Segment Information - Segment Information (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting, Disclosure of Entity's Reportable Segments [Abstract]
Net service revenue	$ 193,079	$ 163,681
Cost of service revenue	114,426	97,334
Provision for bad debts	5,259	3,362
General and administrative expenses	59,298	54,579
Operating income	14,096	8,406
Interest expense	(545)	(388)
Income before income taxes and noncontrolling interest	13,551	8,018
Income tax expense	4,729	2,923
Net income	8,822	5,095
Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	2,017	1,027
Net income attributable to LHC Group, Inc.’s common stockholders	6,805	4,068
Total assets	490,964	468,100	491,739
Home health services
Segment Reporting, Disclosure of Entity's Reportable Segments [Abstract]
Net service revenue	146,592	127,793
Cost of service revenue	85,546	75,800
Provision for bad debts	4,476	2,623
General and administrative expenses	46,454	44,194
Operating income	10,116	5,176
Interest expense	(430)	(307)
Income before income taxes and noncontrolling interest	9,686	4,869
Income tax expense	3,657	2,270
Net income	6,029	2,599
Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	1,521	607
Net income attributable to LHC Group, Inc.’s common stockholders	4,508	1,992
Total assets	385,653	400,911
Community-based services
Segment Reporting, Disclosure of Entity's Reportable Segments [Abstract]
Net service revenue	9,773	887
Cost of service revenue	6,900	644
Provision for bad debts	180	31
General and administrative expenses	2,217	323
Operating income	476	(111)
Interest expense	(6)	(3)
Income before income taxes and noncontrolling interest	470	(114)
Income tax expense	45	23
Net income	425	(137)
Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(20)	0
Net income attributable to LHC Group, Inc.’s common stockholders	445	(137)
Total assets	32,971	1,544
Hospice Services
Segment Reporting, Disclosure of Entity's Reportable Segments [Abstract]
Net service revenue	16,851	15,222
Cost of service revenue	10,099	8,897
Provision for bad debts	347	105
General and administrative expenses	4,888	4,444
Operating income	1,517	1,776
Interest expense	(60)	(39)
Income before income taxes and noncontrolling interest	1,457	1,737
Income tax expense	620	346
Net income	837	1,391
Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	246	201
Net income attributable to LHC Group, Inc.’s common stockholders	591	1,190
Total assets	34,019	28,919
Facility-based services
Segment Reporting, Disclosure of Entity's Reportable Segments [Abstract]
Net service revenue	19,863	19,779
Cost of service revenue	11,881	11,993
Provision for bad debts	256	603
General and administrative expenses	5,739	5,618
Operating income	1,987	1,565
Interest expense	(49)	(39)
Income before income taxes and noncontrolling interest	1,938	1,526
Income tax expense	407	284
Net income	1,531	1,242
Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	270	219
Net income attributable to LHC Group, Inc.’s common stockholders	1,261	1,023
Total assets	$ 38,321	$ 36,726