Segment Information - Segment Information (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
Segment Reporting, Disclosure of Entity's Reportable Segments [Abstract]
Net service revenue	$ 187,713	$ 164,748	$ 540,261	$ 493,003
Cost of service revenue	113,122	97,966	321,983	288,223
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
Total assets	495,631	414,033	495,631	414,033	422,226
Home- Based Services
Segment Reporting, Disclosure of Entity's Reportable Segments [Abstract]
Net service revenue	152,648	132,739	435,588	394,453
Cost of service revenue	91,506	78,307	258,173	229,466
Provision for bad debts	3,753	2,333	10,475	8,009
General and administrative expenses	48,591	44,002	142,747	131,048
Operating income	8,798	8,097	24,193	25,930
Interest expense	(515)	(348)	(1,489)	(1,268)
Non-operating income	190	33	103	94
Income before income taxes and noncontrolling interest	8,473	7,782	22,807	24,756
Income tax expense	3,034	3,028	8,763	9,993
Net income	5,439	4,754	14,044	14,763
Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	1,185	1,077	3,329	3,417
Net income attributable to LHC Group, Inc.’s common stockholders	4,254	3,677	10,715	11,346
Total assets	424,780	351,804	424,780	351,804
Hospice Services
Segment Reporting, Disclosure of Entity's Reportable Segments [Abstract]
Net service revenue	17,071	14,171	49,361	40,988
Cost of service revenue	10,431	8,775	29,479	25,458
Provision for bad debts	269	318	467	787
General and administrative expenses	4,756	3,967	13,994	11,860
Operating income	1,615	1,111	5,421	2,883
Interest expense	(64)	(39)	(186)	(136)
Non-operating income	35	3	40	21
Income before income taxes and noncontrolling interest	1,586	1,075	5,275	2,768
Income tax expense	521	394	1,397	1,069
Net income	1,065	681	3,878	1,699
Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	292	202	828	677
Net income attributable to LHC Group, Inc.’s common stockholders	773	479	3,050	1,022
Total assets	34,622	27,536	34,622	27,536
Facility- Based Services
Segment Reporting, Disclosure of Entity's Reportable Segments [Abstract]
Net service revenue	17,994	17,838	55,312	57,562
Cost of service revenue	11,185	10,884	34,331	33,299
Provision for bad debts	(48)	57	757	1,037
General and administrative expenses	5,085	5,078	15,917	15,919
Operating income	1,772	1,819	4,307	7,307
Interest expense	(64)	(43)	(186)	(151)
Non-operating income	10	18	16	69
Income before income taxes and noncontrolling interest	1,718	1,794	4,137	7,225
Income tax expense	369	360	1,039	1,174
Net income	1,349	1,434	3,098	6,051
Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	202	293	560	1,046
Net income attributable to LHC Group, Inc.’s common stockholders	1,147	1,141	2,538	5,005
Total assets	$ 36,229	$ 34,693	$ 36,229	$ 34,693