Goodwill and Intangibles - Changes in Goodwill by Segment (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013 Home-based services segment [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Facility-based services segment [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Facility-based services segment [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period	$ 169,150	$ 157,559	$ 11,591	$ 11,591
Goodwill from acquisitions	25,743	25,121
Goodwill related to noncontrolling interest	622	622
Balance at end of period	$ 194,893	$ 183,302	$ 11,591	$ 11,591

Amount of goodwill arising from a business combination that is attributable to the noncontrolling interest in the acquiree.

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	lhcg_BusinessAcquisitionPurchasePriceAllocationNoncontrollingGoodwill
Namespace Prefix:	lhcg_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount after accumulated impairment loss of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=14024403&loc=d3e13816-109267

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 20

-Section 45

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6388280&loc=d3e13770-109266

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_Goodwill
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of increase in asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized resulting from a business combination.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=14024403&loc=d3e13816-109267

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_GoodwillRollForward
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration