Revenue Recognition (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2013
Revenue Recognition [line items]
Medicare cap liability	$ 13,245	$ 14,380
Service revenue and sales	$ 2,264,417	2,134,963	$ 2,139,261
Roto-Rooter [Member]
Revenue Recognition [line items]
Credit payment terms	30 days
Duration of advance notice of cancellation without penalty for both parties	90 days
Term of contract	10 years
Duration of advance notice of cancelation without penalty	60 days
Roto-Rooter [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Revenue Recognition [line items]
Duration of services provided	5 days
Roto-Rooter [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Revenue Recognition [line items]
Duration of services provided	3 days
VITAS [Member]
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
Period of service intensity add-on payment	7 days
Reimbursement period per day in 15 min. increments	4 hours
Minimum amount of care per 24-hr period	8 hours
Charity care cost	$ 8,100	7,800	8,500
Percentage of automatic budget reductions				2.00%
Medicare cap liability	$ 13,200	14,400
Percentage of Medicaid reimbursement	95.00%
Percentage of expenses	5.00%
Service revenue and sales	$ 0
Accounts Receivable, Sale	$ 0
VITAS [Member] | Adoption of ASC 606 [Member]
Revenue Recognition [line items]
Percentage of expenses	5.00%
VITAS [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Revenue Recognition [line items]
Inpatient cap percentage	20.00%
VITAS [Member] | Two Program Projected Measurement Period Liability [Member]
Revenue Recognition [line items]
Medicare cap adjustment			$ 6,600
VITAS [Member] | Two Programs and Five Programs Projected Measurement Period Liability [Member]
Revenue Recognition [line items]
Medicare cap adjustment		$ 7,900
VITAS [Member] | Two Programs and Six Programs Projected Measurement Period Liability [Member]
Revenue Recognition [line items]
Medicare cap adjustment	$ 8,000
VITAS [Member] | Three Program Projected Measurement Period Liability [Member]
Revenue Recognition [line items]
Additional Medicare cap adjustment related to prior cap liabilities				$ 9,000