0
Cost of service, excluding depreciation and amortization	0	0	0	0
General and administrative expenses	26,000,000	25,600,000	86,800,000	77,600,000
Provision for doubtful accounts	0	0	0	0
Depreciation and amortization	3,900,000	5,900,000	13,500,000	18,900,000
U.S. Department Of Justice Settlement	'	150,000,000	'	150,000,000
Other intangibles impairment charge	0	0	0	0
Operating expenses	29,900,000	181,500,000	100,300,000	246,500,000
Operating income (loss)	($29,900,000)	($181,500,000)	($100,300,000)	($246,500,000)