CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net service revenue	$ 187,713	$ 164,748	$ 540,261	$ 493,003
Cost of service revenue	113,122	97,966	321,983	288,223
Gross margin	74,591	66,782	218,278	204,780
Provision for bad debts	3,974	2,708	11,699	9,833
General and administrative expenses	58,432	53,047	172,658	158,827
Operating income	12,185	11,027	33,921	36,120
Interest expense	(643)	(430)	(1,861)	(1,555)
Non-operating income	235	54	159	184
Income before income taxes and noncontrolling interest	11,777	10,651	32,219	34,749
Income tax expense	3,924	3,782	11,199	12,236
Net income	7,853	6,869	21,020	22,513
Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	1,679	1,572	4,717	5,140
Net income attributable to LHC Group, Inc.’s common stockholders	$ 6,174	$ 5,297	$ 16,303	$ 17,373
Earnings per share — basic:
Earnings per share, basic (usd per share)	$ 0.36	$ 0.31	$ 0.95	$ 1.02
Earnings per share — diluted:
Earnings per share, diluted (usd per share)	$ 0.36	$ 0.31	$ 0.94	$ 1.02
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Weighted average shares outstanding, basic (shares)	17,260,078	17,083,201	17,213,648	17,035,541
Weighted average shares outstanding, diluted (shares)	17,356,916	17,182,013	17,289,554	17,109,675