Segment Information - Summary of segment Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020	Dec. 31, 2020
Segment Reporting, Disclosure of Entity's Reportable Segments [Abstract]
Net service revenue	$ 545,907		$ 487,320	$ 1,070,742	$ 1,000,191
Cost of service revenue (excluding depreciation and amortization)	317,872		306,712	628,144	627,914
General and administrative expenses	167,061		150,574	330,310	308,440
Impairment of intangibles and other	760		600	937	600
Government stimulus income	0	$ (44,400)	(44,435)	0	(44,435)
Operating income	60,214		73,869	111,351	107,672
Interest expense	(143)		(841)	(406)	(3,609)
Income (loss) before income taxes and noncontrolling interest	60,071		73,028	110,945	104,063
Income tax expense (benefit)	13,318		15,227	22,759	18,586
Net income	46,753		57,801	88,186	85,477
Less net income (loss) attributable to non controlling interests	9,110		13,109	15,884	18,761
Net income attributable to LHC Group, Inc.’s common stockholders	37,643		44,692	72,302	66,716
Total assets	2,367,125		2,357,099	2,367,125	2,357,099	$ 2,483,354
Home health services
Segment Reporting, Disclosure of Entity's Reportable Segments [Abstract]
Net service revenue	396,534		339,872	770,362	707,693
Cost of service revenue (excluding depreciation and amortization)	219,925		205,146	432,298	425,586
General and administrative expenses	123,245		110,209	242,642	226,232
Impairment of intangibles and other	760		0	937	0
Government stimulus income			(35,019)		(35,019)
Operating income	52,604		59,536	94,485	90,894
Interest expense	(106)		(594)	(288)	(2,494)
Income (loss) before income taxes and noncontrolling interest	52,498		58,942	94,197	88,400
Income tax expense (benefit)	11,706		12,807	19,596	16,096
Net income	40,792		46,135	74,601	72,304
Less net income (loss) attributable to non controlling interests	7,500		9,922	12,349	14,528
Net income attributable to LHC Group, Inc.’s common stockholders	33,292		36,213	62,252	57,776
Total assets	1,681,871		1,656,022	1,681,871	1,656,022
Hospice services
Segment Reporting, Disclosure of Entity's Reportable Segments [Abstract]
Net service revenue	63,804		61,055	126,538	121,586
Cost of service revenue (excluding depreciation and amortization)	39,647		37,271	78,217	75,305
General and administrative expenses	18,114		16,266	36,241	32,892
Impairment of intangibles and other	0		600	0	600
Government stimulus income			(4,731)		(4,731)
Operating income	6,043		11,649	12,080	17,520
Interest expense	(20)		(97)	(56)	(400)
Income (loss) before income taxes and noncontrolling interest	6,023		11,552	12,024	17,120
Income tax expense (benefit)	1,280		2,439	2,347	3,047
Net income	4,743		9,113	9,677	14,073
Less net income (loss) attributable to non controlling interests	1,208		2,164	2,223	3,131
Net income attributable to LHC Group, Inc.’s common stockholders	3,535		6,949	7,454	10,942
Total assets	288,985		268,771	288,985	268,771
Home and community-based services
Segment Reporting, Disclosure of Entity's Reportable Segments [Abstract]
Net service revenue	48,407		47,675	97,532	96,139
Cost of service revenue (excluding depreciation and amortization)	34,683		38,747	69,555	77,200
General and administrative expenses	11,923		11,124	23,452	22,583
Impairment of intangibles and other	0		0	0	0
Government stimulus income			(2,865)		(2,865)
Operating income	1,801		669	4,525	(779)
Interest expense	(10)		(79)	(34)	(345)
Income (loss) before income taxes and noncontrolling interest	1,791		590	4,491	(1,124)
Income tax expense (benefit)	470		(12)	988	(218)
Net income	1,321		602	3,503	(906)
Less net income (loss) attributable to non controlling interests	85		33	364	(122)
Net income attributable to LHC Group, Inc.’s common stockholders	1,236		569	3,139	(784)
Total assets	245,071		259,742	245,071	259,742
Facility-based services
Segment Reporting, Disclosure of Entity's Reportable Segments [Abstract]
Net service revenue	31,030		33,639	64,399	63,320
Cost of service revenue (excluding depreciation and amortization)	20,460		21,785	41,635	42,127
General and administrative expenses	10,906		10,165	22,163	20,545
Impairment of intangibles and other	0		0	0	0
Government stimulus income			(1,656)		(1,656)
Operating income	(336)		3,345	601	2,304
Interest expense	(5)		(47)	(19)	(266)
Income (loss) before income taxes and noncontrolling interest	(341)		3,298	582	2,038
Income tax expense (benefit)	(152)		373	(95)	174
Net income	(189)		2,925	677	1,864
Less net income (loss) attributable to non controlling interests	322		997	979	1,240
Net income attributable to LHC Group, Inc.’s common stockholders	(511)		1,928	(302)	624
Total assets	85,520		101,258	85,520	101,258
HCI
Segment Reporting, Disclosure of Entity's Reportable Segments [Abstract]
Net service revenue	6,132		5,079	11,911	11,453
Cost of service revenue (excluding depreciation and amortization)	3,157		3,763	6,439	7,696
General and administrative expenses	2,873		2,810	5,812	6,188
Impairment of intangibles and other	0		0	0	0
Government stimulus income			(164)		(164)
Operating income	102		(1,330)	(340)	(2,267)
Interest expense	(2)		(24)	(9)	(104)
Income (loss) before income taxes and noncontrolling interest	100		(1,354)	(349)	(2,371)
Income tax expense (benefit)	14		(380)	(77)	(513)
Net income	86		(974)	(272)	(1,858)
Less net income (loss) attributable to non controlling interests	(5)		(7)	(31)	(16)
Net income attributable to LHC Group, Inc.’s common stockholders	91		(967)	(241)	(1,842)
Total assets	$ 65,678		$ 71,306	$ 65,678	$ 71,306