Bonus depreciation on personal tangible property expenditures

No definition available.

Name:	che_BonusDepreciationOnPersonalTangiblePropertyExpenditures
Namespace Prefix:	che_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Exposure on single claim

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	che_ExposureOnSingleClaim
Namespace Prefix:	che_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Guarantor obligations and warranty claims accrual

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	che_GuarantorObligationsAndWarrantyClaimsAccrual
Namespace Prefix:	che_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Guarantor obligations, period

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	che_GuarantorObligationsPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	che_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Historical claims data, period of time

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	che_HistoricalClaimsDataPeriodOfTime
Namespace Prefix:	che_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Number Of Wholly Owned Subsidiaries

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	che_NumberOfWhollyOwnedSubsidiaries
Namespace Prefix:	che_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Percent of population serviced

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	che_PercentOfPopulationServiced
Namespace Prefix:	che_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Professional liability and other risks, insurance deductible

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	che_ProfessionalLiabilityAndOtherRisksInsuranceDeductible
Namespace Prefix:	che_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	che_SummaryOfSignificantAccountingPoliciesLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	che_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of income tax expense for compensation and share based payments from change in tax rate pursuant to Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	che_TaxCutsAndJobsActOf2017ShareBasedPaymentsExpense
Namespace Prefix:	che_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of income tax expense from transition tax on accumulated earnings of controlled foreign corporation deemed repatriated pursuant to Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	che_TaxCutsAndJobsActOf2017TransitionTaxForAccumulatedForeignEarningsIncomeTaxExpense
Namespace Prefix:	che_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

For an unclassified balance sheet, the amount of fees and other revenue, excluding investment income receivable, earned but not yet received, which were recognized in conformity with revenue recognition criteria based on estimates or specific contractual terms.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount charged to advertising expense for the period, which are expenses incurred with the objective of increasing revenue for a specified brand, product or product line.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 720
-SubTopic 35
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6420018&loc=d3e36677-107848

+ Details

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

- Definition

The amount of charity care provided during the period based on the provider's direct and indirect costs of providing charity care services.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 954
-SubTopic 605
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=68052803&loc=d3e8255-115641

+ Details

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

- Definition

For an entity that discloses a concentration risk in relation to quantitative amount, which serves as the "benchmark" (or denominator) in the equation, this concept represents the concentration percentage derived from the division.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 275
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 18
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84177426&loc=d3e6351-108592

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 825
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 20
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=77997519&loc=d3e13531-108611

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 275
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 20
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84177426&loc=d3e6404-108592

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 825
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 21
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=77997519&loc=d3e13537-108611

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskPercentage1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of net income (loss) for the period per each share of common stock or unit outstanding during the reporting period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 260
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6371337&loc=d3e3550-109257

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 260
-SubTopic 10
-Section 55
-Paragraph 52
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=96948231&loc=d3e4984-109258

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 225
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-04(19))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879464&loc=d3e573970-122913

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 260
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=96947427&loc=d3e1252-109256

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 225
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03(21))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=63488584&loc=d3e20235-122688

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 225
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-04(23))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879574&loc=d3e536633-122882

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of net income (loss) for the period available to each share of common stock or common unit outstanding during the reporting period and to each share or unit that would have been outstanding assuming the issuance of common shares or units for all dilutive potential common shares or units outstanding during the reporting period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 225
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-04(19))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879464&loc=d3e573970-122913

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 260
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=96947427&loc=d3e1252-109256

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 225
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03(21))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=63488584&loc=d3e20235-122688

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 225
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-04(23))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879574&loc=d3e536633-122882

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Percentage of domestic federal statutory tax rate applicable to pretax income (loss).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 12
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84230637&loc=d3e32687-109319

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 6.I)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=34349781&loc=d3e330036-122817

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 13
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84230637&loc=d3e32698-109319

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of current income tax expense (benefit) and deferred income tax expense (benefit) pertaining to continuing operations.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 9
-Subparagraph (a),(b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84230637&loc=d3e32639-109319

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 235
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(h))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e23780-122690

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of the difference between reported income tax expense (benefit) and expected income tax expense (benefit) computed by applying the domestic federal statutory income tax rates to pretax income (loss) from continuing operations, attributable to increase (decrease) in the income tax rates.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 12
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84230637&loc=d3e32687-109319

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 13
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84230637&loc=d3e32698-109319

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 15
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84176650&loc=d3e32059-109318

+ Details

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

- Definition

Number of operating segments. An operating segment is a component of an enterprise: (a) that engages in business activities from which it may earn revenues and incur expenses (including revenues and expenses relating to transactions with other components of the same enterprise), (b) whose operating results are regularly reviewed by the enterprise's chief operating decision maker to make decisions about resources to be allocated to the segment and assess its performance, and (c) for which discrete financial information is available. An operating segment may engage in business activities for which it has yet to earn revenues, for example, start-up operations may be operating segments before earning revenues.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of revenue recognized from goods sold, services rendered, insurance premiums, or other activities that constitute an earning process. Includes, but is not limited to, investment and interest income before deduction of interest expense when recognized as a component of revenue, and sales and trading gain (loss).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 225
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=63488584&loc=d3e20235-122688

+ Details

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

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis=us-gaap_ScenarioPlanMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis=us-gaap_SalesRevenueNetMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis=che_TotalAssetsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis=che_TotalCurrentLiabilitiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis=che_TotalLiabilitiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

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

- Details

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

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis=us-gaap_SalesRevenueServicesNetMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

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

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MinimumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivablesByLegalEntityOfCounterpartyTypeAxis=che_MedicareMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis=us-gaap_AccountsReceivableMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivablesByLegalEntityOfCounterpartyTypeAxis=che_MedicaidMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivablesByLegalEntityOfCounterpartyTypeAxis=che_MedicareAndMedicaidMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_AdjustmentsForNewAccountingPronouncementsAxis=us-gaap_AccountingStandardsUpdate201609Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Narrative) (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) entity item $ / shares	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) $ / shares	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) $ / shares
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of wholly-owned subsidiaries \| entity		2
Cost of providing charity care		$ 7,700,000	$ 7,000,000	$ 7,600,000
Guarantee and warranty claims accrual		420,000	405,000
Advertising expense in continuing operations		40,900,000	37,200,000	36,400,000
Decrease income taxes		$ 18,740,000	$ 68,311,000	$ 69,852,000
Increase to basic earnings per share \| $ / shares		$ 6.11	$ 6.64	$ 6.54
Increase to diluted earnings per share \| $ / shares		$ 5.86	$ 6.48	$ 6.33
Adjustments to casualty and workers compensation accrual		$ 5,560,000	$ 3,148,000	$ 1,891,000
Historical claims data, period of time		10 years
Federal corporate tax rate		35.00%
Net tax benefit adjustment		$ (8,305,000)
The Act [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Federal corporate tax rate	21.00%
Net tax benefit adjustment		8,937,000
Deemed repatriation		529,000
Share based payment awards		$ 103,000
Bonus depreciation on personal tangible property expenditures		100.00%
Sales Revenue [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Concentration risk, percentage		85.00%	90.00%	90.00%
Total Assets [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Concentration risk, percentage		5.00%
Total Current Liabilities [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Concentration risk, percentage		5.00%
Total Liabilities [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Concentration risk, percentage		5.00%
Roto Rooter And Corporate Office [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Exposure on single claim		$ 750,000
Segment Roto-Rooter [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of Operating Segments \| item		1
Percent of population serviced		90.00%
Decrease income taxes		$ 32,782,000	$ 32,719,000	$ 29,630,000
Segment Roto-Rooter [Member] \| Service Revenues [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Concentration risk, percentage		2.00%	2.00%	2.00%
Segment Roto-Rooter [Member] \| Sales Revenue [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Concentration risk, percentage		31.00%	29.00%
Segment VITAS [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Revenues		$ 0
Decrease income taxes		16,436,000	$ 51,910,000	$ 56,675,000
Exposure on single claim		1,000,000
Professional liability and other risks, insurance deductible		$ 750,000
Segment VITAS [Member] \| Service Revenues [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Concentration risk, percentage		85.00%	85.00%
Segment VITAS [Member] \| Sales Revenue [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Concentration risk, percentage		69.00%	71.00%
Minimum [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Period of service guarantee		1 day
Maximum [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Period of service guarantee		1 year
Medicare [Member] \| Accounts Receivable [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Concentration risk, percentage		59.00%	59.00%
Medicaid [Member] \| Accounts Receivable [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Concentration risk, percentage		32.00%	31.00%
Medicare And Medicaid [Member] \| Accounts Receivable [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Concentration risk, percentage		55.00%
ASU No. 2016-09 [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Decrease income taxes		$ 18,900,000
Increase to basic earnings per share \| $ / shares		$ 1.18
Increase to diluted earnings per share \| $ / shares		$ 1.08