Significant Accounting Policies - Impact of Adoption of Revenue Recognition Standard (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Patient accounts receivable			$ 161,898
Allowance for uncollectible accounts			0
Net service revenue	$ 291,054	$ 244,249
Provision for bad debts		0
Net income attributable to LHC Group, Inc.'s common stockholders	4,995	9,467
Receivables	$ (7,111)	2,028
Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Patient accounts receivable			161,898
Allowance for uncollectible accounts			23,556
Net service revenue		246,618
Provision for bad debts		2,369
Net income attributable to LHC Group, Inc.'s common stockholders		9,467
Receivables		(341)
Difference between Revenue Guidance in Effect before and after Topic 606
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Patient accounts receivable			0
Allowance for uncollectible accounts			$ (23,556)
Net service revenue		(2,369)
Provision for bad debts		(2,369)
Net income attributable to LHC Group, Inc.'s common stockholders		0
Receivables		$ 2,369