Segments (Service Revenues And Sales And After-Tax Earnings By Business Segment) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total service revenues and sales	$ 439,176	$ 405,864
After-tax Income/(Loss)	44,996	29,844
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total service revenues and sales	439,176	405,864
After-tax Income/(Loss)	54,953	35,221
Segment VITAS [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total service revenues and sales	292,013	282,316
After-tax Income/(Loss)	32,015	20,597
Segment Roto-Rooter [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total service revenues and sales	147,163	123,548
After-tax Income/(Loss)	22,938	14,624
Corporate Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
After-tax Income/(Loss)	$ (9,957)	$ (5,377)