Significant Accounting Policies Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2013

Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Share-based Compensation, Option and Incentive Plans Policy [Policy Text Block]

Stock-Based Compensation

Stock-based compensation expense recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for stock options, restricted stock units, performance share units and stock awards totaled approximately $4.5 million and $3.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

Trade and Other Accounts Receivable, Policy [Policy Text Block]

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 types of accounts receivable characteristics (in thousands):

March 31, 2013	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	$	224,747	$	129,579	$	354,326
Facility payors	409,412		146,882		556,294
Private Pay payors	71,033		100,818		171,851
Total gross accounts receivable	$	705,192	$	377,279	$	1,082,471
December 31, 2012
Medicare (Part D and Part B), Medicaid and Third-Party payors	$	238,348	$	163,773	$	402,121
Facility payors	383,848		168,945		552,793
Private Pay payors	70,835		100,719		171,554
Total gross accounts receivable	$	693,031	$	433,437	$	1,126,468

Income Tax, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Income Taxes

The quarterly effective tax rates are different than the federal statutory rate largely as a result of the impact of state and local income taxes and certain non-deductible charges.  The year over year change in the effective tax rate is primarily due to certain non-deductible charges relating to the disposition of businesses in 2012.

Common Stock Repurchase Agreement [Policy Text Block]

Common Stock Repurchase Program

In the three months ended March 31, 2013, the Company did not repurchase any shares through authorized share repurchase programs. The Company had approximately $220 million of combined share repurchase authority remaining as of March 31, 2013, which expires on December 31, 2014. In 2012, the Company entered into a $250 million Accelerated Repurchase Agreement (“ASR”) with Goldman, Sachs & Co. that is anticipated to be completed during the second quarter of 2013. As of March 31, 2013, the Company had a $50 million equity forward contract recorded as part of the ASR, which is included in paid in capital.