CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net service revenue	$ 164,748	$ 158,926	$ 493,003	$ 475,742
Cost of service revenue	97,966	91,234	288,223	273,311
Gross margin	66,782	67,692	204,780	202,431
Provision for bad debts	2,708	2,987	9,833	8,395
General and administrative expenses	53,047	52,464	158,827	154,313
Other intangibles impairment charge		650		650
Operating income	11,027	11,591	36,120	39,073
Interest expense	(430)	(405)	(1,555)	(972)
Non-operating income	54	94	184	108
Income before income taxes and noncontrolling interest	10,651	11,280	34,749	38,209
Income tax expense	3,782	3,388	12,236	12,706
Net income	6,869	7,892	22,513	25,503
Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	1,572	1,556	5,140	5,463
Net income attributable to LHC Group, Inc.'s common stockholders	$ 5,297	$ 6,336	$ 17,373	$ 20,040
Earnings per share - basic:
Net income attributable to LHC Group, Inc.'s common stockholders	$ 0.31	$ 0.36	$ 1.02	$ 1.11
Earnings per share - diluted:
Net income attributable to LHC Group, Inc.'s common stockholders	$ 0.31	$ 0.36	$ 1.02	$ 1.10
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic	17,083,201	17,656,842	17,035,541	18,121,217
Diluted	17,182,013	17,726,819	17,109,675	18,160,489