Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Operations (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Operations [Abstract]
Net service revenue	$ 153,398	$ 165,672	$ 476,196	$ 464,475
Cost of service revenue	87,815	87,227	262,987	239,952
Gross margin	65,583	78,445	213,209	224,523
Provision for bad debts	3,199	1,699	8,903	5,299
Settlement with government agencies	65,000		65,000
General and administrative expenses	52,656	51,056	159,851	146,509
Operating income (loss)	(55,272)	25,690	(20,545)	72,715
Interest expense	(217)	(33)	(507)	(83)
Non-operating income	1,396	90	1,573	711
Income (loss) before income taxes and noncontrolling interest	(54,093)	25,747	(19,479)	73,343
Income tax expense (benefit)	(18,130)	8,631	(6,420)	24,119
Net income (loss)	(35,963)	17,116	(13,059)	49,224
Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	1,997	3,818	7,419	11,910
Net income (loss) attributable to LHC Group, Inc.	(37,960)	13,298	(20,478)	37,314
Redeemable noncontrolling interest			(6,700)	41
Net income (loss) available to LHC Group, Inc.'s common stockholders	$ (37,960)	$ 13,298	$ (20,478)	$ 37,355
Earnings per share - basic:
Net income (loss) attributable to LHC Group, Inc.	$ (2.08)	$ 0.73	$ (1.12)	$ 2.06
Redeemable noncontrolling interest
Net income (loss) available to LHC Group, Inc.'s common stockholders	$ (2.08)	$ 0.73	$ (1.12)	$ 2.06
Earnings per share - diluted:
Net income (loss) attributable to LHC Group, Inc.	$ (2.08)	$ 0.73	$ (1.12)	$ 2.05
Redeemable noncontrolling interest
Net income (loss) available to LHC Group, Inc.'s common stockholders	$ (2.08)	$ 0.73	$ (1.12)	$ 2.05
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic	18,263,237	18,148,678	18,251,648	18,103,196
Diluted	18,263,237	18,224,019	18,251,648	18,208,445