CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Net service revenue	$ 348,817	$ 301,572
Cost of service, excluding depreciation and amortization	201,837	170,961
General and administrative expenses:
Salaries and benefits	76,717	68,555
Non-cash compensation	4,070	2,384
Other	46,717	33,070
Provision for doubtful accounts	3,940	2,976
Depreciation and amortization	4,473	6,537
Asset impairment charge	0	75,193
Operating expenses	337,754	359,676
Operating income (loss)	11,063	(58,104)
Other (expense) income:
Interest income	22	22
Interest expense	(1,112)	(2,426)
Equity in (loss) earnings from equity method investments	(5)	1,951
Miscellaneous, net	735	2,134
Total other (expense) income, net	(360)	1,681
Income (loss) before income taxes	10,703	(56,423)
Income tax (expense) benefit	(4,388)	21,591
Net income (loss)	6,315	(34,832)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(102)	(177)
Net income (loss) attributable to Amedisys, Inc.	$ 6,213	$ (35,009)
Basic earnings per common share:
Net income (loss) attributable to Amedisys, Inc. common stockholders	$ 0.19	$ (1.07)
Weighted average shares outstanding	32,920	32,739
Diluted earnings per common share:
Net income (loss) attributable to Amedisys, Inc. common stockholders	$ 0.19	$ (1.07)
Weighted average shares outstanding	33,508	32,739
Income Amounts Attributable To Reporting Entity Disclosures [Abstract]
Net income (loss) attributable to Amedisys, Inc.	$ 6,213	$ (35,009)