CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net service revenue	$ 399,262	$ 364,661
Cost of service, excluding depreciation and amortization	238,309	216,329
General and administrative expenses:
Salaries and benefits	75,631	74,459
Non-cash compensation	4,044	3,874
Other	41,680	40,417
Depreciation and amortization	3,593	4,417
Operating expenses	363,257	339,496
Operating income	36,005	25,165
Other income (expense):
Interest income	120	19
Interest expense	(1,703)	(1,068)
Equity in earnings (loss) from equity method investments	1,860	(106)
Miscellaneous, net	601	1,112
Total other income (expense), net	878	(43)
Income before income taxes	36,883	25,122
Income tax expense	(9,563)	(9,923)
Net income	27,320	15,199
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(161)	(69)
Net income attributable to Amedisys, Inc.	$ 27,159	$ 15,130
Basic earnings per common share:
Net income attributable to Amedisys, Inc. common stockholders, basic (usd per share)	$ 0.80	$ 0.45
Weighted average shares outstanding, basic (shares)	33,971	33,443
Diluted earnings per common share:
Net income attributable to Amedisys, Inc. common stockholders, diluted (usd per share)	$ 0.79	$ 0.44
Weighted average shares outstanding, diluted (shares)	34,592	34,073