Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Consolidated Statements of Operations [Abstract]
Net service revenue	$ 637,569	$ 633,872	$ 631,567
Cost of service revenue	365,752	352,346	326,521
Gross margin	271,817	281,526	305,046
Provision for bad debts	11,875	12,320	7,607
Settlement with government agencies		65,000
General and administrative expenses	205,637	210,588	201,837
Operating income (loss)	54,305	(6,382)	95,602
Interest expense	(1,550)	(1,018)	(134)
Gain (loss) on the sale of assets and entities	(105)	59	(7)
Non-operating income	289	1,722	812
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and noncontrolling interests	52,939	(5,619)	96,273
Income tax expense (benefit)	17,511	(1,968)	31,727
Income (loss) from continuing operations	35,428	(3,651)	64,546
Net income (loss)	35,428	(3,651)	64,546
Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	7,988	9,593	15,787
Net income (loss) attributable to LHC Group, Inc.	27,440	(13,244)	48,759
Redeemable noncontrolling interests			41
Net income (loss) available to LHC Group, Inc.'s common stockholders	$ 27,440	$ (13,244)	$ 48,800
Earnings per share - basic:
Net income (loss) attributable to LHC Group, Inc.'s common stockholders	$ 1.54	$ (0.73)	$ 2.69
Earnings per share - diluted:
Net income (loss) attributable to LHC Group, Inc.'s common stockholders	$ 1.53	$ (0.73)	$ 2.68
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic	17,853,321	18,265,118	18,119,183
Diluted	17,899,195	18,265,118	18,226,091