Segment Information - Segment Information (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
Segment Reporting, Disclosure of Entity's Reportable Segments [Abstract]
Net service revenue	$ 164,748	$ 158,926	$ 493,003	$ 475,742
Cost of service revenue	97,966	91,234	288,223	273,311
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
Total assets	414,033	387,498	414,033	387,498	386,894
Home-based services [Member]
Segment Reporting, Disclosure of Entity's Reportable Segments [Abstract]
Net service revenue	146,910	140,256	435,441	419,847
Cost of service revenue	87,082	80,579	254,924	240,347
Provision for bad debts	2,651	2,669	8,796	7,626
General and administrative expenses	47,969	47,110	142,908	137,902
Other intangibles impairment charge		250		250
Operating income	9,208	9,648	28,813	33,722
Interest expense	(387)	(364)	(1,404)	(874)
Non-operating income	36	74	115	77
Income before income taxes and noncontrolling interest	8,857	9,358	27,524	32,925
Income tax expense	3,422	3,213	11,062	11,641
Net income	5,435	6,145	16,462	21,284
Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	1,279	1,308	4,094	4,826
Net income attributable to LHC Group, Inc.'s common stockholders	4,156	4,837	12,368	16,458
Total assets	379,340	352,941	379,340	352,941
Facility-based services [Member]
Segment Reporting, Disclosure of Entity's Reportable Segments [Abstract]
Net service revenue	17,838	18,670	57,562	55,895
Cost of service revenue	10,884	10,655	33,299	32,964
Provision for bad debts	57	318	1,037	769
General and administrative expenses	5,078	5,354	15,919	16,411
Other intangibles impairment charge		400		400
Operating income	1,819	1,943	7,307	5,351
Interest expense	(43)	(41)	(151)	(98)
Non-operating income	18	20	69	31
Income before income taxes and noncontrolling interest	1,794	1,922	7,225	5,284
Income tax expense	360	175	1,174	1,065
Net income	1,434	1,747	6,051	4,219
Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	293	248	1,046	637
Net income attributable to LHC Group, Inc.'s common stockholders	1,141	1,499	5,005	3,582
Total assets	$ 34,693	$ 34,557	$ 34,693	$ 34,557