DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	May 04, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
One time costs related to pharmacy services asset sale reserve	$ 2,535,000		$ 2,535,000			$ 0
total purchase price at closing, including the value of inventories on hand attributable to the operations subject to the Pharmacy Services Asset Sale.			158,800,000
Amoun the company has received as a result of events related directly or indirectly to the Buyers' retention of certain business after the closing			740,000
Additional purchase price the company may receive related directly or indirectly to the Buyers' retention of certain business after the closing			15,000,000
Amount the company may be required to refund related directly or indirectly to the Buyers' retention of certain business after the closing			6,400,000
Accounts receivable and working capital liabilities relating to the operations subject to the Pharmacy Services Asset Sale	18,600,000		18,600,000
Discontinued Operation, Gain (Loss) from Disposal of Discontinued Operation, before Income Tax	0	0	100,012,000	0
Disposal transaction costs			5,600,000
restructuring costs, transaction costs, and other one-time charges as a result of the transaction	(300,000)		(13,369,000)
discontinued operation, gain from disposal of discontinued operation, before incaome tax, net of restructuring costs, transaction costs, and other one-time charges as a result of the transaction			86,700,000
Amount the company received as the result of an agreement which provided that BioScrip ceased to be the sole fulfillment pharmacy for customers who came through the drugstore.com website			3,000,000
Business Combination, Contingent Consideration Arrangements, Change in Amount of Contingent Consideration, Liability			2,900,000
Receivables, less allowance for doubtful accounts	142,139,000		142,139,000			225,412,000
Revenue	289,000	320,191,000	466,828,000	938,480,000
Inventory					30,560,000
Prepaid expenses and other current assets					299,000
Total current assets	0		0		30,859,000	38,876,000
Property and equipment, net					1,592,000
Goodwill					11,754,000
Intangible assets, net					2,503,000	5,600,000
Gross profit	315,000	23,429,000	30,353,000	73,726,000
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Operating Expense	9,163,000	19,834,000	57,800,000	64,829,000
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	(10,931,000)	882,000	64,448,000	4,152,000
Inventory	36,596,000		36,596,000			17,997,000
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	8,868,000		8,868,000			10,184,000
Total current assets	254,785,000		254,785,000			292,469,000
Property and equipment, net	21,122,000		21,122,000			26,951,000
Other non-current assets	2,151,000		2,151,000			1,552,000
Total assets	656,820,000	677,102,000	656,820,000	677,102,000		677,102,000
Current portion of long-term debt	967,000		967,000			66,161,000
Accounts payable	48,169,000		48,169,000			79,155,000
Amounts due to plan sponsors	21,804,000		21,804,000			25,219,000
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	37,428,000		37,428,000			32,648,000
Total current liabilities	130,597,000		130,597,000			220,774,000
Long-term debt, net of current portion	225,480,000		225,480,000			227,298,000
Other non-current liabilities	6,084,000		6,084,000			3,456,000
Total liabilities	373,299,000		373,299,000			461,823,000
Discontinued Operation, Tax Effect of Discontinued Operation	2,100,000	2,200,000	7,200,000	2,600,000
Assets of Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation					46,708,000
one time costs related to pharmacy services asset sale reserve, settled in cash			(7,019,000)
one time costs related to pharmacy services asset sale reserve, noncash			(3,815,000)
community pharmacy [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Number of locations	27		27
certain assets	3		3
mail order [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Number of locations	3		3
locations not tranferred as part of sale	2		2
Impairment in Value of Asset [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
One time costs related to pharmacy services asset sale reserve	0		0			0
restructuring costs, transaction costs, and other one-time charges as a result of the transaction			(5,839,000)
one time costs related to pharmacy services asset sale reserve, settled in cash			0
one time costs related to pharmacy services asset sale reserve, noncash			(5,839,000)
Employee Severance [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
One time costs related to pharmacy services asset sale reserve	1,464,000		1,464,000			0
restructuring costs, transaction costs, and other one-time charges as a result of the transaction			(5,349,000)
one time costs related to pharmacy services asset sale reserve, settled in cash			(3,885,000)
one time costs related to pharmacy services asset sale reserve, noncash			0
Facility Closing [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
One time costs related to pharmacy services asset sale reserve	1,071,000		1,071,000			0
restructuring costs, transaction costs, and other one-time charges as a result of the transaction			(1,071,000)
one time costs related to pharmacy services asset sale reserve, settled in cash			0
one time costs related to pharmacy services asset sale reserve, noncash			0
Other [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
One time costs related to pharmacy services asset sale reserve	0		0			0
restructuring costs, transaction costs, and other one-time charges as a result of the transaction			(1,110,000)
one time costs related to pharmacy services asset sale reserve, settled in cash			(3,134,000)
one time costs related to pharmacy services asset sale reserve, noncash			$ 2,024,000