Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Details) (USD $) In Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations
Net operating revenues	$ 505.1	$ 467.3	$ 1,011.1	$ 925.9
Operating expenses:
Salaries and benefits	241.6	226.2	485.6	452.5
Other operating expenses	75.4	70.8	146.3	132.0
General and administrative expenses	27.4	26.7	54.3	53.0
Supplies	26.2	25.0	52.0	49.2
Depreciation and amortization	19.6	17.8	39.1	35.3
Occupancy costs	12.1	10.7	23.7	21.6
Provision for doubtful accounts	5.0	5.2	9.8	11.1
Loss on disposal of assets	1.0	0.4	1.1	0.4
Government, class action, and related settlements	(10.6)		(10.6)
Professional fees - accounting, tax, and legal	8.4	5.7	12.2	8.6
Total operating expenses	406.1	388.5	813.5	763.7
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	26.1	0.1	26.1	0.4
Interest expense and amortization of debt discounts and fees	34.9	30.1	70.0	60.6
Other income	(0.7)	(1.4)	(1.3)	(2.1)
(Gain) loss on interest rate swaps		(0.3)		4.0
Equity in net income of nonconsolidated affiliates	(3.2)	(2.6)	(5.7)	(5.2)
Income from continuing operations before income tax expense (benefit)	41.9	52.9	108.5	104.5
Provision for income tax (Benifit) expense	11.2	(1.3)	3.8	1.1
Income from continuing operations	30.7	54.2	104.7	103.4
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	1.6	3.3	19.1	4.6
Net income	32.3	57.5	123.8	108.0
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(10.4)	(10.2)	(22.1)	(20.0)
Net income attributable to HealthSouth	21.9	47.3	101.7	88.0
HealthSouth Corporation [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations
Net operating revenues	4.4	5.3	10.5	10.0
Operating expenses:
Salaries and benefits	4.6	5.3	10.5	10.9
Other operating expenses	10.1	2.1	14.1	4.4
General and administrative expenses	27.4	26.7	54.3	53.0
Supplies	0.3	0.2	0.3	0.3
Depreciation and amortization	2.4	2.3	5.1	4.6
Occupancy costs	1.2	0.6	2.1	1.5
Provision for doubtful accounts	0.1	0.2	0.2	0.3
Government, class action, and related settlements	(10.6)		(10.6)
Professional fees - accounting, tax, and legal	8.4	5.7	12.2	8.6
Total operating expenses	43.9	43.1	88.2	83.6
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	26.1	0.1	26.1	0.4
Interest expense and amortization of debt discounts and fees	32.4	27.7	65.0	55.8
Other income	(0.2)	(0.3)	(0.3)	(0.5)
(Gain) loss on interest rate swaps		(0.3)		4.0
Equity in net income of nonconsolidated affiliates	(0.8)	(0.5)	(1.6)	(1.2)
Equity in net income of consolidated affiliates	(56.9)	(45.9)	(113.2)	(94.5)
Management fees	(23.9)	(22.7)	(48.1)	(44.8)
Income from continuing operations before income tax expense (benefit)	(16.2)	4.1	(5.6)	7.2
Provision for income tax (Benifit) expense	(37.3)	(40.6)	(90.0)	(77.9)
Income from continuing operations	21.1	44.7	84.4	85.1
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	0.8	2.6	17.3	2.9
Net income	21.9	47.3	101.7	88.0
Net income attributable to HealthSouth	21.9	47.3	101.7	88.0
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations
Net operating revenues	362.0	335.5	727.3	665.7
Operating expenses:
Salaries and benefits	169.8	158.5	341.5	317.2
Other operating expenses	49.1	47.3	99.4	91.0
Supplies	18.5	17.8	37.3	35.2
Depreciation and amortization	13.0	11.8	25.7	23.5
Occupancy costs	9.0	8.0	17.8	16.0
Provision for doubtful accounts	3.5	3.9	7.1	8.1
Loss on disposal of assets	0.1	0.3	0.2	0.4
Total operating expenses	263.0	247.6	529.0	491.4
Interest expense and amortization of debt discounts and fees	2.1	2.2	4.3	4.4
Other income		(0.1)	(0.1)	(0.1)
Equity in net income of nonconsolidated affiliates	(2.3)	(2.0)	(4.0)	(3.9)
Equity in net income of consolidated affiliates	(2.8)	(4.4)	(4.9)	(6.5)
Management fees	18.6	17.6	37.5	34.9
Income from continuing operations before income tax expense (benefit)	83.4	74.6	165.5	145.5
Provision for income tax (Benifit) expense	39.6	33.2	76.8	65.6
Income from continuing operations	43.8	41.4	88.7	79.9
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	1.2	0.9	2.5	2.1
Net income	45.0	42.3	91.2	82.0
Net income attributable to HealthSouth	45.0	42.3	91.2	82.0
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations
Net operating revenues	149.8	136.1	295.6	269.4
Operating expenses:
Salaries and benefits	70.6	65.5	140.4	130.6
Other operating expenses	21.5	25.8	43.4	45.4
Supplies	7.4	7.0	14.4	13.7
Depreciation and amortization	4.2	3.7	8.3	7.2
Occupancy costs	4.4	4.1	8.7	8.2
Provision for doubtful accounts	1.4	1.1	2.5	2.7
Loss on disposal of assets	0.9	0.1	0.9
Total operating expenses	110.4	107.3	218.6	207.8
Interest expense and amortization of debt discounts and fees	0.7	0.9	1.3	1.6
Other income	(0.8)	(1.7)	(1.5)	(2.7)
Equity in net income of nonconsolidated affiliates	(0.1)	(0.1)	(0.1)	(0.1)
Equity in net income of consolidated affiliates				0.1
Management fees	5.3	5.1	10.6	9.9
Income from continuing operations before income tax expense (benefit)	34.3	24.6	66.7	52.8
Provision for income tax (Benifit) expense	8.9	6.1	17.0	13.4
Income from continuing operations	25.4	18.5	49.7	39.4
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	(0.4)	(0.3)	(0.7)	(0.5)
Net income	25.0	18.2	49.0	38.9
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(10.4)	(10.2)	(22.1)	(20.0)
Net income attributable to HealthSouth	14.6	8.0	26.9	18.9
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations
Net operating revenues	(11.1)	(9.6)	(22.3)	(19.2)
Operating expenses:
Salaries and benefits	(3.4)	(3.1)	(6.8)	(6.2)
Other operating expenses	(5.3)	(4.4)	(10.6)	(8.8)
Occupancy costs	(2.5)	(2.0)	(4.9)	(4.1)
Total operating expenses	(11.2)	(9.5)	(22.3)	(19.1)
Interest expense and amortization of debt discounts and fees	(0.3)	(0.7)	(0.6)	(1.2)
Other income	0.3	0.7	0.6	1.2
Equity in net income of consolidated affiliates	59.7	50.3	118.1	100.9
Income from continuing operations before income tax expense (benefit)	(59.6)	(50.4)	(118.1)	(101.0)
Income from continuing operations	(59.6)	(50.4)	(118.1)	(101.0)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax		0.1		0.1
Net income	(59.6)	(50.3)	(118.1)	(100.9)
Net income attributable to HealthSouth	$ (59.6)	$ (50.3)	$ (118.1)	$ (100.9)