CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net service revenue	$ 658,283	$ 637,569	$ 633,872
Cost of service revenue	383,464	365,752	352,346
Gross margin	274,819	271,817	281,526
Provision for bad debts	13,929	11,875	12,320
General and administrative expenses	214,133	205,637	210,588
Settlement with government agencies			65,000
Operating income (loss)	46,757	54,305	(6,382)
Interest expense	(1,995)	(1,550)	(1,018)
Non-operating income, including gain or loss on sales of assets	243	184	1,781
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and noncontrolling interests	45,005	52,939	(5,619)
Income tax expense (benefit)	15,859	17,511	(1,968)
Income (loss) from continuing operations	29,146	35,428	(3,651)
Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	6,804	7,988	9,593
Net income (loss) attributable to LHC Group, Inc.'s common stockholders	$ 22,342	$ 27,440	$ (13,244)
Earnings per share - basic:
Net income (loss) attributable to LHC Group, Inc.'s common stockholders	$ 1.31	$ 1.54	$ (0.73)
Earnings per share - diluted:
Net income (loss) attributable to LHC Group, Inc.'s common stockholders	$ 1.30	$ 1.53	$ (0.73)
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic	17,049,794	17,853,321	18,265,118
Diluted	17,132,751	17,899,195	18,265,118