CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Income Statement [Abstract]
Dialysis and related lab patient service revenues	$ 2,781,169	$ 2,670,701	$ 8,150,386	$ 7,980,178
Provision for uncollectible accounts	(3,977)	(11,977)	(19,689)	(35,838)
Net dialysis and related lab patient service revenues	2,777,192	2,658,724	8,130,697	7,944,340
Other revenues	126,886	188,606	359,198	639,387
Total revenues	2,904,078	2,847,330	8,489,895	8,583,727
Operating expenses and charges:
Patient care costs	1,991,172	2,063,770	5,913,860	6,168,444
General and administrative	298,736	336,299	824,887	866,922
Depreciation and amortization	155,915	146,000	456,685	435,878
Provision for uncollectible accounts	0	800	0	(7,300)
Equity investment (income) loss	(3,936)	3,824	(11,158)	(6,126)
Investment and other asset impairments	0	6,093	0	17,338
Goodwill impairment charges	83,855	0	124,892	3,106
Loss (gain) on changes in ownership interest, net	0	1,506	0	(32,451)
Total operating expenses and charges	2,525,742	2,558,292	7,309,166	7,445,811
Operating income	378,336	289,038	1,180,729	1,137,916
Debt expense	(88,589)	(125,927)	(351,774)	(359,135)
Debt prepayment, refinancing and redemption charges	(21,242)	0	(33,402)	0
Other income, net	5,280	4,007	17,863	10,583
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	273,785	167,118	813,416	789,364
Income tax expense	65,254	52,047	197,938	206,652
Net income from continuing operations	208,531	115,071	615,478	582,712
Net (loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax	(6,843)	(211,739)	102,854	(147,829)
Net income (loss)	201,688	(96,668)	718,332	434,883
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(58,418)	(40,128)	(152,222)	(125,717)
Net income attributable to DaVita Inc.	$ 143,270	$ (136,796)	$ 566,110	$ 309,166
Earnings per share attributable to DaVita Inc.:
Basic net income from continuing operations per share	$ 1.00	$ 0.44	$ 2.88	$ 2.69
Basic net income (loss) per share	0.95	(0.82)	3.51	1.79
Diluted net income from continuing operations per share	0.99	0.44	2.87	2.66
Diluted net income (loss) per share	$ 0.95	$ (0.82)	$ 3.50	$ 1.77
Weighted average shares for earnings per share:
Basic (in shares)	150,675,465	166,770,664	161,147,122	172,403,944
Diluted (in shares)	151,295,950	167,262,358	161,636,011	174,348,421
Amounts attributable to DaVita Inc.:
Net income from continuing operations	$ 150,113	$ 73,371	$ 464,590	$ 463,989
Net (loss) income from discontinued operations	(6,843)	(210,167)	101,520	(154,823)
Net income (loss) attributable to DaVita Inc.	$ 143,270	$ (136,796)	$ 566,110	$ 309,166