UNAUDITED SUMMARIZED QUARTERLY FINANCIAL INFORMATION Operating Activity (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Revenue	$ 404,200	$ 380,200	$ 378,800	$ 370,500	$ 366,300	$ 361,600	$ 360,700	$ 348,800	$ 1,533,680	$ 1,437,454	$ 1,280,541
Net income (loss) attributable to Amedisys, Inc.	$ (3,800)	$ 14,600	$ 4,500	$ 15,100	$ 8,900	$ 11,400	$ 10,700	$ 6,200	$ 30,301	$ 37,261	$ (3,021)
Income (loss) attributable to Amedisys, Inc. common stockholders - basic (usd per share)	$ (0.11)	$ 0.43	$ 0.13	$ 0.45	$ 0.27	$ 0.34	$ 0.32	$ 0.19	$ 0.90	$ 1.12	$ (0.09)
Income (loss) attributable to Amedisys, Inc. common stockholders - diluted (usd per share)	$ (0.11)	$ 0.42	$ 0.13	$ 0.44	$ 0.26	$ 0.34	$ 0.32	$ 0.19	$ 0.88	$ 1.10	$ (0.09)
Quarterly Financial Information [Line Items]
Legal fees, net of income taxes	$ 200	$ 100	$ 18,000	$ 100	$ 1,800	$ 200	$ 300	$ 900
Transaction-related expenses for acquisitions, net of income taxes			$ 200	$ 400	500	300	200	1,000
Effect of Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, net of income taxes	21,400
Software implementation costs, net of income taxes					800	$ 1,200	$ 1,600	$ 1,500
Asset impairment charge, net of income taxes					$ 2,700
Home Health [Member]
Quarterly Financial Information [Line Items]
Restructuring charges, net of income taxes	$ 1,200	$ 1,000