Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details Textual) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010	Mar. 15, 2002
Schedule of Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Accounts Receivable Small Balance Write-off Limit		$ 0
Consolidation for ownership percentage		50.00%
Deferred revenue	37,444,000	37,444,000	34,114,000
Hospice programs exceeding Medicare Payment Cap	21	21
Medicare Hospice Cap expense	(1,500,000)	4,400,000	4,300,000		4,500,000
Medicare Hospice Cap liabilities	15,900,000	15,900,000	15,600,000
Provision for doubtful accounts		4,066,000	8,541,000		10,285,000
Accounts receivables, allowance for doubtful accounts	8,777,000	8,777,000	11,562,000
Malpractice insurance, deductible	1,000,000	1,000,000				500,000
Malpractice Insurance, Annual Coverage Limit		25,000,000
Health and welfare benefits stop loss coverage		400,000
Director's and Officer liability insurance deductible		60,000,000
Operating funds	5,400,000	5,400,000	5,000,000
Dividend income		0	8,590,000	[1]	0
Equity method investment, realized gain on disposal			67,100,000
Assets held in rabbi trust	27,739,000	27,739,000	26,323,000
Unamortized debt issuance costs	44,200,000	44,200,000	53,700,000
Incremental debt issuance costs		5,300,000	15,500,000
Capitalized and amortized Debt issuance cost		4,100,000
Deferred debt issuance costs, write off		500,000	3,500,000		2,500,000
Percentage of Medicaid daily nursing home rate		95.00%
Continuing Operations [Member]
Schedule of Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Provision for doubtful accounts			8,400,000		6,000,000
Workers compensation and professional and general liability expenses		21,000,000	15,100,000		16,800,000
Employee health and welfare expenses		87,500,000	93,000,000		58,900,000
Discontinued Operations [Member]
Schedule of Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Provision for doubtful accounts			100,000		4,300,000
Workers compensation and professional and general liability expenses			500,000		800,000
Employee health and welfare expenses			700,000		1,200,000
CareCentrix [Member]
Schedule of Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Cost method investments	$ 900,000	$ 900,000

[1] For the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company recognized dividend income of $8.6 million as a result of the sale of a portion of the Company’s combined common and preferred ownership of CareCentrix.