Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $) In Millions, except Share data in Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Income Statement [Abstract]
Patient service revenues	$ 1,481.5	$ 1,428.1	$ 2,945.4	$ 2,779.6
Less: Provision for doubtful accounts	(161.7)	(141.5)	(331.3)	(267.7)
Patient service revenues, net	1,319.8	1,286.6	2,614.1	2,511.9
Premium revenues	193.3	188.8	369.7	399.8
Total revenues	1,513.1	1,475.4	2,983.8	2,911.7
Costs and Expenses:
Salaries and benefits (includes stock compensation of $2.7, $3.9, $4.9 and $4.6, respectively)	698.1	702.4	1,378.3	1,367.4
Health plan claims expense	149.8	147.3	284.1	312.0
Supplies	232.5	227.9	458.6	441.5
Purchased services	148.2	133.4	295.4	260.4
Rents and leases	18.8	18.7	37.8	36.7
Other operating expenses	145.1	131.3	289.3	264.4
Medicare and Medicaid EHR incentives	(14.5)	(21.3)	(25.8)	(24.4)
Depreciation and amortization	67.8	65.8	133.4	128.4
Interest, net	49.7	43.2	100.5	89.0
Acquisition related expenses	0.1	0.4	0.1	12.6
Debt extinguishment costs	0	0	0	38.9
Other	(1.8)	(1.8)	(6.9)	(4.2)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	19.3	28.1	39.0	(11.0)
Income tax benefit (expense)	(7.2)	(11.3)	(12.1)	3.9
Income (loss) from continuing operations	12.1	16.8	26.9	(7.1)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes	0	(0.3)	0.1	(0.4)
Net income (loss)	12.1	16.5	27.0	(7.5)
Net loss (income) attributable to non-controlling interests	0.1	(0.8)	(0.9)	1.5
Net income (loss) attributable to Vanguard Health Systems, Inc. stockholders	12.2	15.7	26.1	(6.0)
Amounts attributable to Vanguard Health Systems, Inc. stockholders:
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of taxes	12.2	16.0	26.0	(5.6)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes	0	(0.3)	0.1	(0.4)
Net income (loss) attributable to Vanguard Health Systems, Inc. stockholders	$ 12.2	$ 15.7	$ 26.1	$ (6.0)
Earnings (loss) per share attributable to Vanguard Health Systems, Inc. stockholders
Basic earnings (loss) per share	$ 0.15	$ 0.21	$ 0.32	$ (0.08)
Diluted earnings (loss) per share	$ 0.14	$ 0.20	$ 0.31	$ (0.08)
Weighted average shares (in thousands):
Basic, shares	77,421	75,325	76,559	75,090
Diluted, shares	79,625	78,732	79,205	75,090