Segments And Nature Of The Business (Segment Data) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net income	$ 268,550	$ 319,466	$ 219,923
Total interest income	377	757	513
Total interest expense	1,868	2,355	4,535
Total income tax provision	81,764	76,524	41,686
Total identifiable assets	1,342,723	1,434,911	1,268,317
Total additions to long-lived assets	58,856	61,793	189,024
Total depreciation and amortization	59,051	56,583	45,205
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net income	328,764	359,176	259,532
Total interest income	25,682	26,897	26,800
Total interest expense	755	506	514
Total income tax provision	103,846	113,511	78,987
Total identifiable assets	1,206,681	1,171,347	1,170,935
Total additions to long-lived assets	58,832	56,547	188,024
Total depreciation and amortization	58,970	56,447	45,049
Intercompany Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total interest income	$ (25,305)	$ (26,153)	$ (26,287)
VITAS [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Percentage of segment revenue	59.00%	64.00%	66.00%
VITAS [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net income	$ 162,431	$ 238,782	$ 155,822
Total interest income	18,378	20,565	18,515
Total interest expense	160	166	169
Total income tax provision	52,426	76,473	48,711
Total identifiable assets	693,490	672,246	663,455
Total additions to long-lived assets	28,583	28,865	25,530
Total depreciation and amortization	$ 23,185	$ 22,239	$ 20,055
Roto-Rooter [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Percentage of segment revenue	41.00%	36.00%	34.00%
Roto-Rooter [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net income	$ 166,333	$ 120,394	$ 103,710
Total interest income	7,304	6,332	8,285
Total interest expense	595	340	345
Total income tax provision	51,420	37,038	30,276
Total identifiable assets	513,191	499,101	507,480
Total additions to long-lived assets	30,249	27,682	162,494
Total depreciation and amortization	35,785	34,208	24,994
Corporate [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net income	(60,214)	(39,710)	(39,609)
Total interest income		13
Total interest expense	1,113	1,849	4,021
Total income tax provision	(22,082)	(36,987)	(37,301)
Total identifiable assets	136,042	263,564	97,382
Total additions to long-lived assets	24	5,246	1,000
Total depreciation and amortization	$ 81	$ 136	$ 156