CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net service revenue	$ 564,166	$ 485,059	$ 1,101,310	$ 976,744
Other operating income	4,603	22,780	13,304	22,780
Cost of service, excluding depreciation and amortization	308,691	295,228	605,894	580,965
General and administrative expenses:
Salaries and benefits	114,335	105,617	230,160	207,183
Non-cash compensation	6,156	6,725	13,463	12,634
Other	54,731	44,003	103,837	93,268
Depreciation and amortization	6,721	6,334	14,276	11,672
Operating expenses	490,634	457,907	967,630	905,722
Operating income	78,135	49,932	146,984	93,802
Other income (expense):
Interest income	25	214	49	227
Interest expense	(1,932)	(2,752)	(4,004)	(5,983)
Equity in earnings from equity method investments	1,370	487	2,488	964
Gain (loss) on equity method investments	31,092	(2,980)	31,092	(2,980)
Miscellaneous, net	475	277	763	540
Total other income (expense), net	31,030	(4,754)	30,388	(7,232)
Income before income taxes	109,165	45,178	177,372	86,570
Income tax expense	(28,546)	(10,031)	(46,461)	(19,377)
Net income	80,619	35,147	130,911	67,193
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(470)	(473)	(892)	(717)
Net income attributable to Amedisys, Inc.	$ 80,149	$ 34,674	$ 130,019	$ 66,476
Basic earnings per common share:
Net income attributable to Amedisys, Inc. common stockholders, basic (usd per share)	$ 2.46	$ 1.07	$ 3.98	$ 2.05
Weighted average shares outstanding, basic (shares)	32,588	32,412	32,684	32,371
Diluted earnings per common share:
Net income attributable to Amedisys, Inc. common stockholders, diluted (usd per share)	$ 2.43	$ 1.04	$ 3.93	$ 2.00
Weighted average shares outstanding, diluted (shares)	32,981	33,285	33,085	33,259