Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011
Segment information
Net service revenue	$ 158,926	$ 153,398	$ 475,742	$ 476,196
Cost of service revenue	91,234	87,815	273,311	262,987
Provision for bad debts	2,987	3,199	8,395	8,903
General and administrative expenses	52,464	52,656	154,313	159,851
Other intangibles impairment charge	650		650
Settlement with government agencies		65,000		65,000
Operating income (loss)	11,591	(55,272)	39,073	(20,545)
Interest expense	(405)	(217)	(972)	(507)
Non-operating income	94	1,396	108	1,573
Income (loss) before income taxes and noncontrolling interest	11,280	(54,093)	38,209	(19,479)
Income tax expense (benefit)	3,388	(18,130)	12,706	(6,420)
Net income (loss)	7,892	(35,963)	25,503	(13,059)
Noncontrolling interest	1,556	1,997	5,463	7,419
Net income (loss) available to LHC Group, Inc.'s common stockholders	6,336	(37,960)	20,040	(20,478)
Total assets	387,498	397,893	387,498	397,893	396,376
Home Based Services [Member]
Segment information
Net service revenue	140,256	134,950	419,847	418,735
Cost of service revenue	80,579	77,331	240,347	229,153
Provision for bad debts	2,669	3,097	7,626	8,503
General and administrative expenses	47,110	47,522	137,902	145,043
Other intangibles impairment charge	650		650
Settlement with government agencies		65,000		65,000
Operating income (loss)	9,248	(58,000)	33,322	(28,964)
Interest expense	(364)	(196)	(874)	(457)
Non-operating income	74	1,374	77	1,516
Income (loss) before income taxes and noncontrolling interest	8,958	(56,822)	32,525	(27,905)
Income tax expense (benefit)	3,050	(18,506)	11,478	(7,912)
Net income (loss)	5,908	(38,316)	21,047	(19,993)
Noncontrolling interest	1,308	1,622	4,826	6,404
Net income (loss) available to LHC Group, Inc.'s common stockholders	4,600	(39,938)	16,221	(26,397)
Total assets	352,541	356,417	352,541	356,417
Facility Based Services [Member]
Segment information
Net service revenue	18,670	18,448	55,895	57,461
Cost of service revenue	10,655	10,484	32,964	33,834
Provision for bad debts	318	102	769	400
General and administrative expenses	5,354	5,134	16,411	14,808
Operating income (loss)	2,343	2,728	5,751	8,419
Interest expense	(41)	(21)	(98)	(50)
Non-operating income	20	22	31	57
Income (loss) before income taxes and noncontrolling interest	2,322	2,729	5,684	8,426
Income tax expense (benefit)	338	376	1,228	1,492
Net income (loss)	1,984	2,353	4,456	6,934
Noncontrolling interest	248	375	637	1,015
Net income (loss) available to LHC Group, Inc.'s common stockholders	1,736	1,978	3,819	5,919
Total assets	$ 34,957	$ 41,476	$ 34,957	$ 41,476