Segment Information - Segment Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting, Disclosure of Entity's Reportable Segments [Abstract]
Net service revenue	$ 204,122	$ 187,713	$ 597,373	$ 540,261
Cost of service revenue	120,873	113,122	351,938	321,983
Provision for bad debts	4,809	3,974	14,873	11,699
General and administrative expenses	60,748	58,197	180,416	172,499
Operating income	17,692	12,420	50,146	34,080
Interest expense	(434)	(643)	(1,533)	(1,861)
Income before income taxes and noncontrolling interest	17,258	11,777	48,613	32,219
Income tax expense	6,148	3,924	17,097	11,199
Net income	11,110	7,853	31,516	21,020
Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	2,265	1,679	6,916	4,717
Net income attributable to LHC Group, Inc.’s common stockholders	8,845	6,174	24,600	16,303
Total assets	568,887	495,631	568,887	495,631	$ 491,739
Home health services
Segment Reporting, Disclosure of Entity's Reportable Segments [Abstract]
Net service revenue	155,047	143,675	454,911	417,329
Cost of service revenue	90,013	85,305	262,604	245,383
Provision for bad debts	3,988	3,644	12,109	9,968
General and administrative expenses	47,666	46,501	141,696	138,356
Operating income	13,380	8,225	38,502	23,622
Interest expense	(343)	(510)	(1,211)	(1,474)
Income before income taxes and noncontrolling interest	13,037	7,715	37,291	22,148
Income tax expense	4,602	3,005	12,999	8,680
Net income	8,435	4,710	24,292	13,468
Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	1,812	1,193	5,584	3,341
Net income attributable to LHC Group, Inc.’s common stockholders	6,623	3,517	18,708	10,127
Total assets	449,038	390,536	449,038	390,536
Hospice services
Segment Reporting, Disclosure of Entity's Reportable Segments [Abstract]
Net service revenue	19,205	17,071	54,688	49,361
Cost of service revenue	11,691	10,431	32,634	29,479
Provision for bad debts	51	269	697	467
General and administrative expenses	5,398	4,721	15,397	13,954
Operating income	2,065	1,650	5,960	5,461
Interest expense	(47)	(64)	(168)	(186)
Income before income taxes and noncontrolling interest	2,018	1,586	5,792	5,275
Income tax expense	713	521	2,056	1,397
Net income	1,305	1,065	3,736	3,878
Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	279	292	778	828
Net income attributable to LHC Group, Inc.’s common stockholders	1,026	773	2,958	3,050
Total assets	41,694	34,622	41,694	34,622
Community-based services
Segment Reporting, Disclosure of Entity's Reportable Segments [Abstract]
Net service revenue	10,628	8,973	30,713	18,259
Cost of service revenue	7,276	6,201	21,632	12,790
Provision for bad debts	560	109	1,431	507
General and administrative expenses	2,091	1,900	6,376	4,288
Operating income	701	763	1,274	674
Interest expense	(5)	(5)	(17)	(15)
Income before income taxes and noncontrolling interest	696	758	1,257	659
Income tax expense	297	29	557	83
Net income	399	729	700	576
Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(29)	(8)	(101)	(12)
Net income attributable to LHC Group, Inc.’s common stockholders	428	737	801	588
Total assets	33,070	34,244	33,070	34,244
Facility- based services
Segment Reporting, Disclosure of Entity's Reportable Segments [Abstract]
Net service revenue	19,242	17,994	57,061	55,312
Cost of service revenue	11,893	11,185	35,068	34,331
Provision for bad debts	210	(48)	636	757
General and administrative expenses	5,593	5,075	16,947	15,901
Operating income	1,546	1,782	4,410	4,323
Interest expense	(39)	(64)	(137)	(186)
Income before income taxes and noncontrolling interest	1,507	1,718	4,273	4,137
Income tax expense	536	369	1,485	1,039
Net income	971	1,349	2,788	3,098
Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	203	202	655	560
Net income attributable to LHC Group, Inc.’s common stockholders	768	1,147	2,133	2,538
Total assets	$ 45,085	$ 36,229	$ 45,085	$ 36,229