Revenue Recognition (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended			12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2013
Revenue Recognition [line items]
Period of tier one care rate	60 days
Period of tier two care rate	61 days
Period of services provided after discharge	12 months
Charity care cost	$ 2,100		$ 1,900
Inpatient Cap percentage Max	20.00%
Percentage of automatic budget reductions				2.00%
Medicare cap adjustment	$ 1,818		0
Percentage of medicaid reimbursement	95.00%
Percentage of expenses	5.00%
Credit payment terms	30 days
Duration of advance notice of cancelation without penalty for both parties	90 days
Term of contract	10 years
Duration of advance notice of cancelation without penatly	60 days
Net pretax expense/(income) from medicare cap liability	$ 1,800	$ 2,400
Reclassification of expenses	69,000		69,458
Reclassification of expenses	$ 304,536		$ 285,140
Maximum [Member]
Revenue Recognition [line items]
Duration of services provided	5 days
Minimum [Member]
Revenue Recognition [line items]
Duration of services provided	3 days
Three Program Projected Measurement Period Liability [Member]
Revenue Recognition [line items]
Unbilled Revenue	$ 2,500
Segment Roto-Rooter [Member] | Adoption of ASC 606 [Member]
Revenue Recognition [line items]
Reclassification of expenses	1,900
Segment VITAS [Member] | Adoption of ASC 606 [Member]
Revenue Recognition [line items]
Reclassification of expenses	2,800
Reclassification of expenses	$ 2,600