Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Accounts Receivable

The following table is an aging of the Company’s gross accounts receivable (net of allowances for contractual adjustments), aged based on payment terms and categorized based on the three primary overall types of accounts receivable characteristics (in thousands):

September 30, 2012	Current and 0-180 Days Past Due		181 Days and Over Past Due		Total
Medicare (Part D and Part B), Medicaid and Third-Party payors	$	248,195	$	191,329	$	439,524
Facility payors	386,445		185,285		571,730
Private Pay payors	70,534		117,785		188,319
Total gross accounts receivable	$	705,174	$	494,399	$	1,199,573
December 31, 2011
Medicare (Part D and Part B), Medicaid and Third-Party payors	$	257,782	$	199,303	$	457,085
Facility payors	387,509		204,419		591,928
Private Pay payors	85,934		155,080		241,014
Total gross accounts receivable	$	731,225	$	558,802	$	1,290,027

Accumulated other comprehensive income(loss)

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) by component and in the aggregate, follow (in thousands):

	September 30, 2012			December 31, 2011
Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustments	$	9,722		$	8,338
Translation adjustment recorded in disposition of businesses	(9,722		)	—
Unrealized loss on fair value of investments	(276		)	(277		)
Pension and postemployment benefits	(1,752		)	(1,029		)
Total accumulated other comprehensive income, net	$	(2,028	)	$	7,032

Schedule of Other Nonoperating Expense, by Component [Table Text Block]

Other charges (credits)

Other charges (credits) consist of the following (in thousands):

	Three months ended September 30,					Nine months ended September 30,
	2012			2011		2012			2011
Acquisition and other related costs (credits)	$	(3,830	)	$	6,718	$	396		$	10,939
Restructuring charges	11,046			—		11,046			—
Disposition of businesses	(7,680		)	—		(1,777		)	—
Separation costs	5,500			—		21,000			—
Debt related costs	—			—		35,092			—
Total - other charges	$	5,036		$	6,718	$	65,757		$	10,939