Revenue Recognition (Schedule Of Patient Care Service Revenue) (Details) - VITAS [Member] - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020
Revenue Recognition, Multiple-deliverable Arrangements [Line Items]
Care service revenue	$ 319,657	$ 338,904	$ 642,854	$ 686,850
Net revenue	311,935	327,465	627,723	665,380
Routine Home Care [Member]
Revenue Recognition, Multiple-deliverable Arrangements [Line Items]
Care service revenue	264,926	276,345	528,680	548,098
Continuous Care [Member]
Revenue Recognition, Multiple-deliverable Arrangements [Line Items]
Care service revenue	24,282	34,582	51,631	75,137
Inpatient Care [Member]
Revenue Recognition, Multiple-deliverable Arrangements [Line Items]
Care service revenue	27,371	25,868	56,527	58,350
Care Services Total [Member]
Revenue Recognition, Multiple-deliverable Arrangements [Line Items]
Care service revenue	316,579	336,795	636,838	681,585
All Other Revenue- Self-pay, Respite Care, Etc. [Member]
Revenue Recognition, Multiple-deliverable Arrangements [Line Items]
Care service revenue	3,078	2,109	6,016	5,265
Medicare Cap Adjustment [Member]
Revenue Recognition, Multiple-deliverable Arrangements [Line Items]
Medicare cap adjustment	(2,000)	(5,750)	(3,500)	(8,250)
Implicit Price Concessions [Member]
Revenue Recognition, Multiple-deliverable Arrangements [Line Items]
Implicit price concessions	(3,065)	(3,042)	(6,309)	(7,192)
Room And Board, Net [Member]
Revenue Recognition, Multiple-deliverable Arrangements [Line Items]
Room and board, net	(2,657)	(2,647)	(5,322)	(6,028)
Medicare [Member] | Routine Home Care [Member]
Revenue Recognition, Multiple-deliverable Arrangements [Line Items]
Care service revenue	247,061	257,550	493,125	511,505
Medicare [Member] | Continuous Care [Member]
Revenue Recognition, Multiple-deliverable Arrangements [Line Items]
Care service revenue	22,010	31,483	46,917	68,615
Medicare [Member] | Inpatient Care [Member]
Revenue Recognition, Multiple-deliverable Arrangements [Line Items]
Care service revenue	23,905	22,448	49,346	50,596
Medicare [Member] | Care Services Total [Member]
Revenue Recognition, Multiple-deliverable Arrangements [Line Items]
Care service revenue	292,976	311,481	589,388	630,716
Medicaid [Member] | Routine Home Care [Member]
Revenue Recognition, Multiple-deliverable Arrangements [Line Items]
Care service revenue	11,509	12,673	23,088	24,806
Medicaid [Member] | Continuous Care [Member]
Revenue Recognition, Multiple-deliverable Arrangements [Line Items]
Care service revenue	1,237	1,622	2,496	3,493
Medicaid [Member] | Inpatient Care [Member]
Revenue Recognition, Multiple-deliverable Arrangements [Line Items]
Care service revenue	2,069	2,311	4,539	4,870
Medicaid [Member] | Care Services Total [Member]
Revenue Recognition, Multiple-deliverable Arrangements [Line Items]
Care service revenue	14,815	16,606	30,123	33,169
Commercial [Member] | Routine Home Care [Member]
Revenue Recognition, Multiple-deliverable Arrangements [Line Items]
Care service revenue	6,356	6,122	12,467	11,787
Commercial [Member] | Continuous Care [Member]
Revenue Recognition, Multiple-deliverable Arrangements [Line Items]
Care service revenue	1,035	1,477	2,218	3,029
Commercial [Member] | Inpatient Care [Member]
Revenue Recognition, Multiple-deliverable Arrangements [Line Items]
Care service revenue	1,397	1,109	2,642	2,884
Commercial [Member] | Care Services Total [Member]
Revenue Recognition, Multiple-deliverable Arrangements [Line Items]
Care service revenue	$ 8,788	$ 8,708	$ 17,327	$ 17,700