Significant Accounting Policies - Impact of Adoption of Revenue Recognition Standard (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Document Period End Date			Jun. 30, 2018
Patient accounts receivable					$ 161,898
Allowance for uncollectible accounts					0
Net service revenue	$ 502,024	$ 257,535	$ 793,078	$ 501,784
Provision for bad debts		0		0
Net income attributable to LHC Group, Inc.'s common stockholders	16,797	11,304	21,792	20,771
Receivables			(18,897)	(1,926)
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		260,210		506,828
Provision for bad debts		2,675		5,044
Net income attributable to LHC Group, Inc.'s common stockholders		11,304		20,771
Receivables				6,970
Accounting Standards Update 2014-09
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Net service revenue	$ 7,700		$ 12,600
Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 | 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		(2,675)		(5,044)
Provision for bad debts		(2,675)		(5,044)
Net income attributable to LHC Group, Inc.'s common stockholders		$ 0		0
Receivables				$ (5,044)