Additional Paid In Capital Decrease Due To Sale Of Noncontrolling Interests

No definition available.

Name:	lhcg_AdditionalPaidInCapitalDecreaseDueToSaleOfNoncontrollingInterests
Namespace Prefix:	lhcg_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Additional Paid In Capital Increase Due To Purchase Of Noncontrolling Interests

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	lhcg_AdditionalPaidInCapitalIncreaseDueToPurchaseOfNoncontrollingInterests
Namespace Prefix:	lhcg_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Aggregate purchase price of acquisitions.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	lhcg_AggregatePurchasePriceOfAcquisitions
Namespace Prefix:	lhcg_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired And Liabilities Assumed, Non Controlling Interest

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	lhcg_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedNonControllingInterest
Namespace Prefix:	lhcg_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Number Of Agencies

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	lhcg_NumberOfAgencies
Namespace Prefix:	lhcg_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Number Of Subsidiaries

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	lhcg_NumberOfSubsidiaries
Namespace Prefix:	lhcg_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of consideration transferred, consisting of acquisition-date fair value of assets transferred by the acquirer, liabilities incurred by the acquirer, and equity interest issued by the acquirer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 30
-Section 30
-Paragraph 8
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109124213&loc=d3e6613-128477

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35744584&loc=d3e6927-128479

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 30
-Section 30
-Paragraph 7
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109124213&loc=d3e6578-128477

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessCombinationConsiderationTransferred1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, that lack physical substance, having a projected indefinite period of benefit, acquired at the acquisition date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84161108&loc=d3e4845-128472

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedIndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssets
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount after accumulated impairment loss of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 20
-Section 45
-Paragraph 5
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=77989000&loc=SL49117168-202975

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 20
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=99380562&loc=d3e13770-109266

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_Goodwill
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The number of businesses acquired by the entity during the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_NumberOfBusinessesAcquired
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The cash outflow associated with the acquisition of business during the period. The cash portion only of the acquisition price.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35744584&loc=d3e6927-128479

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 13
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109223946&loc=d3e3213-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesGross
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The cash inflow associated with the amount received from the sale of a portion of the company's business, for example a segment, division, branch or other business, during the period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 12
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109223946&loc=d3e3179-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProceedsFromDivestitureOfBusinesses
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=lhcg_CommunityBasedServicesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=lhcg_HomeHealthReportingUnitMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=lhcg_HospiceReportingUnitMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=lhcg_InpatientHospiceMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=lhcg_LTACHAgencyMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=lhcg_PharmacyMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=lhcg_HomeHealthAgenciesAndHospiceAgencyMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=lhcg_HomehealthservicesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=lhcg_HospiceEntityMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=lhcg_A2017AcquisitionsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=us-gaap_TradeNamesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=lhcg_CertificateOfNeedandLicensesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_ConsolidatedEntitiesAxis=srt_SubsidiariesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=lhcg_EquityJointVenturesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Other Acquisitions and Joint Ventures - Additional Information (Detail) $ in Thousands					12 Months Ended
	Apr. 01, 2018 USD ($)	Sep. 01, 2017 Agency	Jun. 01, 2017 Agency	Jan. 01, 2017 Agency	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) Agency subsidiary	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) Agency	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Consideration transferred for a business combination	$ 795,412				$ 795,412	$ 0	$ 0
Goodwill					1,161,717	392,601	307,317
Proceeds from sale of ownership interests					4,200
Reduction to additional paid in capital					2,200
Increase to additional paid in capital					7,700
Home and community-based
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of entities acquired \| Agency		1
Home Health Reporting Unit
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Goodwill					822,602	$ 261,456	210,839
Number of entities acquired \| Agency		7	3	28		5
Hospice Reporting Unit
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Goodwill					118,583	$ 88,814	64,234
Number of entities acquired \| Agency		5	6	12		2
Inpatient Hospice
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of entities acquired \| Agency		1	1	1
LTACH Agency
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of entities acquired \| Agency		6
Pharmacy
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of entities acquired \| Agency						1
Home Health Agencies and Hospice Agency
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Consideration transferred for a business combination					9,400
Cash paid for acquisitions					8,800
Goodwill					11,000
Acquired non-controlling interest					$ 5,000
Home Health Agencies and Hospice Agency \| Home health
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of agencies \| Agency					7
Home Health Agencies and Hospice Agency \| Hospice
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of agencies \| Agency					1
2017 Acquisitions
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Cash paid for acquisitions						$ 10,400	$ 64,600
Total purchase price for acquisitions						$ 80,200
Trade name \| Home Health Agencies and Hospice Agency
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Indefinite-lived intangible assets					$ 1,500
Certificates of need/licenses \| Home Health Agencies and Hospice Agency
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Indefinite-lived intangible assets					$ 1,400
Wholly owned subsidiaries
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of subsidiaries \| subsidiary					5
Equity joint ventures
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Consideration transferred for a business combination					$ 8,100
Cash paid for acquisitions					$ 7,700
Number of subsidiaries \| subsidiary					2