Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Impact of Adoption of Revenue Recognition Standard (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Patients accounts receivable					$ 161,898					$ 161,898
Allowance for uncollectible accounts					0					0
Net service revenue	$ 509,842	$ 507,043	$ 502,024	$ 291,054	291,140	$ 269,678	$ 257,535	$ 244,249	$ 1,809,963	1,062,602	$ 900,033
Provision for bad debts										0	0
Net income attributable to LHC Group, Inc.'s common stockholders	$ 20,552	$ 21,230	$ 16,797	$ 4,995	18,435	$ 10,906	$ 11,304	$ 9,467	63,574	50,112	36,583
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions: Receivables									(362)	(26,906)	(14,083)
As previously reported
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Patients accounts receivable					161,898					161,898
Allowance for uncollectible accounts					23,556					23,556
Net service revenue										1,072,086	914,823
Provision for bad debts										(9,484)	(14,790)
Net income attributable to LHC Group, Inc.'s common stockholders										50,112	36,583
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions: Receivables										(36,390)	(28,873)
ASU 2014-09 | Adjustment for ASU 2014-09
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Patients accounts receivable					0					0
Allowance for uncollectible accounts					$ (23,556)					(23,556)
Net service revenue									$ (25,500)	(9,484)	(14,790)
Provision for bad debts										9,484	14,790
Net income attributable to LHC Group, Inc.'s common stockholders										0	0
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions: Receivables										$ 9,484	$ 14,790