CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net service revenue	$ 218,993	$ 204,122	$ 200,172	$ 193,079	$ 193,371	$ 187,713	$ 188,867	$ 163,681	$ 816,366	$ 733,632	$ 658,283
Cost of service revenue									480,878	434,775	383,464
Gross margin	90,053	83,249	83,533	78,653	80,579	74,591	77,340	66,347	335,488	298,857	274,819
Provision for bad debts									19,243	15,780	13,929
General and administrative expenses									248,629	233,945	213,633
Impairment of intangibles and other									1,273	3,646	520
Operating income									66,343	45,486	46,737
Interest expense									(2,302)	(2,486)	(1,995)
Non-operating income									(457)	(265)	(263)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes and noncontrolling interests									64,498	43,265	45,005
Income tax expense									22,848	14,513	15,859
Income from continuing operations									41,650	28,752	29,146
Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interests									9,315	6,915	6,804
Net Income Attributable to LHC Group Inc.'s Common Stockholders	$ 7,735	$ 8,845	$ 8,950	$ 6,805	$ 5,534	$ 6,174	$ 6,061	$ 4,068	$ 32,335	$ 21,837	$ 22,342
Earnings Per Share - Basic:
Net income attributable to LHC Group, Inc.' common stockholders	$ 0.44	$ 0.51	$ 0.51	$ 0.39	$ 0.32	$ 0.36	$ 0.35	$ 0.24	$ 1.86	$ 1.27	$ 1.31
Earnings Per Share, Diluted [Abstract]
Net income attributable to LHC Group, Inc.' common stockholders	$ 0.44	$ 0.50	$ 0.51	$ 0.39	$ 0.32	$ 0.36	$ 0.35	$ 0.24	$ 1.84	$ 1.26	$ 1.30
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding:
Basic	17,447,691	17,436,731	17,410,971	17,322,791	17,274,677	17,260,078	17,233,264	17,148,043	17,405,379	17,229,026	17,049,794
Diluted	17,647,483	17,610,953	17,529,100	17,489,483	17,419,423	17,356,916	17,277,224	17,268,716	17,547,531	17,315,333	17,132,751