Segment Information - Segment Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016
Segment Reporting, Disclosure of Entity's Reportable Segments [Abstract]
Net service revenue	$ 246,618	$ 222,552
Cost of service revenue	154,370	135,601
Provision for bad debts	2,369	4,601
General and administrative expenses	72,011	66,240
Operating income	17,868	16,110
Interest expense	(780)	(885)
Income before income taxes and noncontrolling interest	17,088	15,225
Income tax expense	5,173	5,342
Net income	11,915	9,883
Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	2,448	2,197
Net income attributable to LHC Group, Inc.’s common stockholders	9,467	7,686
Total assets	642,725	582,853	$ 614,071
Home health services
Segment Reporting, Disclosure of Entity's Reportable Segments [Abstract]
Net service revenue	182,141	161,387
Cost of service revenue	112,086	96,712
Provision for bad debts	1,483	3,455
General and administrative expenses	53,922	49,558
Operating income	14,650	11,662
Interest expense	(585)	(678)
Income before income taxes and noncontrolling interest	14,065	10,984
Income tax expense	4,253	3,850
Net income	9,812	7,134
Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	2,028	1,594
Net income attributable to LHC Group, Inc.’s common stockholders	7,784	5,540
Total assets	447,807	400,924
Community-based services
Segment Reporting, Disclosure of Entity's Reportable Segments [Abstract]
Net service revenue	10,816	10,443
Cost of service revenue	7,948	7,727
Provision for bad debts	275	82
General and administrative expenses	2,311	2,079
Operating income	282	555
Interest expense	(39)	(41)
Income before income taxes and noncontrolling interest	243	514
Income tax expense	83	228
Net income	160	286
Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	8	(43)
Net income attributable to LHC Group, Inc.’s common stockholders	152	329
Total assets	32,961	33,133
Hospice Services
Segment Reporting, Disclosure of Entity's Reportable Segments [Abstract]
Net service revenue	36,445	30,824
Cost of service revenue	23,273	19,627
Provision for bad debts	497	775
General and administrative expenses	10,406	8,990
Operating income	2,269	1,432
Interest expense	(117)	(91)
Income before income taxes and noncontrolling interest	2,152	1,341
Income tax expense	659	420
Net income	1,493	921
Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	286	317
Net income attributable to LHC Group, Inc.’s common stockholders	1,207	604
Total assets	126,068	111,308
Facility-based services
Segment Reporting, Disclosure of Entity's Reportable Segments [Abstract]
Net service revenue	17,216	19,898
Cost of service revenue	11,063	11,535
Provision for bad debts	114	289
General and administrative expenses	5,372	5,613
Operating income	667	2,461
Interest expense	(39)	(75)
Income before income taxes and noncontrolling interest	628	2,386
Income tax expense	178	844
Net income	450	1,542
Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	126	329
Net income attributable to LHC Group, Inc.’s common stockholders	324	1,213
Total assets	$ 35,889	$ 37,488