Segment Information - Segment Information (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
Segment Reporting, Disclosure of Entity's Reportable Segments [Abstract]
Net service revenue	$ 166,302	$ 158,055	$ 328,255	$ 316,816
Cost of service revenue	97,009	92,218	190,257	182,077
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
Total assets	415,388	383,356	415,388	383,356	386,894
Home-based services [Member]
Segment Reporting, Disclosure of Entity's Reportable Segments [Abstract]
Net service revenue	146,544	139,996	288,531	279,591
Cost of service revenue	86,252	80,707	167,842	159,768
Provision for bad debts	2,868	2,334	6,145	4,957
General and administrative expenses	48,767	45,566	94,939	90,792
Operating income	8,657	11,389	19,605	24,074
Interest expense	(630)	(187)	(1,017)	(510)
Non-operating income (loss)	38	(50)	79	3
Income before income taxes and noncontrolling interest	8,065	11,152	18,667	23,567
Income tax expense	3,553	3,697	7,640	8,428
Net income	4,512	7,455	11,027	15,139
Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	1,216	1,826	2,815	3,518
Net income attributable to LHC Group, Inc.'s common stockholders	3,296	5,629	8,212	11,621
Total assets	378,687	348,788	378,687	348,788
Facility-based services [Member]
Segment Reporting, Disclosure of Entity's Reportable Segments [Abstract]
Net service revenue	19,758	18,059	39,724	37,225
Cost of service revenue	10,757	11,511	22,415	22,309
Provision for bad debts	340	313	980	451
General and administrative expenses	5,390	5,401	10,841	11,057
Operating income	3,271	834	5,488	3,408
Interest expense	(70)	(21)	(108)	(57)
Non-operating income (loss)	27	(1)	51	11
Income before income taxes and noncontrolling interest	3,228	812	5,431	3,362
Income tax expense	365	395	814	890
Net income	2,863	417	4,617	2,472
Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	369	83	753	389
Net income attributable to LHC Group, Inc.'s common stockholders	2,494	334	3,864	2,083
Total assets	$ 36,701	$ 34,568	$ 36,701	$ 34,568