Segment Information - Segment Information (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Segment Reporting, Disclosure of Entity's Reportable Segments [Abstract]
Net service revenue	$ 165,280	$ 164,748	$ 166,302	$ 161,953	$ 161,827	$ 158,926	$ 158,055	$ 158,761	$ 658,283	$ 637,569	$ 633,872
Cost of service revenue									383,464	365,752	352,346
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 (loss) on sale of assets and entities									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)
Total assets	422,226				386,894				422,226	386,894	396,376
Home-based services [Member]
Segment Reporting, Disclosure of Entity's Reportable Segments [Abstract]
Net service revenue									582,891	563,741	557,901
Cost of service revenue									339,199	322,189	307,744
Provision for bad debts									12,843	10,593	11,680
General and administrative expenses									192,784	183,725	190,264
Settlement with government agencies											65,000
Operating income (loss)									38,065	47,234	(16,787)
Interest expense									1,800	1,356	914
Non-operating income, including gain (loss) on sale of assets and entities									149	133	1,645
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and noncontrolling interests									36,414	46,011	(16,056)
Income tax expense (benefit)									14,342	15,619	(4,201)
Income (loss) from continuing operations									22,072	30,392	(11,855)
Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interests									5,552	6,964	8,404
Net income (loss) attributable to LHC Group, Inc.'s common stockholders									16,520	23,428	(20,259)
Total assets	385,915				350,140				385,915	350,140	360,340
Facility-based services [Member]
Segment Reporting, Disclosure of Entity's Reportable Segments [Abstract]
Net service revenue									75,392	73,828	75,971
Cost of service revenue									44,265	43,563	44,602
Provision for bad debts									1,086	1,282	640
General and administrative expenses									21,349	21,912	20,324
Operating income (loss)									8,692	7,071	10,405
Interest expense									195	194	104
Non-operating income, including gain (loss) on sale of assets and entities									94	51	136
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and noncontrolling interests									8,591	6,928	10,437
Income tax expense (benefit)									1,517	1,892	2,233
Income (loss) from continuing operations									7,074	5,036	8,204
Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interests									1,252	1,024	1,189
Net income (loss) attributable to LHC Group, Inc.'s common stockholders									5,822	4,012	7,015
Total assets	$ 36,311				$ 36,754				$ 36,311	$ 36,754	$ 36,036