CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net service revenue	$ 166,302	$ 158,055	$ 328,255	$ 316,816
Cost of service revenue	97,009	92,218	190,257	182,077
Gross margin	69,293	65,837	137,998	134,739
Provision for bad debts	3,208	2,647	7,125	5,408
General and administrative expenses	54,157	50,967	105,780	101,849
Operating income	11,928	12,223	25,093	27,482
Interest expense	(700)	(208)	(1,125)	(567)
Non-operating income (loss)	65	(51)	130	14
Income before income taxes and noncontrolling interest	11,293	11,964	24,098	26,929
Income tax expense	3,918	4,092	8,454	9,318
Net income	7,375	7,872	15,644	17,611
Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	1,585	1,909	3,568	3,907
Net income attributable to LHC Group, Inc.'s common stockholders	$ 5,790	$ 5,963	$ 12,076	$ 13,704
Earnings per share - basic:
Net income attributable to LHC Group, Inc.'s common stockholders	$ 0.34	$ 0.32	$ 0.71	$ 0.75
Earnings per share - diluted:
Net income attributable to LHC Group, Inc.'s common stockholders	$ 0.34	$ 0.32	$ 0.71	$ 0.74
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic	17,055,619	18,385,783	17,011,306	18,357,362
Diluted	17,127,017	18,423,258	17,088,463	18,396,453